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U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, was fortunate in choosing to run for a second term in the newly drawn 16th District, which, while conservative, does have some more liberal areas such as parts of the south suburbs and DeKalb.
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, was fortunate in choosing to run for a second term in the newly drawn 16th District, which, while conservative, does have some more liberal areas such as parts of the south suburbs and DeKalb. Kinzinger first had to defeat 20-year incumbent Don Manzullo in the GOP primary, which he did with surprising ease. Then, Kinzinger trounced Democrat Wanda Rohl in the 2012 general election.
Kinzinger has coupled his seat on the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee with his experience as a pilot in the Air National Guard and the Air Force to become a rising star on the national scene when it comes to foreign policy concerns. In the current debate over whether the U.S. should use military force against Syria's Bashar al-Assad to stop him from further use of chemical weapons, Kinzinger sides with the interventionists, saying chemical weapons are beyond the pale and should never be used.
Kinzinger frequently appears on Sunday news shows and evening commentary shows. I even heard him guest hosting a WLS-AM talk show. But Washington glitz hasn't captured him; Kinzinger is frequently in the Rockford area, promoting manufacturing and talking to business groups about how to improve the economy.
Kinzinger is conservative, but he's more moderate than fire-breathing congressmen like Iowa's Steve King or Louie Gohmert of Texas. Kinzinger is, by my reckoning at least, a good fit for the district.
But some on the right who supported Manzullo don't think Kinzinger is sufficiently conservative. One of them is David Hale, founder of the Rockford Tea Party. Hale says he's challenging Kinzinger for the 2014 Republican nomination to Congress and will begin circulating petitions Friday.
"The Congress must not allow themselves to be rushed into any military action absent either an imminent threat and particularly where its justification and probable outcomes remain so unclear," said Hale.
"The proposed 'microattack' as Secretary of State John Kerry was calling it, will most certainly devastate the intended military targets and also cause the death of thousands of innocent civilians," Hale said. "Will the proposed police action (Remember the Korean Conflict?) also ignite World War III in the Middle East?"
Hale, a registered nurse and Army veteran, has led the local Tea Party since starting it in 2009.
By a 7-6 vote, Rockford aldermen decided Monday to change their meeting times to allow aldermen and the public to attend more than one committee meeting.
The vote was a win for freshman Ald. Tom McNamara, D-3, who advocated the change.
However, Monday's action wasn't the final step. Aldermen must still vote on an ordinance to put the changes into effect. And given the closeness of the vote, the outcome is not certain.
In McNamara's plan, council committees would meet at 4, 5 and 6 p.m., followed by the full council meeting at 7 p.m. Council meetings now start at 6 p.m. I learned Wednesday that council meetings used to begin at 7 p.m. As former Ald. Dick Baer, R-10, wrote, "If my old memory is right we went from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. when Monday Night Football started."
Baer was an alderman from 1967 to 1981. Monday Night Football began on ABC in September 1970.
Chuck Sweeny: 815-987-1366; email@example.com; @chucksweeny
An American president is again itchin' to play the macho card and use the world's biggest military machine under dubious pretexts. (I think we've been to this movie before, and before and before.)
Barack Obama had planned to launch missile strikes against unidentified targets in Syria without asking Congress for its OK when a funny thing happened: The British House of Commons rejected Prime Minister David Cameron's request to use military force in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad, who the Obama administration says sprayed deadly sarin gas on his own people in the suburbs of Damascus.
The 1929 Geneva Protocol outlawed the use of chemical weapons in war; Germany had made widespread use of poison gas against British, French and American troops in the 1914-18 war.
Cameron's surprise defeat caused Obama to rethink his strategy. He decided to seek legislative approval, too. As of Friday, it didn't look as if he would get it.
How will Rep. Cheri Bustos vote on attacking Syria, if there is such a vote this week? She's undecided. "What has happened in Syria is unthinkable and a horrible reality," the first-term East Moline Democrat said. "However, many questions remain before we can determine the most appropriate course of action."
Bustos said she's listening to constituents. If she is listening, she knows the American people overwhelmingly oppose the U.S. starting another ill-advised war in the Middle East, especially in Syria, where Assad, the dictator we would punish, runs a secular regime, has never messed with Israel and does not persecute Christians.
The "rebel" groups the U.S. plans to support, even the Free Syrian Army championed by Sen. John "Bombs Away" McCain, R-Ariz., are Islamist radicals committed to Israel's destruction and the implementation of a fundamentalist theocracy.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger is even more gung-ho to go to war than McCain. The Channahon Republican, an Air National Guard pilot and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a hearing last week that we must teach Assad that he can't use chemical weapons. Showing a photograph of victims, Kinzinger said:
"This is a picture of Syrian children ... about 400-some died in at least just this one chemical gas attack. If we don't do anything about this, you can ensure that maybe even the kids in this picture or definitely other kids will die from the same attack."
Yes, chemical gas attacks are horrible. So are attacks using rockets, artillery shells, grenades, mortars and machine guns.
About 100,000 people have died in the 2-year-old civil war, almost all from guns, rockets, mortars and cannons. Among them were some Syrian soldiers, who were stripped naked and shot in their necks, gangland-style, by rebels — who recorded the execution. The picture ran on the front page of The New York Times. The shooters belong to one of the hundreds of thuggish groups Kinzinger and Obama want to help.
Did the 100,000 victims of conventional warfare die acceptable deaths? Did the 1,400 victims of chemical warfare die unacceptable deaths? Death in war is brutal.
Maybe the Russians can pull us back from the edge. They've told longtime ally Syria to hand over its chemical weapons to an international body. At least somebody has some common sense.
Chuck Sweeny: 815-987-1366; email@example.com; @chucksweeny


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Attendance and Class Absence System
The cornerstone of undergraduate education is communication between the teacher and the learner, and at The Citadel, class attendance is mandatory. Students may, however, need to miss class for authorized reasons—athletic events, academic travel, special ceremonies, guard duty, etc. Illness and personal emergencies may also cause students to be absent for legitimate reasons.
Should it be necessary to miss a class for any reason, the student will, unless circumstances preclude it, notify the professor in advance and will be responsible for any material missed. Tests and labs are critically important and are scheduled well in advance; therefore, it is imperative that these are missed only due to circumstances beyond the control of the student and that the student notify the instructor, when missing a test or lab cannot be avoided.
Absences, whether excused or unexcused and in excess of 20% of the class meetings can, at the discretion of the professor, result in a grade of F in the course. For these reasons, it is imperative that cadets check their email daily for any absence notification. Sometimes, cadets are marked absent in error because:
1. The cadet came late to class, and the roll had already been taken. In this case, the cadet should always check with the professor after class to make sure the attendance is correct.
2. The professor marks the wrong name as absent. In this case, the cadet should immediately contact the professor to ensure that the attendance record is corrected. (Dated notes provide excellent evidence of attendance.) Then cadets have three (3) days to contact their Academic Officers who will ask the TAC to delete the absence. Remember, cadets only have three (3) days to correct an absence!
3. If a cadet withdraws or drops a class, the cadet must attend all class meetings of the withdrawn or dropped class, until all signatures have been submitted to the Registrar, and the class schedule has been corrected. If a cadet fails to go to a withdrawn or dropped class, these absences are not excused. It is the responsibility of the cadet to follow the proper Withdrawal and/or Drop/Add procedures. If a cadet is failing or not doing well in a class, the cadet must continue to attend class. Missing class because of a low grade is not excused.
4. Cadets are allowed one "mistake" each semester which could be: sick in room, overslept, etc. The Academic Officer will use discretion when excusing an absence of this type.
5. Guard Duty: Cadets will NOT miss class for Guard Duty because the Company XO should create the Guard Schedule at the beginning of each semester to ensure that cadets are not scheduled for Guard Duty when they are in class.
6. Late to Class: If a cadet arrives late to class, the cadet MUST remain after class to ensure that the professor corrects the class roll to reflect the cadet's attendance.
When the number of unexcused absences reaches 5, the students and their parents will be issued a warning by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs that continued disregard of the class absence policy (10 or more absences) will result in academic discharge.
When the number of unexcused absences reaches 10, the cadet will receive an Academic Discharge for the following semester.
For more detailed information on the Class Absence System Policies and Procedures, please review the following documents:
Class Absences and Punishments

