text: The Made in Oklahoma Program works with Oklahoma agribusinesses at local, regional and national levels to promote retail, institutional and gourmet sales. Activities include marketing programs targeted to increase consumer awareness about the availability and quality of Oklahoma agriculture products. Promotional methods include cooperative participation at trade shows and media advertising.


text:
Baupost, the hedge fund run by legend Seth Klarman is out.
We're looking at it and will have details momentarily.
Here's the table of his latest holdings. He appears to have cutback on Capitalsource, while adding to shares of Breitburn Energy. He's also adding a stake in Multimediagames inc.
ANd here's what he reported last quarter:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
December, 2012: At a Christmas gathering, a friend described meeting her long-time hero Helen Garner, and when I came home I found my eyes lighting upon The Children's Bach (1984). I haven't read much of Helen Garner's work: Joe Cinque's Consolation, some short stories, and articles in journals. I found Joe interesting - in fact, a 'page-turner' - but felt as though I had to crane my head around Helen Garner to see what was happening - she writes so much about herself and how she feels about the unfolding events. Perhaps Garner considers it important regularly to remind readers that 'objective reportage' is a romantic fancy, and an impossibility. Readers are not so stupid; we know that every writer is influenced by his or her individual slants, prejudices and partialities, but we have the capacity for filtering out the writer and picking out the truths. And writers are capable of attempting objectivity, and getting close to it, if not achieving it. Earlier this year, I met a man who was a personal friend of the woman made out, in Joe, to be a cold-blooded murderess; this man said Anu Singh was not guilty, and Garner's book was inaccurate and biased. Garner's arguments in Joe were very convincing: if she got it wrong about Anu Singh, her book is a travesty in its own way. I'm glad, as a writer of fiction, I don't have to take such risks.
So I picked up The Children's Bach, somewhat slanted and prejudiced against it. If I find her reportage too personal, I find her fiction too cold and harsh. I just don't think Garner and I will ever click. I remember one short story I read, pulling off a book from my friend's impressive Australian-fiction shelf while babysitting: two friends are talking; one sighs, "I just want a man to look after me," the other says, "Women like us don't get men like that." This comment both stung and enraged me, with its implication that independent feminist-type women (like me) disqualify themselves from supportive, loving relationships with manly men. But perhaps it was true in Garner's generation - the women's independence might have been too fragile, too recently-won, to yield some of it back to love.
I found the reading of The Children's Bach to be on the unpleasant side. My father complains that Patrick White is "too ugly". I find Garner too ugly, even though her prose is elegant and clean. It makes me think of the Picasso exhibition I saw some months ago, which showed his trajectory from beautiful to brutish and ugly; beauty was so easy for him, he seemed to despised it. Beautiful prose is seductive and pleasant; Garner doesn't want her readers to relax, but squirm. I was feeling a bit queasy as I read it, and when I think of it now, the queasiness returns. I'll open three pages at random, to show you what I mean:
Arthur skipped around, squint-eyed with laughter. The photos were of a naked baby boy lying on his back like a frog, flashing the enormous, raw genitals of the new-born.
At dawn Dexter stumbles in and stands looking at her. She thinks, I can't be bothered fucking if it's going to be obscure. But she does, they do, and the familiarity of his breathing by her ear brings up a rush of violence in her like vomiting...
The two mothers looked at her with their calm smiles. She felt as jerky as a puppet.
'Last time I had my hair cut short back home,' Vicki chattered on, rushing to the round mirror in the corner, 'I looked so ugly that I cried all night. And when I woke up in the morning my eyes were so swollen that I looked like a cane toad!'
Self-loathing seems to be a theme; the characters that aren't self-loathing are innocent, ignorant, lacking in self-awareness. Is the Garner 'tree of knowledge' one that reveals you to be loathsome? If you believe yourself to be lovable, that's only because you haven't bitten the apple yet.
However, taking a step back from the experience of reading it, I enjoyed and respected it for its structure. The idea behind Children's Bach seems to be "let's take two family groups with different moral codes and send them colliding into each other." I like it. And the execution is very skillful - somehow the realism of the characters, what they do and how they talk, decoys the reader's eye away from this underlying idea; while I was reading it, I thought it was a vivid portrait of a culture; once I'd finished, I realised it was a scientific experiment. A book such as Kate Grenville's The Secret River is too redolent of the author's intent for my liking - the author hangs over the stage, jerking the characters' strings and making them fulfill the author's requirements. In Children's Bach, the author's intent is kept secret, until it's all over. Then the reader can have a satisfying communion with the author, "Hm, very interesting! I like the way the innocent, stable, loving family-group-#1 was blown apart by the worldly, individualistic, independent family-group-#2, and this resulted in both family groups being better off than when they started, despite the disastrous climax!" My only gripe was the last two pages. Writers feel they have to put on some sort of lyrical fireworks display for the ending, and despite Garner's stylishness, she also succumbed to this with a sort of arty wrap-up of the future:
and the clothes on the line will dry into stiff shapes which loosen when touched,
and someone will put the kettle on,
and from one day to the next Poppy will stop holding Philip's hand: he will drop his right hand to her left so she can take it, but nothing will happen, and when he looks down she will be standing there beside him, watching for a gap in the traffic, and she will not hold his hand any more, and she never will again,
and Dexter will sit on the edge of the bed to do up his sandals, and Athena will creep over to him and put her head on his knee, and he will take her head in his hands and stroke it with a firm touch,
And so on. It's a daggy, unnecessary ending for a neat, ruthless novella. In my reissue, I'd cut off the last two pages and end it with Athena sitting at the table, waiting for her family to come home.


text:
Don't want to wait for a place at college
If you have decided that you want to change your career path or expand your role to training you want to do it now. If you contact the colleges they will tell you to wait till September till the new courses start.
Here at learning Places you can start a course today dependent on your chosen training route. If you decide to complete our online learning programme you can truly start your training today. Following a consultation with your tutor.
If however you choose the traditional in house training route you can start the course 31st May 2012. Once you have connected with your tutor they will however start to give you pre course reading material to get you going.
To sign up to our courses either gives us a call or fill out the online application today.


text:
Real World article
(written from a Production point of view)
(written from a Production point of view)
Joan Pearce Research Associates is a private research library founded by Joan Pearce that specializes in legal clearances and fact-checking for the entertainment industry. They provide:
- Errors & Omissions Reports for film and television scripts
- Background & Authenticity information
- Production Research
- Translation Services
- Music Clearance
- Interactive Media
- Contacts for Rights & Permissions including: Products, Photos, Film Clips, Celebrities, Intellectual Properties, Literary Quotations
Joan Pearce was used during the production of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to perform the above for that show's scripts. The company has also worked on films such as In the Mouth of Madness, You Can Count on Me, Sexy Beast, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dark Blue, Monster, Hotel Rwanda, Grandma's Boy, Underworld: Evolution, and Crank, generally providing research and script clearances.
Information from The Making of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Joan Pearce Research Associates at the Internet Movie Database, and the Joan Pearce website.
Community content is available under CC-BY-NC unless otherwise noted.


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Two top CIOs give their quick takes on proving up the value of social media and collaboration tools. Continue Reading
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As the social enterprise evolves, so too do social workflow processes. But getting everybody on board with social isn't for the faint of heart. Continue Reading
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If proponents of the social enterprise have learned anything, it's that social must be woven into the flow of work. That's easier said than done. Continue Reading
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text:
If there was a "Cleanest Person in the World Award," dentists could definitely be candidates, because they don't just clean teeth. They also make sure everything in their office is clean and their instruments are sanitized -- as they should be.
Dentists and medical professionals are required to sterilize their instruments to protect both patients and practitioners from possible infectious diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association (ADA) require specific heat sterilization processes for dental offices to follow.
The following are some recommended autoclave sterilizers used in dentistry:
Steam Autoclave Sterilizer -- This type of sterilizer commonly uses heated, vaporized water, or steam in layman's language, to sterilize. Autoclaves can also kill microorganisms with various other methods. Though steaming is the most popular method of sterilization used all over the world, it has a few disadvantages. Steam autoclave sterilizers can deteriorate some unprotected instruments.
Dry Heat Autoclave -- Because this uses dry heat, as its name implies, it is used for instruments that can be damaged by moisture.
Gas Autoclave -- Also known as chemiclaves, these sterilize with a vapor solution in low humidity. It requires less heat-up time and are generally used for instruments that may be damaged by heat such as plastic, rubber and fiber optic devices.
Cold Sterilization Autoclave -- This was developed for high-level disinfection using a cold sterilization liquid.
Ultraviolet Autoclave -- This sterilizer produces UV light that kills microorganisms.
These sterilization equipment are not usually found in the dentist's treatment room, but you can always ask to see how it is done.
Aside from sterilization, dentists follow other cleanliness and safety guidelines set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect not just dentists and their staff, but also their patients from injury and illness. The use of gloves, for example, is one such measure.
If you ever feel uneasy about the infection control practices of your dentist's office, don't hesitate to talk to them. The ADA also recommends being observant of the office environment and staff habits. Besides sterilizers and disposing of everything used in a patient's mouth, a good dental office must have or do the following:
- A clean and orderly office
- Use gloves and other protective gear during dental treatment
- Promptly wash hands before wearing a clean pair of gloves
- Dispose of needles and other sharp objects in puncture-resistant containers
As a patient, you have every right to ensure that your dentist and staff can guarantee a clean and germ-free environment for you.


