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Study: Faulty Chinese drywall causes corrosion
Initial findings from a study of 51 homes by the Consumer Product Safety Commission links corrosion in homes with Chinese drywall to the imported product, the agency said Monday.
Several federal agencies have been investigating complaints from thousands of homeowners -- many in Florida -- whose homes were built with Chinese drywall who have complained that copper tubing in their air conditioning units and electrical wiring have corroded, their homes smell like sulfur and they are having trouble breathing.
Until now, the government had not made a direct link between the complaints and the import.
But in a report Monday, the federal government said, ``There was a strong association between the problem drywall, the hydrogen sulfide levels in homes with that drywall, and corrosion in those homes.''
Read the complete story at miamiherald.com


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The I'm Thankful For My Readers Bloghop
To find out all the details, go here.
Basically this is my chance to say thank you to some very important people.
But before I do that, although I'm quite late, I want to send a big CONGRATULATIONS out to Julie Flanders at What Else is Possible? whose novel, Polar Night was picked up by Ink Smith Publishing and is due out in 2013. YAY! I'd also like to thank Julie for her willingness to receive and review an ARC of my first novel! Much appreciated.
Also, big CONGRATULATIONS to the ridiculously talented Libby Heily whose novel, Tough Girl will be out in January 14, 2013. I'd like to thank her as well for receiving and reviewing and ARC of my first novel. I'd also like to thank her for inspiring the hell out of me. You'll want to read Tough Girl. It will blow your mind.
I'd also like to thank J.C. Martin and David Kessler for the wonderful blurbs they provided for my debut novel.
Now I'd like to thank two very talented writers who also happen to be amazing people whose support and encouragement kept me going through the submissions process. Literally it was their words at critical times that kept me from throwing in the towel altogether. They were there for me on a daily basis--as fellow writers, critique partners, beta readers and friends. They picked me up, held me together, lent me their virtual shoulders to cry on and pushed me across the finish line. Also, they are both hugely talented.
Nancy S. Thompson and Michael Infinito, Jr.
Nancy's thriller, The Mistaken is out now. Michael's first novel, In Blog We Trust comes out in January and his second novel, 12:19 comes out in March. Support these writers. They deserve it.
Next I'd like to thank the fabulous Carrie A. Butler over at So You're a Writer. She too, is amazingly talented and she is my go-to person whenever I have some sort of idea (usually revolving around technical stuff) and can't get from idea to execution. She helped me with my trailer for Finding Claire Fletcher (will be released on 11/16/12). She also handles all things that revolve around me venting and ranting. Carrie's first novel, Strength is due out 3/7/13 and it is crazy good.
I'd also like to thank Jeff O at the Doubting Writer for all of his encouragement and for checking in with me now and then. When I'm getting totally overwhelmed, a hey-how's-it-going email from another writer goes a long way. Jeff, I promise to finish my WIP so you can finish critiquing it! Also Jeff is such an incredible writer, he inspires me and makes me want to get better.
I'd also like to thank my main readers-who-are-not writers, my close friends: Melissia McKittrick, who has read every word I've ever written since I was 11 years old and Laura Aiello who introduced me to my husband.
And while I'm at it . . . finally, I'd like to thank all the wonderful writers/bloggers who have agreed to host me for my Finding Claire Fletcher blog tour. I've created a separate tab for it here on my blog so you can see all their names. Thank you so much for volunteering your time and your internet space to help me get my book off the ground!
Also stay tuned . . . on 11/9/12 the cover for my second novel, Aberration will be revealed!

subset: commoncrawl


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The words I always expected to write across my door frame, of my super-eco-super-sustainable-super-self-sufficient-self-build you understand, was "It's not easy being green" perhaps with a sexy muppet frog face for fun. I was at least aware that so much of green living took awhile to get the hang of and would take some effort, but so many good things in life do. This year, even without the aforementioned house and slogan we decided to make a real effort to tackle our environmental impact, particularly plastic and our overall level of waste. We have found this is mainly difficult when taking on children. Everything is plastic, disposable, wrapped in multiple layers of packaging or just plain pointless (therefore sold in classically guilt-tripping ways to parents the world over).
However, with a little work we found a few alternatives to the usual which I thought I would share so if you are trying to do similarly it's just a little bit easier, first up:
Who gives a crap?
This is a new find but one my husband is very glad about. In my more extreme moments of fear that my grandchildren will be wading through plastic to find fish or breathing in toxic fumes I do consider a toilet-paper-free existence. Currently, it's one of my lower priorities but I do know that the paper used means that trees are being continuously grown and cut down. Bamboo is a far more sustainable option because it's basically a grass which can be cut and regrown over and over again.
That is just one of the reasons I bought a bulk of toilet paper and tissue from Who gives a crap? Another is their use of 50% of their profit to help with sanitation in the developing world. Another is their funky packaging. Another is that due to their increased length their price is pretty fantastic, and I'm hoping that I won't have to worry about running out for a reeeeally long time.
Eco Egg
I first saw the eco egg on a strange advertising video – y'know the ones that automatically seem to good to be true and normally are? It suggested the common strands of sales: low price, long life, great functionality, all in one small deliverable package. I didn't really believe it at first, but I pinned it to come back to later. I read reviews and decided it was worth a shot.
Wonderfully it has worked really well. Even with mustard-yellow stains on our reusable nappies, this little egg thing has coped well. With two young children we probably go through more washing than most but even the cost seems to be working out. I bought one in November, and have only refilled it once recently. I have 9 more little bags of refills left which should mean I won't be buying anything else for my washing (powder, liquid or pods) for approximately a year and a half. That cuts down on costs, and importantly for us: packaging. I haven't had to recycle or bin card, plastic, or anything else created by my washing for months. That is a great result.
Cheeky Wipes
Our family has used and recommended reusable nappies for a long time and I was ashamed to say that my eldest daughter got to a point where she was neither potty-trained nor fitting into reusable nappies anymore. The waste is horrendous and if anyone has suggestions for what will hopefully only be an interim couple of months I'd appreciate the suggestion. One thing I could change though was wipes.
People often, wrongly, believe wipes are flushable and biodegradable like paper toilet tissue. They are not. Therefore they are piling up in landfill or blocking drains everywhere. Going one step further than our nappies seemed a sensible solution; Cheeky Wipes offers reusable wipes, made of cotton and bamboo (soon becoming my favourite material), as well as boxes and essential oils for their storage, and bags for their mobility. Since adopting them we have only slipped back into disposable wipes occasionally and normally due to family disorder more than actual need.
They are washed regularly, aren't as likely to smear as disposables, smell lovely, and will last for an age. One day they may just be useful cleaning materials, but for now I am really glad we switched.
Update: use this link to get 15% off any order over £40!
I have been a fan of Lush for a long time, all the way back to silly teen adventures into the muddy business of henna hair dye. So when attempting to take on our most regular plastic purchases – those in our bathroom – Lush seemed like the obvious option.
We are going slowly with our bathroom because I am aware that we had to use up each product first before replacing it in order to keep waste as low as possible. So far that has meant shampoo and conditioner bars were bought instead of the large bottles of supermarket equivalent, and I love it!
Having shorter hair probably helps but a quick lather of a shampoo bar cleans my locks, and a stroke of the conditioner bar has given me the softest feeling I've had for an age. They are wrapped in a small piece of paper, but can be ordered naked. Lush is 100% vegetarian, against animal testing, ethical, handmade, and smell gorgeous. Why would I go back?
I have also bought a small option of toothpaste equivalent but it has not yet replaced my dwindling supplies of tubes so I will try to update when I know better.
Veg & Meat Boxes
An ongoing experiment is with boxed groceries. I hate shopping and so deliveries of food are so welcome. If I can avoid the plastic packaging, get better produce, support small business farmers, and challenge the waste of supermarkets simultaneously, then I'm happy.
So far I tried a local regularly veg box from Sarah Green Organics which were good value and free of packaging excluding occasional paper bags and reusable/returnable crate. My only issue was the lack of variety, but that's to be expected with super small options.
I also simultaneously bought a meat box from Everfield and was surprisingly impressed. I wanted to lower our meat intake and getting a selection of ethically-farmed produce meant we made it last and did without meat semi-regularly. Their delivery was also great, coming in a wool-insulated cardboard box! There was still plastic wrap around meat product but that's not surprising and perhaps a reason I will have to attend a butchers (when I find one nearby) or farmers market with reusable packaging in the future.
My third experiment was a full meat, fish, and veg delivery from Bearfaced intended to last at least 2 weeks for our family. Cost was great, variety was perfect, and little seasonal extras made me smile. Packaging is my main issue here but it was far less than a supermarket and would mean less bags, fuel, etc were used in the gathering.
Update: Bearfaced are also offering a referral deal so I thought I'd open it up to anyone reading this. Anyone who uses this link will get £10 off an order, which is nice!
I am still working it out bit by bit, but so far each company definitely has some impressive environmental positives. Of course, with spring also comes our opportunity to grow our own so watch this space!
What do you do differently to cut down?
Please share your suggestions so the rest of us can do better!


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We're glad to present to you the third book on offer in our Books For Review programme.
Today it's Baramulla Bomber from Clark Prasad.
Book Blurb:
Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley.
Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to God consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church.
A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Which Biblical weapon was tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider important? Is there a solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can destiny be controlled? Does a cosmic religion exist?
The author:
Clark Prasad, alter ego of Suraj Prasad, was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He lived most of his life in New Delhi and had his education in Lagos, Delhi, Mangalore and Kozhikode. A pharmacist with a management degree who believes in conspiracy theories, Baramulla Bomber is his first book. Currently he is a healthcare management consultant, based out of Bengaluru, India.
How the book review programme works:
1. If you are interested in reviewing Baramulla Bomber, make a request for a copy by filling in these details using the Contact form:
a. Your name
b. URL of your blog
c. URL of a book review done by you
d. Let us know why you are interested in reviewing the book
e. Your postal address and contact telephone number (for the courier).
2. I will then forward your request to the author. If your request for a copy is accepted by the author, he will arrange to send you a copy.
3. Please post an honest review on your blog within 15 days of receiving the book.
4. Link your review to the linky at the bottom of this post.
5. The author/s will also appreciate if you added your review to Amazon and Goodreads.


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Stu Cook & Company - with special guests, Julie Homie on piano, and Jim Pribbenow on Saxophone. Stu is a west coast jazz drummer who has performed in the Bay area and in Sacramento. Stu performed with the late great Leroy Vinnegar for several years, and has been a mainstay in the Portland jazz scene since 1983, working with such greats as John Jensen, Brian Ward, and Andre St James. Also joining Stu will be stellar musician, Cary Miga on bass. This gig is going to COOK!
Click "Add to Cart" to purchase tickets!


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Only four surfers remain in the running to be crowned champion of the prestigious 2010 Oakley Pro Junior with the event's semi-finals and final to be held tomorrow on North Stradbroke Island (Queensland, Australia).
Number-one seed Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Qld), Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW), Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) and Jodi Watson (South Coast, NSW) are the final four surfers left in the draw, which began earlier this week with a field of 140 of the world's best international junior surfers.
It was action aplenty today as the Grade – 5 AUD $30,000 event entered the pointy end of competition with Main Beach (North Stradbroke Island, Queensland) serving up a contestable 0.5m swell for the round-of-16 and quarter finals.
In a close affair, Coolangatta (Qld) surfer Jack Freestone was narrowly eliminated in the quarter finals by good friend and fellow Gold Coaster Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Qld).
Freestone was edged out by just over one point with Crews scoring a combined two wave total of 12.50 (out of a possible 20) to Freestone's 11.10.
Crews who is the current ratings leader, continues his absolutely stellar run during this year's Australasian Junior Men's series and advances through to the semi-finals where he will now meet Port Macquarie's (NSW) Matt Banting for a place in the final.
"Wow, it's a bit of mixed emotions winning that heat," said a relieved Crews.
"Jack (Freestone) is a really good friend of mine and with the waves being a little slow today, some tactics had to come into play and its never fun knocking out your mates," he said.
Meanwhile, Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) eliminated fellow Northern Beaches competitor Chris Salisbury (Newport, NSW) during the quarter finals.
In the closest heat of the day, Cathels registered a combined two-wave total of 14.50 (out of a possible 20) to Salisbury's 14.15, with both surfers trading blows until the final siren before Cathels sealed the win with a 7.75 ride (out of a possible 10).
Cathels will now meet Jodi Watson (South Coast, NSW), who eliminated the last international competitor, Hawaiian surfer Alex smith.
Concluding tomorrow, the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior is the first stop of Oakley's international junior surfing series, which has grown to become one of the most notable in the world.
Top competitors from this week's event will qualify for the October's Oakley ASP World Junior Event (Bali), where they will compete for their share in the world's richest junior surfing prize-pool of USD$75,000.


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North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre is growing and we want you to be a part of it. Please come share your skills on one of our new committees. All committees meet at NRACT.
Help the board research and select plays for our season. Work with board to recruit directors and production crews. Plan special events.
Committee Chair: Tim Locklear
Assist in the maintenance of the theater, plan and oversee capital improvements. Improve and beautify our theatre home.
Put together our annual budget, give advice on expenses and review our finances.
Committee Chair: James Allen
Plan fundraising events, coordinate our individual and corporate fundraising campaigns and search for grants to fund new programs.
Promote our theatre and our events through traditional and social media. Plan community outreach events and find creative ways to get the word out.
Interested in joining? Contact us by calling 919-822-0228 or send us an email at email@example.com


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Spotlight On: Mill View Ranch
This is the second in our series of blog posts that will focus on the retailers that carry Naturiffic products, we are calling this new feature; Spotlight On:
Today's Spotlight in is on Mill View Ranch.
Spotlight on: Mill View Ranch
2740 Cable Rd
Camino, California
Call (530) 622-6885
From Mill View Ranch Facebook Page: Whether you're looking for a substantial lunch or something to just hold you over until your next meal we've got you covered. You owe it to yourself to try our delicious BBQ chicken and ribs or the wide variety of offerings from the kitchen. Fresh-baked treats to farm-grown fruit are always on hand.
While you're here stop in and see the large variety of hand-made craft items in our barn. We're proud to offer one of the largest selections around and our stock is always being updated. Swing by and take a look!
We look forward to seeing you and hope you'll make Mill View Ranch part of your Apple Hill® tradition for many years to come!
Mill View Ranch is a part of the Apple Hill Grower association and during the fall of the year it has a steady line of people visiting to get everything from Apple Pies, Apple Fritters and of course the famous Apple Donuts. In addition there is a crafter's village, a children's play area ("Kids Town"), pigs, chickens and more.
Mill View Ranch
Mill View Ranch is one of my favorite places, as Naturiffic not only maintains a seasonal booth in the Crafter's Village, but we are also available in the Bakery year-round.
Mill View Ranch is conveniently located right off of Hwy 50 between Sacramento, CA & Lake Tahoe in the Apple Hill area (Camino, Ca), next time you are through there, make sure to stop and get an Apple Fritter, some Naturiffic Gourmet Salts, Teas, Massage Oils or Gift Sets


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Bel Ami Film Tie In Edition Now Available in North America for Pre-Order!
The movie tie in for Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant is now available for PRE-ORDER at amazon.ca (the Canadian amazon website). The book will be released on June 19, 2102. According to their shipping page,
Amazon.ca can ship to almost any address in the world.
I have not yet seen the Bel Ami Movie Tie In edition at amazon.com.


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How many people know that approximately 40% of the cost of a truck are software costs or that it takes millions of lines of code to develop a mobile phone? The answer is unfortunately, very few. People do not view these things as software products! Software exists in so many things that we touch on a daily basis, but it is hidden under the shells of pacemakers, cars, etc., and the amount of software included in a "normal" product, grows every second.
Is the fact that it is hidden, the reason why so many software projects fail or run over time and budget? Do decision makers realize how much money could be saved if they just cared a little more?
Well, we care! We know that project deadlines can be met, that project budgets can be kept and that the customer can receive what they expected. You just have to be smart and care a little more. Ivar Jacobson International supports an organization called Swedsoft (www.swedsoft.se) whose primary goal is to care about the software industry, the hidden software industry.
Do you care?


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Ian Butler, who died on 4 November 2016 aged 81, was a stalwart member of the Irregulars, representing their interests on the Committee for 10 years. For many years he was in charge of the Club's clothing supply, and also ran the Casamajor Club draw. Ian Laurenson writes:
Ian was a man of many interests, with an interest in sport being one of the most important. After working abroad for some years, he and Jenny finally set up home in Kingston and Ian started looking around for possibilities of actively participating in a sport. At school he had played cricket and at Oxford he had taken up rowing, even being selected to join the Blue Boat squad for a few weeks. After searching around he finally decided that the London Rowing Club Irregulars, with a philosophy that whoever turned up on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening, would be boated, fitted in with his business and family commitments.
Ian joined the Club in April 1973 and over the next 40 years was an enthusiastic participant in the Irregulars. His linguistic skills being very useful in our trips abroad to the Rhineland Rowing Club in the Hague, Paris for the Traversee de Paris, Venice for the Vogalonga and on the memorable trip to Madrid at the invitation of the Ambassador Sir Stephen and his wife Abby.
As convenor of the Irregulars for many years I had the job of making up crews. I soon grew to realise that Ian was a man of fixed ideas. Others would move position in the boat, row on either side or go sculling, not Ian. Always sweep oar, always stroke side, first at stroke then at six and then at four. Towards the end of his rowing career he invariable went in a four, alternating stroke and two with Graham Anderson the other man of fixed principles. Robbie would take on the task of steering the boat.
As time moved on, the length of our outings needed to be adjusted, first above Chiswick Bridge, then just below Chiswick, then the White Hart at Barnes and finally the Bandstand. Ian expressing the firm opinion that the boat should turn at the Bandstand, Robbie renamed this turning point Butler's Reach, Only two rowing landmarks are named after oarsmen. The Mile Post is named after Steve Fairbairn. The Bandstand is now named after Ian Butler.
The fondly remembered Club servant, Lilian Eagle named the Irregulars the Jolly Boaters. Ian was, I suspect, the one who earned us this title. We enjoyed getting on the river but had even more enjoyment in slackening the thirst that our efforts provided. Ian with his close buddy John Auber was always at the centre of the jollity. The Butler household must have got used to a late Sunday lunch.
After Ian retired he became actively involved in the welfare of the Rowing Club. He was elected a member of the Committee, looked after the interests of the Irregulars, took charge of the purchase and sale of rowing kit and of course, the Casamajor Club draw, a very useful little earner for the Club.


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Red light ahead — legalising prostitution imposes cataclysmic social costs
Rami Chhabra (The writer is a feminist columnist and activist.) in TOI Edit Page
NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam has declared NCW's intent to endorse legalisation of prostitution at the forthcoming consultation of the Supreme Court appointed committee reviewing government schemes, in order to achieve more effective rehabilitation and basic citizen rights for 'sex workers'.
This committee's task had earlier been clarified as one geared to ensure livelihoods through technical skills acquisition enabling life with dignity and basic citizen rights, not to be construed as SC approval of 'sex work'. The NCW chairperson has cited the 'Sonagachi model' of unionising 'sex workers', which i have extensively documented for its flawed research, false health claims and dubious impact.
National interest demands a fuller debate on the legalisation of prostitution. Germany's number of women in prostitution has doubled since legalisation, yet 90% plus are still illegal, mostly trafficked from less prosperous countries. Now known as the 'bordello of Europe' with a sex tourism business built on the backs of mostly migrant women supposedly exercising choice, Germany has luxurious multi-storeyed mega brothels in several cities, making pimps and procurers res-pectable businessmen. Political forces want to backtrack but are helpless before enormous vested interests.
Netherlands, which preceded Germany with the 'individual choice, human rights' paradigm, has its deputy prime minister calling it 'a national mistake'. The Dutch justice minister and police concede lack of improvement in the condition of prostituted women, still poorer health, and increased numbers in 'not voluntary' drug addiction. Significant links with organised crime have led to many brothel closures.
The European Parliament passed this year by overwhelming majority a detailed resolution to tackle sexual exploitation and prostitution, and their impact on gender equality. It noted two models in Europe – the German/Netherlands 'individual choice, legalised sex work' model vs the 'Nordic model' positioning prostitution within the spectrum of violence against women as sexual exploitation and marker of gender inequality. Sweden decriminalises the exploited seller, offers support and exit programmes but criminalises the purchasers and procurers.
Ironically, since 1999 many activists urged India to follow a similar 'demand reduction' strategy, explicitly penalising the buyer. Demand reduction is also enjoined by the 2000 Palermo Protocol supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime to which India is a signatory. Today, the Swedish model stands vindicated – adopted by Norway, Iceland, Finland, Ireland, Russia, Philippines and Korea.
But in India this attempt was obstructed, as powerful foreign donors backed pro-prostitution and condom centric HIV/AIDS programmes that helped (a) sexualise the media and (b) seeded high risk sexual networks to form privileged communities in the name of HIV/AIDS prevention.
Better laws, implementation, policing, support systems for women's safety and sexual abuse prevention are required – as is, above all, a change in the male mindset. If respect for bodily integrity is interpreted to include the right to barter it in commercial transactions, this tears all intimacy out of socially legitimate relationships. The current battle to secure bodily integrity, including the battle against marital rape, can scarcely succeed if we sanction the wilful sale of the body. Legalisation of prostitution benefits an already discredited business model and imposes cataclysmic social costs.
2 Responses to "Red light ahead — legalising prostitution imposes cataclysmic social costs"
Good post.we are against legalisation of prostitution.
Miss Lalitha Kumarmangalam and her family should take the prostitution as a profession at first then she can support to legalize it
Leave a Reply


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Last Saturday saw Laura & I bask in the Sunshine to photograph the Wedding of Sarah & Scott. It was an afternoon filled with love, laughter and a hint of vintage whimsy. They chose lovely old cars, the type that was featured in the Walton's, or as Sarah described them "The ones with big wheels". As a side note, for anyone under 35, the Walton's was a great TV show that ran from 1972 (the year I was born, fabulous year) until 1981 and instilled wonderful family values as well as teaching the viewers to say "Goodnight John-Boy". Back to the Wedding, the Ceremony was held at the Vintage Chapel (Carriage House) with the Reception held at Lindemans. We drove to an incredible private (at least I think it's private) Estate for photographs and I'm so glad we did. I have to say Popcorn created magic yet again. Mind you it's not hard when all the essential elements come together, gorgeous Couple, fabulous backdrop, perfect weather, fun Bridal party and cars with big wheels – seriously, what more could a Wedding Photographer ask for?
Next stop was the big tree at Lindemans where we spent a few minutes taking final photos before heading inside for the evening. Laura and I made a great team yet again and I hope you love the photos as much as we do!
Big hugs


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The last weekend of April is an exciting time for the Arts District! Aside from the great events at the Civic Center, Museum of Art, and Myriad Gardens, it's also time for the Festival of the Arts and the OKC Memorial Marathon!
Festival of the Arts
Kicking off Tuesday, April 23rd and finishing up on Sunday, April 28th, the Festival of the Arts takes place right in our backyard in Bicentennial Park, in between the Civic Center & City Hall! The Festival of the Arts "is a community celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts, bringing a variety of talented artists together in downtown OKC's Bicentennial Park. Festival of the Arts has been an OKC tradition since 1967, considered a rite of spring and a signature event for the Arts Council, with an average of 750,000 Festival attendees."
Find us from the Festival by crossing Walker at Colcord and walk through the Concourse of the Arts District Parking Garage to check out Joe O'Connell's and Blessing Hancock's "Small Talk About the Weather" (2016). We're located along Main Street in Suite A, right before the South car entrance to the parking garage.
Run to Remember
The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is on Sunday, April 28, 2019. Their mission is to "celebrate life, reach for the future, honor the memories of those who were killed and unite the world in hope. This is not just another marathon. It is a Run to Remember… and a race to show that we can each make a difference and change the world." Remembering the events of April 19,1995, the marathon acts as the largest fundraiser for the OKC National Memorial & Museum.
Instead of ending in Automobile Alley, this year's finish line will be just outside the shop, on Hudson between Main & Sheridan! If you're headed to the Finish Line, approach us from the west side of Hudson and turn west on Main Street! We'll be open early at 6am on Sunday, the day of the race, to help you stay warm and alert while you wait on your favorite runners!
It's a good time to explore the Arts District! While you're here, check out our latest artist, Virginia Sitzes!


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While "Crossing On the Paris" is certainly not great literature, it is an entertaining and charming read. It flows, is easy to read and won't send you scurrying to look up any big words. What I liked about it is the glimpse into life aboard a huge ocean liner during the Golden Age of trans-Atlantic ...
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Julia piazza | prenatal / postpartum yoga instructor
Julia Piazza has been a labor and birth doula since 2002. She trained and worked as a volunteer doula for Sutter Davis Birthing Center and completed her DONA National Doula Certification in 2004. Julia's passion is creating Sacred Space for Moms to "breathe and feel" their unique birth power and wisdom, which led to her completion of a 200 hour teacher training and an 85 hour Prenatal Vinyasa Teacher Training Both accredited through Yoga Alliance. Julia's Birth Wisdom Prenatal Yoga classes are designed to prepare moms mentally, physically and spiritually for labor, childbirth and mothering. In each class, students will explore the poses as a pathway for wisdom in the various stages of labor, and to release and soothe normal ailments in pregnancy, such as Sciatica Pain, Lower Back Pain, Pubic Bone Symphysis, Hip Soreness, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Circulation. Special emphasis on how to avoid creating a Diastasis Recti and support the abdominal muscles during the prenatal and postpartum period.
The latest recommendations and exercises for Pelvic Floor Strengthening and toning based on Leslie Howard's Yoga and the Pelvic Floor research and studies at Harvard included. Proper alignment and modifications for poses are the foundation of each flow. Students receive on going pregnancy and labor preparation support through weekly meditations, visualizations, affirmations and journaling.
The energy of Birth Wisdom Yoga classes is nurturing, guiding students in every moment to listen to what feels good for them and to "soak up" the Sacred Space of pregnancy and mothering.


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There is Hope
In the midst of the discriminatory Religious Freedom legislation and anti-transgender legislation, there are stories of hope. Today I read a story about how a dad changed his heart and embraced his transgender daughter. He fights for the rights of transgender youth and his daughter pushes for the rights of transgender youth.
Yes I push for the rights of LGBT people and it sometimes feel like the fight is nor going well.
What I have to see is my own personal victory. I went from a person that was filled with incredible depression and self hate to a confident woman that is planning a trip to Thailand to have Gender confirmation surgery. I have incredible loving and supportive friends.
One of my friends is now a true sister. She is walking with me on this part of my journey. We have laughed and share moments where my happiness is tinged with tears. She has seen me at my worst and best and all I get is real love.
So I may scream outrage about stupid laws, however I have to take time to notice what is good.
Maybe highlighting the unconditional love a dad has for his transgender daughter is also a message that is more important at the moment.
I know taking time to think about my little sister is also important.
I will continue fighting and also take time to point out amazing people and victories.


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Cherry Creek School District
four timeline murals interpret the school's mission to spark curiosity, ignite imagination, and fuel life-long learning among high school students
At the Institute of Science & Technology, four "learning environment wings" arc outward from a central core.
In each wing—biology, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics—a timeline celebrates the field's iconic pioneers and reveals their contributions through photos, quotes, formulas, and graphics.
Measuring 120' x 4', each exhibit is designed to engage students in understanding historical precedent and their role in the future of science and technology.
Client–Institute of Science & Technology, Cherry Creek School District
Team–Cuningham Group: Architect
Noble Erickson: Experiential Design
Interior photos courtesy of Frank Ooms Photography


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Clairmont The Second - the one of a kind rapper/producer. Fresh out of high school, he already has a body of compelling work that is well beyond his years. With his most intriguing release yet, "Quest For Milk And Honey (Black Edition)" has put the Toronto community on notice that their new international star is on his way. Having toured with SonReal and performed alongside Goldlink, Lil Yachty and HARRISON, Clairmont is ready to show the music industry why he deserves the top spot in rap-royalty.
Spell his name correctly. Clairmont The Second.
More info & tour dates: ctsecond.com
Management: Cola & Denz
Label: Black Box
Publicity: Dalton Higgins
Booking: Tom Kemp at The Feldman Agency