subset: commoncrawl


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Event Calendar
Members Only Guided Bird Watch
You can't go wrong with fresh air and a little exercise while on a guided tour of the Gardens. Join Dr. Richard and Patricia Ryel for a walk on our grounds to catch a glimpse of the beautiful birds that are migrating through the area. Over 100 different species have been spotted in the Gardens during past bird watching events.
This monthly members-only event is free, but we do ask that you kindly RSVP.
The remaining dates of this year's currently scheduled bird watches are:
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 21


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Shun Fuji Dual-Density Utility Knife
- Only at Williams Sonoma
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
Earn 5% Back in rewards4 plus free standard shipping3every day when you shop with your Williams Sonoma credit card at Williams Sonoma.Apply Now Learn More
- Summary
This versatile knife has a dual-frequency serrated blade that easily cuts through everything from hard crusts to tomatoes. Inspired by the high-performance knives used by Japanese chefs, our exclusive Shun Fuji collection represents the very best in cutlery craftsmanship and technology.
- Developed for the experienced cook who prefers the lightness and razor sharpness of Eastern-style blades.
- The blade's core of SG2 steel is clad on each side with Damascus steel composed of 80 alternating layers of nickel and stainless steel.
- Resulting 161-layer blade is thin and light yet strong and hard, with a supersharp cutting edge.
- The unique combination of low- and high-frequency serrations guarantees unsurpassed performance.
- Handle is dark tagayasan wood, an extremely dense wood traditionally used in Japan to make samurai sword handles.
- End cap made of polished Damascus steel.
- Shun Fuji collection won the "Kitchen Knife of the Year Award" at the U.S. 2011 Blade Show for the best in new product quality and design.
- 160 handcrafted steps to produce each Fuji knife.
- Handcrafted in Japan.
- A Williams Sonoma exclusive.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 7"-long blade.
- 5 1/2"-long handle.
- 8.5 oz.
- Handcrafted in Japan.
- Use & Care
- Always use caution when handling sharp objects.
- Avoid cutting on hard surfaces such as stone, metal or glass.
- It is not advisable to use any knife but a meat cleaver to cut through bone, as other blades can be easily damaged.
- Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse and dry immediately.
- Avoid cleaners containing bleach or citrus extracts.
- Sharpen your knife at home using a sharpener designed for a serrated blade, or have it sharpened by a professional.
- Store knife in a safe place to protect its edge and prevent injury.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
This item is shipped from our warehouse by UPS to arrive within 3-5 business days of our receiving your order.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners, and knife storage) please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
- Warranty Information
Learn more about Care, Sharpening, Warranty Policy and Shipping Instructions. View details
- Price Match Guarantee
Williams Sonoma Price Match Guarantee
At Williams Sonoma, we're committed to bringing you the best quality at the best prices.
If you find a lower price on any of our products, we'll match it—guaranteed. Click here for details.
Rated 5 out of 5 by JC42 from Highly Durable In response to other reviewers who say the tip breaks: If the tip of this knife breaks on you, you do not know how to handle a Japanese knife. These knives are meant for experienced cooks so that, when utilized as they are intended, they are exceedingly durable. In 5 years of professional use, none of my shun knives have ever broken and they all perform magnificently. They are knives to last a lifetime.Date published: 2019-06-30Rated 2 out of 5 by awb1 from Broken Knife Points Of the four Shun knives I have purchased, three have broken points. These knives are too thin at the points, so the problem is inherent in the design. I had no problem returning the knives.Date published: 2014-08-16Rated 5 out of 5 by globrit1 from Great knife I love, love this knife. It cuts like going through butter.Date published: 2012-11-01Rated 4 out of 5 by ecami from very nice! very lightweight. well balanced. super sharp. haven't had it long so don't know about durability. but this is what one would expect from premium quality Japanese knife technology.Date published: 2012-09-20


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During replication, a slave server creates several logs that hold the binary log events relayed from the master to the slave, and to record information about the current status and location within the relay log. There are three types of logs used in the process, listed here:
The relay log consists of the events read from the binary log of the master and written by the slave I/O thread. Events in the relay log are executed on the slave as part of the SQL thread.
The master info log contains status and current configuration information for the slave's connection to the master. This log holds information on the master host name, login credentials, and coordinates indicating how far the slave has read from the master's binary log.
The relay log info log holds status information about the execution point within the slave's relay log.


text: Having grown up in West Virginia and then moving to Texas, I can honestly say that I love seasons, and winter, and snow.. but I'm not so much a fan of constant cold rain and overall dreariness. It either needs to be winter and snow, or cold and dreary but all I have to do is sit by a fire and drink hot chocolate. Since the latter clearly isn't going to happen anytime soon, I'm still crossing my fingers for a miracle snow in Houston. Until then, I crafted a neat little way to hang colorful terrariums around the house with my tutorial for DIY colored hanging planters over on Say Yes To Hoboken, today! Can you guess what this little guy is hanging from?


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Not on Exhibit
Animal Facts
Scientific Name
Galeorhinus galeus
Animal Type
fish, crab, shrimp, lobster, cephalopods, worms and echinoderms
to 6 feet 5 inches (195 cm), 100 pounds (45 kg)
houndsharks, including leopard sharks; Family: Triakidae
worldwide in temperate oceans
Natural History
Soupfins are known by a number of names, including tope, flake, school shark and vitamin shark (their livers contain an oil that's rich in vitamin A). They're easily identified by their slender body and long snout, their small second dorsal fin and the large lobe on the upper section of their tail. Soupfins are often found in schools of up to 50 individuals and may travel hundreds of miles to breed. Females incubate eggs within their body, giving birth to up to 52 pups after a yearlong gestation period.
Soupfin sharks mature slowly and give birth to a relatively few young at a time, making them vulnerable to overfishing. Their global population has been reduced significantly over the past 60 to 75 years.
Soupfins are highly prized for their meat and fins, which are used in a number of Asian dishes, including traditional sharkfin soup. But sharks are globally threatened around the world. We recommend avoiding all shark products—from sharkfin soup to shark-cartilage pills—to give these magnificent animals time to recover. Learn more about how you can help save sharks in our Sharks exhibit section.
Soupfin was the biggest shark fishery in California in the 1930s and '40s, as there was a large market for their thick steaks and dried fins. The fishery expanded in 1938 with the discovery that the soupfin's liver oil was rich in vitamin A. The demand dropped in the late 1940s with the advent of synthetic vitamin A. There is currently very little information about the status of soupfin shark stocks off the West Coast.
Cool Facts
In the northern part of its U.S. west coast range (British Columbia to northern California), most soupfins are males. In southern California, females predominate. Along the central coast of California, there are roughly equal numbers of males and females.
One tagged soupfin shark migrated from British Columbia to southern California in 22 months. Visit our Conservation and Research section to learn more about tagging of pelagic animals.