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text:
USA Powerlifting Arizona is the home of USA Powerlifting for the State of Arizona and is governed by USA Powerlifting. It is not a distinct federation in and of itself. As part of the USA Powerlifting organization, we practice and promote a positive environment, strong community support and a drug-free sport.
Drug testing 10% of lifters at each competition is performed to ensure the integrity of the organization's practices and lifters accomplishments.
USA Powerlifting Arizona is responsible for organizing local and state championship competitions in the state of Arizona for all age groups and divisions. We are also responsible for overseeing the development of the organization at the state level.
Currently, there are nearly 500 members in the State of Arizona. We strive to continue the growth of our membership as the State's largest organization of drug free powerlifting competitors while offering many opportunities for athletes to compete throughout Arizona.
Lifters are also able to compete at the Southwest Regional Championships, at the National Level with a qualifying total and if chosen to compete on a world team, on an IPF stage.


text:
Daniel Behler of Leesport is participating in Wig and Buckle Theater Company's upcoming production of Twelfth Night at Lebanon Valley College. Behler is playing the role of Sebastian. Behler, a graduate of Schuylkill Valley High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in music education and music at The Valley.
When Viola shipwrecks and is washed onto the shore of Illyria, she believes her twin brother has drowned, and she disguises herself as a man to work for the noble Duke Orsino. She falls in love with him, but cannot tell him. He is in love with the Countess Olivia, who does not love him in return. Olivia finds herself in love with master Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise. Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, did not drown, and washes ashore after her. This Shakespeare play, complete with a love triangle, drunken pranksters, and a lot of mistaken identity, is a hilarious, action-filled play that is certain to provide entertainment for everyone!
Ticket prices range from $5 to $15 and LVC student tickets are free. Tickets can be reserved at www.wigandbuckle.com or by calling (717) 867-6162. Dates are Feb. 8-10 and 15-17.
Since 1935, Wig and Buckle, a student-run organization, has performed musicals and plays for the enjoyment of LVC students and members of surrounding communities. The Company is teaming up once again with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Alpha Iota–two music fraternities on LVC's campus that provide service hours to help with selling tickets, box office tasks, tear down of the set, and performing on stage–to bring this entertaining show to life.


text:
Yay! It's Friday! Friday is here! We made it!
To celebrate, I'm spending the afternoon in the kitchen whipping up some veggie burgers for dinner. These patties are absolutely packed with protein, flavor and fresh ingredients. They also take all of 15 minutes to make (not including baking time) because you literally stick everything in food processor and press go.
I know I recently did another mediterranean-inspired recipe, but something about basil and tomato scream summer to me so I've been all about them lately! I'm also super into veggie burgers these days since I don't have a grill…so as much as I want to sink my teeth into a juicy burger, that's not exactly an option until I head home to New York at the end of the summer! Then it's BBQ's all day everyday.
Quinoa Falafel Burgers
2/3 cup cooked quinoa
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup whole wheat flour or rolled oats
2-3 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup chopped basil
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper (I used red since I don't like black!)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 cup roasted red pepper
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, combine the quinoa, chickpeas, flour (or oats), and garlic. Pulse until crumbly. Add the egg, basil and spices just until it resembles a chunkier version of hummus.
3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, add the red pepper and stir to evenly combine.
4. Shape the mixture into medium-sized patties of about 1/2 inch thickness (should make about 5 burgers depending on how large or small you make them).
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until set. Serve immediately with Mediterranean Salsa or store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Mediterranean Salsa
1 cup chopped roma tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped basil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar or lemon juice
1/4 cup feta
1/4 tsp sea salt
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients and stir. Serve immediately on top of Falafel Burgers or store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Enjoy, y'all and have a great weekend!!!
xo Jordan


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Re: Tell a Model A related story
In Reply to: Tell a Model A related story posted by Model A Lady on June 01, 2001 at 08:19:14:
I grew up in Brockville Ont., right at the east end of the Thousand Islands. My Father had a very serious heart attack when I was about 8 or so and was bed ridden for several monthes. Many of his friends would take "Jimmy" for a weekend in order to give my mother a rest.
Two of these were "George" a Commercial Photographer and old "Skinny Kyle" the proprietor of a Resturant that had a Candy and Ice Cream manufactary in the back. To Deliver Ice cream to other retail outlets Kyle's Resturant had a Model "A" insulated van made of wood. George had to take some pictures for an advertisement so one saturday morning the three of us set out to the Rideau Lakes in the old delivery van. Since it was a bright sunny day with ocasional patches of what Kodak described as cloudy bright (Distinct shadows) It was most enjoyable riding in a vehicle without doors or a windshield.
As the day wore on a bottle of Wiser's distilled spirits of fermented Canadian Rye appeared from behind the seat. When the level had reached the 3/4 mark a unanimous decision was made that it was time "jimmy" learned how to drive. My feet couldn't reach the pedels but that was no problem since there was a hand throttle, button for a Klaxton, and the switch for the lights in easy reach.
King's Highway #2 west of Brockville had been made into a four lane road as a Depression Make work Project just before Stubengrupper's War. As we retuned into town the plain Blue 1952 Cevrolet which was Brockville's Police Car was at the side of the road manned by Seregnt MacFadden. Needless to say I made sure this other good friend of my father's could see me.
It was another 8 years before I drove a vehicle on the highway and Mother would not let George or Skinny take me on an excursion. The taste of Rye whiskey still brings back the memories even after nearly 50 years.
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The Denver Rail Heritage Society is a volunteer organization operating the Platte Valley Trolley from the historical Confluence Park area in the heart of Denver. Volunteers operate the trolley and maintain tracks and surrounding grounds. The Society was formed in 1989.
Mission: The Denver Rail Heritage Society, doing business as the Denver Tramway Heritage Society, operates the Platte Valley Trolley in order to preserve the history of Denver's electric transit system so that future generations iwll understand the role the Denver Tramway Company played in shaping Denver's growth and development.
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text:
How Insurance Companies and Prisons are Making the Opiate Crisis Worse
12.06.2019 | by Nikokinos
Comments "How Insurance Companies and Prisons are Making the Opiate Crisis Worse":
Author: TushoTo suggest that drug addiction is a disease would imply that these addicts are born with an addiction gene. I don't believe that at all, it's totally environmental causes and not genetic. These "experts" weren't saying anything like this during the height of the crack epidemic which affected a disproportionate amount of Hebrews-aka-so called Blaq's during the 80's.
Author: FeshuraPull yourselves up by your "bootstraps!"
Author: JutDo you want people with substance abuse walking around your neighborhood or would you rather have them being treated?
Author: YozshulkisI use Percocet recreationally from time to time. Opioids aren't addictive, junkies just don't have any self control. Plus the opioid "crisis" is mostly a white problem in my state so I just don't give af.
Author: VoshicageThe pharmaceutical companies are to blame and the politicians! Wake up people!
Author: MumFortunately we can not thank God for this time of non common sense. This drug addicts should pay for their addiction. Tax payers should not be duped into sustains this addicts. They know the consequences when they start using this garbage. Being a drug addict is not a disease but without a doubt a vice. Pure and simple. We don't have to pay for the life that this people choose to lead for themselves.
Author: ShaktigarTrumps MOAB missed the opium fields.
Author: TygodalThis society has no problem whatsoever incarcerating so-called Black Americans for possession of mere grams of HARMLESS cannabis, yet there is so much focus on reviving and keeping alive those who consistently use and abuse opioid drugs, wasting taxpayers' hard-earned money. Part of Trump's budget cuts should include letting those who obviously don't want to live simply die off. BON VOYAGE! Lock them up behind bars so that they can clean themselves up and be reformed. This country is too broke to be supporting these thugs on drugs 🤔
Author: MalakinosPatients on meth for 30 years, really! That is not addiction? Seems like this women has 40 years of one years experience!
Author: MashuraThis Woman is a methadone sales Woman a Snake Oil Salesperson. Methadone is equally as addictive as Heroin this is a fact.
Author: MaugarThe difference is the tax payers pay for the Methadone and the addict has to pay for the Heroin.
Author: SazahnWealthy Heroin addicts can stay just as healthy as a Methadone addict getting their opiate for free from the government. Who take the tax payers money and give it to the corporation (Big Pharma) who supply the Methadone. So the war on drugs is only really a war on certain drugs and certain suppliers. Ones that are not in bed with the government.
Author: MukGAVERMENT cartel criet drug problem using tax payer money growing OPID in Afghanistan. and make tax payer pay for FAKE recovery.Make money on two ands.Clever.We are tax payer are STUPED.😩
Author: MikaleThis is like claiming there's an "accident" epidemic and banning bathtubs because there was an increase last year in automobile accidents.
Author: FeshuraWhy is The Real News so blindly accepting the government's claims of an opioid "epidemic," which just so happened to manifest after marijuana legalization threatened police budgets? Why hasn't The Real News troubled to notice that all manner of opioids are being lumped together to create the illusion of an "epidemic." I'd like the The Real News to stop being complicit in pumping up the idea of an "epidemic," which contributes to the creation of absurd "solutions" like throwing long-time, prescription opioid users of their pain medication, as if that somehow was a sane response to this "crisis."
Author: DaijindThis woman is a true Heroine for the big pharma induced crises in this country.
Author: DakoraWhy isn't TRN reporting on how the number of ostensible opioid deaths was pumped up by including any death where any trace of opioids no matter how trivial or legitimate was found in the decedent's bloodstream?
Author: FaulabarNarcan price has jumped. big suprise .
Author: DizilAddiction is a disease of the mind and spirit, methodone doesn't help the problem at all. Addiction doesn't discriminate, it affects everyone regardless of sex, race, age, income, status. Quality treatment centers don't treat patients with methodone or suboxone. the only way is intensive therapy, and it is up to the addict to take the responsibility to accept they have a problem and be open to change their life- from the top down. It's simple, but simple doesn't = easy. We as a society, have to stop vilifying addicts. They are regular people who are really messed up and need help. Of course it's not a disease that you can catch, but it is most certainly a mental illness. Most addicts will tell you that they didn't just wake up one day and decide to shoot heroin, it's a progression. Many of them will also tell you that they were prescribed pain killers legally and the addiction to opiates started there. Addicts have poor judgement and no coping skills, they need help to develop good judgment and coping skills, you can't throw methodone at them and expect it to help!
Author: JulkreeThe war on drugs is a class war which = FAILURE!!!!!
Author: TygokMethadone is a bad form of treatment. Suboxone is ideal for a short period.


