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The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys never have been friends.
The storied franchises each have played in an NFL-leading eight Super Bowls. The Steelers have won six of those games, the Cowboys five.
The Steelers beat the Cowboys in two Super Bowls back in the 1970s, but it was Dallas that waltzed out of that decade with the title of "America's Team" after NFL Films' Bob Ryan coined the phrase for the Cowboys' 1978 highlight film.
That's ancient history to Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers quarterback -- who has led Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl wins during an era in which the Cowboys largely have floundered -- believes the nickname is a sham.
Big Ben told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that if the Cowboys are "America's Team," the Steelers are "The World's Team."
Chalk it up as a somewhat silly subplot to a Sunday game that looms as no joke for the loser. The Steelers and Cowboys share 7-6 records and find themselves in a fight for their playoff lives. Both teams are flawed, inconsistent and overtly mortal -- possibly an appropriate time to pump the brakes on staking claim to nations and planets.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.


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As a parent, I was surprised – and saddened — to learn that kids start watching porn as early as six years old and begin flirting on the Internet at age eight.
According to a survey of more than 19,000 parents worldwide, more kids are accessing instant messaging and computer games than ever before and porn is readily accessible for viewing.
Very troubling.
It's a societal problem for sure, but it's also a parental problem. There should be more parental oversight. Six-year-old children should not have access to computers to view porn. A six-year-old can't drive to a store to buy the computer, or call a company to set up Wi-Fi in the home, so an adult has already set up the system for the child to misuse.
At the extreme, 3.45% of kids covered in the analysis used instant messaging to chat with friends while 2% of computer game addicts were just five years old.
The study results were released exclusively to CyberTruth by Bitdefender. The Bucharest-based antivirus vendor correlated results of an online survey of parents with data compiled from its parental control services, such as which sites parents choose to block, and which sites children access regularly.
So I'm left to wonder if parents – which includes me – are giving our children too much technology freedom? Perhaps we need to scale back on buying our kids the latest computers, high-tech gadgets and unlimited access to the Internet.
Maybe we need to go old school for the benefit of our kids and make them spend more time reading books rather than playing video games.
COMMENTARY: Why Are Six-Year-Old Kids Watching Internet Porn? was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

subset: commoncrawl


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- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 05:27 06:41 12:35 15:52 18:22 19:36
HBO's "Game of Thrones" slashed its way to a record-setting 32 Emmy nominations Tuesday for its eighth and final season, leading HBO back to dominance over Netflix, the streaming service that bumped it last year from atop the increasingly crowded television heap.
The bloodthirsty saga's total eclipsed the all-time series record of 27 nods earned by "NYPD Blue" in 1994.
If "Game of Thrones" successfully defends it best drama series title and claims a fourth trophy, it will join the quartet of most-honored dramas that includes "Hill Street Blues," ''L.A. Law," ''The West Wing" and "Mad Men."
The Emmy voters' acclaim stands in sharp contrast to fan reaction to the show's last hurrah, which included howls of laughter for a to-go coffee cup inadvertently included in one scene and a finale that detractors called unsatisfying. But the show's ratings never faltered for the series based on George R.R. Martin's novels, setting new highs for HBO.
A wealth of recognition for the cast and guest stars , including the show's only previous winner, Peter Dinklage with three awards, helped "Game of Thrones" add to its already record haul of nominations, now at 161 total.
Series star Emilia Clarke's decision to seek a best actress nomination after a series of supporting actress bids paid off. She's competing in a category that's notable for its diversity, including past winner Viola Davis for "How to Get Away with Murder" and repeat nominee Sandra Oh for "Killing Eve," who has another chance to become the first actress of Asian descent to win the trophy. She lost last year to Claire Foy for Netflix's "The Crown."
Two actors of color, Billy Porter for "Pose" and previous winner Sterling K. Brown for "This Is Us," earned drama series nods.
The rest of the drama series field includes "Better Call Saul," ''Bodyguard," ''Killing Eve," ''Ozark," ''Pose," ''Succession" and, as the only network entry, "This is Us." Mandy Moore, who plays the NBC drama's matriarch, earned her first best actress nod, with fellow cast member Chris Sullivan earning his first nod, for supporting actor.
Last year's best comedy series, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," led the comedy pack with 20 bids, including for its star and defending champion Rachel Brosnahan.
"I'm at the dog park this morning with my four children and started getting a lot of texts and phone calls all at once. I'm so excited to learn that the 'Maisel' family has been invited back to the party. This category is ridiculous. I can't believe I get to be a part of anything with these amazing women," Brosnahan told The Associated Press.
She'll vie with Emmy record-holder Julia Louis-Dreyfus of "Veep," who didn't compete in last year's awards because her breast cancer treatment delayed production of the political satire. Louis-Dreyfus, who with Cloris Leachman shares the record for most Emmys won by a performer, eight, has a shot at solo glory if she wins again.
The final season of "Veep" received nine nominations, including a best supporting actress bid for Anna Chlumsky.
"I'm feeling really jazzed. It might be the coffee I just had. But this feels so much sweeter because it's the last time around for this show," she said.
There was no warm and fuzzy goodbye for "The Big Bang Theory," the long-running sitcom that failed to capture a best comedy nod or any for its actors. The show has company in other hit sitcoms of the past: Neither "Friends" nor "Frasier" were nominated for best series for their final year, both in 2004.
TV academy members' out-with-the-old approach created openings for a number of buzzy comedy newcomers and their stars and creators, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge's "Fleabag" and Natasha Lyonne's "Russian Doll." Other best comedy contenders include "Barry," which won acting trophies last year for Bill Hader and Henry Winkler, and sole network entry "The Good Place."
A surprising entry : the quirky "Schitt's Creek," which received its first best comedy series nomination for its penultimate season and bids for stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara.
Other top nominees include the nuclear disaster miniseries "Chernobyl" with 19 nominations and "Saturday Night Live," which drew on Robert De Niro's talents to play Robert Mueller last season, with 18. "When They See Us," the miniseries that dramatized the Central Park Five case and its aftermath, received 16 bids.
"Thank you to the real men for inviting me to tell their story," tweeted Ava DuVernay, executive producer of "When They See Us."
The leading miniseries nominee is "Fosse/Verdon," the biopic about dancer Gwen Verdon and choreographer Bob Fosse that earned 17 bids, including the first Emmy nominations for stars Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell.
There was a significant drop in diversity among this year's group of nominees compared to 2018, when more than a third of the 101 nominees in acting categories were ethnic minorities. This year, the figure was less than a quarter, with diversity especially absent in comedy.
Just two of the 26 acting nominees were people of color - Anthony Anderson for "black-ish" and Don Cheadle for "Black Monday" - and three of the four categories had only white nominees.
Categories dominated by the overwhelmingly white "Game of Thrones" were also short on inclusion , including supporting actress in a drama - zero nominees - and supporting drama actor, with only Giancarlo Esposito of "Better Call Saul" receiving a nomination.
In the overall tally contest among outlets, HBO received a whopping 137 nominations Tuesday, riding the dragon wings of "Game of Thrones" and the big tallies for "Chernobyl" and "Barry." Netflix, which last year ended HBO's 17-year reign to win the most Emmy nominations, was bumped to second this year with 117. Amazon's Prime Video was second to Netflix among streamers with 47 nominations.
Broadcast networks, steadily eclipsed by the rise of cable and now streaming, were far behind, with NBC getting 58 nods to top CBS' 43, ABC's 26 and Fox's 18.
The 71st Emmy Awards will air Sept. 22 on Fox, with the host yet to be announced.
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Cruz sets major league record for homering in season opener and second game
The Mariners lost to the Indians 6-5, but Nelson Cruz homered again, just as he did in the Mariners' season opener on Thursday. It's the fourth time that Cruz has homered in each of his first two games of a season. He also did so three times for Texas, in 2010, 2011 (when he tied a major-league record by homering in each of his team's first four games of a season) and 2014. Cruz is the first player in major-league history who homered in his first two games of a season as many as four times.
Adam eats up bases in Nationals' win
Adam Eaton, batting leadoff, went 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, and four runs scored in the Nationals' 13-7 win in Cincinnati. Eaton is the first leadoff batter since Charlie Blackmon on April 4, 2014 to go 5-for-5 or better with three-or-more extra base hits and at least four runs scored. One other leadoff hitter in Nationals franchise history did that: Hall of Famer Tim Raines for the Expos on Aug. 16, 1987, against the Pirates.
Pillar is a greedy thief in Blue Jays' win
Kevin Pillar stole second base, third base and home plate in the eighth inning to score the final run of the game in the Blue Jays' 5-3 win over the Yankees. Pillar is the fourth player in the last 20 seasons (since 1999) to steal second, third and home in the same inning. Jayson Werth did it in 2009, Dee Gordon in 2011, and Wil Myers last season. Pillar is the first Blue Jays' player to steal second, third, and home in the same game.
Altuve and Correa both go 4-for-5 in Astros' win
Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa both went 4-for-5 in the Astros' 9-3 win in Arlington, with Correa homering and hitting a double. It was the first time that Altuve and Correa have each generated at least four hits in the same game. In fact, that's something that Astros legends Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell never did in the same game, and no Astros pair has done it more than once.
Yelich goes 5-for-5 to help propel Brew Crew to 3-0 start
In his third game with the Brewers, Christian Yelich went 5-for-5 to help them win, 7-3, in San Diego and improve to 3-0. Yelich is just the third player in the last 80 seasons (since 1939) to go five-for-five or better in one of his first three games with a team. Ty Cline did it in his third game for the Cubs in 1966 and Luis Polonia did it in his second game for the Tigers in 1999.
Cabrera bats leadoff instead of cleanup, Mets win either way
Asdrubal Cabrera, batting leadoff, went 3-for-5 with two doubles in the Mets' 6-2 victory over the Cardinals, helping boost the team to a 2-0 start. Cabrera hit leadoff in the Mets opener, and he is the first player since 1915 to bat fourth in their team's opener and leadoff in their second game. Joe Schultz did it for the 1915 Brooklyn Dodgers, though it didn't work out as well as it has for the Mets. With Schultz batting cleanup, the Dodgers dropped the season opener to their city rivals, the New York Giants, 16-3. Then with Schultz leading off, the Dodgers lost their second game to the Giants, 2-0, and they were no-hit by Rube Marquard in the process! By the way, since 1900, only one major-league player has done what Schultz and Cabrera did, but in reverse: Hall of Famer Tim Raines hit leadoff in the Expos' 1989 opener and fourth in their second game.
Angels win with production from Trout and Pujols
Mike Trout went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Albert Pujols went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in the Angels' 8-3 win in Oakland. The Angels are now 17-2 when both Trout and Pujols each produce at least two hits and RBIs.
Bogaerts has been a doubles machine
Xander Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, and two RBIs in Boston's 3-2 win against the Rays in St. Petersburg. Bogaerts now has five doubles in the Red Sox' first three games of the season. Only three players since 1900 have notched five doubles in their team's first three games of a season: the Tigers' Pop Dillon in 1901, the Reds' Jim Greengrass in 1954, and the Mets' Carlos Beltran in 2008. Bogaerts now has two extra-base hits in each of his first three games. Only one other player in the live ball era (since 1920) had multiple extra-base hits in his first three games of a season: Adrian Gonzalez did it with the Dodgers in 2015.
Zobrist is a hero in extras
Ben Zobrist hit an RBI single in the tenth inning to break a 6-6 tie in Miami. Kris Bryant added a three-run double as the Cubs went on to a 10-6 win. Zobrist now has a .350 career batting average in extra innings, and more unbelievable, has a .500 on-base percentage after the ninth inning. Only two other players to debut in the expansion era (since 1961) with at least 120 extra-inning plate appearances can boast a .500-or-better OBP: Frank Thomas (.536) and Joe Mauer (.500).
But even with his terrific extra-inning batting average, Zobrist's RBI on Saturday night was his first in extra innings in a regular-season game in his three seasons with the Cubs. Of course, there was that little thing he did in the 10th inning of Game Seven of the 2016 World Series at Cleveland, when his double produced the tie-breaking run.
Gibson doesn't allow a hit in six, Twins cruise
Kyle Gibson did not allow a hit—he did walk five—in six innings of work in the Twins' 6-2 win in Baltimore. Gibson became the first player in Twins/Senators history to throw more than two innings and not allow a hit in his first start of a season.
Blackmon 2, D-Backs 1
Charlie Blackmon took things into his own hands in Phoenix on Saturday night. After the Rockies had lost their first two games of the season, Blackmon hit a pair of home runs to account for all of his team's scoring in a 2-1 victory over the Diamondbacks. Blackmon became just the second Rockies player to hit two solo home runs in a game, with those homers representing all of the team's runs. Nolan Arenado had such a game at Wrigley Field two years ago, connecting twice in a 2-0 victory over the Cubs. It was the first time in their 20-plus seasons that the Diamondbacks had lost in such a manner.
Maeda strikes out ten in five innings
Kenta Maeda pitched five shutout innings in the Dodgers' 5-0 win against the Giants, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out 10. Maeda is the first Dodgers pitcher to strike out 10 batters in his first start of a season while pitching five-or-fewer innings. Maeda struck out 10 in a game on only one other occasion in the majors: he whiffed 13 Padres players in seven innings of work on July 10, 2016, at Dodger Stadium.
Unsung Braves' signing Flaherty coming through early
Ryan Flaherty went 4-for-5 with two doubles and four runs scored in the Braves' 15-2 win against the Phillies. Flaherty, who recently signed with the Braves, now has seven hits in his first three games with Atlanta. That's the most hits in a player's first three games with the Braves since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1966.
White Sox 2-0 on two multi-run comeback wins
Trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning in Kansas City, the White Sox came back with a Yoan Moncada solo homer and a Welington Castillo two-run double to win, 4-3. The Pale Hose won the opener, 14-7, overcoming a 4-0 deficit. This is just the third season in franchise history in which the White Sox won their first two games of the season with multi-run comebacks. They also did it in their infamous 1919 season, as well as in 1978.
Historic return for Wizards' Wall
John Wall, playing for the first time since he underwent knee surgery on Jan. 31, scored 15 points and was credited with 14 assists in the Wizards' 107–93 win over the Hornets. That was the highest assist total in NBA history in a player's first game back after an absence of at least 60 days (excluding a player's first game of the season). The previous high was 11 by Isiah Thomas, after he missed 10 weeks with an injured wrist in 1991.
Mo masters March
Marcus Morris came off the bench to score a team-high 25 points in the Celtics' 110–99 win over the Raptors. Morris capped his highest-scoring month in two-and-half years, and he became the first Boston sub to score at least 25 points in a game since Kelly Olynyk scored 26 in a victory at Atlanta 14 months ago (Jan. 13, 2017). Morris averaged 18.9 points per game during March, just short of his personal high of 19.3 PPG in three games in Oct. 2015.
Raptors' loss is Rockets' gain
With Toronto's loss at Boston, Houston clinched the NBA's best record for the season. It's the first time in team history that the Rockets will finish a season with the best record in the league. Their 50 straight seasons without even a share of the league's best mark was the second longest in NBA history. The Hawks have a current streak of 69 seasons.
Strong individual performances in another Knicks loss
The Pistons defeated the Knicks, 115–109, at Madison Square Garden, as New York suffered its 22nd loss in 26 games since January 31. But there was a bright spot for the home side, as Michael Beasley (32 points), Kyle O'Quinn (15 rebounds), and Trey Burke (15 assists) all gave Knicks fans something to cheer. It was the first time in nine seasons that three different Knicks players reached the 30-point, 15 rebound, and 15-assist levels in the same game. The last trio to do that for the Knickerbockers included Al Harrington (36 points), David Lee (21 rebounds), and Chris Duhon (22) assists in a 138–125 win over the Warriors.
Nets break slowly but win in OT
Coming into Saturday's game at Miami, the Nets had outscored their last eight opponents in the first quarter; but they lost five of those games. So what happened against the Heat? You guessed it: Miami led, 32–22, at the end of the first quarter, but the Nets erased that deficit and posted a 110–109 overtime victory. That snapped Brooklyn's streak of nine consecutive losses in games in which they "lost" the first quarter. The Nets had lost the previous 25 road games in which they were outscored by at least 10 points in the opening period.
Eichel ties a Sabres assist record
Jack Eichel tied a Sabres record when he assisted on five goals in Buffalo's 7–4 win at Nashville. Three other players have earned five assists in one game for the Sabres and all three are in the Hockey Hall of Fame: Gilbert Perreault (three times), Dale Hawerchuk (once), and Pat LaFontaine (three times), who had the last five-assist game for Buffalo (Feb. 10, 1993 at Winnipeg). Eichel is the first U.S.-born player on any team to rack up five assists in an NHL game since Scott Gomez did that for the Devils against the Islanders on March 30, 2003.
Hurricanes are no match for King Henrik
Henrik Lundqvist earned only his fifth win in his last 22 games with a 40-save, 2–1 victory over the Hurricanes in Raleigh. Lundqvist has won all three games that he has played against Carolina this season, allowing only one goal in each game. His total of 28 career wins against the Hurricanes is the third-most all-time by a goaltender against the Hartford/Carolina franchise, behind Martin Brodeur (39) and Patrick Roy (35). The only other active NHL goaltenders with even half as many wins against the Hurricanes as Lundqvist are Marc-Andre Fleury (17), Ryan Miller (16), Roberto Luongo (15) and Carey Price (14).
Howard ends long shutout drought
Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard produced his first shutout of the season with a 2–0 win against the Senators in Detroit. Entering play on Saturday, Howard's streak of 77 consecutive regular-season starts without a shutout was the longest current drought among active NHL goaltenders. That dubious distinction now belongs to Tampa Bay's Louis Domingue, who has not posted a clean sheet in his last 69 starts in the NHL. Howard's shutout drought was the longest by a Red Wings goaltender since Greg Stefan failed to post a shutout in 91 straight starts from February 1984 to March 1986.
Rookie DeBrusk scores twice for Bruins
Bruins rookie Jake DeBrusk scored two goals in an NHL game for the first time when Boston beat the Panthers, 5–1, on Saturday afternoon. DeBrusk is the third rookie to enjoy a multiple-goal game for the Bruins this season, following two-goal games by Anders Bjork (Oct. 19 vs. Vancouver) and Danton Heinen (Oct. 26 vs. San Jose). Three other NHL teams have had three rookies produce a multi-goal game for them this season: the Kings (Michael Amadio, Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe), Devils (Jesper Bratt, Blake Coleman, Nico Hischier) and Penguins (Zach Aston-Reese, Dominik Simon, Daniel Sprong).
Panarin and Jones put on a show in Vancouver
Artemi Panarin (four assists) and defenseman Seth Jones (one goal, three assists) each had a hand in all of the goals the Blue Jackets scored in their 5–4 overtime loss at Vancouver. They are the first pair of Columbus players to each produce at least four points in the same game since Dec. 10, 2013, when Cam Atkinson and Brandon Dubinsky each tallied four points for the Blue Jackets in a 5–4 win against the Devils. Panarin racked up 25 points in the 16 games he played for Columbus in March (eight goals, 17 assists), smashing the old franchise records for points (18) and assists (13) by a Blue Jackets player in a calendar month, marks which Panarin had previously equaled in December of this season
Penguins' power play is strong again
Patric Hornqvist, Phil Kessel and Riley Sheahan each scored a power play goal for the Penguins in their 5–2 win against the Canadiens. Through December 31, Pittsburgh had a mediocre 13–11–1 record this season in games in which it scored at least one power play goal, but since New Year's Day the Penguins are 17–2–0 when they have scored on their power play.
Taylor Hall notches another multiple-point game in Devil's win over Isles
Taylor Hall scored a pair of goals for the Devils in their 4–3 win over the Islanders in Newark. It was Hall's 26th multiple-point game this season, tying a Devils franchise set by Kirk Muller in 1987–88 and previously equaled by Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez in 2005–06, and Zach Parise in 2008–09. Hall recorded only 10 multi-point games last season, his first season with New Jersey.
Hellebuyck extends winning streak to six
Connor Hellebuyck extended his winning streak to six games with a 3–1 victory for the Jets in Toronto. Hellebuyck, a Michigan native, has 41 wins this season, only two shy of the NHL record for victories by a U.S.-born goaltender (43) set by Tom Barrasso with Pittsburgh in 1992–93. Two other Americans notched at least 41 wins in a season: Mike Richter with the Rangers in 1993–94 (42) and Ryan Miller for the Sabres in 2009–10.
Flames finally end bad losing streak
The Flames ended their seven-game losing streak with a 3–2 win against the Oilers on Saturday. The Flames not only failed to register a point in their previous seven games, but every loss was by a three-goal or four-goal margin. It was the first time that an NHL team lost seven or more consecutive games in one season, each by at least a three-goal margin, since the 1993–94 Ottawa Senators set the league record with nine straight losses by three goals or more.


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Review: CRYSTAL FAIRY, The Good Kind of Bad Trip
Michael Cera gets a bad rap for consistently playing the lovable awkward loser character. In Sebastian Silva's Crystal Fairy, he takes on a completely different character: the awkward loser that's also an unlikable dickhead. Michael Cera fans and detractors take note; he does a pretty damn good job of filling those shoes as well. Oh, and Silva's film is a remarkably honest and enjoyable film as well.
As its full title (at least according to the title cards) hints, Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus and 2012 is the story of a psychedelic drug trip. More accurately, it's the story of a journey in pursuit of a psychedelic drug trip. Cera plays Jamie, an American living in Chile (why he's there is never revealed) who shares an apartment with an easy-going local named Champa played by Silva's brother Juan Andrés Silva. Jamie and Champa are planning a trip to a far off beach to eat San Pedro cactus with Champa's two brothers Pilo and Lel (also Silva's brothers Augustin and José Miguel Silva). Everything looks good for the guys' trip until Jamie gets too messed up at a party and invites an eccentric American named Crystal Fairy (Gaby Hoffman) to join them on their adventure.
For as cool and laid back as Champa and his brothers are, Jamie is one uptight and controlling dude. He does his best to weasel out of his commitment to bring Crystal Fairy along. When she starts talking about magical pebbles and the Mayan Calendar, Jamie tries to shift the responsibility to the brothers by telling them he is cool with her but he understands if they want to ditch her. It's this passive aggressive behavior that creates the personality conflict at the center of the film. While Jamie and Crystal Fairy seem as different as two people can be, they are both Type-A personalities and their clash of wills juxtaposed with the easy going nature of the three brothers forms the backbone for the story's drama.
Silva's great accomplishment is his loving honesty that he uses to paint his characters. At first impression, Jamie is too big of a dick and Crystal Fairy too much of a weirdo to want to spend an entire movie with. But a funny thing happens on the way to the desert. About halfway through the movie, you realize how much you care about these characters, warts and all. This isn't the kind of story that hinges on dramatic plot points. It's enough to put these very realistic characters into a pretty imaginable situation and watch them grow.
Crystal Fairy is a tiny movie. Reportedly shot in only 12 days when Michael Cera was in Chile to shoot Silva's other Sundance film Magic Magic, the independent and improvisational nature of the film is a real testament to both Silva's skill as a filmmaker, and the talent of these five actors. It's a different side of Michael Cera (not to mention a very different, completely bare side of Gaby Hoffman), but if you are up for a bit of an adventure, it's easy to find this trip worth the journey.
Review originally published during the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. The film opens in limited theatrical release in the U.S. on Friday, July 12.


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Divine Dining: Jesus and Mary Sightings in Food
Many people have claimed to see Jesus and Mary in their food. Whether these sightings are real or not, one thing is for sure, they definitely give a whole new meaning to eating as a religious experience.
Although I think these sightings are pretty amazing, what amazes me even more, is the fact that these people took the time from eating to, not only examine their food, but photograph it as well. I am not capable of that. I eat pretty quickly and haphazardly. So, I give these people a lot of credit for pausing during a meal.
From Jesus in a pancake to Mary in a Funyon, here are 10 of the most bizarre sightings of these holy figures.


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Where Have All the Butterflies Gone?
Cold, wet conditions early in the year mean that 2006 is shaping up as the worst year for California's butterflies in almost four decades, according to Art Shapiro, professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis.
That's a turnaround from last spring, when millions of painted lady butterflies migrated through the Central Valley. But other species have seen steep declines in recent years and could disappear from the region altogether.
"It has been the worst spring for butterflies of my 35 in California," Shapiro said. "There will probably be long-term repercussions, especially for species already in serious decline."
Shapiro said that at most of his study sites, he is seeing half or less than half the number of species present at this time in an average year, and far fewer individual butterflies than usual. For example, at Gates Canyon near Vacaville he counted 10 species and 43 individuals on April 18, 2006. At the same site on April 19, 2005, he counted 21 species and 378 butterflies.
This winter's weather conditions may have a lot to do with the drop in numbers. The early winter was mild, with not enough cold to end the winter dormancy or "diapause" of most butterflies, so they did not emerge to take advantage of early warm weather in February. Then March turned cold and wet, wiping out the breeding of species that had emerged.
While northern California was soaked, the southwest desert has had a very dry "La Nina" winter, leaving little food for the caterpillars of the painted lady. Shapiro said that, as in previous dry winters, the painted lady butterflies had given up on trying to breed in the desert and headed north; a handful were seen in Davis on Feb. 11. Shapiro and his students have seen only one painted lady in the area in recent weeks, when the migration would normally occur.
Apart from this year's weather, several species of California butterflies, including the large marble, sooty wing, Lorquin's admiral and the mourning cloak, suffered major declines in 1999 and have not yet recovered, Shapiro said.
Shapiro compared the decline of the butterflies to similar declines in populations of frogs and other amphibians. While there may be different possible explanations for declines at each location, "the pattern is regional," he said. Shapiro is working to test various ideas about why these butterflies are in decline, including combinations of changing climate and changing land use.
In the short term, he said, butterfly species that breed several times a year may rebound quickly to take advantage of improving conditions. But for species with only one brood per year, a catastrophic season will have repercussions for up to a decade.
More butterflies may still emerge in the mountains. The rain has led to a heavy snow pack in the Sierra Nevada, which typically means a good year for butterflies in the high country. Snow protects the dormant insects from cold and drying. But the snow came late in the season, meaning that many of the overwintering insects may have been killed off early. We will not know about the fate of those butterflies until July, Shapiro said.
Source: UC Davis


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Containers shall be placed at curbside for street pick-up or at the property line for alley pick-up, the day prior to pick-up, but not earlier than 7 p.m. on the day prior to collection, and shall remove the empty containers from the curb or alley no later than midnight on the day of collection.
See Hanford Municipal Code Section 13.12.030 for complete information and requirements.
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The best thing you can do, before doing anything else, is to contact the Planning Division at 559-585-2580 and discuss what you would like to do. The planning staff will be happy to assist you with all your questions.
No, but it helps in the event we need to contact you to clarify an address or ask you a question pertaining to the complaint you have filed. It also allows us to notify you in the event that the property violation is already active in our database or if the complaint is out of our jurisdiction and to be referred to another agency or department.
We receive complaints from a number of sources including internal referrals, outside agencies, and the general public. Complainant information is confidential and will not be revealed.
There are several ways:
In most cases, you have 15 to 30 days to either abate the violation or apply for permits to abate the violation; however, the time frame is at the discretion of the Code Compliance Officer depending on the severity of the violation.
Current staffing levels only allow time for primarily complaint generated enforcement. If you suspect there is a code violation on another property, you may contact Code Compliance staff and provide this information. A case will be opened and the complaint will be investigated appropriately. If a violation is found, the owner will be contacted and required to abate the violation and/or obtain the required permits for the violation. Generally, an inspection of the surrounding area is conducted when responding to the location where the violation is called in for.
Violations run with the property, not the person who created the violation. If you purchased a property that has violations, you are responsible for abating the violation. This is why it is a good idea to have a house inspection done prior to purchasing a property.
Fencing regulations may become complicated, so the best thing is to call the Planning and Building Division at 559-585-2583 to discuss your particular situation and lot design.
Hanford Municipal Code 17.50.120 Fence and wall locations in residential, office, and public facilities zones.
Each circumstance is different and therefore there is no one answer that will apply to every situation. So, you should contact the Code Compliance Officer (559-585-2633) which issued the violation and discuss the violation with them. They will be happy to assist you in a course of action to correct the violation
If no Building Permit is required, simply cease the illegal activity and call the Code Compliance Officer who issued you the citation to schedule an inspection.
If the Code Compliance Officer stated a Building Permit is required, contact the Code Compliance Officer at 559-585-2633 and get the required information necessary to provide the documentation to obtain a Building Permit.
Before the violation is cleared, these requirements must be met.
There are a lot of items to consider with signage. Please contact the Planning Division at 559-585-4768 for assistance in deciding the type, size, quantity, and placement of signage.
Hanford Municipal Code Chapter 17.56 SIGNS AND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURES
Garage/yard sales are limited to two such sales in a year. Each sale shall be limited to two consecutive days and all unsold items shall be removed from public view and stored within the premises after the sale.
After your complaint has been received, the average turnaround time is two to five working days for a Code Compliance Officer to perform the initial investigation. We make every effort to respond to each complaint as soon as it is filed as each, and every complaint is important to us. Complaints are prioritized according to potential health and safety hazards.
Yes. In the City of Hanford, it is unlawful for a vendor to sell or display any food or merchandise without first obtaining a vendor permit and a business license. In addition, there are conditions that regulate the use of public right-of-way by peddlers and vendors that are related to objective health, safety, or welfare concerns. Failure to comply with governing codes may result in receiving an administrative or criminal citation, and the possibly of the goods and merchandise being confiscated.


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Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies (LAS)Academic Catalog: 2019–2020
- Angelique Dwyer, Program Director
The Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies (LALACS) Program offers an interdisciplinary concentration that joins students and faculty in a meaningful study of the Americas with a focus on the effects globalization has on identity and community. As its name suggests, Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies is an inclusive program that combines area studies in Latin America and the Caribbean with recognition of the growing cultural plurality of the United States—diversity that is increasingly evident in Minnesota and the Gustavus community.
A major or minor in LALACS offers students the opportunity to study the Americas across a wide spectrum of the humanities and the social sciences through a variety of geographical and cultural emphases. It also offers students the technical tools needed for in-depth experiential learning through language courses and cultural immersion in study abroad programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. A unique aspect of the program is the exploration of historical and cultural ties to the countries of the Iberian Peninsula.
Requirements for the major:
Nine courses, including:
- HIS-160 Introduction to Latin America.
- SPA-200 Intermediate Spanish, or above or FRE-202, Intermediate French II, or above.
- Take five courses: at least one in Latin American Arts in Context, one in Humanities, and one in Social Sciences and Religion. At least one course must be a level three course.
Latin American Arts in Context:
- ART-265 Maya and Mexican Art and Archeology
- SPA-320 From Latin America to Latinos in the U.S.
- SPA-390 Through the Lens: Film in Spanish
- T/D-265 Performance in the Americas
- ENG-226 U.S. Latino/a Literatures
- FRE-364 Francophone African/Caribbean Literatures and Cultures
- HIS-261 Colonial Latin America
- HIS-265 Mexican American History
- HIS-361 Latin America and the United States
- SPA-250 Negotiating Difference in the Hispanic World
- SPA-280 Literature, Film, and Society
- SPA-322 Masterworks of Spanish American Literature
- SPA-375 Gender and Sexual Identities in the Spanish-Speaking World
Social Sciences and Religion:
- GEG-225 Race and Space in the US
- GEG-243 Hydrology and Water Resources (if project is on LALACS)
- GEG-343 Problem-Solving Using GIS (if project is on LALACS)
- GEG-350 Political Ecology
- POL-230 Latin American Politics
- REL-273 Religion and Politics in Latin America
- REL-383 Liberation Struggles
- S/A-243 Globalization
- S/A-258 African Culture in Latin American and the Caribbean
- LAS-368 or LAS-391, chosen in consultation with the LALACS advisor.
- LAS-399 Senior Capstone
Requirements for the minor: Minimum 6 courses, including:
- HIS-160, Introduction to Latin America.
- SPA-200, Crossing Borders, or above or FRE-202, Intermediate French II, or above.
- Four courses from three departments, selected from the approved list above.
LALACS Courses
244, 344 Special Topics in LALACS (Course value to be determined) Course content varies and explores a topic or problem in depth through reading, discussion, and writing. More than one special topics course may be taken.
268, 368 Career Exploration, Internship (course value to be determined) Off-campus employment experience related to the student's major. See description of the Internship Program. Internship prerequisite: junior or senior status. Fall and Spring semester.
291, 391 Independent Study (course value to be determined)
399 Senior Capstone (1 course) This course offers students directed practice in completing an independent research/artistic project that deepens their knowledge of Latin America. The research project will involve the study of primary and secondary materials, including primary source research, data collection, analysis, and scholarly writing. The artistic project will involve the study of primary and secondary materials in addition to the creation of an individual artist project with a written statement of purpose and scholarly essay describing the aesthetic and cultural issues at stake in the project. The project will be presented in front of a LALACS faculty panel. Prerequisites: HIS-160 and senior status. Spring semester.


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Young people are always being told they should be seen and not heard. On April 16, hundreds of thousands will choose silence as a way to "speak out" for a good cause. Around the country, students from middle schools, junior highs, high schools, colleges and universities will take part in the 15th Annual Day of Silence, sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). By remaining silent for all or part of the day, participating students will symbolically call attention to the silence surrounding anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools.
LGBT students and those who are perceived to fall outside gender norms experience unacceptably high levels of hostility in school. Ordinary activities–such as getting from one class to another, using the restrooms, playing on sports teams and socializing online–can turn into nightmare scenarios. It doesn't matter whether kids actually self-identify as LGBT: Words like "gay," "sissy," "faggot," and "dyke" are wielded as weapons, and when the use of such words as insults continues unchecked the results can be tragic.
Last April the nation was forced to confront the most serious possible consequences of anti-gay bullying when two 11-year-old boys, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover and Jaheem Herrera, from different parts of the country and within weeks of each another, committed suicide to escape from the persistent homophobic taunts and harassment they faced at school. As shocking as their stories are, the abuse they faced in school is not uncommon.
According to a study of middle and high school students conducted by GLSEN in 2007:
- 86.2 percent of LGBT students reported experiencing verbal harassment at school, and 44.1 percent reported being physically harassed.
- 22.1 percent reported being physically assaulted at school because of their sexual orientation.
- 73.6 percent heard derogatory remarks such as "faggot" or "dyke" frequently or often at school.
- 60.8 percent of students reported feeling unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation.
- 38.4 percent felt unsafe because of their gender expression.
On the positive side, the GLSEN study found that schools with Gay-Straight Alliances, anti-harassment policies and faculty and staff who are supportive of LGBT people and issues report fewer incidents of harassment and bullying. At those schools, students are also more likely to report such incidents when they occur.
Conservative groups are urging parents to keep their children home from school to protest the Day of Silence. According to a Fox News report, correctly characterized by Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend as "sloppy," so-called family-advocacy groups "warn that GLSEN is using the day to try to indoctrinate kids and force a pro-gay agenda into schools–something they want kept out of class entirely."
Clearly, such groups would prefer that LGBT concerns be silenced altogether. Don't let them have their way. To find out if students at a school near you are participating in the Day of Silence, contact email@example.com. If you aren't part of a campus community, you can get involved by following activities and announcements on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and the Day of Silence Blog. You can also sign GLSEN's petition to urge members of Congress to support the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Let your opposition to anti-LGBT harassment and bullying be seen–and heard!
Above: Protesters participate in the 2008 Day of Silence in Poland. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons // CC 3.0


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NEW YORK – Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson each hit two-run homers off Jerome Williams on Saturday, leading the New York Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Freddy Garcia and three relievers kept Mark Trumbo in the ballpark, denying him a homer in a record sixth straight game against the Yankees.
Nick Swisher, who appeared to rob Trumbo of a second long ball Friday night in helping New York rally late for a win, made another leaping catch at the right-field wall. His flashy grab of Howie Kendrick's drive to end the fifth inning, however, would have landed on the warning track.
Cano added an RBI single that bounced high off second base in the sixth to help the Yankees secure a second straight winning season against their nemesis. The victory improved their record against the Angels to 5-3 this year with one more game to go. Prior to their 5-4 mark in 2011, New York had not won a season series against the Angels since 2003.
Cano's two-out drive in the first off Williams (6-6) hit off the top of the wall in left-center and bounced into the Angels' bullpen and made it 2-all. Cano's 21st homer gave him a 17-game hitting streak.
Granderson connected for his 24th home run with one out in the third after Chris Stewart singled leading off.
Cody Eppley, David Robertson and Rafael Soriano combined for four innings of two-hit ball. Soriano struck out Albert Pujols to finish off a perfect ninth and notch his 22nd save in 23 chances.
Activated from the disabled list before the game, Williams gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings. He hadn't pitched since June 18. Right after being pulled from that outing, Williams experienced dizziness and shortness of breath from a suspected asthma attack that landed him in the hospital.
Garcia (4-2) labored through five innings, walking a season-high five, allowing five hits and throwing 98 pitches. It was his shortest start in three outings since moving back into the rotation when Andy Pettitte broke his leg.
The right-hander walked the leadoff batter in each of the third through fifth innings yet only gave up one run in that span, on Bobby Wilson's grounder to shortstop in the fourth. The Angels stole three bases in that inning, two by Mike Trout.
With those steals, Trout became the first Angels rookie since Chad Curtis in 1992 to reach 30 steals.
Garcia played it safe with Trumbo in the first and Alberto Callaspo made him pay. With two outs and runners on second and third, Trumbo walked to load the bases. Callaspo followed with a two-run single.
Trumbo became the first player to homer in five straight games against New York since Albert Belle in 1994 when he hit a three-run shot Friday. He was 0 for 3 with a walk Saturday.
NOTES: The Angels had optioned LHP Brad Mills to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room for Williams. ... Yankees RHP Joba Chamberlain (ankle) struck out two in a two-inning rehab outing for the team's rookie club in the Gulf Coast League. ... Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (groin) played catch Saturday and said he felt good and was still on track to start Tuesday against Toronto. ... The Yankees improved to 55-61 against the Angels since 2000.


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President Obama spent the last two days in France wrestling with Europe's financial problems. He's back in the United States this morning where America has its own economic challenges. Home and abroad, Mr. Obama and his fellow leaders are confronted with slow growth, big debts and the political battles over how to deal with them. NPR Scott Horsley reports.
SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: President Obama capped off his visit to France by joining French president Nicolas Sarkozy and uniformed service members from both countries in a celebration of two centuries of Franco-American military cooperation.
HORSLEY: Hours later, Mr. Obama was winging his way back to Washington. The G-20 summit that brought him to France was largely consumed by the debt crisis plaguing Europe. The president offered advice and encouragement but no additional money for the Europeans. Even as he huddled with his fellow G-20 leaders, Mr. Obama was conscious of the economic challenges back home.
HORSLEY: According to the Labor Department, the U.S. economy added just 80,000 jobs last month. Continued hiring in the private sector was once again partly offset by layoffs in state and local governments. And while the unemployment rate inched down in October it's still a painfully high 9 percent.
HORSLEY: The president pointed to some areas where he's been able to work successfully with Congress, passing three new trade deals for example. But his push for a larger jobs bill with middle class tax cuts and new government spending paid for with higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans has hit a wall of resistance from congressional Republicans. And if winning cooperation from the legislature in his own country is difficult, Mr. Obama says it's that much more complicated to find consensus in the Eurozone.
HORSLEY: Europe's been under pressure to erect a financial firewall to prevent the debt crisis in Greece from spreading to bigger economies like Italy and Spain. Mr. Obama says this week's political turmoil in Greece merely underscores the importance of that effort. Leaders of the G-20 countries have been cheering the Europeans on.
HORSLEY: For all the encouragement, though, this week's summit meeting produced little in the way of specific fixes for Europe's debt problems. Ideas were floated for making more money available to countries like Italy through the International Monetary Fund. Italy also invited the IMF to monitor and provide periodic reports on its efforts to get its fiscal house in order. Mr. Obama says European leaders have the basic blueprint for protecting vulnerable economies, shoring up banks, dealing with Greece and addressing the Eurozone's structural challenges.
Now, he says, they need to act on those plans.
HORSLEY: The G-20 leaders also agreed in principle to take steps to encourage stronger economic growth, a shift from last year's focus on fiscal austerity. China even acknowledged a need to allow it's currency to appreciate more quickly. In a news conference marking the end of the G-20 summit, Mr. Obama said there's no excuse for inaction. That's the same message he'll be delivering to reluctant members of Congress here at home. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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By Gotquestions
Ephesians 5:3 tells us, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity…because these are improper for God's holy people."
Anything that even "hints" of sexual immorality is inappropriate for a Christian. The Bible does not give us a list of what qualifies as a "hint" or tell us what physical activities are approved for a couple to engage in before marriage. However, just because the Bible does not specifically address the issue does not mean God approves of "pre-sexual" activity before marriage.
By essence, foreplay is designed to get one ready for sex. Logically then, foreplay should be restricted to married couples. Anything that can be considered foreplay should be avoided until marriage.
If there is any doubt whatsoever whether an activity is right for an unmarried couple, it should be avoided (Romans 14:23). Any and all sexual and pre-sexual activity should be restricted to married couples.
An unmarried couple should avoid any activity that tempts them toward sex, that gives the appearance of immorality, or that could be considered foreplay.
Many pastors and Christian counselors strongly advise a couple to not go beyond holding hands, hugging, and light kissing before marriage. The more a married couple has to share exclusively between themselves, the more special and unique the sexual relationship in that marriage becomes.


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Fair Housing 101
What Is the Federal Fair Housing Act and Whom Does it Protect?
The Federal Fair Housing Act refers to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This Act, protects your right to rent an apartment, buy a home, obtain a mortgage, or purchase homeowners insurance free from discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Religion
- Sex
- Familial Status, and
- Disability
In addition to the Act, the following legislation and executive orders may apply and provide a basis for federal fair housing enforcement:
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
- Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Section 109 of Title I of the Housing Act of 1974
- The Age Discrimination Act of 1975
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
- The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (PDF)
- Executive Orders (hud.gov):
For help in identifying what discrimination may look like, please view the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") YouTube Channel or the National Fair Housing Alliance page. If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, view the How to File a Complaint page. To download more information, including the HUD complaint app and fair housing rights brochures, visit our Toolkits, Sample Forms, and Downloads page.
What Is the Goal of the Fair Housing Act?
HUD, in the Summary of its final 2015 rule on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, states that "[t]he Fair Housing Act not only prohibits discrimination but, in conjunction with other statutes, directs HUD's program participants to take significant actions to overcome historic patterns of segregation, achieve truly balanced and integrated living patterns, promote fair housing choice, and foster inclusive communities." Read the AFFH Final Rule and view the Assessment of Fair Housing Tool for local jurisdictions or access HUD's Fair Housing Planning Guide (PDF) to learn more about HUD's goals to eliminate segregation and discriminatory practices in programs administered with its funds.
Learn more about HUD's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule by visiting: HUD user.
Are Any Kinds of Housing Exempt From the Law?
All housing is covered by fair housing laws although there may be differences in how some laws and provisions are applied. Only owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members are exempt under certain circumstances.
While not exempt, some properties follow special guidance under the Housing for Older Persons Amendment ("HOPA") to the Fair Housing Act, which can change the way a property must follow familial status protections under fair housing law. Review the HOPA (PDF). For additional guidance, please read HUD's HOPA FAQs (PDF).


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Could world renowned executive educator, coach, and consultant, Marshall Goldsmith's book, "Take It to the Next Level: What Got You Here, Won't Get You There" be used as an example for today's dairy farms? By: Gary Hennip, Penn State University Extension
Is the dairy industry ready to move from the past 75 years of artificial insemination (AI) as the primary way of advancing genetic progress, to using genomics, ovum pick-up (OPU), and in vitro fertilization (IVF) as another combination of technologies that could be used routinely to help take the dairy industry to the "next level" of genetic progress?
The AI industry has been around a long time. Since 1937 when Penn State and Rutgers University Extension dairyman Dr. Enos J. Perry returned from Denmark with a new scientific research-based technology called artificial insemination and established the first AI Cooperative in the United States, the AI industry has flourished. A primary reason that the AI industry became very popular was that the dairy industry very quickly figured out that this new technology quickened the rate of genetic improvement by selecting genetically superior sires that could sire thousands of offspring. Other scientific breakthroughs related to AI also made a huge difference in the popularity of the industry. These included technologies such as the development of semen extenders and the ability to freeze semen for an indefinite period of time. However, AI's one shortcoming to even more rapid genetic progress was that the technology geared itself to the sire side of the equation and very little on the cow side of the equation.
Now let's take a look at the combination of new technologies that may continue the advancement of genetic progress, help with cow side of the genetic equation, and take the dairy industry to the "next level".
- Genomics – Genomics is the study of the role of nucleic acid sequences in cellular DNA that are associated with animal (including human) performance or trait expression (Cassell, 2012). For dairy cattle, one important current use of genome sequences is to predict genetic merit of dairy animals for economically important traits. The use of genomic testing has helped identify animals, both male and female, with superior traits for longevity, health, production and physical appearance (del Campo, 2013). Genomically testing groups of cattle on dairy farms not only helps identify elite animals, but also identify animals with lower genetic potential.
- Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) – Transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR), also referred to as ovum pick-up (OPU) or even simply egg collection, is a technique used in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF). These technologies allow for the removal of oocytes (OPU) from ovaries of donor female animals, fertilizing these oocytes with the use of (IVF) outside the body, and enabling larger numbers of fertilized embryos to be available for implantation in recipient animals.
According to Boni (2012) OPU was first established in cattle by a Dutch team (Pieterse et al., 1988). These researchers found that oocyte collection could be repeated as often as once a week without risks to health and reproductive activity. Some of the potential advantages of OPU as compared to more traditional embryo transfer include:
- The possibility of increased numbers of embryos harvested and ultimately increased number of offspring from elite females. (up to 2 to 3 times more according to Roelofsen-Vendrig et al., 1994) The ability to use OPU technology on pregnant donors as well as non-pregnant donors.
- Along with IVF, can maximize oocyte fertilization with rare, expensive or sexed semen.
So with all of this as a backdrop, what might the "next level" in technology-based genetic progress look like on tomorrow's dairy farm?
We may see a significant number of both commercial and registered dairy breeders use these technologies together.
- Many will use genomics to determine the elite females on the farm or to purchase elite females from other dairy producers for use as OPU donor animals.
- They will use OPU and IVF technologies on these elite females using high genomic sires whose semen has been sexed.
- The resulting embryos will then be transferred into genetically inferior cows and heifers on the farm or transferred into "recipient" animals that have been purchased to become surrogate dams.
There are certainly obstacles to overcome before we see widespread use of these combined technologies. These include potential cost concerns, a lack of widespread understanding of the potential benefits of these technologies, and the general cautiousness of many dairy producers. However, if we could go back in time to 1937 and ask Dr. Enos Perry what he felt the greatest obstacles to the adoption of the new AI technology he brought back with him from Denmark were, his answers might have been very similar.
For additional information about genomics, OPU, and IVF and how these new technologies can impact the future dairy industry, refer to the articles and websites below.
- Humblot, P., D. Le Bourhis, S. Fritz, J. J. Colleau, C. Gonzalez, C. Guyader Joly, A. Malafosse, Y. Heyman, Y. Amigues, M. Tissier, and C. Ponsart. 2010. Reproductive technologies and genomic selection in cattle. Vet. Med. Int. doi: 10.4061/2010/192787. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2963139/.
- In Vitro Fertilization as a tool for the Genetic Improvement. History and Future Prospects: http://www.invitrobrasil.com.br/pdf/artigos-publicados/perspectives-of-the-world-in-vitro-industry.pdf.
- Qi, M. Y. Yao, H. Ma, J. Wang, X. Zhao, L. Liu, X. Tang, L. Zhang, S. Zhang, and F. Sun. 2013. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up (OPU) in cattle. J. Biomim. Biomater. Tissue Eng. 18: 118. doi: 10.4172/1662-100X.1000118.http://www.omicsonline.com/open-access/mir-is-associated-with-er-expression-gastric-carcinoma-of-xenografted-model-1662-100X.1000118.pdf.
- Cassell, B. 2012. Impact of genomics on dairy cattle breeding. Proc. 2012 Virginia Tech Cow College. http://www.vtdairy.dasc.vt.edu/docs/cow-colleges/2012cc/paper-23-cassell.pdf.
- del Campo, X. 2013. Genomics – Implications for Herd Efficiency. Penn State Dairy Digest. Oct. 15. http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy/news/2013/genomics-2013-implications-for-herd-efficiency.
Additional references
- Boni, R. 2012. Ovum pick-up in cattle: a 25 yr retrospective analysis. Anim. Reprod. 9:362-369.http://www.cbra.org.br/pages/publicacoes/animalreproduction/issues/download/v9n3/pag362-369%20(AR521).pdf
- Pieterse, M. C., K. A. Kappen, T. A. Kruip , and M. A. Taverne. 1988. Aspiration of bovine oocytes during transvaginal ultrasound scanning of the ovaries. Theriogenology. 30:751-762.
- Roelofsen-Vendrig, M. W., R. Boni, Y. A. Wurth, M. C. Pieterse, and T. A. Kruip. 1994. [Possibilities of ovum pickup in cattle]. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 119:61-63. [Article in Dutch]


text: The Winterfest Gala Committee recently presented Ocean City Special Events Director John Sullivan with a check for $14,0000, which were used for a new light fixture involving Bears Decorating the Tree as well as the entertainment that was inside the Winterfest Village. Pictured, from left, are Committee members Debi Curd, Nancy Dofflemyer and Veronica Donaldson with Sullivan. Submitted Photos


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It took some time for McDonald's area supervisor Andy Suckiel to embrace automated oil management for the two California franchises he oversees in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, California.
Now with four years of experience using Restaurant Technologies, Inc. (RTI) oil management solution, it's difficult for him to imagine any other approach.
"The automated filtering and oil changing system has become a way of life for us; it's just a better way to optimize food quality and eliminate a significant risk to employee safety," Suckiel says. "It's an understatement to say that my team would not welcome going back to carrying hot oil out the back door."
Suckiel and veteran McDonald's franchise owner Ross Pollard were slow to embrace the new technology, despite corporate endorsement of the RTI system. But after a few site visits to observe other franchisees using the system, they soon changed their minds.
"The stores were cleaner, both inside and outside," Suckiel says. "Work flow was more efficient, fryer filtration was automated, oil storage bins were gone, and the grease traps were eliminated. No one was trucking up and down stairs with jibs. We immediately saw the safety benefits—no worry about slips, falls, and burns."
The impact on food quality was equally obvious when the pair watched the technology in action. The Web-based Total Oil Management (TOM) portal delivers oil-monitoring data from fryer sensors to an online dashboard.
Suckiel can now track filtration frequency in real time, analyzing oil quality and usage statistics for comparison against McDonald's best-practices recommendations.
"If we're not achieving the recommended days-of-use standard for our oil, we can look into variables that impact oil life performance and immediately course correct," Suckiel says.
On a quarterly basis, he also uses a conversion efficiency report to benchmark his stores' performance on key food-taste factors—like the food-to-oil ratio—against other McDonald's franchises.
The switch to RTI closed-loop oil handling is also proving the link between green operation and profitable management. As part of the McDonald's sustainability initiative influencing restaurant rebuilds and remodels, Pollard's stores combine the RTI system with new low oil volume (LOV) fryers that use 50 percent less oil than traditional fryers.
Lower oil consumption and precision filtration monitoring, combined with less time and energy to heat the units, can help both the bottom line and the environment.
Before switching to automated oil management, Pollard's operations were exposed to greater risk of employee injury. The stores also lost out on potential revenue from the sale of recycled oil because of handling difficulties associated with manual collection and pick-up, as well as the potential for theft when used oil is stored outside a building.
"Stealing used oil has become a legitimate concern for restaurant owners because of its value in the production of synthetic oils and biodiesel," Suckiel says. "We don't have that concern. RTI comes on site regularly to remove the used oil from the waste tank located inside the building."


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When You Should go to the Hospital for Labor: the Complete Guide
In this article, you will find:
What to pack
From the Doctor's Perspective...
When I asked John how common false labor was? His response was a hearty laugh and this insightful message, "Pretty darn common!" (OK, he used a slightly more forceful expletive.)
From a Frustrated Mother's Perspective...
I walked for hours once in that scary hospital gown and those stupid pieces of cardboard they call slippers. Up and down the hallway, past the women who were having babies, up and down, talking to the relatives, up and down, with nothing ever happening. I felt like some kind of freak who didn't have enough sense to get the labor going. Needless to say, I was pissed when nothing happened, and I was sent home.
The Need to Clean
There's an old myth that if you clean your house or scrub the floors, you'll go into labor. If you feel like cleaning the house and getting it in order, by all means, go ahead and do so. While some people may say it doesn't work, my experience is that it is a great indicator of an impending birth. Hey, if you don't go into labor, you'll still have a clean house and feel better. No loss there! Mr. Clean would be proud.
What to Pack Just in Case
Packing a suitcase for the hospital is not as tricky as you might think. After all, if all goes well, your stay there will be limited to a day or two. You'll probably be wearing those god-awful gowns most of the time, at least during the labor and delivery, which doesn't leave a lot of room for any other clothes. For a detailed list from an experienced mom, watch this video from CloudMom for tips and ideas to make packing easier.
For the Mother
First, pack the amenities: personal soap (if you want it), shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, makeup, brush, comb, whatever the things from home that make you feel like yourself. Second, you'll need a gown of some sort, a robe, and slippers (or sandals if you'd prefer) since you will probably be spending one night there, and really, really don't want to wear their version of a nightgown anymore. If you're nursing, make sure that you pack a nursing bra and a gown that is easily opened or accessible to the baby. If you're not nursing, pack a bra that fit you while you were pregnant, making sure that it has lots of support. The milk will still come in, and your breasts will feel very, very heavy.
You'll need some kind of outfit to wear home. Believe it or not, you won't be wearing your favorite prepregnancy clothes when you leave the hospital. Most of that weight will still be with you for a while, so you might want to wear a loose fitting dress or even maternity pants and tops. That will probably rub you the wrong way, because no one wants to wear maternity clothes after delivery; however, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. You need to be clad in something to escape the hospital confines.
For the Baby
Packing for the baby is a lot more fun than packing for you. If you know the sex, you can obviously choose something that is a suitable color (if you put boys in pink, don't be offended when they're mistaken for girls). It's good to have some kind of gown or sleeper set for the baby. The hospital will supply you with diapers until you leave. An undershirt is a necessity, and they're so cute and tiny. Booties are fun. Forget shoes babies at that age don't do shoes. If the weather is bad, make sure you have the appropriate attire to wrap the baby in (what's that bundling thing called?). It's always good to bring some baby blankets to wrap them up like a baked potato.
Most importantly, take a car seat. You can't take the baby from the hospital without one. Oh, and don't forget your camera or video cam. By the way, if your husband or significant other is even marginally competent, he can bring anything you've forgotten to the hospital.
The Absolute Minimum
When your first baby's birth is imminent, every little change in your body becomes a "real" (at least in your mind) symptom of birth to an expectant mother. In truth, there are some pretty decisive ways to tell whether or not you're in labor. If you match any or all of the criteria listed in this chapter, then you should be having a baby fairly soon.
- Both you and your partner should monitor the spacing and regularity of your contractions. Chart them, if at all possible.
- Your doctor will tell you what specific symptoms to watch for, but if you break your water, call your doctor.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions can make a pregnant woman's life hell, just from the confusion they cause. They can feel very, very real. Don't be afraid to go to the hospital to get checked. Better safe than sorry.
- Pack and prepare in advance as much as possible. You won't be thinking of last-minute details when you're in real labor.
- webmd.com. What You Need to Know About Contractions. 2023.
https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-to-know-contractions#2 - Tobah, Yvonne. Pregnancy week by week. 2022.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/fundal-height/faq-20057962 - brighterpress.com. Membrane Sweep at 37, 38, 39, 40 Weeks, Success Rate, Risks, Safety & Cramping. 2017.
https://brighterpress.com/women%2Fpregnancy%2Fmembrane-sweep-38-39-weeks-success-rate-risks - preeclampsia.org. Signs And Symptoms Of Preeclampsia. 2021.
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About L. Elizabeth Forry
L. Elizabeth Forry is an Early Childhood Educator with 15 years of classroom… Read more


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The Ipswich Treasurer/Collector reminds citizens that fiscal year 2020 Real Estate and Personal Property bills were mailed out on December 31, 2019 with payment stubs for third and fourth quarters. The third quarter bills are due by February 3, 2020. Payments must be received, not postmarked, by the due date to avoid interest and penalties.
When mailing a payment please use the envelope enclosed with the bill. This will assure the most efficient processing of your payment. You also have the ability to pay your bill online, view your bill online or set up email reminders for all real estate and motor vehicle bills at http://www.ipswichma.gov/131/Online-Payments
Office hours are Monday, 8AM – 7PM, Tuesday through Thursday, 8AM – 4PM, and Friday 8AM – 12PM. There is also a white payment box outside Town Hall for after hour payments.
Please call the Treasurer/Collector's office at 978-356-6610 with any questions.


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AFD and the Professional Training in Cambodia
published in May 2019
Cambodia's growth is one of the most robust in the region. However, the dynamism of the economy faces a number of structural weaknesses, notably related to the lack of qualifications among the workforce. AFD invests in vocational training through several avenues, ranging from support to public vocational training policy, creation of permanent training institutions, with the constant concern to strengthen the public-private partnership that is
necessary for the implementation of a high-quality training offer.
We would like to hear from you! Would you take a moment to fill out a short survey for us?


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Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Journey Songs Covered on 'Rock of Ages' Soundtrack
When Tom Cruise starred in 'Risky Business,' he only had to lip-sync the Bob Seger classic 'Old Time Rock & Roll.'
But in the upcoming big-screen version of the Broadway hit 'Rock of Ages,' Cruise actually sings hits by Guns N' Roses and Def Leppard — and those renditions are part of the movie's soundtrack, due June 5.
Now before you double over with laughter at the thought of Cruise trying to hit the high notes in GNR's 'Paradise City' and Def Leppard's 'Pour Some Sugar on Me,' read what Def Lep guitarist Phil Collen has to say.
"I was so impressed because he hadn't sung before, and he had vocal lessons," Collen recently told the 'VH1 Classic Rock Nights' show. "He was literally doing five hours a day, five days a week … he really pulls it off, and it was like he's a total rock star."
The 'Rock of Ages' soundtrack, which arrives 10 days before the movie's opening on June 15, also includes actor-sung renditions of Journey's 'Any Way You Want It' and 'Don't Stop Believin,' the Scorpions' 'Rock You Like a Hurricane,' Poison's 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' and Foreigner's 'Waiting for a Girl Like You' and 'I Want to Know What Love Is.'
'Rock of Ages' Soundtrack Song List:
01. 'Paradise City' (Tom Cruise)
02. 'Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But a Good Time' (Diego Boneta)
03. 'Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'N' Roll' (Diego Boneta)
04. 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
05. 'Waiting For A Girl Like You' Diego Boneta
06. 'More Than Words/Heaven' (Diego Boneta)
07. 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' (Julianne Hough)
08. 'I Want To Know What Love Is' (Malin Akerman)
09. 'I Wanna Rock' (Diego Boneta)
10. 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' (Tom Cruise)
11. 'Harden My Heart' (Julianne Hough)
12. 'Shadows Of The Night/Harden My Heart' (Julianne Hough)
13. 'Here I Go Again' (Diego Boneta)
14. 'Can't Fight This Feeling' (Russell Brand)
15. 'Any Way You Want It' (Julianne Hough)
16. 'Undercover Love' (Diego Boneta)
17. 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' (Diego Boneta)
18. 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' (Julianne Hough)
19. 'We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It' (Russell Brand)
20. 'Don't Stop Believin" (Diego Boneta)


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In the Innistrad set, at least 1 of the double faced cards is a werewolf with the ability to upgrade other werewolves and wolves in play. What other wolves have good potential to combine with the Mayor of Avabruck//Howlpack Alpha card?
I'm thinking primarily of Commander games, but if you think something fits a different format, please note that.


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Paroles Georgia... Bush de Dj Drama & Lil Wayne
Les chansons similaires
Georgia... Bush de Lil' Wayne
This song right here, is dedicated to the president of the United States of America Y'all might know him as George Bush But where I'm from, lost city of New Orleans... we call him this (Georgia x 8 with...
Weezy's Ambitions de Lil' Wayne
[DJ Drama:] (oh yea, you thought we was done? Naw) YEA! Money money money get a dollar and a dick Weezy Baby that crack, muthafucka get a fix Got money out the ass, no homo but I'm rich Bout to go get surgery...
Gettin Money de Corey Bapes
Chorus: see ima gettin money nigga i grind and get mine grind and get see i grind and get mine im a gettin money i never waste time never waste time see i never waste time ima gettin money nigga ima...
Ether de Lil' Wayne
[gunshots] [Lil Wayne talking] Haters nigga... Squad Up nigga ("Fuck Jay-Z") Naw my nigga I fucks wit Jay-Z Sorry you know what I'm sayin ("Fuck Jay-Z") No no no I fucks wit the homie man...sorry no ("Fuck...
Fuck You de Slim Thug
[Slim Thug:] As is, I aint changing for you suckers if you aint fucking with me, fuck ya and if you aint feeling how I feel, fuck ya you bitches aint paying my bills, so fuck ya I'mma boss, how bout...
Textes et Paroles de Georgia... Bush
This song right here, is dedicated to the president of the United States of America
Y'all might know him as George Bush
But where I'm from, lost city of New Orleans... we call him this
[Ray Charles sample:] Georgia... georgia bush... [x4]
This song is dedicated to the one wit the suit
Thick white skin and his eyes bright blue
So called beef wit you know who
Fuck it he just let him kill all of our troops
Look at the bullshit we been through
Had the niggas sittin on top they roofs
Hurricane Katrina, we shoulda called it Hurricane (Geeoorrggiaa) Bush
Then they tellin y'all lies on the news
The white people smiling like everythin cool
But I know people that died in that pool
I know people that died in them schools
Now what is the survivor to do?
Got to no trailer, you gotta move
Now it's on to Texas and to (Geeoorrggiiaa)
They tell you what they want, show you what they want you to see
But they don't let you know what's really goin on
Make it look like a lotta stealin goin on
Boy them cops is killas in my home
Nigga shot dead in the middle of the street
I ain't no thief, I'm just tryin to eat
Man fuck the police and president (Geeoorrrggiiaa) Bush
So what happened to the leverage, why wasn't they steady
Why wasn't they able to control this?
I know some fok' that live by the lever
that keep on tellin me they heard this, stole this
Same shit happened back in Hurricane Betsy
1965, I ain't too young to know this
That was President Johnson now
but it's president (Geeoorrggiiaa) Bush
[Chorus: x2]
We from a town where (Georgia)
Everybody drowned, and
Everybody died, but baby I'm still prayin wich ya
Everybody cryin but (Georgia)
Aint nobody tried, there's no doubt on my mind it was (Georgia) Bush
I was born in the boot at the bottom of the map
New Orleans baby, now the white house hatin, tryin to wash away like we not on the map
Wait, have you heard the latest, they sayin you gotta have paper if you tryin to come back
Niggas thinkin it's a wrap, see we can't hustle in they trap, we ain't from (Geeoorrggiaa)
Noooww it's them dead bodies, them lost houses, the mayor say dont worry bout it
And the children have been scarred, no ones here to care bout em
And fash out, to all the rappers that helped out
Yea we like it they callin y'all, but fuck president (Geeoorrggiaa) Bush
We see them Confederate flags, you know what it is
A white cracker muthafucka that probably voted for him
And no he ain't gonna drop no dollas, but he do drop bombs
R.I.P. Tay cuz he died in the storm, fuck president (Geeoorrggiiaa) Bush
See us in ya city man, give us a pound
Cuz if a nigga still movin then he holdin it down
I had two Jags, but I lost both them bi-tch-es
I'm from N.O. the N.O. Yea!
[DJ Drama:] (oh yea, you thought we was done? Naw)
Money money money get a dollar and a dick
Weezy Baby that crack, muthafucka get a fix
Got money out the ass, no homo but I'm rich
Bout... [x2]
Money money money get a dollar and a dick
Weezy Baby that crack, muthafucka get a fix
Got money out the ass, no homo but I'm rich
Bout.. to go get surgery and put some diamonds on my wrist YES
Yep, I'm a muthafuckin trip
I'ma trip to Japan and buy some brand new shit
Nine hundred to a grand, get you twenty eight grams
If you talkin bout bricks, I'm the interstate man
And the women say damn, them niggas don't say a damn thing
Boy I bet that shotty make you bounce like a bed-spring
Walkin a thin line, gotta defend mine
And wit no pen I'm sorta like a bomb BOOM
Young toon, yea that's what my people call me
Fifty thousand for the cause, tryin keep the reaper off me
I drink a lotta syrup, bitches say I'm sleep walkin
Big money for the grill, so I'm never cheap talking, yea
Keep talking and the flame leap off the hip
And keep sparking, pap pap sleep softly
Yea, nap nap, nap sack, three forties
Like fuck another nigga, nigga just don't be da target
Young New Orleans nigga, nigga just don't be retarded
We done lost everythin and you lookin like a bargain
Purple weed, purple drink, purple heart sergeant
I'm the best rapper in the game no argin (arguing)
And I don't ever write, pause
Un-pause this, so keep ya bitch ass lines inside the margin
Lil Wayne dot com bitch log in
Put a pillow under your knees and keep ya jaws in
All in ya girl mouth, use her like a toilet
They usually want a baller and the young nigga ballin
Mike Jordan, pardon my swag
Even my father rich as fuck and all my brothers left the family
We said fuck it bought two houses in Miami
I can't wait to do cribs, MTV c'mon get at me
Any rapper wan get at me, tell ya label contact me
Half four hundred for a feature, wanna battle, I'll beat ya
I'm a beast, I'm a preacher, I'm the son of miss cita
Mom dukes, my jeter, she the reason, she the reason
Everybody woman wanna beat a boy diva, not even
There's a 305 dime I wanted ever since I seen her
Got a topic of this evenin, hotter than a tub steamin
Gotcha girlfriend dreamin of one day bein Trina
Notta sim seemer, ten ki's in the Beamer
Got a white girl drivin, couldn't do it much cleaner
I'm fly in the sky like that muthafuckin ribbon
Bitches got my name on em, and the nigga still livin
Spend a condo and a club, one bottle won't do
Two bottles won't do, bottles for the whole crew, thanks
And bring me that Patrone, I don't play
No ice I like my drink straight, not gay
And bitch that bank come everyday, I'm paid
I wish a nigga come invade, get sprayed
I stomp a nigga out like I got ten legs
Then they fish the nigga up out the lake in ten days
Behave, no ho, I'm on that Rage Rov
Cash Money, Young Money, ho that money age old
And can't a cage hold this animal from Hollygrove
Sorry mami I be stoned, I be, I be, I be blowed
Got me copy rock star, Weezy Baby fuck these hos
Gotta pay me now for me to even take these hos
Price sizin for a show and the flow
So either Drama is my nigga, or that boy got doe
Go figure that's my nigga, that's my nigga, my nerve
If anybody else want it, sixty thousand a verse
- Nouvelles paroles :
- Le lit sauvage - Quand vint la grâce - Vive les tamalous - Après les Drapeaux - L'age des possibles - DON'T STOP JAMMIN'
- Nouveaux artistes :
- Sébastien PERRIN - Dominique Fidanza - BIGA*RANX - Albert Babin - Guylaine et Celine Royer - Caroline Levasseur
- Meilleur classement :
- Comme un boomerang - La nuit je mens - Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère - Céline - La montagne - You Know Who You Are
- Retrouvez-nous sur Facebook :
- Autres paroles de Dj Drama & Lil Wayne :
- Over Here
- Weezie Explains "miss My Dogs" 2
- Wayne Convos
- Ridin' With The Ak
- Weezy On The Streets Of N.o.
- Wayne Ho Story Skit
- Poppin Them Bottles
- Miss My Dogs (Live) W/b.g.
- Do's, Don't Of Young Money
- Spitter
- Paid In Full Skit
- What Else Is There To Do
- Dedication 4??????????
- Where The Cash At
- Hustlin
- Voir tous les textes et paroles de Dj Drama & Lil Wayne.


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After George W. Bush defeated Al Gore at the ballot box and in a rare show of fortitude for a Republican, didn't stand by haplessly wringing his hands when Gore tried to lawyer his way into the White House, liberals were outraged. Sure, Gore had never been ahead at any point, but OBVIOUSLY voter fraud had cost Democrats the election. Afterwards, Democrats DEMANDED that we do more to insure the integrity of our elections. Republicans agreed and for a while, we finally had an issue where there was genuine bipartisan agreement. Then came the 2004 elections and many of the same liberals who had requested better, more accurate voting machines claimed the very machines they wanted were being used for fraud because they didn't get the result they wanted. That marked the end of the Left's interest in stopping fraud at the ballot box.
On the other hand, Republicans have continued to try to make our elections honest and fair. Towards that end, one of the measures the GOP is pushing for is voter identification. If you need a picture ID to get on a plane, cash a check, buy alcohol, rent a car, get a marriage license, or to get into the Democratic National Convention, then asking for a photo ID to vote is a no-brainer. However, Democrats believe that they benefit from voter fraud; so they oppose any sort of attempt to verify that voters are who they say they are.
They can't admit that; so they use two excuses. The first is their patronizing and insulting claim that black Americans are so uniquely stupid and incompetent that you can't expect them to get a photo ID like white people do. It's amazing that in 2012, a major political party would make such a racist argument, but the Democrats do. Their other claim is that voter fraud is so exceedingly rare, so unlikely, such an impossibility that there's no need for any voter identification. According to the Democrats, we can afford to assume that everyone will be honest on Election Day. So, there's no need to take any basic precautions or take any steps to prevent fraud because it just doesn't happen.
Well, to the contrary, voter fraud happens all the time and it does sometimes occur on a level large enough to impact close elections. Furthermore, it undoubtedly happens much more than we realize. After all, if poll workers are prevented by law from asking if people are who they say they are, how often are they going to catch people in the act? Afterwards, when you have disinterested government employees or partisan groups scanning voter data to try to find fraud, it's nearly impossible to look at a spread sheet and determine that person X was really person Y. So, if you don't bother to check for voter ID on the front end, you're probably not going to find it on the back end either. When you consider that a dedicated, well prepared team of say a dozen operatives could literally go from polling place to polling place and cast HUNDREDS of fraudulent votes a day with little chance of being caught, it's not a small issue. That's why we should have some system in place other than the Democrats' touching insistence that we can trust everyone to be honest on Election Day because as you're about to see, that's certainly not the case.
1) James O' Keefe's Project Veritas shows how easy voter fraud is without Identification: When an undercover conservative reporter can vote as Ben Jealous, Bill Maher, or David Brock if he wants, there's a hole as wide as the Grand Canyon in the system.
James O'Keefe's new video shows Project Veritas going into poll locations in DC on April 3, being offered ballots for Ben Jealous, President & CEO of the NAACP; one Bill Maher; and David Brock (Project Veritas says they could not verify whether the David Brock for which they were offered a ballot was the same David Brock as the Media Matters president). Hilariously, Project Veritas also shows that you can't get into Media Matters without showing ID. The video also depicts Project Veritas going to a polling place and asking about Alicia Menendez, daughter of New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez (D) and political commentator on MSNBC; a poll worker asks to see ID, preventing Project Veritas from being offered Menendez's ballot.
2) What If Mohammed Atta had been the deciding vote in an election? As John Fund has noted, even the 9/11 hijackers were registered to vote.
John Hawkins: Here's something from your book that a lot of people may not know: "Eight of the 19 hijackers who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon had registered to vote." How did that happen?
John Fund: The Motor Voter Act of 1993, which was the first piece of legislation that Bill Clinton signed into law, mandated that states have to accept postcard voter registrations and also offer people applying for drivers' licenses the chance to register to vote. Several of the hijackers — they registered to vote when they got drivers' licenses and other false ID. I have no evidence they voted, but they were registered. They certainly could have voted.
3) You can thank illegal votes from felons for Al Franken: But, but, but the first two examples don't show any actual voter fraud. They just show that it's incredibly EASY to commit voter fraud. Is there an example of it swinging an election? Absolutely. If it wasn't for fraudulent votes, Al Franken would be doing his obnoxious stand up routines in a comedy club right now instead of the U.S. Senate.
In the '08 campaign, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman was running for re-election against Democrat Al Franken. It was impossibly close...After the first canvass, Coleman's lead was down to 206 votes. That was followed by months of wrangling and litigation. In the end, Franken was declared the winner by 312 votes. He was sworn into office in July 2009, eight months after the election. During the controversy a conservative group called Minnesota Majority began to look into claims of voter fraud. Comparing criminal records with voting rolls, the group identified 1,099 felons -- all ineligible to vote -- who had voted in the Franken-Coleman race. Minnesota Majority took the information to prosecutors across the state, many of whom showed no interest in pursuing it. But Minnesota law requires authorities to investigate such leads. And so far, Fund and von Spakovsky report, 177 people have been convicted -- not just accused, but convicted -- of voting fraudulently in the Senate race. Another 66 are awaiting trial. "The numbers aren't greater," the authors say, "because the standard for convicting someone of voter fraud in Minnesota is that they must have been both ineligible, and 'knowingly' voted unlawfully." The accused can get off by claiming not to have known they did anything wrong. Still, that's a total of 243 people either convicted of voter fraud or awaiting trial in an election that was decided by 312 votes. With 1,099 examples identified by Minnesota Majority, and with evidence suggesting that felons, when they do vote, strongly favor Democrats, it doesn't require a leap to suggest there might one day be proof that Al Franken was elected on the strength of voter fraud.
4) Democratic Congressional candidate Wendy Rosen commits voter fraud: Wendy Rosen was running for Congress in Maryland this year. Unfortunately, her campaign hit a little snag. Oopsy!
Wendy Rosen dropped from her race against Republican Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) today after it was discovered she had been voting in two states in recent elections – Maryland and Florida. Rosen said she was saddened to leave the race in Maryland.
5) Albany mayoral candidate Paul Etheridge commits voter fraud: Wendy Rosen is obviously some sort of freak, right? Certainly, there couldn't be another Democrat running for office who engaged in fraud, could there?
Former New Albany mayoral candidate Paul Etheridge was arrested Thursday and charged with three felony counts of voter fraud. Etheridge finished third in the Democratic Party mayoral primary in 2011, and it was during that election cycle the alleged fraud occurred, Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson announced during a Thursday press conference. Arrested on the same charges for the alleged incidents — which all involved the handling and casting of absentee ballots — was Joshua A. Clemons, of Floyd County. The charges the two are facing — which are all class D felonies each carrying six months to three years of jail time — are solicitation for a fraudulent absentee ballot, forgery of official ballot endorsement and fraudulent delivery of a ballot.
6) A NAACP official is headed to jail for 5 years over voter fraud: Well, those are just politicians. We all know they're liars! It's not a big surprise that they might be engaged in voter fraud. But, how can anyone support voter ID or other measures to secure the ballot when even the NAACP opposes it? Well, about that...
While NAACP President Benjamin Jealous lashed out at new state laws requiring photo ID for voting, an NAACP executive sits in prison, sentenced for carrying out a massive voter fraud scheme. In a story ignored by the national media, in April a Tunica County, Miss., jury convicted NAACP official Lessadolla Sowers on 10 counts of fraudulently casting absentee ballots. Sowers is identified on an NAACP website as a member of the Tunica County NAACP Executive Committee. Sowers received a five-year prison term for each of the 10 counts, but Circuit Court Judge Charles Webster permitted Sowers to serve those terms concurrently... ...Sowers was found guilty of voting in the names of Carrie Collins, Walter Howard, Sheena Shelton, Alberta Pickett, Draper Cotton and Eddie Davis. She was also convicted of voting in the names of four dead persons: James L. Young, Dora Price, Dorothy Harris, and David Ross. ….The NAACP has had other problems with voter fraud. The NAACP National Voter Fund registered a dead man to vote in Lake County, Ohio, in 2004. That same year, out of 325 voter registration cards filed by the NAACP in Cleveland, 48 were flagged as fraudulent.
7) John Kennedy won his Democratic Primary in 1960 via voter fraud: You might say, "Well, what difference does all of this really make?" A few people cheating here and there can't have a big impact. Not true. According to the late, great Robert Novak, John F. Kennedy won his Democratic primary in 1960 via voter fraud.
John Hawkins: In the book, you talk about a couple of incidents where the Democrats rigged votes. In one district, you watched as they literally told people that they couldn't vote anything other than a straight Democratic ticket.Robert Novak: That was outside of Chicago, yes.
John Hawkins: You also said that without question, John F. Kennedy rigged the West Virginia Democratic primary in (1960), but that the Wall Street Journal killed the story. Do you think that sort of thing is still occurring with great regularity and do you wish the Journal had reported the story when it happened?
Robert Novak: In my opinion, they should have. They sent two reporters down to West Virginia for six weeks and they came back with a carefully documented story on voter fraud in West Virginia, buying votes, and how he beat Humphrey in the primary and therefore got the nomination. But, Ed Kilgore, the President of Dow Jones and publisher of the Wall Street Journal, a very conservative man, said it wasn't the business of the Wall Street Journal to decide the nominee of the Democratic Party and he killed the story. That story didn't come out for many, many years — 30-40 years. It was kept secret all that time. Does it happen now? I don't really know. I got a feeling it happens less often, but that incident was kept secret all those years until it was uncovered in an anti-Kennedy book by a liberal correspondent and I felt that I wasn't bound to secrecy any more.