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Would it surprise you to learn that Fast Company magazine just ranked Maryland the third-most innovative state in the nation? Or that Maryland took the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's No. 1 spot for both innovation and entrepreneurship? It's a fact: In our state's dynamic mix of world-class universities and professional schools, institutes for advanced research, teaching hospitals, think tanks, hubs for start-up businesses and more, there exists this mysterious, economically essential activity known as innovation.
So if we are as innovative as Fast Company and the leaders of free enterprise say we are — and I believe it's true — we have to ask ourselves a couple of questions: How did it happen? And how can we keep it going?
It might help if more Marylanders had a thorough understanding of what innovation means. For starters, innovation is all around us, in our cars, our homes, and our workplaces — but it's an elusive thing to describe. Recently, I was in a discussion with a group of young, driven and inspiring businesspeople, talking about the state's next generation of innovators. Here's what I learned:
•Talent is the watchword. It's up to teachers and families to recognize and encourage it in young people, from their earliest days all the way into their career paths. Talent is forever.
•Basic knowledge in something as sophisticated as software development can be learned on YouTube. But after that, it's all about how you enhance those baseline skills. Creative problem solving is a process that can lead to (guess what?) innovation.
•Education must emphasize the core components that let talent and problem solving thrive. Communication skills, critical thinking, imagination and initiative, all of which can be developed in school, are the real fundamentals of life in the 21st century.
•A tolerance for risk is a requirement in this new landscape. Our education systems tend to instill risk aversion and compliance in students, in contrast with the risk-taking and failure needed for learning. Innovation requires trial and error.
As a university professor and dean of a business school, I came away from this meeting with a belief that our state is poised for long-term greatness in this thing called innovation. But it's up to each of us — not just lawmakers and CEOs, but everyday Marylanders — to contribute.
The first thing we must do is define innovation and make it real for all citizens. That could take the form of additional centers for entrepreneurship and innovation, like we have at the University of Baltimore, supported by both the public and private sectors. New companies, or even untested ideas for products and services, could launch in the Free State more frequently. When the best of these ventures take off, we should celebrate them as our innovators. That seal of approval — "Created in Maryland" — could be a real differentiator.
Our state's colleges and universities have much to contribute to this process. At the University of Baltimore, for example, we're committed to the teaching of entrepreneurship and the commercialization of innovation through our academic programs and specializations. We're teaching the fundamentals of small business, and creating partnerships between our self-starting students and seasoned entrepreneurs. New synergies are building from this groundwork — and not just with young people. Folks in their 50s and 60s who are seeking new horizons and new dreams are in on it, too. We like to say that entrepreneurship is the "new mid-life crisis." For every baby boomer in the midst of life-changing experiences, there are fantastic opportunities.
Every university in Maryland is witnessing these changes. Many are committing resources to bring technology from the laboratory to the marketplace. Others are focusing on the fundamentals. But we are all contributing to an economic ecosystem that fosters innovation all across Maryland.
Over the past decade, in Maryland and around the globe, we've seen remarkable economic upheaval. We must become more self-reliant, more entrepreneurial, more focused on what each of us brings to the economy and the culture of innovation.
This new thinking shows in the unparalleled growth in our state's capacity for creative ventures. Companies like Under Armour, Millennial Media, Ciena, Advertising.com, 180's, Bill Me Later, and a host of firms focused on digital simulation, software development, biotechnology and other scalable industries have started here. According to the Maryland Department of Planning, in 2010 there were 14,853 high-technology establishments in the state, representing 11 percent of all Maryland businesses. From 2006-2010, this sector grew by 2.7 percent — not bad, considering the recession during much of that period.
Obviously, we are doing a lot of things right. The issue is how to build on that success. Other states are learning what innovation can do for their economies. To stay ahead, it's up to us — public or private sector, just starting out in business or well-established, young or not so young — to keep Maryland moving forward. It involves education, personal and professional empowerment, and, of course, investment. Just like a first-grader needs a good breakfast to do well in school, new ideas can't get going without funding. We need to develop an array of funding models, and apply them in each and every community in the state.
Innovation is like oxygen — it's essential to life, it's all around us, but we can't take it for granted. Not only must we innovate and encourage new business development, we also need to position our state as a positive place in which to start and retain companies of all kinds. At the same time that we're doing great in Fast Company, we're also coming up short in Chief Executive magazine: Its recent ranking by CEOs has Maryland at No. 41 nationally for best states for business. We have to bring these things closer together; innovation and business climate go hand in hand. That's how Maryland can be competitive, and stay competitive, in some mighty fast company.
Darlene Brannigan Smith is dean of the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore. Her email is firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Blog Tips for a Better Blog – Blog Building University
Are You Struggling to Start or Grow Your Blog?
You are not alone!
You can be a better blogger without being a techno geek.
Whether you are…
- Confused about the strategy you should be using for your web presence. Yes, a blog may not be the solution…
- Stuck with the technical mumbo jumbo while starting a blog…
- Constantly trying to squeeze time out of your schedule to write quality content for your blog…
- Getting barely enough traffic to attract all the business and advertisers that you want…
- Overwhelmed with all the things you need to do to maintain a blog…
…you've come to the right place.
The tips and strategies you'll find inside will help you become someone who works effectively in the new Web platform to get all to attract traffic, advertisers, customers and clients consistently.
Here's Where to Start
First off, you need to unlearn what you've read so far about blogging. It is not a shortcut to promote your business or an exploitable route to quick riches either.
A blog is just a tool. Used correctly, you will be able to communicate the true value of what you have to offer. No hype is required.
Look around and read some of the content available as articles and blog posts. If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe to the content feed. It will always be there near the top right hand corner of every page.
Finally, I invite you to claim your free blog tips e-book plus more blogging tips by subscribing to my weekly e-newsletter. The content series you'll be receiving soon in your email inbox are more organized and practical, further cutting your learning curve so you can focus on your business.
Browse Around Blog Building University (BBU)
The main menu is there to help you locate topical information. The blog tab allows you to access the blog, which is updated every day or thereabout. The search and archive on the sidebar are two other ways to search specific blog posts and content on this site.
Alternatively, here are the links to a list of articles posted on BBU:
Building a gay blog? Check out the men point of view (POV).
Take our prime example of creating a very well known club of pawgs.
Are you a mommy's girl? You better be! Check out the videos!
Watch these absurd situations of mothers banging teens in order to get them the knowledge.
If they call this doing a dirty deal we are out of words. We talk about xxxpawn!
When you see publicagent, he will deny everything, good thing you have a camera with yourself.
One thing you need to ask yourself is if you aren't this kind of guy letting your girl love these black cocks that are big!
You can't deny it's a little dirty watching other people featured on ex gfs videos. They are having fun just as you do.
Anal love is for teens - and that's the main reason we are about to show you something very special in this niche.
This thing is going to be huge, that's for sure. It's kind of Blacked DarkX. You will know what's up!
Don't you think that Project RV is the best thing that could happen to average Joe like you?
So, sex videos of abuse - what do you think about it? Is this something you would like to see?
Would you like to know why pretty dirty is becoming such a popular thing? It's easy!
Business blogging in a Nutshell
Want to know how to integrate a blog into your marketing mix, boost your bottom line and build loyal followers online? Blogging has practically revolutionize how people do business online. If you haven't used a blog for your benefit, you are being left behind.
Interested in Make Money Blogging?
Never before people are able to get their content up online so easily. That allows anyone to start a blog as an independent publishing venture. With it, bloggers are making money by selling ad space, recommending products or by increasing bottom line of their businesses (either product- or service-based). Learn how you could do the same.
How to Blog for Fun and Profit
Starting a blog can be done in as little as 3 minutes, but growing it takes much more time. It helps if you use the right strategy right from the beginning as a lot of time may be wasted otherwise. If you don't want your blog to end up like millions of other abandoned blogs, read this article.
Looking for a Reliable and Fast Blog Hosting?
Many people overlook it. Picking a blog hosting service is a serious business. You will never move into a house without scrutinizing it but a lot of people do so when finding home for their business blogs. With so many options out there, it is easy to get lost. Here is help for you.
Guide to Choosing the Right Blog Software or Platform
As part of launching a blog is choosing the right blog software or platform. Migrating to another blog platform at later data may be very costly. How will you decide which to use from the large number of choice?
Blog Content — How to Write Great Content and Where to Get Them
One of the biggest challenges for bloggers is to constantly come up with ideas to write. Even if you have a bunch of ideas, chances are you have very little time to create high-quality content. It helps if you know how to write better content faster and optimize your content to get the most results.
WordPress Plugin and Localizations
With the myriad number of WordPress plugins out there, the last thing you need is even more plugin. BBU created these WordPress plugin specifically to cater one issue at a time. When it makes your experience with setting up blog and blogging better, you know you can't miss out these collections.
Free Blog Templates and Themes by BBU
Free blog themes and templates are easy to find nowadays. The problem is, there is simply not enough time to test them all. Now it's time to check out our themes, it will save you time… perhaps not the best looking WordPress design out there, but they were designed with user experience in mind, which is what you should care about in the first place.
Business-Changing Strategies with Blog Marketing
Find out how successful businesses use blogs to market their businesses and increase their bottom line, all through the power of blogging. Businesses are using it to increase sales, building relationship and the audience, provide customer support, launch a product, and so on. If nothing else, use this article as idea source on how to integrate blogging into your business.
How to Grow Blog Traffic Through Proper Blog Promotion
Nowadays blog promotion should be an integral part of building a successful blog. By promoting, you will be able to reach more readers and grow your audience. In this article, you will be able to pick ideas on how to grow your blog today and get more blog traffic.
Blog SEO — Whitehat SEO for Bloggers in a Nutshell
Building a web site with visitors in mind is the way to go nowadays. Get noticed first, and search engine traffic will follow. There are ways to contribute and still make it to the top. This article shows you how.
Social Media — Why It Matters and Business Implementations
Social media is the new way of doing business. It is not a choice. Join it or risk putting your business at stake because conversation going on anyway.
Are You Ready for the Thirty Day Challenge?
It is amazing how much you could accomplish in 30 days, even it is to build and test an online business. Find out how I went through the process in this article series. I have plans to add more projects in near future.
How to Make a Server — Building High Performance Server
Server upgrade is rarely needed if you know how to optimize your server. Discover how you can setup an affordable server and survive surge of traffic (such as from Digg, StumbleUpon or Slashdot). This guide is also for people who want to build a server on their workstation for experiment with various blog themes and plugins.


