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As some of you may have heard in the last few days the Fine Bros YouTube channel attempted to form a monopoly on reaction YouTube video's. The Fine Bros are a YouTube channel that specializes in YouTube reaction videos. They have been very popular on the internet. Earlier this week they announced there new network "React World." This is a network where basically people make reaction videos and pay them a share of the profits. This would normally just be a bad idea, but then they started taking down other peoples reaction videos. Continue reading "The Fine Bro's Attempt to Monopolize Reactions"
Tag: Blog
A New 4-inch IPhone may launch this March
Apple is rumored to announce a new 4in iPhone this March called the iPhone 5se. This will stand for the iPhone 5 special edition. But this will not just be another iPhone 5 this is going to feature many features similar to the other iPhone model. This will have an 8 megapixel rear camera,like the current iPhone 6, and a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera. This phone will have the ability to take live photo's as well. This will feature the
Continue reading "A New 4-inch IPhone may launch this March"
EA Announces Game Lineup For 2016 and Early 2017
A few days ago EA released information about it's upcoming game lineup for 2016 and early 2017 in a share holder press conference. They announced some very exciting new games to come. EA has always released great games (Even if they are sometimes a bit shady). So i'm really excited.
First off they released there expected sports games (Madden, Fifa, etc.). Which is expected but kind of boring. I wish they would just focus on legitimate games instead of overpriced re-skins, but EA loves money so that's not happening. Theres nothing surprising here. There as expected also going to release a new battlefield game as they always do. They also announced a new Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare game, for the 5 people who care.
They also announced they will be releasing Titanfall 2 sometime this year. I liked the first Titanfall game and I hope this one will be good too. EA has said that they plan to release this for more platforms than just the Xbox One and Xbox 360. It is also rumored to have a full single player campaign. I don't know about the last one because even though the world of Titanfall is interesting and probably has some great stories that could be told in it, I don't feel like Titanfall needs it. Some games like Battlefront defiantly need a single player campaign (seriously how did they screw that up). But others like Titanfall don't need one. There are very few first person shooters that would actually get people to play campaign (Battlefront), and Titanfall doesn't seem like one. I think they should just stick to multiplayer, and have a massive amount of multiplayer content there.
Continue reading "EA Announces Game Lineup For 2016 and Early 2017"
Voilition Reveals Cancelled Saints Row Game
Earlier this week Volition released a beta for a cancelled Saints Row Game. This was going to be called Saints Row Undercover for the PSP. According to Voliton. they originally planned to just port Saints Row 2 but they found the game was to large for the PSP. They then decided to just make a new game all together. Since Volition doesn't make portable games they hired an unnamed other developer to make it. The game didn't live up to THQ, there old publisher, or Volition's standards so they cancelled the project
Some of the developers were looking back on the archives and found a PSP dev kit. Since none of them remembered ever working on a PSP game they started talking to some people who had worked at Volition for a while and found a early model of the game titled "Saints Row Undercover". They found that game actually had a character customization system, a tutorial level, and a full open world. This is a lot for just a test model. When they mentioned showing it to the public to some other people at Volition, they responded "You can't show that it's unfinished." When hearing this they started to question why they couldn't. They decided that Saints Row fans would wan't to see this. With that in mind they convinced the higher ups at Volition to let them show the game to the public.
Continue reading "Voilition Reveals Cancelled Saints Row Game"
Mojang is Making an Educational Minecraft Game
Microsoft and Mojang have announced that they have acquired MinecraftEDU and are working on there own educational Minecraft game titled "Minecraft Educational Edition". This will sell at 5 USD a year for a student, 25 USD a year for a server, and a 41 USD one-time server licensing fee. It will be an expanded version of Minecraft for education. This isn't really surprising seeing that according to Microsoft "over 7,000 classrooms in more than 40 countries worldwide use Minecraft as part of their curriculum today."
The company Teacher Gaming LLC, which is the company the Microsoft bought MincreftEDU from is still selling MinecraftEDU, which is a modded version of Minecraft for schools. The company says that "Minecraft can be a very useful educational tool it can teach a range of skills, like digital citizenship, empathy, social skills, and can even improve their literacy, while also getting real-time feedback from their teacher." I honestly don't really see the point in this version.
Continue reading "Mojang is Making an Educational Minecraft Game"
Oculus Rift Pre-Orders Before You Buy Info
As some of you may know that the Oculus Rift has recently opened up to pre-orders. This was really exciting, but I wan't you all to know somethings before you buy it. For those of you who don't know already the Oculus Rift is a high end VR gaming headset. VR gaming is basically a headset with a screen that makes you feel like your actually in the game. Test demos for this have been out for a while but this is the first official Oculus release.
Continue reading "Oculus Rift Pre-Orders Before You Buy Info"
Sony is trying to trademark the term "Let's Play"
Earlier today I saw this story that I thought was absolutely insane. Sony is apparently trying to trademark the term "Let's Play". At first I didn't believed so I checked other sources and sure enough it was true. For those of you who don't know a Let's Play is basically a video of someone playing a video game, usually with commentary. Some of these videos get millions of views each. I have two idea's why they would want to do, the first is that they wan't to use it as a slogan. Maybe there going to have an ad campaign shoving "PlayStation: Let's Play" or something like that down our throats. My second and probably the more likely reason is that maybe to promote there content over everyone else's. they might use the trademark to get videos with there competitors games, who use the term Let's Play off YouTube or any other video streaming site. Continue reading "Sony is trying to trademark the term "Let's Play""
Screen Junkies Plus – Could it kill YouTube
Everyone knows YouTube, even people who are allergic to the internet have heard of YouTube. Most likely everyone reading this has used it at least once. Earlier today I saw something that I knew I needed to write a story on. Recently the Screen Junkies channel launched there subscription service Screen Junkies Plus. This is a $4.99 USD a month subscription which allows you to watch extra content. Now this has gotten mostly positive responses so far. But when I saw this and I had totally a different response. First things first the price is ridiculous Netflix which has professional exclusives and thousands of hours of content costs $9.99 USD a month. Screen Junkies Plus probably has about 12 hours of content (I don't have the subscription I don't know the exact number), but the price isn't the worst part of this. What I'm scared of is what if this succeeds. If this is successful more Youtubers will switch from the traditional ad based formula they have Continue reading "Screen Junkies Plus – Could it kill YouTube"


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Ecuador's indigenous justice system on trial
A few thousand people are gathered in La Cocha, an indigenous community in the Ecuadorean Andes, as a naked man is forced to carry a heavy bag of rocks around the town square.
The 22-year-old man, called Orlando Quishpe, is then tied to a post and drenched with cold water as people call him "murderer" and "traitor" in the local Quechua language.
The ceremony continues with women whipping him with stinging nettles and local leaders flogging his back with a leather strap.
This was the punishment that local indigenous authorities gave to Quishpe and four others for allegedly killing another local man, Marco Olivo.
The five young men were also ordered to pay $6,750 (£4,416) in reparations to the community.
The punishment took place on 23 May, but more than two months later it is still making headlines in Ecuador and raising questions. Is indigenous justice an abuse of human rights? Or is it a legitimate practice allowed by law?
Media backlash
A quarter of Ecuador's population is indigenous, divided among 16 nationalities across the Pacific coast, the Andes and the Amazon region.
Many communities have been managing their own justice for centuries.
The principle is to show people that they have done wrong and give them a chance to purify and live again in harmony with their community and with Mother Nature, or Pacha Mama.
Ecuador's constitution, approved in 2008, together with various international agreements signed by the country, recognises the rights of indigenous people, including their right to practise their own form of justice.
But following a media backlash that portrayed the events in La Cocha as barbaric and violent, the Ecuadorean government started questioning the legality of indigenous justice.
A government programme on public television showed violent images of indigenous protests and lynchings and asked: "Killings, kidnappings, lynchings, tortures… is this indigenous justice?"
'Forced confession'
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa himself called the events of La Cocha a "monstrosity".
"This degrading spectacle that we saw through the media is an injustice," said Mr Correa. "For God's sake, this is torture, this is barbarity."
According to relatives of Quishpe, he was coerced into a confession.
"They were kept in a cesspit, naked, with the water up to their chest and their eyes covered," says Oswaldo Quishpe, an uncle.
"Orlando came out looking like a prisoner of war."
He also says that his nephew's life was threatened, as La Cocha's leaders were supposedly considering passing a death sentence, which is unconstitutional.
Ricardo Chaluisa, president of La Cocha's community, denies these accusations.
He says that the death sentence was just a rumour and that the five men were kept in private homes, fed regularly and looked after properly.
After the incident came to light, Justice Minister Jose Serrano personally took part in an operation to transfer the five men to Quito, where they could be put on trial.
The men had medical tests to establish whether they had been tortured, but the results have not been made public.
At the same time, three indigenous leaders from La Cocha, including Mr Chaluisa, were arrested for kidnapping, torture, mistreatment and extortion.
When a judge released them because he said the evidence against them was inconclusive, he was suspended for misconduct. That case is now being reviewed by Ecuador's Constitutional Court.
James Anaya, a UN special rapporteur on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, has voiced concern at the government's actions.
"It is counter-productive for the construction of an intercultural and multinational state," said Mr Anaya, "to describe as wild and as human rights violations all expressions of indigenous justice, based on partial and incomplete information from the media."
Indigenous groups initially supported Mr Correa in 2006, when he was first elected. But many have since come to oppose his policies, organising protests against new laws to regulate mining and water resources.
The underlying problem is a supremacist view of power that leads to racism, says Fernando Garcia, an anthropologist and leading expert in indigenous justice.
"In Ecuador, inter-ethnic relations are still problematic," says Mr Garcia.
"Justice is one of the foundations of power and us 'mestizos' (mixed racial ancestry between white and indigenous) have always had the power and we're not used to letting go and accepting other visions."
For example, the punishment with cold water and stinging nettles is not torture, according to indigenous tradition.
Several Quechua communities use the same treatment for ritual purifying ceremonies.
At the same time, according to the indigenous philosophy, a prison sentence is considered a human rights abuse because it takes away the freedom of a person.
Mr Chaluisa says that prison terms make social reintegration harder compared to indigenous punishments.
Internal conflict
For example, his community handled another murder case in 2002, and the person convicted was punished in a similar way to Quishpe and is now an active member of the community.
The government argues that the constitution gives indigenous authorities only the right to solve "internal conflicts", not serious crimes such as murders.
But within the indigenous value system, murder is an internal conflict because it disrupts the natural harmony of the community.
Legislators and the justice ministry are currently working on a draft law to establish which cases can only be handled by the regular justice system, so avoiding cases such as La Cocha.
And there is hope that such a law could help in situations like this one.
For Ecuador's indigenous leaders there is no doubt that, with or without a new law, they will not stop applying their own justice.
"We are like the grass in the highlands," says Mr Chaluisa, quoting the renowned indigenous leader Dolores Cacuango.
"Even if they pull us out or burn us, our roots will sprout again more strongly."

