text:
Love Bear Beaded Bracelet
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
1 Weird Trick Forces Your Body
To Quickly Eliminate Candida Overgrowth
& Enjoy
Freedom From Yeast Infections In As Little As 12 Hours - Guaranteed!
The video presentation above shows you some unique and rare tips on how to treat candida yeast infection and gain complete relief in as little as 12 Hours! This is based on the latest scientific research on how to stop the actual CAUSE of Candida overgrowth and the debilitating yeast infection symptoms such as: Vaginal or Male Yeast Infections, Thrush, Digestive Disorders and Allergies, Mood Swings, Rashes and Loss of Energy. *And if you also have any excess, unhealthy body-fat, then the moves highlighted above will help burn it off while restoring your energy and vitality and dramatically improving the quality of your life.
Important note: I can't leave this video up for long, so be sure to watch it from beginning to end while it's still here. Remember: Watch the whole video, as the ending will pleasantly surprise you…
Listen to Real Success Stories From Actual Yeast Infection No More™ Customers..
"For years, I was plagued by chronic yeast infections, including but not limited to: rashes, weight gain, insomnia, acne, constipation, chronic fatigue, depression, sensitivity to chemicals, you name it. After following your program, I had made a significant progress. My thrush, acne and rashes had vanished. My skin had almost completely cleared up. I hadn't looked that good in 15 years. I felt rejuvenated, energized, happier and so much healthier."
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"I had suffered from mental fogginess, weight gain for no reason, depression and inability to focus along with a slew of other annoying digestive disorders. After about 3 weeks following your suggestions - my quality of life returned and every one of the symptoms have gone."
David Flinter Dublin, Ireland -
"This program is a must read for anyone suffering from Candida or ones like me who has ever taken antibiotics and is now experiencing any of the many problems that go along with intestinal flora imbalance. I must also add that several people in my church have been following this book and are doing great!"
Pauline U.S.A
"Now, I feel absolutely terrific. My throat and mouth pain have disappeared. I have no migraines or allergies and my sleep has greatly improved."
Jeff Severino -
"I recommend everyone to take this book for what it is, and educate yourselves with this one tool in the fight against candida. It could improve your life tremendously. I am now doing SO much better and have already recommended this book to couple of my friends."
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"Six weeks into the program and I no longer suffer from the debilitating symptoms that had practically ruined my life. There are no more migraines, no more joint and knee pains, no more menstrual pain, no more rashes on my chest and no more seborrhea on my eyebrows. It is truly a miracle that you have given me."
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"After years of suffering from a myriad of symptoms, going from doctor to doctor, with no light at the end of the tunnel, I finally got the relief I dreamed of after following your Yeast Infection No More program. "
Evelyn Chislett Melbourne, Australia


text:
There are quite a few german mathematical theorems or notions which usually are not translated into other languages. For example,
Nullstellensatz, Hauptvermutung, Freiheitssatz, Eigenvector (the "Eigen" part), Verschiebung.
For me, as a German, this is quite entertaining. Do you know other examples? Please one per answer, please give a reference for the term or a short explanation of what it means.
It would be great to see an explanation why there is no translation.
EDIT: Some more examples can be found at Wikipedia: Ansatz, Entscheidungsproblem, Grossencharakter, Hauptmodul, Möbius band, quadratfrei, Stützgerade, Vierergruppe, Nebentype.


text:
It's Time to Embrace Core Systems Transformation
Banks today face a wave of cultural and regulatory developments that are unrivaled in scope and velocity. Maintaining the status quo is no longer an option as change surrounds us, threatening to leave behind those who aren't flexible, adaptive to change and, increasingly, mobile. Transformation which to a growing extent is powered by information technology (IT), is the only sure path forward. Banks need to rethink and re-engineer both their business models and their cost of doing business. While U.S. banks are among the leading consumers of IT, many have steadfastly resisted core transformation. It's time to jump in, as we've reached a tipping point where the risk of delaying modernization greatly outweighs the traditional -- and now largely mitigated -- risks of proceeding.
Relationships between consumers and their financial institutions are changing rapidly. In the U.S., the branch is no longer the consumer's banking "home" as we've embraced online banking -- expecting 24/7, on-demand access to service and our money. Further, we're warming up rapidly to the idea of using our mobile devices as our personal branches and bankers -- increasingly looking to transfer money, make direct payments, deposit funds, and even open accounts at the tap of a screen. Consumers are looking for a more proactive relationship where it is quite clear that the bank "knows its customer" and is able to shape value propositions and deal structures customized for that situation. Banks must deliver -- and deliver quickly -- on these requirements and many more.
Financial institutions are also buffeted by a more prescriptive regulatory climate in the post-financial crisis era -- adding costs and complexity and limiting their ability to deploy capital. The requirement for more frequent and rigorous stress testing and new liquidity ratios weigh heavily on our largest banks. Many banks simply do not have the systems and processes in place to respond promptly, cost-effectively and with agility to regulators' requests, which hinders operations and their ability to put their capital to work.
With higher costs, capital constraints, and restrictions on some fee-based income, banks also look to gain a much more precise understanding of customer profitability and strategies to increase it. There is significant work to be done on this front with some estimates pegging non-profitable customers at as high as 60% of a bank's base -- a huge drain on money and time spent servicing them. The cost of doing business and acquiring customers is also escalating, spurring an unprecedented focus on the customer experience and retention … especially for the "right" customers. The challenge for many institutions is identifying this group of customers.
All of these changes point to the need to transform business models by:
- Industrializing business processes, driving productivity improvements across front and back offices -- including in the compliance function -- and reducing operating costs.
- Enabling top-line revenue growth through multiproduct origination capabilities, comprehensive pricing strategies, and new distribution modes.
- Moving customer centricity from an aspiration to a reality by putting the customer and ubiquitous service at the heart of the business model.
- Creating business agility and enabling business innovation.
As banks work toward these goals, they often find that their legacy core banking environments -- a patchwork precariously stitched together to support current operations and ultimately preserve the status quo -- are simply not up to the challenge. It's time to face our fears and embrace modernization. The ability to transform business models depends on it.
In the U.S., core replacement has been among banking executives' greatest fears. A sense of "If it's not truly broken, then why risk it?" has prevailed. That question is increasingly irrelevant, however, because even though legacy systems -- many of which rely on batch processing -- continue to plug along to support the status quo, they are not built for emerging business requirements and a climate in which real-time processing is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.


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The Book of Omni
Chapter 1
Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom, and Amaleki, each in turn, keep the records—Mosiah discovers the people of Zarahemla, who came from Jerusalem in the days of Zedekiah—Mosiah is made king over them—The descendants of Mulek at Zarahemla had discovered Coriantumr, the last of the Jaredites—King Benjamin succeeds Mosiah—Men should offer their souls as an offering to Christ. About 323–130 B.C.
1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon athese plates, to preserve our genealogy—
2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself aam a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done.
3 And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many aseasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the bcommandments of my cfathers; and I dconferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.
4 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are few, in the book of my father.
5 Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were adestroyed.
6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: aInasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not bprosper in the land.
7 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, he did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.
8 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother Chemish.
9 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my brother; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep the arecords, for it is according to the commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.
10 Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren.
11 And behold, the arecord of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the bkings, according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end.
12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning aMosiah, who was made king over the bland of Zarahemla; for behold, he being cwarned of the Lord that he should dflee out of the eland of fNephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also gdepart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his aarm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the bland of Zarahemla.
14 And they discovered a apeople, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the bplates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.
15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of aZarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that bZedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.
16 And they ajourneyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.
17 And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their alanguage had become corrupted; and they had brought no brecords with them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them.
18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his alanguage. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and they are written, but bnot in these plates.
19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did aunite together; and bMosiah was appointed to be their king.
20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large astone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did binterpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.
21 And they gave an account of one aCoriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.
22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the atower, at the time the Lord bconfounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their cbones lay scattered in the land northward.
23 Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived to see his death; and aBenjamin, bhis son, reigneth in his stead.
24 And behold, I have seen, in the days of king Benjamin, a serious war and much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But behold, the Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that king Benjamin did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla.
25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing king aBenjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall bdeliver up cthese plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are dgood; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.
26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should acome unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and boffer your whole souls as an coffering unto him, and continue in dfasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.
27 And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain anumber who went up into the wilderness to breturn to the cland of Nephi; for there was a large number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance.
28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a contention among them; and they were aall slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.
29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a considerable number, and took their journey again into the wilderness.
30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and athese plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.


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Corn Pikelets with Fresh Tomato Salsa |
My memories of pikelets as a child, growing up in a British household, do not bring to mind the stage name of an Australian singer/songwriter Evelyn Morris or a character in the video game Banjo-Kazooie- Nuts & Bolts. In my mind a pikelet is essentially a free-form version of a crumpet whose nooks and crannies envelope all that melted butter. My own conclusion, that I am sticking to, is that crumpets are baked on a griddle in a metal ring. The action of the heat from below on the yeast and the raising agent reacts and bubbles are formed quickly and burst at the surface, giving an uneven, pitted top. Pikelets are thinner, and are baked on a griddle without a ring to hold them. Pikelets are also cooked on both sides.
Whatever the truth about crumpets or Pikelets we can still enjoy them for what they are!!Pikelets have been a favorite of Aussie, Kiwi and British kids for decades. And who can blame them? What's not to love!!!! I have fond memories of waking up to find a plate of pikelets waiting for me. They weren't the homemade kind but they were still delicious with copious amounts of melted butter oozing from every nook and cranny!!! Mom always served them with fried tomatoes with the pikelets as the foile to scoop up every last bit of tomato juice left on the plate. I am lic king my lips as we speak!!!
Until recently I had not heard of any other kind. But did you know that there are sweet versions? I must have been hiding under a rock!!! Tomorrow I am going to try a blueberry pikelets version topped with a dusting of icing sugar and melted butter. Try this version by my friend Peter at Souvlaki for the Soul. Pikelets made his way!! How's about Banana Pikelets, Chestnut Pikelets, Pikelets with Berries and Yogurt or Sweet Potato Pikelets. They will make a great weekend breakfast whatever you choose and they're really simple to make.
In the meantime I couldn't resist these savory corn pikelets to highlight the summer bounty made with Parmesan cheese and studded with cayenne pepper. These were absolutely stellar in my books. One of those recipes I will use over and over again!!! Someday if I ever I write a cookbook this will be in it!!!
The recipe calls for self-raising flour which is not readily available here in Canada (that I am aware of). Therefore make your own. Sift two teaspoons of baking powder with every cup of flour used. The other alternative is to sift half a teaspoon bicarbonate of soda and one teaspoon of cream of tartar with every cup of flour.
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 corn on the cob (kernels removed) can also use 310g canned corn
olive oil cooking spray
3 tomatoes, finely chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
Sift flour, cayenne and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Stir in Parmesan. Make a well in the centre. Using a fork, whisk egg and buttermilk together. Add to flour mixture. Stir until just combined. Stir in corn.
Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Spray frying pan with oil. Drop heaped tablespoonfuls of mixture into pan, 4 at a time. Cook for 2 minutes each side, or until golden. Transfer to a plate. Keep warm.
Make salsa: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Serve pikelets topped with salsa.
Serves 4
NOTE: To make self-raising flour if not readily available, sift two teaspoons of baking powder with every cup of plain flour used. The other alternative is to sift half a teaspoon bicarbonate of soda and one teaspoon of cream of tartar with every cup of plain flour.
You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.


text:
Aviator Small Sunglasses
No results
We know that it takes some effort to try something new. We think our service will make your life easier, and we want you to give us a shot, so we are offering new customers a special incentive. New customers can use the code A13C55L9 during checkout and save 20% on their order.
This offer is applicable to the regular price of items on the order and does not apply to shipping charges or sales tax. Offer cannot be combined with other coupons, sales, or special offers. This promotion is limited to first time customers only. We reserve the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time.
For Best Fit: Shop for frames within 1-3 mm of the shown Lens Width, 1-2 mm of the shown Bridge Width, and 4-6 mm of the shown Temple Length.


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When this coconut bread was baking inside the oven, my whole kitchen was full of nice coconut aromatic !!
make coconut balls then wrap with bread dough
if you like coconut bread, don't miss to try this out, you will love it!!
Plaited Coconut Bread 椰子面包
(recipe source: adapted from Magic Bread cookbook with minor changes)
Gelatinized dough
100g bread flour
70ml hot boiling water
1. Place flour in a mixing bowl.
2. Add hot boiling water and mix with wooden spoon to form a rough dough.
3. Cover bowl with cling film and leave dough to cool in the fridge for at least 1 hour, and up to 48 hours.
To prepare Basic sweet bread dough
1 quantity of gelatinized dough
300g bread flour
100g plain flour
80g sugar
20g milk powder
1 tbsp instant yeast
½ tsp salt
175ml cold water
1 cold egg
60g cold butter, cubed
1. Combine flours, sugar, milk powder, yeast and salt together in a mixing bowl.
2. Tear the gelatinized dough into pieces and add to the bowl along with the eggs
3. Using a stand electric mixer, mix on low speed, adding cold water gradually.
4. Mix until dough is well combined and leave the sides of bowl.
5. Add in the cold butter cubes and mix on medium speed until dough is smooth.
6. Shape dough into a ball, leave to proof for 40mins or until doubled.
To prepare Plaited coconut bread
1 quantity of basic sweet bread dough
70g butter
120g sugar
1 egg
1tsp pandan paste (I use homemade pandan paste), optional
A drop of green food colouring
110g desiccated coconut
50g milk powder
1. Cream butter and sugar until light. Add in egg , pandan paste, green colouring, mix well.
2. Add in desiccated coconut and milk powder, combine well. Shape it into balls, weight 35g each and refrigerated till it is firmed.
3. Divide sweet bread dough into 70g each and shape it round. Let rest for another 10mins.
4. Wrap coconut balls into dough, flatten the dough then roll it up like Swiss roll. Place it onto greased pan, make 7-8 cuts by using sharp scissors.
5. Twist the cut section one to left and another to the right, until is done. Let it proof for 45mins.
6. Egg wash and place in the middle shelve of the oven. Bake at 180c for 12-15mins.


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Best Internet Providers in Nilópolis, State of Rio de Janeiro for 2024
This information on internet performance in Nilópolis, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is updated regularly based on Speedtest® data from millions of consumer-initiated tests taken every day. After you've learned about median download and upload speeds from Nilópolis over the last year, visit the list below to see mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds from additional cities within State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Then compare your internet experience by taking a Speedtest below.
For additional up-to-date information about internet speeds in Brazil as a whole, visit the Speedtest Global Index™ or read our recent Market Reports for provider information.
Nilópolis Fixed Speeds
Download Mbps
Median download speed
Upload Mbps
Median upload speed
Latency ms
Median latency
To be added to this list for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 200 monthly unique user results. To be updated for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 100 monthly unique user results.
An operator or ISP must account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market to be on this list. We display data if at least two operators or ISPs meet this threshold in a designated region or city.
Cities in State of Rio de Janeiro
- Angra dos Reis
- Araruama
- Armação dos Búzios
- Arraial do Cabo
- Barra do Piraí
- Barra Mansa
- Belford Roxo
- Cabo Frio
- Cachoeiras de Macacu
- Campos
- Duque de Caxias
- Guapimirim
- Iguaba Grande
- Itaboraí
- Itaguaí
- Itaperuna
- Itatiaia
- Japeri
- Macaé
- Magé
- Mangaratiba
- Maricá
- Mesquita
- Miguel Pereira
- Nilópolis
- Niterói
- Nova Friburgo
- Nova Iguaçu
- Paracambi
- Paraty
- Petrópolis
- Porto Real
- Queimados
- Resende
- Rio Bonito
- Rio das Ostras
- Rio de Janeiro
- Saquarema
- Seropédica
- São Fidélis
- São Gonçalo
- São João de Meriti
- São Pedro da Aldeia
- Teresópolis
- Três Rios
- Valença
- Volta Redonda
The data found within has not been subjected to the rigorous Speedtest marketing claims and data methodology, and therefore cannot be used in commercial applications. Additionally, promised speeds and plans offered are always subject to change.
How to test your internet speed
Speedtest can help you test the speed and overall performance of your internet for free from any device. Click here to open a new page and take a Speedtest. You can then compare your results with what you've learned about internet performance near you. If you aren't getting the results you expect, you can either use this guide to use your Speedtest results to talk to your internet provider or you can shop for a new provider.


text:
3 Nights | 3- DAY BAHAMAS & KEY WEST FROM MIAMI - FREE OPEN BAR
About Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
You will visit the following 3 places:
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. It is considered the southernmost city in the continental United States. The city also occupies nearby islands and portions of nearby islands. It's popularly known for its stunning beaches, coral reefs – destinations for diving and snorkeling.
Miami is a major city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625. The 42nd largest city in the United States, with a population of 433,136, it is the principal, central, and most populous city of the South {Florida} metropolitan area, the most populous metropolis in the Southeastern United States. According to the US Census Bureau, Miami's metro area is the seventh most populous in the United States, with an estimated population of 5,547,051 in 2009.
Great Stirrup Cay
Great Stirrup Cay is a small island that is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the island from the Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and developed it into a private island for their cruise ship passengers. The northern part of the island has a sandy beach surrounded by rocks with snorkeling areas. The southern part features a helicopter airfield (with a sign reading "Great Stirrup Cay International Airport"), a large area without vegetation, and numerous concrete blocks. These are all remnants of a previous U.S. military installation and satellite tracking station. The island's lighthouse was originally constructed in 1863 by the Imperial Lighthouse Service. Great Stirrup Cay is adjacent to Little Stirrup Cay, Royal Caribbean Cruises' private island.


text:
My name is Benjamin Dumke-von der Ehe. I am Stack Overflow Valued Associate #00007, which is just a confusing way of saying that I work as a developer for Stack Exchange.
I am @balpha on Twitter. My blog's "about" page explains the origin of my user name.
I am the creator of Unicornify, the service that gives you these lovable creatures:
I also created Lyfe, a small library adding yield
-based generators to JavaScript, and Not a Real Question, a little game that's played with data from various Stack Exchange sites.
I sometimes have a strange sense of humor, but I also like to explain things I fix, break, care about, or come up with.


text:
Speaking to a friend of mine a while ago, I was somewhat taken aback when he intimated that he had a good chuckle whenever he was sent to do training in Africa. He was a serving soldier in a European army and part of his country's "aid package" to Africa, was – and still is - to train African armies. The reason for my surprise was not that he told me that the country they train becomes beholden to them for its weapons of war, political goodwill and aid – I have suspected this all along – but that their brief is to purposely train the African armies badly.
The more I thought about this sneaky approach to training, the more agitated I became – especially as I consider myself an African living in Africa.
I have, for a long time, known of both the West's and the East's efforts to continually sabotage Africa. I have also witnessed first-hand the betrayal of entire nations – African and otherwise- by the West when it suited their aims. But, as long as conflict rages in Africa, resources remain cheap and the desire for war material remains at an all-time high. The poorer these armies are trained, the easier it is to defeat them with insurgent forces – the rebels, in turn, often supported by the very people that trained the government forces. When I suggested the reason of their brief – to ensure instability - he very reluctantly agreed with me. It also made me understand why some African armies are often unable to contain even small rebel groups.
From my experience, a disciplined, well-trained, well-led African army is more than a match for any other army, let alone a rebel group. I base this comment on the time I served with 32 Battalion's Reconnaissance Wing, the African Special Forces members I trained in covert operations, the work of 101 Battalion, Koevoet and the like. Many of these men later joined Executive Outcomes where they continued to give outstanding work. They never ran from a fight, followed their orders to the letter and never complained. They didn't need to watch television every night, get "time out cards" when the going got tough, live off balanced diets, rely on technology to win the battles they fought and so on.
My experience of working with African soldiers is that they are men who are loyal to a fault, take well to discipline and harsh combat conditions, they are adaptable, they are willing to follow orders exactly, they fight like lions, they follow their commanders and yet when the smoke clears, they are still proud to be soldiers. But to achieve this, they need good training, leadership and discipline.
However, looking at the conflicts in Africa, it is very clear that the military "aid packages" foreign governments are keen to hand out are serving their purposes very well. African armies are poorly trained, poorly led and purposely kept weak.
When African governments realise what is happening, and dain to approach a PMC to ensure that they are given the best, non-political, no-strings-attached training they can get, they are very quickly condemned. Suddenly no consideration is given to the fact that the PMC is made up of ex-professional soldiers who want to ensure that the government in question gets the best training it can afford. The off-key chorus is then led by the "aid giving" government who, when it had a chance, did everything in its power to sabotage those armies with an evil agenda hidden behind a smile, condescension and false kindness.
The PMC industry does, however, have its own bad apples to contend with. It is the bad apples that create the stink surrounding the disciplined, efficient PMCs. Whereas PMCs are quick to blame the media for their problems, they will find their problems a lot closer to home than that. (The modern-day PMC does not have to fight the mass media as EO did). It is the PMC-poser companies that need to be exposed for what they are. But it is also a responsibility of the real PMCs to expose the fly-by-night companies out there operating on someone else's reputation and in the process discrediting everyone.
The reality is that a professional, disciplined PMC will provide a better, more cost-effective and more efficient service than a government armed force, especially as they come with no hidden agenda. But, those that do get exposed for having a hidden agenda need to be taken to task and their contracts immediately terminated, along with international exposure.
An African government, like any other government, can decide on its own destiny. It can approach that destiny in a prepared or an unprepared manner. Yet, when it decides on its own destiny, it suddenly discovers that it is not allowed to do so unless it is willing to pay the price of international condemnation, sanctions and isolation. Obviously, the UN does not want this to happen as their incompetent and corrupt peacekeepers will be without work. NGOs will, likewise, condemn this as they will be caught with reduced funding.
The African Union's dismal performance is further testimony to this "strategy" of "train badly, lose easily". But where does the blame lie and who benefits from this? One need look no further that the military-aid giving government.
I believe the time has come for African governments to look at a "no-strings-attached" professional PMC to train to their armed forces. The result will be a better trained and led armed force, increased stability and no international political-, financial-, and social blackmail threats to contend with.
My next post will take a look at the difference between strategy and tactics.
Added on 7 February 2009: Please see http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=nw20090207091706646C101041&set_id=1&click_id=68&sf= This illustrates, as a recent example, what I had written about. Poorly planned and Western encouraged to ensure even more problems in the Great Lakes area…no doubt the blame will be placed on the Ugandan Peoples Defence Force while the US military will claim its innocence at the incident. But until such time as African governments decide on their own destiny, these things will continue to happen.


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For the second straight year, millions of Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect historically small increases in their benefits come January.
Preliminary figures suggest a benefit increase of roughly 1.5 percent, which would be among the smallest since automatic increases were adopted in 1975, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Next year's raise will be small because consumer prices, as measured by the government, haven't gone up much in the past year.
The exact size of the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, won't be known until the Labor Department releases the inflation report for September. That was supposed to happen Wednesday, but the report was delayed indefinitely because of the partial government shutdown.
The COLA is usually announced in October to give Social Security and other benefit programs time to adjust January payments. The Social Security Administration has given no indication that raises would be delayed because of the shutdown, but advocates for seniors said the uncertainty was unwelcome.
Social Security benefits have continued during the shutdown.
More than one-fifth of the country is waiting for the news.
Nearly 58 million retirees, disabled workers, spouses and children get Social Security benefits. The average monthly payment is $1,162. A 1.5 percent raise would increase the typical monthly payment by about $17.
The COLA also affects benefits for more than 3 million disabled veterans, about 2.5 million federal retirees and their survivors, and more than 8 million people who get Supplemental Security Income, the disability program for the poor.
Automatic COLAs were adopted so that benefits for people on fixed incomes would keep up with rising prices. Many seniors, however, complain that the COLA sometimes falls short, leaving them little wiggle room.
David Waugh of Bethesda, Md., said he can handle one small COLA but several in a row make it hard to plan for unexpected expenses.
"I'm not one of those folks that's going to fall into poverty, but it is going to make a difference in my standard of living as time goes by," said Waugh, 83, who retired from the United Nations. "I live in a small apartment and I have an old car, and it's going to break down. And no doubt when it does, I'll have to fix it or get a new one."
Since 1975, annual Social Security raises have averaged 4.1 percent. Only six times have they been less than 2 percent, including this year, when the increase was 1.7 percent. There was no COLA in 2010 or 2011 because inflation was too low.
By law, the cost-of-living adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W, a broad measure of consumer prices generated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures price changes for food, housing, clothing, transportation, energy, medical care, recreation and education.
The COLA is calculated by comparing consumer prices in July, August and September each year to prices in the same three months from the previous year. If prices go up over the course of the year, benefits go up, starting with payments delivered in January.
This year, average prices for July and August were 1.4 percent higher than they were a year ago, according to the CPI-W.
Once the September report, the final piece of the puzzle, is released, the COLA can be officially announced. If prices continued to slowly inch up in September, that would put the COLA at roughly 1.5 percent.
Several economists said there were no dramatic price swings in September to significantly increase or decrease the projected COLA. That means the projection shouldn't change by more than a few tenths of a percentage point, if at all.
Polina Vlasenko, a research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, projects the COLA will be between 1.4 percent and 1.6 percent.
Her projection is similar to those done by others, including AARP, which estimates the COLA will be between 1.5 percent and 1.7 percent. The Senior Citizens League estimates it will be about 1.5 percent.
Lower prices for gasoline are helping to fuel low inflation, Vlasenko said.
"In years with high COLA's, a lot of that had to do with fuel prices and in some cases food prices. Neither of those increased much this year," Vlasenko said. "So that kept the lid on the overall increase in prices."
Gasoline prices are down 2.4 percent from a year ago while food prices are up slightly, according to the August inflation report. Housing costs went up 2.3 percent and utilities increased by 3.2 percent.
Advocates for seniors say the government's measure of inflation doesn't accurately reflect price increases older Americans face because they tend to spend more of their income on health care. Medical costs went up less than in previous years but still outpaced other consumer prices, rising 2.5 percent.
"This (COLA) is not enough to keep up with inflation, as it affects seniors," said Max Richtman, who heads the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. "There are some things that become cheaper but they are not things that seniors buy. Laptop computers have gone down dramatically but how many people at 70 are buying laptop computers?"
The cost of personal computers dropped by 10.6 percent over the past year, according the CPI-W.
That's a small consolation to Alberta Gaskins of the District of Columbia, who said she is concerned about keeping up with her household bills.
"It is very important to get the COLA because everything else you have in your life is on an upward swing, and if you're on a downward swing, that means your quality of life is going down," said Gaskins, who retired from the Postal Service in 1989.


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Welcome to the most comprehensive directory of airsoft sites in Lang Son, Vietnam! Whether you're a seasoned airsoft veteran, a casual player, or a curious beginner, our extensive list showcases the finest airsoft locations in the region. Dive deep into the exhilarating world of airsoft battles, strategic scenarios, and pulse-pounding game modes right here in Lang Son.
Discover the Ultimate Airsoft Experiences in Lang Son From intricate urban landscapes to vast outdoor terrains, Lang Son boasts a diverse array of airsoft sites that cater to every playstyle and preference. Each site listed here is not only equipped with state-of-the-art facilities but also offers a unique gameplay environment that promises an unforgettable experience.
Why Choose Lang Son, Vietnam for Your Airsoft Adventures?
- Diverse Terrain Options: Engage in a myriad of game scenarios, from intense close-quarter combats to strategic long-range shootouts.
- Vibrant Community: Become a part of Lang Son's thriving airsoft community, where players of all levels come together to share their passion and expertise.
- High-Quality Equipment: Many of our featured sites provide equipment rentals, ensuring players have access to the latest and most advanced gear on the market.
- Expert Staff: The airsoft sites in Lang Son are managed by experienced professionals who can offer guidance, tips, and ensure the safety of all participants.
Events and Tournaments Stay updated with the latest events, tournaments, and special game days hosted by various airsoft sites in Lang Son. Whether you're looking to compete or just enjoy a fun-filled day, there's always something happening in the airsoft community here.
Embark on a Thrilling Airsoft Journey! Browse through our curated list of top-notch airsoft sites in Lang Son, Vietnam, and set out on a thrilling adventure that promises excitement, challenge, and camaraderie. Whether you're organizing a group event, seeking a new hobby, or simply wanting to experience the thrill of the game, Lang Son is the place to be for every airsoft enthusiast.


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ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire - INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble has said that the opening of INTERPOL's new premises for its Regional Bureau in Abidjan symbolizes the commitment of Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa to international law enforcement cooperation.
"Since the opening of INTERPOL's Regional Bureau in Abidjan in 1994, all countries in the region have experienced dark moments. But they remained united in their determination to combat crime and terrorism, and the reopening of INTERPOL's Regional Bureau is a symbol of the region's solidarity," Secretary General Noble said at a special ceremony in Abidjan on Saturday after a meeting with Ivorian Prime Minister Jeannot Kouadio-Ahoussou.
With INTERPOL's Regional Bureau in Abidjan serving West Africa, Mr Noble said countries in the region faced a number of security challenges – including arms and drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking and maritime piracy – which required regional collaboration.
"INTERPOL's new Regional Bureau in Abidjan will be an important resource for countries in the region to meet these security challenges," added the INTERPOL Chief as he paid tribute to Ivorian authorities for their efforts in the reopening of the Regional Bureau.
In this respect, the audience heard how an INTERPOL unit which included members of the Abidjan Regional Bureau had already supported an Ivorian police operation in analyzing drugs seized at Abidjan airport, and that specialist officers at INTERPOL's General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, were studying possible links to a drug seizure made by Belgian police.
The Head of INTERPOL said West Africa's leadership in international law enforcement cooperation would see countries in the region become the first worldwide to be directly connected before the end of 2012 to INTERPOL's iARMS system used to identify illicit weapons.
Senior officials at the ceremony included Hamed Bakayoko, the Interior Minister of Côte d'Ivoire who represented President Alassane Ouattara, Director General of the Ivorian National Police Bredou M'Bia,, Chiefs of Police from the West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO), as well as Yves Kouassi, Acting Head of INTERPOL's Regional Bureau in Abidjan, and Alain Justin Assemian Angui Eboi, Head of INTERPOL's National Central Bureau in Abidjan. INTERPOL officials from other Regional Bureaus in Africa and National Central Bureaus in the region also attended the inauguration.
As part of its global presence and to support police authorities regionally by providing them with access to INTERPOL's global tools and services, INTERPOL operates seven regional offices worldwide – in Argentina, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Kenya, Thailand and Zimbabwe. Each of INTERPOL's 190 member countries maintains a National Central Bureau(NCB) which forms the link between national police and the INTERPOL global network.