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Jfriesen needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 75 designs submitted by 11 freelance designers.
Kelowna Indoor RV Show
This is the first year that we are having an RV show in the Okanagan Valley of BC in 20 years! It's a collection of 3 of the top RV dealers in our area getting together under one roof to display 30,000 square feet of new RVs to the buying public.
All three of the dealerships who will be displaying here are very established dealerships, with very good reputations in the community
We are definatly targeting the Recreational Vehicle market here. The age range is from young families right up to more seniors. Best age group market is 35 - 65 years old. Most of the people we want to target are Outdoor Enthusiasts, and many already own an RV, or have camped before.
Logo will be made up of the words:
Kelowna Indoor RV Show
This logo should look really sharp & clean, but should be very readable & friendly at the same time. The logo can have color(s), should reflect what's attractive for the target audience. I will be using this logo at the top of print ads, on billboards, part of signage, on internet banners, etc.
Logo should still look good if I were to do a black and white print ad.
Logo doesn't need a pic/graphic included in it....but if it works, I'm not dead against an RV-related pic/theme......
I'm very open to ideas here, have fun!
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Knowledgebase: NE1™ Web Builder > HTML and Scripts
Posted by on 21 December 2010 01:52 PM
CSS:Current web standards strongly encourage the use of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) in lieu of font tags, etc. If you have advanced HTML skills and wish to use CSS to format text, you may enter CSS information in each page by the same method as you would for HTML. In addition, many of the features of NE1™ have a "Style" setting. The Style setting is intended to allow members to input their own CSS settings for that feature.
For more information about learning CSS, there are many web resources available. Do a web search or start with this page: http://www.goer.org/HTML/intermediate/style_sheets/
*Note: Using CSS is an advanced web design technique and should only be used by experienced web designers.


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HOUSTON — The buzz for the MLS All-Star Game has now gone up a few notches in Houston as the match nears a sell-out.
Not only do Manchester United arrive on Monday ahead of Wednesday's meeting against the MLS All-Stars, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that new Mexican soccer idol Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez will make his debut on Wednesday.
"It depends on his condition when he joins us in Houston but we hope to give him a bit of football on Wednesday night," Ferguson told Manchester United's official website.
If Chicharito's previous debuts are any indication, it should prove memorable. He scored in his first appearance in a Chivas de Guadalajara jersey, and his World Cup debut also resulted in a goal.
"That would be great, but the important thing is to get to that debut and do as well as possible," Hernandez said. "With or without goals, the important thing is always to debut doing things well as a team and that, instead of debuting with a goal, to do so with a victory."
Hernandez's mature comments belie his age. The 22-year-old was acquired by Manchester United prior to the start of the World Cup, and the Red Devils admit that his price tag could have likely increased by two- and three-fold had they not moved as early as they did.
His mission at Old Trafford is not an easy one. He will battle the likes of Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Federico Macheda, Mame Biram Diouf and Danny Welbeck for a spot among the forwards.
"With three young first-team players, and those with experience, that competition will always be there," Hernandez said. "Obviously, they're players known worldwide, but I will also try to do as best I can and leave the decision up to the coaching staff and the manager. You can only work and try to do the best you possibly can."
Chicharito carries the load of expectation of his countrymen, who dream of watching exploits that rival those of Hugo Sanchez, the most famous Mexican to succeed overseas with Real Madrid.
First, he will look to be the first Mexican player to achieve any degree of success in England. His compatriots and teammates on the Mexican national team, Giovanni dos Santos (Tottenham) and Carlos Vela (Arsenal) have not broken through. Pablo Barrera, recently acquired by West Ham, became the fourth Mexican forward in England's top flight.
"They've talked to me and are telling me all about England," Hernandez said. "They say they're glad, they're happy, and that it's the strongest league. They also said to take advantage and to thank God for the team to which I've arrived."
Yes, Hernandez has finally arrived with Manchester United. The question is what will he make of the opportunity.


