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Some lingo:
Co-operatives (Co-ops) – an enterprise owned and controlled by its members; "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise… Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity" (International Co-operative Association Statement on the Co-operative Identity)
Fair Trade – Began when the Ten Thousand Villages craft company (US) started buying needlework from poor communities in Puerto Rico in 1946. In the 1950s, the term "Fair Trade" was popping up in Europe as companies began to rely on production of artisan crafts and raw goods produced by refugees and small farmers in "Third World" countries (then came "reEThird World Shop" in 1969, "World Shops" and "Fair Trade Shops"). In 1968, the second United Nations Conference of Trade and Development recommended "Trade not Aid" which emphasized the creation of equitable trade relations with the global South. European Fair Trade Organization was formed in 1987 and the World Fair Trade Organization was created in 1989.
Original intent for Fair Trade – "Fair Trade provides a minimum baseline price for commodities, allowing farmers to hedge against market volatility. The co-operative system allows small farmers better access to global markets and encourages democratic representation." (Andrew Chambers "Not so fair trade" in The Guardian 2009)
…So then what's Equal Exchange?
Modification of Fair Trade USA
In 2014 → "Has Fair Trade USA sold out?" by Erik Hoffner in the Washington Post
Fair Trade USA executive: "The fair trade movement has been limited by a 'small is beautiful' mentality. We have a bigger vision."
Why Equal Exchange counters Fair Trade USA:
"Paul is not afraid to think and act on a big scale. That's one of his great gifts. And he's willing to cut any corners to get there. That, to me, is one of his great faults." – Rink Dickinson, Equal Exchange Co-Founder and Co-Director
"On certified plantations, workers may get better conditions, but they don't own more land, they don't have a greater political voice, they're not masters of their own destiny" –Rodney North, Equal Exchange spokesman
"Fair Trade is for small farmers and small producers who are democratically organized. If you take the democracy out you have traditional aid or world bank development or what the TransFair USA and the European certifiers are now trying to call Fair Trade… if you want the fastest supply chain that produces the most tea or coffee or bananas at commercial terms you have entered into some socially responsible product world of which there are many examples. It just ain't Fair Trade, and it won't have the same positive benefits." – Rink Dickinson, Equal Exchange Co-Founder and Co-Director
"While 'fair' pricing arguably improves the lot of many producers, and contributes to sustainable relations of trade, recent studies have shown that certified systems of fair trade fall short of addressing the root causes of impoverishment and inequitable power relations." –The Co-operative Learning Centre
"There is no basis for believing that fair trade plantations are any better than other similarly situated plantations in India. Wages are the same, living conditions are the same, education is the same, health care is the same. And all of those conditions are pretty terrible." – Peter Rosenblum, Professor of International Law and Human Rights at Bard College
The 4 pillars of Equal Exchange's mission:
- Fair Trade with small-scale farmers
- Support for sustainable farming
- To operate as a democratically governed worker co-operative
- Encourage consumers to think about, and care about, small-scale farmers around the world
Equal Exchange's partnerships
Catholic Relief Services – CRS has been collaborating with Equal Exchange since 2007 and has developed the "Ethical Trade" Program. This partnership is based in the values of Catholic Social Teaching and its call for advocacy, education, and conscientious purchasing to "celebrate the dignity of work"
Fair Trade Partners
- Fullwell Mill Ltd – largest dedicated Fair Trade dried fruit importer to the UK
- Oke USA – created by 3 entrepreneurial organizations (Agrofair, Red Tomato, and Equal Exchange) with goal to introduce small famer, fair trade bananas to the USw
- Ten Thousand Villages – has grown from the trunk of founder Edna Ruth Byler's car to a network of more than 390 retail outlets throughout the United States
- Handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, art & sculpture and personal accessories made by artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East
- Product sales help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed
- Traidcraft – Established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty and is now the UK's leading fair trade organization; runs development programs in impoverished countries and promotes trade justice through international campaigns
Further Reading/ Works Cited
Co-operatives and Fair Trade
Equal Exchange is Fighting for Fair Trade's Soul – Founded in the 1980s, Equal Exchange helped pioneer fair trade in the United States. Now, the Company wants to keep the socially-conscious business movement honest
Equal Exchange's Website
Has Fair Trade Sold Out? – A war is brewing over the meaning of 'fair trade' – and whether the group's certification makes any difference at all
History of Fair Trade
What is CRS Ethical Trade?
The 10 Principles of Fair Trade


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I love experimenting with different ingredients when making a Salad and substituting the Green Lettuce with Spinach. Who does not like a good salad with a little Meat??? I do..... Chicken Sausage has become a favorite addition to my salads. Chicken Sausage can be found at many supermarkets and Walmart; look for brands such as Hillshire Farm and Johnsonville. Here is what you need to make this scrumptious Salad...
- 1 package (12oz.) Chicken Sausage, cut in thin slices
- 1 medium Red Pepper, chopped
- 1 package (8oz.) Fresh Sliced Mushrooms
- 1 small Red Onion, chopped
- 2-3 Garlic Cloves, chopped
- 1 cup Feta Cheese. I used Athenos Garlic Herb
- 1 bag (10 oz.) Spinach
- 2 cups(4oz.) Dole Mandarin Oranges, drained
- 2-3 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
I used Ken's Steak House
- In large Sautee Pan; heat Olive Oil. Add onion, red pepper and garlic. Cook until vegetables are soft.
- Add Mushrooms and cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Set vegetables aside.
- Add sliced Chicken Sausage to the pan and saute for 10-15 minutes.
- Add vegetables and Balsamic Vinaigrette. Cook an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the Dressing thickens.
- Lay a bed of Spinach on your serving plate. Arrange Medley on top. Sprinkle with Feta Cheese and Mandarin Oranges.
And here it is...
What do you think?? Is it a Meal or simply a Salad? You Decide!!!
In the words of Rachel Ray; "DELISH"....
Bon Appetite.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mountain enthusiasts know that weather in the mountains is unpredictable. The morning might begin as a beautiful day with sunshine and in the afternoon the worst of storms is declared . So we know that we must always be cautious and not be trusting, even though the forecasts are good, and always carry warm clothing and some food with us, just in case.
Authorities could not confirm if this is the case of two sisters who froze to death on Saturday after being caught by heavy winds and snow in the Puigmal in the Catalan Pyrenees area (Queralbs – Ripollès). The Puigmal is one of the most emblematic mountains of Catalonia and one of the most traveled of all the Catalan Pyrenees.
The two women were among a group of five people who finished the ascent of Puigmal on Saturday November 7th. On the descent, the good mornig weather changed as the meteorological services had warned, and ushered in a heavy storm of snow and wind.
The visibility was virtually zero and the climbers were disoriented. The temperature fell to -2 ºC degrees, but the wind chill factor could have been as high as 25 degrees below zero celcius.
Not finding the way back, the group decided to split in two. The rescue personnel found the first of the climbers around nine o'clock, three hours after sunset. Firefighters and hikers were always in contact by mobile phone.
It appears that, despite bad weather conditions, hikers were able to follow the directions given by the firefighters, so inicially, the general managment of Civil Protecció Emergències didn't find negligences.
When firefighters arrived at the first of the climbers , they observed that one had signs of severe hypothermia. In Campdevànol Hospital, where she was transferred, doctors failed to revive her. Neither was it possible to reanimate her sister who was rescued arround one o'clock AM in the other group. The remaining members recovered favorably.
Sad news that we would rather not have had to tell.


