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Mike Bidwell is a BJJ Black Belt under Phil Migliarese and Ken Kronenberg (Team Tai-Kai / Balance). Mike is a full time Jiu-Jitsuka, blogger freelance writer, content provider, and teacher!
Incredibly, Mike was a BJJ brown belt from 2001 to 2014! 13 Years.
Hi Mike thanks for joining us here at Open Guard. We appreciate you taking the time out of your day to have a chat with us and to share you Jiu Jitsu journey with our readers. Mike could you please let the readers know a little about yourself and your journey so far?
Thank you! I've been doing martial arts for over 30 years. I started doing martial arts as a kid. Mostly Tae-kwon Do and Kenpo Karate. I ended up getting black belts in those styles. This was the late 80's and striking arts were really the only game in town. I ended up training at a Ninjutsu school…remember this was the 80's and everyone wanted to be a ninja back then including me. What I liked about Ninjutsu training is that It naturally lead me to want to learn grappling. We would do a lot of hand-to-hand close quarter training which felt like a very loose version of Jiu-Jitsu. At the time I wasn't even aware of Jiu-Jitsu so much at least not in the form we practice it now. But I was very intrigued by the grapple aspects of it. I did this for a few years before discovering BJJ in 1993. Like most people I was watching whatever tapes I could get my hands on for a few years. But in 1996 I pretty much stopped all my other martial arts training and committed myself fully to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!
So tell us Mike after training such a variety of Martial Arts, why was it that you persisted with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
Jiu-Jitsu is an amazing martial art. The fact that you can practice it at 100% and walk away uninjured is pretty amazing! I also love that Jiu-Jitsu takes you exactly as you are big, small, injuries and all. Jiu-Jitsu is the only martial art that I have experienced that will adapt to you. Most martial arts are a one size fits all mentality. You do techniques a very certain way and there's no room for creativity or adaptability. Jiu-Jitsu on the other hand will adapt and work for you regardless of whether you are tall, short, have limited flexibility…there are practitioners that are missing limbs that make Jiu-Jitsu work…and because it is so adaptable the ability to learn becomes unending. You could spend your entire life attempting to master just a few components of Jiu-Jitsu! That speaks to the incredible adaptability and nature of this gentle art.
Even the beginner has tough times in their journey, given you have been on yours for quite some time what has been the toughest part of your black belt journey and how did you maintain focus to overcome it?
The toughest part for me was spending thirteen years at brown belt! I got off track with my training and diet and put on almost 50 pounds. I had a few persisting injuries that were making my training difficult and I allowed myself to get out of shape. After thirteen years of ups and downs as a brown belt I made a decision in 2012 that I was either going to get my black belt once and for all or quit Jiu-Jitsu! I came very close to quitting. But I went to my BJJ friends and community for advice and I decided to set some goals and get myself in the best shape of my life. At the time I had a lot of stomach problems due to food allergies and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It was getting so bad that I would often miss a week every month from training. I ended up switching to a mostly plant based diet. (I do consume organic eggs – But I get all of my other protein from plant sources) I ended up losing nearly 50 pounds, healed my old injuries and earned my BJJ Black belt in January of 2014.
You hear a lot about the different reasons people stop training Jiu Jitsu; one of the biggest we have come across is family commitments. Being a family man yourself how do you manage training and family life?
My whole family trains – my wife and two kids all do Jiu-Jitsu. So, for us there's no "this and then Jiu-Jitsu". Our world is Jiu-Jitsu. When we talk about the challenges we face in our life we often refer to something that may have happened on the mats. We use our time on the mats to help us be better in our everyday lives. The lessons we learn on the mats can teach us and guide us. So I recommend everyone to get their whole family to train. Husband – wife – kids… You will develop a connection to your family that will be incredible – plus you end up with training partners you can take home!
You have a very strong social media following due to your regular videos, what was the driving factor in releasing them to the public?
My goal has always been to create a community for 40+ grapplers. Myself nearing 50 years old I felt compelled to serve my community! I released my first instructional in July of 2013. I had a very small following of people at the time and I wasn't feeling confident in even putting it out. At first I held off on filming it for a few weeks… then when I finally did film it we had problems with the recording. I finally got the first video out (it was my Ninja roll choke). I think I was hesitant because I wasn't sure how people would take my crazy version of Jiu-Jitsu. I knew my stuff was way outside the box for some people… I am happy that we have built a strong following on our social media sites… But honestly I think what I've learned from this experience is to always "Flow You". Just be You, because who else could or should you really be? One day I was on youtube and I saw a video of a lion roaring. It was literally 30 seconds of a lion roaring loudly. The lion wasn't hurt or in pain it was just sitting outside roaring. This video had like a million views and like 500 dislikes. So 500 people felt compelled to thumbs down the video of the lion growling. My point is that not everyone will like you or approve of you and that has nothing to do with you.
You also run the BJJ after 40 blog how did that come about. In addition, how has it changed over time?
I am happy to say our sites have grown completely organically. I just continue to release my blogs and videos and our audience continues to grow. The message is still the same but the audience is just bigger. For me the message is don't let anything stand in your way of fulfilling whatever it is you desire.
For the new over 40 white belt, what advice would you give them on how to handle the stresses of training and the recovery the next day?
You have to plan your recovery that same way you plan for your time on the mats. This is especially true as we age, as we battle through injuries or if we're just bumped and bruised. I find that stretching every chance you get helps improve my performance on the mat and relieve soreness. I also like to use a foam roller for stretching. Epsom bathes are great for soreness and inflammation. For me diet is always the key to success. Your food is your fuel.
Do you believe that age is an issue when it comes to training?
We are only limited to the degree we believe we are limited. If we make age a factor then it will be a factor. But the truth is that we may have some injuries or limitations. I believe that you create the healthiest possible vessel to navigate through BJJ. That means stretching daily, eating a clean diet, avoiding over consumption of alcohol and no smoking cigarettes. So you start by addressing your off the mat habits and rituals and you build a healthy mind and body…now age isn't nearly the issue that it once was. I believe that 40, 50 & 60 year olds make the BEST students! They are adults who have completed most of their life goals (house, marriage, school etc) so they tend to be more focused, mature, organized students. There's also in most cases far less ego.
If you could sum up your whole journey in one word what would that word, be
Service. When I finally earned my BJJ Black Belt in 2014 I made a commitment to give back to Jiu-Jitsu more than it has given me. That's why I do this…
Mate I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule it was great to have you with us here at Open Guard. Is there anything else you would like to add?
I want to thank all of our awesome fans and followers who continue to support our sites. Also, thanks to my awesome sponsor Origin BJJ! www.originmaine.com Be sure to check us out at: www.bjjafter40.com www.facebook.com/bjjafter40 www.youtube.com/bjjafter40 www.instagram.com/bjjafter40


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With more than 1,000 fjords around the country, 10 of which are frequented regularly by cruise ships, it's not surprising that tourists wonder where to go and which fjords to see. Learn how to differentiate the most famous ones with the help of our fjord-wise guide Øyvind Heen.
"Fjord is a Norwegian word gone international".
Øyvind grew up by a fjord and has been exploring these unusual landscapes practically all his life, documenting them in texts and pictures by hiking, climbing, kayaking, and other ways of moving around.
"I understand why visitors to Fjord Norway are confused. Not only are there so many fjords, they are also long and deep and have numerous side arms. To add to the confusion, some of the branches are far more famous than the main fjords", Heen states.
According to Heen, the most dramatic fjords are in fact such side arms: The Geirangerfjord, the Aurlandsfjord, the Nærøyfjord, and the Lysefjord. His list of fjords worth visiting also include the Romsdalsfjord, the Nordfjord, the Sognefjord, the Hardangerfjord, and the northerly narrow Trollfjord.
"'Fjord' is a Norwegian word that has gone international. It's an ancient Viking term related to the phrase for 'where you travel across' (der man ferder over) and the word 'ferry' (ferje)", Heen tells.
"The fjords were created by massive glaciation that went below sea level", he continues. "Over a period of 2.5 million years, the U-shaped valleys were carved out of the ground during a succession of glacial cycles. In other words, the fjords were shaped by the glaciers."
Think of Norway's fjords as main roads with side streets and narrow back alleys – a bit like the canals of Venice gone XXL. And by the way – many tourists are fascinated by the changing weather conditions of the fjord landscape.
"For those who come from warm and sunny places, the weather is an attraction in itself", Heen claims. He himself plans to explore even more of the fjord universe that was engraved in him so long ago. Below, he gives a quick guide to Norway's major fjords from south to north.
It's raw, rough, and full of contrasts. It's the time of year when Fjord Norway shows its mystical and magical self. It's what we call the Viking season.
The glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls are all about raw, sublime power. On the other hand, natural wonders such as the northern lights, the midnight sun, the fjords, and quiet national parks highlight Norway's serene qualities.
The UNESCO-protected fjords are symbols of the beauty of traditional Norway. Places where time moves in its own pace.
You haven't seen the fjords until you see them in winter. Enjoy this travel route from Bergen to Flåm and discover some of the world's most beautiful winter landscapes.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Back on local turf for Saturdays gig – the celebration of Becky and Mark's wedding day at the Hilton Hotel, Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
An early start saw Sarah, our fabulous singer, already up and away undertaking the makeup for not just the bridesmaids, but the bride herself – what an honour!
With Sarah tied up, Take Note teamwork rallied around to get the band set up and sound tested in a record time frame!
We all reconvened at 7pm to calm our nerves, and to spend some quality time together as a band before the first dance. Sarah and Mat did a great job of providing a stripped back acoustic version of "Lay It All On Me" by Rudimental – a special request by the Newly Weds. Mark took to floor in a lovely silver and blue waistcoat, beautifully complimented by Becky, in a fantastic floor length dress; stunningly elegant.
The band stage was slightly smaller than we're used to and considerably bouncy to boot, (with any small movement making the drum kit play double time!), however this didn't stop us getting our groove on! The dance floor was packed from start to finish – just what we love to see and strive for at every gig we play!
Take Note certainly had a fantastic time performing at the wedding and we feel very honoured to be a part of this very special day.
From all here at Take Note HQ, we wish both Becky and Mark a wonderful life together as Mr and Mrs Thompson. Congrats!!!!


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It is time to get shopping and brighten up your summer style and I am not just talking about your lip gloss.
Here are some simple and elegant pieces that are perfect for our English summer,
from statement florals, delicate pastels to all out whites, giving you an ideal look for those up and coming summer events
Complete your look with these signature embellishments from fabulous heels to statement bags.
All out white
If you think head-to-toe white is not easy to pull off? Then think again.
This very pretty floral lace bomber jacket in soft white is the perfect accompaniment for these Roma Rise white city shorts, just add these white leather T-Bar sandals with a clear fashion heel to complete the outfit.
This pure and simple outfit gives a dress down feel that is just perfect for a city sleek look that will easily take you from day to night.
Embellish your look with a stylish bag
One easy way to add a little colour to an all white outfit is via a fabulous handbag.
and this very stylish pale pink bag is perfect. Plus it will not break the bank.
True blue details
Why not embrace blue this summer, especially with denim being in style at the moment and this head to toe look is all you need to turn heads.
This fabulous, but quirky, blue jumpsuit will give you that individual, laid-back summer style. Just add these suede peep toe heels and a pale blue studded bowler bag for a true blue finish.
Fruity pastels
You know summers is here when these zesty citrus shades start to appear on the high street, from delicious sweet apricot, to bright tangerine.
For a vibrant summer style and youthful flair this elegant apricot maxi skirt is as flattering as it is stylish. Topped off with this beautfully embellished tank top,with a sparkling finish ensures individuality.
We just adore this heart shaped bag in a coral mix, add these edgy red suede T-Bar block heels sandals for the perfect combo.
No time like the present to get shopping for this years summer style!


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Proposal Preparation
Sponsor Forms
Proposal Writing
Electronic Proposal Submission
Many sponsors now accept or require electronic proposal submission. Please review sponsor guidelines and speak to your sponsored program officer to determine if your application can be electronically submitted. Normal internal requirements and review are necessary for all proposals submitted electronically. A selection of electronic proposal submission websites is listed below.
- American Heart Association (AHA)
- GRANTS.GOV (Cayuse424 is now used to facilitate NIH proposal preparation to GRANTS.GOV)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- NIH Commons (Applicable Progress Report and Just-in-Time information submission)
- NSF Fastlane
- Proposal Central
- U.S. Department of Defense / Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Department of Energy
*Note: Sponsors who currently accept online proposal submission may not accept all applications types in electronic format. Check the application guidelines and speak with your sponsored program officer to determine if your application can/must be submitted electronically.


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For the first time ever, one of the most iconic TitanMen films, "Desert Train", has been digitally remastered into full 1080p HD and 16×9 wide screen. Bruce Cam's epic story of the desert drifter follows Titanmen Adriano Marquez, Eduardo, Michel D-Amours and more as they find solace in each other's muscular arms. Filmed in the Mojave Desert the visual imagery is so stunning and the sex so intense this movie received GAYVN awards for "Best Cinematography" and "Most Romantic Video". "Desert Train" is one of the all-time greats of gay porn, right up there with "The Bigger the Better," and the Joe Gage Trilogy, "Boys in the Sand". Director Bruce Cam's stunning videography, smooth editing, masculine men, and outstanding sex lend the movie an abstract and dreamlike quality that heightens it's eroticism. Starring Adriano Marquez, Brian Hansen, Eduardo, Jackson Phillips, Marcello Reeves, Michael D'Amours, Rich Ryan, and Xavier De Paula.
Monthly Archives: November 2015
Blue Collar Ballers: Dirk Caber & Dallas Steele
Working up a sweat moving into Dirk Caber's new home, Dallas Steele wants to help his bud break the place in. "I've been watching that hardon all day!" smiles Dirk, who soon has a big Dallas dick in his mouth. "God you smell good!" smiles Dirk, who deep throats Dallas. Dirk's boner is set free, rubbing against Dallas's chest before diving into his lips. Dallas takes out Dirk's balls ("Pull those outta there!") and grips them as he sucks, the two slapping and spitting on each other as their verbal exchange heats up. Dirk feasts on Dallas's smooth hole, the action caught in the hallway mirror ("Fuckin' eat that ass! Get that tongue in there!"). They kiss, cocks poking each other, before Dallas eats Dirk, gripping the stud's cock as he tongues him. "Get a finger in there!" yells Dirk as Dallas slides one in, flashing a gorgeous smile. In the bedroom, Dallas offers his hole as Dirk fucks him hard and fast in two positions—Dirk gripping the bottom's cheeks to hammer him from below. Dallas returns the favor, pinning Dirk to the bed ("Nice and deep…you feel that cock?") as he reams his ass. "Fuck it out of me!" yells Dirk, soon soaked in cum.
Roman Chase is desperate to become a member of The Cum Guzzlers Club, but the only way to get into this party, he'll really have to prove his worth to the owner of the club, Sean Duran. Muscle daddy Sean Duran knows exactly how to initiate this cock hungry boy into his Cum Guzzlers Club. Roman gets his wish after the fucking of his life, but what he doesn't know is what awaits him in the back room.


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Personal Injury Lawyer St Charles, MO – How Do You Know You Need Exactly That Kind of Help?
A career as a lawyer and within that of a personal injury lawyer St Charles MO, naturally, is an extraordinary job. Still, becoming a lawyer means a huge dedication in terms of commitment and financial endeavor. Hence, it is very important to be aware of this before the decision to follow that career path is made. There are many reasons to back up this opinion and, of course, top reasons why working as an attorney brings benefits. One of them is opportunity to help others. Often lawyers are inevitable in all segments of your life and actually no matter if you face good or bad moment moments. They help individuals, groups and organizations with their legal problems and further the public good.
As the world evolves, increased industry segmentation and specialization have led to a broad array of sub-specialties. Since there are many types of personal injuries, a question of realizing when you would need a personal injury lawyer St Charles MO sounds like a reasonable one. A personal injury lawyer, also known as a plaintiff lawyer or trial lawyer, is a type of civil litigator who provides legal representation to plaintiffs alleging a physical or psychological injury as a result of the negligent or careless acts of another person, entity or organization. Any case or claim that involves an injury to the body or mind belongs to the area of personal injury law and some of the most common types of these cases handled by this law specialization are: animal bite injuries , auto accidents, aviation accidents, bicycle accidents, boating accidents, brain injuries, burn injuries, construction accidents, defective products, insurance/bad faith, medical malpractice, motorcycle accidents, nursing home abuse, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death.
Cook Law, LLC is a personal injuries lawyers St Charles MO. If you need help with a personal injury issue then Cook Law, LLC can help guide you through complex issues with clarity and confidence. They clearly point out that not every area of law is cut-and-dry and having a lawyer that understands these issues and how to resolve them through disciplines can contribute immensely to achieving a favorable result.
Cook Law, LLC is also focused on protecting and fighting for victim's rights to be compensated when an accident results in serious injuries. They understand how to effectively negotiate and they are not afraid to go to trial if that is what it takes to achieve the best possible results. Their personal injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, which means that if they are not successful in recovering compensation, there are no lawyer fees.
Moments of personal injuries are hard to imagine but if they happen, a personal injury lawyer is there to help you think rationally despite a stressful situation.


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Today, Procter and Gamble, one of the worlds largest and most popular producers of personal care and home care products made public a list of 140 chemicals it does not use in any fragrances in its brands.
This is great news because, among the chemicals listed that they do not use, are many chemicals that have been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity and cancer.
Fragrance is used in just about all personal care and household products. Shampoos, soaps, moisturizers, makeup, cleaning supplies, detergents etc all contain fragrance.
Traditionally the chemicals used in any given fragrance have been considered a trade secret and thus companies do not legally have to disclose what chemicals are used in any given fragrance. Dozens and even hundreds of different chemicals, can be used in one fragrance, including known endocrine disruptors or carcinogens and yet the public has no way of knowing.
When a multinational like Procter & Gamble publishes a list of chemicals it does not use it is a great step towards transparency and gives more power to the consumer to decide what chemicals they want to or do not want to expose their family too. Knowledge is power.


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Transat Travel Oshawa Centre, (formerly Marlin Travel) is a full service travel agency. Our highly skilled and passionate Travel Professionals have 113 years of combined experience making our clients' dreams vacations come true. We not only sell a wide variety of All-inclusive Packages, Cruises, Coach Tours and Adventure Travel, but we also have specialists in River Cruising, Disney vacations, Luxury Travel and Destination Weddings. Many of our clients have been booking their vacations with us for over 30 years. What's on your Bucket List. Whatever it is, we can create your perfect vacation to ensure you'll make memories that will last a lifetime.
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The seated hammer curl using resistance bands is used to target primarily the biceps, however because the wrist remains perpendicular to the ground rather than parallel, the forearm also gets a workout.
Start in a seated position on a chair/ball/or bench. Position the resistance band underneath the feet. The feet should both rest flat on the floor and the back should be nice and straight. With arms down at sides, grab the resistance band making sure the band has tension to begin with. Keeping elbows at the side, slowly raise hands toward the shoulder and slowly return to starting position. To ensure proper and efficient contraction, you should be able to count to 2 on the way up and 2 on the way down.
Step 1
Secure bands under feet. Arms should be straight.
Step 2
Curl bands up toward shoulders. Keep elbows still. Exhale.
Step 3
Slowly lower the bands to starting position and repeat several times.


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There has been no full announcement about which Americans will be swimming at this year's World Cup Series, held in 25 meter pools in different cities around Europe and Asia, but we know at least one megastar will swim: Ryan Lochte.
The Russian Swimming Federation has announced that the 5-time Olympic Champion is committed to participate in at least the Moscow stop of the series on October 17th and 18th; usually when Americans have traveled to the European legs of this event, they make multiple stops on the continent, though that hasn't been confirmed.
This will be Lochte's first trip into the high-money, high excitement world of the FINA World Cup. That's not to say he can't pull off short course swimming – with his amazing underwaters he's arguably better than long course. At the 2010 Short Course World Championships, he took 6 golds and a relay silver: the most ever won by a single swimmer at the event. He also broke the Short Course World Records in the 200 and 400 IM on back-to-back days, which really pulled swimming out of the World Record depths of despair following the banishment of full-body polyurethane suits earlier that year.
With a change of training locale to Southern California all-but-confirmed for Lochte, these World Cup meets could become one of the more interesting stories for the rest of 2012. Typically under Gregg Troy, Lochte has been just dreadful in-season. With his seeming desire to move more toward sprint-based events and training, though, keep an eye on how much better he goes during the year.
Update: Lochte's agent Erica Wright says he is staying put in Florida.
Anthony Ervin is another American who has confirmed participation in the World Cup Series, though there will surely be more.


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Men's Travel Shoe Bag Wicket Indigo Fabric
This splendid gentleman's shirt bag comes in Wicket pattern with is bold indigo stripe. This British made fabric comes from our friends at Ian Mankin fabrics, who've been making this wonderful rugged, hard wearing fabric and others in their Lancashire mill for over 150 years.
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- Detail: machine embroidered on 100% cotton. Cool wash and cool iron.
- Fabric: Ian Mankin, Wicket Indigo
Click here to buy a set of both the shirt bag and shoe bag in wicket indigo fabric for only £45
Delivery & Returns
UK delivery is £5 or completely free for orders over £200. We also offer international delivery and you can return your purchase provided it's 'as new' within 30 days.
Weight (approx): grams
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Betting Previews Odds: UEFA Cup
UEFA CUP the Second qualifying round betting preview. Two games are played on 08/08/2006, but most of the matches will take place on Thursday. Keep in mind: the aggregate results count, the second-leg matches in two weeks time. Ecobika's picks and the latest news can be read at football forecasting site of ecobika.
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San Francisco is the birthplace of so many amazingly creative endeavors and last month I was fortunate to participate in one called The Identity Project. It has been a while since I had had my portrait taken by a professional and I was extremely pleased with the results by Portraits to the People photographer Sarah Deragon. In regards to this particular undertaking, Deragon's website states, " This photography project seeks to explore the labels we choose to identify with when defining our gender and sexuality." In her interview with The Bold Italic, Deragon says:
I was inspired to do this project because of the ways in which I was deeply affected by black and white portraits when I was coming out.
I remember searching through books looking for photos of queer people to help me figure out who I was. I want folks to look at my images and be happy, proud, inspired, and even turned on. This photo project is my love letter to the LGBTQ community.
Many thanks to Sarah Deragon for the visibility she is creating for so many people, myself included, who do not relate to conventional labels. We can all be self-defined and self-actualized and that is a beautiful thing! For a look at the participants thus far, check out the gallery! If you would like to participate, fill out this form.
Photo by Sarah Deragon, natch!


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Since the 2008 presidential election, I have become aware of design in politics and how the quality and effectiveness of the design effects particular candidates.
As designers, we have a lot of responsibility to design for the greater good and not put forth an image (both meanings of the word) that is misleading, untrue or inciting of any negative action. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have a responsibility to not oversell something or someone, if we want a clear conscience.
Below I've outlined a few examples of design that has a played a role in our perception of a the candidate.
A few examples, off the top of my head:
Yes we can… make you think I'm God-incarnate
Overtly and overly optimistic political campaign website for Barack Obama. Did we all really think he was going to be 'God-incarnate' and a perfect president (note the glowing blue sky/cloud feel)?
The problem with this website design, as I'm starting to see, is that if I were to design a website for 'God' – it would probably look pretty close to this. Same colors. Similar logo. Similar quote in the header (at least the 'I'm asking you to believe'). This is a problem, because he's not God, but was pretty much marketed as such.
As I wrote about on this blog in the past – this was a great website design, logo and branding. The best that national politics had ever seen. But my question is: Was it over-selling Obama? Just a bit.
Did we think he would be anything more than a politician with skin on? If we bought into the design/marketing – maybe.
There's an Alaska-shaped lake in the US, don'tchaknow?
To all you middle school kids who have taken geography, you know this map is NOT accurate. It is outrageously false. I know that Palin's goal was to express that she was the governor of a state that is very large in comparison to the continental United States. Do you want to highlight something in your career that you only put half your effort toward (Palin resigned before finishing her first term)? Why create something that is false, misleading and very untrue? Clever, maybe – but I don't see it winning any design awards. This logo opens up the floodgates for more people to question the intelligence of Sarah Palin. Why open that door?
LBJ mushroom cloud commercial
Misleading. Fear-Mongering.
It's not a direct 'design' piece but is marketing and political in nature. The commercial worked and drew on the emotions of the American people. Drawing out the fear of a nuclear war and pointing a finger at Barry Goldwater was the goal of this commercial. It worked, and as Milton Glaser is quoted in this article saying, "And even though you knew it was bullshit, your heart swelled anyway."
You betcha they're surveying symbols!
Most recently, this graphic has been the center of debate. I don't subscribe to the idea that Palin is responsible for the recent Arizona shooting. However, her advertisements and words and those of other talking heads need to be scrutinized when violence against politicians arises. Taking responsibility for your words and actions is a necessity. That means acknowledging when something you say or do is in bad taste, as this graphic was. We learned this as a child – why is it that politicians forget this fundamental rule of responsibility? (Another example is when Sharon Angle's was quoted about using 'second amendment remedies'. That is an incitement of violence and nothing less.)
One explanation of this graphic was that it was simply using 'surveying symbols'. Maybe that was the intention, but how many American's are surveyors and would get this reference? It's more likely that it would be interpreted as a gun sight. You can't tell me that the Palin folks didn't know this is how it would be inferred? After all, it's the perfect graphical symbol to appeal to hunters and gun rights activists around the country. If it should have been a surveying symbol, shame on the designer for not correctly 'visually communicating' a surveying symbol. My guess is that the designer was directed to use a gun cross hair – and they did that effectively. Palin and others needs to be more careful about the graphics they present and the words they use.
Wrapping up
We have all seen political ads, designs and words that over-reach their boundary. The question becomes – how do we know how over-reaching it is? How do we know how much violence something or someone may incite with their words or ads? The answer is: We don't. This is why politicians and the designers that work for them need to be held to a very high standard. They need to realize how much sway they have with their 'supporters' – especially their fringe supporters.
What political ads, designs and words have you heard or seen recently that were inciting violence or simply overselling something?


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Australia: The Order of Australia
Insignia of the Sovereign, and of Knights and Dames
Ribbon: Royal blue with a central band of scattered gold mimosa blossoms. The ribbon for the military division has gold borders.
Instituted: 14 February 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Awarded: For achievement and merit in service to Australia or humanity.
Grades: 3 (Companion, Officer and Member), plus a Medal; in 2 Divisions, General and Military. The additional grade of Knight or Dame was awarded between 1976 and 1986, and was reinstated 25 March 2014.
Post-nominal letters: Knight - AK; Dame - AD.
Page last updated: 1 April 2014


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Saturday, March 24, 2007
Blog update
These are links to worthy articles...
These are worth the time to read them...
The links are created using Google Reader, a new service from everybody favorite provider of FREE products; GOOGLE. Reader compiles your RSS feeds into an easy to organize and browse site, which features your 'unread' items.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Iraq Funding Bill Is Pork Laden
Statement by Rep. Paul Gillmor (R,OH)
President Bush requested Congress pass a bill to provide $103 billion in emergency funding for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Katrina reconstruction efforts. I wanted to vote for the President's request for additional funds for our troops because it is imperative that we support our men and women in uniform while they are fighting the Global War on Terror. They are talented, dedicated, and professional and should have every dollar they need for success.
Unfortunately, Democrat leaders have once again failed my constituents. The Democratic Party is split between abandoning our troops immediately versus abandoning our troops in two years. In order to gain enough support from the fringes of their party, Democrat leaders had to add $22 billion worth of pet projects to the war funding bill. Rather than convince members of their own party to support their
policy of micromanaging the war, Democrat leaders decided to buy their votes.
Maybe some of these projects can be justified but they are certainly not emergency spending for the troops. Democrats in Congress believe invented 'emergencies' such as spinach growing and peanut storage are just as important as the needs of our troops. Setting a date for withdrawal is as irresponsible as increasing a funding bill twenty percent to buy the votes of Members of Congress. Democrats are willing
to jeopardize the effectiveness of our military just to make a political statement.
$20 billion plus - to BUY VOTES that will help the enemies of civilization, this is aiding and abetting the DEFEAT of our Mission in IRAQ.
The DEMOCRATS want the United States of America DEFEATED.
The DEMOCRATS want to CUT and RUN.
I PRAY that the REPUBLICANS in the SENATE have enough backbone to defeat the defeatists.
I HOPE BEYOND HOPE that SUPPORT FOR VICTORY can be RESURRECTED in WASHINGTON DC.
Dear Congress,
We are making solid progress towards peace and stability in Iraq.
WHY does the Democrat Leadership want to UNDERMINE the efforts of our brave troops on the streets of Iraq?
PLEASE rethink your support of the barbarians who use children to sneak bombs past the checkpoints in Baghdad, and then KILL THE CHILDREN.
Is that your definition of civilized behavior?
Thank You,
U. S. Citizen (and registered voter)
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HamNation: Guide to Better Living
Micheal Yon, Best War Reporter of this Generation
Explain why General Brooks would want to expel Micheal Yon from Iraq.
Mr Yon is the 'Ernie Pyle' of his generation. He speaks truth, he respects the security and safety of the troops he writes about.
Please read his latest dispatch from Iraq: http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/rubs.htm
Mr President, Please allow Micheal Yon to continue to report from the front, allow him to continue going on patrol with our troops.
Thank You
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Get Well, Elizabeth Edwards
I'll put you into my prayers.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Why We Fight
By Kristin Roberts
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - A(emphasis mine)
U.S. general on Tuesday said Iraqi insurgents used children in a
suicide attack this weekend, raising worries that the insurgency has
adopted a new tactic to get through security checkpoints with bombs.
Maj. Gen. Michael Barbero, deputy director for regional operations in
the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, said adults in a vehicle with two
children in the backseat were allowed through a Baghdad checkpoint.
adults then abandoned the vehicle and detonated it with the children
still inside, he said. "Children in the back seat, lower
suspicion, we let it move through," he said. "They parked the vehicle,
the adults run out and detonate it with the children in the back."
We Fight to Protect the Innocent from such Barbarians.
The barbaric Islamic Militants don't care about the children, they simply want to kill, and they don't care who dies.
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Sunday, March 18, 2007
Gathering of Eagles
Don't believe the MSM — either their lying by entirely omitting any
mention of the numbers of people attending the Gathering of Eagles, or
their deliberate playing down of the numbers who did come. The Parks
and Service people counted thirty thousand patriots (30,000) gathered to protect the Wall.
Semper Fi
The "anti-war" protest had only ten thousand.
This protest had been professionally planned over the past year
and a grass roots organization of veterans - an effort lasting only 2 months
had 3 times as many folks in Washington DC.
Not all of the veterans support the war in Iraq, but they all wanted to prevent vandalism and destruction of the memorials to our war dead.


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Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G 13.3-inch Ultraportable Notebook (Page 5)
Hands On Use
The Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G was not a chart burner when it came to benchmarks, but in real world use the little notebook fares well enough. The machine is very light, thin and portable. You could certainly schlep this notebook with you all day with the reasonable expectation that the battery will last the whole time. The screen of the little notebook is very glossy, and as usual, that means lots of glare.
The screen isn't as up to streaming media as some of the other machines I have tried. The screen had noticeable pixilation in areas of high contrast like the borders of shadow and light on video. The pixilation was also noticeable when streaming video online as well. The Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G can stream video from Hulu in windowed and in full screen modes. However, there was noticeable stuttering in windowed mode, which only worsened in full screen mode. The stuttering wasn't the worst I have seen, but it was irritating when trying to watch a show. The notebook lacks an optical drive so you can't watch DVDs on the machine. The optical drive is something many ultraportables give up in an effort to save weight.
The sound system Sony uses is like most onboard speakers that I have tested. The sound is flat and the volume is good enough to watch in a reasonably quiet room. If you are trying to hear in a noisy environment, you will want headphones or external speakers.
Sony uses a chicklet style keyboard on the Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G that is an off-white color. The keyboard looks really cool, but I have to wonder if the color will be stained quickly with oil from skin, makeup and dirt. The keys are well spaced and all keys are where they should be. The right Shift key is a bit smaller than the left shift key, but the right key is large enough to use without any problems.
The trackpad is directly under the keyboard and offset to the left a bit from center. It is well defined from the wrist rest around it and offers the accuracy and sensitivity you expect to find. The buttons are easy to press and have nice feel to them.
Final Thoughts
As I spent my time with the Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G, I inevitably compared the machine to the VAIO VPCZ125GX that I reviewed not long ago in my mind. The Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G I am looking at today is no comparison to that other VAIO in performance or price. The VPCZ125GX sells for over $2000, whereas the Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G today can be found for under $800. Consider the performance you are getting and the price of the Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G has performance that isn't on par with its cost for many tasks.
The Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G is really a bit of a step up from a netbook and is more of a step between a netbook and a full-blown notebook in performance. The Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G can perform all those tasks that you expect of a notebook like general computer work, surfing the web, and watching video; it's just not the best at any of those tasks.
This machine is clearly aimed at the shopper on a budget that can live with performance that is considerably less than other machines out there. The real issue with the Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G in my book is that you can get notebooks in its price range with considerably more performance if you shop around. Much of the cost of this machine is the Sony brand making it hard to recommend on a price for performance basis. A higher-end netbook will give you similar performance and many offer better multimedia streaming capabilities at the same time. The Sony VAIO VPCY216FX/G is best suited for the shopper who wants the style it offers, the Sony name, and a screen and keyboard larger than you find on netbooks today.
PRICING: You can find products similar to this one for sale below.
United States: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.com
United Kingdom: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.co.uk
Australia: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.com.au
Canada: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.ca
Deutschland: Finde andere Technik- und Computerprodukte wie dieses auf Amazon.de


text:
Latex is not hypoallergenic. According to the American Latex Allergy Association, about 1% of the general US population are sensitized have an allergy with natural rubber latex. The rate is higher among healthcare workers.
Many natural mattress companies falsely claim that their latex is hypoallergenic, which it logically cannot be if 1% of the US population has a latex allergy. We do not make this claim and recognize that a mattress made with organic latex may not be appropriate for those with an existing latex allergy.
However, our latex is GOLS organic certified, eco-INSTITUT® certified, anti-microbial, Greenguard Gold certified, breathable, durable, resilient and sustainable.


text:
A perfect card just as it comes from the printing press. No marks, or creases, and no writing or postmarks. A clean and fresh card. Vintage cards of this grade are seldom seen.Near Mint
Like Mint but with very light aging or very slight discoloration from being in an album for many years. Not as sharp or crisp.Excellent
Like mint in appearance with no bends or creases, or rounded or blunt corners. May be postally used or unused and many have writing and postmark only on the address side. A clean, fresh card on the picture side.Very Good
Corners may be just a bit blunt or rounded. Almost undetectable crease or bend that does not detract from overall appearance of the picture side. May have writing or postal use on address side. A very collectible card.Good
Corners may be lightly blunt/rounded with noticeable bends or creases. May be postally used or have writing on address side. Less than Very Good.Fair
Card is intact. Excess soil, stains, creases, writing, or cancellation may affect picture. Could be a scarce card that is difficult to find in any condition.


text:
Steve Carell wore a nice pair of slacks when he stopped by NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to announce the start of production on Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Currently setting up to shoot in Atlanta, the sequel will reunite San Diego's favorite news team almost ten years after their original outing. This time around, director Adam McKay plans to take the crew to New York City. I can only imagine how Brick Tamland will respond.
Starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Christina Applegate, James Marsden, Kristen Wiig, Meagan Good and Dylan Baker, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues opens December 20th. Hit the jump to watch Carell on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and see what he has to say about Brick's mental state.
Check out the video below (via THR):


text:
Our sponsorship opportunities allow companies and individuals of all sizes to support Middlesex Cricket.
Our sponsorship ranges from the club's principle partnerships through to individual player sponsorship opportunities as well as community, women, disability and youth sponsorship opportunities. Each of our sponsorship packages differ based on our client's objectives and aspirations. We work to fulfil your desire and create a perfect package to suits you. To understand the extent of the opportunities for sponsorship packages with Middlesex Cricket, please see our commercial brochure here.
Our Commercial Team would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us on [email protected] to discuss your needs.


text:
This beautiful set of acrylic gouache fell into my lap late last year, brought back from Japan and given to me as a gift. The set is called Japanesque, and features colours inspired by traditional Japanese paintings. They also feature a hefty array of metallics, a range of golds, bronzes, coppers and silvers with red, blue, green and black tints.
I use watercolour more than gouache, and I feel comfortable with watercolour, yet I wanted these as soon as I saw a picture online. There was no small amount of trepidation as I opened the lovely, green box and saw the neat array of rows. Each tube tilted precisely at an attractive angle. So much potential.
I've been using them for finishing touches, dabs of metallic shine, dashes of bold colour. But I wanted to paint something for this blog post, and so I quickly did a stylised study of some autumn garden finds.
There is something exhilarating about new art supplies. Something charming about struggling with a medium you don't instinctively know. As much as I like my safe, cosy comfort zones, there is a lot of fun to be found when stepping out of it.
My challenge to myself for the rest of this year is to try new things, and new skills, and new techniques. I predict things might get messy for a little while, but I am excited to think what might develop from it.


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CLEVELAND — He claimed to be a retired Naval commander and raised more than $100 million from generous Americans for his charity in Tampa.
He told his lawyer he got funding for U.S. Navy Veterans Association from a "black box" CIA budget and said in court filings that he was working under "non-official cover" for the agency.
But in the end, a jury here decided that Bobby Thompson, 66, was less James Bond and more run-of-the-mill con man. On Thursday, they convicted him on 23 counts of fraud, money laundering and theft in a charity scam first brought to light by a Tampa Bay Times investigation in 2010.
Facing a minimum 10-year sentence, it is likely the defendant, whose real name is John Donald Cody, will spend the rest of his life in an Ohio prison.
Thompson, looking gaunt but emotionless, was handcuffed by a sheriff's deputy after the first guilty verdict was read at 9:15 a.m. Standing next to his court-appointed lawyer in a black suit from Goodwill, he did not flinch as the judge read page after page of guilty findings.
The jury's decision — reached late Wednesday but announced Thursday morning — came as little surprise to spectators. After a six-week trial and more than 100 exhibits, the 12 jurors deliberated only three hours.
While the prosecution called more than 40 witnesses to testify that Thompson ran a sham charity, siphoned donations for personal use and stole more than a dozen identities, his court-appointed attorney called none.
And despite his attorney saying that his client would speak in his own defense, at the last minute, Thompson declined to take the stand. His attorney offered no closing argument.
After the verdict, juror Andre Price, 40, said the panel was waiting for "one little thing" from the defense to counter the mountain of evidence from the state against Thompson. After the defendant declined to take the stand and his attorney offered no closing argument, Price said the message was clear. "You guys have nothing to give us."
In response to the verdict, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued a release saying, "There is no defense for the scam that John Donald Cody pulled on Americans in the name of our country's veterans."
The case's prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Brad Tammaro, declined to comment. But before court was convened, the prosecution team, anticipating victory, passed out doughnuts and sang Happy Birthday to the bailiff.
Defense attorney Joseph Patituce said, "I'm disappointed, but I think the jury did their job."
He declined to say what if any comments his client had on the verdict, though Patituce said Thompson fully expected the outcome.
Price, an Army veteran from Cleveland, said Thompson came across as smart but arrogant. When he saw the nearly $1 million found in the defendant's possession when he was arrested, he wondered how much belonged to hard-working Ohioans who had donated to Navy Veterans.
"I know I'm going to do some investigating before I give to a charity," Price said.
Another juror, Traci Onders, 44, said the turning point in the trial for her was when the real Bobby Thompson — a Washington state man whose identity was hijacked for years — took the stand. "We had heard the name so much, seeing him made us realize this could happen to you," she said.
Nor was Onders affected by Thompson's disheveled appearance in the final days of the trial.
"It was disgusting," she said of seeing the defendant in court with his shirt unbuttoned and hair in disarray during the last two days of the trial. And when Thompson refused to take the stand after his attorney said he would, Onders said, "obviously it was hard to believe him."
Nor was she impressed with the enlarged photos on a poster board showing Thompson shaking hands with President George W. Bush. "It showed you can pay big bucks to get close to politicians," Onders said.
The judge scheduled sentencing for Dec. 16 and ordered a mental health assessment for Thompson. He banged his head against the holding cell bars a week ago, raising a red welt still visible on Thursday.
Patituce said he expects — and has advised — his client to appeal the verdict on grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel. Thompson had represented himself until about a month before trial when he decided to turn the case over to Patituce.
"Given the amount of time I had to prepare, to get out subpoenas and call experts, the verdict was no surprise," said Patituce, who will not be handling Thompson's appeal.
The verdict caps a three-year Ohio effort to hold Thompson accountable for operating Navy Veterans, which investigators found gave little assistance to vets. Though the state of Florida filed criminal charges against Thompson in mid 2010, it didn't pursue them once he fled the state.
During the trial, the prosecutor portrayed Thompson as a master of deception. A former Army military intelligence officer, the defendant is a Harvard-trained lawyer who became a fugitive in 1984 after being accused of stealing from a client's estate. As Cody, he had been on the FBI's most wanted list since 1987.
Among many facets of its case, the state used bank records to show how Thompson and two cohorts, Blanca Contreras and Karmika Rubin, used ATM withdrawals and checks to pull donations from Navy Veterans' accounts for their personal use, grounds for the money laundering charges.
Contreras pleaded guilty to charges for her involvement and is serving a five-year sentence in an Ohio prison. The prosecutor has said in court documents that he plans to indict Rubin, a lawyer in Hernando County, for her role.
"Every single dime vanished," Tammaro said.
But perhaps nothing in the trial was as damaging to the defendant as the pile of fake IDs also found in a storage unit rented by Thompson.
Jurors saw photos of driver's licenses, permanent resident cards, Social Security cards and employee badges bearing a dozen different names but each bearing a photo of the same man: Bobby Thompson.
The prosecutor called witness after witness who said they had no idea how the defendant got their names, birth dates and Social Security numbers.
Some of those duped by Thompson's charity scam were glad to hear the case was over.
Kathleen G. Davis was head of the Long Beach, Calif., chapter of England's Royal Naval Association in 2007 when Thompson became an associate member and donated $200 to the group.
"We heard he traveled all over the country and met with the president," said Davis, 93, who got Christmas cards showing Thompson shaking hands with President Bush. "We thought he was somebody."
Now Davis says she's "very bitterly disappointed" with Thompson. "I hope he serves his time," she said. "Otherwise I wouldn't put it past him to cook up something else."


text:
You must seek approval from the Agency, if in the course of any building, developing, planning or plumbing work, you require a new or upgraded connection or removal of an existing connection to water and sewerage infrastructure administered by the Agency.
In many cases a separate Planning Permit (including a Submission to Planning Authority Notice (SPAN)) or Certificate of Certifiable Works (Building) and / or (Plumbing) must first be obtained indicating that a new connection or upgrade connection, or removal of an existing connection is required.
Please consult the Contact Officer for more information.
A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.
Please consult the Contact Officer for more information regarding eligibility requirements.
Fees Details for this service in table format.
Fees will vary depending on your circumstances. Please consult the Contact Officer for more information.
Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 Tasmania
Applications may be posted, emailed or hand delivered.
Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.
Regulated Water and Sewerage Connections
(Opens in new window)