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See by Chloe
See by Chloé, the popular little sister to French fashion powerhouse Chloé, was established in 2001 during Stella McCartney's reign and still remains under the jurisdiction of creative director Clare Waight Keller. Despite its more accessible price point, the label stays true to the legendary fashion maison's aesthetic: Diaphanous, '70s-inspired silhouettes that are equal parts delicate and smartly boyish. In addition to tailored pants and throwback dresses, See by Chloé bags and shoes have become some of the label's most clamored-for pieces.
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Dickinson's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for ensuring that laboratory animal care and use by Dickinson faculty and students meets applicable federal and state requirements. Anyone wishing to use vertebrate animals in their teaching or research must have their projects reviewed and approved by the IACUC. This includes animals used in field studies. No teaching or research project may proceed without IACUC review and approval.
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Editor's Note: This article originally ran on Aug. 3, 2010, after former New York Red Bulls star Clint Mathis announced his retirement.
Clint Mathis announced his retirement on Tuesday afternoon, and now the league must say goodbye to one of the great personalities in its history.
Or two of the great personalities. Mathis always seemed to be two people at once; two sides of the same coin.
One side was Clint, perhaps the most talented American striker of his generation, brash and unpredictable and capable of conjuring a goal-scoring chance out of nothing, like his now-immortalized 60-yard run for New York or his life-saving strike in the 2002 World Cup.
The other side was Cletus, the impetuous devil-may-care character who showed off his basement keg-erator, who clashed with coaches, and who seemed to let himself go somewhere in the middle of his career.
These two were a package deal. If you wanted the one, you had to accept the other. I, for one, loved both. Personalities, like talent, are what make the game beautiful. They are the protagonists—and, often, the antagonists—of every story worth following and writing. And for the better part of his 13-year pro career, Mathis was both protagonist and antagonist of his own story.
That story has many chapters. His first stint with the Galaxy, when he was bristling with youth and speed, resulted in a respectable haul of 15 goals in three seasons. But he was shipped out to make room for Mexican striker Luis Hernández, a circumstance that didn't sit well with him.
And he let everyone know exactly how he felt the first chance he got. Upon scoring his first goal for the MetroStars, he lifted his jersey to reveal an "I ♥ NY" T-shirt. It is still one of the most enduring images in MLS history, part sign of affection for his new home, part sneer at those who would cross him.
In New York, of course, despite a long-term injury, he rose to the level of superstar, scoring 33 goals over three-plus seasons and becoming a mainstay for Bruce Arena's US team.
Then came the 2002 World Cup. First, Mathis—was it Clint or Cletus?—was the cover story of Sports Illustrated's World Cup special issue. Unlike so many other SI-cursed athletes, Mathis lived up to the hype in every way. His Mohawk was a hirsute statement copied by young players across the country, and his goal against South Korea in the group stage—a clutch goal that basically led the Americans to advance to the round of 16—was one for the ages.
After that, Mathis' story bounces around—to Hannover, where he played well but clashed with the manager; back to MLS, spending time with Real Salt Lake, Colorado, New York, and LA; to Greek minnows Ergotelis, a strange, unexpected move that lasted a half-season; back to RSL, where he won his one and only MLS Cup; and finally to LA for the final chapter.
As brilliant as he was at various times, Mathis will go down as one of those players hounded by the question "What if?" What if he didn't get hurt in New York that first time? What if he had transferred to Bayern Munich, as was rumored at the end of 2002? What if he had kept his mouth shut when he was benched at Hannover? What if he had stayed in shape after coming back to MLS? What if he had a different personality?
That last one isn't worth contemplating. We wouldn't have wanted Clint without Cletus. At least, I wouldn't. Mathis' attitude—the combination of Clint's talent and Cletus' swagger—was what made Mathis great.


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iAdd by Mirabilis Media NZ Limited
by via_web on
June 23, 2012
Filed under App DB, Business, Productivity, iPad Apps, iPhone Apps
iAdd is a productivity app. iAdd is not a to-do list app, not a task manager, nor a time manager. And yet, it lets you organize your life in a way that won't make you a robot, obsessing over unfinished tasks, but still letting enough room to accomplish a lot during the day.
It does that by splitting your activity into three main realms: Assess, Decide, and Do.
In Assess you add everything that's in your mind, potential tasks, events, projects (with subtasks) and ideas (which can be later promoted to projects). You can even archive items that you know you're gonna need later into Collections. Once you can't assess something anymore, you send it to Decide.
In Decide, you "sign the contract' to actually do that task, project or event. You assign a deadline and a context to it. When you're ready, you send the item to Do.
And in Do, well, you just do what you sent from Decide.
This framework follows a very natural pattern in which we are allowed to just assess our environment (sometimes known as "procrastinating"), plan things according to our own schedule and do them by only focusing on what's to be done.
Apart from that, iAdd, the app, lets you:
- use the framework from your iPhone or your iPad (universal app, buy once, run on all devices)
- sync your entire database with Dropbox
- email your projects, tasks, events or ideas
- generally, speaking, it lets you have a life too, by generating a feeling of balance and presence
Developer Website: http://iadd.co