subset: commoncrawl


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I feel a bit late writing this up seeing as though the challenge started 3 weeks ago. But nevertheless I've started on my quest to do something great. For the past 3 years I've had 2 failed attempts at losing weight and this time I'm not going to let it happen. You know what they say, "Fall down seven times, stand up eight." So I feel much more determined! 😏
I've started out with about a month's worth of training already in working with the personal training group called TEAM Weightloss. When you sign up for the training you basically start at TEAM Weightloss, then you graduate to TEAM Fitness, and from there you move on to TEAM Bootcamp. So I'm still dusting the cobwebs off the ole joints and getting my muscles used to working out. But it's getting there, I still have a hard time and I've been working out 4 weeks before the challenge (7 total weeks).
Continue reading Lifetime Fitness 60-Day Challenge


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SkillUP is a short course designed to give you the basics in enterprise, and get you thinking about a career as a Social Entrepreneur. Learn how to think like an entrepreneur, conduct market research and end with the Perfect Pitch! At the end of the course, we will give you details on how to get help from our entrepreneur mentors and contribute to our support hub. Good luck and have fun!
The course is designed to explore some skills that Young Carers develop through their caring activity, such as resilience, perception, empathy and conflict management. It will help you to improve your knowledge and awareness on the needs and realities of young BAME carers in your country and in Europe, will provide you with key tools and resources to support young carers in empowering their soft skills and transferring them into other areas of their lives, will give you the opportunity to practice learning with realistic case studies. This training is split into one course for professionals and another for young people.
This e-course, designed by the Abused No More Partnership, aims to strengthen the skills and competences of youth professionals who are working with marginalised youth especially those who are facing exclusion and discrimination due to gender based-based abuse or their cultural backgrounds. Using real stories of young people, the course explores youth-led models of engagement and familiarise professionals with the concept of legal literacy as an empowerment tool for prevention of gender based discrimination and violence. The training is split into one course for professionals and another for young people.
This training uniquely combines the first hand thoughts and experiences of refugee and asylum seeking women in the UK with information about legal and policy chances that relates to the obligations of organisations working with victims of under the EU Victims Directive.
Evidence-based free online training programme on Gender Sensitivity in the Asylum Process as part of the three–year Comic Relief and Matrix Chambers funded project Abused No More: The Voices of Refugee and Asylum-seeking Women .


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The FunCakes confetti silver is...
Give your gum paste or icing flowers a realistic finish with these flower stamens.
The handy lollipop sticks from PME are ideal for homemade lollipops. The lollipop sticks are especially suitable for making lollipops with the lollipop molds. Not suitable for use in the oven. Contains 35 pieces.
These solid wooden sticks from PME provide the support to tiered/stacked cakes. The dowels rods are easy to cut.
Make your own lollipops with these handy lollipop sticks from PME. The lollipop sticks are especially suitable for making lollipops with the lollipop molds.
Toffee Apples are a great fun so why not treat your family and friends all year round
These striped red cake pop sticks from House of Marie are perfect for all kinds of cake pops! The hollow sticks are made of extra firm paper, so that they can contribute the weight of the cake pops. Also suitable as a straw.
Firm hollow rods for supporting a tiered cake. The rods are easily cut to the desired length. Sizes: 32 cm with a 1,85 cm diameter.
The mini popsicle sticks from Silikomart are ideal for homemade ice creams, but also for cake pops, lollipops


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Juniors U7-U10
Junior Development Model Overview
"Creating Future Stars in the Game of Soccer and in Life."
The Juniors Program is for ALL LEVELS OF PLAYERS in the U7-U10 age groups who are interested in committing themselves to reaching their next level and potential.
TSC Hurricane's Junior Development Model emphasizes quality training in small group formats. The Junior Program follows TSCH Player Development Philosophies and Standards.
Our club cooperatively guides young players through four stages that will fully prepare them for the next level:
1. Learning To Train (100% development focus)
2. Learning Style Of Play (100% development focus)
3. Refining Style Of Play (95% development focus, 5% winning focus)
4. Training To Compete (85% development focus, 15% winning focus)
it's our mission to help ALL players (no matter what background, age or level) become STARS in LIFE and develop a life-long passion for the game! We are confident working together we will help better prepare players as they move into adulthood (and while in adulthood) in an ever changing, diverse and global society. We firmly believe that our players' learning experiences in the game as a life-long member of our club will help prepare them to be STARS in LIFE!
A player graduating out of our Juniors Program should possess the following Skills:
A Love for the Game.
An arsenal of Ball Mastery & Dribbling Skills.
Confidence & Competence of 1v1s in both Attacking & Defending
Correct Shooting Technique
Correct Passing Technique
Correct Heading Technique
Positive First Touch
Players should be proficient jugglers of the ball and all skill work is geared towards developing both feet. All of these skills add up to create a confident player who can receive a ball under pressure and make a positive decision with it.
Please note: To participate in the full experience of the Soccer City JDL you must be a member of TSC Hurricane.
***** Questions about the Juniors Program, send an email to the Director Of Coaching. - firstname.lastname@example.com


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Discounts are limited to one per customer and may not be combined with any other offer. Discount amount applies to merchandise total only and cannot be applied toward Smart Apps, clearance items, setup or shipping charges, previous orders or invoice payments. HRdirect reserves the right to make substitutions of equal or greater value for gifts.
Notify nursing mothers that you comply with FLSA
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to provide for breaks for female employees to express their milk, and requires employers to provide them a location other than a restroom in which to do so. Specifically, employers are required to provide nursing mothers reasonable breaks any time they need to express milk for up to one year after their child's birth.
Let nursing mothers and other employees know you provide accommodations for breastfeeding at work, as required by the recently amended FLSA, with this poster.
Product Specifications:


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The JHSF Participações is a Brazilian real estate and development company that invests in acquisition and development of properties in shopping malls, real estate development, gastronomy, luxury hotels and office parks. It was founded by two brothers as a construction company. Initially formulated as JHSF, the construction company split two ways when the two brothers disagreed between accelerating and decelerating. The owner and founder of JHSF, FábioAuriemo, wanted to develop JHS into a development company but his brother and partner, Jose Roberto, would not have it. They split JHS into JHSF and JHSJ, coincidentally adding the first initials of their first names at the end of JHS.
JHSF grew into a big and prosperous business entity and consolidated a wealth of properties in different cities and delivering exemplary services to all its clients. The company, rumored to be a luxury property specialized entity, has equities in various posh properties and continues to invest heavily in luxury and high-end market properties not to assert a social status but because the market is enticingly lucrative. The high-end real estate market had been lacking enough supply of property before JHSF moved in to capitalize on the market gap. The fruits reaped were worth the while as the upper part of the Brazilian social pyramid is characterized by rampant consumerism.
However, in contrast to the notion that JHSF only serves the upper part of the Brazilian social pyramid, the real estate giant owns the Shopping Metrô Santa Cruz among other commercial blocks and office parks that serve the commercial class. The Shopping Metrô Santa Cruz alone allows over 75,000 people who gain access to when they pass by it daily and visit the numerous thrift shops within it.
The ParqueCidadeJardim
The ParqueCidadeJardim is the most profitable investment that JHSF has ever made. There could have been many reasons why the founder, owner and Chief Executive of JHSF, FábioAuriemo, could have bequeathed his son the presidency of the company but the ParqueCidadeJardim certainly made him do it without any doubts. José AuriemoNeto was the man who identified the 80,000 square meters of parking lots near the Marginal Pinheiros and saw the potential that space had. Convinced it would make an ideal location for the construction of a luxury complex, he managed to persuade an adamantly skeptical FábioAuriemo into taking a chance with the location and learn more about JHSF.
The 80,000 square meters that no one had ever evaluated for worth is currently the home to ParqueCidadeJardim. The complex, just on the edge of Marginal Pinheiros, is the biggest luxury complex in all of Brazil. It features;
- A shopping mall with 180 stores,
- Nine residential towers,
- Four offices,
- A building complex which will house luxury apartments and a luxury hotel of the Fasano brand.
More visit: https://br.advfn.com/bolsa-de-valores/bovespa/jhsf-part-JHSF3/cotacao


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I said NO and it hurts so badMarch 25th, 2015 at 01:10 pm
(This is a post that only purse lovers would understand)
So, Kate Spade sends me an email this morning about a purse that is $100 off today only. I looked, coveted, and drooled all day long.... but I have finally decided to just say NO because it's the right thing to do. I certainly love this bag but I certainly don't need it nor do I have an extra $200 to spend on it either. But, gosh darnit, I can't stop thinking about it.
As luck would have it though, I just sold one of my brand new Dooney and Bourke handbags that I bought for a steal (around $90) and got $160 for it which means a profit of $70. I've tried and tried to sell it over the course of the past year or so with no luck until today... the day that Kate Spade tempts me so. But, I'm holding strong and will save that $160 inflow of cash instead of spending it and then some on a new Kate bag.
The right decision is sometimes (always) the hardest decision.


text: So its been quite a long time since i last posted (understatement of the year!) so i figured, New Year, now is as good a time as any to dust off the old blog and start posting again. Sadly this time i don't have any amazing 6 month trip ahead of me, so after some serious inspiration from an amazing blog i've been reading i thought id try my hand at lifestyle blogging! Continue reading


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How and Where to Meet Chicago Women
Every city has its unique charm and amazing history. Chicago, one of the greatest cities in the USA, is not an exception. But most of the men still wonder where and how More »
Cougar Dating Online app
General description Cougar Dating Online app, or CougarD for short, is a great swiping-based platform for meeting older sexy women by younger or same-age men. It's a leader in the dating market More »
Online services to date and marry hot Polish girls
Reputable and solid online matchmaking services are the best solution to find a girl in Polish offering the safest opportunities for dating a Polish girl. – https://girl-ukraine.net More »
5 Tips to Help You Avoid Scams on Latin Dating Sites
Dater Beware Online dating should be a fun and fulfilling experience. However, being open to so many different characters makes it just as risky as it is rewarding. Scams are rampant in More »
The Pros and Cons of NSA Dating
From past few months, the No Strings Attached or FWB kinds of relationships are growing more. Most of the youngsters as well as older people are looking forward to finding a partner More »
Dadiangas Women: Online Dating and Marriage
Most of people treat differently the opportunity of Dadiangas women online dating. Someone consider that such activity is just a waste of time, while others users are happy together with the soul More »
Real Russian brides are ready to meet you right now
It is not necessary to keep mentioning that marriage is very important and is perhaps one of the key events in life of every single human being. We all know it, regardless More »
Unique dating advice for the best men
iDateAdvice is creating Dating tips read more. If you are sick and tired of loneliness, if you want to win a girl, but don't know how to do this, the unique website cherade.com. Here More »


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Dress Length
Shop the essential maxi dresses that are trending right now, From the latest minimal slip trends to luxe lace and metallic styles. Our maxi dresses have got your new look covered and we've got plenty of styles to see you through the new season. Wear yours with a pair of going out shoes and earrings.
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Downtown Boise comes alive for First Thursday in April
Here's some of what's happening at Downtown Boise's monthly gallery stroll:
▪ Painter Rachel Teannalach, work pictured, will open a solo show at Gallery Five18, 518 S. Americana Blvd., on First Thursday. "Intersections and Encounters" explores the meeting point of human development and nature. GalleryFive18.com.
▪ LaBry Fine Art Gallery, 404 S. 8th St. in BoDo, will collaborate with its neighbor, Bodovino wine bar. You'll find work from LaBry Gallery artists Geoffrey Krueger (painting) and Glen Hush (photography) in Bodovino's event room, with wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres. At the gallery a few steps away, you'll find more artists, such as painter Tarmo Watia and sculptor Guilloume, and wine by Boise's Mouvance Winery.
▪ Heat things up at Boise Art Glass and FireFusion Studio, 1124 W. Front St., Boise. Check out the beautiful work by Art Glass Studio owner Filip Vogelpohl and others, and make something of your own. For $40, you can make a hummingbird feeder on the glass side, or, for $25, make your own spring-inspired jewelry with FireFusion owner Delia Dante. Call 345-1825 to reserve a spot for between 4 and 9 p.m. BoiseArtGlass.com; FireFusion-Studio.com.
5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 7, unless otherwise noted, at venues throughout Downtown Boise. Find more events at DowntownBoise.org.


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It takes two years to get an associate degree for students taking the recommended full-time course load. Associate degree programs at U.S. colleges require a minimum of 60 credits, though additional credits may be required depending on the program.
While virtually all associate degree programs are designed to be completed in two years, many students - especially those who maintain employment during their studies - usually take more than two years to finish a degree. On the other hand, students who take courses during the summer or who take a heavier course load each term can finish an associate degree program in less than two years. Some associate degree graduates move directly into careers, while others transfer into a bachelor's degree program as junior-level students.


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Did you know that Sauerkraut translated means 'sour cabbage'?
It's made up of finely shredded, pickled cabbage that's been fermented with various lactic acid bacteria. Sauerkraut has a distinctive flavour and a long shelf life.
Fully cured sauerkraut keeps for several months in an airtight container when stored at or below 15 °C (60 °F). Neither refrigeration nor pasteurization is required, although these treatments prolong storage life.
According to Wikipedia, German sauerkraut is often flavoured with juniper berries. Korea has offered the world their own version of fermented food called Kimchi. It's their national dish, and it's made with other vegetables and a variety of seasonings.
Sauerkraut appeared in China as far back as 2,000 years ago. The Romans mention preserving cabbages and turnips with salt. It's believed to have been introduced to Europe in its present form 1,000 years later after Genghis Khan plundered China.
This week at the Haliburton County Farmers' Market, we pay tribute to this age old tradition of fermenting the harvest.
Join us on Friday, September 14th at our Haliburton location as we engage in making sauerkraut, and we share the knowledge and engage with our visitors on how to do this, too! And, if you'd like to learn more amazing facts about this fermented food, please visit our "Weekly Events" page where we've added a plethora of information.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday!
Kitchen Garden International
Wild Fermentation
German Food Guide
Make Your Own Sauerkraut


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Knights split on the pitch in WIC matches at Sullivan
(High School Sports ~ 09/07/17)
By CAREY FOX Times Sports Editor SULLIVAN — The Northview soccer teams came away with a split of contests on the road against Western Indiana Conference Western Division rival Sullivan on Wednesday evening. The boys got back in the win column with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Golden Arrows to improve to 2-1 in the WIC and gain a share of second-place. The girls were unable to knock Sullivan from the ranks of the unbeaten, falling 4-3, to the Golden Arrows, who improve to 8-0 this season...
JAIL BOOKINGS September 8, 2017
(Police Logs ~ 09/07/17)
CLAY COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER The following jail bookings were processed during September 5-7, 2017: Holloway, Whitley S., 29: Hold for other agency Jewell, Carl, 36: Hold for other agency
COURT NEWS September 8, 2017
(Court News ~ 09/07/17)
CLAY COUNTY COURTHOUSE Superior Court The following filings were reported in Clay Superior Court during September 6-7, 2017: Civil Forum Credit Union vs Clinton J. Bright Criminal State vs Ashley N. Carson, 26: Possession of marijuana, Driving while suspended...
North Clay runners sweep top spots against Greencastle
(High School Sports ~ 09/07/17)
Times Staff Report North Clay recorded perfect scores in a dual cross country meet at home against Greencastle this week. The Knights took the top-12 spots in the girls' race and the top-seven in the boys race to record a perfect 15 points to Greencastle's 50...
Northview and golf record wins; North Clay splits in volleyball
(High School Sports ~ 09/07/17)
Times Staff Report CLAYTON — Northview improved to 11-3 on the volleyball court with a 25-8, 25-14, 25-9 win at Cascade on Wednesday evening. The Knights had a little trouble with the overmatched Cadets as Torrence Fagg had two digs, Kassidy Glassburn posted a block, Katy Anderson had two aces and Maggie Mershon had four digs. ...
Mathews makes first court appearance in 2016 Staunton murder Accused pleads not guilty, court dates set
(Local News ~ 09/07/17)
The Brazil man accused of killing Staunton's Virginia Marie Myrtle in 2016 made his first court appearance Wednesday, pleading not guilty to murder and abuse of a corpse. Sitting mostly quiet through his initial hearing in Clay Circuit Court, 36-year-old Jesse L. Mathews listened to the grand jury's indictment against him on those felony charges.
Churches combining forces to aid Hurricane Harvey victims
(Local News ~ 09/07/17)
Area churches are coming together to help those displaced by Hurricane Harvey. Those from various congregations will unite at 6 p.m. Sunday at Berea Christian Church, 1995 W. County Road 800 N, Brazil, to respond with both prayer and supplies to the disaster that flooded the Houston area with almost 52 inches of rain, damaged an estimated 100,000 homes and left at least 70 people dead...
Hamilton Center is celebrating National Recovery Month
(Community News ~ 09/07/17)
National Recovery Month is an observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. Recovery Month celebrates the successes made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate improvements made by those who are managing health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. ...
The ABC's of Housebreaking
(Community News ~ 09/07/17)
How exciting to have a new puppy, the joy of a new puppy can quickly erode if housebreaking is delayed. This article will cover the ABC's of housebreaking to ensure you end up with a dog who understands where to "potty." A… Awareness. To effectively housetrain a puppy the owner and all family members must be aware of the puppy and her needs. ...
McCormick's Creek Trail Run/Walk is Sept. 24
(Community News ~ 09/07/17)
Runners and walkers of all ages are invited to participate in the 9th annual YMCA/Friends of McCormick's Creek Trail Run/Walk on Sunday, Sept. 24. Packet pick up and race day registration begins at 1 p.m. at the Nature Center. The starting pistol will fire promptly at 2...
Delta Theta Tau Sorority installs officers
(Community News ~ 09/07/17)
Submitted photo New officers for 2017-18 were recently installed for Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Theta Tau Sorority. They are front, from left, Jennifer French (Treasurer), Patti Foxx (President), Michelle Bell (Recording Secretary), Miranda Goodale (Corresponding Secretary); and back, Cindi Monds (Sergeant-at-Arms), Linda Sheese (Pledge Supervisor), Tammy Ninesling (Historian), Diane Braden (Publicity Chair), Kaylee McCollum (Vice-President)...
McVay Motorsports fundraiser is Sept. 12
(Community News ~ 09/07/17)
Wings Etc. will support local race car driver Ailia Grace McVay's dreams during an all-day fundraiser on Tuesday. At the end of the school day, the 8-year old is bringing her cars down to the restaurant at 915 East National Ave., Brazil, for a meet and greet. Diners who mention Ailia will donate a portion of their meal to support the young quarter midget drivers' ambitions...
FBC Christian Youth Camp hosting fundraiser on Sunday
(Community News ~ 09/07/17)
The public is invited to the upcoming Friendly Benwood Community Christian Youth Campground chicken and noodle fundraising dinner. The event takes place Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The menu includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, roll and desert with a drink all for donation only. All proceeds will benefit the camp, located 525 East County Road 1200 North, 1.5 miles east of State Road 59...
Family celebrates birth, 5 generations
(Births ~ 09/07/17)
Nevaeh Serenity is very excited and wants to tell everyone about the arrival of her little brother, Liam Gregory Gabriel Solomon. Liam was born at 10:20 p.m. on April 13, 2017 at Union Hospital, Terre Haute. He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 1/2 inches long, Liam arrived with a head full of hair...
Riding Out The Storm: Former Brazil residents now in Florida staying put as Hurricane Irma approaches
(Local News ~ 09/07/17)
Reported by the National Hurricane Center as one of the nastiest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Irma is bearing down on Puerto Rico and expected to hit the United States Virgin Islands, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida sometime late Saturday or Sunday. Two former Brazil residents are planning to hunker down to face the storm...
Knights show 'bounce back' in win over Bulldogs
(High School Sports ~ 09/07/17)
By CAREY FOX Times Sports Editor The Northview Knights came away disappointed after a key road conference loss against unbeaten Sullivan on Wednesday evening. However, the Knights had plenty of 'bounce back' a night later in controlling a 5-0 victory against Monrovia...
Knights survive scare from visiting Sullivan in WIC opener
(High School Sports ~ 09/07/17)
By CAREY FOX Times Sports Editor Late in the third set against visiting Sullivan, Northview's volleyball team was just three points away from a surprisingly academic win over the rival Golden Arrows. Sullivan took a page out of their football team's playbook in making a mad rally down the stretch, but the Knights righted the ship to gain a 25-17, 25-13, 23-25, 25-23...
Clay City in 'dire need' after wastewater pumps failed Sunday night, says town board president
(Local News ~ 09/07/17)
Broken seals on wastewater pumps have left Clay City in "desperate need," said Chuck Strunk, a town employee at Tuesday's meeting of the Clay City Council. Normally, the wastewater plant uses two pumps, Strunk said. However, four months ago, one of three pumps went out and it was taken to a shop for repair. After it was returned to Clay City, it worked for a short time and broke again. That was about two months ago, Strunk said...
Class celebrates 70 years of being Red Devils
(Local News ~ 09/07/17)
Eight members of the Brazil High School Class of 1947 met Tuesday at Brazil Family Restaurant to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their graduation as Brazil Red Devils. There are about 50 surviving members of the class, said Suzanne Huber of Brazil, who organized the event. There were 128 seniors who graduated in 1947. ...
Stories from Thursday, September 7, 2017
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These are days when everyone is represented in social media sites such as Facebook Twitter and Linkedin. Not only the individuals but also companies are represented in them with their business profiles. This is why you get a button in most websites that enables visitors to offer likes, tweets or to connect online. These companies use social media sites to develop leads that are highly useful and productive. Therefore, it is time to get a representative of your company to work on adding your company profile into some of these social media sites. This is one of the most recently developed marketing strategies used in digital marketing.
Once you set up a page on a social media site, it is necessary for you to download its button and leave it in your site. According to research, being represented in social media site itself is a point for some customers to like your products and services. Therefore, you need to change your marketing strategies to suit these customers. Today social media has become more important as a sales tool for companies than a tool that foster social connections and entertainment. Therefore, companies should use it as a successful digital marketing strategy.
In case you are not aware of the methodology of downloading and installing the button of the social media site in which you leave your company profile, you have ample opportunity to learn it when you go to their FAQ section. It is necessary to have a dedicated person from your company in order to use this digital marketing tool. He has to spend some time daily in order to create new posts offering new information from your company website. Only then you could harness the power of social media sites as one of the best marketing strategies which could be used on both retail marketing as well as with B2B marketing.
Though most people believe that social media is there only for people to interact socially they must realize its potential as one of the most important digital marketing tools. Also, you get it free of charge. You only need to pay the salary of the man in charge of posting comments, answering questions and offering news about your products and services. Since it is one of the cheapest marketing strategies a company could use, you must use it to its full potential. The returns you get could be substantial.
With a number of social media sites being active on the internet, it is not easy for the top management of a company to engage in various tasks that involve sales promotion with social media. Therefore, it is a good idea to appoint somebody who has some knowledge of how to get the best use of these sites. When you do so, you are sure to start getting increased profits due to your company making better sales. Your company products will get publicity with all those who visit these social media sites. The more sites you are represented in the more sales you are going to experience.
Social media marketing is one of the most important marketing strategies companies should use. When compared with other types of digital marketing tools it is one of the cheapest to use.


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Canon & Vimeo Film Contest
I'm very, very, VERY excited about this!
I've been working with Canon & Vimeo for close to six months on getting this going and they've responded with a pretty resounding show of support!
I shot an ad for Canon a little over six months ago and got to talking with some of the creatives on the team at Grey Advertising. I told them that 2009 had been a pretty amazing year for me following the release of Reverie – and that I wanted to find a way to share some of that excitement and energy with others. We came to the conclusion that launching a nationwide film contest would do the trick.
As we all know – there are a LOT of film contests out there – but I believe this one is DIFFERENT.
There is A LOT OF POTENTIAL here for something very special to come out at the end… each video chapter will start with and end with a still image… you need to interpret the previous photographer/filmmaker's still to start the (your) subsequent chapter (those are pretty much the ONLY rules/guidelines (outside of the obvious))… should make for a pretty unique series of chapters in the end!
So watch the video above and find out more! I'm on vacation with family and I'll get rolling with regular updates and much much more information early next week! For now – start charging those batteries… it's your turn!
Judges for the contest include:
Philip Bloom – Director/DP
Russell Carpenter – DP – "Titanic"
Rodney Charters – Director/DP – "24"
Nick Childs – Director/Producer /VP Grey Advertising
Shane Hurlbut – DP – "Terminator Salvation"
Stu Maschwitz – Senior Visual FX Supervisor – "The Spirit"
Rick McCallum – Producer – "Star Wars"
Blake Whitman – Director/Editor – Mr. Vimeo himself.
I'll be a judge as well of course.


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Shake Shack, famous for its frozen custards and hamburgers, on Wednesday increased the terms of its initial public offering to 5.75 million shares.
The offering is expected to raise about $95 million, valuing Shake Shack at about $674.5 million at the top end of the expected price range, the company said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday. The restaurant chain initially filed to offer 5 million class A shares.
The IPO will be priced in a range of $17 to $19 a share, up from the initial expectation of pricing between $14 to $16 a share.
Read MoreCramer's hungry for Shake Shack's IPO
The fast food burger joint has applied to have its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SHAK."
Restaurateur Danny Meyer first opened Shake Shack in 2001 out of a hot dog cart in a New York City park.
The chain has 63 locations within the U.S. and internationally. In the fiscal year ending Dec. 25, 2013, Shake Shack's revenue totaled $82.5 million, a $25 million revenue gain since the 2012 fiscal year, according to an SEC filing.
Read MoreCramer Remix: Get a piece of this new stock
JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley are among the lead underwriters for the IPO.
—CNBC's Hailey Lee and Reuters contributed to this report.


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This article has come out of a personal desire to understand the demons and the power of Satan in relation to the Christian. I have to say here at the outset that I am writing mainly for Christians (those who have put their faith and trust in God alone for their salvation). I am not addressing exorcism in this article because I do not believe that Christians can be possessed by demons.
My goal is very simple: to encourage Christians to live their lives in freedom which Christ purchased for His people on the cross of Calvary. I don't intend to provide all the answers on this subject. I have much to learn about this subject, but what I simply intend to do is to put down my thoughts and reflections on this matter in light of what I believe Scripture teaches.
First of all, it is good to remind ourselves that Scripture teaches us that we have "an adversary, the devil" who "prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). He is the king of all demons. It is important for us to acknowledge the presence of demons and demonic forces. They operate in a realm that is inherently foreign or unfamiliar to us. Even though man is both a spiritual and a physical being, by God's divine design, he naturally functions and operates in the physical realm.
Demons are fallen spiritual beings (angels). When Satan (also called Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12) rebelled against God and introduced sin into a universe that was once sinless, he drew with him a great number of lower celestial beings (Mat. 25:41; Rev. 12:4). These demons roam freely in the heavenly (spiritual) realm under the leadership of Beelzebub, the prince of demons (another name for Satan according to Mat. 12:24).
Demons operate as Satan's subjects (or helpers) carrying out his evil schemes against God and His people.Their great number allows Satan to operate in multiple geographical locations at the same time even though he (Satan) himself is not omnipresent. God is omnipresent but Satan is not. Satan's army of demons is not only large, but also very strategic in the way it goes about its activities against Christians.
This is why the Bible in Ephesians 6:11 urges Christians to "put on the whole armor of God…" in order that they may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. The Bible goes further to say, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).
It is not very clear when Satan was cast out of heaven. However, it seems that Christ's ascension (Rev. 12:5-13) cast him out of heaven where he had been up to that time as the accuser of the brethren (see Job 1:6-11 and Rev. 12:10). Jesus Christ conquered Satan by His death and resurrection. He now sits at God's right hand "in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion…" (Eph. 1:21). Christ came to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). Satan is defeated and there is no reason for you to live in fear of him and demons. .
Why then should we even discuss this subject? Simply because the power of evil is still real and present in this world and is constantly working against the people of God. There is a battle going on between the forces of light and the forces of evil. There is a battle between God (the Source of all good and life itself); and the Devil (the source of all evil).
Tragically, the idea of demons and the spiritual realm is regarded by many in our day (even Christians) as fiction and not reality. This is very common among the elite of society all around the globe. The devil's cleverest trick is to make men believe that he does not exist. Christians however, need to understand that denying the existence of the devil is in essence denying the very existence of God and our need for Him. Donald Grey Barnhouse put it so well when he wrote in his book entitled, The Invisible War,
"To deny the existence of Satan leads to the denial of the existence of God as He presents Himself in the Word. To deny the existence of the true God is to deny the existence of pardon and to leave the sinner in the midst of his sin. It can readily be seen, therefore, when the enemy does not want men to think he exists. If there is no enemy, there is no preparation for defense. If there is no preparation for defense, the enemy can attack wherever he will. Conversely, of course, the denial of the existence of God carries with it a denial of the existence of Satan. The result is the same by whichever avenue the question is approached."[1]
Every Christian needs to be well equipped with enough knowledge about this vicious dragon but also of his tactics and thereby prepare to face him when he comes with his tricks and temptations.
Just a word of caution here: I don't think that Christians should be so obsessed in trying to understand the devil and studying his ways and in order to get an upper hand on him. He is vicious indeed. He is dangerous and will tear down those who do not take him seriously. Nevertheless, Christians should not get too obsessed with him or be too afraid of him. Yes, he is cunning and very deceptive, but he has no victory or claim upon our lives.Barnhouse writes:
"Although he is the wisest of all the creatures that ever came from the creative word of God, Satan is strictly limited in wisdom. It does not appear that Satan has originated any new ideas, plans, or methods since the time the Scripture unveiled his portrait and showed all his lineaments. It was Tertullian who wrote, about the end of the second century, Diabolus est Dei simian – the devil is God's monkey. Certainly all that Satan can do is to imitate and copy or ape the things which he has seen God do or which he finds in the Bible as a part of the plan of God."[2]
This reminds me of an illustration that I heard a preacher use in a sermon one time. He said that those who are being trained to detect fake money do not spend a lot of time studying all the different kinds of fake bank notes that are out there. Instead, they spend a lot of time and discipline themselves to know and study all the different features of the real ones.
Once they have all the features of the real bank notes down, it's very easy for them to detect what is fake and identify what's real. I think that fits in very well here. In as much as we need to be aware of the devil and arm ourselves accordingly for battle against him, we don't need to spend too much time trying to figure out what the devil looks like, his tricks, etc. Instead, we need to spend a lot of time with God and discipline ourselves to really get to know Him. Those who know God well and have been trained by the Word to know His ways and acts will not have a hard time detecting Satan and his works when he comes to attack and tempt them.
One of the greatest ways through which the devil has affected the church of Jesus Christ today and led many believers astray is through doctrinal errors. This is a very powerful tool that the devil has used in very vicious ways time and time again in the history of the church. Through the spreading of false doctrine about God, man, salvation, etc, he has advanced and continues to advance his wicked agenda in this world which is "…steal, kill and destroy…" (John 10:10).
Merrill F. Unger, in his book entitled, Demons in the World Today writes,
"Every believer should realize that Satan can use doctrinal errors to his advantage, but he cannot overcome the Christian's defenses in God's Holy Word!…In the measure that we neglect or abandon the Word of God, demonism flourishes. Ignorance of biblical truth breeds gullibility. Deception is easy when the Word of God is not taught accurately. We are ready to believe anything when we cannot evaluate it in the light of biblical truth (1 John 4:1-6)."[3]
Thus it is very important that every Christian guards him/herself from false doctrine and that the appointed leaders in the church of Jesus Christ (pastors, elders, etc) be very diligent in making sure that the spirit of the antichrist does not invade the church and spread false doctrine to the detriment of the people of God.


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Who wouldn't want healthier, more radiant looking skin that feels smooth and has a flawless appearance?! Well one way to achieve this is through a Skin Peel Treatment, sounds scary, right? Well TV Programs such as "10 Years Younger" and "Embarrasing Bodies" very often feature skin peels and the results which can be achieved from this kind of treatment, and they really are life-changing!
Today I'd like to talk about Sk:n Clinic and the skin treatment they offer. Sk:n have clinics based all over the UK where they have helped over half a million clients achieve the results they want for over 20 years. They do this by employing only the most experienced doctors and dedicated staff and using the latest clinically approved technology and products! Sk:n are trusted specialists for treatments including Botox®, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal and skin peels - which is the main topic for todays post!
A skin peel is a non-invasive treatment which removes dead skin cells and encourages new ones to grow, which in turn leads to a healthier, glowing and youthful-looking appearance. They can be used to treat various skin problems including wrinkles/lines, acne scars, hyper-pigmentation and even sun damage. A chemical formula is applied to the skin which will remove the top layer of damaged skin and reveal the softer skin beneat.
A chemical peel brightens, lightens and tightens your skin, revealing a more youthful looking you! Chemical peels are not only fast (usually between 15-20 minutes) but effective too, as you will notice almost instant results. With maximum results achieved with 2-4 treatments.
There are various types of peel which vary in strength from light to deep. The doctors and nurses at the clinic would be able to give you the best advice as to which treatment would be best suited to you for your skin type, condition, tone and what your particular skin concerns are. The Chemical peels available at Sk:n are:
Jessner's Peel: a light chemical peel, for all skin types to smooth and rejuvinate skin, ideal for treating acne, discolouration, moderate wrinkling and sun damage.
TCA Peel: a skin peel which takes off the upper layers of skin smoothing rough patches, eliminates artificial wrinkles and removes spots/pigmentation. It is ideal for the treatment of sun damage, fine lines/wrinkles, age spots and acne scars.
Mandelic Peel: This skin peel is recommended for sensitive skin and dark toned skin. It smoothes and softens, whilst diminishing fine lines, reduces acne breakouts and evens discolouration.
Glycolic Peel: This stimulates the growth of new, healthy skin by removing the top layers of dead skin and revealing the smoother and brighter under-layers of skin. This is the deepest strength of peel and penetrates deep below the surfae and stimulates cell regeneration and the production of collagen. It is effective for treating sun spots, acne scars, blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles
You can read about blogger Make Up To Make Out's experience with her skin peel treatment at Sk:n here!
You can be sure you will receive the best advice, treatments and thatyou are in safe hands throughout the whole procedure at Sk:n! Their experts are dedicated to helping you understand and achieve the results you want. Why not book your FREE CONSULTATION today and see how Sk:n clinics can help you!


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Sacramento State reaches out to Spanish-speaking community
Sacramento State will offer the Spanish-speaking community information about college admissions, education programs, financial aid and campus life at its second annual Feria de Educación from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
An opening ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the outdoor stage across from Serna Plaza. The event will feature music and dance performances and food trucks with meals for purchase.
No registration is necessary for the program co-sponsored by Univision 19, the CSU Office of the Chancellor and Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento.


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We went to Universal Studios a couple of weekends ago, to see the new Harry Potter section, Diagon Alley. I was so excited to see this new part. I had seen the first section Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure about 5 years ago.
We ended up staying at The Fountains which is one of the Bluegreen Resorts. It was a beautiful resort. The beds were super comfy. We ended up in a 2 bedroom and asked a couple friends if they would like to come stay with us.
These carp were in the lake of the resort. They were huge!
We went to Universal the next morning. We did end up at both sides of the park but I didn't take pictures of Hogsmeade because I had already been there 5 years ago. I wish I would have taken pictures of the Train and during the ride over to Diagon Alley. When we got off the train in looked just like the Knight's Crossing Train Station. Before you get to the entrance of Diagon Alley you see the Knight Bus parked out there.
You can also see the outside of Grimmauld Place. If you look in the window you can see Kreacher peeking out at you.
The entrance to Diagon Alley was just like in the book and the movies. It was hidden behind a brick wall. When you enter the first thing you notice is the dragon on top of Gringotts.
We did ride the Escape from Gringotts ride. This ride was really fun, I liked it better than the Hogwart's Castle ride. While waiting in line you go through the bank and towards the vaults.
Here are a couple more shots of the dragon!
He also breathes fire every so often.
They had a store called The Money Exchange where you can exchange regular money for Gringott's Certificates that you can spend throughout the park. You can also buy little trinkets and a gift set of the coins. While you are waiting in line there is an interactive goblin that will answer questions while you wait. I asked him if he would smile so I could take his picture. This is his smile!
They also added Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. This store had all the candies mentioned in the stories, like Puking Pastilles, Nose Bleed Nougat, Fever Fudge, and Fainting Fancies. There were also a bunch of the jokes and gadgets from the stories. They also had the love potions and the pygmy puffs. They were so cute.
Here are some random shots from the area.
They now sell these interactive wands and have little interactive areas throughout the Harry Potter areas. There is a little plate that tells you the motion that you need to do with the want to get the interactive area to work. This one if you did the spell correctly the umbrella would rain.
They also had Knockturn Alley with Borgin and Burkes down in there. It is really dark down there but neat to check out.
This window of shrunken heads was down in Knockturn Alley. They were all talking to each other. Then I realized this was another one of the interactive things. When you get the spell correct they start singing!
I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I was so excited to see everything. I also enjoyed 2 Butterbeers while there, they are delicious.
As we were walking around the rest of the park, the boyfriend noticed they had people dressed up in Transformer costumes. We sat out there and watched them for a bit. They had Bumblebee and Megatron!
We had such a blast! I would love to go back in a smaller group when I know it isn't going to busy and get some better pictures. I took most of these with my iPhone but I would love to take the DSLR with me next time.


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The Role of Front End Engineers, A Paradigm Shift
January 31, 2014
There's been a shift in the role that front-end engineers play in the website design process. Back in the day, great website design was difficult without a graphic designer; and decision-makers tended to gravitate towards brainstorming on usability and information architecture at the graphic design phase of the development process – which . . .


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Beale Street, Memphis, TN – Beale Street is a less popular version of Bourbon Street in that there are no open container laws, there are a lot of flashing lights, and plenty of intoxicated out-of-towners drinking too much. The crowd on a Wednesday night is primarily middle aged, unattractive, and under the influence of various controlled substances. Like most such streets in America visiting is highly recommended.
Tag Archives: Drugs and Alcohol
Death and Tijuana
I woke up. 6:30am. Fuck. I just fell asleep three hours ago. My mouth is dry as hell and I feel some sense of urgency to get out of here. Not out of this hotel. Out of this country. Out of Tijuana. Out.
I don't even want to take a shower. I am packing my bag and checking my pockets. My ID and passport are here, thank God. Holden insists I shower. I hop in and rinse the filth off from last night. What I can remember of last night anyways. I put on some clean clothes. My hands are shaking a little – dehydrated. We eat the mediocre hotel breakfast, drink three bottles of water, and we book it.
Holden and I don't say a word. We know what happened last night can't be mentioned. My visa card is missing; my cell phone is gone too. Thank God I locked everything else in the safe. Holden still has his cell – I dial my bank and cancel everything. A replacement phone will have to wait.
Holden and I try to fill in the gaps from last night. Neither of us want to remember what the other has to offer. We leave it at that. Thankful for forgotten memories. That's how it will stay.
It hits me. We have to come back tomorrow. I've never felt such dread from having to return to a place. We're on foot by this point heading back to the US/Mexico border. We get in a cab – $1 each. That's when I see it – the busiest boarder on earth. 300,000 daily crossers hustling in both directions.
I think back briefly – the whole night was a blur. I remember beautiful Mexican women – they were on us like a bunch of tweens at a Justin Beiber concert. We saw them do things I can't believe. Beautiful amazing things. The beer, the tequila, too cheap. We took advice from a taxi driver and a stranger – that might have cost us. I see two American guys – they hand me a rum and coke. I drink. I drink. Drink.
They kick us out. Holden and I aren't willing to pay for sex – the other two guys do. We leave. That's when I woke up in the hotel. That's why I have to get the hell out of here. My memory is destroyed. The only thing I can recall is bits and pieces of shit I wish I couldn't.
The border again. Focus. It's packed. We pay some guy $5 to get us to the front of the line. I'm still a little drunk. We get into a van. I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do. Are we being robbed? No. There are normal people in here, good.
Thirty minutes later we are across the border. Long trolley ride back to San Diego – I have to come back tonight. For now I want coffee – I want air I can breathe. We get to San Diego and I feel better – a good taco helps my mind and my stomach smooth things over with last night.
Ying and Yang of Growing up Rough
From the ages 6 – 12 I lived in a predominately black neighborhood in South Atlanta. To be honest it was the hood. Not just the kind of place where people claim they grew up in a rough neighborhood, but it was really just the suburbs – this was quite literally the ghetto.
Rough Neighborhood
I was the only white kid, that I knew of, in my neighborhood. I remember two high school guys fighting outside my house one day and even my dad was unable to break it up. I remember being a little scared that the one boy was going to kill the other.
He had a padlock in his hand and was bashing the poor bastard's skull in. His white shirt was drenched in blood. What's even more fucked up is I remember rooting for him too. The guy that was winning was from my section of the neighborhood and I kind of looked up to him.
Another time a young man was shot a killed at the beginning of our subdivision. I remember walking to the bus stop for school the next morning and seeing his blood still staining the sidewalk. It was strange – he was the first and only person I have ever known personally who was murdered.
There are times I look back on my life and relive it like a movie. I can barely believe it myself. I remember times my parents would have so many people over they wouldn't notice and wouldn't care when people slipped me shots of liquor, which I took proudly, just to seem cool.
I remember seeing pounds of pot stacked in my living room being packaged for sales. Even back then I knew how many grams went into a nickel, dime, or quarter bag of marijuana to sell on the street.
I saw my Dad go to jail a few times, I saw my Mom on the brink of self destruction, and I saw enough young people come and go through our home that I'm quite sure both my parents will find a warm spot in Hell for all eternity for blindly instigating their addictions.
Ying and Yang
My life is almost a Ying and Yang. On the one side I look back on events that seem surreal – some of which I've mentioned. Other events make me realize how I made it. For example, my best friend, who I spent a lot of time with, had two of the best parents on the planet.
They were from Puerto Rico and devoutly religious. I distinctly remember once suggesting to the Father that he lie to his daughter so we could leave to play basketball without her getting upset. He looked me directly in the eyes and said: "I never lie to my children." That will stick with me for the rest of my life.
I also remember playing little league football. It seems like every child who grows up in a rough neighborhood is absolutely convinced he will grow up to be a professional athlete. I thought this too, without question, for my entire childhood. I think that explains why so many excellent athletes come out of seemingly rough circumstances.
It's kind of funny too. While my Mom and Dad were terribly addicted to one drug or another most of my childhood I distinctly remember that my Mom would make me do all of my homework and write my spelling words down five times each until I was in the 5th grade.
If she did one thing right it was letting me know how important school was to her. Both my parents knew how to make me feel proud of myself and I think that has proven invaluable throughout my life. If anything, I have never had an issue with self worth.
Moving Out
I'm not sure how I would have turned out had I not moved out of that neighborhood when I did. Man was that conversion interesting.
I remember going from a school where I was almost the only white kid in the entire building, where you had to be checked with metal detectors before entering the school, and security guards walked the hallways – then to a school with almost all white people and no security what-so-ever.
I had an accent, wore baggy clothes, and was completely oblivious that I was any different from the rest of the kids. In fact, it wasn't until high school that I started to dress like a typical "white guy". It took a thorough lashing by all of my "friends" in high school until I realized I dressed like a black guy. I quickly remediated my wardrobe problems and slipped into the expected mold.
Somehow I found a place on the sports teams, made all A's, and found a way to fit in. It is almost insane to me how resilient yet fragile the human mind is. You can overcome almost anything or crumble because of almost everything.
When I take a careful look at my life over the past 25 years I am incredibly thankful for what I've overcome. I'm incredibly thankful for what I don't have to relive. I'm infinitely thankful for the future I see myself having and sometimes it all still feels like I'm remembering a movie I saw – not my own life.
I do not speak to my Father
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. I didn't call. I didn't talk about it. I didn't remind my wife or say anything to my best friend. I thought about it a few times and let the idea fade from my brain until I was busy doing something else instead.
Maybe I could have been the bigger man and gave him a call. I'm not sure he deserves it though. On the other hand maybe it would have been good for me – evidence that all of my harsh feelings towards him mean nothing. I didn't call though. I want him to know that the life he has lived isn't okay and that he doesn't deserve a phone call from his only son.
My Dad represents almost everything in life that I dislike. He abuses the system, he mentally and physically abused my Mother, was never and still is not a good provider, he is the most selfish man I have ever known, he is a drug addict, and toxic to everyone he's around. The worst part is that he walks around with a since of entitlement like the world and everyone in it owes him something.
The last Straw
I think the last straw was a couple months back when my Mom attempted suicide. My Dad and me weren't really on speaking terms then either, but I hadn't completely abandoned the idea of speaking to him. My Mom called me crying saying that my Dad was seeing someone else and that she "wanted to go be with Jesus." It was terrible and I was more disgusted than afraid.
After that incident I found out that my Father had been sharing his meth addiction with my Mother. They were both hooked and it made more sense than ever why she was so fucked up. My Father has successfully used drugs and mental abuse as a form of mind control based on insecurity and getting high for the past 26 years on my Mother. No I think its too late for anyone to do anything about it. I somehow escaped.
The Holidays
The holidays are approaching too. This should make avoiding family even more difficult. At this point I completely refuse to speak to my Father or his mother. She has harbored him at a motel he owns where he makes beds and does maintenance for rent. That's also where he cheats on my Mother and does meth.
The part that most disgust me is that my Grandmother is on this holy trip. She is and always has been "religious" yet she has somehow justified allowing my father to live on her property, have sex with other drug addicts, buy and sell meth, and abandon his responsibilities as a husband. That motel is a compound of irony.
I will not be uncivil – my quiet protest will be my absence. Luckily I have in-laws who are excellent people and I have adopted as my family. That also make my wife happy so it's a win-win. I will make a small amount of time for my Mother, but her inability to do anything for herself, her mental laziness, and her constant complaints are something I can only deal with in small doses.
Looking ahead
In years to come I am not exactly sure how I will deal with this situation. Part of me says just forgive them and move on. Let them live their shitty lives and let the universe punish them accordingly. It is not my place. The best thing I can do is let it all go and move on.
Another part of me says just never speak to them again. Forget about it completely and move on in a different way. However; honestly I am not sure which method is the right one. If I maintain a relationship with my parents does that set me up for more heartache and trouble? Does it give my parents more opportunity to suck me in and make their problems my own? That is the risk.
Either way this whole thing has taught me the value of being a decent human being and a man of integrity. I am thankful for that.
A few good reason to Legalize Marijuana
I think this judge from California articulates a few good points surrounding the legalization of marijuana.
My mom attempted Suicide today
My Mom called me while I was at work today. She was upset, but that's not terribly unusual. She often calls me crying when my father and her have had a fight. I stepped outside to get some privacy and that's when she said it.
"I just swallowed a whole bottle of Klonopin".
She was sobbing almost uncontrollable at that point and the adrenaline hit me in the face like a hammer. I almost started to shake and I could feel my lungs contract a little because my body was preparing itself in a fight or flight sort of way.
"Mom, call 911 right now." She refused. "Mom, for your only son, please call 911 right now." She refused again and the crying became more intense. "I just want to go and see Jesus" She said. The crying became uncontrollable at that point so I hung up. I took a deep breath and knew it was essential that I stay calm so I could handle the situation; however I couldn't for the life of me remember my Mom's address to call 911.
By the time I was able to reach 911 I was informed that parametics were already on the scene. Apparently my Mother also called her sister. I honestly believe that her "attempted suicide" was more a call for help than anything else. She didn't really want to die.
More to the Story
Oh, but the story gets more interesting. After rushing to the hospital some hours later I find my aunt who has interesting news for me.
"They found Meth in your Mom's system."
My only question was who is she getting it from. "She's getting it from your Father – he's addicted to."
So great – though my parents are separated they occasionally share a few hits of Meth together – how romantic. I can't say I'm surprised though, I've had to deal with this shit my entire life. Fucking druggies and liars – you can't really have one without the other. My parents are both.
I immediately called my father to get the whole story because as it turns out my aunt is a notorious liar too. I have to be a goddamn CIA agent to get any truth out of anyone. So my tactic was to seperate each, question them, and compile the truth from each of their corroborative stories.
Not surprisingly my Dad lied. He first said he had no idea what I was talking about. He said it so convincingly I'm sure he believed it himself. After about a half hour of questioning and begging him to simply "man to man, level with me" he came clean. He has himself been on Meth for years and occasionally shared with my Mother. This is not surprising since each of my parents have done stints with drugs that they finally admitted to me over the years. My Dad, though he does Meth daily and will not quit, claims he is not addicted.
So here I am – a guy trying to live his life. A mother who attempted suicide today, a mother on Meth, a Father also addicted to Meth – and just wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do with this mess. I have shielded myself and my wife from my family with a veil of selfishness – a refusal to recognize my parents' problems as my own and continued successes in my own life. I refuse to bring myself down because of them. I'll handle this shit just like I do everything else. If/When I have kids one day – they will never have the burden of their parents to worry about.
I think the helping my Mom to move closer to me is out of the question now, but we'll see how this plays out. The idea of bringing that kind of trouble into my life may be worse that leaving her to rot in her own soup of destruction. This requires more thought.
She was asleep when I arrived at the hospital so I didn't even speak to her. The hospital refused to wake her because she was "extremely aggressive" when they brought her in. More good news.
What's Next
So for the next few days my Mother gets to stay in the hospital. I get to drive 60 miles (one way) to visit her and eventually they will transfer her to some sort of mental hospital for a week or so. At least I'll have something to write about for the next
year decade.
Two Bachelor Parties, Two Days
"Legendary-ish Stories" is a series I plan to write occasionally in which I describe actual incidents that happened in my life. These incidents often involve alcohol and at times immorality – neither of which I necessarily condone. With these stories I hope to add a touch of humor and display human imperfection while simultaneously eroding my credibility. Enjoy.
If you are curious about what the quickest way to develop cirrhosis of the liver is I can tell you. Plan and attend two bachelor parties over the course of two consecutive days.
Right now I feel filthy. I have ingested more alcohol than I care to consume in the next 6 months, I have witnessed more whores undress for singles than I have in my entire life, and I've seen enough vomit on cream colored carpet to last a lifetime.
Since my memory is too foggy to tell a decent story about what happened I figured a few highlights would suffice.
1. Shot and beer guzzling at friends house. I have procured moonshine from a local distillery. We realize moonshine does in fact put hair on your chest.
2. Binge eating of meat products at one of the best BBQ joints in the South. I manage to get the local band playing to give our bachelor a shout out. The crowd cheers and we quickly realize this was a great idea due to multiple patrons buying us alcohol and encouraging binge drinking.
3. More beers and shots at the local pub. Realize a gay bar is next door and what could be more tempting to a bunch of gay guys than a bachelor?
4. Gay guy hits on me. I'm flattered.
5. Drunk. Go to strip club to reaffirm our manliness.
6. Become more interested in the type of people who frequent strip clubs than the actual strippers themselves. Try to carry on "real" conversations with strippers and quickly realize she only wants my singles. I do not want a lap dance – neither does anyone else – I become disappointed because I really wanted to write about an entry on this blog entitle "this hoes life".
7. Bachelor goes shirtless in probably the most crowded street in Atlanta. Arrest seems likely.
8. The Bachelor, who is a literal and certified genius, can no longer remember basic tax code nor add 3 digit numbers. He begins rambling incoherently about "what's happening to me." We ignore his complaints and continue force feeding him alcoholic beverages mixed with energy drinks. Bad idea in retrospect.
9. Take taxi back to house. Bachelor passes out. Wakes up briefly and vomits all over the floor. Success.
I wish I could go into more detail about what happened, but I think that's against the bachelor party code of ethics – especially when the grooms in question are business professionals. I'll just leave it at this – everyone survived and the wedding is still on. That's good enough for anyone.


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Crazy for coconuts
This coconut has reached "superfood" status in recent years. Coconut oil, in particular, is digested, swished in the mouth, slapped on the skin and hair, and added to food dishes and drinks; it's even used to clean the house.
Many celebrities and health and fitness experts tout the benefits of coconut to help shift weight and stimulate metabolism; coconut water has many electrolytes and is rich in potassium, making it the perfect post-workout drink.
Coconut meat is high in protein and fiber and rich in vitamins C and E, iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc.
Oil pulling is a new trend based on a centuries-old Ayurvedic technique that involves swishing coconut oil in your mouth to help reduce plaque, prevent cavities, tooth decay and gum disease.
Coconuts contain antioxidants which may decrease inflammations, lower blood glucose levels, inhibit plaque buildup in arteries and lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
Research also shows that patients with cystic fibrosis and gastrointestinal diseases benefit from coconut oil, which may help reduce the risks of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
There is anecdotal evidence that coconut oil also helps delay the effects of Alzheimer's.
The lauric acid in coconut oil is known for its antimicrobial properties helping to fight off viruses, bacteria and yeasts.
Household Remedies
Coconut oil can be used to clean the bathtub and shower, prevent dust sticking on ceiling fans, polish furniture, make plant leaves shine and lubricate squeaky door hinges. Outdoors, coconut oil can be used to de-grease the barbeque, stop grass cuttings sticking to lawnmower blades and prevent garden tools from rusting.


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Do you know how many teeth a pig has or how high can a goat jump? Learn all about farm and forest animals including fun facts in this indoor & outdoor camp. Create crafts, take hikes, visit the farm animals, sing songs and play fun games. Bring snack, lunch and drink daily and be prepared for our water day. $5 activity fee due first day. Children must be potty-trained. Licensed program- please bring immunization record and proof of child's identity. For more info, call 703-689-3104. Download camp forms from website.
The registration is a one-time fee necessary to sign up for this specific activity.
Sign up for this activity ended on 07/12/2019 12:00:00 AM


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How To Buy An American War
Bloomberg.com published a few days ago a summary of current Jewish Lobby pro war activity.
Here are some of the highlights:
"For our credibility, we have to do something," said Morris Amitay, founder of the pro-Israel Washington Political Action Committee.
"The pro-Israel community contributed $14.5 million to federal campaigns for the 2012 elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That's more than the $11.1 million in donations by the defense aerospace industry, one of the biggest and most consistent political contributors."
"While most of the Jewish groups' donations lean Democratic, (Jewish Republican Billionaire ) Sheldon Adelson alone transformed the 2012 Republican primary when he and his wife used $15 million in private funds to sustain the unsuccessful candidacy of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and then poured $53 million into groups advancing Republican nominee Mitt Romney. In all, Adelson and his wife donated $93 million to Republican causes in the 2012 campaign, center data shows."
"The Republican Jewish Coalition, which counts Adelson as a board member, yesterday sent an 'action alert' to its 45,000 members, directing them to tell Congress to authorize force. "This is not a partisan issue," the coalition said in its message."
"The National Jewish Democratic Council, today added its voice to a chorus of U.S.-based Jewish groups urging military intervention. Others include AIPAC, the Anti-Defamation League and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations."
"Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said the group decided to act before the Jewish high holidays, when rabbis will likely speak on Syria. Rosh Hashanah begins tonight."
"Jewish groups said their concern was that a failure to take action against Syria would send lessons to other countries, most notably Iran, that they could act with impunity."
"This is a critical moment when America must also send a forceful message of resolve to Iran and Hezbollah," AIPAC said in its statement.


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A real-life Wonder Woman soars among the PumpUp community and she's absolutely one of PumpUp's success stories of 2014. Not only did support from the pumpupapp motivate @latinwonderwoman to become a personal trainer, Jiselly shared that she just got accepted into medical school and will continue to provide guidance with the added knowledge that she'll gain. Learn how Jiselly transformed her body and achieved all of her goals in 2014 with support from PumpUp, hard work, and determination.
Jiselly began to lead an active lifestyle in order to relieve the stress brought on by the pressure of her MCAT exams and medical school applications. In October 2013, at this early stage of her health and wellness journey, she decided to become a member of the PumpUp community. "After I downloaded the PumpUp app, I realized that I was not alone," she confirmed. "I received the support of so many people. We encourage each other to become better and I now embrace fitness as a lifestyle."
The PumpUp community is extremely proud of Jiselly for accomplishing so much since she became a member. Constant motivation and support from Jiselly's PumpUp followers pushed her to complete her personal trainer certification. "Being a personal trainer is awesome because I'm able to help others lead a healthier lifestyle before I ultimately become a physician," she said. "Before PumpUp, I was a simple pre-med student and a cardio bunny. Now my exercises are more fun and I am able to put routines together in 2 seconds just by using the application." She explained that her body transformed completely within the span of a year and a half of using PumpUp. "I am stronger with more muscle definition, and became a personal fitness trainer thanks to the support of members who have been following me from the beginning," she affirmed.
As a teenager, Jiselly struggled with weight gain. "I never felt capable of reaching my fitness goals because I lacked guidance," she admitted. "I ate a lot of sweets and unhealthy food and I did not drink much water because I never did so as a child." She was bullied at school for being overweight, but strong enough to ignore the negativity that permeated her younger years. "I loved myself then and I love myself today even more," she asserted. "Being fit is just a plus!"
She urges other PumpUp members and those looking to lead a more active lifestyle in 2015 to redefine their conceptions of health and fitness. "Think about this as a lifetime journey," Jiselly counseled. "Do not put a time frame to your fitness goals. Exercise as much as you can, learn to love it, and learn how to enjoy it." She encourages other PumpUp members to view all aspects of health and fitness out of love, rather than out of pure necessity. "Loving what you do is going to help you be consistent," she insisted. "One day, you will compare the person you became with the person that you were and you'll notice how much you accomplished. Trust me, this is how I do it."
Jiselly's greatest source of motivation is from her PumpUp followers and her clients. "I will never let them down," she promised. "They know me as a strong person who has accomplished a lot and I will continue to inspire them through my posts, even after I begin medical school. I'll have more knowledge and I will be able to provide them with more guidance."
Favourite snack
"I LOVE peanut butter. I have a peanut butter and whole wheat toast with coffee every morning before work."
Motivational Mantra
"I find my self saying 'No Pain, No gain' every morning when I have to get up early for work and my body is sore."
Jiselly's workout routine
"I work long hours, sometimes 11 hours at a doctor's office. My gym closes around 12am. When I get home around 10pm, I change really quickly and head out to get my workout done. When I cannot make it to the gym, I use PumpUp to get my workout done at home."
Fun fact about Jiselly
"I was born and raised in Dominican Republic and I just got accepted to medical school in the USA!! I am very happy and I appreciate all the support I got from my followers throughout the process!"
Keep her pumped on the app @latinwonderwoman and follow her fitness Instagram @strongfinessfit!


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Jammu, May 21: The city has witnessed an increasing number of chain snatching incidents in the last few days and this duo riding a black coloured Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle has been one of the many suspects of chain snatching incidents across Jammu.
The photos were released by the Gandhi Nagar Police station after the police had identified these two men in CCTV cameras at different locations in the city.
A police officer told U4UVoice that these two men have been involved in multiple other cases of Chain Snatching before as well but have not been caught so far. The police is trying to identify the duo and has released the images of the two for the general awareness of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
The police admits that the images are not very clear but has appealed to the citizens that if anyone knows anything about this duo, kindly inform the police such that future incidents can be prevented.


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One question he asks on the form is:
Tell us about a charity or social cause you admire and support
I answered:
"Libertarianism-- no, not partisan hack libertarianism that always votes (R)-- but the cause that believes in peaceful solutions to social problems, and seeks to convince the world that only peaceful solutions are real solutions, and that change by blunt force trauma (the kind of change that governments typically favor because it's hardwired into their very nature) causes more and worse problems than it solves. Just ask the people of Iraq. Or the countless victims of the 40 year War on Drugs. Or the hungry people of Venezuela. Or or or..."
He also wrote:
If there's anything else you want to add, please do! (Let me know if we share a mutual friend, about what you hope to accomplish, about what your superpower is or a particular achievement...)
And I answered:
"I have a burning desire to be a giant of world historical significance. I aim at doing more for the world than the world does for me, although it is impossible because we stand on the shoulders of so many giants who have given such remarkable gifts to us. But I don't just want to be lucky that others were here, which I am. I want others to be lucky that I was here too."
I liked my answers so much I wanted to share them with you.


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Flushed Away
In this new comedy set on and beneath the streets of London, Roddy St. James (Hugh Jackman) is a pampered pet mouse who thinks he's got it made. But when a sewer rat named Sid (Shane Richie) - the definition of "low life" - comes spewing out of the sink and decides it's his turn to enjoy the lap of luxury, Roddy schemes to rid himself of the pest by luring him into the loo for a dip in the "whirlpool." Roddy's plan backfires when he inadvertently winds up being the one flushed away into the bustling world down below. Underground, Roddy discovers a vast metropolis, where he meets Rita (Kate Winslet), a street-wise rat who is on a mission of her own.
1hr 40min long
PG Contains coarse language
Shane Richie
Kate Winslet
Jean Reno
Ian McKellen
Hugh Jackman
Bill Nighy
Andy Serkis


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black magic woman
By Diogenes (articles - email) | Nov 11, 2008
The Call to Action conference in Milwaukee this past weekend was a joyous occasion, Father John Dear tells us. Obama was the president-elect and things looked good for the Catholic Left. Although to be fair, there was "a general agreement that, the election notwithstanding, our work must continue." So you see, not every problem has been solved by the Obama campaign.
There are problems remaining, for example, in the Church, in which prophetic voices are silenced. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend reminded the crowd (which doubtless needed reminding, since age plays tricks with memory) that her father Bobby Kennedy had predicted the election of an African-American president by 2008. Emboldened by the accuracy of that prediction, Townsend said: "I hope that in the next 40 years, we will live to see a woman pope."
I wasn't there-- oddly enough, your Uncle Di wasn't an invited speaker-- but I imagine that line provoked hearty applause. And you realize, reading the thoughts of the Call to Action enthusiasts, that they just might be celebrating the selection of a female pope within 40 years, if they last that long. But if so, she won't be a Catholic pope. You can be committed to the Catholic Church, or you can be committed to the cause of a female pontificate. But not both. If the Call to Action conference had to choose between the two, is there any doubt how the vote would go?
Father Dear found it invigorating to hear from Townsend, Sister Joan Chittister, Edwina Gately, Bishop Remi de Roo, and his "musical hero" Carlos Santana. Missing from the agenda were "all those who hold and teach the Catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles."
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|LG BD-300 Blu-ray Player
|Monday, 26 January 2009
The Basics
This Blu-Ray player is somewhat of a letdown, both in sound and video quality as well as its feature-set. It retails at a suggested price of just under $400, but offers few frills or even many standard features in mid-priced Blu-Ray players of its class. It is a Profile 2.0 player, so it is capable of accessing BD-Live content, as well as playing BonusView video.
The Blu-ray picture quality is decent for this price range. Load times are fast for both streaming videos and Blu-Ray discs, which is a relief when considering the agonizingly slow speed of some of the other mid-range devices. The menu is fairly simple to navigate which makes it a breeze to use.
The Downside
Although the BD-300 can stream all high-resolution audio in its native format, it can only internally decode Dolby TrueHD. This is a setback for LG, as many newly released Blu-Ray players in this price-range are offering both Dolby TrueHD and HTC-HD Master Audio decoding.
The Netflix compatibility may sound great, but most of the functionality still requires the use of a PC. While you can play Netflix streaming video on the TV, you still need a PC nearby to access title and queue them up. There's no built-in menu support or browsing ability for Netflix's site.
The layout of the remote and the buttons on the device itself is cluttered and confusing until a few uses have warmed your fingers up to the awkward placement. The LG BD-300 does have a serious problem rendering black levels. Our Pirates of the Caribbean test material didn't offer the inky blacks that we are used to with most players.
There are only a few Netflix-capable devices on the market, so if that is your number one criteria, then the LG BD-300 may be a good investment. However, be forewarned that this device is wired for playback only and requires a PC to access Netflix content. For everyone else, this is a mediocre Blu-Ray player that could have displayed better picture quality and more audio functionality in order to compete with other mid-range players on the market.


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Somewhere in the Middle with Special Guest Stacie McClam
Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard Welcomes Author and Educator Stacie McClam
Stacie McClam is an educator, a speaker, and now, a best-selling author. In her new book released July 2018, "School Dismissed: Walking Away from Teaching," Stacie describes why she left the teaching profession. Stacie shares some of the challenges that she faced during her teaching career. She noticed a pattern over the years that some students suffered from trauma beyond her classroom management skills. Many teachers are not trained in mental health and trauma. The book raises awareness about the issue so that both students and teachers can receive the help that they desperately need. Trauma affects the teacher's ability to teach, and as a result, some teachers feel powerless and flee the profession. Stacie has over 9 years of teaching experience. She taught in different states and cities. Stacie feels that she can better serve students outside of the classroom by exposing the realities that occur inside the classroom involving mental health, childhood trauma, and teacher trauma. As a law school graduate, she hopes to become an advocate for teachers by making legal arguments to improve the education system.


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Sakura Bunny Bliss Ladies Shirt
This fun artist-designed shirt is a unique addition to your wardrobe! Featuring vibrant colors printed on a black 100% cotton Gildan ladies' shirt.
Delicate sakura blossoms float gently on the breeze, a snow-white rabbit leaps in joy. A magical experience depicted in vibrant colors and shimmering beauty!
★ Special gold shimmer ink!
- Silkscreen print
- Pre-shrunk 100% cotton
- Fitted style
- Ladies' sizing, check size chart above to ensure a proper fit
- Machine wash cold inside out