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Real Estate Law
Pahl & McCay's real estate attorneys address legal and business issues for all types of real estate, including multi-family, commercial, industrial, office and retail properties, and are involved in all aspects of real estate-related projects. Our attorneys guide our clients through each and every phase of their real estate holdings, from assisting in the acquisition of property - whether by purchase or by exchange - to entitlements, financings, construction, lease-up, and general ongoing operational issues, including commercial evictions, through final divestiture of the property.
We have extensive knowledge in a wide variety of real property-related transactions, including:
- Brokerage relations
- Purchase and sale agreements
- Financing
- Equity sharing arrangements
- Development, entitlements, construction
- Commercial and residential leases
- Rent control
- Landlord-tenant relations
- Property management for both commercial and residential properties
Our real estate attorneys are also knowledgeable litigators in areas such as lease controversies, mechanics' liens and construction litigation, and other matters affecting real estate and land use. We have expertise in the field of affordable housing within the multi-family housing practice, providing operational and regulatory guidance to for-profit and non-profit owners and operators of tax credit and subsidized housing, including the inter-relationship of federal, state and local programs.
Our full-service approach to this concentration in real estate law enables us to meet nearly all of the real estate needs of our diverse client base, which ranges from single building and four-plex owners to the largest real estate investment trusts and development companies nationwide. Our clientele includes property owners, developers, property managers, brokerage firms, construction companies, commercial tenants and financial institutions.
The firm also serves as General Counsel to the California Apartment Association and maintains a leadership position in and/or provides educational support to real estate organizations such as the Building Owners and Managers Association, the National Apartment Association and the Affordable Housing Management Association of Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii.


text: Kristen Galbraith was born and raised in London with her sister and two brothers. She obtained her Bachelor of Science and Education degrees from Western University in 2009. Kristen currently works for the London District Catholic School Board as a high school Science teacher. Her involvement with Bethany's Hope began at a young age as the McIntyres are close family friends. Kristen has fond memories of helping at the organization's earliest events and has remained involved with ongoing fundraising events. Kristen's husband, Rob Galbraith, also became very involved with the Foundation and they sit on the Board of Directors together. Since Bethany's Hope has been a significant part of Kristen's life, she is committed and excited about the future of this cutting edge research.


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Namco Bandai's Tales of Xillia is shaping up to be a great adventure for Japanese RPG fans. The Tales series has remained synonymous with artistic RPG experiences during this generation, and Xillia is looking to carry that trend with its pristine visuals, and impressive character design.
A fresh batch of screenshots from Tales of Xillia can be seen below:
Are you excited for next year's PS3 exclusive RPG? Let us know in the comments below.


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Elegance Boutque 1311 King St, Alexandria , Virginia 22314 (VA )
Elegance Boutque (703) 838-9282
Elegance Boutque is located in Alexandria , VA which is in Alexandria Cty County. There are approximately 1 Counties located in the 703 area code. Phone companies and telecommunication companies in this area may include the following: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Pacific Bell, Sprint
Alexandria Cty County - Population 1,081,700


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There Is a Home Test for HIV.
This may be the least known and most interesting fact that people don't know about HIV testing. There's an at-home test* for HIV that you can purchase online at Orasure.com or, to find the test at a pharmacy near you, use the store locator.
The test is only $39.99, compared to some HIV screenings at your local health care provider which can cost up to $75. This makes checking yourself for HIV efficient and more private.
Other alternatives to getting tested at the doctor's office or at home include free tests at non-government organizations, community-based organizations or health departments. You can find the free testing location closest to you by visiting hivtest.cdc.gov.
*Much like at-home pregnancy tests, it is possible to receive a false negative or false positive. For this reason, if there is probable cause to believe that you may be infected with HIV, seek the help of a healthcare professional to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.


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2009 in Review: The Rise of Social Media
The Year Social Media Grew Up: 2009
Let's start off with a confession: I'm an SEO and SEM'er (which might have been obvious from the name of the blog). Naturally, I tend to think my discipline of choice, SEO, is the most important of the disciplines. I work in the "nuts and bolts" of sites: from arduous keyword research selection and code tweaking to site architecture to content manipulation/augmentation to link building. A Jack-of-all-Trades you could say.
And, as an SEO, I need to be fluent in all things SEM. Need to know how they tick, are used, and how they can be leveraged at an organic level. Most would believe that SEOs are diametrically opposed to SMM (social media marketing), but this couldn't be further from the truth (considering the most recent updates to Google SERPs with real-time, "fresh" results).
Social Media: Through Puberty
Social media, as we know it today, has been around for a few years now (Blogger/Facebook/Myspace/Digg/etc). But, it wasn't until 2009 that social media grew up and became a force of its own.
I can trace back the "GROWTH SPURT" to exactly this date: April 17, 2009. Why this particular date? Oprah dedicated an entire show Twitter: what it is and how to use it. Apparently, she's not too keen on the vehicle, with only 90 tweets. Coincidently, this is the exact same day Ashton Kutcher was on Larry King Live to talk about the race to 1 million followers with CNN. This is the day social media went from a potty-trained toddler to a college graduate with two kids and a mortgage.
When You Grow Up, You Get Exploited
When you grow up and reach that certain point in your life, everyone wants something from you. And, for the search marketing crowd, the adulthood of Social Media represented a new gold rush. For over a year, since early/mid 2008, businesses were hesitant to drop themselves into the social media pool.
Here are some fun facts about social media and network growth over the past year*:
- The fastest growing segment on Facebook are Gen-X'ers and Baby Boomers
- Time spent on social media and networking sites is the fourth most popular activity, ahead of checking personal email.
- Use of Twitter and other micro-blogging sites has TRIPLED since the summer of 2008
- Social networking and media sites account for nearly 10% of total time spent online.
In one day, with Oprah-fication as proof the medium had gone mainstream, every business and corporation wanted to get in on the action. Gobble up all those Gen-X'ers and Boomers as they started stumbling around the social minefield. An easy mark.
Enter: The Social Snake Oil Shakedown
Talk about low-hanging fruit: and out come the douchebags, the self-proclaimed experts and gurus, and those looking to capitalize on the corporate lambs and SMBs that want the latest and greatest. SEO went through the same growing pains, and to some extent, is still going through it.
2009 marked the entrance of SMM and SMO snake oil salespeople. They come in two varieties: Fast-talking folks who have a blog, a Facebook profile, and a Twitter profile. They probably worked in a low-level PR position and started a gig on the side. Or, traditional ad agencies with a newly developed "digital" arm, trying cash-in and be relevant in a web-dominated world w/ metrics.
No, a professional does not include someone who states the pure obvious about "how to really succeed in social media". I'll save you some time so you don't have to read another carbon-copy article just worded differently.
Every Article You've Ever Read About Social Media Success Tips:
- Be genuine. Don't fake your persona
- Engage the community on a regular basis
- Social Media/Networks are all about trust. Work to accrue that trust.
- Mix your personal and business lives on your social account (a.k.a. be genuine)
- Don't be political, religious, or offensive in any way, shape, or form. (Unless, of course, that's who you are. Then you should do it. But with caution)
- Know your segment and community. Provide information that will be useful to them, and, coincidently further your business endeavors.
- Don't prostitute your own links all time. You'll be seen as disingenuous, and, therefore, lose followers.
There. That should just about cover nearly every single post, article, piece I've seen on social media this year. But this is not to say that they aren't real professionals out there who know exactly how to engineer and construct smart, linkable SMM campaigns. Do your homework, use trusted resources for recommendations, and slam the door on social media snake oil.
Predictions for SEO and Social Media for 2010:
Honestly, what would a review post be without a few predictions?
1) The clear, definite distinctions between search marketing disciplines will be gone
We've already started to see this. Algorithm updates, based on some cursory research and data I've seen for clients, are suggesting to me that PPC and SEO are intertwined. Taking that further, SEOs will have to get their heads around SMM/SMO and learn to apply it to their overall arsenal. The lines have already begun to blur; evolve or die.
2) Social Media and Networking will go through a Purge Phase
It's not that the number of sites will shrink and fade out (though I can see that happening too: an inter-web social network pissing match), it's those who self-proclaim guru status that will die out. I think this coming year you're going to see more and more "certifications" floating around. And, a higher demand from SMBs and corporations that will demand some sort of certification before they hop into bed with you. Get one or get purged.
3) SEO will be Fine. Relax.
SEO isn't going to die. Far from it. It's going to be more valuable than ever this coming year. And, since we are the Jack-of-all-Trades (master of a few), we're going to be needed on several fronts. Especially dealing with SMM backlink strategies and how to pull reliable metrics on those campaigns to measure effectiveness and ROI. Once again, evolve or die, people.
With that, everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful, pleasant, and successful 2010. Happy New Year!
Terminal Wave: The Google Wave Failure
Google Wave: The Most Hyped Disappointment of the Year
Google certainly knows how to create a frenzied situation. In May of this year, Google Wave was announced, hailed as a full communication windfall.
Wave, developed by Lars and Jens Rasmussen, was to combine the abilities of email, wiki, instant message, blog, GOOG Docs, and all of it rewritable/editable on the fly!
No more digging through thousands of archived emails, no more having to create separate documents, less mis-communication. The holy grail of business tools and communication tools. Here's a list of everything you should be able to do with Wave:
- Organize Events
- Create and Manage "Living" Group Projects
- Drag-n-Drop Photo Sharing
- Create "Living" meeting notes
- Brainstorming? (seems like a redundant use)
- Interactive Games
Google furthered the frenzy by bottle-necking the admission to the Google Wave Beta, releasing 100,000 invitations to request pool. And, all you heard about for weeks was just how "revolutionary" this tool was going to be, pushing the hype over Wave to unseen levels. People were begging, pleading, and, somewhere out there, stealing invites. They had the populous going bonkers.
Then everyone started using it. Or, at least, attempted to use it.
And That's Why This Wave is Terminal
No one can figure out how to use it effectively. It's not that people don't understand the basic notion of how to compose a WAVE, or even how to add in other people, but it's not nearly as fluent as it was made out to be.
It's really Google Wave (for Developers Only)
There are two videos. One for developers and one for users (I think).
- There's a developer video that's 1 hour and 20 minutes long!
- The Dr. Wave Intro Video (which I assume is for users) is a whopping 2:12 long.
That's strange: apparently, Google doesn't really want everyday users to use WAVE. There's detailed set of instructions for developers, who may, eventually, create Wave apps, and we get a 2 minute video. It seems that Google forgot who's going to push developers to make apps?
Wave UI
The UI (user-interface) is clean enough, but incredibly clunky. All your Waves are smashed into one Inbox. There's no way to distinguish what's a personal wave from a business wave (assuming you've even attempted a collaboration). Going further, there's no way to sort your business waves into categories.
And, sure, you can drag a wave into the SPAM folder or TRASH, however since you can't actually delete a wave, all these "non-important" waves sit there and rot. FOREVER.
The application usability is dismal. The Dev Team at Google apparently missed the lecture on "plug-n-play" functionality. Having to follow specific @appspot.com "bots" in order to possibly use the developer apps, is a nightmare. And, of course, there's no guidance on how to effectively leverage the apps and the bots. That's how I know this Samuel L. Jackson wave video is propaganda.
The application usability alone is what makes Wave fail. Even if you didn't have a sense of how you could really apply this to business, it would at least allow everyday users to CREATE with it.
Of course there's going to be a learning curve with any new tool, but even months after release, everyone is still clueless as to how to use Wave.
Tweets of Confusion:
That's just a small sampling of the most recent tweets about Google Wave (thanks to Google's awesome "real-time" updates).
This Isn't the First One, This Won't Be The Last
Google's had a couple of spectacular bombs in the past, and one just recently outside of Wave. Anyone out there remember Google Lively? (If you're shaking your head, don't worry, you're not alone.) Lively was Google's attempt to try and eat some of Second Life's share, and closed it's doors just months after opening.
What about Google Knol? Not a complete failure, since it hasn't closed up shop, but all you heard about for months was how Knol was going to be the real deal; a true competitor to Wikipedia. Now? Just another entity that exists in limbo.
And, for a more recent flop, besides Wave, remember that little thing called SideWiki? The book is still out on this one, but it certainly hasn't gathered the steam that Google thought it would. Beyond creating another ulcer for the PR folks, at this point, it's another failed attempt for Google to absorb more market share from other entities that did it first and do it better.


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Browse by Author All List
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Jump to: A
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Ahmad Firdaus, Zainal Abidin and Nor Badrul, Anuar and Ahmad, Karim and Mohd Faizal, Ab Razak (2018) Discovering optimal features using static analysis and a genetic search based method for Android malware detection. Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering, 19 (6). pp. 712-736. ISSN 2095-9230
Ahmad Firdaus, Zainal Abidin and Nor Badrul, Anuar and Mohd Faizal, Ab Razak and Targio Hashem, Ibrahim Abaker and Syafiq, Bachok and Sangaiah, Arun Kumar (2018) Root exploit detection and features optimization: Mobile device and blockchain based medical data management. Journal of Medical Systems, 42 (6). pp. 1-23. ISSN 0148-5598


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Skype officially became part of Microsoft today, nearly five months after the $8.5B deal was announced in May. To mark the occasion, Skype published an infographic that reveals that Skype's more than 663M registered users make 300M minutes of video calls per day, six months of video each minute. Video accounts for 42% of all Skype-to-Skype minutes.
The graphic includes history as well: the first public video phone became available in Germany in 1936.
LAUNCH has contacted Skype about the infographic and will update this story if we receive a response.
In a different measure of video's popularity, YouTube says that its users upload 48 hours worth of content each minute.
Website: http://www.skype.com/
Blog: http://blogs.skype.com/en/
Twitter: @skype
Tony Bates, CEO
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tbates71


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We are scattered across the campus of Indiana University in the beautiful city of Bloomington, IN. Interested in meeting us in person? Send an email to one of the addresses listed below.
General email address: csatiub (at) gmail.com
Or email one of our working groups
- Legislative Advocacy: pmadetzk (at) indiana.edu OR vigdor (at) indiana.edu
- Education and Outreach: tlonderg (at) indiana.edu OR juhbauer (at) iu.edu
- Communications: irnewton (at) indiana.edu OR mbdelval (at) iu.edu
- Events: kellerab (at) indiana.edu OR hamburg (at) indiana.edu


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Are you interested in helping us expand our veterinary hospitals focused on preventative care and wellness? Pet Paradise is a national company expanding rapidly. Come grow with us!
Pet Paradise is an established, national Premier Pet Resort committed to enhancing the quality of pet health by adding Veterinary Hospitals to all our locations. We currently have 35 resorts across 9 states and are growing 8-12 resorts per year. Pet Paradise values the importance of offering the ultimate pet experience for each pet guest and pet parent. We aim to instill pet parents with the added confidence a Veterinarian is present to oversee pet wellness during their pet's stay.
We are looking for a Regional Veterinary Director to oversee our rapidly growing Charlotte market.
Current clinics in operation: Lake Norman, NC, Mooresville, NC and Greenville, SC
Opening 10/2019: Matthews, NC and Indian Land, SC
Opening Q1 2020: Charlotte, NC
Skills and Basic Qualifications
We offer a highly competitive salary with a generous benefits package - medical, dental, PTO, licensure, short and long term disability, student loan repayment, relocation, pet boarding and day camp - bring your pet to work every day!
Extremely flexible work schedules are possible for the right candidate and there are no after-hours calls. Full and part time positions available.


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Leslie + Tyler's romantic wedding in Beaver Creek
A romantic and timeless Liancarlo gown, gorgeous florals, fun copper details, and a lovely couple - we are so excited to share this Beaver Creek wedding today! Leslie and Tyler are so clearly in love with each other and we were incredibly happy for them when we saw their amazing wedding photos. We just love the hints of copper in the stationary, flowers, and reception space which really adds some character to their special day.
Leslie first visited us in November 2015 and fell in love with one of our Liancarlo gowns. The embroidered illusion neckline and back, a classic and flattering silhouette, beautiful Chantilly lace - this gown shows off all the unique features Liancarlo is known for. Together with the Sassi Holford sash Leslie looked absolutely stunning on her special day!
Thank you so much Cassidy Brooke for sharing these photos with us, we are always thrilled when we get to see our brides on their wedding day! We wish Leslie and Tyler a lifetime full of happiness together!
Photographer: Cassidy Brooke Photography - @cassidybrookee
Wedding Planner: Jessica Bruden - Pro Chic Events @prochicevents
Florist: Jessica Bruden - ProChic Events @prochicevents
Hair Artist: Dana Munoz - The Cutlery Salon
Makeup Artist: Dana Munoz - The cutlery Salon
Gown: Liancarlo, Style 6815 from Little White Dress Bridal Shop
Brides Veil: Mothers worn at her wedding
Groom Attire: Joseph Abboud
Venues: Vail Interfaith Chapel & Westin Riverfront


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EMILY BOURKE: The New South Wales Government has launched a sweeping investigation into every nightspot in Sydney's Kings Cross in an effort to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.
There's been a public outcry over the death of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly who was killed after being king hit as he walked along a Kings Cross street earlier this month.
The NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch told a Sydney town hall forum last night now is the time to fix the city's alcohol addiction.
But the pubs and clubs say they're not to blame, as Will Ockenden reports.
WILL OCKENDEN: As hundreds filled Sydney's Town Hall for a debate on alcohol-fuelled violence, inspectors were walking into Kings Cross bars.
GEORGE SOURIS: A major operation has been commenced by the Office of Liquor, Gaming, to undertake a compliance audit of every licensed venue in Kings Cross.
WILL OCKENDEN: Hospitality Minister George Souris says the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing is checking surveillance TV setups and the records of nightclubs.
The violent, fatal attack on 18 year old Thomas Kelly has shocked Sydney into confronting its alcohol violence problem.
Kings Cross is in the Federal seat of Wentworth. Its MP is Malcolm Turnbull.
MALCOLM TURNBULL: All of us felt that could be our son, our daughter, it could have been us. And have we reached the point where right in the heart of this great city people of any age cannot walk the streets with safety?
WILL OCKENDEN: Don Weatherburn from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research says 86 per cent of assaults in Kings Cross are alcohol related
DON WEATHERBURN: We estimate that it's costing St Vincent's Hospital emergency department about $1.6 million per year. And that doesn't include any inpatient care.
WILL OCKENDEN: Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore told the forum better public transport out of the area is needed.
She also wants nightclubs to have to re-apply for liquor licences every year.
CLOVER MOORE: If you're not up to standard you don't get that renewal.
WILL OCKENDEN: During the audience question time a friend of Thomas Kelly's family got up to speak.
DAVID ANSTEE: My name is David Anstee. I'm actually a long term friend of Ralph Kelly's and father of two girls that used to play with Tom. (Emotional) Obviously this is very, very difficult.
WILL OCKENDEN: The forum was mainly attended by residents of Kings Cross and the neighbouring Potts Point.
Many said they were sick of the violence and the crowd was often hostile to representatives of the clubs and pubs.
PAUL NICOLAOU: You cannot enter our establishments if you are drunk or under the influence of drugs.
(Laughter and some clapping from the crowd)
WILL OCKENDEN: Paul Nicolaou is the head of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Hotels Association.
PAUL NICOLAOU: It seems that the community, our society, thinks that violence is an acceptable act and it's okay to be violent.
WILL OCKENDEN: Paul Nicolaou wants more police around the hotspots and more enforcement of existing rules.
He says the problems aren't always because of alcohol.
But New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch disagrees.
MARK MURDOCH: What is the problem? I'm going to cut straight to the chase and not muck around. It's the abuse and availability of alcohol (applause) and that is the problem.
WILL OCKENDEN: Mark Murdoch's plain speaking impressed the crowd.
MARK MURDOCH: You know for venues who are practising RSA there's a lot of drunk people on the street.
WILL OCKENDEN: And he even addressed every nightclub goer's main gripe.
MARK MURDOCH: Queuing - why do we have queues, blocking footpaths for people who want to use them, to get into licensed premises? The venue is either full or it's not.
WILL OCKENDEN: Mark Murdoch says the investigation to find the person who king hit Thomas Kelly is progressing.
EMILY BOURKE: Will Ockenden with that report.
The full story...
Kings X clubs audited in regulator crackdown
Will Ockenden reported this story on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 08:06:00
EMILY BOURKE: The New South Wales Government has launched a sweeping investigation into every nightspot in Sydney's Kings Cross in an effort to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.
Related Links
ABC takes no responsibility for the sites these links take you to.


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Thermogenic Fat Burner Vs Fat Blocker – Which One To Choose?
Wanting to lose an astounding number of pounds? Seeing all of these different fat burners and not sure which one to choose? The weight loss trip is one of a discovery. From thermogenic fat burners to fat blockers, you often feel like a kid in a candy store. The thermogenic fat burner endeavors to regulate the body's metabolism, skyrocketing energy levels while keeping the fat to a minimum, whilst the fat blocker foils fat from maneuvering its way into the digestive track. So which one do you choose and how can you really tell which is more helpful?
Well, it depends on your goal and how quickly you want the weight to leave. Each product has its pros and cons and lists its ingredients so you can make the best decision to achieve the best results. Speaking with a doctor can also help as doctors are very familiar with the majority of these products and can reveal to you the benefit to taking laxatives to lose weight or using a fat blocker. Doctors can also give you recommendations as to top rated fat burners such as African Mango, Curvatrim, Lipo 6 or Hydroxycut. With the popularity and rise of thermogenic fat burner products due to their accelerated fat regulated process, fat blockers have declined in attractiveness. Items such as ephedrine diet pills are often used in conjunction with the thermogenic fat burner products as well as the fat blockers. There is no right or wrong choice despite the various lists that promote the top 10 fat burners and fat blockers like Proactol and Alli. It is essential that one research each product thoroughly so they are aware of what they will be taking to lose the weight and what they are consuming in their body and the prospective side effects involved.


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Peace No.2 Stud
Peace No.2 Stud
from 150.00
The symbol best represents diplomatic power and the ability to reach an agreement against even the most formidable opposition.
Compromise, harmony and unity are key to achieving your goals, but a respect for other's feelings and desires help you kill your adversaries with kindness.
Ideal For:
• Symbolizing calm resolve, grace and charm.
• Celebrating successful partnerships in and out of the office.
• Channeling 'kind power', a warm understanding aim for mutual compromise.
14k yellow gold and white diamond option
Each stud sold individually


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What if we followed the same old formula to kick off an event?
What if we didn't?
On March 15th, the Big Idea Challenge leapt out of the realm of the conceptual with panache and smacked straight into the expanse of the visceral. Happy-hour-hunt-beckoned, our beloved early adopters, our first and favorite evangelists, arrived en masse at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and were:
and rewarded.
Oh, VMFA, how we wish we could come and play like that more often.
What's that? You missed all of the fun? It's not too late! Follow this link to the Big Idea Challenge, grab your friends and help support one of RVA's great treasures: The Community Idea Stations.


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Update Us
Moved? Graduated from college? Married? New job? Children? Other significant achievement you would like to share?
Keep St. Robert School updated about you and your family. Contact Lisa Lesjak, Director of School Advancement at (414) 332-1164, ext. 3024 or email@example.com.
copyright © 2007 St. Robert Catholic Church & School, 4019 N. Farwell Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211 Phone (414) 332-1164, Fax (414)332-2599
Design by Stream Creative • Powered by Frogneck


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Listening—truly listening—doesn't just involve your ears. It involves all your senses, and it is often overlooked or underrated as a leadership skill.
To Truly Impact Others, Build Trust First
What's the first step I need to take on this journey towards this highly aspirational purpose? It all begins with trust. If you don't focus on building trust with others, your influence will be limited to only the content or positional power you may have, and you will never experience the type of impact on others that Adaptable Leaders have where people say, "I will follow you because I trust in you and I want to be part of whatever you do."
Happiness During an Organization Transformation: The Difference That Makes a Difference
Taking on a transformation is hard, we all know that; in fact, according to McKinsey (and pretty much everyone else) over 70% of transformations fail. Taking on a transformation in the digital era, I would argue, is even harder. Why? Markets, companies, and information is changing so much faster, so thinking of it as one transformation every 7 to 10 years doesn't work anymore. It is now demanded that everyone be more nimble and adaptable all the time.


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Phil Houston Presents the QVerity Team's Newest Book, GET THE TRUTH, on the Kelly File
Kelly File, Get the Truth, Phil Houston
On March 24, QVerity's Phil Houston appeared on Fox News's "The Kelly File" to discuss Get the Truth, sequel to the New York Times bestseller Spy the Lie. Houston explained to host Megyn Kelly the simple intricacies of eliciting the truth from someone who may, initially, be unwilling to share it.
Get the Truth is now available online and in bookstores everywhere.


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Weekend Drink Recipe: The Red DeathPosted on October 9th, 2010 No comments
With Halloween only a few weeks away, I thought I'd slide you kids some spooky juice. Here's a recipe for a concoction monikered
The RED DEATH
1 oz Amaretto
1 oz Peach Schnapps
1 oz Sloe gin
1 oz Southern Comfort
1 oz Vodka
Shake everything up in a shaker and strain over rocks in a very tall glass. You can make it redder for you Halloween party by throwing in a couple of drops of red food coloring.
-Tiki Chris reporting from Haunted Tiki Island


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Item # NANOSTROP
Price: $99.00
The unique configuration of the Nano-Strop makes it ideal for keeping your knives in tip-top condition. Combining aspects of a flat strop with those of a handheld steel, there is nothing else quite like it.
A 3/16" thick Ceramic Abrasive on the top of the bar provides the sharpening surface. The Ceramic strip is long and narrow at 13-7/8" x 1", perfect for taking long, smooth strokes with your knife. The kind of strokes that make maintaining a steady, consistent angle easy. The 10 micron abrasive can be used wet or dry, and provides an excellent balance between fast cutting and fine finishing, making for an ideal maintenance sharpener.
And though it is used much like a sharpening steel the abrasive surface of the Nano-Strop is flat, not round like a traditional steel. This flat surface area contacts a wider area of the edge than a round steel does, making it easier to create a straight, smooth line to the edge of any knife.
A handle is mounted on the bottom of the 19-3/8" support bar near one end. Use the handle to hold the Nano-Strop like you would a traditional sharpening steel for fast touch ups anywhere. Or, take advantage of the non-slip silicone mounted on the bottom of the bar by placing it over a sink and use the Nano-Strop as you would a bench stone.
The Nano-Strop is available in two handsome options. Whether you prefer the brushed finish of the Aluminum or the eye popping wood of the Tiger Maple, you will be getting a tool that keeps your knives in beautiful condition, and looks good doing it.
Overall length-19-3/8".
SharpeningSupplies.com | 8376 Murphy Dr Middleton WI 53562 | 800-351-8234
Copyright © 2006-2019 Wingra Direct LLC. All Rights Reserved.


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Overview for Corfu Trail Short Break
Corfu, the greenest Ionian island, has the iconic long-distance Corfu Trail leading from the southern tip of the island to its northernmost point. In this five-day Corfu Trail short break, you will start at the very beginning of the trail, where the island is at its narrowest, overlooking the sea to the east, south and west. Following the south section of the trail, you will walk along ancient footpaths and winding paths above the coast, between olives and cypresses. Daily walking varies between 15 and 20 km.
- Arkoudilas Beach
- Lefkimmi
- Santa Barbara/ Marathia Beach
- Issos Dunes and Lake
- Heritage olive groves
- West coast at Paramonas
- Strongili village
- Stavros View Point
- Benitses
Itinerary for Corfu Trail Short BreakGo to top of page
Day 1: Arrival. Asprokavos, loop walk if time permits
Arrive at Corfu Airport and enjoy our complimentary transfer to your hotel at Asprokavos (22 km / 30 minutes). Meet our representative who will brief you on the walks and give you the maps and the documentation needed for your trip. If arriving in the morning, afternoon optional loop walk Asprokavos-Spartera-Asprokavos. The shortest walk of the Corfu trail leads you to the southernmost tip of Corfu, where you will find the ruins of a monastery. You will continue through a forest to reach the sandy beach of Arkoudilas, where you will walk by the southern shore of the island to the northern end of the beach from where you walk up to the village of Spartera and back along the road to Asprokavos.
- Accommodation: Mediterranean Blue Aparthotel
- Walking for the day: none / 12 km, 3.5 hours, 250 m elevation gain
Day 2: Asprokavos to Santa Barbara
Crossing the island to the East through olive groves and fields you reach Lefkimmi. Here, your path takes you through the old neighbourhoods and historic city centre of the town with its many churches. Leaving Lefkimmi you will descend into the green valley of the Gardeno River. The last section of today´s walk leads you up again, so you will have splendid views of both the east and west coast of the island, before you descend to the west coast to reach the beach at Santa Barbara.
- Accommodation: Perfect 10 Taverna's studio apartments
- Walking for the day: 22 km, 7 hours, 350 m ascent
Day 3: Santa Barbara to Paramonas, walking through the Issos Natura 2000 Habitat
- Accommodation: Varangouli Apartments
- Walking for the day: 20 km, 6 hours, 150 m ascent
Day 4: Paramonas to Benitses
Breakfast at Sunset tavern on the beach of Paramonas. As soon as you leave Paramonas you will walk up on paths through olive groves. Once you reach the top, the views over the coastline are amazing. On the descent you pass through small villages (Ano Pavliana, Kato Pavliana, and Vouniatades) to continue your walk through a heathland valley. After the village of Strongili your way climbs again to reach today´s highest point at Dafnata, from where you have beautiful views. Afterwards, you descend on the road to Coyevinas from where a forest trail takes you down to the coast at Benitses, where you will find many options to have a delicious goodbye dinner.
- Accommodation: Benitses Arches Hotel
- Walking for the day: 19 km, 7 hours, 650 m ascent
Day 5: Departure or Onward Travel
Return home or individual stay extension.
Hotels for Corfu Trail Short BreakGo to top of page
Accommodation is in hand-picked studio apartments or small family operated hotels. Some places are quite simple, but clean and all have private en-suite rooms.
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will give to you exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Sample hotels: Mediterranean Blue Aparthotel, Benitses Arches Hotel, Perfect 10 Taverna's studio apartments
Breakfast is always included. Half board option is possible to order. In towns there are multiple restaurants and taverns where you can sample the incredible local cuisine.
Travel for Corfu Trail Short BreakGo to top of page
Recommended arrival and departure airport: Corfu.
Flight information can change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please do check directly with the airlines' websites or Skyscanner before finalising any booking with us. Please do not book your flights before we have confirmed your booking.
Transfers to/from Airports
Complimentary airport transfers from/to Corfu airport are included.
Private Transfers
You will have private transfers arranged for you according to itinerary.
Baggage Transfers
Luggage transfer is included as per itinerary and we will arrange it from your current hotel to your next hotel. After check out, you will leave baggage at the hotel reception and you can start hiking. When you arrive at your next hotel, your baggage will be at the hotel reception.
Country Info and Travel Advise
For up to date travel advice and country info, please check here.
Timezone: GMT +2
Language: Greek. In big cities many people speak English, but in remote areas this might not be the case. However most of the hotel staff where we stay speak English and are ready to help you. Road signs/markers are normally in both Greek and Latin alphabet – and you can always call our 24/7 help line if there are any problems.
Electric supply and plugs: 220V, 50Hz, two pin round plugs.
Currency: Euro (€). We strongly recommend taking adequate cash for your daily requirements. Banks and ATMs are not available outside of cities but credit/debit card payments are accepted in most places.
Cost of living: in Greece it is cheaper than in the UK. Some sample prices follow:
- 3-course meal in a standard restaurant: 12€
- A litre of mineral water from a street shop: 1€
- A cup of coffee: 2.5€
Trip Info for Corfu Trail Short BreakGo to top of page
Difficulty Grade: Moderate
This holiday is suitable for walkers of good fitness. All days include walks of a moderate grade, the most strenuous being Day 4. Total walking distance is 73 km and average daily walking distance is 18 km per day, while total elevation gain is up to 1,400 m (read more about difficulty grades).
Route Navigation
Terrain is varying from steep rocky footpaths to cobbled paths and asphalted roads. Routes are well signposted.
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to Go
This trip is available between 1 May and 24 June and between 1 September and 24 October. July and August are too hot for walking, while most hotels along the trail are closed in early spring and late autumn. If you want to visit Corfu in March, April or November, we have developed a special itinerary where you will walk certain sections of the Corfu Trail, being based in Corfu Town.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your holiday on any date in the season – so please indicate desired starting date when booking.
Corfu has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. For more details, visit https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/greece/corfu.
What to Bring
Main luggage is limited to 25 kg. On walking days your main luggage is transported to the next accommodation. For your daily essentials, you should bring a comfortable rucksack. It is essential to bring good hiking shoes and waterproof jacket.
Below is a non-exclusive list of what you should bring to this trip. We will include more detailed info in your holiday information pack. If you need further advice, please contact us or a reputable outdoor retailer.
- Good hiking boots;
- Hiking socks;
- Several t-shirts (cotton or preferably breathable/fast drying);
- Packable waterproof and windproof jacket with hood;
- Synthetic mid layer or warm fleece;
- Trainers and/or sandals – to relax and wear inside accommodation;
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip salve;
- Hat/Baseball cap;
- Personal First Aid kit (wet wipes, flu remedies, stomach remedies).
Included for Corfu Trail Short BreakGo to top of page
- Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked
- Accommodation for 4 nights as listed in itinerary
- 4 breakfasts
- Luggage transport to next hotel
- Complimentary airport transfers to/from Corfu Airport
- 24/7 phone assistance by our Corfu office
- Single room supplement: Where individual members of a group require a single room, a single room supplement is applicable
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. As transfer and accommodation costs are not shared, a solo traveller supplement is payable
- High season supplement: due to the popularity of the area, hotels charge higher rates during the peak months and this is reflected in the tour price
*To calculate the price of the tour for a specific date, including the cost of different options and supplements, please click the CHECK AVAILABILITY button above, pick your date and number of people. On the next screen you can choose desired options and extras and see the total price of your holiday before you decide whether to submit a booking enquiry.
- Flights and connecting land transfers to first / from last accommodation from/to airports other than Corfu Airport
- Lunches, dinners and snacks
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
- Any items not specifically mentioned in the program
(please choose when booking)
- One extra night in Corfu town before or after the holiday


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10 Blocks on the Camino Real
September 8–10, 2017
Written by Tennessee Williams in 1947, 10 Blocks on the Camino Real is a one-act play that relates in songs, dialogue and dance how the American hero Kilroy maintains his open heart in a grasping world, even after death. Performed in English, this 75-minute production retains Williams' text, yet is specific to Ghanaian culture, incorporating West African music, dress and sensibility. Under the direction of David Kaplan, Curator of the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival, the show was performed outdoors at marketplaces in Ghana in 2016 and continues to tour there in addition to embarking on its first U.S. tour this fall.
The National Theatre of Ghana has taken Williams' allegorical masterpiece and created a performance that is open and inviting – especially for inexperienced theatre patrons. The inclusive nature of the production elicits curiosity about how its theme is relevant to today's contentious social, racial and cultural climates, encouraging community conversation long after the performance has ended. To that end, each performance will be followed by an open audience discussion with the 12-member cast about the sparks of insight produced by this artistic and cultural collision.
Image Gallery
Sponsored by PNC Arts Alive
The Festival is one of nine local arts organizations supported by the PNC Foundation through the PNC Arts Alive initiative, which helped fund the presentation.
"The Greater St. Louis arts community is very active with a wide selection of theater, dance and concerts," said Michael Scully, PNC regional president for St. Louis. "Through PNC Arts Alive, we can contribute to the region's outstanding cultural arts and support new and imaginative arts programs that help enrich our community and strengthen our local economy."
PNC Arts Alive is a multi-year initiative of the PNC Foundation dedicated to supporting visual and performing arts groups with the goal of increasing arts access and engagement in new and innovative ways.


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Our travels to St. Louis, Missouri
Happy Fall Y'all! Ok... so living in South Florida, we have to get a bit creative when describing our Fall season. There are no colorful leaves or a crisp breeze in the air. Cute boots make our feet extra sweaty and there is really no need for flannel or wool. Want to wear that cute knit hat while sipping your Pumpkin Spice Latte? You better be sitting under the A/C vent at your local Starbucks because that's as cool as it's going to get. Do I love South Florida and our Faux Fall? Yes, and Yes! I am a fan of palm trees and the ocean.... and soon those Fall days when the weather turns slightly less humid than our Summer months. I live for those rare Fall nights when we can sit outside without the assistance of a fan. It means Hurricane Football Season and pop-up pumpkin patches. Florida Fall equates to Epcot's Wine and Food Festival and Disney's Not-So-Scary-Halloween! As South Florida wedding photographers, it also means Wedding Season in Miami, with snowbirds and locals alike exchanging vows. It's truly a beautiful time of year in Florida - even if for different reasons than the traditional Northern standard of Autumn. It's not a surprise that we are such a popular destination this time of year. Now that I have established my love for Florida Fall, I can acknowledge the other version....
Today we would like to blog about the time we experienced this mysterious Fall season that growing up, I only read about or have seen in movies... A few years ago, Santy and I traveled to St. Louis, MO to capture an engagement session to a couple of awesome Miami transplants. I really did not know what to expect as I had never experienced a true change of season (#miamigirlproblems - read above for clarification). I can say with confidence that I was not disappointed! The colorful leaves were unreal! I saw yellows and reds and oranges that looked like they were painted onto the leaves - if I had not touched it myself I may not have believed they could exist in nature. The chill in the air led to the need for leather boots and scarves, it was almost a comforting feeling that made the grey St. Louis sky seem bearable. Our first stop was Forest Park. Once home to the 1904 World's Fair, it is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. It attracts 12 million visitors a year with world-class attractions and scenic walking and biking trails. It provided a stunning backdrop for the engagement session and our couple was awesome enough to even snap a few rare photos our way. Our trip to St. Louis also included a visit to the famous Saint Louis Zoo -one of the city's many free attractions, this zoo has been recognized as one of the nation's leading zoological parks. We had a ton of fun there and even made friends with the big apes! We of course took a trip to see the city's iconic Gateway Arch. I took the 630-foot ride to the top of this world-famous stainless-steel monument while Santy safely stayed on the ground! The views from the top were quite breathtaking. From there, we took a short stroll to see where the St. Louis Cardinals play at Busch Stadium. A visit to Saint Louis would not have been complete without checking out the historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery, where you can visit the famous Budweiser Clydesdales!
Please enjoy a glimpse of our "real Fall" trip to St. Louis, MO. We hope to visit again one day! In the meantime, I will go paint my nails in a darker hue and order an Autumn-flavored iced coffee to beat the heat and get into the Florida Fall mood!