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Stan Walker's big-screen debut is a story about family, Bob Marley coming to New Zealand - and potatoes, writes Scott Kara.
It has to be one of Stan Walker's best performances yet - and all he's wearing is a grass skirt. He's up there on stage singing in his typically soulful lilt, but his band, Small Axe, who also wear their piupiu with an odd mix of pride and self-consciousness, are playing a lively, skanking reggae-meets-Maori showband tune.
It's not the sort of song you expect to hear the former Australian Idol winner and pop star singing. Because this is no TV talent show or a video for one of his catchy and suave chart-topping hits. This is a scene from Walker's first feature film, Mt Zion, in which he plays Turei, a young potato-picking Maori fella from Pukekohe with dreams of being a singing star.
You see, it's 1979 and Turei and his band - made up of older brother and guitarist Hone (Troy Kingi), and best mates Reggie (David Wikaira Paul, best known perhaps as Tama from Shortland Street) on bass, and Pou (Darcy-Ray Flavell-Hudson) on drums - are taking part in the biggest audition of their lives.
If they can convince the gruff and sceptical concert promoter that they are good enough, they have a chance of opening for Bob Marley at his concert at Western Springs in Auckland.
The song they're playing is called Mt Zion and they botch it at the beginning and have to start again. But once Hone's guitar (Kingi is a real-life guitar supremo) kicks in, the song starts to simmer and leaves you shaking, skanking, and singing along.
"The song was probably never intended to be played fast like that," ponders Walker, talking on the phone from his home on the Gold Coast, "but what made it come out like that [in the film] is because Hone is rushing to get home, he wants to get out of there because we're wearing our piupiu and all that. He just wants to get back to Pukekohe. So everything goes a little bit faster than it should have done," he says, as if their performance was a real audition.
For the record, Turei and the boys are shortlisted for the support slot alongside a band called Golden Harvest (yes, the real-life band who played before Marley that year).
It's a feel-good, fun scene and the point where the film truly takes off - or, as writer and director Tearepa Kahi, puts it: "That's the moment where the roller coaster really goes into high gear."
Because, although Turei has talent, his "Papa" (played by Temuera Morrison) and mother just want him to knuckle down and pick spuds. But he has other ideas and is prepared to do - almost - anything to fulfil his ambition to play before his idol.
"Turei is a passionate fella," says Walker. "He does love his family, and he has a really good heart. His intentions are good, but the way he goes about things is not the best."
While Mt Zion centres on his musical quest, for Walker it's also a coming-of-age story about the relationship between a father and his son. "And," says Walker, "the unspoken love between a father and a son. Because every day [for Turei and his dad] it's get up, have a feed, let's go to work. They don't talk about what's happening in each other's lives.
"But," he adds with a laugh, "the film is also about the music - and Bob."
It's going to be a big year for Walker, who will also be one of the judges on TV talent quest The X Factor New Zealand. That show is about something he knows well, but his transformation from singer to actor was a challenge.
It involved a mix of basic acting classes, guidance from Kahi, some expert advice from Morrison - "Tem told me not to act; just be in the moment" - and allowing himself to open up and let go.
"It's hard to explain, and it ended up being quite natural, but initially I was really shy," he says. "But once I felt comfortable I just opened up and it happened naturally."
The casting of Walker was Kahi's idea and it first came to him almost four years ago, after seeing a clip of Walker singing Prince's Purple Rain on Australian Idol.
"I remember thinking, 'What a big-anthem voice'. That was an international voice, right there," he says.
But because Turei's story was inspired by Kahi's own upbringing, the director also wanted an actor who could relate to the character's predicament.
Given Walker's own tough childhood - where he was exposed to drugs, domestic violence and hardship - before his rise to music-star status, he fitted the role perfectly.
Kahi: "I really did think, if we could speak to not just Stan Walker, the pop idol; but Stan Walker, Mum's little boy, then we might have a shot at unlocking something. Because sometimes there's nothing worse than a performer trying to act, because they can't wipe away the performance aspect."
Mt Zion is Kahi's first feature film following a number of TV documentaries and short films, including 2007's Taua. He and guitarist and composer Shane McLean also wrote a number of original songs, including Mt Zion, for the film.
The step up in scale was challenging, but it was nothing compared to what he faced when it came to opening up about his own feelings and telling his own story through Turei. "When you look in the mirror, sometimes it can be quite confrontational," he says. "And with my story and my dad's story, getting honest with it is what you're looking for as the years go by, and the courage to confront all that."
But this is no Once Were Warriors-type family drama, even though Morrison's Papa is staunch and vents his rage on occasion, because instead of "fireworks" and shock value, Kahi's story is "based right here in the home".
"It's a simple little story and we worked really hard on keeping it genuine and sincere."
There are some lovely touches in the film, like the wheelchair-bound koro trundling around the neighbourhood doing a collection for Turei's family after his father injures himself ("People did look after each other in the days before ACC"), and the scenes of Turei and his mates cooling off in the water tower "Everywhere you go in Puke you're bound to see a water tower. We used them to create a space for the bros to speak openly with each other," Kahi says.
And even though he died in 1981, Mt Zion also stars Bob Marley. Explaining how would spoil the film, but let's just say he looks pretty happy to be in Aotearoa.
"So much of the film really happened. I really did lean back on a lot of memory," says Kahi.
That lends it a very personal tone, and he admits he made it with his whanau and iwi in mind.
"I wasn't actually thinking beyond these shores, or beyond Pukekohe," he laughs.
"But then, as the story grew, and the themes became more evolved, I realised there are no borders. This story can speak beyond this place."
Bob Marley played his first and only New Zealand concert at Western Springs on April 16, 1979, as part of his Babylon By Bus tour.
By all accounts the crowd was a diverse mix of white middle-class reggae fans, gang members and Maori - for whom the concert struck a particularly poignant note - including musician Che Fu, who was 5 at the time of the gig.
The set opened with Positive Vibration, and also included hits such as I Shot the Sheriff, Lively Up Yourself, and Get Up, Stand Up.
Of Marley's on-stage presence, The Listener's Gordon Campbell wrote: "He is a dynamic figure to watch - he tightens up, hands clenching and curling above his head, driving the lyrics home. And then he explodes, spinning across the stage in a reeling whirl of limbs and flying hair. His eyes are closed for almost the entire 80 minutes. It's doubtful he even saw the Black Power flag unfurl in front of the stage."
While Marley was here, he also did an interview with the late music journalist Dylan Taite. After Taite broke the ice with the famously guarded Marley by playing soccer with him and his crew, the reggae great gave one of his most candid and best interviews.
This interview and other footage from his visit provided much of Mt Zion director Tearepa Kahi's inspiration for the film, especially the images of Marley's powhiri at the White Heron Lodge in Parnell.
"I'd never seen this footage before and I remember feeling absolutely mesmerised by this moment. The kaiwero coming forward and laying down the wero for Bob Marley, Bob Marley slowly bending down and picking it up. I just thought: 'What would it be like doing the wero to Bob Marley?'."
What: Mt Zion
Who: Stan Walker, as spud-picking singer Turei, and writer/director Tearepa Kahi
Opens: In cinemas, Waitangi Day, February 6
Live chat: Join Stan Walker for a live chat next Thursday on NZ Herald Online
- TimeOut


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Our tournament rules are split up into two main sections: the Universal Tournament Rules and game-specific Floor Rules. To make it easier for players to move from game to game, all rules which apply to all games the DCI sanctions are put together in the Universal Tournament Rules. That's where you'll find things like the definition of shuffling, codes of conduct, and the policy for the use of card sleeves. Of course, there are still going to be rules that only pertain to one game. That's why you'll need to check out the game-specific rules. Here you'll find deck construction requirements, and game-specific information, such as how to use a sideboard for a Magic draft.
In addition, the Universal Penalty Guidelines explain what to do when thing go wrong during the course of a tournament.
Magic Online users follow the tournament rules found in the help files of the Magic Online software, which differ slightly from the tournament rules for physical Magic tournaments.
You can download a Word version of each document by clicking on the appropriate links below:


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Hurry, hurry! Online registration for Denver Broncos' 7K ends soon
This football-themed footrace ain't your ordinary 5K or 10K. More like something in-between.
The Broncos' "Back to Football 7K" takes place Sunday at 9 a.m. at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
With 5,000-plus participants already registered for the certified 7K, the Broncos invite racers to celebrate the return of football season and finish on the field after running through the same inflatable horsehead tunnel that the players use on game day. The event benefits the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) and is sponsored by Sports Authority, Rocky Mountain Popcorn, Maxx Sunglasses, Elements Massage, 9News, Grease Monkey and Buffalo Wild Wings.


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3: May 10th 2009
5: "There is no friendship, no love, like that of a mother for her child."
6: 5.10.09
7: Daughters are little girls that grow up to be your best friend... | Adison & Mom
8: "A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take." - Cardinal Mermillod
9: Me & Mom
10: Mom
11: We love Mom
13: Happy Mother's Day
15: "Mothers hold their children's hands for a while - their hearts forever."
16: "A lucky few have a mother like you. Mothers are flowers in the garden of life." - Thomas Fuller
17: May 10th 2009
18: "We Laugh, We Cry We Make Time Fly Best Friends we are, My Mom & I"


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|71.0 in 1800.0 mm
|300.0 l 10.6 ft³
|366.0 lb 166.0 kg
|Base Edge Thickness
|0.8 in 20.0 mm
|Tip Radius
|26.0 in 664.0 mm
|Interface Type
|Pin On Pin On
Versatile bucket for applications such as cleaning wide trenches, loading materials, grading, dressing slopes and more.
Formed back wrapper design enhances bucket loading and production.
Optimum wrapper angle and no sharp corners promote superior bucket fill and reduce material packing.
Enhanced bucket shape allows material to flow more easily. Tapered bucket sidewalls allow for easy dumping of sticky material.


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Let $U_1$ be a unipotent group inside some Chevalley group $G$. For now, think of $G$ as being $SL_n(K)$ where $K$ is a field; then we can take $U_1$ to be a bunch of strictly upper triangular matrics. Assume if you like that $K$ is algebraically closed.
Now suppose that $U_1$ is normalized by a non-trivial torus $T_1$. Are there any general statements that can be made about the structure of $U_1\ ?$
For instance: let us assume that $T_1$ is $1$-dimensional, as this is the limiting case. I suspect that the following is true: if $r(t)$ is not equal to $s(t)$ for all positive roots $r,s$, and all elements $t$ in $T_1$, then $U_1$ is a product of root subgroups.
I haven't written down a proof of this statement, but doodling suggests that it is true! Indeed I suspect it is true of $T_1$ contains ANY element $t$ satisfying the given condition. I would like a more general statement though: covering the case where $r(t)=s(t)$ for particular positive roots $r$ and $s$.
I should note that I tend to automatically ignore small characteristic cases! Funny things can happen in this situation...