text:
Who am I?
Christian. Skeptic. Ponderer. Sold on Western Civilization. Background in engineering and software. Rational, but not rationalist.
I'm a Hugh-inspired, long-tail blogger.
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- · Medicare Benefit Gets a Little Praise
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- · Chicago Sight: Art Institute's Lions
- · Global Day for Darfur
- · Propaganda: the "Bacteria of Stupidity"
- · Defining Propaganda
- · Reuters' Suspicious Missile Attack
- · Not a huge deal...
- · Rank Propaganda, Control, Mass Murder
- · Debunking Loose Change 9/11
- · What's Your Motivation?
- · Joe Wilson's Fraud Complete
- · Palestinian Civilians?
- · Non-Peak Oil
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Look closer. Think harder. Choose the sound argument over the clever one.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Medicare Benefit Gets a Little Praise
HELEN PALMER: Medicare's Leslie Norwalk says seniors with the drug benefit can look forward to a fabulous deal next year. ...
STUART ALTMAN: You have to give the Administration and the people that have been working on this program credit for doing a good job. ...
Stuart Altman teaches health policy at Brandeis University. The problems haven't gone away though, he says, the program's still too complicated.
And, says Deane Beebe of the Medicare Rights Center, seniors complain about the coverage gap when they have to pay 100 percent of their drug cost. ...
Chicago Sight: Shedd's Lizard
This giant lizard was the entrance to Shedd Aquarium over the summer, highlighting their lizards exhibit. I'm not sure about this lizard, but the exhibit is here through the end of February.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Superstition erodes Civilization
Nigerian superstition harms society:
A Nigerian murder suspect accused of killing his brother with an axe told police investigators he actually attacked a goat, which was only later magically transformed into his sibling's corpse, officials said Thursday. ...
Murder suspects in Nigeria, where many people believe in black magic, sometimes claim spirits tricked them into killing.
What if a jury of his peers tends to believe any crazy claim like this? What if news organizations repeated these claims all the time, adding, "for all we know magic really was involoved"?
Seeing this for the nuttiness it is, is a gift given us by our forebears. I'm grateful.
Civilization needs rational thought.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Chicago Sight: Art Institute's Lions
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Global Day for Darfur
Sunday, September 17th is Global Day for Darfur.
Since 2003, Darfur in Western Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict. Several hundred thousand people have been killed or seriously injured. More than two million people have been displaced and live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in Chad; and more than 3.5 million people are reliant on international aid for survival.
Visit the web-site at dayfordarfur.org, watch the ad, and sign the petition. They also have a toolkit and many more ideas for taking action.
Some Background:
In early August 2006, the UN's top humanitarian official Jan Egeland stated that the situation in Darfur is "going from real bad to catastrophic." Indeed, the violence in Darfur rages on with government-backed militias, known collectively as the Janjaweed, still attacking civilian populations with impunity. Government air strikes frequently precede these vicious militia raids.
Villages are razed; women, men, and children are raped, tortured, and murdered. The Janjaweed also target and destroy Darfurian food and water supplies, threatening the victim's chance for survival. To make matters even worse, fighting between rebel movements has emerged as a new source of violence and instability in Darfur.
The AP reports a study in the journal Science showing that between 170,000 and 255,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003.
Hat-tip: Instapundit
I e-mailed my pastors, and signed the petition.
Send relief through a donation to World Vision.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Propaganda: the "Bacteria of Stupidity"
From the Chicago Tribune's Op-Ed "Meanwhile, back in Gaza ...":
The strangling international freeze on aid to the Hamas-led government in the Palestinian territories is holding, and that means even deeper misery for ordinary residents of Gaza and the West Bank. ...
A year after Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, life there has only grown worse. After so much optimism, wrote Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Hamas government, "life became a nightmare and an intolerable burden."
Who to blame for all this? Hamad, a former Hamas newspaper editor, surprisingly pointed the finger--at least partly--at the Palestinians themselves. "Gaza is suffering under the yoke of anarchy and the swords of thugs," he wrote in a Palestinian newspaper. He said various armed groups in the Gaza Strip--most affiliated with Fatah, Hamas' rival--were responsible for the chaos. "We've all been attacked by the bacteria of stupidity," Hamad wrote. "We have lost our sense of direction."
The bacteria of stupidity. Well, that's a bit of refreshing candor. He could have helped his cause by admitting that not just Fatah, but Hamas, is spreading that contagion.
"The yoke of anarchy and the swords of thugs." Well put.
As bad as their previous government was, choosing more-radical Hamas only made things worse. That's not rocket science. What would cause them to make such a choice?
I believe the endless flow of propaganda fuels the epidemic he describes. Peruse MEMRI-TV and see for yourself.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Defining Propaganda
The word propaganda really means "information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause".
That, on its face, isn't a bad thing. Many causes are worthy of promotion. Spreading accurate information to promote a cause is a good thing.
When I talk about propaganda, I mean false, inaccurate or distorted information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Reuters' Suspicious Missile Attack
On August 26th, an Israeli air strike allegedly hit a Reuters vehicle in Gaza City. But several aspects of this story smell very suspicious, particularly in light of recent events.
Powerline, 8/27, looks at the vehicle photos of this vehicle with a small rusty wound, as well as the circumstances:
The Palestinians noted that the vehicle was marked with Reuters' logo and the word "press," but it is unclear how the Israelis were supposed to see those markings in the middle of the night. ...
So the attack could well have happened as described. However, given the many phony claims about Israeli attacks that have been uncovered in recent weeks, there is no reason to accord any credibility to Reuters' Palestinian stringers.
Powerline, 8/28: Picture of the outside and inside, with comments from various readers like this:
I spent twenty years in both military and civilian bomb disposal. The damage to the ambulance pictured in the article was NOT caused by any missile.
On Israel's apology:
A couple of readers have pointed out that Israel hasn't denied hitting the Reuters vehicle. That's true. But the IDF has a history of apologizing for alleged attacks that later turned out to be bogus.
Caroline Glick, 8/28:
Yet it is unclear why anyone should believe either Shana or Reuters. Shana told Reuters that as he was driving to the battle scene, "I suddenly saw fire and the doors of the jeep flew open." He claims to have been wounded by shrapnel in his hand and leg. These are minor injuries for someone whose vehicle was just hit by a missile.
But then, the photographs taken of his vehicle after the purported missile attack give no indication that the car was hit by anything. There is a gash on the roof. The hood is bent out of shape. But nothing seems to have been burned. Cars hit by missiles do not look like they have just been in a nasty accident. Cars hit by missiles are destroyed.
The vigilance of just a handful of bloggers brought us the knowledge of the corruption of our media and the network of global NGOs that we have come to rely on to tell us the "objective" truth.
It is up to all citizens of the free world, who value our freedom to recognize this corruption, applaud the bloggers and join them in refusing to allow these corrupt institutions to cloud our commitment to freedom.
Powerline, 8/29: More photos, and some confusion as to just what car was hit.
Many obvious questions remain unanswered, and we can't answer them. What is needed is an investigation on the ground in Gaza. Reuters has called for an investigation of the incident; the Israelis should take them up on the offer and closely examine the vehicle (or vehicles) in question, as well as interview the Reuters employees involved.
Blogger Confederate Yankee contacted armored vehicle manufacturers. The damage reported isn't consistent with a rocket strike.
David D. Perlmutter, 8/30: "Reuters has filed updates of its original story. One shows a picture of the "wounded cameraman"--who certainly appears wounded. Interestingly, I could find no updates of the story on the Reuters site since August 27th and pictures of the vehicle do not reappear." [Emphasis mine.]
What's stunning is not that almost all Western media organizations reporting from the Middle East are reliant on local staff overwhelmingly sympathetic to one side in the conflict -- that's been known for some time -- but the amateurish level of fakery that head office is willing to go along with.
Confederate Yankee, 8/31: "The simple fact of the matter is that without a close-up inspection of the vehicle by recognized experts and perhaps metallurgical tests on any shrapnel that can be verified as being recovered from the victims and the vehicle, we may never know exactly what transpired."
In summary, there seems to be at least one person wounded. How it happened, and if it happened in this Reuters vehicle as they describe is unlikely, though possible.
When confidence in reporting is lost as it has been in that region, we're left speculating.
Update, 9/22: Apparently, Israel did attack the vehicle, which was being used very suspiciously.
The vehicle's presence in Gaza in itself constituted a violation of its license terms, and moreover, the jeep was carrying only Palestinians – one with links to Hamas who was not a Reuters employee.
Very enlightening on a couple levels, including damage possible from such an attack. We still don't know if the hit was direct or secondary (e.g., from falling debris).
Not a huge deal...
"It's kind of sad ... [but] not a huge deal..."
Ask.com's home page yesterday, the fifth anniversary of 9/11:
Google's page yesterday:
I wandered away from Google early in the summer (over the whole China censorship thing), and eventually settled on Ask.com, which I now like just fine. Not a Google boycott, per se, just a trough in my reservoir of good will toward them.
The elephant in the room: blogspot.com (which you're reading now) is Google. And my e-mail still goes through Yahoo, though they've cooperated even more with China. (Darn that ineria!)
FYI, Wikipedia stood up to China, refusing to censor politically-sensitive entries, and founder Jimmy Wales "challenged other internet companies, including Google, to justify their claim that they could do more good than harm by co-operating with Beijing." Hats off to him (despite Wikipedia's problems).
It's not a black-and-white issue. Some say even Google's "censored presence in China may yet be the thin end of a wedge that is essential to opening up that country to alternatives to its brutal totalitarianism."
I hope so.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Rank Propaganda, Control, Mass Murder
Kim Hyon Hui was a North Korean agent who helped plant the bomb on KAL 858 that killed 115 passengers.
She was caught. Her attempts at suicide failed.
During her interrogation in South Korea, Kim Hyun Hui's resistance broke down quickly. Kim was taken to see the prosperity of Seoul outside of her prison cell. She had been taught in North Korea that American culture had supplanted the Korean culture in the South. She had also been taught that the rich exploited the poor who lived in poverty. What she saw outside of her prison cell made her realize that everything that she had been taught regarding South Korea was mere propaganda. Once she came to this realization, Kim Hyun Hui confessed the details of her role in the bombing of Flight 858.
Dave Price writes about it in Information, Insularity, and Induced Insanity:
[I]t is one of the most shocking and poignant stories I have ever read, and at the same time such a profound insight into the nature of tyranny and totalitarianism ...
In a similar vein, in the wake of the recent bomb plot Michelle Malkin had posted a survey from Britain with a result I can only describe as deeply disturbing: only 17% of British Muslims believe Arabs carried out the 9/11 attacks, and 56% believe it was not Arabs. This is one of the most frightening feats of social informational engineering since Germany 1938. ...
This example of contextual control [i.e., rank propaganda] does not strike me as much less contrived or ill-intended than the first, and the practical consequences are eerily similar. ...
And as Mohammed at ITM notes, the tyrants of the Mideast wield their own blend of totalitarian control and cynical pseudoreligious narratives to manipulate the people they purport to govern.... taking a look at some simple statistics we find that the entire Arab media industry makes less than 1.5 billion dollars/year while consumes approximately 15 billions/year in return and this makes one think about who pays the difference.
No kidding. That has to be at least ten times our Mideast budget for counter-brainwashing programs like Voice of America. This is why Palestinians have no desire for peace with Israel: tremendous efforts are being made and tremendous wealth being expended by those in power to sell an alternate version of reality in which they and the violence they encourage are necessary. And the practical effect of the insanity they deliberately induce is apparent in the prevalence of suicide bombings across the region.
... Lies are the lifeblood of tyrants and fascists, Islamo- or otherwise. They hate and fear free democracies not because they are jealous of our freedom but because they realize our freedom is a potentially lethal threat to them... Regimes and movements built in the shadows of deliberately fostered ignorance and aggressively marketed lies cannot survive the harsh sunlight of truth, logic, and empiricism.
I hope so. Even in our free society, too many lies are agressively marketed and too much ignorance is deliberately fostered.
God help us.
P.S.: I'd never heard Kim Hyon Hui's story before, either.
Debunking Loose Change 9/11
Walking through my neighborhood a couple days ago, I saw a "Loose Change 9/11" sticker plastered to a mailbox. Loose Change is a leading conspiracy-theory-based film on 9/11.
The clearinghouse for refutations to that movie are at screwloosechange.blogspot.com. Hats off to them for their tireless work.
Hat-tip: Michelle Malkin
Update: wasn't far out of the way, so I went back and took the photo. It's washed out by today's rain.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
What's Your Motivation?
Via Jane Galt, a very interesting thought experiment:
If there were some policy that would make the rich poorer without affecting the income of anyone else, would you want the government to flip this switch?
The answer shows a philosophical watershed (though I'm lost in the economic jargon). If yes, it's not about redistributing anything. Isn't it, then, about envy or some sort of antipathy?
Wrechard (who pointed me here) says, "Hey, sounds like a civilizational fault line to me."
Friday, September 08, 2006
Joe Wilson's Fraud Complete
In case you missed it, it was Richard Armitage, not Karl Rove, who leaked former Ambassador Joeseph Wilson's wife's identity:
The confirmation of Mr. Armitage's role, long the subject of media speculation, shows that the initial disclosure of Ms. Wilson's identify did not originate from the White House as part of a concerted political attack, but was divulged by a senior State Department official who was not regarded as a close political ally of Vice President Dick Cheney. [Emphasis mine.]
Recall that "virtually everything Joseph Wilson said publicly about his trip, from its origins to his conclusions, was false." This was the one outstanding element not conclusively proven false.
HT: Instapundit.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Palestinian Civilians?
Look at the pictures here, here and here.
Are these people civilians, hostages, or combatants?
They're not unfortunate souls caught in the crossfire. They're choosing to be there. They're not discouraging those kids from being there. (Or someone off-camera is forcing them to be there. Consider the implications of that.)
What would you want your loved ones to do if they were in that situation?
HT: HotAir.
More, 11/27: Confederate Yankee chimes in.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Non-Peak Oil
Keep your eye on this. Publius reports:
Chevron, Norway's Statoil and deep-sea driller Devon Energy have just discovered as many as 15 billion barrels of previously unknown oil in a vast underwater pool five miles under the floor of the sea. No one even had a clue about this huge oil's existence up until new high technology of deep sea drilling (cost: $1 billion a pop, and every bit as weird and high-tech as a spaceship) came to the fore. ...
Oil tyrants beware.
Civilization has made amazing progress fueled by oil, but it has come at the cost of some ugly compromises. Let progress continue.
But not an excuse to waste it, or to stop looking for better sources of energy.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
What do you think?
Consider this statement:
Civilization is better than barbarity.
What kind of statement is it?
(a) Political.
(b) Moral.
(c) Self-evident or absolute truth.
(d) Personal preference or taste.
(e) Other.