text:
Collecting Gifts to Send To Mayan Families0 comments Posted by Patti at 7:01 PM
I am in the process of collecting Christmas presents to send to Mayan Families.
If you'd like to be included on this shipment, please let me know ASAP. I will be sure you have my home address to send items to.
If you would like to also help with shipping or rather help with the cost of shipping, please email me.
firstname.lastname@example.com - subject line GUATEMALA.
God Bless!
Oscar, Surprise!1 comments Posted by Patti at 2:46 PM Labels: oscar
Oscar W/ His Report Card0 comments Posted by Patti at 11:21 PM Labels: oscar, report card
Thankful - Marcos0 comments Posted by Patti at 12:21 AM Labels: marcos, tote
Thankful - Oscar0 comments Posted by Patti at 12:18 AM Labels: oscar
Oscar - School Supplies1 comments Posted by Patti at 9:53 PM Labels: oscar, school
Somehow, we did not receive photos of Oscar with his school supplies until this week. I am so happy we have the photos... and that he does in fact have his school supplies. :)
Joses Mothers Day Basket0 comments Posted by Patti at 8:09 AM
Jose - Happy About His New Water Filter!0 comments Posted by Patti at 8:07 AM
Oscars Mothers Day Basket0 comments Posted by Patti at 8:06 AM Labels: 2009, mothers day
Marcos' Mothers Day Basket0 comments Posted by Patti at 8:06 AM Labels: 2009, mothers day
Oscar Receives Food0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:51 AM
News on Marcos & Family0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:05 PM
Well, well, well... what surprising news! We found out that Marcos' mother is expecting another child. This will be child number eight. I do know families in the area they are from have many children... there are a few reasons, one of which being lack of education on how to prevent pregnancies... but the main reason is because families here think it is very good to have large families... even if they are struggling to get by.
In more developments, I've found out that both of Marcos' younger siblings are now attending pre-school. This is very good news! I am thinking neither of them are most likely sponsored... if you are interested in sponsoring either or both children, please let me know - I will let you know what you need to do to make this happen. :)
Now that all of the children are in school, all will be able to eat while they are there!
Oscar Receiving Easter Basket0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:21 PM Labels: easter, oscar
Marcos Receiving Easter Basket1 comments Posted by Patti at 9:07 PM Labels: easter, marcos
Marcos & Family Receive Food0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:05 PM Labels: marcos
Marcos, New Table0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:03 PM Labels: marcos
More About Jose0 comments Posted by Patti at 10:08 PM Labels: Jose
José is 13 years old. His birthday is December 18th. He was supposed to be in 3rd grade in 2009 but unfortunately he did not register in time and he will have to wait until next year. Jose lives in a small town called Xeabaj Segundo de Chichicastenango. He lives with his mother Maria, 30 years old. Tomas is 9 years old. His birthday is December 5th. He was in first grade in 2008. He was supposed to start second grade in 2009 but did not register in time and he will have to wait until next year.
His father abandoned the family 6 months ago. They don't know where he is.
José has 3 brothers and 1 sister. They are:
Juan Carlos is 6 years old. He is not in school yet.
Sebastian is 4 years old.
Ana María is 2 years old.
Jose and his mother sell typical clothing in the streets of Chichicastenango and Panajachel. Some days they make $8-10 USD and some others nothing.
They own the house they live in.
They have 1 room and one kitchen.
It is make of mud brick, tin roof and dirt floor.
They do not have a water filter.
They do not have an Onil stove. The mother cooks on an open fire on the floor.
They have 2 beds made of wooden planks.
They do not have enough blankets.
They have one table and 3 wooden chairs.
They have a pila.
They have electricity connected and pay $6 USD per month.
They have water connected and pay $2 USD per month.
The money that they make is not enough to cover their expenses. Their main diet is beans, herbs, pasta and eggs. When they do not have enough money for that they only eat tortillas with salt.
José is 13 years old. His birthday is December 18th. He was supposed to be in 3rd grade in 2009 but unfortunately he did not register in time and he will have to wait until next year.
Jose lives in a small town called Xeabaj Segundo de Chichicastenango. He lives with his mother Maria, 30 years old.
Tomas is 9 years old. His birthday is December 5th. He was in first grade in 2008. He was supposed to start second grade in 2009 but did not register in time and he will have to wait until next year.
Groceries for Jose and his Family0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:30 PM Labels: Jose
Meet Jose0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:29 PM Labels: Jose
Meet Tomas0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:27 PM Labels: tomas
Marcos0 comments Posted by Patti at 7:58 AM Labels: marcos
More Great News!0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:20 PM Labels: Jose
My friend, Lorie and her husband will be sponsoring Joses little brother to attend school!!!!!
Thank you Eric and Lorie!! :)
We Found Him!!0 comments Posted by Patti at 9:16 PM Labels: Jose
Patti Mort, with Mayan Families has found this little boy for us! This is fantastic news. Our family will be sponsoring him, we sent in money for his sponsorship, as well as money for emergency food for his family... here's a copy of the email that Patti wrote to me...
Wanted: Boy With Baby On Back0 comments Posted by Patti at 10:50 PM
While in Guatemala, one little boy touched my heart. I've often wondered what has happened to him.
While on facebook recently, Karen Pickett from Education & More had a photo that caught my eye on her online photo album.
To my surprise, it was the little boy that has been on my heart.
He was sitting on the side walk crying, because his family did not eat that day... or the day before.
He had to sell refridgerator magnets (that's what's in his basket)... he did not sell any that day, meaning they would go another day without eating.
We talked to him, and gave him money. He gave us a magnet, which has been hanging on our refrigerator ever since.
We are now looking for this little boy, so we can sponsor him to go to school.
Hopefully, he will be allowed to go to school. His family may not let him if he has to make a wage to help feed the family.
Please pray that our scouts will find this little boy.
I will keep you updated.
Oscars House0 comments Posted by Patti at 10:48 PM
We still want to raise money to build a home for Oscar. Things have been very busy here, hopefully within the next couple of weeks I can buckle down to get those funds raised! :) I will keep you updated. :)
BTW, I think I've been in North Carolina too long.... I just re-read what I wrote above and think I added a little southern accent. LOL!
Food For Families... And More!0 comments Posted by Patti at 10:43 PM
Tonight, I sent $50 for Marcos and his family for food... and also $50 for Oscar and his family for food.
Also - great news!
We have purchased a wooden table and chairs for Marcos and his family.
I will never forget, they had ONE plastic chair in their house.
Now, they will have a nice table and chairs to go on their new concrete floor!
So far, we have been able to provide the following for Marcos and his family:
- 2 beds and mattresses
- water filter
- onil stove
- cement floor
- wooden table and 4 wooden chairs
- food, holiday baskets, totes filled with goodies on several occassions
- 1 bed and mattress
- water filter
- onil stove
- food, holiday baskets, totes filled with goodies on several occassions
Veronica1 comments Posted by Patti at 9:07 PM
In Loving Memory of a Murdered Child
This past weekend, we were given terrible news about little Veronica... please read the following article. Please be aware, the article is very - very sad and graphic. Veronica is now in a much better place. Candace, one of my traveling partners in our 2008 trip to Guatemala fell in love with Veronica right away.... the following letter is from Sharon, of the organization we went down to visit.
We found a very loving person who wanted to sponsor Veronica. She met Veronica, she fell in love with her. Veronica was so excited to go to school. She had never been. She was 8yrs old.
She went to school for two days and her mother came to the school and withdrew her.
She told us that the teachers were mean to Veronica. The teachers told us that the mother had mental problems, that Veronica was a sweet girl who was really happy to be at school.
We found out that when Veronica was 2 or 3 yrs old that the mother had tied her up to the beams of the roof and beaten her badly. The court had photos of her badly bruised little body. She was taken to hospital. There was nowhere to send her so they kept at the hospital. The mother, who had been arrested, paid someone off, got out of jail and went to the hospital and took the child home.
There had been many complaints made against the mother, the court had a thick file on her.
When we heard that it was rumored again that she was being prostituted by the mother, we had a social worker file papers asking the court to remove Veronica from the mother and award custody to me. There was no one else that wanted her. Veronica's father had re-married and he was scared of the mother, she was capable of coming to the house and being very violent with his new wife and family. The judge called in the mother, she denied everything, they said that it would be better to remove the child, the police had a warrant to go to her home but she was always moving around, they couldn't find her. We were very frustrated that they gave her
the warning that they would take the child from her custody. She then moved out of the area and no one could find her.
Saturday night , little Veronica was raped , sodomized and murdered at a village around Lake Atitlan, The social worker who came to tell me , said that her little body had been torn up. She
was just 9yrs old, the size of little 7 yr old. She was so little. Her mother says that she was drunk, that she doesn't know what happened.
Even though, logically, I know this wasn't my fault, I still feel like I let her down.
This poor little girl had a terrible life, she was starved and beaten by the one person in the world who was supposed to love her.
I hope that the angels are holding her tight.
Sharon (from Mayan Families)
In Loving Memory of a Murdered Child
Great Job On The Book Fair!0 comments Posted by Patti at 10:31 AM
We did a terrific job on the book fair, raising aprox $1,300 worth of books for the kids in Guatemala!
I will send pictures as soon as we get them! :)
Totes Sent To Marcos & Oscar0 comments Posted by Patti at 3:23 PM
The children and I sent out two totes - one for Marcos and one for Oscar.
In each tote we packed as much as we could possibly fit. Washrags, work gloves, pitcher, kool-aide, black beans, book bags for each boy, water bottle, plastic cups, large spoon/ladle, gum, candy,each boy will receive an "American Football."
I am excited for the boys and cannot wait until they are able to open their totes! :)
Upcoming Mission Trip1 comments Posted by Patti at 10:23 AM Labels: 2009 mission trip
Our family will be participating on a mission trip to Guatemala this summer.
We will need to raise a total of $8,000 for the trip.
It would seem impossible if we did not have God on our side...
We will be doing quite a bit of work on our 8 day stay. Our family will participate in a drama five times a day for three days throughout the country of Guatemala as well as many other wonderful things for our 8 days in Guatemala.
We will be going with the ACMA Christian Martial Arts Team... we are so excited to go, and know that God will bless all involved! If you go to the ACMA link, you can see pictures from their 2008 Guatemala mission trip!
If you would like to donate towards the mission trip, please click the donate button to the right of the page.
We are hosting another book fair!!0 comments Posted by Patti at 11:29 AM Labels: 2009 bookfair
As many of you know, in 2008 we had a great book fair. Well, my
husband and I have decided to do it again!
Shipping is free to you!
Please CLICK HERE purchase books, be sure to go to our Wish List. :)
You MUST click the link that says MAYAN FAMILIES - this is SO important.
Then, please make sure the books you order are in Spanish. :)
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to have books sent to
Guatemala for FREE. All you have to do is pay for the books, I will
pay for the shipping.
Also, if we sell over $500 in books, we will get another 50% worth of
books for FREE! So, we really want to sell at least $500 worth of books.
I do not make a profit at all from this book fair. I do not earn free
books for myself. Any books we receive for free, will go directly to
Mayan Families to benefit the kids there.
Please pass this information to everyone you know!!
Again, CLICK HERE to go to the book fair, once you are there be sure to click on MAYAN FAMILIES.
Good News For Rafael!0 comments Posted by Patti at 8:16 PM Labels: Rafael
Great news for Rafael, a family has sponsored him and I'm so happy! I let Sharon from Mayan Families know that I would sponsor him again if no one else did... money has been a little tight - especially with my husband getting ready to medically retire in the near future. I am so happy someone has sponsored him. We will continue to pray for him, and to send him gifts sometimes.
Upcoming Shipment To Guatemala0 comments Posted by Patti at 12:03 PM Labels: mayan families, shipment febrary 2009
I wanted to share this wish list with you all. :) If you'd like to participate in collecting and sending items, please let me know via email. This post is for Sharon from Mayan Families. I wrote her to ask her what items they need most. The shipment will take place around the end of February, 2000.
There is a young woman teacher there who has not been able to get a job and it would be perfect for her and for the community.....so we need the same kind of things that we had for San Jorge for Tierra Linda, ...we need educational toys, crayons, coloring books, art materials, a C.D. player, a DVD player, we still need a good second hand t..v for San Jorge preschool so that we can show the kids DVD's occassionally , also one for Tierra Linda, teaching supplies, craft supplies.
Photo of Marcos & Family Coming Soon0 comments Posted by Patti at 7:47 AM
Hopefully soon we will have the photo of Marcos and his family receiving their Christmas basket from us! :)
Merry Christmas!0 comments Posted by Patti at 6:38 PM Labels: christmas 2008, Rafael
Feliz Navidad Oscar & Family!0 comments Posted by Patti at 3:06 PM Labels: christmas 2008, oscar
Sorry I have Been So Quite!1 comments Posted by Patti at 1:09 PM
I just want to apologize for being so "quite" lately. My husband had surgery last week, after the New Year I will be writing more.
Keep praying for the kids in Guatemala. Hopefully soon I will also have photos to share with you of the kids receiving their Christmas gift baskets. :)


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Results from a large study spanning 15 years confirm that HSV infections are common among HIV patients.
Researchers from the University of Washington and the King County Health Department in Seattle examined the medical records of 62,299 HIV-infected individuals to determine how many also had a confirmed HSV diagnosis, or received prescription medication for herpes. The subjects were part of the Adult/Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease Project (ASD) from 1989-2004.
20% of the subjects had an HSV-1 or HSV-2 diagnosis (the majority of which were anogenital infections) and 32% had been prescribed an HSV medication. That more individuals were treated for herpes than were diagnosed suggests a number of cases were not captured or recorded properly (or diagnosis was made on reported symptoms only), so the actual burden of HSV in these subjects is likely under-represented.
HSV diagnosis decreased by approximately 31% over the life of study, which the authors say could be associated with factors that include more effective HIV treatment regimens gaining a foothold during this time, which subsequently improved immune responses and made herpes outbreaks less frequent, and therefore less likely to be treated. They also mention suppressive therapy for HSV itself as a possible factor in the declining HSV diagnosis.
The authors write "Providers can expect that a significant proportion of their patients with HIV will require therapy for HSV disease," and suggest more effort be made to educate providers about genital herpes in HIV-positive patients, including the efficacy of suppressive antiviral therapy in managing HSV diseases.
HSV-2 infection is an important dynamic in HIV transmission and progression: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, genital ulcers from HSV allow easier entry of fluids that carry HIV, and the inflammation caused by outbreaks attracts an abundance of the cells that HIV targets. Also, HIV transmission is more likely to occur from those also infected with HSV-2.
Keating T, Kurth A, Wald A, Kahle E, Barash E, Buskin S. Clinical burden of herpes simplex virus disease in people with human immunodeficiency virus. STD, 2012. 39(5):372-376.


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Morocco is one of the most diverse countries in Africa, with high mountains, sweeping Sahara desert and rugged coastline. This fabulous destination will definitely amaze you with its magical cities and unspoiled nature. We'd like to present you with the best gems of this unique country!
Movie-famous Casablanca, located on the Atlantic Ocean, is the biggest city in Morocco. Visit the historical medina, the huge Hassan II Mosque and admire the impressive colonial architecture. An enigmatic charm of Tangier has always attracted numerous artists (Henri Matisse, Jimi Hendrix) and writers (Mark Twain). The blue city of Chefchaouen is a mountain town just inland from Tangier, full of white-washed winding streets, powder-blue buildings and olive trees.
The 1200-year-old Fez is one of the largest medieval cities in the world. Get lost in its lovely labyrinth of extremely narrow streets in the medina and make sure to visit a traditional leather tanning factory. In Rabat, the capital of Morocco, highlights include the marble Mausoleum of Mohammad V and the 12th-century Hassan Tower - the minaret of an incomplete mosque. Between Fes and Rabat, there is a partly excavated Berber and Roman city of Volubilis.
Start planning your next trip with Lonely Planet's travel guide >>
How to get there:
Whether you fancy a short break or a longer holiday, we've got a great selection of flight deals to Morocco from all over the world!
- Flights from London to Agadir for £32 >>
- Flights from New York to Agadir for $473 >>
- Flights from Mumbai to Casablanca for $281 >>
- Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Casablanca for $362 >>
- Flights from Japan to Casablanca for $466 / 47120 JPY >>
Where to stay:
In Marrakech we recommend you to stay at top rated, traditional 3* Riad Alwachma in old medina for only €40/£34/$44 per night with breakfast included.
In Agadir you can consider booking Atlantic Hotel Agadir for only €44/£38/$49 with free cancellation, breakfasts, and very good reviews!
When it comes to accommodation, Oujda can offer you value for your money. We point out greatly priced Diyafat Bladi with excellent reviews for just €19/£16/$21 per night!
In Essaouira you can consider staying at top rated traditional Moroccan Riad Du Figuier for only €27/£23/$30 per night with breakfast included.
What to do:
Holidays in Morocco would make a good option for anyone who wants to experience something different. This is one of the most diverse countries in Africa, with the ocean, sweeping Sahara desert, snow-covered peaks of the High Atlas, deep valleys and amazing waterfalls >>
Windy Essaouira attracts many windsurfers and Agadir is a destination for sun-seekers. You can just relax and enjoy the sunshine on the outstanding Atlantic shore or rent a car to explore the countries' distant regions. The Atlas Mountains are perfect for all those who love trekking, horse riding and cycling . You can go for a hike in the Toubkal National Park and climb Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in North-Africa, exploring the gorgeous Ourika and Amizmiz valleys on the way. Other famous trails lead through the beautiful Ameln Valley and the wooded Rif Mountains. What is more, you can experience white water adventures in the beautiful scenery of remote river canyons. For example, rafting and kayaking trips are available on Ahansel River. You can also go quad biking, hop on a camel back >> or drive across the Sahara desert on a 4×4 adventure.
For more Destinations Fly4free click here >>>
MOROCCO. from Joren de Jager on Vimeo.


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On Saturday, September 17, The University of Findlay volleyball team extending their winning streak to six games with a 3-2 (25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 17-25, 15-8) victory over Tiffin University. The win moves Findlay to 6-3 on the season and 2-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
The Oilers used a balanced offensive attack to defeat Tiffin. Sophomore Hailee Olson distributed the ball all around for Findlay, while accumulating 52 assists in the match. Her go to target was senior Hannah Tong, who led the Oilers with 19 kills.
Sophomore Amanda Winner had a well-rounded performance for Findlay. She finished the match with 17 kills, 14 digs, and four serving aces. Freshman Molly Hammersmith and junior Nickyla Garverick helped balance the attack with and 11 and 10 kills respectively.
Sophomore Kara Scherger led the defensive efforts with a team high 19 digs and Garverick pitched by leading the team with three blocks
The Oilers return to the court with a break in league play with a non-conference matchup at Cedarville University on Tuesday, September 20 with a start time of 7:00 p.m.


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The accusations that Qatar has "bought" the World Championship Football 2022 has not gone over well at Adidas, Sony and Visa, three of the largest main FIFA sponsors and they demand a thorough inquiry.
5 million dollars in bribes
Electronics manufacturer Sony, sportswear manufacturer Adidas and credit card supplier Visa demand a quick resolution regarding the troubles that have arisen surrounding Qatar's winning bid for the World Championship Football 2022. The three huge sponsors have asked, in separate statements, that the allegations (from the Sunday Times for example) are examined quickly. This particular newspaper claims to have documents that prove that former Fifa board member Mohamed Bin Hammam has paid out 5 million in bribes to get the World Championship to Qatar.
Adidas has stated in its press release that the "negative atmosphere is bad publicity for the Fifa and its partners" and that it has "faith that the issue will get the highest priority". Sony demands an inquiry and "expects Fifa to adhere to its principles of ethical integrity and fair play in each and every aspect of its activities". Visa follows that line of thought: "We do not doubt Fifa will draw the appropriate conclusions from the inquiry."
Report after WC Brazil
Currently, the Fifa is examining the accusations, not only for Qatar but also for the 2018 Russian bid, whether these bids have followed the rules. Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, had already called the Qatar bid a "mistake". Thierry Wil, Fifa's marketing director, has stated that its current inquiry will do exactly what the advertisers requested.
The results of the inquiry will only be revealed after the World Championship in Brazil has finished. Jim Boyce (vice president) and Michel Platini (UEFA president) have already indicated that they would want to go through the voting process again if the inquiry shows that there have been issues with the previous bids.


text: Katsutoshi 101 Posted September 12, 2015 (edited) I believe that L5R will become FFG's number one LCG as soon as early 2018, a few months after its release. The community is so huge, so loyal, so dedicated, and so excited about all this. It is going to garner not only the current L5R players, but those who played the game at some point of their life, and a lot of new players. Even such beasty franchises such as AGOT and Star Wars will be eclipsed by L5R. My prediction . Edited September 12, 2015 by Katsutoshi 4 Sparks Duh, inveigle, kempy and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Each Pesach, we sit and read the Exodus story. "With an outstretched arm, God took you out of Egypt." We discuss freedom, equality, oppression, and how these ancient themes reverberate through Jewish history in every generation. As the Haggadah says, "In each and every generation, a person is obligated to regard himself as though he actually left Egypt."
The Haggadah reminds us that we were strangers in the Land of Egypt. Its authors understood how easy it would be for us to forget that we had also been "the other", the stranger.
Today, we see these same things affecting society's most vulnerable. In response, we've put together a range of stories from modern day Israel, relating to women, poverty, Palestinians, and people seeking asylum.
In the name of freedom we struggle against women's exclusion, with the aim that every woman has the freedom to appear and to express herself in any arena that she chooses. In the name of freedom, we struggle for the rights of minorities, against discrimination and racism, against coercion and against religious intolerance.
All of these stories share something in common: they relate to how we perceive and treat "the other". Read these stories, share them with your friends and family, bring them to your Seder table.
P.S. If you're looking for a good haggadah to add this supplement to, here are two we recommend:
- Stand Up's New Australian Haggadah
- The New American Haggadah, by Jonathan Safran Foer and Nathan Englander


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Connectors / Karabiners
- Grid view
- List view
- Large grid view
Carabiners are used in rope-intensive activities such as climbing, caving, sailing, rope rescue, construction, industrial rope work, and window cleaning. They are made from both steel and aluminium. Those used in sports tend to be of a lighter weight than those used in commercial applications and rope rescue. Abaris sell a wide range from Petzl and DMM


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Until recent months, the U.S. and Canada only could enjoy one hundred percent of all services of iCloud, Apple's cloud. The company is now expanding its support on European countries such as France, the Netherlands and Sweden, which means that your customers can purchase content such as movies and TV shows on a device and have them available in the other. In the official website of Apple iCloud availability and its services can already see the changes reflected.
Spain is at the moment, without being listed as one of the countries where it is available to synchronize with all films apple devices. It's probably because the company still has not managed to reach distribution agreements in the country.
The first time I spoke to Apple iTunes in iCloud was during the celebration of World Developers Conference in 2011. We recall that initially offered only iTunes Match (music synchronization) with the cloud in the U.S., but gradually began to expand the service. Currently, iCloud supports synchronization of music, music videos, movies, TV shows, applications and eBooks.
Hopefully in Spain can enjoy all iCloud services, as is being done in other European territories.
More- Apple compensated with $ 5 for parents affected by involuntary purchases of their children
Source- iDownloadBlog
The article starts supporting Apple iCloud with films in European countries has been originally published in News iPhone .


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Deceived by political correctness (Mg,rape)
Prologue: A ten year old girl feels sorry for a black refugee and ends up being gang raped, sodomized and dumped on a refuse spot. Author: Uncle Tony The end of school bell rang. It was time to go home, Sally closed her desk and ...Read More


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CIO weekly wrap-up: Google Chrome, iPad, social networking privacy
Good afternoon! Here's some of the latest chatter in the tech sphere today:
Google's Chrome browser continues to gobble up market share from Internet Explorer and Firefox. A few months ago, I switched to Chrome and have loved the results (Firefox had gotten way too buggy). How about you?
The iPad chatter continues. I opined last week about some of the whiffs on the iPad device, but this article posited that the lack of Flash video might not matter.
According to a report by Sophos, malware and spam are on the rise on social networks such as Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn. Check those privacy settings, people.
On SearchCIO.com, we spent the past week looking at CIO best practices (and putting your knowledge to the test!), vendor contract management, methods for IT staff when salary increases are off the tables, and ways to boost efficiency through technology spending. Read the stories linked below and sound off with your comments!
CIO best practices: A self-assessment guide for top IT professionals — Some CIO best practices held steady in the recession, while others have shifted. Test if you've kept up with these quizzes in our self-assessment guide for top IT professionals.
Vendor contract management key to cutting costs through renegotiation — Enterprises are finding ways to use vendor contract management as a means to cut costs by renegotiating contracts down to the maintenance-clause and business-unit levels.
Motivation incentives for IT staff when salary increases not an option — How can you provide motivation incentives for IT staff when you can't increase salaries? Offer them meaningful work and IT job opportunities, advises our CIO columnist.
CIO technology spending focused on reducing risk, boosting efficiency — Doing more with less remains the mantra for CIOs as we dig into our IT Priorities Survey on technology spending. The priorities? Mitigating risk. Essential upgrades. Cutting costs.


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Peter Vanlaeke
Peter is Investment Manager Europe at for Solvay Ventures focusing on opportunities in EMEA.
He has been with Solvay since 2013 where he joined the Corporate Research & Innovation team dealing with innovation strategy in renewable chemistry, to then move to the Venturing team. Prior to joining Solvay, Peter has worked for a start-up in the field of photovoltaics where he held several positions in research and operations management.
Peter has obtained an MBA from Vlerick Business School, holds an MSc in Chemcial Engineering and a PhD in Physics from IMEC.


text: Watch T-ara's 'Lead the Way' Lip Version MV Aside from T-ara's 'Lead the Way' music video which was released before, another version has now been released! It's the Lip Version MV, and you can now watch it below. ♦ Buy T-ara's 'Gossip Girls' here Posted by nearnine at 5:44 PM Labels: T-Ara


text: "Islam and the Son of God" is a significant book for all people who share a love of God's kingdom and of Gods blueprint for Peace through Jesus Christ. This book represents the thinking and feelings of a man who has seen and experienced the diverse cultural, religious and political landscapes of both the middle-eastern world and the west. As a result the book provides us with a valuable perspective from one who is qualified to speak by the very nature of his personal journey. "Islam and the Son of God" compares the Qur'an and the Bible in its applicability in every dimension of life; spiritually, morally, socially and politically, and proves that the difference between these two books is the "Son", our Lord Jesus Christ.


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This week, Aberdeen's Team Zariba (pictured) will be representing Great Britain at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, USA.
The British Senior Champions will be raring to go at the competition, which sees the best synchro teams from all over the world skating for the highest honours in the sport.
Zariba have skated well this season, retaining their British and Scottish titles as well as finishing in third place at this year's Trophy D'Ecosse. They will be hoping they can find their best form in the USA as they face some of the toughest opposition in sychronized skating.
Good luck to Team Zariba.
The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships run from 7th - 8th April 2017, full results of the competition will be published here.


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Top Gear: The Worst Car in the History of the World will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download on Monday 19th November 2012
Get your copy here –
Jeremy Clarkson and James May will present their opinions on The Worst Car in the History of the World in a brand new, all exclusive Top Gear DVD.
Jeremy and James travel to the North of England to name and shame the most rubbish cars in the entire WORLD. It's a labour-intensive affair, filled with heated debates, giant cranes, James being locked in his own car boot and…Jeremy being tied to a tree.
But don't be fooled, it's not all about terrible cars — to appreciate the stinkers you have to revel in some good ones too — like the 4.5 litre Ferrari 458 Spider, Toyota's GT86 and the £340,000 Lexus LFA running shoulders with a Mercedes SLS AMG.
As they are up North, the boys invite The Stig's Yorkshire cousin to be a guest driver. Putting his whippet to one side he throws the BMW M5 round a gymkhana course before testing out a couple of Transatlantic challengers with Jeremy and James. Things, you won't be surprised to hear, don't go according to plan.
The debate about The Worst Car in the History of the World continues while the boys play a few rounds of golf. But that doesn't go according to plan either. They even put their own cars — past and present –into the reckoning. That ends badly too.
The rest of the time up North is spent arguing over the great and the awful from Peugeot, Ford, Mahindra, FSO, Alfa Romeo, Rolls Royce, Porsche, Citroen, Saab and many more.
There's also a special surprise fate in store for the car picked as the biggest loser…
Subscribe to see all the reviews, races and challenges:
Top Gear YouTube channel:
TopGear.com website:
Top Gear Facebook:
Top Gear Twitter:
Latest Top Gear videos:


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Serena Williams and Andy Murray came out in defence of equal pay for men and women in tennis, after Novak Djokovic's controversial comments. The Serbian had earlier said the men deserve more money, because they get more fans into the game.
Having already given a scathing reply to now-former Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore, when the latter said women should "get down on their knees" and be thankful to the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for carrying women's tennis on their backs, Serena did not hold back on Djokovic's opinion either.
"It has been disappointing," Serena was quoted as saying by The Guardian at the Miami Open. "If I have a daughter who plays tennis and also have a son that plays tennis, I wouldn't say that my son deserves more because he is a man.
"If they both started at three years old I would say they both deserve the same amount of money.
"I have been playing since the age of two and it would be shocking to say my son would deserve more than my daughter. It is irrelevant. Novak is entitled to his opinion but if he has a daughter – I think he has a son right now – he should talk to her and tell her how his son deserves more money because he is a boy."
"It all boils down to that. I would never put a sex against another sex. I think it's unfair to compare, we have had so many great women champions and players who have brought such great vision to the sport.
"There have been great men players too, but women's tennis is the biggest sport for women – period. Men's tennis is not the biggest sport for them but it's still huge. You do have soccer, (American) football, basketball. Everyone works really hard. Once again, it all boils down to how you'd explain it to your kids."
Murray was far from amused by Djokovic's comments as well, and the Scot, who never holds back when it comes to the serious topics, also took a pot-shot at Sergiy Stakhovsky, who is not a fan of equal pay in tennis.
"One of the things Novak said was that if women are selling more seats and tickets they should make more but at a tournament like this. For example, if Serena is playing on centre court and you have a men's match with Stakhovsky playing, people are coming to watch Serena. The crowds are coming to watch the women as well. The whole thing just doesn't stack up – it changes on a day-to‑day basis depending on the matches you get," Murray said.
"Men's tennis has been lucky over the last nine or 10 years with the players they've had, the rivalries which have come out of that. That's great but the whole of tennis should capitalise on that, not just the men's game."
The whole issue cropped up when Moore made controversial comments regarding women's tennis, saying they were riding on the coattails of the men. That led to Moore stepping down from his position and Djokovic saying he believes the men should be fighting for more pay, considering they draw a bigger audience.
Murray, who recently became a father to a girl, though, believes equal pay is the way to go in Grand Slams and top-ranking tournaments like the one in Indian Wells and Miami this week.
"I think there should be equal pay, 100 percent, at all combined events," Murray added. "The timing of it (Moore's comments) was just so strange, right before a great women's final (between Serena and Victoria Azarenka), there were 16,000 people in the stadium waiting to see them play.
"The whole thing was very strange and very disappointing. I don't understand at all where he was coming from with those comments. It made no sense at all.
"I think it will happen one day. Maybe if there is a tournament in Acapulco one week and then another one in China for the women, I don't know how that would work, but at the combined events, it will be equal."
Djokovic, after the backlash, went the "my comments were misinterpreted" way.
"I've made some comments that are not the best articulation of my view, and I would like to clarify them," the world number one was quoted as saying by AFP. "We all have to fight for what we deserve. This was never meant to be made into a fight between genders and differences in pay, but in the way all players are rewarded for their play and effort.
"This was my view all along and I want to apologize to anyone who has taken this the wrong way."


text:
Jumbo: 26"L x 18"W
King: 34"L x 28"W
Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Cover: 100% cotton. Fill: Polyester fibers.
Made in the USA.
PLEASE NOTE: We make every effort to ensure colors are represented accurately online. Due to possible variances in manufacturer dye lots, however, colors may vary slightly from what is depicted. Also, due to the printing process of the pattern, slight imperfections in the pattern may exist.


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8th Grade , Social Studies
DC Book Activity
Complete Packet of Info
Master Page Option 1
Master Page Option 2
Master Page Option 3
The Colonial Times
Master Template Page
Suggested Geography Bee Sites
to prepare for the annual test:
National Geographic
Sheppard Software -- USA
Sheppard Software -- World
USA States
Citizenship Test Questions
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Civics Challenge
Games by Topic
Debating the Merits of the Constitution
Preparing to Debate Worksheet
In Support -- The Federalists
Papers by Number, by Topic -- 1
Papers by Number, by Topic -- 2
Papers by Number, by Topic -- 3
In Opposition -- The Anti-Federalists
Papers by Number, by Topic -- 1
Papers by Number, by Topic -- 2
In Chronological Order -- For and Against
WTP Unit 3 Study Guide
The Constitutional Convention of 1787
The American Revolution
Suggested enrichment sites:
US History Games and Quizzes
For Crown or Colony Mission
Road to Liberty Game
Early America Videos
Social Studies General Information
We use the following two textbooks:
America: History of Our Nation
and We the People
The Diocesan Grade 8 curriculum follows the standards as set by the State of Ohio and covers American history from our beginnings through 1877 -- or through what is commonly referred to as Reconstruction, the period following the Civil War. The America textbook is used at the beginning and the end of the year. This textbook is available for student reading and written assignments during the school day. At home, students may reference the book online. A student logon and password is provided for online access.
The We the People book is a "consumable" edition and is provided for student use at school AND at home. MOST of the year is dedicated to using this book, which provides an indepth study of the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Amendments. Daily reading assignments are given; weekly quizzes and tests are provided to assess student understanding. ONE major homework activity is assigned each quarter.