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Now streaming on:
Xu Lang, a stiff corporate executive with shaved head, pressed shirt, and shiny silver briefcase, has invented a chemical that enhances fossil fuels. Add a few drops of this "Supergas" to a quarter cup of oil, and the oil expands to fill its container. Now, he heads from China to Thailand to find his boss and get approval to further develop and market his miracle compound. Because this is a screwball comedy, his polished veneer will fall away as he's pushed to his wits' end.
Xu (played by director Xu Zheng) faces opposition from a smarmy, black-clad corporate rival named Gao (Huang Bo), with giant hipster glasses and alternative rock hairstyle, who wants to sell Supergas to the French. Meanwhile, Xu's dedication to work has ruined his family life. His wife wants to leave him, his grade-school daughter hates him, and he has only two days before he must return to China for divorce proceedings.
Xu's trip is plagued with technical problems that prevent him from finding his boss' exact location. For most of the film, he only knows that his boss is on a retreat in a Buddhist temple. In Thailand, where there are thousands of such temples. Gao, however, manages to remain on Xu's tail because of a large GPS tracker he plants in Xu's cell phone. With access to such technology, you'd think Xu could contact his secretary back in China and get his administrator's location, but that would be too reasonable for this movie.
These elements could make for a strong dramatic movie. That is, until Xu gets on the plane and meets Wang Bao (Wang Baoqiang), a buffoon with a bleached bowl haircut and a big heart, who manages to ruin every moment of hope with his simple-minded mishaps. Wang Bao carries a cactus, a camera, a bucket list of activities, a travel diary, and a photo of his "wife," Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing, clipped from the newspaper. He speaks with love about his mother's life lessons, though she seems have nothing profound to say.
He is also a Thai kickboxer, with only one move: a devastating vertical kick that he can perform only from a platform. If that is not enough, he also has a recipe for onion pancakes. And, yes, every one of these tools finds their use (or misuse) in this film. And, yes, Wang Bao keeps dropping in on Xu, sometimes fortuitously, and sometimes disasterously. "Lost in Thailand" suggests the heart of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" amid madcap moments that recall something between Mr. Bean and Jackie Chan. Wang Bao is John Candy to Xu's Steve Martin.
As Xu and Bao travel through Thailand, the film offers cultural depictions we might expect from similar American movies. Thailand is shown as a lush land of green trees and thick raindrops. But, the Thai people themselves serve only as an anonymous backdrop for the foreground hysterics.
The film also traffics in some of the common stereotypes of Southeast Asia, including swarthy gang members carrying machetes and East Asian women tossing themselves as sexual playthings for Westerners. Still, it manages to make absurd jokes out of these clichés. More than that, the film offers glimpses of things not often seen in movies, including Songkran, Thailand's New Year's celebration. Of course, this water-splashing festival mainly provides setups for humor.
The story gets increasingly preposterous as it unfolds, and half the jokes are predictable. Many comedies fall short, putting wit on hold to fulfill the necessities of plot. Here, however, plot simply provides a destination and a deadline. This film races with such high energy that the humor continues to satisfy, if only because the characters are so likeable.
The gags are almost entirely physical, but the emotions are universal. From the start, it is clear that Xu will face dual crises of conscience -- over the tug-of-war between his career ambitions and his family's needs, and his frustration with the annoying, yet sympathetic Wang Bao.
"Lost in Thailand" is China's all-time biggest box office moneymaker, second only to "Avatar." Some attribute its success to the escapism it offers to young people locked into a corporate life. In the screening I attended, on a wet wintery weeknight, the audience roared with laughter. A February release in America, this is the kind of movie to watch to escape the doldrums. In any case, "Lost in Thailand" should soon attract a global audience, and I expect an American remake will soon appear on the horizon.
105 minutes
Xu Zheng as Xu Lang
Wang Baoqiang as Wang Bao
Huang Bo as Gao Bo
Fan Bingbing as Herself


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In what sounds like a movie tale, A woman in Obuno Umuochefu, Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state has snuffed life out of four children of her boyfriend by strangling them. Not done with her bestial mission, the suspect sat back at the scene of the crime until her victims' parents returned, and attacked their mother.
For Mr and Mrs Nwanneka Ogechukwu Okonkwo, both natives of Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area but resident in Igbo-Ukwu, January 15, 2013, came like any other day. But the young couple who are each 28 years old, never knew that it was the day their four children, Chukwuebuka, (13), Chukwumelum (6) Obumneme (3) and 15-month-old Chinenyenwa would breathe their last.
The young couple had no premonition of the tragedy that shocked everybody in the community. Their three sons and a daughter were allegedly killed by a lady simply identified as Blessing, from Abakiliki in Ebonyi State. Narrating the tragic incident, the mother of the dead children who spoke with Sunday Sun at Ekwulumili Health Centre where she was recuperating from the shock, said that she was also attacked by the suspect. Mrs Okonkwo said that the eldest of her children, Chukwuebuka, was the first casualty.
According to her, the suspect allegedly hit him on his forehead with a hard object and dumped the lifeless body inside an underground tank in the compound before strangling his siblings one after the other. "I was to go for a burial ceremony with my husband at Ukpor on that fateful day and the children went to school. We initially left with the youngest one, Chinenyenwa but the vehicle we boarded was jam-packed with passengers and the baby started crying. Consequently, my husband said we should disembark and use our motorcycle but people around said the road was too dusty to ride with a baby on a bike.
I decided to go home and wait for our other children who went to school so that they would take care of the baby and enable my husband and I to make the trip with our motorcycle. "But long after school hours, the children didn't come home. We went to the school and other pupils told us that our children had gone home. I looked for them along the roads they usually take to the house but I did not see them.
Thereafter, I urged my husband to go on his own and look for them, but he returned soon after, saying he had seen them coming home. Before my husband and I left for the burial, I gave them food and told them to go and stay with an old woman in the neighbourhood because we are the only occupants of that building, and I don't like them staying alone in the compound. "We had stayed barely one hour at the burial ceremony when my husband said we should go home.
But before we left, my husband's phone rang and I heard him say, 'I'm in a burial'. So, as we got close to our home, his phone rang again and he told the caller that we were not back yet. I didn't ask him who the caller was as we rode straight to the house.
"When we got to the elderly neighbour's house, we were told that she had gone for prayers and that my children were not seen there. We got to the house and I opened the gate from behind believing that the children were inside the house. As we parked our motorcycle inside the compound, my husband pointed to the underground tank that was open. I became apprehensive because we don't keep it open. But I said maybe the eldest might have drawn water from the well and had forgotten to close it.
I called Ebuka but there was no response. I ran into the sitting room and saw the three younger ones lying on the floor as if they were asleep. I ran out again believing that those three were sleeping. I continued to call Ebuka and looked into the tank and I didn't see anything. "Later, I decided to wake up Ebuka's immediate younger brother to ascertain the whereabouts of his brother. I called him but he didn't wake up; I tried to rouse him but he was motionless and so were the other two. I cried to my husband that the children were dead and I concluded that since the three were dead, Ebuka might be inside the well.
There were marks of human nails on their necks that showed that they were strangled. One of them had faeces in his anus. "It was when my husband started crying and moved towards our bedroom, that the lady (suspect) emerged from the bedroom and asked him why he was shouting. Then, I advanced towards her and demanded from her, where she kept Ebuka's body because I had seen the others she killed. I held her and she gripped me. When I freed myself from her grip, I rushed to lock one of the two gates and raised the alarm until neighbours came.
"Later, somebody rushed out and called the youths of the community before the local vigilante and policemen arrived. She was arrested along with my husband." Sources told Sunday Sun that the timely arrival of the police and the local vigilante saved the suspect from being lynched. It was also gathered that Mr Okonkwo, a furniture maker, had been dating the suspect, a relationship his wife confirmed, and had been battling to stop.
When contacted, the couple's landlord, Mr Sunday, who lives outside the community, described the alleged killing of the innocent children as unfortunate and declined further comment. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra State, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident and said the matter was being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, the state capital.
Pg. Nibo


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I'm not really sure how to start this post, as this is an incredibly difficult post for me to write, one that I've put off writing for a bit. I have a lot I want to say, but I'll start with the most obvious and maybe go backwards from there.
This blog, Tree of Life, is going the way of our old tree form. OMG the irony! Heh. But seriously, this blog is going where resto druid blogs go to hibernate. Wherever that is, I'm sure Phaelia, Bell, and Amanna (do some of you guys remember Amanna from way back in the day?) will welcome me with branchy arms. :)
For the last couple of weeks, I've actually taken a break from the game. As I shared with my guildies, I have some other aspects of my life that I need to focus on right now. I last raided with the guild over two weeks ago and those last raids were incredibly hard for me. Tears were literally streaming down my cheeks and I think some people died because their grid boxes got a little blurry. Oops.
I think the incredible draw of WoW for so many of us is how sneakily it brings in this social network and real meaningful friendships, right inside your house. It's incredible how you end up talking to your friends and guildies in game more often than you talk to your closest friends. It was incredibly difficult for me to imagine not having that.
So my break from the game started early this month but I wanted to think very carefully about what I wanted to do with this blog before making any rash decisions. I guess I just wanted to make sure that things felt right. It's a decision that is still very hard for me, but I know it's the right one to make right now. I guess my head says I need to do it, but my heart is a little sad. I was a little concerned that I was so sad over closing this blog, but then again I guess stopping something after doing it for over 3 years, no matter what that is, is a bit of a change.
Now in terms of the break from WoW, while I was initially kind of worried about it, it's actually turned out really well. As I told Jess the other night, I'm really really happy right now. Things are good, and it has seemed like my life and various opportunities have opened up to fill the space that WoW used to occupy. Who knows, maybe they were always there and I can just see them clearly now. But this doesn't mean that I don't miss the guildies tremendously, because I do. :(
Jess has known for the last couple of months that I was struggling with this decision. In discussing it, we talked about this whole concept of real life and online life. I'm not sure it's completely right to say that I decided I was going to focus on real life right now. Because who is to say that my online life wasn't "real"? The incredible relationships, the camaraderie within the guild... damn straight it's all real, damn it!!! (Could I say damn one more time?!?! Hmmm) Perhaps as this whole MMO phenomenon develops over time, there will be less of a distinction between real life and online life, and that your online life is just a part of your real life. I think that's the balance I need to find for myself right now.
Am I going to come back for Cataclysm? I don't know, but I hope that I do. Part of my reasoning for this break is to just experience my life without WoW for a while so that if I do come back for Cataclysm I can play it with a better sense of balance, a balance within a fuller and richer life, if that makes any sense. Will I start blogging again if I come back for Cataclysm? I've learned that you can never say never, so really I don't know.
While I know I don't do any sort of serious posts here, I think I've also spent too much time reading other blogs and trying to finding stuff I find humorous to post about here. I think if I do come back for Cata, the time spent playing WoW should be enough. We'll see. It's hard though because I've really fallen in love with this blog and blogging. So much so that yes, I am going to start a personal blog where I can continue to crack myself up with completely random stuff and not have to try to relate it to WoW somehow. I'll probably end up sharing some more personal stuff on there as well.
To my guildies, thanks for creating an incredible family. I'm so glad that while we had some minor ups and downs that we generally always kept the mindset of a group of friends hanging out together through raiding. I've also loved that you guys read and commented on this blog. And to Jess, you know what you've meant and continue to mean to me. When I think about WoW, this old screenshot is what will always come to mind:
So thank you to everyone who has read or commented over the years. I've really loved being a part of the WoW blogosphere and having those familiar names pop up on my comments. I don't kid myself at all and think that this blog made anyone play WoW better or provided any real game strategy beyond blaming all bad things on the tanks (t'is true! It's a good strategy!). I guess what I do hope is that I made you guys laugh.
Much love,