text:
I gave my life to cricket, it's as simple as that. I never got married because I was married to the game.
My father came to watch me play often, but I never knew he was there. That's how parents should be. He worked as a miner from when he was a boy until the day he turned 65 and retired. He kept on to me: "This is no life for you." We both saw sport as a way out.
For the first time in my life I'm beginning to feel my age. Four years ago I had a stroke, but I'm soldiering on. It has made me very emotional – I have always felt things very deeply, but more so now. Some mornings I can't face getting up, but you force yourself. I do my exercises, have a shave, and get on with it.
I realised early on that nothing would come easy. One time I scored 181 not out, and straight after the chairman came to me and said: "Well played, but you will be back in the second XI next week."
My mother made me go to church every Sunday, morning and evening, and I'm glad she did. I still go, and I say my prayers every night, though since I have a new knee I have to sit on the edge of the bed rather than kneel.
You learned a lot about politics in Yorkshire cricket. You learned to be hard, determined. That wasn't natural for me. But I did it all the same.
I always lived out of a suitcase, but it never struck me as a lonely life. Depression seems to have come in the game more these days.
I do believe in miracles. One morning I woke up completely blind. The doctor said it was down to all the years I had stood on a cricket field in the sun. The operation was a huge gamble and it took three months for me to see again. But I thanked the good Lord – and the surgeon – when I did.
A good night's sleep was my best friend as an umpire.
Kerry Packer offered me a huge amount of money to join his tour in the 1970s. I thought about it a lot, then and since, but I wanted to stand by the establishment, the game I knew. As an umpire you had to be a bit detached. But watching those great players at close quarters – Dennis Lillee, Garfield Sobers, Ian Botham – was a thrilling thing. What you really wanted to do was applaud.
I never found it hard to see the ball. The quickest bowler I ever saw was Frank Tyson. Fifty-odd years ago when I was batting he hit me with a ball on the inside of the jaw at Scarborough. I can still feel that now.
Whatever job you do – dustman, cricketer, doctor – any pressure you bring you bring on yourself.
Before I went out in the middle I would meditate, have a bit of quiet. You see, you need to relax to be ready for anything.
If I have one regret, it is not having a family. I'd have liked to watch a lad or a grandson playing sport. I miss it more now than ever.
80 Not Out: My Favourite Cricket Memories by Dickie Bird is out now (Hodder & Stoughton, £20). To order a copy for £15, with free UK p&p, go to theguardian.com/bookshop or call 0330 333 6846