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As an avid fan of The Mentalist myself, I figured I should do a series of Mentalist tuts, starting with the easiest thing I could think of.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Today, in the conclusion of this three-part blog, I reveal the choice I have made about my next MS drug step, a decision I made with the help and support of my wife and my medical team.
I once again must disclaim in this blog that I am not endorsing any of the medications used for multiple sclerosis. The choice of taking or not taking a disease modifying therapy and which of the options available to take is one to be made with great care and thought. I will, however, say that like most parts of a life with MS, the decision can only be properly made by those who are well-informed. The simple fact that you are here — reading this post and the accompanying comments — makes a statement as to your commitment to stay informed.
So, you've read the backstory as to my original med choice and I brought you up to speed on where things now stand for me and why it's time to make a decision. I'll not string it out any further.
Caryn and I have decided not to start a new medication for my MS.
This was not something I/we came to quickly. Only after doing much research and far more soul searching (and consultations with my docs) did we decide. There were many factors which contributed to this course (and I'll explain; it is a course) of treatment.
Very high on our list of considerations was the out of pocket price I would be paying for any medication. Even with the best insurance I can buy in my state, our portion was anywhere from $6,500 to well above $9,000. Due to my prescription insurance's rules, I am not eligible for any of the drug companies' assistance programs. That said, one pharma company did offer to give me the drug free of charge (because of my "involvement in the MS community." I read that as "you can influence people," and that is well beyond acceptable to me — as I know it is to you. Please do not read that as backhand-to-forehead and "'Tis a far, far better thing I do…" I just cannot be a part of such dealings).
Price was not the only consideration — but those numbers get your attention pretty quickly.
Our imminent shift to my ancestral homeland also put a twist into the process. Getting my prescription medications from here to there in a timely fashion wouldn't be an insurmountable hurdle — in fact, I'll still have to obtain my symptom management meds — but it was an obstacle.
I want to speak "to camera" here and make sure everyone understands this: I believe that MS medications do work. I believe that the right med for the right course of MS and the right personal biology makes a difference in the rates of relapse, in the acuity of progression and the long-term course of this disease. I understand and believe that, no matter the other things I do (and I'll go into detail), my multiple sclerosis will progress.
I hope it does not, but I expect that it will.
So, to that course of action…I have decided to actively — very actively — pursue complementary and alternative methods of healthcare to strengthen my overall health and wellness. Through diet, exercise, information, and research, I intend to make my mind, body, and spirit as strong as I can — not in spite of MS but rather with multiple sclerosis.
I'm not going to say that my attitude will beat MS. I don't anticipate some physical or spiritual epiphany nor do I anticipate "curing" my disease with some fad diet or medical procedure. I simply intend to live with my MS…whatever that brings.
We intend to spend some of the money we would have shelled-out for meds on education, on help and on the things I will need to live this new decision. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, gym membership, more organic produce, "living well" programs, etc… are all going to cost money. We intend this period to be as active a course of treatment as meds would have been. I don't expect them to be "disease modifying"… this is important for me to get across — particularly to those new to our pages.
The other point I'd like to stress is that this is not intended to be a lifetime decision for me. New (and better) meds are sure to be on the way. We will reevaluate this decision every step of the way and keep my docs up to speed as we go along. I have a new "baseline" MRI scheduled for the end of summer and we'll switch to annual (from bi-annual) updates of that process. MRIs are expensive, but that's where some of the savings will go as well.
Some will think I'm crazy for taking this step; some will think I'm crazy for not having taken it before. The truth of the matter is I probably am a bit crazy…but that has nothing to do with multiple sclerosis!
Feel free to comment, but remember to be respectful of other's views in the comments. Take your shots at me, but NOT at those who support or belittle me.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Don't forget that you can also follow me via my Life With MS Facebook page, on Twitter, and our new group on MSConnection.org. Check out our bi-monthly blog I'm doing for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of the United Kingdom, A Yank's Life With MS, as well as our very special new monthly blog for the National MS Society.


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CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Cyclone Mahasen buffeted Bangladesh's low-lying coast on Thursday, killing six people after forcing many thousands into emergency shelters, but authorities downgraded warnings later in the day as the storm lost strength.
A storm surge did cause some flooding along the coast at high tide and thousands of rickety huts were destroyed by torrential rain and wind, but the devastation was not as bad as had been feared.
Neighboring Myanmar, where there were fears for the safety of many thousands of internally displaced people living in camps, also appeared to have been largely spared.
The storm was moving northeast, into northeastern India, as it lost strength, meteorological officials said.
"It has now crossed over coastal areas and is a land depression over Bangladesh and adjoining areas of India and will gradually weaken further," Mohammad Shah Alam, the director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told Reuters.
Earlier, winds of up to 100 kph (60 mph) lashed the coast, whipping up big waves as the United Nations warned that 4.1 million people could be threatened.
A Bangladeshi army official at an control centre set up to help with relief work said six people had been killed.
Media said the death toll was 10, with some people killed by falling trees. About 50 people were injured, media said.
Bangladesh, where storms have in the past killed many thousands of people, has more than 1,400 cyclone-proof buildings and many people moved into them as Mahasen approached.
But across its southeastern border in Myanmar, tens of thousands of people on the coast sheltered in camps and huts made of timber and palm fronds.
In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed up to 140,000 people in Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta, south of the main city, Yangon.
Myanmar's government had planned to move 38,000 internally displaced people by Tuesday from camps in Rakhine State in the west, most of them Rohingya Muslims who lost their homes in 2012 during violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingyas.
Many had refused to relocate, afraid of the authorities' intentions, but they changed their minds after strong wind and rain on Wednesday night.
At a camp near the state capital of Sittwe, a Reuters reporter saw Rohingya loading belongings into trucks provided by humanitarian groups, the U.N. refugee agency and the government.
Barbara Manzi, a U.N. humanitarian official in Myanmar, said women and children were moving to shelters in a nearby village, while the men would stay at the camp.
Bangladeshi police in the town of Teknaf, near the Myanmar border, told Reuters that 23 bodies washed up on the coast, and they were believed to be victims of a sinking off Myanmar.
A boat carrying about 100 Rohingyas fleeing from the storm capsized off western Myanmar on Monday night and many of them were feared drowned. Bangladeshi police said the bodies included 12 children and six women.
The storm had not hit that area badly so the dead were not believed to be victims of Mahasen and some of the dead were found with Myanmar currency. Villagers buried them, police said.
Myanmar is a mainly Buddhist country but about 5 percent of its 60 million people are Muslims, including the Rohingya, who are denied citizenship and considered by many Buddhists to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
They face a growing anti-Muslim campaign led by radical Buddhist monks. A Reuters Special Report found apartheid-like policies were segregating Muslims from Buddhists in Rakhine State.
The storm killed at least seven people and displaced 3,881 in Sri Lanka this week as it tracked across the Bay of Bengal towards Bangladesh.
Meteorologists said mudslides could still be a danger as heavy rain spreads farther north and east on Thursday night and Friday into easternmost India and northern Myanmar.
Additional reporting by Jared Ferrie in SITTWE, Serajul Quadir and Ruma Paul in DHAKA, Nazimuddin Shyamol in CHITTAGONG, Nurul Islam in COX'S BAZAR; Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Ron Popeski


