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Story highlights
- David Frum: Popular entertainment isn't reflecting the human damage of Great Recession
- He says that's why he decided to write his first novel, "Patriots"
- Frum: I wanted to show and explain how wealth buys power in Washington
Blogger Kathleen Geier observes:
"We are now several years into what has been one of the deepest, most sustained, and catastrophic economic downturns in U.S. history. One notable feature of this downturn is how relatively infrequently our current hard times are finding representation in popular culture. ... Even amongst the abundance of fluff and escapist fair that Hollywood produced in the 1930s, filmmakers then frequently and directly acknowledged the role of the Great Depression on people's lives, in a way that films and television don't often do today."
Geier seems to me exactly correct. The logical follow-up question: Why? How can such an overwhelming experience go so unnoted?
I'd suggest two answers.
Unlike in the Depression, we're not "all in this together." The United States of the 2010s is a much more stratified society than the United States of the 1930s. The media executives who oversee our popular culture lead lives far removed from those of less-advantaged Americans. They sell into a market more internally segmented and subdivided than the market of the 1930s.
And also unlike the Depression, we cannot agree on what has happened to us. The U.S. is polarized, as well as stratified, and even the most basic facts become ideologically charged. The political right and the political left each have their own histories of the Great Recession, with almost no points in common. And you'll tell a very different story about the severity and duration of the recession if you blame it on President Obama than if you blame it on reckless banking.
Yet the economic disaster around us is too big a story to go untold -- or to be left only to the news columns and the op-ed pages.
That was my thought, anyway, a year and a half ago, when I set out to do what Geier laments has gone undone.
In my day job as a political pundit, I talk a lot about the dysfunction of the American political system. That dysfunction is not a new fact, but it has taken on new importance in these hard economic times.
So I took on a second challenge: to write a story in which the recession appears just as it does in the lives of so many Americans, an unremitting reality.
"Patriots" is a comic novel, a satire about Washington and Washington politics. It tells the story of an aimless young man, dropped into Washington because he has failed at everything else, who finds himself in the middle of the political machinations that render the U.S. government so useless to its people.
In the story, a new president is about to take office. He's got big plans to turn things around. But his plans threaten the power and position of important people, and they set out to destroy him. My aimless young man accidentally becomes a central figure in the plot -- and he must make some big decisions about what side to take.
Political ambition pushes him one way. A nameless feeling of ... something else ... pushes him the other.
What I wanted to show and explain was why your government has gone AWOL at exactly the moment when decisive action was most needed.
I wanted to show and explain how wealth buys powers in Washington and how power is used to gain wealth.
I wanted to show and explain that, despite all the reasons for cynicism, the right person can make a difference for the better.
Did I succeed? I await Geier's verdict -- and yours.
Here's an excerpt from David Frum's "Patriots":
We had an event to get to: a 6 o'clock reception hosted by regional electrical power distributors for the New York-New England congressional delegation.
It took only a few minutes to reach the venue: Capitol Hill's favorite restaurant, John Henry's Steakhouse. The name was kind of a joke. John Henry's occupied the ground floor of a marble-faced building erected in the late 1970s as the headquarters of a union, the International Brotherhood of Railway Workers. Dwindling numbers had long ago forced the union, like most unions, to abandon its palatial former headquarters. The only reminder of the building's original purpose were the carved scenes in the building's lobby of muscular men working on the railroad.
The restaurant name spoofed the old railwaymen. But the interior of John Henry's owed nothing to the age of steam. It was all aquamarine glass, shiny chrome, and butterscotch leather -- very different from Washington's usual drab style.
As soon as we entered, Senator Hazen was greeted by a pleasant-faced middle-aged woman in a functional office hairdo and bright red suit jacket. "Senator Hazen! So delighted you could join us!" She hurried the senator deeper into the room.
I was distracted by a waiter carrying a tray of lamb chops. Soon followed another tray: miniature crab cakes. Senator Hazen did not like me to drink on the job, but he surely would not wish me to go hungry.
Grilled vegetables on skewers with goat cheese! I love goat cheese.
Duck spring rolls!
Tiny tacos stuffed with shrimp and guacamole!
Sliced marinated steak!
The steak looked too messy for a napkin, so I asked a server for a plate and a fork. She looked at me as if at an utter newbie. "No plates or forks tonight, it's a congressional function."
I did my best with the steak anyway, then headed to the bar for a sparkling water. Through the throng, I spotted Mac Kohlberg. He looked anxious and distracted.
"Hey Dr. Kohlberg."
"Hello," he grunted.
"Do you know why I can't have a plate here?"
"Ethics rules," he said to a place in space somewhere over my shoulder. "Lobbyists are not allowed to buy meals for members of Congress dinner. And dinner is defined as anything eaten with a plate and cutlery."
"But they can eat appetizers all night?"
"Oh yes, nothing corrupting about appetizers." His eyes darted around the room, looking for somebody. I didn't see her either.
"I have to go," he said abruptly. He left too early. The next waiter presented porcini-stuffed quail.
As I wiped the quail juice off my fingers, I was approached by the red-suited woman who had met us at the door. "You're with Senator Hazen, yes?"
"Yes, indeed."
"This is for him." She handed me an unsealed envelope. I couldn't help peeking inside: a stack of checks, probably thirty altogether, each in the amount of $5,000, each inscribed to Hazen's campaign fund. That pleasant smile again. "We thought it would save trouble if we gathered all the contributions in one place."
The senator had a private dinner scheduled at eight at an apartment in the Ritz Carlton on West M Street. I glanced at my watch: 7:30 already. Time to go. I pushed my way through the now almost impassable crowd of suited men and women. I found Hazen sipping mineral water abstemiously. No quail for him. I escorted him past the valet parkers to Mehtab and the car. "Shall I come with you sir?"
"No need," he answered. "That's the end of the working day. Get yourself some rest. Oh" -- he glanced at my feet -- "and get yourself a shoeshine. We have a meeting in the Oval Office tomorrow."
The senator closed the car door behind him.
Well, that was a surprise.
The restaurant faced the parking lot at the foot of the Capitol Hill in which the truckers had made their camp. Through the cold night sky I could see huge fields of white light for the TV cameras and small dots of orange light: the truckers' heating panels. They cast a bizarre glow on the monument to sad President Garfield, first assassinated, then forgotten. The smell of the diesel exhaust from the generator that powered the heaters tainted the air.
I'd never actually seen these truckers who had caused so much mayhem. I stepped toward the fumes.
* * *
The trucker encampment was surrounded by a thin cordon of police. My Senate staff badge persuaded them to allow me through.
Inside the cordon, you felt the weight of the huge mass of surrounding equipment: the trucks themselves, the police cars beyond the trucks, the TV sound trucks beyond the police cars. You smelled diesel fuel and Port-a-Potties and heard the echoes of talk radio and Patriot News.
As I approached the center of the action, suspicious faces scrutinized me. The protesters, maybe three dozen of them, were sitting in clusters. I approached one of the clusters: four men, one woman. Three of the men and the woman were seated in lawn chairs. The fourth man was kneeling on the pavement fiddling with a bunch of wires leading from one of the trucks to a small TV set on a rickety little plastic table facing the chairs. Except for the unhappy expressions on their faces, they looked like they had settled in for a tailgate party. But maybe the unhappy expressions expressed a reaction to me. In my staffer's suit and badge, I must have looked like everything they had come to Washington to protest.
I introduced myself. "I'm with Senator Hazen's office." The name did not seem to mean much to them, but the title did.
"U.S. Senator?" asked one of the seated men, a man in perhaps his early sixties wearing an orange parka overtop blue jeans. The parka, obviously once expensive, now showed wear at the elbows and rips at the cuffs.
"Yes, sir."
"Which state?" queried Orange Parka.
"Rhode Island."
"Not much of a state!"
"He's one hell of a senator."
That broke the ice.
Another of the seated protesters spoke up, the group's one woman, in her early seventies maybe, little curls of a faded blond perm peeking from beneath a knit pink wooly cap. She was wearing a pink fleece stamped on its left side with the slogan, "Don't Tread on Me."
"Where's your senator on the Trucker Protest?"
The answer, "I don't know" probably would not satisfy anyone. I improvised. "He's always proud to see American citizens exercising their free-speech rights."
"That's good," she said. Beside the woman sat a man of the same vintage, wearing khaki Dockers and a black fleece blazoned with the same "Don't Tread on Me" slogan. His hair, where he still had it, was close-cropped in military style. He nodded in agreement with the woman's words.
I asked, "Everything going OK with the police?"
"They've been sweethearts," said Mrs. Don't Tread on Me.
"Did they give you the Port-a-Potties?"
She shook her hand, "No, that was Barney's idea," pointing to the man on his hands and knees, fumbling with tangled cords. He was a tall, heavy man in his mid-fifties or so, which made him the baby of the group. A heavy golden watch on a metal link band protruded from beneath his lined windbreaker. "Barney loaded them in his truck when he heard about the protest."
"You should have brought beer," I said.
That made them all laugh. "No beer on federal property," answered Orange Parka. Mrs. Don't Tread on Me asked me my name.
Mrs. Don't Tread on Me nudged Mr. Don't Tread on Me. "Why don't you get Walter a chair?"
A broken-down old lawn chair was produced. I was poured a cup of sweet milky coffee from a thermos.
Introductions were done. Orange Parka was named Bob. He had been a builder up in Minnesota until his contracting business went bust two years before. Mr. and Mrs. Don't Tread on Me were a married couple from Alabama, named Mary Beth and Dale. Dale was a retired army major; Mary Beth, a retired Veterans Administration nurse. Barney, the man on his knees, owned a trucking company. The last member of the group, a slight, nervous-seeming man with a grey goatee had retired this past summer after 40 years of teaching math in a Fort Worth high school. He hesitated to give his name, but the others gave it away: "Dennis."
"There!" announced Barney triumphantly, and the TV came to life.
He stood up and turned to shake my hand.
"Is that your truck?" I asked.
"Yep. I used to have six. The bank took the others, but I kept the one with the satellite dish."
This time I was the one to laugh. "What are you watching?"
"I hope we're going to watch Mark Dunn [the host of a 5 p.m. show on the "Patriot News Network"]. I DVRed his show, but we had a little trouble with the wiring. I think I've fixed everything though."
"That seems a lot of trouble for one TV show."
Dennis the retired math teacher spoke up softly. "No it isn't. You have to watch Mark Dunn every day. Otherwise you miss the connections."
"The connections?"
"Everything's connected. It's all linked up. The banks, the bailouts, the people selling us out in Mexico -- you don't understand it until you watch Mark."
Mary Beth, the former nurse, caught my skeptical look. "So what are they saying about us up the Hill?"
"A lot of concern that you're taking up so many parking spaces."
"We're all sorry about that. I've never even had a speeding ticket. But some things are more important."
"Like what?"
Bob in the orange parka asked sarcastically, "Would you listen if we told you?"
"All ears."
"We talk to people from the media all day long. If it's not the media, it's pollsters. If it's not pollsters, it's some smart-ass blogger trying to provoke us to say something against blacks or gays or Mexicans. But nobody seems to listen, not really. We're not haters or crazies. We're not even really a movement exactly. Most of us met for the first time when we parked here."
"So what brought you?"
Dennis the math teacher inserted himself back into the conversation. "The US military is pretty much the only institution worth a damn in this sad country of ours. Now they're being sold out the same way the politicians have sold out everything else."
Bob added, "I'm here to do something to stop this crazy spending, all this debt. It's wrecking this country. We're going to be papering our walls with worthless dollars."
"It should mean something to be an American!" Barney said intently. "These people flood into our country. America means nothing to them, just a way to earn a few bucks. My mother's father came here from Greece. He opened a restaurant and flew the flag every day! But now? You can't recognize this country any more."
"Mark Dunn says we're losing our country piece by piece," insisted Dennis. "And our government doesn't do a damn thing about it."
I had discreetly sloshed the muck in my Styrofoam cup onto the grass. I refused a refill as politely as I could. "The government seems to be doing a lot," I said.
"Too much," said Dennis.
Bob reclaimed my attention. "When I was your age, I never believed it myself when I heard an older person say this or that used to be better. Don't older people always talk about the good old days? But the old days were good -- better than now, anyways. My dad served in World War II. When he got out of the service, he found a job in an auto parts plant near Pittsburgh. Just like that. And him a man with an eighth-grade education! He became a supervisor, bought a nice house. He took us camping every summer. He retired to Florida and lived a comfortable life all the way to the end. He taught himself golf, even.
"Now look at me. I'm 55 and divorced. My ex-wife got the house. Who's ever going to hire me again? And my kids? Loaded up with student debt. My son is working in a Starbucks. They call him an assistant manager. He makes the same as my dad made in the plant in the 1970s! I know because my dad kept all his old pay stubs in the attic. Now my daughter's pregnant. The guy's disappeared. And she doesn't care! She says she never liked the guy that much anyway, she wants to raise the baby on her own!"
Dale -- a man who apparently had long ago decided to let his wife do the talking -- suddenly burst out: "And the drugs! God, they're everywhere. I wanted my son to go into the military, straighten him out. He flunked the drug test. They wouldn't give him a second chance. And now they're covering up for all these Mexicans? Who the hell is selling us these drugs anyway?"
"And get this government off our backs," said Bob from his orange parka.
"Wait a minute," I said. "Wasn't Dennis a government employee?" I pointed to Mary Beth. "And you?" I turned to Dale. "And you, too?"
They shook their heads at my cluelessness.
"I taught math!" said Dennis. "I'm not some bureaucrat. You think we can stand up to the Chinese without math? My ex-wife, she was a big union activist. I said to her all the time, 'You teach music, of course you need a union. But my work is the real deal.'"
"Sounds like your ex-wife needed to watch more Mark Dunn," I said.
Dennis ignored the irony, assuming he even heard it. "Without Mark Dunn, I'd never have got through my divorce."
"So, Walter," Mary Beth said, "what's this boss of yours going to do for us?"
I felt the weight of the envelope in my suit jacket pocket, stuffed with campaign checks. I thought: Maybe if you could write us some of these ...
"I can reassure Bob a little. Senator Hazen wants to try to balance the budget, stop us getting so deep in debt."
Barney laughed savagely. "Ha! They all say that!"
"You going to raise my taxes?" demanded Dennis.
"We'll try not to."
"Or cut my Medicare?"
"Or our veterans' benefits?" added Mary Beth.
"I don't know that we can balance the budget without any cuts to anything," I said.
"Of course you have to cut things!" Mary Beth said cheerfully. "Welfare and foreign aid. And all those people who don't pay any taxes at all -- they should be paying something, even if it's only $10 a month. I see them drinking frappa-dappa-chinos, they can afford contribute something. They're riding in the wagon, they should get down out of it and help the rest of us pull the wagon. What I'm talking about are the benefits we've earned. Our veterans risked their lives for this country, they deserve everything they get. Dale did two tours in Vietnam. Medicare? Seniors have paid for it."
"We're not asking for anything we're not entitled to," said Dennis. "No handouts. We want our country back, that's all. The way it used to be."
"And we'll raise hell if we don't get it!" Barney boomed.
"I'll tell the senator," I promised.
I thanked them for the coffee and hoisted myself out of the lawn chair. I took a roundabout route home, through the Hotel Monaco. The shoeshine man was still on duty. He did a beautiful job too.
Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter and Facebook/CNNOpinion.