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text:
When Brent Rosenlof comes home at night, Nathan's face lights up. The toddler greets Papa with a hug and a "bijou," then gets thrown up and down and around until his giggling is the loudest noise in the house.
"Watch his head," Lori Rosenlof tells her husband. "I say that all the time. Watch his head. Watch his head."
Brent did watch Nathan's head. In fact, watching Nathan is fast becoming an Olympic sport at the Rosenlofs' Lehi house, as the couple who have been trying to adopt for nine years finally brought home this Haitian toddler. Getting him here required mountains moving and a pilot refusing to move until his plane was filled with children.
Shortly after the Jan. 12 earthquake, Brent and Lori, along with their friends Tia Simpson and David and Candice Aitken, had not known if their adoptive children were alive and where they were. The good news that all of their children were found safely launched Team Hope, an effort to get 68 children waiting to be adopted out of Haiti and to their families. Lori and Brent paused their normal lives so Brent could go to Haiti and Lori could collect, copy and send hundreds of forms to the U.S. and Haitian governments so dozens of children could leave the country, then take a red-eye flight with other parents from Salt Lake City to Miami.
Tia has gone from bachelorette to mother of 2-year-old Collin, whose French name was Ollie, and Lori and Brent are celebrating Nathan's homecoming while still working and praying for 3-year-old Jessica, whose birth father came to the Haitian orphanage in December and took her away. The Aitkens, who adopted three children, declined to be interviewed for this article.
It has been, for all parties, quite a transition.
"The guys at work are giving me a hard time that I won't think the car seat's so cool in a little while," Lori said.
Surprise! You're a mom
"You fit pretty good right there," Tia tells Collin as he settles into her lap.
He's managed to fit pretty good into every aspect of her life, which, even a year ago, she would never have expected. Tia is 33 and single; she works full time, and she never imagined having a Haitian toddler in her life.
In fact, she had her guard up in June when she went to Haiti with Brent and Lori to meet their children and see the country. Little Collin came to the hotel with the orphanage director, and he was not feeling well. The director asked Tia to watch him for a little while. Collin nestled into her arms, laid his head on her chest and fell asleep.
Tia reckons she was set up; Lori said her friend had checked Collin out online before going and willingly walked into any trap she may have laid.
TIA'S BLOG: "I got to spend the next four days playing Ollie's 'mom.' It's an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. I had no idea I could fall in love so completely, so quickly. I miss his big brown eyes. They seemed to look right through me. ... I miss you Ollie."
A few weeks later she decided to adopt him. She second-guessed herself, especially since the LDS Church, of which she is an active member, focuses heavily on two-parent households. She visited with a local stake president about her concerns.
He told her it was a great idea, since life with one parent was far better than life with no parents. Still uncertain, she spent time in prayer and at an LDS temple and debated, sure a mother and a father would see just how adorable Collin was and want to adopt him.
That debate lasted a couple of weeks, and she started the paperwork in July. The process normally takes years, but was sped up because of the earthquake.
She was surprisingly grateful to not be married; the paperwork is more complicated when two people have to undergo medical and psychological evaluations, and the Haitian government requires that a couple be married 10 years before adopting.
A monthly parent update banished all doubts. In October, Tia found herself with a picture of a swollen, shaven, miserable little boy; Collin had an allergic reaction to some medicine just before the update. He was fine now, the director assured Tia.
"I'll tell you if he's OK," Collin's mother wanted to say, impatient that she couldn't see him for another two weeks. "He needs his mom, and I'm not there."
There followed two months of frustration with the Haitian government and the long-distance celebration of Collin's official 2-year birthday -- also Christmas Day -- then a terrifying two weeks after the earthquake. First, Tia heard that Collin was safe. Then she heard the orphanage staff weren't sure where he was. Then, he was found again, at an LDS chapel in Petionville, but they were running out of food and water.
TIA'S BLOG: "I don't know if Collin is OK."
Lori's assignment on the ground included getting money and supplies to Haiti. She coordinated through their charity, Hope for the Little Angels of Haiti, to send money through a Utah doctor going to Haiti, as well as raising money for gasoline and being the point of contact for the adoption agency and dozens of equally anxious parents. She alternated between frenetically running around trying to get all the necessary paperwork, which seemed to change by the hour, updating families on what was happening and worrying about her children. Jessica had left the orphanage and could be anywhere. They were too young to understand what was happening, and the aftershocks just kept coming, and they were scared.
As the days went by, she took comfort in knowing her husband was with Nathan and was looking for Jessica. Jessica's mother had taken the girl to the orphanage years before because she knew her daughter could have a better life with someone else. Miss Jess, as Lori calls her, is part of their family. When she asks for Dad, she's thinking of Brent.
LORI'S BLOG: "I wonder, in all this mess, if Jessica's father will find us again. If he'll bring her back and if we'll be able to have her in our family the way it has always felt like we should. ... I wonder where my Nathan is. ... I wish I was there to hold you, Little Man."
Brent got to Haiti about 10 days after the earthquake. They knew when he went down that Nathan was safe, but not much else. Besides driving throughout Port-au-Prince looking for Jessica, he also went in search of Nathan. His son, however, unexpectedly came to him in the back of a pickup truck full of other orphans.
"I get around the back side of the truck and ... " Brent's eyes got big and his jaw dropped, imitating the surprise he felt when he unexpectedly came face to face with his son. "'Hey, that's Nathan!' And once that happened, he kind of got all the attention."
Brent and Nathan stayed close until about a day after Lori showed up in Miami. Then she went back to being the favorite parent.
"I'm a second-class citizen," Brent complained after playing with Nathan almost nonstop for several minutes, plus changing his diaper and changing him into pajamas, then immediately getting dropped in favor of Lori.
"Daddies are for playing, and mamas are for snuggling," the favorite parent said, holding her son close and kissing his head while he willingly settled into her lap.
Life as an only child -- almost
Collin is all boy. He likes loud toys with moving parts, kicking a soccer ball and jumping on the bed. He resisted cleaning up, even though part of his playing involved pouring toys out and then putting them back. Once he did start cleaning, he was easily distracted by the toys he was supposed to be putting away.
He was still warming up to the dog. Tucker followed Tia around, sometimes surprising Collin, who did not like that. He would pet Tucker once, then look around for approval before petting him again, just once and quickly. He did not like Tucker to get too close, which Tucker only did when he tried to get close to Tia.
Lori Rosenlof wishes Nathan liked the dogs a little less than he does. He chases Divot, a Jack Russell terrier and Bobby Jones, a whippet, around the house regularly. They share food and toys. That part is OK.
"Oh, that's so gross," Lori said, cringing as Divot licked Nathan's wide-open mouth.
Nathan has a little too much female influence in his life to make his father happy; Brent is concerned that since so many of Nathan's cousins are female, family reunions are going to include nail polish and Barbies.
He does have a yellow Tonka truck that he loves pushing around the floor; the problem is in the cargo. He latched onto a necklace of Lori's and alternates between wearing it, much to Brent's chagrin, and towing it around in his truck.
"We've gotta get something more manly," Papa said, shaking his head.
He does like playing ball with Mama, Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, and judging by the laughter, his favorite game is getting tossed around and playfully manhandled by his father. He is a bit of a mama's boy, but that doesn't mean he and his dad haven't had their moments. Brent remembers a trip to Haiti when Nathan was about five months old. They spent an afternoon sitting on the bed watching a Seattle Seahawks game. Nathan sat between Brent's legs, leaning back, arms slung over Brent's legs.
A status update from Brent's Facebook page: "How cool is it that I just got to watch the superbowl with my SON!"
There's camping, Boy Scouts, playing football and going to see the Harlem Globetrotters. Brent has plans for father-son outings and sharing his passions with the toddler who's been in his life for two years and in his home for a few weeks.
Not that Lori isn't looking forward to a few perks.
"Just being a family," she said. "Nothing against my dear spouse, but it just gets kind of boring, just the two of us."
The picture-perfect family dinners Lori imagined have yet to materialize; they have to feed Nathan first because he feels like he has to eat food that's in front of him. He can clean his plate twice before he's done, and he won't say no to a package of fruit snacks before going to bed. He is good at sharing the fruit snacks with Mama and Papa, though.
At dinner, though, they leave him alone and he eats.
"I think that's a little bit much right there, baby," Lori said, watching Nathan shove a huge spoonful of food into his mouth.
His favorite food is meat, which so far agrees with him. Lori said his color has gotten better and his hair has grown much more quickly since he's been home getting regular meals. Nathan also is changing. His parents see more of his personality now that they're with him constantly and he's used to their home and the family. He's a funny child who can, his mother said ruefully, throw a temper tantrum in two languages.
"He started making faces at me to try to make me laugh, and then he started laughing at how funny he was, and he's never done that before in the two and a half years we've known him," Lori said.
Haitian or American, some parts of being 2 just don't change. Collin played happily and quietly for hours until Tia brought him inside so he could eat and take a nap. He then sat down, leaned against the wall and wailed while Tia took off his coat and heated up spaghetti for lunch. The crying continued unabated until his mother reappeared in his line of vision. His arms reached entreatingly toward her, silent tears still running down his face.
"Are you all done now?" she asked, collecting him in her arms. The two cuddled for a moment, she said, "I'm sorry, Mommy," and prompted him to repeat it. All was forgiven.
Until naptime, that is, when the tears come back at full volume. Collin didn't try to climb out of his bed, but he didn't succumb to sleep without a fight. At first Tia sat across the room where he can see her, but then she moved over to the bed. Tucker was asleep in the corner of the room.
The sobs slowly quieted into whimpering, and Collin's breathing became slower as Tia kneeled next to his bed, holding his hand, looking down at him.
"It's OK. Mommy's right here," she whispered.
Becoming mom and dad
It's been quite the journey for Tia. Her shopping now revolves around Collin's needs, her house is filled with toys, and her schedule rests entirely on his. Gone is the lead foot. In the place of her simpler life is a toddler who giggles frequently and loves to play.
"I love it when he smiles and when he reaches for me and I know that he's looking for Mom," she said.
She still, though, describes herself as terrified. She's worried that she lets him cry for too long or should be feeding him more fruits and vegetables. She's afraid that she won't be able to teach him what he needs to know, or that he'll have a hard time growing up as the only black child on the street. Simply put, she believes taking Collin out of Haiti will give him the chance to make something of his life. Tia wants him to use his life to help other people, his people.
"Haiti needs a lot of rebuilding, and I'd like for him to be a part of it, for us to be a part of it," she said.
TIA'S BLOG: "I used to secretly giggle when people would say that they love to watch their children sleep. Now I completely get it. Laundry can wait, and the bathrooms? Well, I wasn't really cleaning those before ... :)"
Meanwhile, she is taking notes, keeping journals, blogging and saving newspaper clippings so one day, when Collin is old enough, she can tell him about his journey.
"I just think I'll tell him that he was part of a miracle -- several miracles," Tia said.
Lori and Brent had been looking forward to having children in their house for years. The Rosenlofs have known Nathan and Jessica for more than two years and have made half a dozen visits in that time. Before Nathan arrived, his room was decorated, and toys filled the bins in the play room. He is named after Brent's best friend. He's called them Mama and Papa for months.
That doesn't change how those words sound in their own home as Mama and Papa change diapers, make dinner, play peek-a-boo and actually get to be full-time parents.
"It probably actually means something now," Lori's father, Art Olson, said.
LORI'S BLOG: "When they make a movie about this, Brent will be played by Angelina Jolie who will adopt all the children herself. Lori will be played by Will Smith, complete with the catchphrase he uses in every movie: 'Aw HELL no!'"
Jessica is a daddy's girl. They have video of Brent and Jessica playing and singing together, and her picture is the wallpaper on his cell phone. They do not know yet if Jessica will ever make it to Utah; right now they're praying that her father is taking care of her, that she knows they love her and that her life is good. They have to have faith that this will work out right, Lori said.
"I don't think the story's over yet," Brent said. "I hope the story's not over yet."
It is what it is
Tia's house is filled with sayings about family, faith and life. Her kitchen has a sign that reads, "A happy home is but an early heaven." The entertainment center has plaques that say, "It will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end," and "Family, our most precious gift from God."
The living room walls proclaim, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away," and "Blessed is the life that enjoys the journey."
Two Haitian masks decorate the living room, as do family pictures, including one of Tia and Tucker, a few of Tia's parents and siblings and many, many pictures of a smiling Collin, some with his proud mother, some playing in Haiti, one with his birth mother, who two years ago left him at the orphanage.
One picture is new.
Tia's mother gave it to her when she found out Collin and the rest of the children had gotten humanitarian parole. The artwork, titled "Worth of a Soul" by Liz Lemon Swindle, is of Jesus Christ holding a little black boy. As the bracelet that Tia wears on her right wrist says, "It is what it is."
The adoptive journey is far from over; technically the parents are their children's sponsors, and they have no idea how to get the needed paperwork to legally adopt him. And there's Jessica.
"Brent's waited a lot of time to throw around his own kid instead of somebody else's," Lori said.
"The best non-soap opera-y part of my life?" Lori wrote on her blog on Feb. 5, about a week after Nathan came home. "That every day now, when I wake up ... I'm still a mom. And he's still snuggled in right beside me in bed. And if I roll too far away, even in his sleep he'll reach out his hand to make sure he can find me."