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Let's take a survey: Are Americans (a) really bad at estimating, (b) really gullible, (c) both really gullible and really bad at estimating? After seeing the results of this Gallup survey, I think the answer is obvious:
U.S. adults, on average, estimate that 25% of Americans are gay or lesbian. More specifically, over half of Americans (52%) estimate that at least one in five Americans are gay or lesbian, including 35% who estimate that more than one in four are. Thirty percent put the figure at less than 15%.
As the Gallup articles points out, demographer Gary Gates recently released a review of population-based surveys on the topic which found 1.7% of Americans identify as lesbian or gay and another 1.8% (mostly women) identify as bisexual. Yet, as economist Karl Smith notes, "most Americans believe that there are significantly more gays and lesbians than blacks (12.6%) or Hispanics (16.3%) and 35% of Americans believe there are as many or more gays than Catholics (~25%)."
Why do Americans think there are so many gays in the U.S.? Maybe they are basing their estimations on what they see on television.Read the rest.
The author goes on to suggest that there's a reason people think Christians represent a small part of the population.
Even though 76% of Americans identify as Christians I doubt you could find 90 openly Christian characters on all of television, much less on these 138 shows.Maybe.
But could there also be another good reason for these perceptions?
Why, for example, do people think so few Catholics live in America? Perhaps the prevailing opinion is not simply the result of Hollywood propaganda.
Perhaps poll numbers aren't all that surprising. Should you even be counted as "Catholic" if you fail to go to church, if you deny what Catholics believe and if you generally oppose what the Church stands for? Are you really still a "Catholic"?
If Catholics cease to practice their faith, should they still be counted as "Catholic"?
Just a thought.


text:
Time for a Rethink
Judging by initial impressions, there is nothing to suggest that this well-maintained two-storey villa with garden is any different to neighbouring houses. It's only the policeman stationed outside the entrance that makes you wonder. The women's centre in Erbil, capital of the autonomous region of Kurdistan, is located in a quiet district. It is home to 14 women and girls who came to seek refuge here. Their families suspect them of having relationships with men – a suspicion that puts their lives in danger.
Namam Hassan Rasul is Director of the refuge, and provides some background to the cases: "We sometimes take in girls for the simple reason that they own a mobile telephone. The family therefore assumes that the girl is conducting a relationship with a man. We protect her and try to talk to her parents. In our society the man sees himself as the protector and defender of a woman's honour," she says.
If he kills his sister or daughter, Rasul continues, it doesn't necessarily mean that he is convinced that the woman has committed an offence, or by the custom itself. By killing her, he is fulfilling society's expectations, because otherwise everyone would say he is no longer a man, says Rasul.
Shocking statistics
There are no accurate statistics on the victims of male violence in the autonomous region of Kurdistan. This is despite the fact that for three years, the newly established interior ministry authority responsible for combating violence against women has been registering all cases reported to police.
But the data is unreliable. Official statistics for the year 2009 report 87 women killed in northern Iraq. Honour killings are not mentioned separately. Another shocking figure is the number of self-immolations, with more than 400 cases recorded in 2009. Women's rights campaigners are however assuming that the number of murders and self-immolations are in fact much greater, as the deaths often occur in the home environment and are not reported to police.
More and more interest has been shown in the issue of violence against women by politics and civil society in recent years. More than 50 organisations are actively campaigning for recognition of women's rights in various regions of northern Iraq. They run women's shelters, conduct information campaigns, offer psychological support and legal advice, call for the abolition of discriminatory laws and the drawing up of new laws to protect women.
Only "cosmetic reforms"
Kurdish women have indeed seen real change. The parliament for the autonomous region of Kurdistan has banned forced marriage and the marriage of minors. Polygamy has been restricted. The sentence for a man convicted of honour killing cannot be reduced. And there is a parliamentary quota for women, with 30% of seats in the regional assembly are reserved for female MPs.
In spite of all this, there is a sense of disillusionment among many of the social activists. Khanim Rahim Latif has been running "ASUDA" in the city of Sulaimaniya for more than 10 years. This NGO was one of the first organisations in northern Iraq to devote itself to tackling the problem of violence against women. But Latif now has grave doubts over politicians' commitment to reform:
"There's no political participation of women within the parties themselves. The changes we've seen so far are good, but to me they increasingly seem like 'make-up'. We've changed around 28 laws. Sometimes they are applied, and sometimes not," she says.
According to Latif, the region urgently needs to find political, social and economic stability – something it does not have at present. In the event of a woman being murdered, often the matter can be resolved with money. "When the parties campaign for votes in elections, they don't pay much attention to whether laws are being applied or not," she adds.
Rejection of tribalism
Iraqi Kurdistan has had a chequered history informed by violence. For many years, the region suffered repression at the hands of Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime. For many years, it fought for autonomy. It wasn't until 1992, after the second Gulf War, that regional elections took place and the Kurdish Autonomous Region was declared.
But the economic embargo imposed by the central government in Baghdad and internal conflict between the two major Kurdish parties the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) impeded any steady development. It was 2005 before the administrative division of the region between the two parties could be lifted.
Within a short timeframe, Kurdish society in northern Iraq experienced a fundamental transformation. The threat of war was removed, contact with the outside world became an everyday reality and the economy began to grow. But social structures have not been able to keep pace with these developments. Nigar Bakr Rasul at the women's centre "Nawa" in Erbil describes her society as deeply marked by tribal traditions, although one element of that society is now trying to break free:
"In my view social problems have increased. Women are demanding their rights, their freedom. They are changing, they leave the house to go to work, they want to meet people," she says. Such behaviour however is out of the question for many men with traditional views. One indication of this social disharmony is also the rise in the number of divorces, she adds.
The male mindset must change
In a detailed report, Kurdish and English researchers took a close look at the measures introduced to date to promote the rights of women in Kurdish society. The report on the subject of honour killings in Kurdistan and among the Kurdish diaspora in Britain was published in November 2010. The researchers describe the initiatives introduced thus far in the Kurdish Autonomous Region as "a step in the right direction". But they also call for a more robust political willingness to implement reforms.
The report says schoolbooks that continue to perpetuate traditional gender roles must be revised. In addition, programmes promoting the appreciation of human rights and gender equality should be firmly embedded in all state institutions and various civil society groupings.
Summing up how she perceives this future strategy, Namam Hassan Rasul, director of the women's centre in Erbil says: "I think we have up to now got the emphasis wrong. We must campaign for women's rights but at the same time, work to change the mindset of men."
Mona Naggar
© Qantara.de 2011
Translated from the German by Nina Coon
Editor: Lewis Gropp/Qantara.de
Interview with Mariz Tadros
Contesting the Patriarchal Legal System
Mariz Tadros is an expert in development, gender and participation from Egypt. Martina Sabra talked to her about the importance of legal reform for Arab women and about the strategies of Arab women's organisations to overcome discrimination and gender-based violence in Arab countries
Interview with Ziba Mir-Hosseini
"We Need to Rethink Old Dogmas"
Born in Iran and now based in London, Ziba Mir-Hosseini is one of the most well-known scholars of Islamic Feminism. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand she talks about the origins and prospects of Islamic feminism as an emancipatory project for Muslim women and as a new, contextually-relevant way of understanding Islam
Kurdish-Iraqi Returning Refugees
Spaetzle in Erbil
Germany is home to the largest Kurdish diaspora outside of Kurdistan. But since their temporary "toleration" status is no longer being prolonged many are returning to northern Iraq. A report by Birgit Svensson


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