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Besties' Pack (2 Sets of Carbon Coco Complete Kits)
Carbon Coco is a 100% Natural Teeth Whitener. It naturally whitens teeth, polishes teeth, strengthens enamel and detoxifies your mouth without any chemicals and added nasties.
Key Benefits
- Naturally Whiter Teeth
- Removes Stains
- Strong Teeth and Healthy Gums
- Long Lasting Spearmint Fresh Breath
- Naturally Antibacterial to kill viruses & bacteria in your mouth & detox the body
- Bad Breath sufferers report huge improvements
- Packed into 14 handy single use tear open, no mess, sachets
Pitch-black powder to whiten your teeth? Yes! Activated charcoal is the secret ingredient. It's an oxidized version of charcoal and can be used to effectively whiten teeth. It removes external stains from your teeth without the toxic chemical ingredients used in commercial tooth whitening. This tooth whitening promotes good oral health and can change the pH in the mouth, helping to reduce things that cause cavities, gum disease and bad breath.
It naturally whiten teeth, polishes teeth, strengthens enamel and detoxifies your mouth without any chemicals and added nasties. All by simply dipping a wet toothbrush into the fine, odourless and tasteless black dust. Brush in small gentle circles for two minutes. Spit it out carefully, rinse really well and you're done. Your mouth will feel amazingly clean…..
- CLEAN AND WHITEN YOUR TEETH the all-natural way.
- PREMIUM FORMULA: All natural and organic ingredient to help detoxify you mouth and teeth, and leave it feeling clean.
- ACTIVATED COCONUT CHARCOAL: An anti-bacterial and anti-fungal powder that's excellent for gum health and sensitive teeth, plus it removes food and drink stains over time!
- 1-2 MONTH SUPPLY: Depending on usage, this natural teeth whitener jar will last 1-2 months (110 uses approx.)
What's in it? 100% Organic Coconut Shell Activated Charcoal with a hint of bentonite powder and lemon myrtle.
- Deodorise
- Prevent Bad Breath
- Remove Plaque
- Prevent Harmful Bacteria Growth
What is inside the besties pack?
Please note: The Besties Kit was updated on the 6th of June to include toothpaste. All orders made prior to this date will not receive toothpaste as part of the Besties Kit.
- 2 x Pack of 14 Oil Pulling sachets
- 2 x 40g Activated Carbon Teeth Whitening Jar
- 2 x Activated Charcoal Tooth Paste
- 2 x Toothbrush with Bamboo bristles
- 2 x Tongue Cleaner (Colour chosen at random)
- 2 x Satin Pouch
We Also Recommend
Activated Charcoal Tooth Polish
Carbon Coco Complete Kit
"Consistency is Key" One Month Supply of Carbon Coco Organic Oil Pulling
"Double Trouble" Carbon Coco Activated Charcoal Duo Pack


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Schoolchildren in Horncastle will be given a taste of the opera thanks to one of the acts that will feature at this year's SO Festival.
Garsington Opera will be hosting a series of workshops at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School on June 23 and 24, together with four other schools, as part of its Opera for All touring programme.
Children from each school will then perform as part of the free screening of Garsington Opera's production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin at 12.30pm on July 2 in a special garden party, complete with free tea and cake, at SO Festival in Skegness, taking place by the boating lake.
Aimed at a family audience, SO Festival remains one of the most exciting and innovative outdoor art festivals in the UK and entry to all the events at SO Festival are free.
For more information, visit www.sofestival.org.


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Our final thoughts on this year's Jazz Fest, including the lineup, the planes, and the social media.
Some Jazz Fest thoughts don't fit in daily wrap-ups. Here are a few, some mattering more than others:
- This year's lineup lacked urgency. I'm sure that's a function of a lot of things including who's available and who will and won't sign to play the festival. Artists who put on spectacular, production-heavy shows are unlikely to play Jazz Fest, where even basic light shows are rarely relevant since the sun's still up when acts finish around 7. Still, it was hard to get excited about a lineup where Nas, Usher, Lorde, Darius Rucker, Tower of Power (maybe?) and Meghan Trainor were the only new artists to headline the Acura, Gentilly and Congo Square stages. Of those, two paid off with impressive shows—Usher and Lorde—and Meghan Trainor appeared to have a negligible on attendance at the Gentilly Stage when she played Saturday. When Tank and the Bangas finished, the crowd largely moved on. Trainor was fine, but she didn't anchor many people's day at the festival.
- My one personal disappointment was my lack of the ability to write insightfully about the Cuban music, which I found compelling, even at its most show-bizzy (Los Van Van). One friend better versed in the music felt like the Cuban bands helped him fill in a few gaps in his thinking about the roots of New Orleans music, and I buy that. I just can't articulate that.
- The best things I saw: Usher with The Roots, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, 79rs Gang, Gente de Zona, Lorde, Mokoomba, Dale Watson, Margo Price, Tank and the Bangas, Nigel Hall Band, Big Freedia, Nicholas Payton and Afro-Caribbean Mixtape, and DJ Shub,
- Local acts I now want to see more of: Trumpet Mafia, 79rs Gang.
- A question: Does Jazz Fest have any control of the airspace over the Fair Grounds? I have to assume not or they would likely have done something about the planes skywriting and flying banners years ago. On Thursday, the plane circling the track while advertising an Arkansas brewery was distractingly low as it struggled with the stiff winds. It looked to be one twitch from losing control and crashing, and it always seemed to be in the danger zone because whenever the wind got behind it, the plane whipped down the home stretch in front of the Grandstand and got back into the spot where it had to start fighting the wind.
It was also sad to see the the monument fight enter the Fair Grounds in the form of banners overhead. One advertised a pro-monument website, while another announced, "Our monuments, our vote," along with the house bill number in the Louisiana legislature. Ironically, that use of "our" illustrated the point that many have made about the monuments—that they completely disregard the interests of the African-American New Orleanian. Most of those who think the monuments aren't a problem say that because they aren't for them. That "our" in the banner, while technically inclusive, similarly discounted the existence of African Americans in New Orleans, or at least their stake in the city.
- One thing I hope Jazz Fest will reconsider after this year's Jazz Fest is its social media strategy during bad weather. Festival Productions can't control the weather, but it can better keep fans apprised of what's happening. On the first Sunday, we wanted to know when the doors would open, but that's an understandably hard thing for the festival to know at noon or 1 p.m., even after the rain lightened up. All the activities that we never see because they take place before gates open still had to happen in addition to checking the grounds (which held up beautifully!), and since some Music Heritage Stage interviews were cancelled due to a lack of power in the Grandstand, power outages likely contributed to the uncertainty. But if fans were told some of these things on Twitter and Facebook—maybe even show pictures of people working to get the Fair Grounds ready—they would understand and not hover over the doors an hour early because of rumors. It seems basic—take control of the story before others do.
- Finally, we wrote 33 stories focused on music in New Orleans over the course of the last two weeks. I'm very proud of what we've done, and if you haven't checked out what we've done, I hope you'll visit our Jazz Fest 2017 page, which features links to all of our coverage. Thanks to Greg Miles for his great portraits of PJ Morton and Leyla McCalla, to Erika Goldring for her generosity, and the contributors who worked with me on our coverage this year--Raphael Helfand, Ryan Knight, Mia Nguyen, Katie O'Brien, Fiona McMurtry, Michelle Beaulieu, and Ruby Beyman. You'll see more work in the coming months from all of them.
For more of my own coverage, you can read my story on Nicholas Payton, Christian Scott and Jon Batiste's aversions to the word "jazz" and more review of Usher with The Roots at Nola.com, and you can see my reviews of weekend one and weekend two at USAToday.com.


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Product Updates?
- User Forums
- Offline Explorer Enterprise Edition
- Product Updates?
|03/29/2006 07:01 am
I absoultely love this product!!
I currently have version 2.7.1108 SR1 and am noticing that some images does not refresh properly. Not a big deal but I am hoping new versions corrected this problem.
Where and how do we update to the new version (SR3)? Do we just download and install trial over the registered version?
|Oleg Chernavin
|03/29/2006 07:01 am
Thank you for your kind words!
Yes, you can simply download the updated version and install it over the previous one to the same directory. No need to uninstall anything before the update. All your settings and Projects will be preserved.
If the new version doesn`t solve the problem, please let us know more details on it.
Best regards,
Oleg Chernavin
MetaProducts corp.
|03/29/2006 07:01 am
|When i try to download some sites like www.orthoteers.com, the ooe 2.7 sr1 hangs uptrying to download files from windows/temp/msoclip/clip_image1.png and many such files.....
happens with other sites also
it alwasys tries to download these files and the speed become 0 kb
|Oleg Chernavin
|03/29/2006 07:01 am
|Please try the 2.7 Service Release 3 version from our site. Thank you!


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PRAESIDIUM • prɪˈsɪdiəm (latin)
Protection, Help, Guard.
Amid Robert Kraft Charges, A Closer Look At Human Trafficking
A statement from Bob Houston, former FBI agent and President of Praesidium Partners, on the charges against Robert Kraft (PDF)
Press Release: Praesidium Partners selects DataWalk for advanced anti-trafficking analytical needs
Slavery Has Never Made More Money – The Guardian
UNODC report on human trafficking exposes modern form of slavery – UNODC
2017 Trafficking in Persons Report – U.S. Department of State
Identifying Effective Counter-Trafficking Programs and Practices in the U.S.: Legislative, Legal, and Public Opinion Strategies that Work – National Criminal Justice Reference Service
21 Across U.S. Are Indicted in 'Modern-Day Sex Slave' Ring – The New York Times
An Empirical Analysis of the Intersection of Organized Crime and Human Trafficking In the United States (PDF) – National Criminal Justice Reference Service
"The team at Praesidium Partners are real professionals and fantastic allies in the fight against human trafficking. They have a clear understanding of trafficking methodologies used to bring victims to the United States, exploit them and keep them in bondage. Praesidium Partners is a great addition to the anti-trafficking community."
Greg Virgin, President and CEO, RedJack LLC, and former NSA executive


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NEOGARD's technical department has been hard at work developing new Roof Coating System Summaries and we now have system summaries available in the Elasta-Gard product series for concrete (C), metal (M) and single ply (SP).
New System Summaries:
Visit the Roofing Literature section on our site to select System Summaries and discover more about our roof coating products.
Stay up to date on new technical documents, marketing resources and company news by subscribing to our email notifications or RSS news feeds and don't miss out when we add new tools and documents to our site.


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Chic Fitness has come so far and we continue to offer our clients a range of fitness classes to suit all the family.
Although we no longer offer Pole Fitness classes, its important to note that in 2013 Chic Fitness won the All-Wales Pole Championships' People's Choice Award and in total we've raised in excess of £10,000 for children's charities – just a couple of the ways we have been excelling in the fitness field from which all of our clients are benefiting.
We provide a good mixture of cardio and muscular endurance work outs in the area of Denbighshire and always have new, fresh and exciting classes on offer. Chic Fitness focus on both, working alongside Chic Nutrition to ensure that you are fueling your body with the correct energy.
Some of the common questions we get asked…..
Am i too old? Our class participants age between 4-90+! Yes you read right….. 90+ years old. That is the joy of Zumba and the specialities (Gold, Gold chair, Kids, Aqua etc…) So the answer is NO, you are not too old.
Am i Too 'big'? Do you really think our clients come to us looking 'perfect', slender and strong? Erm…. no. Certainly not all the time. It is our job to get you there. You just need to attend and be dedicated. The results come over time.
I don't think I'm strong enough? Did you really just say that? OK lets put things into perspective here. You have weak muscles because you don't train them. We lift weights, we have muscles. You join Chic, you lift weights, you have muscles! Simple 😉
…..And we hear this all the time. We don't do excuses ladies! Here is your 'kick up the bum' you need.


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Today, approximately a hundred advocates of women's health took to the Capitol as part of Pro-Choice Lobby Day. The event, held in Denver annually for more than a decade, brought the Protect Families Protect Choice Coalition together with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains to train supporters as citizen advocates in preparation for political change in 2012.
Although last year featured about 85 participants, approximately 130 people pre-registered for this year's event, which began with breakfast at 9 a.m. From there, the group separated into legislative districts, with a lobby leader organizing each section. Before the group's march to the Capitol to speak with state senators and representatives, those leaders led a mock lobbying session in preparation for the next event.
The day's proceedings kicked off with a rally, during which the group addressed a handful of national and local conflicts that could limit a woman's right to choose. Most notable among these are incentives pushing "personhood," seen in Colorado through House Bill 1130, which would establish limits on both contraception and abortion. Although Colorado voters rejected the idea of a fertilized egg earning personhood in both 2008 and 2010, the push continues to come to shove.
"For many people, it's a first opportunity to directly lobby," says Monica McCafferty, director of marketing and communications for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. "It's a huge opportunity for like-minded people to come together, and it's real-world training for the decisions that are going to be discussed in the new year."
During the group's debriefing session, lobbying professionals walked the marchers through Senate Bill 93, which would require hospitals with religious concerns regarding procedures like abortions to notify their patients, and the aforementioned HB 1130, which would establish a fertilized egg as a person who could be claimed as the victim of a criminal act. In recent weeks, SB 93 passed through the senate, while HB 1130 has cleared the House judiciary committee and is headed to the floor.
Although Bogus says the group doesn't expect 1130 to gain support in the Senate, the Protect Families Protect Choice coalition continues to publicly and aggressively oppose the effort.
"Every year, it's very dependent on what we're seeing at the state level," says Mary Bogus, field operations specialist for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. "Pro-Choice Lobby Day is a chance for us to remind [lawmakers] that women are watching and are trying to keep them accountable. We want to make sure they do what's best for Colorado."
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In the new political year, McCafferty notes the potential for Colorado and its political independents to play a weighty role in efforts to advance women's health opportunities. At present, however, the state's House of Representatives maintains a pro-life majority sentiment. Given national concerns regarding funding for birth control, the group hopes to translate collective frustration into political action in the coming months, starting with this annual effort to educate supporters on advocacy.
"Looking at what's going on nationally, there are a lot of people out there frustrated and annoyed about the discussions going on in 2012, but we cannot take women's health backwards," McCafferty says. "In Colorado, we have huge champions for women's health at the deferral and state level, but with that being said, there are still people who want to undermine the event. Colorado has a long history of being progressive in that area, but each year there are attacks on that right."
Page down for more photos by Kyle Horner from Pro-Choice Lobby Day at the State Capitol.
More from our Politics archive: "Komen Denver affiliate rejects ban on Planned Parenthood grants."


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Neil ends the Moe truce
Mosley-Brown exits POTUS race
False rumors about Joe Rose being suspended
POLL results: Archie Bunker beats Homer Simpson and Al Bundy for best TV character
POLL 1: Your take on the Bush space program idea
POLL 2: Whose picture would be beside the word asshole in a dictionary?
Paul O'Neill book disappoints
POLL 3: Should WQAM bring back Scott Ferrall?
Neil Rogers Show (January 15, 2004)
Neil ends the Moe truce


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Readers got a second-hand earful about Rielle Hunter in two recent books. Now, the woman best known for bearing the child of former presidential candidate John Edwards has shared her side of the story – or, at least, 10,000 words worth of it. As the Washington Post put it, "it's a doozy."
The Post ran glamour-girl photos and quotes from an interview Hunter gave to GQ magazine, where she presents a counterpoint to "The Politician," by campaign aide Andrew Young, and to "Resilience," by the candidate's now-estranged wife, Elizabeth Edwards. The former, as the paper put it, had portrayed Hunter as a "loony, needy, loose cannon," and the latter considered her "an aggressive home-wrecker".
I personally had preferred Hunter's two years of "quiet dignity" to the bare-midriffed, bare-legged GQ photos, and yet I did appreciate hearing some words from a woman who has been spoken about so often by others. From a bookkeeping standpoint, though, I found this tidbit from the Post fascinating: The writer who interviewed Hunter for GQ, Lisa DePaulo, had also been briefly hired as a ghostwriter on Young's memoir.
"That connection, later severed, was not disclosed in the GQ article," The Post said. "DePaulo told us she signed a confidentiality agreement with Young, which prevented her from discussing the work they'd done -- all of which, she said, was separate from her work with Hunter, whom she first approached via mutual friends in December, six months after her last contact with Young."
Nothing is ever as straightforward as it looks in the world of politics and scandal. At this point, I wouldn't even bet on whether Hunter will be moving forward with a memoir of her own.
Rebekah Denn blogs at eatallaboutit.com.


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How To Know If You're Getting A Great Deal On Diamond Jewelry
They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend, and any woman will tell you that she loves being adorned by gorgeous jewelry that's covered in crystal clear, or even colored, diamonds. But how do you know if you're getting a great deal on diamond jewelry, which is typically very expensive, whether you're on the lookout for a fantastic engagement ring, a beautiful necklace, or a pair of stunning earrings? Continue reading for some tips that will help you navigate the jewelry world so that you can choose the right retailers that will only sell you the best diamonds available.
Ask for a Diamond Grading Report
Whenever you are shopping for diamond jewelry and you want to be sure that you are purchasing the highest quality stones possible, ask for a diamond grading report on a particular stone. If the retailer is able to produce one from the American Gem Society or the GIA, you know that you are shopping at a legitimate business and that the stones are real. These reports will provide you with an assessment of the quality of each stone so that you will know what you are purchasing. In this way, your jeweler will not be able to fool you into thinking the gem is worth more than it really is.
Examine the Four C's
When it comes to diamonds, it is important to analyze the four C's. These are carat, color, cut, and clarity. Again, getting a diamond grading report will shed some light onto the four C's of a particular stone.
Carat is the weight of the diamond, and it will determine the price of the stone. Color refers to how clear the diamond is. Colorless diamonds get the highest scores and are the priciest. The cut of a diamond is more important than you probably realize because it is much more than just aesthetics. The right cut will allow your diamond to shine the most brilliantly. The cut is rated from "excellent" to "poor," so you want to stick to the best cuts possible. And clarity refers to any blemishes that are on the inside or outside of a diamond, based on an 11-point scale. To save money, stick with a low clarity score, but if you want to be sure that you are not being fooled into spending more money than you should, make sure a high-priced diamond has a high clarity rating too.
Shop at Reputable Locations
Both online retailers and chain jewelers are a great place to start looking for diamonds, but independent retailers may provide you with great deals on beautiful stones as well. Kay Jewelers is a good example of a brick-and-mortar location, while Blue Nile is a reputable website. Check out the options and pricing at these stores so you can find the retailer that will give you the best diamond at the best price, and don't be afraid to negotiate the price either.
Shopping for high quality diamonds can be challenging because there are a lot of retailers who will overcharge you. But knowing what to look for in a diamond will ensure you only buy the best.
Ronnie James, the author of this article, works as a sales executive with Keter Diamonds, leading jewellery traders in Dallas. He loves solving crossword puzzles and enjoys playing the guitar.
What Are Swarovski Crystals?In Shopping - Monday, April 9, 2012 @ 07:52 PM
Swarovski crystals are a brand of crystals made from quarts and minerals that are famous for fine quality cutting and polish. These crystals are coated with special chemicals giving them that signature rainbow shine and shimmer.
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This past Sunday we concluded our study of 1 Thessalonians. What a rich and encouraging letter this is; from Paul the Apostle to a church that was living, growing and ready! We concluded the series with the idea that each of us longs to throw our lives into something bigger than ourselves. God has wired us this way, to look beyond ourselves to find what God is doing in our world andthrow ourselves into it. Someone in our church recently gave me the article below and I wanted to share it with everyone. Why? Because I believe the local church is one of the places where Christ is clearly at work and therefore a place into which you can throw your life for the glory of God.
We will discover this same theme repeated in the book of Nehemiah. This Sunday we will begin our study of this book and find the invitation of God to participate in the work of God for the glory of God. Till then, I encourage you to read this and consider why the church should matter to you and me and every believer in the world today.
Is the local church really that necessary for the Christian life? Aren't there better, more relevant ways to thrive spiritually as a Christian? It is my experience that an increasing number of believers are asking these sorts of questions.
Sadly, some doubt the importance of the church because they have been burned by unfaithful church leadership or wounded by a nasty church split. Others are tired of the hype and superficiality of consumeristic megachurches. Still others, due to a deficiency of biblical knowledge, downplay or even reject the organization, authority, and ordinances of the church.
George Barna's research reveals contemporary attitudes on the matter. He writes that many evangelicals "are less interested in attending church than in being the church." He goes on to explain that a large "segment of Americans . . . are currently leaving churches precisely because they want more of God in their life but cannot get what they need from a local church."
This would all sound supremely spiritual if it weren't so profoundly unbiblical.
- The church as organism and the church as organization must be distinguished but never separated. God ordained the visible church as an organization for the gathering, protecting, and perfecting of the church as an organism––the members of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:12–31). Therefore, being the church should never be divorced from being committed to a local church
- In the local church, we receive the divinely ordained means of grace—Word, sacraments, and prayer—from the hands of lawfully ordained ministers. Christians are never stronger in isolation from the faithful ministry of the local church. We need the church.
- The organized church is God's idea. The visible church is central to God's disciple-making strategy (Matt. 16:18; 28:18–20; Heb. 10:19–25). Indeed, the local church plays a principal role on almost every page of the New Testament. It is through, not apart from, the ministry of the church that Christ and His benefits are efficaciously communicated to the elect and received through faith.
- A serious Christian, then, does not craft a mosaic of personalized spirituality outside the church. No, true faith believes Christ's promise to feed His sheep through the faithful ministry of a biblical church.
What is detailed in the book of Acts is not an individualistic approach to spirituality, but a clear devotion to the life and ministry of the visible church (Acts 2:42; 20:28). The Bible everywhere assumes that believers will be vitally connected to the church. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper powerfully reinforce the Christian's union and communion with Christ and fellow believers. Not only is it God's purpose for us to mature under the shepherding care and faithful ministry of the church, but also to build one another up in love. We need pastoral care and the soul-nourishing means of grace.
We also need each other.
Make no mistake about it—church matters.


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The European Union is notorious for establishing strict precedents regarding Internet laws. It primarily wants other countries to follow its lead of strong punishments and secondly wants to teach tech companies that they can't get away with unlawful business practices. These goals resulted in the latest fine against Google for its Wi-Fi data collection.
A German regulator fined Google 145,000 euros (about $189,230) for collecting Wi-Fi data as their street view cars drove around the country. According to Bloomberg, when Google's cars crawled through Germany taking photographs they inadvertently picked up passwords, photos and other personal data. It sounds like something out of a George Orwell novel: a monopolistic corporation trolling the streets, taking private information and reading emails of clueless citizens.
Google claimed that the collection was an accident. They didn't use the data – they didn't even want it. They made their case to the EU, who found the security breach to be an accident, and levied an appropriate fine.
Depending on whether you're an EU government official or a Google finance executive, the 145,000 euro fine means two totally different things. The maximum fine that Johannes Caspar, Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection, could have levied was 150,000 euros for "negligent data protection breach." The German government sees the fine as almost charging the maximum penalty.
Google sees this as chump change. Their execs are apologetic, but they're not sweating the loss of the 145K. The fine makes up 0.002 percent of their annual net profit. Google could have a good day on the stock market and make the money back. Had Casper determined that the violations were intentional, Google could have been fined up to 300K euros. That's still not much of a dent in their $10.7 billion made in 2012. The EU is currently trying to pass a law that would fine companies up to two percent of their annual profits for data violations. This way businesses will feel the pain equally when they're fined instead of decimating the little guy while tech giants barely feel a scratch.
Google will probably want to keep its check book out, because there are at least five other countries lining up to fine it for this data breach: France, Spain, Italy, the U.K. and the Netherlands. Even if those countries fine Google the same amount as Germany, it would barely register as a combined 0.01 total loss to the company this year.
What is the purpose of repeatedly levying fines on Internet companies? Yes, Google would rather keep the money instead of paying fines, but it doesn't really hurt them that much. What message is the EU trying to send? Be careful with your software? Don't accidentally steal data? It really does seem like the government is fining Google because it sees no other course of action.


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An incredibly refreshing and soothing Chinese dessert prepared with freshly cut Asian pears, cinnamon and cloves. This light fruit dessert can be enjoyed as a 'cooling' tonic on hot days, or as a 'warming' soup during winter.
A tonifying dessert is way overdue for me! I've been rather over-indulgent lately with cakes and bakes, and eating plenty of pizza (home-made of course!), grilled satay, curries, fried fish and chips, and more of the same, so much so that my body has started to protest.
Feeling the onset of a dry and slightly sore throat and a nose that's just making me sniffle a little too much, I quickly recalled that I had lots of Asian pears in my refrigerator and thought, what luck! Home remedy of steamed pears coming up! Not only are steamed pears as a natural remedy healthy and beneficial, they taste wonderful as well. Pear-fect for my moment of need!
Did you know…
It is widely accepted in traditional Chinese medicine that pears have a tonifying effect on our lung energy. This humble fruit also moisturises the body, promotes secretions of vital fluids and brings about a cooling effect on the body system. A generous helping of steamed pears is therefore an excellent remedy to help clear congested lungs, dryness in the respiratory system and over-heated chests.
I prepared this dessert of pears steamed with cinnamon and cloves, with a dash of brandy, to add additional layers of flavour. The cinnamon and cloves offer warming properties which are beneficial on cold weather days or during late autumn and winter seasons. On hot weather days, you can omit these spices and just enjoy this fruit steamed with rock sugar and drizzled over with honey. I particularly enjoy having these pears chilled till cold – it's remarkably soothing and refreshing!
Some recipes call for honey to be steamed together with the sliced pears, but high temperature destroys the good bacteria in honey so I always have it drizzled over the fruit after it's been steamed through. Honey is also very soothing for a dry or sore throat, so its pairing with steamed pears is truly beneficial. So when you're next feeling a little worse for wear, do nourish your health with a generous serving of steamed pears!
Pears Steamed with Cinnamon & Cloves
- 8 small Asian or Chinese pears skin on, halved and cored
- 1 1/2 tbsp crushed rock sugar or to taste
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 8 cloves
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp brandy or rum (optional)
- Some honey for serving
- Place the pear halves with the cinnamon and cloves in a heatproof dish. Add the water and brandy or rum (optional).
- Fill a wok 1/4 full with water and place a steaming rack over the water at a height where the dish is above the water level when placed on the rack. Bring to boil over high heat. When water is boiling, using a pair of tongs or heatproof mittens, carefully place the dish on the rack. Cover the wok with its lid. Steam for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how soft you prefer to enjoy your pears. Occasionally check the water level, adding more hot water should the wok nearly run dry.
- When cooked through to softness, remove dish from the wok carefully as there will be more juices with the water. Dish out into individual serving bowls, ladle equal amounts of syrup and drizzle over with liberal amounts of honey, to taste.


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I've had my first encounter with LEDs when I was in college. Our professor in one of our Electronics subjects asked us to make a project out of LEDs. Our team made a custom LED lighting that dances in sequence, which can be useful when making decorative Christmas lights. It was so cute!
I never realized LEDs can actually do more than that. They can now be used as an alternative to regular light bulbs and other light fixtures. It has evolved and can be used in indoor and outdoor too – you can find it inside homes, offices (even our office is also using LEDs because lights are needed 24/7), restaurants, traffic lights and even streetlights.
If you're looking where to buy cheap LED lights locally, check out T. Alonzo St. in Binondo, they have a variety of LED lighting fixtures there. There are also plenty of electronics stores in Raon, Quiapo. Just a reminder though, Quiapo is not a very safe place visit so make sure you take extra precautions. The streets are very small in size, lots of people telling you to buy this and that, place can also be very hot and several pickpockets roaming around! So if you value safety and convenience, whynot consider ordering low cost LED lights online? I'm sure there are online stores that provide high-quality LEDs at affordable prices too with fast and secured shipping.
So what are the benefits of using LEDs, you ask?
- Unlike florescent bulbs, they do not contain mercury and other toxic material, so LEDs help in protecting our environment
- LEDs produce minimal heat so it never gets too hot when you touch them
- It's energy-efficient! (can save up to 85% percent of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs and up to 50% of electricity used by fluorescent bulbs)
- LEDs do not flicker unlike regular light bulbs
- Above all, LEDs can reduce maintenance costs since they last much longer than regular bulbs!
So if you want to save money, through reduced energy consumption, switch to using LED lights now!


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OK, so the long-term socio-economic aspects are not really part of this game. It is even completely unknown whether the planet has a native population to start with. It all plays rather like a board game: Each player can acquire one square piece of land per turn which they can then choose to develop to produce one out of four trade goods: food, energy, coal and gems. This is where the eponymous M.U.L.E. comes into play: One of these devices need to be deployed on each square. Otherwise, no produce.
Random events, such a pirate raids or M.U.L.E. malfunctions, can occur at any time, but the real core of the game is the trading. This is where the strict turn-based approach gives way to a real-time sequence to negotiate the prices of what you want to buy or sell. All the players (more about this later) simultanously move their sprites across the screen to indicate their willingness to buy or sell and for which price – this is basically a geometric representation of a negotiation, so that meeting another sprite implies that an agreement for transaction has been reached. A metaphor which is so obvious and incredibly intuitive!
So what about those players? M.U.L.E. is one of the very few games to support the Atari's ability to connect four joysticks. So in those shared 'action' scenes, each player can easily control their avatar without interfering with each other on the keyboard, for example. This multiplayer mode has not been added as an afterthought, but it is an integral part of the overall experience.
While the explicit features might not be too numerous, this turns out to be exactly right for a multiplayer game. The phases into which each turn is structured can be intuitively understood. There is a mixture between individual player's turns (pauses for the others) and phases in which everybody is in action simultanously. And the complete game can be finished in a justifiable amount of time.
The really tricky choices which often decide about winning or losing are not the ones actually embedded into the gameplay explicitly. Rather, they happen in front of the television, i.e. either in the players heads or in off-screen negotiations between them. For example, a monopolist could try to withhold supplies of one good for a turn to try and raise the prices – while risking spoilage or another random event and certainly not making any friends with the other players.
So that's that. Get three friends in front of your TV and you will have great fun with this seemingly lightweight economy game whose deeper complexities you would do good not to underestimate. Though although missing human opponents can be substituted with competent artificial intelligence traders, don't consider single player games as anything but basic training for the real thing.


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Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Spicing The House Up - just a little....again........
5 comments:
- Karli said...
Den - First set of lamps.
Bedroom - Second rug / lamps!
I love the idea of the chalk paint in the kitchen! How fun!
- April 28, 2010 at 11:30 AM
- Lindsey said...
i love the chalk board idea in the kitchen - but i love the simplicity of the first one.
i like option #2 for the den
and i'm a sucker for anything animal print - so i'm going to have to go with option #2 for the bedroom - LOVE those lamps - so cute!
- April 28, 2010 at 11:35 AM
- Kristin said...
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the chalkboard ideas! So clever. Ahh! I wish I was more creative!! :) Can't wait to hear all about what you decide to do!
- April 28, 2010 at 12:34 PM
- Beth McC. said...
OK I am so loving this post! I love it all and love all the colors! SO FUN!!!
Thanks for the comment on my celebrity gossip post! It made me laugh out loud- may have to repost that post and add your comment in the post!
- April 28, 2010 at 2:05 PM
- Tabitha said...
Hey Sarah!
Wanted to let you know about the little contest we have right now on Ashley's Bride Guide where your readers, friends, family can vote for your blog as Nashville's Best Bridal Blog. Here are the details: http://bit.ly/bQmfIV
And for what it's worth - I love the framed chalkboard. Funnily enough, my kitchen is painted that same blue you have for the bedroom with one chalkboard wall for our grocery list and to-do's.
- April 29, 2010 at 8:46 AM


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text: Answers to the most commonly asked questions can be found in the FAQ page. Can't find the answer? Use the form below to submit your question. Thank you, The Nor-Cal Europe team First name * Last name * Email * Organisation Question category - None -Sales, pricing and availabilityPressure control technical infoVacuum component technical infoIsolation valve technical technical infoUHV chambers and accessories infoPost sale supportReturns and warrantyOther Please select category. Question Please type in your question(s) below. Include as much detail as possible. Attach file (optional) OPTIONAL: Attach a supporting file or document to your request (2mb max size) Data Opt-in (please advise your communication preference) * - Select - I agree to receiving communication from NCE I do not agree to receive communication from NCE To comply with the EU data protection regulations we are requesting users to indicate their communication preferences. We may use this data in the following ways: Store contact information in our website database. Transfer contact information to our emailing platform. Store contact information in our emailing platform. Send you marketing and other emails from our emailing platform. Track interactions for email marketing and ad placement and other purposes. Please review our privacy policy. Leave this field blank CAPTCHAThis question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.


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How to download videoder for mac pc: As far as the recent generation concern, everyone has started to live their life to the fullest with the help of entertainment. As we all know that entertainment has breached the way and sets the people to follow during their free time. We could see for getting best entertainment, and there are a lot of applications available in the store to download and install for free. Also, you can find the applications where you can stream an unlimited number of videos to watch on their device. Likewise, almost all the similar features that stuffed in a recent application called videoder.
When it comes to videoder, the accessing is quite easy for the users to handle on their device. Moreover, this application is mainly developed for the Android devices to use. But the fact is you can't find this application on Google PlayStore to download. This application is mainly considered to the apk file app where you can able to download from out of the store. Generally, when it comes to entertainment, most of the people would like to experience on wider screen. It is the application which is only developed to run only on Android platform, but still possible to install on Mac pc. Videoder is also available for windows PC and you can also download videoder for ios/iphone/ipad etc.
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text:
See Emily Slay Party III
Emily led the way into the alley. Spencer stayed close to her heels, but Sarah flailed her arms in panic. Already, the first bloody form that had toppled over the fence behind them was gaining its unsteady feet and jerking toward them like a drunken stilt walker.
Her eyes gazed up and down the alley. For once, the Goddess had thrown some luck their way and the single track pathway appeared clear of the maniacs that ravaged their city. She took a step forward holding the short shovel before her. Spencer's small hands held his bat and he hovered so close that he could have been her shadow.
They were still a long way from home, but she started east and the others were quick to follow. Sarah still seemed on the verge of having a panic attack, but the moaning half-men stumbling through the yard toward them, gave her little choice but to follow her friends.
Before long, the alley spilled into a paved street. The sounds of screaming in the distance could be heard. Three of the things lurched toward the direction of the scream. The trio clung to the bushes and waited for them to pass. In a few moments, the street before them would be clear, but a half-dozen of the things that had seen them in front of Sarah's house forced their way into the alley behind them. As the three in front slowly trudged by, the ones behind drew ever nearer.
Sarah grabbed her arm and Emily struggled to keep her friend hidden while the moaning grew louder. The foul sounds filled her young ears. It felt unnatural. Wrong. The scent of death lingered. These things aren't alive. The thought came from nowhere and screamed inside of her head. The foul bloody moaners behind her were thirty feet away.
The last of the madmen passed by the alley. Emily pushed her brother before her, grabbed Sarah's hand, and then ran. The stumbling freaks that had just passed them turned at the sound of their movement and with louder groans joined the ones moving behind them in the chase.
They kept running.
The next street was Euclid—A wide five lane street. Three of the things, which were becoming all too common, surrounded an ambulance that had tipped onto its side. Two people perched on top of the vehicle fought back against the bloody hands that grasped at them. The road itself was a mix of staled cars and crashed vehicles. Figures ran through the chaotic mess, but between the dust, sunlight, and smoke Emily could barely tell who chased after who.
An older woman raced up to them. She clutched at her bleeding arm. "You kids need to get out of here!"
Spencer stared opened mouthed. Emily looked at the women and then the ambulance. Two of the mangled figures had heard the woman and broken away. But it was the two things that walked out of the rolling coils of smoke that neared first.
Emily didn't have a chance to warn the women before two sets of hands pulled her back. The older women lost her balance and went down. Almost at once, she screamed. Emily looked on in complete horror and fingers and teeth dug into the old woman's body.
It was really happening.
The world had gone mad.
The other two joined the pulling and tearing of flesh. Spencer and Sarah remained in shock, but Emily felt responsible. It was her duty to save her little brother and her damaged friend.
And that was when the moaning woman grabbed her hair.
Emily cried out as she was pulled back away from her brother and best friend. Behind her, she caught a glimpse of a woman wearing blood splattered nurse scrubs. She heard more moaning that she knew it came from the ones pursuing them.
Terror tore into Emily as the nurse's teeth snapped inches from her face. The blood splashed woman dragged her back into the alley. Emily struggled to push her back with her shovel and again teeth snapped inched from her face.
Spencer's bat smashed the drooling woman in the cheek and her head jerked back.
It wasn't a conscious movement. Later she wouldn't even remember it happening, but the shovel came up and hit the snarling nurse under the nose. It fell back, but still had a grip on her shirt. Using both hands, she swung with all her twelve-year old might. The thing lost its grip on her as it toppled back. When it got back up a third time, her shovel came down like an axe. She wasn't sure where this last blow came from, but for once the thing didn't regain its footing and behaved like a dead body should.
Spencer had been throwing rocks at the form of the hollowed out man that couldn't possibly be alive. More of these things lumbered in from every direction.
How could there be so many, so fast?
Then, despite her wishes, Spencer raced away from the scene into the center of Euclid. "We need to keep going. We need dad!"
Some of the moaners broke away from the woman's unmoving corpse, looking for the fresh kill. Emily dragged Sarah along. They hurried to stay ahead of the gathering horde. The couple on the overturned ambulance appeared by their side. The women grabbed Sarah's hand and dragged her along. The man, maybe twice Emily's age led the way east and smashed one of the bleeding men in the face with a crowbar. It didn't get back up.
Emily and her brother shared one last look at the growing masses of dead things and then hurried after the others.
To be continued next Saturday…
You can discover where Emily and Spencer enter the Eternal Aftermath Here!
2 Comments
meg gaiger said,
A little nod to the photographer of the green mono zombie girl wouldnt have gone amiss..


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Legendary music icon writes tell-all book
'Show business as we know it is very unpredictable. For a few years I was the talk of the town. It was getting hard to even go shopping without being mobbed by fans.' – Marah Louw
With a career spanning over 40 years, Marah Louw is counted among South Africa's musical and entertainment industry royalty and has a powerful and memorable story to tell.
This book is the reader's front-row ticket to the joys, sadness, triumphs and setbacks that have been part of this legend's life. Even though she is a celebrity, her story aims to show that stars, no matter how bright, are human too. It also delves into her family secrets and her search for truth.
As one of South Africa's most iconic entertainers, Marah has had an illustrious career. She performed at the Mandela Concert at London's Wembley Stadium and she sang at the Newsmaker of the Year Awards, presented to Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, and in honour of the late Chris Hani. She appeared with Nelson Mandela during his visit to Glasgow in 1993 and sang at George Square and The Royal Concert Hall. In 1994, she sang at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela and the Freedom Day Celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
In 2001, Marah produced the successful musical concert Surf, which featured top South African artists including Hugh Masekela. Marah translated the music of The Lion King into Zulu for the Walt Disney Corporation and performed the theme song Circle of Life in Zulu. She was also an Idols judge from 2003 until 2010.
She had a lead role on the SABC2 television soap opera Muvhango and has acted in numerous musicals, stage plays and feature films. She is currently acting in the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Queen.
GENRE Non Fiction
FORMAT Trade paperback
SIZE 235x155mm
EXTENT 201pp
RIGHTS World rights
RELEASE March


text: The Fort Myers Police Department negotiation team successfully talked Mr. Maxwell Pilaczynski, 27, out of his locked home at the Laurels Apartment complex on Winkler Avenue at Solomon Boulevard. Mr. Pilaczynski surrender peacefully and was taken into custody by FMPD without violence and with no shots fired. The team spent approximately 6 hours engaged in conversations with the subject. The event started around 9:30 this morning when the department was notified that a man armed with a handgun had locked himself in his apartment and threatened to kill himself. Police shut down traffic on Winkler Avenue and Solomon Boulevards during the standoff. All roads have been reopened and there was no danger to the public.


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Pfaff Welting Foot
DescriptionThe welting foot and the twin welting foot are used to make trim for your home dec projects like pillows, cushions and other home accessories. You can also make trim to cover raw edges on your upholstery, which you can then attach with a staple gun. Its quick and easy to make and insert welt cording. The welting foot works the same way as the piping foot but is designed for larger sizes of cording. Create your own trim when the colour you want isn't available!
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NULL NULL NULL NULL - Florida
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- Country: United States
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- City: Panama City
- Zip/Postal Code: 32405
- Type of Sale: Reseller or Consignment
- Listed: February 5, 2016 2:09 pm
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- Listed by: HeintzDesign
- Member Since: February 3, 2016
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SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD This trailer is THE 1935 Airstream Torpedo that is recognized by the Airstream Company as the oldest existing Airstream in the World! This trailer is truly a rare and one of a kind trailer whose entire history is well known in the vintage Airstream Trailer hobby. It is a one family trailer for the last 80+ years which has been kept stored inside except when being used for trips. It has not been used in the last 5~ years. Sale includes all medals, awards, trophies, etc. from various Airstream Rallies, historical photos, news paper articles, original documents, letters, etc… More history about this trailer and its original owner/builder can be found at: http://tincantourists.com/wiki/doku.php?id=holman_norman More photos can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/…/heintz_de…/albums/72157663380033340 and more information at www.HeintzDesigns.com
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Stonehaven is getting ready for over 800 cyclists next week as the popular Ride the North finishes in the town at a Recreation Grounds.
Going back to the roots of the challenge, Stonehaven will be braced for an invasion of cyclists on Saturday, August 29, as riders complete the 170-mile challenge which sets off from Inverness the day before.
The first Ride the North back in 2011 finished in Stonehaven, with a grand total of 37 cyclists completing the ride, just four short years later the cycle route is back.
Event organiser, Neil Innes explained to us last year that the race has always received great support from Kincardine and Mearns.
He said: "Since that first event, we have had such wonderful support from those in Stonehaven who have enthusiastically signed up to take part. Some of that enthusiasm has come from those who were established cyclists, but it has also been wonderful to see some many others who have been prepared to take this on as a challenge, and one that can really contribute to the adoption of a healthier lifestyle."
The event seeks to showcase the North East of Scotland, with a route which has - at various times - featured castles, distilleries and plenty of great scenery.
Details of the finish in Stonehaven have been developed further over the last few months with more details inside on pXX. Event organisers have worked with partners in the town to ensure weary cyclists receive the warmest welcome when they cross the finish line.
Ride the North cyclists have raised over £750,000 for charity over the past four years and, with more riders being lined up, the event looks set to go through the £1million barrier.
The partner charity for 2015 will be the Sandpiper Trust – a cause supported by riders from the Mackie Mammoths over the past two years. The Sandpiper Trust are dedicated to saving lives in rural Scotland, with the charities patron Gavin Hastings having dropped into support the Mackie riders previsously..


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Top 10 places to visit in Rajasthan in September – Rajasthan Tourism
Rajasthan is a land of Maharaja's with a rich and romantic past. Rajasthan dotted by various types of Palaces, Forts, Havelis, Lakes, Wildlife safari, adventures activity, fair and festival. September is best time to visit Rajasthan. List of top places that you can visit in Rajasthan in September.
- Jaipur – Jaipur the City of royal Rajasthan. In Jaipur stunning hilltop forts, glorious palaces, gems market, Rajasthani art and crafts, hand print textiles and many more things to do in Jaipur.
- Sariska Tiger Reserve - This sanctuary have tigers, nilgai, sambar, chital (spotted deer), wild boar and many species of bird, in around 800 sq km area. Nearby places to visit Kankwari Fort and Bhangarh- one of the most haunted places in INDIA.
- Pushkar Camel Fair – India's famous festival, around 200,000 people attend this unique festival. During the pushkar camel fair at event ground many events happens like moustache competitions, races and dance competitions, camel decoration, tradition sports between visitors V/S local people.
- Ranthambore National Park - Area around 1,334 sq km of wild jungle and rocky ridges. Ranthambore fort, ancient temples, forts, heritage hotels make this places best tourist destinations. The park was a maharajas' hunting ground before converted into Ranthambore National Park.
- Udaipur - Udaipur is Rajasthan's most romantic city and best places for honeymoon tour. Forts, palaces, fairy-tale, temples, heritage hotels, lake view hotel rooms, rooftop candle light dinner make a memorable trip.
- Nahargarh wildlife sanctuary - Nahargarh Biological Park Jaipur also popular as Nahargarh Zoological Park is best place for cross-country adventure tourism.
- Mehrangarh fort - Located in Jodhpur, the Gateway of Thar Desert. Mehrangarh fort is a very popular sightseeing destination of Jodhpur.
- Jaisalmer Fort - Jaisalmer Fort also popular as Sonar fort in Hindi "Sonar ka Qila". For was built in 1156 AD by the Maharaja Bhati Rajput ruler Rao Jaisal. Major sightseeing places in the city of Jaisalmer. For Jaisalmer tour packages, best time to visit, tour guide and things to do, contact us.
- Bundi – Bundi off beat destination in Rajasthan, Historical building, forts, palaces, step wells, temples are local tourist attraction in Bundi.
- Sand dunes - Jeep safari, Desert camping, Camel ride, Sunset photography best part of sand dunes. Jaisalmer thar desert popular places for things to do in Jaisalmer fort.
Places To Visit In Rajasthan Month Wise
Fairs and Festivals of Rajasthan In September
Abhaneri Festival: Abhaneri' festival will be held at the Abhaneri village in Dausa, to promote rural tourism by Rajasthan tourism deparment.


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- Details
- Category: Nuclear Union news
- Published: 22 June 2012
Eceryone knows that half a century ago the viscious forces of America attacked our Motherland in attempt to destroy the world centre of communism. They used nuclear weapons, but the Union was ready for that and did what we have always done, survived.
We launched a massive counteracttack, leveled all their cities and saved our people, evacuating them to special bunker network. It's 50 years later, 2012, and our glorious capital city, Pobedograd (Victory City), is a beacon of hope. It's time to go outside again brothers and sisters, time to see what has become with our Motherland and her proud cities and towns. Grab a weapon and join us!
To read more about the project follow the link www.nuclearunion.com
- Details
- Hits: 2740


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The Voice guy is committed to posting at least once per week, with stuff on all sorts of new aspects of voice, speech, text and accent training. Voiceguy is now tweeting occasionally, too! If you're wondering what I'm up to, you can read all about it here.
The VoiceGuy site is dedicated to supporting the professional and aspiring actor with how-to's, blog entries, and podcasts on voice work and its integration with the actor process. Go to the Warm-Up Series page (on the tab above) to get to the main content, or subscribe to myfeed to be notified when new posts come up.
Who is this VoiceGuy?
The VoiceGuy is Eric Armstrong. Eric is a dialect, voice, speech and text coach based in Toronto, Canada, where he normally teaches full-time at York University's Dept. of Theatre, where he was the Graduate Program Director for the past 3 years. He is fortunate to be on sabbatical for 2014-15! Eric has been teaching voice for the actor full-time since 1994, and has taught in Canada and the US, at the University of Windsor, Brandeis University, Roosevelt University and York University. He has worked for nationally and internationally recognized companies such as Crow's Theatre, SoulPepper, & Canadian Stage in Toronto, and The Court Theatre and Steppenwolf in Chicago. Another project that Eric has worked on for several years is Glossonomia, Conversations about the Sounds of Speech, a podcast that he shares with Philip Thompson, co-founder of KT Speechwork.
Eric holds a BFA from Concordia University (Montreal) in Theatre Performance, and an MFA from York University (Toronto) in Acting. His mentors were David Smukler (York, Canada's National Voice Intensive) and Andrew Wade (Royal Shakespeare Company). He has also studied at the Drama Studio, London, and Il Stage Internazzionale di Commedia dell'Arte in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
He's a long time member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association, where he has served on the board, as a conference planner, photo editor for the Voice and Speech Review, Founding Director of Technology and Internet Services, and has written numerous peer-reviewed articles, essays and reviews for the VASTA Newsletter, the VASTA Voice, and The Voice and Speech Review.
Eric Armstrong is an Associate Professor of Voice and Speech at the Dept. of Theatre, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University. He is a Full Member of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, the national organization of professional performers and coaches working in the English-language recorded media. He is a proud member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association and a Senior Editor of the International Dialects of English Archive.


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Dance Club Party Flyer
Another great flyer to announce your music event, concert, gig, festival or party! Give some extra feel to it by using this flyer / poster. Perfectly to advertise your event and give it some fresh an modern look and style.
Dance Club Party Flyer – Features
- 1 PSD file
- Size: A5
- Resolution: 300dpi
- Include bleeds
- Easy to modify
- High detail
Dance Club Party Flyer – ZIP includes
- 1 PSD file
- Helpfile
- Information about the used fonts
- Contact information
ImportantThe image shown in the preview is not included with the item. However, you can purchase it from andreasgradin by going to http://photodune.net/item/pink-burlesque/1054657
Please rate this item, I'll appreciate it!


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When it comes to beaches, Thailand doesn't have to envy other countries. Thai coast and islands are full of breathtaking spots with white sand, crystal clear water and green vegetation all around.
Koh Phangan is one of the three magical islands in the Siam Gulf. It took us a long time to decide which of them to choose. However, it was a love at first sight and we even extended our stay. Why? Because the beaches on Koh Phangan are incredibly beautiful. This is our mini guide of the beaches in the north which might help you decide which one is the best for you.
Why Koh Phangan?
We all like different things. Some people want a calm, silent and people-free holiday to forget about work and stress. Others want to have fun, socialize and party all night long. Here are a few reasons why Koh Phangan is great for everyone:
1. It is easily accessible. There are regular trains and buses coming from Bangkok and a ferry almost every hour. Many agencies will get you to the island from basically any part of Thailand. There are also two flight options:
– Surat Thani Airport, from where you can take a bus to the port and then a ferry to Koh Phangan (the biggest company is Lomprayah)
– Koh Samui Airport, from where you take a ferry and in around 30 minutes you arrive to Koh Phangan
2. It is perfect for the monsoon period. While other parts of Thailand are rainy, you can enjoy the sunny beaches on Koh Phangan. The best months to visit are probably from December to May. Even after May you don't have to worry much about the weather. We visited at the end of June and in 9 days it rained maybe 2 times for a few hours. Here, the monsoon arrive later!
3. If you're a party animal, then this is the place to be. Twice a month crowds of backpackers gather for the full moon/ half moon party. These parties take place in the south of the island and can get pretty wild.
4. If you hate parties, then this is the place to be as well. Just visit Koh Phangan in between the parties or find accommodation in the north of the island. Some resorts are keen on maintaining their guests' privacy and make their stay as peaceful as possible.
5. Some beaches on Koh Phangan look like a paradise. Seriously. When we visited the island in June 2017, most of them were completely empty.
There are many more reasons fresh seafood, wonderful sceneries or great snorkeling options, but let's get to the beaches on Koh Phangan.
Get high by the beach
We spent nine days on Koh Phangan and the best way to move around and explore the beaches is definitely by scooter. You can go whenever and wherever you want without worrying about gasoline. You will come across roadside stalls selling bottles of gasoline for 30-40 baht each.
The roads are well kept and not busy at all. However, there are several steep roads which lead to beaches so you'd better drive slowly and always wear a helmet. This is the guide to all the beaches on Koh Phangan we have visited. We added pros and cons (if there are any). They may help you decide which suits you best.
1. Koh Ma
This panoramic beach not far from the village Chaloklum will win your heart with the colours of the water and a tiny island in the vicinity.
+ good for snorkeling
+ you can walk to the tiny island and explore it
+ few bars and restaurants
– not much shadow unless you lie down in front of someone's bungalow
2. Malibu Beach
This beach can be found right in the heart of the village Chaloklum. You will find it by the strange tiny round trees planted in the white sand.
+ very scenic with the trees, boats and a small harbor
+ a good starting point for boat or kayaking trips
– not so great for swimming
– we saw quite a few sea urchins here so make sure you wear shoes
3. Haad Yao
If you continue up the hill from Chaloklum, you will arrive to another beautiful beach with azure waters.
+ a perfect sunset spot
+ a few nice bars, restaurants and massage parlors
+ it is quite big so you will be able to find a great spot all for yourself
– the entrance to the beach is full of garbage
4. Haad Son – Secret Beach
This tiny but picturesque beach is actually not secret at all. There were quite a few people when we got there and one of the two bars was closed.
+ the beach is really nice and romantic
– to get there you will sweat a little
– apart from the two bars there is basically no shadow
5. Haad Khom
Probably one of our favorite beaches on Koh Phangan. There are a few bungalows hidden among the tall palm trees and one or two restaurants.
+ a great spot for snorkeling
+ a truly beautiful beach with a lot of shadows where you can hide
+ almost no people
– not really a con but there was only one restaurant open at the time and it was a bit expensive
6. Ao Hin Kong
In the west of the island lies a beach a little bit different from the ones listed above. It is almost on every postcard of Koh Phangan but we were not that much impressed. We came when the tide was low and found a place far from the paradise on the postcard.
+ it is nice for long meditative walks from all the humanity
+ quite a few restaurants and bars around
– when the tide is low you will have to walk much to get to the water and you probably won't be able to swim
– very dirty at a few spots
7. Haad Salad
Last but not least, one of the best beaches on the entire island. It's a real paradise, with high palms projecting their shadows on the white sand. There are a few visitors per day and water has many different shades of blue and green.
+ not many people on the beach
+ there are a couple of good and cheap restaurants directly on the sand
– well… Nothing! We can't complain about this beach.
There are many more beaches on Koh Phangan, but we have listed only those that we visited personally.
Are there any other beaches you could recommend? Let us know in the comments!


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The available scientific evidence on individual herbal medicines in people is sometimes considered "promising." However, only very rarely is their convincing evidence, or evidence that is considered sufficient to make a sound clinical decision for prescribing them. Most studies or reviews of studies show that the reported effects of herbal products seem to be rather limited, or need further confirmation by well-designed trials, or both. In addition, data that directly compares herbal remedies with well-established pharmaceutical products are often not available or do not provide much useful information (for example, data may be derived from studies that failed to include a placebo group).
A basic problem concerning all clinical research in herbal medicines is the question of whether different products, extracts, or even different lots of the same extract are comparable and equivalent. For example, echinacea products may contain other plant extracts, use different plant species, different parts of the plant (herb, root, both), and might have been produced in quite different manners. In addition, the concentration of active ingredients can vary dramatically depending on where the plants were grown or when they were harvested. Finally, even a claim of "standardization" does not mean the preparation is accurately labeled, nor does it indicate less variability in concentration of constituents of the herb. Therefore, any given bottle of an herb may contain different amounts of any active substance from those contained in another bottle of the same herb.
Such inherent variation in products means that it may not be possible to extrapolate the results of any one study to any particular product. And, of course, almost all of the trials of individual herbal products have been done in people; applying the findings of individual trials in human medicine to horse care is problematic because of the fact that different species may react to the same substance in different ways.
Herbal products may be prescribed for reasons that diverge from known medical practice. That is, treatments may be prescribed or based on vague rationales for which there is no proof, or which make no sense. For example, observations such as, "underfunctioning of a patient's systems of elimination" or "an accumulation of metabolic waste products" make no medical sense whatsoever. However, based on such fanciful suppositions, plants with purported diuretic or laxative actions might then be prescribed. Herbal products might also be prescribed to "support" various body systems, even though the term "support" is vague and ill-defined, there may be no evidence that such systems are in need of support, and there may be no evidence that the prescribed plant supports anything anyway!
Herbal products may also be contaminated, adulterated, or misidentified. For example, in 1998, the California Department of Health reported that 32 percent of Asian patent medicines sold in that state contained undeclared pharmaceuticals or heavy metals; this appears to be a particular problem in herbal preparations from Asian sources. Outright fraud also exists; in 2003, The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) suspended the license held by Pan Pharmaceuticals Limited of Sydney to manufacture medicines because of serious concerns about the quality and safety of products manufactured by the company. Because of such problems, calls for tighter regulation of botanical medicines have appeared.
Controlled studies on the clinical effects of herbal or botanical preparations in horses are virtually non-existent. It's usually not known how the doses are obtained; they are often "proportional" to those used in human herbal medicine. However, it should be kept in mind that experience with pharmaceuticals has shown that extrapolating dosage or toxicity data from one species to another can be dangerous. Due to their inherent toxicity, some herbal remedies, such as belladonna, should probably not be used in horses under any circumstance. Others, such as tea tree oil, while generally safe at some strengths, can cause significant adverse effects at others. In addition, because some herbal remedies contain multiple, biologically active constituents, interaction with conventional drugs is also a concern. Just because herbal products may be "natural" doesn't also mean that they are safe; rattlesnake bites and hurricanes are "natural," too!
While science continues to demonstrate that there are biologically active substances in plants, the fact is that those substances are best administered when they are identified, and standardized. Yew trees contain an anti-cancer agent; it wasn't until Tamoxifen® was purified that the active ingredient became useful. There's no good reason to give your horse substances of unknown purity, with unknown effectiveness. It's just a waste of time and money.


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Teasing A Repentant Sinner
I have a query. I want to know what Islam says about this. If a girl was unchaste when she was young and was also into some sort of zina, not the extreme one, and she did all that she should not have done like partying, dancing, smoking (no alcohol), clubbing, going out with boys, being close with them in some manner, because of fun and ignorance and she did not even offer prayer during that period but then slowly and slowly she started to do it less often. One day something happens in her life. A death happens and just wakes her up. She feels what was happening with her. What was she doing? Why was she doing all that nasty stuff? She feels that as if she was forced to do it. Then she leaves all of that and asks Allah's forgiveness. She becomes a pious lady, leaving all that behind and promising never to do that again.
Is it permissible for any person to say bad things about that girl now? Can they call her that she is a prostitute and all that which she was not? People in her neighborhood and relatives and even her brother teases her and comments her saying that they know what all she did in her past. They are trying to defame her now. They are talking about her character and spreading rumors. Is it right for them to do this, when this girl has left all the bad deeds and has become a nice girl now? She doesn't even go out. She stays in pardah, offers prayers and seeks forgiveness for all the time. She cries because of all this. Please answer what does Islam say about these people who are torturing her and calling her prostitute? What should be done to them?
One more thing that I want to ask is that why does the girl feel that she was in some kind of trap and that all of a sudden she was set free. And when she sits she can't even realize that she could do such heinous acts in her past because she had been an innocent girl all her childhood. She could not even think of doing all that what she did. Is that due to some magic affecting her? Is all that is happening in her family is due that magic?
How is it possible to disrespect the repenting of a fellow Muslim, and at the same time hope that God will accept our repent?
We read in the Qur'an:
"O you who believe! Turn unto Allah in sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your evil deeds and bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow" (66:8)
and that "... God loves those who constantly repent ... " (2:222)
Any human being might fall in the trap of Satan and does things that later on will not be even imaginable for him/herself. From what you have written it is clear that the person has truly repented. In fact her very feeling that she cannot even think that she could do all that evil deeds is an indication of her changing her personality and becoming a beter person, that itself can only achieve by a true repent.
It seems like God has forgiven this girl but some people have not! If we expect God to be forgiving and nice to us in the hereafter, then we too need to be forgiving and nice to people, specially those who have had a genuine attempt to please their Lord by repenting.
As fallible human beings, we all need to repent to our Lord. It seems like the girl you mentioned has repented successfully. The question is, when will those who commit sin by teasing and defaming her are going to repent.


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For some people the hundred degree weather, the 100 SPF sun block, the sound of the lawn mower and the smell of cut grass - these are signs that Summer is really here. For me, however, the true sign of Summer is the June compliance month-end rush!
This has been an especially busy June as we are in an "even-year boom". In even years, 2/3 of Illinois attorneys are ending their compliance period (about 49,230 vs. 24,250), and 2/3 of New York attorneys are ending their compliance period (approximately 100,860 vs. 49,700). This means a significant increase in the number of attorneys reporting in these two states alone!
Customer service inquiries, applications generated, attendance reported, interactions with regulators and their staff - all increased dramatically for us year over year. The last week of June, in particular, saw a flood of emails, calls, and reams of paper moving through our offices.
While we got through the "worst of it" - I'm certainly looking forward to a bit of ramp-down, where the new signs of summer are the whopper I caught at the lake (28" Northern Pike),
and my dog, Gingersnap, with her nose pressed up against the air conditioner to keep herself cool.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July!


text: Living in Amsterdam currently hosting my own late night talk show called "Kevin Masters starring Tom Rhodes" on Dutch television's Yorin network channel 7 airing every Tuesday at 10pm. The show is formatted to be your typical late night American talk show but what makes it unique is it's an American experiencing and being taught Dutch culture and society and I interview Dutch celebrities including writers, politicians, rock stars and movie and TV stars. The show is a testament to how smart Dutch people are in that all of their celebrities can come on and be interviewed in English and from what I've been told this is the first show in The Netherlands hosted by a none Dutch speaking foreigner ever. The show is a rib-tickle and considering Holland's progressive laws, the voice of reason in the world courts and the lack of censorship of any kind on their television and in their media it may be hard to get me to leave the land of windmills and gentle people any time soon.