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Our new location is:
131 Hartford Road
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Our phone number will not be changing
Phone: 856-810-3443
Taylor Design Group recently received approval from Mount Laurel Township for our future office! We are "upcycling" a 1950's farmhouse for our new office, incorporating farm-style architectural features to honor the rich agricultural heritage of the community. Site improvements will include employee vegetable gardens, rain barrels and rain gardens for sustainability, and a planting plan to complement the site design. Check back here to follow the progress of our future TDG home!


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The Fulton County Tax Commissioner's newest office, located at 11575 Maxwell Road, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30009, will celebrate a grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, February 24, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.
Fulton County Tax Commissioner Dr. Arthur E. Ferdinand will host the celebratory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House, as means of acknowledging and thanking government officials and citizens for their cooperation towards the successful completion of the new state-of-the-art office.
The Tax Commissioner's current Alpharetta office will move from 3155 Royal Drive, Suite 165, Alpharetta, GA 30004 to the new location at the Water Resources Operations Center, 11575 Maxwell Road, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30009. The office will occupy 7,000 square feet on the first floor of the Water Resources Operations Center.
"In an effort to continue providing great customer service and convenience to Fulton County citizens, our newest location will have the space and technology to efficiently and effectively serve more residents in an expedient manner," said Fulton County Tax Commissioner Dr. Arthur E. Ferdinand.
The Fulton County Tax Commissioner is responsible for the collection of Property Taxes for Fulton County Government, Fulton County and City of Atlanta schools, the State of Georgia, and the cities of Atlanta, Mountain Park, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, and Chattahoochee Hills. The Tax Commissioner's office is also responsible for collecting Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Taxes, Tag and Title Fees, and Transfer Fees for all Fulton County citizens.
The new office space is American with Disabilities Act compliant and offers a better experience for customers. The Tax Commissioner's office will feature a wonderful customer service and process workflow with a new qmatic system, 12 tellers, seating for a capacity of 100, and a child area; which includes an interactive exploration mural. The location will also provide free ample parking.
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©2011 Fulton County Government141 Pryor St. Atlanta, GA 30303 | (404)-612-4000