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Untapped U.S. option: Energy exports
Historically, we have lived in a nation of energy dependence. Dependence on others for our heating and electricity, and for our fuel for transportation. Yet today, for the first time in generations, we no longer need to view ourselves as living in a country of energy scarcity. The U.S. will soon overtake Saudi Arabia in hydrocarbon production. According to the Energy Information Administration, our nation is scheduled to have an energy surplus by 2030. We will create millions of jobs this decade right here in the United States simply by allowing that to happen. The only thing that can truly derail this staggeringly enormous opportunity for wealth creation: politicians and bureaucrats in Washington.
The debate here in Washington on exporting natural gas and other products has gotten louder as the production of domestic energy resources has grown. The battle lines are beginning to be drawn. Protectionist politicians cannot stand the notion of a fossil-fuel-rich America maintaining record levels of production through exports. Some large industrial interests have lobbied members of Congress to keep these great products all to themselves, hoping that a domestic glut of natural gas will yield greater profit margins for their natural-gas-dependent businesses than the free market.
Story Continued Below
Proponents of exports, like me, understand that this would be tragic. Jobs and wealth creation result from a simple case of supply and demand. The United States is increasing its natural gas production to record levels, threatening to exceed domestic demand. As a result, producers of natural gas will "throttle down" their production absent the ability to access new international markets — human beings across the globe who are clamoring for American products.
Exporting to new markets has been a standard option in our economic toolbox since the birth of the Republic, from agricultural commodities like corn and wheat, to energy products like diesel fuel. We export thousands of different products, each benefiting our country. In fact, we have already begun exporting energy commodities to Canada and Mexico via pipeline. Now, if the government stays out of the way, America will begin exporting even more energy products via new liquefied natural gas terminals.
Opponents of exporting coal and natural gas and other energy often paint a scenario in which prices would increase so dramatically as a result of exports that the cost of these products would slow economic growth in the United States. These opponents miss a few key facts.

subset: commoncrawl


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I've been on a slew of diets in my day.
South Beach
Slim Fast
Weight Watchers
20/30 Fat & Fiber
Juice Fasting
Daniel Plan
Hay Diet
Eat Clean
Sugar Busters
And several metabolism boosting pills whose names I can't remember.
I lost either a little weight on some of those or a bunch of weight… but you know what is in common with all of the diets listed above? I gained my weight back with every. single. one.
Whether I lost 6 pounds or 60, I gained weight whenever I "quit" my diet. Heck, I gained the weight back even when I didn't "quit" the diet. Which is when I knew something was up.
That's when I came across Intuitive Eating… it's my favorite diet yet! (Link: What IS Intuitive Eating?)
And I don't mean that tricky kind of diet that the people call a "lifestyle" but you still have to drink blended organic asparagus or something equally bizarre. This isn't a "lifestyle" diet. And that's what I love about it…
It's not a diet.
It's not about nutrition, or calories, or workouts, or portion control. When it comes to choosing which food… there are no rules. But even better, there is no guilt.
Here's the way I look at it: I have been dieting pretty much continuously for twenty-plus years. And I'd say that out of those, we'll say 22 years, I've only been "skinny" for probably 5 years. That means that out of the last 22 years, 78% of my life has been spent with
I've been eating what I didn't want to eat, how I didn't want to eat it, or I've been starving to death and miserable… for what? For nothing!
So, I think that's why it was so easy for me to just give up, stop dieting, and give Intuitive Eating a try. Because, seriously, think about it… if I'm dieting and I'm still overweight, then I might as well NOT be dieting and be overweight. At least I don't have to walk down life with the heavy burdens that comes with failed dieting: guilt (remember this post?), depression, crushed self-confidence, shame, hopelessness, doubt, and you KNOW that the list could go on and on and on and on.
Instead, I'm getting a chance finally to let my body be my guide.
I've released myself from the terrible, overwhelming pressure of HAVING to lose weight.
I don't fight the cookies or the chocolate in the pantry. {And truth be told, I desire them far less than I use to when I was dieting.} Sometimes I eat them and sometimes I don't. I eat whatever I'm cooking, whatever's being served, whatever I'm craving. I just eat. I don't have to think, or dwell, or ponder, or wish, or lust, or dream, or conspire, or hide, or sneak. I just… eat.
And I bet you can understand how wonderful that might be… especially if you've been on a slew of diets as well since you were 13 (or earlier).
It's a new kind of freedom.
A scary kind of freedom.
And, well, I think it's probably just like the freedom that God intended in the first place.


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Abuse isn't just about bruises. Not all forms of abuse leave bruises where we can see them,What Does Emotional Abuse Do To A Woman in South Africa . Although physical abuse is terrifying and needs to be addressed immediately there are other forms of abuse that can cause significant damage. One type of abuse that is very difficult for outsiders to detect is financial abuse. Marriage should be a partnership but when one spouse completely dominates the finances to the point that the other spouse has no control and no options financial abuse may be occurring.
What Are Signs of Potential Financial Abuse?
Every married couple handles their finances differently. In some cases one spouse handles the majority of the finances. They manage the accounts, pay the bills and deal with creditors. That does not by itself equal financial abuse.
Financial abuse occurs when one spouse is treated like an irresponsible child and Domestic Violence Hotline . They are cut off from funds and their knowledge about the couple's finances is severely limited. Some signs of financial abuse include:
•Strict Allowances. This isn't an amount that the spouses have agreed to limit themselves to but is instead a set amount that is grudgingly handed out from one spouse to the other and is all that will be given.
Documents, documents, documents. Written evidence is incredibly strong and can range from credit card bills showing that there is a credit card but that you aren't named on it to emails from your spouse that show the financial abuse.
Other witnesses can be incredibly powerful on your behalf. Financial abuse is hard for people outside the relationship to detect. So when someone credible comes in and tells the judge that it is happening and they can see it the judge will listen and Domestic Violence Essay .
What Does Emotional Abuse Do To A Woman in South Africa ?
It can be difficult to describe what abuse is and this is because the word 'Abuse' can mean different things to different people. For one person it might relate to emotional pain, for another it might involve physical pain. With there being different degrees of pain and hurt within these two forms of violence.
As a general guideline: this could be behaviour that occurs here and there, without it happening often enough to cause too many problems. Or it could be experienced to such an extreme that one's life becomes unbearable.
In this analysis I am going to be looking at what I currently believe causes abusive behaviour and the type of individual that commits abusive behaviour on a regular basis.
The Dictionary.com Definition
Here, it is described as the following:
• To use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority.
• To treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse.
• To abuse one's eyesight; to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
• To commit sexual assault upon: Obsolete - to deceive or mislead.
My Definition
What comes to mind when I think of abusive, is compromise. When one is abused they are not being respected or treated in a humane way, they are being treated as objects. The abused person's feelings do not register to the abuser and if they are recognised, it is not enough to end the behaviour.
Empathy And Compassion
If one can't feel their own feelings, it is then a lot easier to do destructive things to another. The question is: why wouldn't the abuser have the ability to empathise or to be compassionate with another person?
It is said that the ability to empathise and to be compassionate is developed through caregivers that display the same behaviours to their children. This is also known as healthy mirroring and validation. What also happens through this process is that the child feels noticed and acknowledged, which are of paramount importance for the development of a healthy sense of self.
It could be said that because of their past, the person that displays abusive behaviour is abusing themselves just as much, if not more than they are abusing others. This is because the original abuser has been internalised. And even if the original abuser is not longer alive or around; they still have the potential to exist in the mind of the abuser or abused.
Here the voice exists like a parasite in the mind, merging with the mind and this makes it hard to notice and eliminate.
This shows that it is typically a two way relationship. With people who have been abused being more likely to be attracted to an abuser. If one has been abused in their younger years and it has not been looked at processed, the mind will then continue to associate this as what familiar and safe.
It will also mean that the abused will put up with this behaviour later in life. If this is what they have experienced as a child, one will then think that it is normal and all they deserve.
If one was abused by their own caregivers, it is only normal for them to assume that this is how people are that that the world is therefore unsafe and dangerous. And also that people can't be trusted.
To experience abuse can be extremely traumatising; with the consequences of abuse having the potential to last a life time. Time is said to be one of the greatest healers. Being around supportive people that one can feel safe around and who can listen without judgement is equally important.
This could be in the form of friends, family or a therapist. Here they will listen and acknowledge what is being said without judgement or blame. This is a process that cannot be rushed, and will happen in its own time and when one is ready to face what has happened. There is not a right or wrong time, only the time when one feels ready to undertake such an important step.
5 Warning Signs to Recognize Senior Abuse
Children have that right to be loved. But there are those who suffer child abuse in the very sense of the word. Child abuse could either be physical, mental or sexual abuse to children. This might have certain adverse effects on the child so they must be given extra support and attention.
Physical abuse concerns maltreatments of children in a physical way. This means hurting the children physically, or not giving them proper nutrition. Emotional abuse or mental abuse, on the other hand, is about abuse in children which affects primarily their emotions. This includes saying hurtful words to children, as well as scolding them often that lower their self esteem. Sexual abuse, however, is abuse that concerns the sexual attributes of a child. This is one of the worst cases of child abuse.
Child Abuse Treatments
Most of the children who have experienced child abuse have traumas, especially those who were involved in sexual abuse. For cases like this, psycho therapies are being done to address the problem of the concerned child. Teaching proper parenting to children is also a program involved in treating, as well as preventing child abuse.
Child abuse is a matter that needs utmost attention since it involves the future generation of this world. This could be prevented by having family planning seminars to parents which would invoke them to take care of their children more. There are also certain organizations like UNICEF which specializes in treating such problems. Children are important part of the society, so utmost love and care should be given to them.


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Zven wrote:Like the post natman wrote two months ago and no one answered, I'm a veteran forum user and this is the first time I've ever had this limitations, but I've also seen a lot of spam so I kinda understand desperate measures.
But how many posts do I need to start posting like a normal person?. Having to have your posts approved takes all the fun of being in a forum away and makes people not want to stay. I visit the site pretty much everyday and was looking forward to join the community but I get here and I can't do anything?.
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|Paradigm SE 1 Loudspeakers Review
|Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Page 1 of 2Canadian speaker manufacturer Paradigm has been at it for over 25 years. And by "at it" I mean designing.award winning loud speakers across all price points and for every conceivable application. Full disclosure, I have admired Paradigm for a long time. A few years ago, I bought a pair of Paradigm Atoms, probably one of the best speakers made under $500 and I helped friend buy a pair of Studio 60's floor standers, and came away with even more impressed with the company and its offerings. I felt the Studio 60 compared very favorably with speakers costing at least 2 or 3 times as much. Last year, I reviewed the Monitor 9 V.6 floorstander , and ended up buying the review pair for my home theater set up.
The company offers speakers for every level of audiophile and home theater enthusiast. I would put their flagship Signature Series up against the very best. All their products are priced at too good to be true prices, All products are designed and engineered by Paradigm and a great many are built in their state of the art facility in Ontario, Canada. According to the website, it spans 230,000 square feet! This type of scale allows them tremendous advantages over competitors, as well as huge benefits for their customers.
Paradigm's designers are constantly on a mission to refine the company's offerings, and they continually introduce new designs, cutting edge technologies, and new products. Last year, they introduced the SE series, which includes the SE 1, the SE Center, SE Sub, and the SE 3 floor stander. Paradigm says that cutting edge technology from the top of the line was used in the SE series.
I received a pair of SE 1 monitors for review, in a beautiful gloss back finish. They are priced at $698 a pair. The SE 1's are demure in size, measuring 11 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in x 8 1/2 inches in height, width, and depth. They weigh just under 13 lbs each. The basic specifications are a frequency response of 70 Hz - 20 kHz, a room sensitivity of 88 db, and impedance compatible with 8 ohms. The SE 1 is a two way, utlilizing a 2nd order crossover. There are two high quality binding posts at the rear.
The drivers in the SE series have trickled down from Paradigm's Reference Studio series. Both the tweeter and midrange-bass units come directly from Studio series models, but without the die-cast heatsink chassis and proprietary Isolation Mounting System (IMS), which decouples the drivers from the cabinets. The SE 1 uses Paradigm's 1" tweeter of Gold-Anodized Pure Aluminum (G-PAL), a model also found in the Reference Studio series but originally was developed for the high end Studio Series.The G-PAL proprietary blend of metals is used to ensure rigidity while maintaining low mass. The SE 1 equipped with a 5.5" mid/woofer with a cone made of Satin-Anodized Pure Aluminum (S-PAL). Paradigm has thrown in a lot of interesting technology in two these little speakers to maximize power handling and bass extension.The SE 1 is also rear ported.
Set Up and Listening:
I wired up the SE 1's first with Audience AU24 e speaker cable, which I reviewed here, and later with QED once the Audience cable went back to the factory. I used Blu-Tak and secured them to my Sound Anchors stands. The SE 1's come with attractive magnetically attached black grilles, and Paradigm recommends leaving them in place during use, which I did. I streamed internet radio through my Logitech Squeezebox for a few days to give them a bit of break in, and then I sat down for some serious listening.
It was obvious from the first few listening sessions that these were great speakers, and exactly what I have come to expect from Paradigm. I heard a smooth, even handed tonal balance, but also all the detail and musical information you could hope for. I was surprised at how much soundstage depth the SE 1 offered for a speaker this size. Along with depth, I heard excellent tonal purity and accuracy of timbre, a characteristic that for me is essential is choosing a speaker. The SE 1 passed this test with flying colors, with voices and acoustic instruments sounding natural and three dimensional.
The SE 1 also was stunning in its bass performance. Taught, articulate, and surprisingly deep. The cabinets showed no evidence of any rattling, buzzing, or other problems when little speakers try to bite off more than they can chew bass wise. As a matter of fact, I found the cabinets to be superbly made and rather inert. I may need to put in a reminder here that we are talking about a $700 speaker folks. And interestingly enough, once I set up the speaker and startled listening, for some reason I kept getting the figure of $2000 stuck in my head, and that may be because the SE 1 actually physically resemble more expensive Paradigm models, and I was mentally judging them by that price! Despite that, I was impressed by just about every parameter on the old check list.
Probably what stood out for me after an extended period of time with the SE 1, was the accuracy, and overall quality of the midrange. Let's face it, if a small monitor can't do midrange right, all bets are off. The SE 1 not only did it right, but exceptionally right. And because of the quality of the midrange, I was really able to appreciate the SE 1's tweeter, which was rendered highs with wonderful purity, and not a hint of aggression. All of these elements worked together to produce the most balanced, coherent, and musical sound I have heard from a speaker under $1000.


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The Radio Flyer Is The Center Of Conversation
If making a good impression is your goal, you would agree that Bill Cain's A100 delivers. The Radio Flyer theme and the short-wheelbase A100 platform are unique, but the wild Hemi engine-placed midship causes everyone to foam at the mouth.
Now displacing 528 ci, the nitrous-aided elephant easily borders on ridiculous, and boasts more than 1,000 horsepower on tap. With a new MP Hemi block for the foundation, Ray Barton Racing Engines fashioned the combination by using several Barton components, including connecting rods and pistons, cylinder head components, and camshaft. Other components include Mopar Hemi heads, an Indy Cylinder Head intake manifold, Holley Dominator carburetor, and a Chrysler ignition system boosted by an Accel coil. The result is an 11.5:1 pachyderm that expels spent gases via J&R 2-1/4-inch primary headers and a 4-inch Flowmaster exhaust system.
To get all that power to the ground, Bill chose a TorqueFlite fitted with a Cheetah valvebody modification kit and G.E.R. torque converter. A B&M shifter locates the appropriate gear, thereby sending torque to the spooled 4.56-geared Dana 60.
As for suspension, Alston provided the frame components and a rodders favorite–a Mustang II front suspension with a four-link out back–to keep all four wheels in touch with terra firma, thanks to Carrera front and AVO rear coilovers.
For the full Radio Flyer appearance, Bill contacted Mike's Body Shop in Westerville, Ohio, to apply the Viper Red PPG base-coat/clearcoat combination. The modified Radio Flyer graphics feature a helmeted pilot and Hemi Dodge lettering.
In the six years that Bill has owned the Radio Flyer, he has primarily used it for cruisin' events with the Fairfield Mopar Club and the Ohio Mopar Association. He has also shown the truck in Pro Street competition. The final results are of dubious distinction, but we're convinced this wacky wagon is the center of conversation. It definitely was at the '98 Mopar Nationals.


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Nov. 17, 2002
Recap| Box Score| Quotes| Photo Gallery
Head Coach Ray Leone
On the Difference Between First and Second Halves
"Well, we did what we wanted to do. We played to feet, we got the ball to Manya (Makoski) some, connected some passes and that's what we tried to do the whole time. hen Manya went out, it really put us in a bind. They got the momentum after that and that spell was 10 or 15 minutes and was an incredible display. We brought out their best, and their best beat us, so I can live with that."
On What the Team Can Take from This
"I told (the team) you can't buy experience; you have to earn it. So that's what we did today, we earned experience, because we have been playing all this year, everything we have done, it's like a new thing that we have never done before and so here we are, and I am glad we played at Santa Clara, I really am, because if you want to win a national championship you have to see what it is like to play against one of these guys. So we did and we learned from it and we played 60 minutes with them and that wasn't enough obviously, but that was 60 good minutes and you've got to build on that."
On the Physical Challenge
"I think we did not win the physical challenge, and that is what changes the game. And, by the way, I think it was a physically fair challenge. It was a great game, it was exciting. I mean that injury with both players just going for it, same thing with their kid that got hurt, they were just going for it and that's the way it is."


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How to Start with Internet Marketing and a Blog
How to Start with Internet Marketing and a Blog…
In the first video below I will share with you something that had me blocked for months, and also many of my clients for months, even years…
This is a 10 Part Video Training Series in which I will show you what is needed to start a profitable Online Business from home.
You can skip around and jump back and forth through these video's as much as needed.
The list of all the videos are down below this post. read more
Video 10 of 10 – Trends, Masterminds & Business Plans
Thank you for coming this far and watching the 10th video in this series.
By now you'll have the understanding of how I retired from engineering at the age of 39.
YOU TOO can do it.
Start building Your Business Today. You can do it even if you only have 1 hour a day. read more
Video 9 of 10 – Mistakes made while Starting up
Me too I've made a LOT of mistakes. It is part of what made it possible to be successful today. But that doesn't mean that you should suffer the same mistakes, especially if they are common mistakes that can be avoided.
Granted, you will still make mistakes… However, why suffer basic mistakes if you don't need too? Wouldn't you want to speed things up, even if it only saved you a few months? read more
Video 8 of 10 – The System in a Visual explanation
The idea is to funnel the traffic into a follow up process and you just need to test and tweak it as how you want them coming in… read more
Video 7 of 10 – Internet Marketing Systems That Work!
I Would always Recommend A Proven System That has worked for Thousands Around The World.
Why…? Well, it will help you to get started faster, showing you exactly what to do, what has worked for others and how to monetize it! It's like a proven road map, a proven Business Plan! read more
Video 6 of 10 – The Salesperson vs The Solutions Provider.
The first hurdle I had before I could even work for myself and consider myself as a "boss" was…
Can I sell something?
Selling to me was associated to being a car salesman… to PUSH a sale… to always be Closing a Deal.
But also thinking..
WHY would someone buy something from me… read more
Video 5 of 10 – How Does Making Money Online work?
How Does the internet really work? How can you make money from it?
In this video I wanted to break down some points for you.
Things to take in…
- Hourly Based vs Performance Based Incomes.
- Sales Person vs Solutions Provider.
- Do the wealthy people of the world rely on hourly based income models on themselves… or on their employees?
Let's look at two different types of earning money.
When I was an engineer, I had to go to work, do what they wanted me to do, and go home. This is a time-based job, because I was required to be there at least 40 hours a week, regardless of how much or how little I worked. read more
Video 4 of 10 – Does Working from Home Really Work?
An interesting question that you probably also asked yourself…
I mean, we are all told to get a JOB when you leave high school and those that went to college were also told also to get a job…. but at least a job that can repay the school loans. read more
Video 3 of 10 – Looking Ahead…
What if you could take a look INTO the Future… What would your life look like and are you happy with what you are seeing?
Do you want to change something now in order to create a better Future later?
How can your Marketing of Today make something Good happen into to your Future… read more
Video 2 of 10 – What is your "Why"?
If you haven't figured out WHY you do what you do… it's time to sit down and start!
Because if you don't figure that out… you're going down the wrong path, a path without direction.
In other words, your motivation for starting a business or creating another stream of income. read more
14 Things You Should Know When Starting An Online Business
Would you like to avoid some of the costly mistakes when it comes to starting, growing and scaling your online business?
Read this, share it, tweet it, like it.
At the age of 40 now, I've invested a lot of money in my own education to learn, and grow myself to be able to create an online businesses that generates for me a real sustainable income. Now − reached the point of total time and financial freedom (I'm writing this from my holiday home in the Philippines after I did diving with the Whale Sharks – see video) − I'm on a mission not to make more & more money, but to create an impact in other people's lives, so that they can also experience the life I'm living. read more


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Big GovernmentThe Police State
The vast regime of torture created by the Bush administration after the 9/11 attacks continues to haunt America.
Media and CultureStrategy
Money and BanksMoney and Banking
Contrary to what the Keynesians will say, a stronger yen could be good for Japan.
James Comey and his allies in the media are trying to whitewash his record on torture.
Big GovernmentBureaucracy and RegulationStrategyWar and Foreign Policy
Media and CultureStrategyPolitical Theory
U.S. History


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The Mosaic Co. has released another digital tool for farmers to gather important information that can help increase efficiency and generate higher yields.
Recognizing the fact that farmers are increasingly using tablets and smartphones to increase production, The Mosaic Co. responded by recently unveiling a mobile site for its premium fertilizer, MicroEssentials.
The new mobile site for MicroEssentials will provide its customers with a more efficient and convenient user experience, particularly as retailers strive to better serve growers in their own fields and offices.
"We've found that smartphones and tablets are quickly becoming indispensable tools our customers use to make important decisions," says Kevin Kimm, Senior Director of Marketing and Agronomy at The Mosaic Co. "It's essential that we continue to adapt our services to best serve them."
MicroEssentials.com site analytics confirm increasing use of mobile platforms. In certain months, mobile visits consist of more than 40% of the Website traffic, and the average number of mobile visits year-round is increasing consistently.
Now, when mobile users visit MicroEssentials.com, their device (phone or tablet) will be detected, and they will automatically be sent to the new mobile site. Once there, users will find a more convenient place to learn about MicroEssentials, the patented Fusion technology powering the next generation of fertilizer, details on the MicroEssentials product portfolio and a dealer locator tool to find the nearest retailer that sells MicroEssentials.
All this information is made easier to find with a simplified navigation structure that is more conducive to mobile devices, improving the efficiency of site visits by mobile users. By eliminating large, high-resolution images, the mobile site will load more quickly on mobile networks.
Furthermore, the mobile sites allow The Mosaic Co. to utilize features exclusive to mobile platforms, such as GPS detection (for the dealer locator tool) and YouTube mobile functionality for MicroEssentials animations and commercials.
"This mobile site will give visitors to MicroEssentials.com the user experience and the ease they want and expect from a forward-thinking company like The Mosaic Co.," says Kimm. "We've also now set the stage for more mobile marketing opportunities in the future, all directed toward continuously providing retailers and farmers with the latest crop nutrient products to push yields to the next level."
To visit MicroEssentials' new mobile site, visit www.MicroEssentials.com on your smartphone or tablet.


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Raymarine Legacy Product
RayTech™ Navigation Software is now retired and the following information is for reference purposes only.
Raymarine's PC navigation solution for Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems only (Apple OSx, Windows Vista and Windows 8 are unsupported). Raymarine RayTech™ RNS v6.2 provides a comprehensive set of navigation tools including multi-format electronic charting, SeaTalkHS electronics integration, worldwide tides and currents, and more.
Limited version of Raymarine RayTechRNS 6.2 software designed for planning and transferring waypoints and routes, between your PC and Raymarine chartplotters and multifunction displays.
Get the most out of Raymarine RayTech Planner by transferring waypoints and routes between your PC and a Raymarine chartplotter or multifunction display.
Please note, RayTech (all versions) only supports Navionics Compact Flash cards when connected via a compatible MFD or Navionics card reader. mSD and SD Chart cards are not supported and Voyage planner should be used for these types of cards.
Before you can begin installing Raymarine RayTech™ Navigation Software, you need to make sure that the PC you intend to use meets the minimum hardware requirements for running the software. While Raymarine RayTech Navigation Software will run successfully on the minimum requirement, for best performance, the optimum requirements are recommended.
In addition to the minimum/optimum requirements, Raymarine Raytech RNS v6.2 will also require one or more of the following, depending on how the PC is to be connected to your instruments/system (None of these are required for the use of Raymarine RayTech Planner):
This adapter is generally not required when networking Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 with Raymarine E Series Classic, Raymarine C Series Wide or Raymarine G Series displays, as SeaTalk and NMEA data is carried over the SeaTalkHS network.
In the event you are interfacing to SeaTalk or NMEA 0183 equipment, and your PC or laptop is not already equipped with a serial port, we recommend the following adapter:
SeaLevel Systems USB to RS-232 DB9 Serial Interface Adapter, Model Number 2105
This adapter is generally not required when networking Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 with Raymarine E Series or Raymarine G Series displays, as SeaTalk and NMEA data is carried over the SeaTalkHS network.
Before installing any software product on your PC, it is a good idea to make sure your PC's operating system is up-to-date. For best system and application performance, Raymarine strongly recommends installing the latest Microsoft Windows Service Pack applicable to your operating system. Microsoft Windows Service Packs are available online at no-charge from Microsoft. Microsoft Windows Service Packs
Additionally, it is recommended that you run the Microsoft Windows Update service before installing Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2. Windows Update is a free Internet tool that provides up-to-the-minute updates for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, and PC hardware device drivers. The Windows Update tool may be launched at any time by opening the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser, and clicking on the 'Tools' menu, then selecting 'Windows Update'. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the update.
Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 is a graphics intensive application. For optimal performance, Raymarine recommends installing the latest video driver update for your PC's graphics hardware. For desktop systems, these updates are available from the graphics hardware manufacturer, or possibly through the Microsoft Windows Update service. Notebook PC users should obtain the latest video driver update from the PC manufacturer.
2019 © FLIR Systems All rights reserved. Privacy Policy|Copyright Policy|Terms of Use


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A Muslim woman was set on fire by a stranger on a midtown street, according to the NYPD, prompting an investigation into whether it was a hate crime.
Police released new video Tuesday night showing the man they believe set the woman on fire.
The 35-year-old woman, a tourist from Scotland, was window-shopping on Fifth Avenue near East 54th Street Saturday night when she suddenly felt heat on her arm and noticed her blouse was on fire, police said.
She noticed a man standing next to her with a lighter in his hand, according to police. He ran away eastbound on East 54th Street, not saying a word.
The victim was able to quickly put out the flames and wasn't hurt. She declined to speak publicly but told NBC 4 New York she was doing OK and that her only focus and concern is that her attacker is caught and prosecuted.
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said the woman was wearing traditional Muslim garb and the NYPD said its Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating whether the act was motivated by bias.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the attack, saying it was "the latest in a series of attacks on Muslims in that state and nationwide in recent days and months." It's offering $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Last week, two Muslim women pushing their toddlers in strollers in Brooklyn were attacked by a woman who screamed "get the f--- out of America b-----s, you don't belong here," according to authorities. The suspect punched one of the women in the head and tried to rip her hijab off.
The suspect was arrested and is facing a number of charges in the alleged hate crime.


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Toffees wrap up Mirallas deal for an undisclosed fee
Everton have signed Belgium forward Kevin Mirallas from Olympiacos for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Goodison Park and passed a medical on Saturday, the Premier League club confirmed on their website.
His signing was completed too late to feature in Monday's clash with Manchester United but he will be unveiled to the home fans at the game.
Mirallas, who has been handed the number 11 shirt, told evertontv: "I am very happy because Everton is a big club and for me it's a very good opportunity.
"I've known Everton have been following me for a while and after talking with the manager I decided coming to Everton was the best opportunity for me.
"I know this is a great club with great supporters and a club that has the ability win a lot of games in the Premier League. That's why I came."
Mirallas scored 20 goals in Greece last season, having previously played in France for St Etienne and Lille. The versatile forward has won 28 caps for his country, scoring five goals.
PA Media


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Racial poison
The Beaumont City Council has been a fairly congenial body in recent years, mostly devoid of the grandstanding, pandering and petty bickering often seen among elected officials who represent diverse constituencies. The norm on this council has been to build consensus, finding areas of compromise and agreement. This is often accomplished out of the public eye, which is a discussion for another day. But in recent weeks, an ugly strain of racially tinged discontent has surfaced at city hall in Beaumont.
Mike Getz, the newest member of council, has shown he is willing to ask tough questions about city operations. He's not always right but doesn't accept the notion that "because we've always done it that way" is a valid way to conduct the public's business. That has rankled some of his colleagues but that is not the real problem they have with Getz.
Before his election to council, Getz led a citywide petition drive to force a ballot referendum on how the Beaumont Independent School District elects trustees. BISD officials vehemently opposed the proposed change but a majority of voters approved the measure to add at-large members to curb what they saw as the excesses of the district under now-departed Superintendent Carrol "Butch" Thomas. The BISD response to the referendum has been foot-dragging by its lawyers to thwart the will of the voters, demonstrating the same lack of accountability that led to the electoral defeat.This has made Getz a target of Thomas supporters on council who teamed with an opportunistic Alan Coleman, who wanted to make his district whiter and more affluent, a feat accomplished by stripping key precincts from Getz's district.Jamie Smith, one of those members who helped engineer this anti-Getz gerrymandering, had complained during last week's council meeting about Getz joining a group of peaceful demonstrators outside Ozen High School during an "extravaganza" to honor Thomas. Smith rebuked Getz for bringing discredit to Beaumont city government by "disrupting a gentleman's retirement party" as if the First Amendment right to protest the divisive Thomas did not apply.
Smith made no mention of the small group of counter-protestors who shouted racial slurs at Getz. When two members of that group showed up at this week's council meeting, Smith sat mute as a dubious character named Ricky Jason floated a series of outrageous charges accusing Getz of making radical, inflammatory statements during the protest about ropes, monkeys and Jasper, statements replete with the worst racial epithets and so outrageous that anyone who made them should rightly suffer the condemnation of civilized society.
The only problem is Getz never made any such statements. None of the television crews or private citizens with phones and cameras recorded any hate speech coming out of Getz's mouth because it never happened. For his fellow councilmembers to sit in silent witness of these vicious lies is a form of moral cowardice. Whether they agree or disagree with Getz's views, at long last have they no sense of decency?


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AfriGeneas Genealogy and History Forum Archive
Re: Death Certificate Question
In Response To: Re: Death Certificate Question ()
Thanks for responding.
I tried that. I called every funeral home in Lancaster County, SC. Neither had a record on him. I do not know who the undertaker was at that time. That is why I requested his death certificate to get this information and see who his parents were. All of his children are deceased. His grandchildren who are still living, does not know. I am at a Brick Wall. Vital Records of SC told me that the undertaker at that time did not submit his death record. I have no where to go from here. He had a brother name Ship or Shep and a sister name Nancy. No one in the family have any information on them.
I feel like just giving up.
Brick Wall.
Messages In This Thread


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This South facing Europen Style Home contains 4 Bedrooms with three ensuites upstairs and favaroble basement space for mortage helpers, monthly rental fee is around $3300! Located in a peacful and quite beautiful inter-land of prime Arbutus. Skylight & mountain view. Very functional layout including renovated gourmet kitchen with designer's cabinetry & granite counters, hardwood floor on main, new paint outside and inside, radiate floor heating, auto-inground sprinklers. School Catchment are: Prince of Wales High School & Trafalgar Elementary School. Close to UBC, shopping and Bus Station.HURRY! DON'T MISS IT!
Taxes (2018): $8,551.08


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By The Associated Press
JACKSON — The University of Mississippi will name a new dormitory for a donor who's given the school more than $6 million.
The College Board Thursday approved naming the residence hall for Lucian Minor, a 1937 graduate. He and his wife recently gave $5.2 million to the university's Patterson School of Accountancy, adding to earlier support
In documents submitted to the College Board, accounting Dean Mark Wilder called the Minors "cornerstones" of the school's rise to national prominence. Earlier donations are used for scholarships and faculty recruitment and retention.
Minor is a native of Macon, Miss. He founded his own accounting firm in Memphis, Tenn., after World War II, eventually merging it with a predecessor of national firm Ernst & Young. Minor headed the Memphis office until he retired in 1978.


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Moonshine-runner Robert Mitchum made the byways of the South famous in Thunder Road back in 1958, and scores of homebred NASCAR entries and drag machines have done little since to change that tradition of horsepower from the hills. In the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, the low rumble of big-block horsepower still disturbs the evening air on warm weekends, and pretenders to the street-supremacy throne still meet their destiny in late-night combat.
There is an old saying about "working hard and playing harder." When Dave Cogdill needed a diversion from his long hours of supervising concrete restorations of parking garages and buildings, this '70 E-body Plymouth proved up to the task. Purchased in 1998 for $10,000 from an auto swapper newspaper, the Barracuda had previously led a mundane life.
"When I bought it, the car had its original 318 small-block, an orange paint job, and about 75 percent of a restoration done," says the 46-year-old Mopar fan. "I drove it for a couple of years like that, then we went to work."
For Dave, this meant building a true street/strip beast by taking the car completely apart and fortifying everything. He beefed up the frame and set up the rear suspension, then local chassis-builder Bugs Rudd installed a six-point 'cage and added some quality tinwork where the rear seat once resided.
Next, Dave laid the foundation for power at Hensley Performance on the north side of Knoxville. Ken and Matt Hensley built him a 500ci street stroker using a Mopar Performance crank with a 4.15 throw, Manley rods, and Ross 10.25:1 pistons. A Comp Cams roller went into the middle of it, lifting the valves in a pair of Indy cylinder heads. A Weiand tunnel-ram supports a pair of 750-cfm Holleys that now jut menacingly through the hood. Headers are from Hedman, ignition is mostly MSD, and the motor can safely spin to 6,800 rpm.
In addition to racing in Super Stock, the Hensleys do a thriving trade with Mopar fans in the Southeast, so Dave had to look no further for the rest of the driveline. A Hensley-worked A727 automatic handles everything the engine can dish out, pushing the horsepower back to a 4.10:1 cog in the narrowed differential. A four-link helps keep the big M/T rubber out back planted to the ground.
Dave finished the remaining bodywork and prepped and painted the panels himself with Limco yellow urethane at home in his garage. The interior was already close to complete when he bought the car, so other than removing the back seat and adding a Turbo Action shifter and Auto Meter gauges, it was left as is.
Dave's job sends him all over the region, so the car sits in the garage for long stretches at a time. But when Dave comes home to play, the locals know to watch out for the '70 'Cuda with bright yellow paint, a serious attitude, and a 500ci rebel yell that keeps the spirit of Dixie muscle alive.
Car Craft Q&A
Car Craft: Why did you make this car so radical?
Dave Cogdill: I've had lots of street cars-Darts, Road Runners-but they were just things we put together under the shade tree. I wanted this one to be a big-time, flat-out Pro Street-style car. I wanted the four-link, the Indy heads, and all the good stuff, and I hope to get it on the track soon. We took it up to Bristol for the Hensleys' Mopar Mania last June, but they wouldn't let me run it without a harness.
CC: What was your first impression when you began driving it?
DC: (laughs) Well, it made me a little nervous. The first time I really got after it, it wanted to go sideways in every gear. You sort of learn how to drive these cars-you can cruise in them, but when you really give it the gas, it can be a handful. I guess I could say it still makes me a little nervous.
CC: Tell us about who helped you out.
DC: Ken and Matt Hensley put the motor together for me, and I picked up one of their transmissions for it as well. A race-car chassis guy down in south Knoxville named Bugs Rudd did the frame, the rollcage, the tinwork, and the narrowed 8 3/4-inch rearend so we could get the axles and big tires on it.
CC: How's the car scene in Knoxville?
DC: For Mopar guys, we have the East Tennessee Mopar Association here, so we have a lot of connections. Most of us meet in an old Kmart parking lot, and it seems like more and more cars come out every weekend. It's about 40 percent Mopars and the rest are mixed; it's like a big car show.
The Details
Car: '70 Plymouth Barracuda
Owner: Dave Cogdill, Knoxville, TN
Engine: Balanced 500ci stroker Mopar 440 wedge by Hensley Performance, Mopar steel stroker crank, Ross 10.25:1 pistons, Manley rods, Indy Street aluminum cylinder heads with 2.08/1.94 valves, double-roller timing chain, MSD/Mopar ignition, Hedman headers, 3-inch Flowmaster mufflers, undercar exit
Induction: Weiand Tunnel with two Holley 750s, Holley fuel pump, 16 gallon RCI cell
Camshaft: Custom Comp Cams roller grind designed by Hensley Performance, Crane roller rockers, Comp double springs
Output: 750-plus horsepower at 6,800 rpm
Transmission: 727 TorqueFlite by Hensley, Turbo Action valve body, 9.5-inch PTC 3,500-stall converter, Turbo Action SCS shifter
Rearend: 8 3/4-inch Chrysler, 4.10:1 Richmond gear, Sure Grip
Brakes: Factory standard drums
Wheels and tires: Weld 15×6, front; 15×10.5, rear; M/T Sportsmans, front; M/T 31×18.50-15, rear
Interior: Stock front seats, Auto Meter gauges, custom tinwork by Bugs Rudd
Body mods: Hood cut for clearance
Paint: Limco Yellow urethane by Dave Cogdill
Cost to build: Approximately $25,000


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Thursday, August 7th, DJs West Coast Swing Dance, Hacienda Hotel, El Segundo/
Phil & Mindia will DJ at 8:30pm for the night, after their usual classes. 6:30pm INTERMEDIATE WEST COAST SWING (WCS) w/ Phil $10; BEGINNER 1 WCS INTRO w/ Mindia FREE! 7:30pm ADVANCED WCS w/ Phil $10; BEGINNER 2 WCS w/ Mindia $10. No cover for the dance; please support the bar with a minimum purchase. Must be at least 21 years old to attend.


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Asacol- 8 tabs/day
Remicade infusions
Imuran- 100mgs/day
Seasonal allergies
9 Asacol/day, 1000 mg Canasa (caused side effects), Proctofoam
Digestive Advantage (Crohn's & Colitis), 2 pills/day
Calcium chews
*Heather*Status: mini flare Dec 28... tapered to every 4th night
~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)
~5ASA: Asacol (6 daily) + Salofalk enemas (increase for flares tapered to maintenance)
~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed
~Probiotic 3(Natural Factors Protec) bedtime + 1 (Primadophilus Reuteri) occasionally
~multi-digestive enzymes as needed ....zymactive 3 - 5x daily
~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux) Effexor XR 75mg; Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)
~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)
My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!


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dead(redirected from wouldn't be caught dead at)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
deadadjective at rest, bereft of life, breathless, buried, cadaverous, deceased, defunct, demised, departed, deearted this life, deprived of life, destitute of life, devoid of life, dormant, ended, exanimate, expired, extinct, inactive, inert, lifeless, long gone, no longer living, not possessing life, passed away, still, terminated, without a sign of life, without life, without the appearance of life
Associated concepts: dead-born, next of kin, presumed dead, surviving spouse, wrongful death
Foreign phrases: Cadaver nullius in bonis. A dead body is no one's property.
deadnoun corpse, the deceased, decedent, the deeunct, the departed, exanimis, exanimus, fatal casualty, the late, the late lamented
Associated concepts: autopsy, dead-born, dead man's statute, decedent's estates, next of kin, presumed dead, surviving spouse, wrongful death
Foreign phrases: Extra legem positus est civiliter mortuus.He who is placed outside the law is civilly dead.
See also: deceased, defunct, invalid, late, null, obsolete, pedestrian, torpid


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Staff Directory
David McLeish
Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Phone: 949-480-4248
Fax: 949-480-4093
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Dave McLeish, one of the most experienced soccer coaches in Southern California, has just finished four years as head coach of the Southern California Seahorses of the Premier Development League (PDL) of the United Soccer Leagues. McLeish, who has also coached college, high school, and club teams for 30 years, guided the Seahorses to a 44-27-6 overall record in the past four PDL seasons including a record of 12-6-1 against the professional Pro Select League. In 2002, McLeish coached the Seahorses to a 13-8 mark, winning the Western Conference championship and advancing to the national final four. He also took the team on an international tour to Guatemala finishing 9-1-0 against professional teams.
Dave has coached from youth levels to regional ODP programs. He served as the Region IV Boy's ODP Head Coach for the Western United States. Dave graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a bachelor's in physical education and a minor in Spanish. He coached soccer at Cerritos Junior College (1978-81), Biola University (1981-86) and Vanguard University in Costa Mesa (1986-2001), Santiago College (2001-2005), leading teams to the playoffs fourteen times and over 200 college wins. In addition, McLeish coached high school soccer teams at Edison, Dana Hills and Marina high schools in Orange County, Calif., spanning 25 seasons. His teams won ten league championships and over 300 games. Dave holds a USSF "A" license. From 1984-98, he brought more than 1,300 coaches into the ranks as a state licensing coach for the CYSA-S. He has helped to develop numerous college, professional, Olympic and national team players.


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Sonam Kapoor, the new craze of Bollywood, is coming with her debut film Saawariya. This 22 year old beauty queen has already earned experience in movie direction as she worked as assistant director of Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the movie Black. Sonam Kapoor now seems to win the hearts of the moviegoers with her stunning beauty innocent look. It is expected that Sonam Kapoor possesses sheer talent of acting which would be her main advantage in this profession. With her open eyed, expressive appearance, Sonam Kapoor also has the ability to win her a place in the hearts of her fans. Her innocent look will make you feel to be a fan of this future star of Bollywood. It is true that she does not have any movie to her credit yet, however, Sonam Kapoor has already created much hype in the media because of being a child of a Bollywood star.
Born in a filmy family, Sonam Kapoor had all in her house to take inspiration to become a movie star. Sonam's father Anil Kapoor is still one of the popular actors in Bollywood. Her two uncles Boney Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor are also involved in Bollywood successfully. Boney Kapoor is a producer whereas Sanjay Kapoor is an actor in Bollywood. Moreover, Bollywood's legendary actress Sridevi is married to her uncle Boney Kapoor. Having such background, it would have been natural for Sonam Kapoor to have a desire to become a star in Bollywood. However, interestingly Sonam Kapoor never had it in her mind that she has the potential to become an actress. It was Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the popular director of Bollywood, who reminded her that she had talent to become an actress in Bollywood.
Sonam Kapoor could not even think of becoming a Bollywood actress despite having her killing smile, innocent appearance and gifted talent. What is more surprising is that Sonam Kapoor does not even have any institutional education in acting. She has recently said that whatever she knows about acting she has learnt it from Sanjay Leela Bhansali. While working for Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the movie Black, she learnt the insight of acting for the first time and it helped her while working in Saawariya. So, she has learnt acting in a natural way without attending any school.
Sonam Kapoor has a younger sister, Reha and a brother whom Sonam has recently said to be a brutally honest while giving his opinion. That is why, Sonam Kapoor is eagerly waiting for his opinion regarding the movie Saawariya. Saawariya will hit the screens world wide on 9 November, the same day another much awaiting movie Om Shanti Om of Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan will get released. It has been reported that Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have a hidden competition as both of them are debutant and their first movie is releasing under big banners though Sonam Kapoor has refused having any competition between them.
Childhood of Sonam Kapoor
Actually, I could not find enough information regarding the childhood of Sonam Kapoor. She was born in 9 June, 1985. She brought up with her parents but she studied abroad. Anil Kapoor has said that Sonam Kapoor was very lean in her childhood. However, she got the extra weight while studying in abroad. Reports have it that Sonam Kapoor has a great appetite for food.
In her childhood she had several wishes. Though she was a daughter of a popular Bollywood actor she does not have any desire to become an actress. There were several wishes in her mind. Initially, she wanted to become a teacher. However, after some days, Sonam Kapoor changed her wish and wanted to become a detective like Nancy Drew. Becoming a writer-director was also in her mind. Becoming an actress was something that she could not even dream off in her childhood. However, the reality is that Sonam Kapoor is now in the queue to become the next super star in Bollywood.
Sonam Kapoor's Coming into Bollywood and Signing in Saawariya
Earlier I have mentioned earlier that Sonam Kapoor started as an assistant director of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It was for the movie 'Black' which was well-received by the critics. Ahead of the movie, one day Sonam Kapoor came to Sanjay Leela Bhansali with the request to give her the permission to work with him in the movie to get the basics of movie direction. I do not know if Sanjay could instantly realize the talent of Sonam Kapoor. However, he gave her the permission to work with him in the move Black. During the shooting of Black, one day Sanjay Leela Bhansali came up with the proposal to Sonam Kapoor to act in Saawariya. However, it came as a big surprise for Sonam Kapoor as she was about 90 kilos then. Immediately, Sonam Kapoor stared working hard to knock down her extra fats. With the help of her fitness freak mother Sunita kapoor, Sonam struggle hard and lost 30 kilos within few months.
When asked why he has taken two newcomers in the same movie, Sanjay Leela Bhansali said that he was feeling to take a challenge for himself working with the newcomers as he had earlier worked with some stars of the industry including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan etc. Regarding Sonam Kapoor, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has said that Sonam Kapoor is a combination of Waheeda Rehmanji and Rekha. It seems that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has realized the potential of Sonam Kapoor as an actress. However, Anil Kapoor is not not overexcited with her daughter and has recently said in an interview that Sonam has to go a long way still now.
Saawariya is a film said to be timeless as one can not make it relate to any point of time in the history. Viewers will get to experience the touch of art in each and every sides of the movie. The lavish sets, unique music number are enough to impress the moviegoers. The story of Saawariya is based on a short story of Fyodor Dostoevsky titled 'White Nights.' What is more siognificant is that Saawariya is the first Bollywood movie till date which has been produced by a
As far as the promo of Saawariya is concerned, Sonam Kapoor showed brilliant performance in her debut movie. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Saawariya is a love story where a boy named Raj and a girl named Sakina found eternal love for each other. With a budget of about RS 30 crore, Sanjay Leela Bhansali took the lavish project of Saawariya where almost all of the scenes of the movie have been shot in misty night light. With lots of lights the environment was artificially created in the movie studio and you must be surprised to see the sets of the movie. The male lead role, Raj came from a Hindu family whereas Sakina is Muslim by religion. However, the directors and actors of the movie have confirmed it that the movie will not be a typical Hindu-Muslim movie.
Raj reaches at a picture like town where he meets Sakina. The town is really like a picture where you can see mountains three and many other things which will make you realize that it is a fantasy world where two souls have found their love for each other. You will find all ingredients to feel that Saawariya is a unique love story compared to other love stories of Bollywood. Lotuses, lake, boat, lights, stars in the sky- above all a mystic nightly environment are portrayed in the movie.
Monty Sharma as a composer in his debut film has stunned the Bollywood fans with his exceptionally composed songs. Recently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali said that Monty is now raked just after A.R. Rahman in the Bollywood industry as a composer. The music tracks of the movie suit the themes of the film very well.


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Keep the love alive - How to make those Valentine's flowers last longer
|Published: 12th February 2015 08:01
The stunning bouquet of roses... or indeed any other flowers... has arrived and that first flush of romantic delight quickly changes into blind panic... how to keep them alive!
Help is at hand with the Flowers & Plants Association's quick guide to perfect flower loving... with not a drop of gin in sight.
1: If your flowers have been delivered in a 'bubble' of water (what the trade call an aqua pack) take them out as soon as possible. We know the packaging looks fab but a bubble is really only for delivery purposes. It's fine to leave them in the wrapping for up to 12 hours but after that you should transfer them to a vase. A tip is to hold the bouquet over a sink and slice the wrapping at the bottom so the water pours out. If you tilt the bouquet like a jug you may get spillage.
2: If it's a hand tied bouquet you should keep the string around the stems in place so the bouquet holds its shape. If you want to make a couple of vases from your gift, snip the string carefully and arrange as required but always make sure that any part of the stem that will sit in the water is leaf free as they contaminate the water and decrease flower life.
3: Mix the flower food that comes with most delivered flowers with the right amount of water... the mix is important to make sure the flowers get the right amount of nutrients. If there wasn't any flower food, then only use plain water... it's an old wives' tale that aspirin, lemonade or gin will help, and a modern mens' tale that Viagra is the solution. They all have a purpose... just not with flowers!
4: Cut about 2 - 5cm of stem off the bottom at a short, slanted 45° angle using a sharp knife or scissors. We could get all technical about xylem vessels, micro-organisms and vascular take-up but basically the wider the cut, the better the water take up. Avoid blunting the stems as this causes a whole lot of damage and stops water absorption which will lead to premature wilt. It's a bit like smashing your finger with a hammer or having a paper cut... both hurt like heck but the paper cut heals more quickly.
5: Enjoy... with the right care and the right flower food your roses should last at least a week... other flowers even longer!
See what a difference flower food makes, watch our video at http://www.flowersandplants.org.uk/flowers/valentines-care-tips-video.html
For more information on flower care for all types of flowers and how to enjoy them for longer, log onto www.flowersandplants.org.uk
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Among the many treasures in my life, I count time spent traveling to England and Scotland with my Mother as some of my most cherished memories.
Over the years my Mom has gifted me with paintings she has created chronicling some of our favorite holidays. The Abbey Hotel in Cornwall and St. Catherine's Lighthouse on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight.
Shells gathered on walks on the beach fill the Ball jar that once belonged to my grandmother Mildred Little Bergeron. The shells, mixed together in the jar, represent visits from Lands End to John O'Groats, Dover and St. Ives to the Orkney Islands.
Copyright © 2009 by Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski


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There is so much to discover on Lady Elliot Island and there are plenty of activities on offer to help you learn more about the Island and it's unique history, flora, fauna and incredible marine life. Our slice of paradise provides an environment that inspires a diversity of exciting nature based activities. We have a dedicated Activities Team on Lady Elliot Island and we offer a range of free guided activities and/or tours daily. The guided tours/activities are available three times a day, in the morning, afternoon and evening. The weekly scheduled activities are printed in the Coral Capers Activities leaflet in guest rooms and the Activities board outside the Reef Education Centre is updated daily.
Given Lady Elliot's status as one of the best snorkelling and diving locations in the world, exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef is one of the main activities on the island. Guests can explore this amazing eco system by Reef Walking, Snorkelling or Diving. Please see Snorkel & Dive pages for more information. We offer guided Reef Walking tours or guests can do this on their own with the aid of reef walking poles and seascopes (covered reef walking shoes or crocs must be worn to avoid cuts and/or injuries).
And for those in search of games to pass the day away, the Eco Resort offers beach volleyball, soccer, table tennis and a pool table. A small selection of dvd's, books and board games are available in the Manta Lounge.