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By Spencer . March 28, 2014 . 5:30pm
Square Enix has been experimenting with new gameplay ideas like Demons' Score, a music game developed with Elite Beat Agents makers iNiS, and Guns'N'Souls, which has elements from Temple Run and a run and gun game. Deadman's Cross is another one of Square Enix's experimental titles that blends a collectable card game, a staple genre from Japanese mobile games, with a zombie shooter.
Compared to Guardian Cross, Deadman's Cross seems like it was made for the West. Can you tell us how you came up with the idea and why did you want to create a zombie game?
Shinichi Tatsuke, Producer: Because we were able to create such an original system with Guardian Cross, we wanted to try to evolve it further using an entirely different game world. At the time, I had been playing Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare and it hit me that zombies may just be the way to go. In a zombie-plagued world, I felt that not only would the hunt system fit perfectly, but it would have a better chance of appealing the Western market, where zombies are pretty much an established entertainment norm.
Zombies are in the zeitgeist in the West. How are they viewed in Japan?
Zombies are a fairly intense hit-or-miss topic when it comes to the Japanese mindset. When I first came up with the idea for Deadman's Cross, I was often met with the reaction of "Yeah, but why would I want zombie cards anyway." That being said, Japan is where Resident Evil comes from, after all, so the people who like zombies happen to like them a lot. Not to mention, The Walking Dead has been gaining a generous amount of popularity here recently as well.
Deadman's Cross has Zombie Abraham Lincoln as a card. That was a rather interesting addition. Why did you make Abe Lincoln one of the characters? What other zombie characters will we see in the future and what zombie characters didn't make it into Deadman's Cross?
We tried to pick characters that have a good chance of showing up in any history class around the world. After that, we tried to determine which ones would have easily noticeable features after being turned into a zombie. In reality, we wanted to take things a bit racier, such as turning the current president into a zombie; but we didn't really feel like dealing with the claims that would surely come, so we reluctantly managed to hold ourselves back in that area.
This question is for Hiroyuki Ito. You created the ATB battle system, the backbone for combat in Final Fantasy IV and up, and Final Fantasy XII's gambit system. How did you create the combat system for Deadman's Cross? Why did you add FPS mechanics to the Cross series?
Hiroyuki Ito, Battle Designer: Because mobile games lack the use of a controller, movement and commands can be difficult at times. To the end, I tried to design a system where you don't have to fidget much with controls during battle. In exchange for this, the strategic preparation one must go through prior to battle is greatly increased, and therein lies the true enjoyment of this system.


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01 Places - Purple Glory
02 Here Comes The Sun (Tom Staar Radio Edit) - Purple Glory
03 Believer - Budapest Priest
04 I Need You (Extended Club Mix) - SYNDROME
05 Come Get It Bae Big Tuna
06 Let Me Love You - Miss Demeanor
07 ILYSM - Sugarpine
08 Paris (LOUDPVCK Remix) -The Echo Bone
09 I Love You -Rumi Smile
10 1 Night - RawTones
This is the mother of all releases simply put. Smooth start drops us into one of the toughest Squat tracks ever, you will get deep… and you'll love it. But if you don't, theres a bonus squat track for you too! Equally as hard, but different sound :) The musical journey is a huge highlight - theres a bit of something for everyone and the chore follows the same path. Innovations in Chest with the Press Pullover, the 6 with more single arm options, or stick with the bar and hammer yourself properly, the 7… burn baby burn! Wider Plate squats…. ouch. The 9 feels completely different again, but is such a highlight, and we'll go down together, right? Then just because this all wasn't enough, the BODYPUMP 45 tracks are there at the end of the video, just because you deserve them ;) Enjoy, Glen
© 2017 Les Mills International (Educational Usage Only)


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India, Uzbekistan ink pacts to boost cooperation (Download PDF)
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan premier Karimov were signed agreement to boost cooperation between their foreign offices and in the field of culture and tourism.
This visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was part of his first leg of strategic tour among five Central Asian countries (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) and Russia.
Both countries discussed on following issues-
- Enhance strategic, economic and energy ties along with reviewing key regional issues including the situation in Afghanistan.
- To intensify security cooperation and exchanges for combating terrorism, promoting regional integration and advancing stability in the region.
- Enhance cooperation in the fields of defence and cyber-security.
- Implement the contract which was signed in 2014 for supply of 2,000 metric tonnes of the Uranium from mineral-rich Uzbekistan to India.
- In the areas of information technology, agriculture and energy.
India asked Uzbekistan to be part of INSTC (International North South Transport Corridor) similar to Ashgabat Agreement which is s a transit pact between Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Oman established in 2011.
INSTC ((International North South Transport Corridor)) is a ship, road and rail route for moving freight between India, Iran, Russia, Europe and Central Asia.
- Published/Last Modified on: July 10, 2015
↩ PreviousMeiji Period Sites of Japan gets UNESCO World Heritage Site Status
Next ↪Kamal Bawa elected as Fellow to Royal Society
-Examrace Team


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Autism, a complex neurobehavioral disorder that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid repetitive behaviors has been a serious challenge to our society. The disorder covers a large spectrum of symptoms, lack of skills and levels of impairment. More than 10 million children in India suffer from autism. In the absence of national studies, the estimated rate for autism in India so far varied between an impressionistic 1 in 500 and 1 in 150. In the US this figure stands at 1 in 68. 1 to 1.5% or 1 in 66 children between ages of 2 and 9 are affected in India. And so much so, the survey was conducted only on 4,000 households in India.
Children with autism are different. They have limitations; they live in a world of their own. They avoid eye contact because they feel safe in doing so, whereas eye contact is a prime necessity to communicate. Children on the spectrum also have varying degrees of sensory processing problems. These range from over or under sensitivities, distorted or fragmented sensations, poor integration of all the senses and sensory modulation issues.
They think, they react, they are emotional as well as sentimental but they somewhere lack in communicating with us, or rather we cannot communicate with them. They understand each other's language in their own way.
They are believed to be rigid and cannot accept changes; to them nothing is grey – the world is either black or white.
Dr Amrita Roychowdhury, after spending years in clinical practicing including in neurodevelopment clinics felt of doing something for these children in an organized way. She along with her father found the 'Transcendent Knowledge Scoiety' in the year 2015 with an aim to provide a holistic curriculum in a customized way for children suffering from autism. They stress on the overall development of the child and believe that education is not confined only in books but lies in exploring the real world. They take care that a child is aware of the valued social roles and grow as a distinct individual.
Here they nurture the children's natural ability through various activities and let explore various materials that we use in our daily life. Along with occupational therapy they let the child explore different materials through sensory play. The curriculum also includes lot of functional learning like activities of daily living; starting from toilet training to lacing shoes, everything is being guided and taken care of with an objective to make them independent. They face lot of trouble in stabilizing in a single place and concentrating in their work. This is overcome through yoga, meditation, creative movement, music, group activities and lots of games.
Dr. Amrita says "We try to create a safe environment for them where they feel secured and can spend time as a distinct individual. Here we focus on a child's ability than their inability". She adds, "We humans have lot of faults and we do several mistakes daily. The difference lies in us camouflaging it and them not. They are very honest and true to themselves; they don't think about the consequences or don't understand how others will react to the circumstances".
In India there has been a stigma attached to disability— shame, embarrassment, concerns about inadequate parenting— perceptions that are shared by many countries worldwide. The stigma forces the families to hide their strange children from the world. Since they are hidden, they don't exist, that's the myth and acts barrier to awareness. It isolates families, creating a cycle of ignorance and superstition. In recent years the stigma has reduced and there is greater acceptance.
Apart from this social ignorance, autism is also not currently recognised as a separate disability under the main piece of legislation that provides benefits to persons with disability in India. However, as late as in 2011 it was recognized as one of the disabilities under another act read with the main legislative act. But no certification process had been laid down in the act and hence no certificates were being issued so far for the autistic people to enjoy the benefits. However in April 2016, after a long 15 years the government has notified guidelines of issuing the certificates, which are yet to be in place and would take some more time.
Still the autism movement in India has come a long way in the past two decades; identification and diagnoses are made at earlier ages, there are more services that cater to the needs of individuals with autism, there are also some changes in the awareness levels in the general population. But there is still a lot of work to be done. However, if people with autism are to have an opportunity to reach their maximum potential and have dignified futures, the community of parents, siblings, other relatives, and professionals will have to continue to work together as a team and advocate for the rights of this often marginalized and vulnerable sector.
Facts, Numbers, Words Courtesy: Transcendent Knowledge Society, National Centre for Autism India, Economic Times, India Today


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Core Beliefs
Jesus Christ is the one and only sacrifice for our sins and He arose from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; John 3:16)
The Bible is the inspired Word of God – a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:10)
Every person has worth as a creation of God, but all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life are available to those who trust Christ as Savior and Lord. (John 3:16)
Those willing to obey Christ should repent of sin, confess their faith, and be baptized into Him for forgiveness of sins. (Romans 10:9; Acts 2:38)
The church is the Body of Christ on earth. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love others in Jesus' name. (Ephesians 4:1-16)
Through Christ, all of creation will one day be reconciled to God. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)