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- Search for JobsSearch for Jobs
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Paralegal, Technology Companies Group
Jobs Rated32nd
Orrick currently has an excellent opportunity in the Santa Monica office for a Technology Companies Group Paralegal. Were looking for the best of the best for this dynamic department and offer highly competitive salaries and, for a limited time, generous signing bonuses!
What will you do? As a Corporate Paralegal, you will support the delivery of quality legal services to clients by performing technical and clerical tasks that require accuracy, attention to detail, strong organizational skills, strong written and oral communication skills and computer proficiency. You will have representative duties which include the organization and maintenance of various corporate entities such as corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships.
You will perform a wide array of tasks, including but not limited to:
- Establish the corporate name, obtain the EIN, prepare organizational documents and coordinate execution and subsequent filing in proper jurisdiction
- Prepare entity qualification or registration forms for foreign jurisdictions
- You will prepare and maintain minute books and capitalization tables
- Use capitalization management software to maintain capitalization records of clients
- Assist in drafting employment, purchase and option agreements, stock plans and other related document.
- Research and figure out filing, recording and notary procedures required in the locality where the project is located
- Prepare and file necessary state and federal forms and reports with appropriate governmental entities
- Assist with liquidations and dissolutions of companies and other entities
- You will assist in the research of state statutes for corporate filings
- Obtain documents from Secretary of State offices and Franchise Tax Board
- Assist in closings by preparing and gathering closing materials and attending the pre-closings and closing
- You will help in drafting and reviewing routine transactional documents, e.g., signature pages, officer's certificates and, correspondence with a particular focus on serving companies in the technology, energy and financial sectors. We are recognized worldwide for delivering the highest-quality legal advice and for our culture of innovation and collaboration.
- A bachelors degree is required, and a paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved training program is preferable but not required
- At least 3 years Orrick equivalent experience
- Demonstrates good organization, verbal and written communication skills, plus exhibits aptitude to develop specific and detailed knowledge and understanding of complex issues and procedures
- Shown ability to delegate appropriate tasks and offer mentorship to other firm resources
- Strong time management skills, and ambition to work in a dynamic, shared environment are essential
- Excellent computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and any practice-related software
- An understanding of Delaware General Corporate Law, New York Business Corporate Law and California Corporations Code
- Significant substantive working knowledge of the procedures, terminology and documents relating to the formation of a variety of corporate entities. May be required to be licensed as a Notary Public in the appropriate jurisdiction
California Requirements: In the California offices, paralegals must meet the qualifications, including compliance with the continuing education requirements, as set forth in the California Business and Professions Code, Section 6450 et seq .
Who is Orrick? As an employer of choice we will provide our employees with challenging work, training opportunities, team oriented culture, and the opportunity to work with the best talent in the legal profession. For the fourth year in a row, Fortune selected Orrick among the 100 best workplace cultures for the very best talent. Orrick ranks in the top 15 and is the highest-ranked law firm of only four firms on the 2019 list. We provide excellent service to our clients and we hire the brightest and most hardworking individuals at every level. We champion a culture that is committed to excellence, but is also fun, inclusive and realLearn more about our awesome employee experience here:Fortune 100 Great Place To Work certified company
Orrick offers a collaborative work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits, including lots of extra perks like free biometric screenings, paid time to participate in community service activities and the day off for your birthday.
Please visit www.orrick.com for more information about the firm.
How to Apply: If you are searching for a chance to create an impact, you have a little grit and you love working with a team, we want to talk with you. To submit your resume and cover letter for this position, please visit our Staff and Paralegal Opportunities Listings at www.orrick.com/en/Careers.
No phone calls please.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Jobs Rated Reports for Paralegal
We focus on serving the Technology, Energy & Infrastructure and Finance sectors globally. Clients worldwide call on our teams for forward-looking commercial advice on transactions, litigation and compliance matters. We bring distinctive quality, teamwork and value to the table – and innovate in everything we do.
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The northbound off-ramp on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Cameron Park in Newcastle has reopened after a truck transporting a huge piece of refinery equipment became wedged on the guard rail on Monday morning.
The incident caused traffic chaos as the scene remained closed to motorists from 4.30am until the truck was finally freed overnight with the help of a crane.
Emergency crews and experts including police, Rural Fire Service, Roads and Maritime Services, heavy vehicle inspectors and a bridge engineer spent the day trying to extricate the truck from the off-ramp, but the vehicle was wedged in tight.
Operations were brought to a halt as the team awaited the arrival of a 400 tonne crane from Sydney to help lift the 40 tonne wide load.
The salvage operation to remove the truck began at 8pm on Monday night and took a number of hours. Northbound lanes of the motorway were closed to traffic for the operation.
A NSW Police spokesman said inquiries were continuing into how the truck became stuck.
The white Freightliner prime mover, which had South Australian licence plates, was travelling from Clyde in Sydney's west to Mayfield, when it hit the guard rail and blocked the ramp.
RMS had issued a permit for the haul and a pilot vehicle was leading the prime mover when it became lodged. A police car was also travelling with the truck at the time.
The male truck driver was not injured.
Rural Fire Service crews were called in to assist with fire protection during the evening's salvage operation.
A bridge guardrail on the exit ramp was damaged as a result of the incident and the exit ramp will have a reduced speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour until mid-year, when the guardrail can be permanently repaired.
Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.
A spokesman for RMS said the road authority was investigating the incident but would not comment on the identity of the company responsible for the vehicle's movements.
"The permit provided [to the company] includes a number of conditions for the operator to comply with including the height, width and weight of the load, and how it is positioned," he said.
"The operator is ultimately responsible for carrying out the safe transportation operation."
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery urged RMS to "thoroughly investigate what went wrong here".
"Someone has messed up because it is obvious that the truck was never going to fit across that bridge," she said.
"Someone needs to be held accountable and the details made public."


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Estate Planning Tools
There are many decisions you will have to make when you draft a Will. If not thoroughly considered, some of these decisions can have unintended consequences. Please see the Will Planning Workbook and Will Planning Checklist below.
Financial Calculators
- RRSP Calculator
- RESP Calculator
- RRSP Illustrator
- RRSP Loan Planner
- Advantage of Early Investing
- Registered vs. Non-Registered Investing
- Investment & Regular Deposit
- Investment & Regular Withdrawal
- RIF/LIF/LRIF Calculator
- Mortgage Qualifier
- Mortgage / Loan Amortization Scheduler
- Debt Consolidator
- Cash Flow Illustrator
- Net Worth Illustrator


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Instagram is down and people around the world have claimed they are unable to load their news feed or view pictures.
The problems were spread across the globe, with reports of the outage coming from the UK, US Europe and Japan, according to the website Down Detector.
Users said they were unable to log into their accounts or see all their friends' latest selfies.
'I've logged out both my accounts and can't log in, nothing comes up on the actual Instagram website either,' one user wrote.
Says I need to refresh feed. Won't load at all. Very annoying,' another added.
To numb the pain, photo fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts using the hashtag #instagramdown.
'When Instagram is down so you check twitter to make sure you're not alone! How will I procrastinate now?' one person wrote.
'Somebody tell Instagram that its down right now and I can't check what the rich are eating,' another Twitterer tweeted.


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Yep, even that burrito.
Posted: Thursday, November 2, 2017 @ 1:00 PM
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Version: 3:836:1493819573938


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I think so.The use of music,the way bruce wayne's story is told,acting from bale-all make an incredible tour of emotion.And also this movie is just so uplifting.It is really sad that all the credit goes to TDK.
Batman Begins-Nolan's most emotional film?
Christopher's 2005 reboot of the Batman franchise that tells the origins of how Bruce Wayne became Batman.
Post Reply
Well I think it has more emotional moments than his other films. The scenes (apart from the ending) didn't affect me much because of the way Nolan approached them, but that's just the way I personally respond to emotion.
Personally, I find Inception to be his most emotionally charged film.
Personally, I find Inception to be his most emotionally charged film.
Posts: 1610
Joined: April 2009
Location: Puerto Rico
Yeah, the music helped with all of the emotional scenes. But it's not Nolan's most emotional film. Inception and The Prestige in my opinion are his most emotionally charged films
Posts: 7309
Joined: June 2010
Location: London town, UK
Inceptions ending was up there. Cobb talking to his kids about Mal no being here anymore. Mal herself. its pretty tragic.
Posts: 13943
Joined: June 2009
Location: La La Land
None of Nolan's films have ever caused much of an emotional reaction from me, but if I had to choose I'd say The Prestige had the largest impact on me.
well the scene in BB when bruce leaves the hotel after jumping in the pool and sees rachel, thats a pretty emotional conversation right there, they haven't seen each other in 7 years and their first encounter is a drunk bruce with two russian models.. the way bruce sobers up almost instantly as he sees rachel and the conversation they have to me is a key scene in the movie
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Batman Begins and The Prestige are his most emotional films.
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Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo which is now the longest continually attending vendor at Gen Con (and one of the oldest companies in the biz). He has been here since Gen Con 9.
Nichelle Nichols, still active in the fan community and a big NASA booster too (her latest post is a personal note about the recently-deceased Dr. Sally Ride). Sorry this photo is so blurry, we'll try to frame-grab some video if we can for a clearer shot.
Lovecraftian Horrors
This Chtulhu-like mini is from Cool Mini or Not. I took one close up for detail...
In the same display is an Elder Thing. These are some really well detailed minis. Even though it looked like painted plastic from China was going to kill this industry ten years ago, the sculptures keep getting better on the customer-painted metal side of the hobby.
Here's a very disturbing creation from Elizabeth Galindorf
The proud artist, who has an Etsy store for those who still have sanity after visiting her personal site above.
Surprising Miniatures
From WorldWorksGames and Wyrd Miniatures comes TerraClips, a great gaming accessory.
The walls and floors are stiff cardboard printed in full color, which you punch out and clip together with the company's TerraClips.
When you need to have that 3D dungeon but do not have the skill to carve out of foam and spend days painting, this may be the way to go.
New Games
Next I got to check out Tap a Nuko, a card game which works with a free iPad app. You place your game card on the screen and the program recognizes it. You are then able to use the animal or monster (depending on which game you play). There are quests and other standard game activities, where you travel through pretty renderings using the iPad's accelerometer to control your creature by the way you hold the iPad. They gave me a Dark Chimera card, so big kudos to them -- I will download this when I get home.
Tap a Nuko was not being sold at the show, only demoed. Price points are 99 cents, $1.99 and the box for $28. Ages 3 and up, believe it or not.
Tanto Cuore is a deck building game, set in an anime "cute maid" world. The object is to have the most victory points when one of the pools of maids runs out. The player is the Master of a house and gains prestige towards becoming the Perfect Master by having more maids. Better skilled maids give more victory points. Unlike, say, Magic: the Gathering, this can be played multi-player without having to buy more cards.
The cards are visually attractive anime/manga style drawings. Maids are purchased with Love cards, which serve as currency. The turn mechanism is simple - draw to a hand of 5, play one maid, buy something, discard. An interesting mechanic is that when you buy a maid it immediately goes to the discard pile. Points are counted at the end from all cards you have, both in hand and in discard. Maids in play give you the usual game-changing abilities such as extra actions, extra love, etc.
Neko, demoing the game, also runs D20 Girls Magazine, a fellow indie gaming mag.


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What's the best way to remember your travels? Photos are great and diaries can really bring the memories flooding back, but finding a special item to take pride of place in your home will tell a story every time you look at it.
From Japanese handmade necklaces to shells from a secluded beach in the Philippines, these top travel bloggers share their souvenir stories…
The most memorable item we have brought back from our travels would have to be these hand-made necklaces from Ishinomaki in Japan, one of the areas that was devastated by the big earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The roofs of many homes in the area were tiled with beautiful Ogatsu stone quarried from the local Kitakami mountain. With so many houses destroyed by the tsunami, however, these roof tiles now lay broken and scattered across Ishinomaki.
Instead of adding them to the piles and piles of tsunami debris that remain in temporary dumps, locals have been collecting these otherwise unusable, broken roof tiles and transforming them into pretty accessories such as necklaces and key chains, as well as larger pieces to display in your home or garden. Each piece is original and carries a story deep within it, serving as a reminder of all that happened there while, very importantly, raising much needed funds for communities struggling to get back on their feet. If you're looking for a wearable souvenir with purpose, these locally made accessories are a great choice.
Follow Notes of Nomads on Instagram
We were in Bora Bora and just randomly asked what other things there are to do which are not your usual resort activity. We were introduced to one of the boat captains of the resort, who happened to love fishing. That's him in the photo. He spoke no word of English, and we didn't speak any Tahiti or French. How we managed to communicate in-depth just by gestures, body language, and sound effects is beyond me. And by in-depth I mean, we met outside of his resort shift, he invited us to his home, and showed us how they actually gathered food; by deep sea fishing at night! It was such an amazing three days, and striking a friendship with someone who you don't have a common language with is even more amazing. As we were departing the resort and saying our goodbyes, he gave us these shells. I'm not one to buy souvenirs but this has stayed with us for years now. These shells are more than just a token. It speaks for all those days that we bonded because our friend does not have email, internet access, or even a formal street address. Definitely a treasure that money cannot buy.
Like Holy Smithereens on Facebook
In my case, the item I brought back from one of my trips is the "perfect picture". I am not a huge fan of collecting things but mostly memories and pictures. During my last trip to Paris, I managed to capture a photo that I had in my mind from a very long time. I found an incredibly deserted spot to admire the Eiffel Tower by night and took the best travel souvenir ever: the picture I've always wanted! Why buy postcards if I can create my own?
Like Keep Calm and Travel on Facebook
As full time backpackers we don't often bring home souvenirs from our travels. However, last year in the Philippines we worked with a group of typhoon Yolanda survivors and helped them establish a candle-making business. We left on the first day of their production and they gave us a set of candles to take back home. They somehow survived in our backpacks unbroken and we think of our ladies in the Philippines whenever we light them.
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When I took my first solo trip, I wanted to bring something home that would remind me of that trip. I was in Greece, and while exploring Santorini, I bought one of those big spoons you put next to the stove so you have someplace to rest your utensils while cooking. I like that it's a useful item, and now I can think back on that gorgeous island every time I cook.
Follow @aliadventures7 on Twitter
I don't personally buy or collect a lot of souvenirs from my travels, but I love to find something special that has meaning to me and reminds me of a trip. One treasured object is a baobab fruit from Tanzania. Before setting out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, we went along with our head guide Salim to purchase food for our trip at an open-air market near the base of the mountain. At the market, I asked Salim what something was and it turned out to be a baobab fruit and he purchased it because of my interest and attached it to the outside of his pack. It went up Mt. Kilimanjaro with us and at the end every member of our 14-person crew signed it for us – a very special treasure that holds a lot of memories!
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Last year we got to spend the most amazing five days while getting Open Water certified in Koh Tao, a little Thailand blissful island that managed to keep itself away from the big resorts that populate its neighbouring islands. Without any doubt, our Open Water Diving Certifications are one of the most special items we have managed to get while traveling around the world!
Follow A World to Travel on Instagram
The most memorable items we brought back came from San Remigio, Cebu in the Philippines. We brought back shells from an isolated beach where my grandfather used to play as a child.
Follow Courageously Free Travelers on Instagram
My most favorite things that I bring back with me on my travels are Christmas ornaments. My Christmas tree is almost entirely made up of treasured decorations from all over the world as I get to enjoy and reminisce about my journeys every holiday season and share them with friends and family. I feel it makes my tree very personal and unique!
Like Healthy Voyager on Facebook
You never really know who you will meet on your travels. I met a Chilean Sculptor named Sergio Castillo while in Santiago, Chile and brought back a souvenir…one of his sculpture pieces! He has since passed away and I am honoured to have been able to purchase this amazing piece of metal art that he created into a Spanish Bull.
Follow Points and Travel on Instagram
Back in our early 20s, Mrs Chasing the Donkey and I decided to take our first international holiday together. The destination was Bali and it was this trip that really sparked our joint passion for travel. While there, we explored Bali extensively and met a local artist in Ubud, where we purchased our first piece of art together. Every time I look at the artwork which, by the way, hangs in our lounge room in Croatia now, it reminds me of our absolute need to explore and experience this wonderful world.
Like Chasing the Donkey on Facebook
One thing I like to take home whenever I travel is a bottle or can of local beer. Every country has their own iconic brand and the label usually features something interesting about destination. If I can't take the beer home, I just drink it abroad and try to keep the beer label or bottle cap (which I stick on a magnet). It makes a unique but affordable memento of the trip. Looking back on the photos of all the beers consumed brings back a lot of travel memories.
My favourite travel treasure is a bracelet I brought back from the heavenly isles of Fiji. The Fijians are probably some of the friendliest people I have ever met and this bracelet is a perfect example of their kindness. One of the locals climbed up a palm tree to get this coconut and then spent a good hour hand-carving its shell into this beautifully decorated bracelet.
Like Where is Noodles on Facebook
My travel treasure is a necklace with a replica of the Florentine florin. This gold coin was issued in the mid-1200's and became the dominant trade coin of Western Europe. The necklace was purchased from one of the jewelry stores on the famous Ponte Vecchio and serves as a reminder of my favorite city in Italy.
Follow @suitcasetalks on Twitter


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Circus Swirl Block Tutorial
I've been playing with blocks made using the hypnotic random 9-patch block generator and saw the block below. I decided to make it! The bold colors I chose and the erratic dancing shapes it makes when pieced together reminded me of something one might see at the circus, hence the name.
Update – here are what some of the blocks look like together.
Note: I found it a little tricky to get the points to go the right way. I suggest you lay it all out before sewing it together. Unless you love your seam ripper or are impervious to mistakes.
2 – 3.5" Neutral squares – marked diagonally
2 – 3.5" Color squares
4 – 2.5" Color squares
4 – 2.5×4.5 Neutral pieces
2 – 2.5" Neutral squares
2 – 2.5×6.5″ Neutral square
1 – 8.5" square
Make 4 half square triangles (HST)
- Mark Neutral 3.5" squares on the diagonal – I use a hera marker to make a crease
- Layer each Neutral square with a 3.5" color square
- Sew a generous ¼" down each side of the diagonal line.
- Cut along diagonal line, iron open to form a square, and trim to 2.5"
Make center block
- Mark Neutral 2.5" color squares on the diagonal
- Place 2.5" block on the corner of the 8.5" block
- Sew along the marked diagonal line
- Trim 1/4" seam
- Press open, repeat for all four corners
- Join a 2.5" block, 2.5" HST block and a 4.5×2.5 block as shown below
- Attach to center block
- Repeat for second side.
Top and Bottom
- Join a 2.5×6" block, 2.5"HST block and a 4.5×2.5" block as shown below.
- Attach to block
- Repeat for the final side
Here is the EQ7 mock up of the components if that is helpful: