text:
An American in Afghanistan is showing off his new wristwatch to a local. After he's finished bragging about its many advanced features, the Afghan responds by saying, "You have the watch, but we have the time."
The gag illustrates one of the Taliban's greatest advantages in defeating the US-led, 42-nation force ranged against them - the West's hopes for a quick exit. Taliban leaders are prepared to fight for as long as they're alive. Western leaders plan to fight for as long as the opinion polls hold up.
The commander of Australia's 1550 troops in Afghanistan said yesterday it could take five years, or even longer, to defeat the Taliban insurgency. A key US adviser in Afghanistan, David Kilcullen, a former lieutenant colonel in the Australian Army, has drawn up a 10-year plan for victory: "People say, 'f---, that's a crazy long time,' but it's been nearly nine years already. If we'd gone in at the beginning with a 10-year plan, we might have finished by now.
"The Taliban have been fighting us in Afghanistan for 8½ years, but we've been fighting them for 17 six-month blocs," says Kilcullen, the civilian adviser to the US commander, General Stanley McChrystal.
"The short-term mentality has led to a lot of half-arsed programs. Everybody knows the Taliban aren't going away any time soon, so whenever we talk about getting this done in six months, it creates a lot of uncertainty among the Afghans."
This was a lesson from the Vietnam War that we should have heeded - the North Vietnamese fought the United States for nine years, while the US fought the Vietnamese nine times over, one year at a time, the fundamental mismatch of a short-term response to a long-running insurgency.
Kilcullen was a principal thinker in devising the successful US "surge" into Iraq implemented by General David Petraeus. Now he is working with McChrystal.
"He said to me, 'Would you be willing to do for me what you did for Petraeus?'" says Kilcullen.
He thinks there is a good chance that it's too late.
Yet he accepted McChrystal's challenge and now is going to head a small advisory team in Afghanistan for the US commander. The Australian is very critical of the strategy in Afghanistan to date, which he calls one of "incoherence and a failure to protect the people on the ground".
The essential insight Kilcullen brings to counter-insurgency doctrine is this - while the US's original top priority was killing the enemy, Kilcullen's is to protect the local people.
Although the change of strategy in Iraq was called a "surge", as a big wave of extra US troops flooded in to defeat the insurgency, McChrystal and Kilcullen are at pains to avoid that term in Afghanistan: "We aren't calling it a surge, but we are calling it an augmentation - to make the point that this is not temporary but that we need to be here to stay."
Kilcullen posits that the Taliban have a three-stage strategy to defeat the US-led coalition - he sums it up as "discredit, exhaust, inherit".
Sadly, a good deal of the discrediting is self-inflicted, committed by the current President of Afghanistan, Harmid Karzai, and by the US forces.
Consider the top three issues in Sunday's presidential debate, the first in Afghan history. The hottest topic was the corruption of Karzai and his family, diverting money and services from the people to the clique.
Another was the fact Karzai is doing power-sharing deals with the regional warlords. The Taliban drew much of their initial credibility in Afghanistan from the way they displaced the unpopular warlords. By restoring them, Karzai is doing the Taliban a favour.
Third was the presence of the Western forces, the International Security Assistance Force. The soldiers themselves are not unpopular, but the effect they're having is deeply disturbing to the Afghan people. The people feel it has brought not greater security but greater danger.
How? It's partly the harm inflicted on Afghan civilians by the international forces themselves, with an estimated death toll of 5000 to 8000. Karzai has been pleading with the coalition since 2002 to use more restraint in air strikes. And it's partly the fact the International Security Assistance Force troops attract Taliban fire.
After the "discredit" phase comes "exhaust". The British Government is struggling with exhaustion now as public opinion turns against the British commitment. An exhausted government simply gives up and walks away.
That leaves inherit: "The Taliban inherit the wreckage," says Kilcullen, "and unless we can turn things around, that's exactly what will happen."
Many in the West look to this week's presidential election in Afghanistan as the next threshold marking the doorway to an early exit. A successful re-election of Karzai in a reasonably clean ballot could be an opportunity to declare victory and leave, the argument runs.
On the contrary, Kilcullen sees it as marking a new phase of violence and instability. It is a time to recommit, not to exit: "I talk about a 10-year strategy - two years to fight, three years for a transition, and five years of overwatch."
The situation is "spinning out of control" on the ground, and the West should expect not any sort of respite after the election but "two years of heavy fighting".
And the West will need to do more than just fight - it needs to work with the Afghans to address the people's grievances, point for point, to defeat the Taliban's program to discredit a democratic Afghanistan. This will take not just an election, but intelligent effort. And time.
Peter Hartcher is the Herald's International Editor.


text:
June 27, 2005 By Michael Morris, Will Lyons
Differing agendas, wish lists, personalities, politics, security and trust issues, varying levels of technical proficiency among users, and so on, all create tension while staff attempts to improve organizational capabilities and efficiency.
"There was resistance at first to sharing -- not 'turf wars,' more like 'turf skirmishes,'" said Jerry Shearin, chairman of the Paulding County Board of Commissioners. "But when the GIS was demonstrated and explained -- how the data-sharing would work and the benefits -- people immediately saw the value. The result is people not only sharing data but also using the GIS to find better ways to work with one another."
Over the last couple of years, Paulding County's IT Department rallied five county departments -- Public Works, Transportation, Tax Assessor, Community Development and Public Safety -- to conceptualize and build an enterprise GIS in an ESRI-based ArcSDE 9.0 environment along with Microsoft SQL Server.
Because of the GIS's success, the county of 106,000 people northwest of Atlanta is expanding its enterprise GIS to include additional county departments. The county also plans to integrate field data collection, asset management, modeling and other applications with the GIS; create standards to govern new developmental requirements for tying to the county's geodetic control surveys and for submitting digital data; and create standards for further development that will allow public access to GIS information through a Web portal.
The Sensitivities of Sharing
One of the biggest internal challenges the county faced in its GIS development was the "trust relationship" with department data.
The county Board of Commissioners and the affected departments supported the GIS and recognized its time- and money-saving benefits -- in theory -- but had concerns about data sharing and security.
"A few departments felt like they were giving up ownership of their data because permission to access the data was being set within the Information Technology Department," said Jim Kiles, GIS project manager for GIS/IT engineering consultant Woolpert, which helped the county build the centrally located geodatabase. "When it was explained that IT only would house the data and that it was up to each department to set permissions, people felt a lot better."
The data, and the responsibility for keeping it current, remains with the department that developed the data. IT staff made policy decisions and technical choices to assure county leadership and data owners/users that data integrity and security would not be compromised.
The resulting database is a logical department-structured design. Only departments that own the data can alter it. Other departments may view data, but only select users can access sensitive information. If viewers need to modify a GIS layer they don't have authority to change, they can redline the area and submit it to the responsible department, Kiles explained.
Staff members further addressed security concerns by combining existing county network security policies and security features of the county's back-end database to enforce the domain policies. For highly sensitive areas, the county added site-specific customized triggers to notify the corresponding department's administration if an unauthorized user attempts to change data.
Paulding County is currently working on additional guidelines that include how data will be used by other public and private agencies. Since the county wants its GIS to grow and contain huge amounts of information -- even outside of the county organization -- staff is considering digital data trading or sharing at low or no cost.
Serving It to the Public
The county's goal is

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bobby Brown Pulls Out of New Edition Tour
It seems as though New Edition's All Six Tour is now down to five.
It seems as though New Edition's All Six Tour is now down to five.
Close sources to Bobby Brown and his daughter with the late Whitney Houston say the New Edition singer needs to leave his tour to be with Bobbi Kristina.
The music community is still in mourning over the untimely death of Whitney Houston. This past weekend, Whitney's grief-stricken ex-husband Bobby Brown performed with New Edition in Mississippi just hours after learning that his former wife had passed away. Members of N.E. released a statement regarding the death of the late pop icon.
Before there was 'N Sync or New Kids on the Block, there was New Edition. The venerable R&B group set the standard for other boy bands to follow and did so with such style and grace. You can even see N.E.'s musical influence in Beyonce's video for 'Love on Top.'
Bobby Brown has announced that he will once again be getting back together with his New Edition bandmates. The group plans to go on tour and record their first album with the original lineup since 1996's 'Home Again.'


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Diamond, D.J. , York, J. , Sun, J.Y. , Wright, C.L. , Forman, S. J.
Notes: Fragments of the pp65 protein cDNA were subcloned into a modified pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector containing an enterokinase cleavage site and 6XHis tag. These fusion vectors were co-transfected into COS cells with an HLA A*0201 gene-expressing pCI-Neo Vector construct. The transfected cells were assayed for TNFα production. TNFalpha was quantified by its cytotoxicity to WEHI-164 cells using the CellTiter 96® AQueous Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay (MTS/PMS). (1231)
Expand Full Notes »
CellTiter 96® AQueous Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay
pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector
Smith, C. L., Htun, H., Wolford, R. G , Hager, G. L.
Notes: Several proteins were transiently expressed in the 1471.1 cell line using the pCI Mammalian Expression Vector. (0379)
pCI Mammalian Expression Vector
Ottilie, S., Diaz, J.L., Horne, W., Chang, J., Wang, Y., Wilson, G., Chang, S., Weeks, S., Fritz, L.C., Oltersdorf, T.
Notes: The pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used to express the 168 amino acid BAD protein in 293 cells. Cells expressing the BAD protein were used for apoptosis studies. (0573)
pGL2-Basic Vector
Mathupala, S.P., Heese, C., Pedersen, P.L.
Notes: Luciferase studies were performed in the AS-30D hepatoma cell line using constructs made in the pGL2 Basic Vector. The effect of p53 on the hexokinase promoter was assayed in vivo by expression of the p53 from the pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector and promoter activity was reported with luciferase. All transfections were normalized to β-Galactosidase activity supplied by the pSV-β-Galactosidase Control Vector. (0700)
pSV-β-Galactosidase Control Vector
Expand Products »
Xia, W. , Zhang, J. , Perez, R. , Koo, E. H. , Selkoe, D. J.
Notes: The pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used in a rather unique way. The neo gene was replaced with a transferrin receptor cDNA and another protein was subcloned downstream of the CMV promoter. Both proteins were expressed in CHO cells. Stable transfectants were obtained by cotransfection with the vector pZeo (Invitrogen) expressing yet a third protein. (0164)
Hu, M.C., Qiu, W.R., Wang, Y.P.
Notes: All three isoforms of JNK were subcloned into the pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector and a hemagglutinin tag. Expression vectors were also constructed with HPK1 and MEKK1 using the pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector. Constructs were expressed in 293T cells. Extracts of cells expressing either of the constructs were assayed for the ability to phosphorylate a p53-GST fusion protein. Expressed proteins were assayed for p53 interactions by co-expression followed by immunoprecipitation (1020)
Whyte, D. B. , Kirschmeier, P. , Hockenberry, T. N. , Nunez-Oliva, I. , James, L. , Catino, J. J. , Bishop, W. R. , Pai, J. K.
Notes: The mevalonate transporter protein gene was cloned into the pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector and stably transfected into the DLD-1 cell line. Two mutant K-Ras protein genes and one mutant N-ras protein gene were cloned into the pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector and transiently expressed in NIH3T3 cells and COS-7 cells. (0183)
Brodeur, S.R., Cheng, G., Baltimore, D., Thorley-Lawson, D.A.
Notes: The pCI-Neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used in conjunction with a luciferase reporter vector to determine the important regions on the carboxy-terminal portion of the 386-amino acid LMP-1 protein. Both full-length and truncation mutants were expressed in the BJAB human EBV-negative lymphoblastoid B cell line. Luciferase activity was measured using the Luciferase Assay System. (1409)
Luciferase Assay System
Luciferase Assay System with Reporter Lysis Buffer
Spicer, A. P., Olson, J. S., McDonald, J. A.
Notes: The pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used to express a 554-amino acid hyaluronan synthase in COS-1 cells. (0363)
Meier, T., Hauser, D.M., Chiquet, M., Landmann, L., Ruegg, M.A., Brenner, H.R.
Notes: A fusion protein of the extracellular domain of the tyrosine kinase receptor Nsk2 was fused to the Fc portion of mouse immunoglobulin and subcloned into the pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector. The construct was stably expressed from 293 cells. The protein was recovered from the conditioned media by Protein A affinity chromatography. The protein was used to create an anti-Nsk2 antisera. (0676)
Salinas, M., Duprat, F., Heurteaux, C., Hugnot, J.P., Lazdunski, M.
Notes: The pCI Mammalian Expression Vector was used to express a flag-tagged 497 amino acid potassium channel in COS cells. (0433)
Muta, T., Kang, D., Kitajima, S., Fujiwara, T. and Hamasaki, N.
Notes: The pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used to transiently express the 282 amino acid p32 protein and a 73 N-terminal amino acid truncation in PCL cells. Cells were assayed by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Transfections were performed with the Transfectam® Reagent. (0636)
Chouabe, C. , Neyroud, N. , Guicheney, P. , Lazdunski, M. , Romey, G. , Barhanin, J.
Notes: The 676 amino acid KvLQT1 protein and site-directed mutants were cloned into the pCI Mammalian Expression Vector, expressed in COS cells and assayed for activity. (1297)
Ottilie, S., Diaz, J.L., Chang, J., Wilson, G., Tuffo, K.M., Weeks, S., McConnell, M., Wang, Y., Oltersdorf, T., Fritz, L.C.
Notes: The pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used to express three proteins, bcl-2, bcl-2(G145A), and Bax in 293 cells. Expressed proteins were used for in vivo apoptosis studies. (0572)
Toretsky, J.A., Kalebic, T., Blakesley, V., LeRoith, D., Helman, L.J.
Notes: The pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used to express the 1400bp EWS/FLI-1 protein in fibroblast W- and R- cells which are cells derived from transgenic mice either expressing the wildtype IGF-1 receptor (W) or a knockout of the receptor (R). (0278)
Grolz, D. , Laubinger, J. , Wilmer, F. , Troster, H. , Bachmann, M.
Notes: Both pCI and pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vectors were used to express proteins in Mouse LTA and NIH3T3 cells and human HeLa cells. The authors report, 'In general we observed that even after optimization of the transfection conditions the expression level of the pCI-neo constructs was only 25% compared with pCI constructs.' (1122)
Postigo, A.A., Dean, D.C.
Notes: Both ZEB and the DNA-binding domain of ZEB were subcloned into Promega's pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector just behind a FLAG epitope. After cotransfection with reporter vectors, the effect of the expressed protein was assessed in 10T1/2 fibroblasts and C2C12 cells. The two protein inserts were subcloned into a T3 RNA polymerase binding site bearing plasmid and the flag-tagged proteins were expressed in vitro with the TNT® Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System. (0542)
TnT® T3 Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System
Ohmoto, H., Nakamura, K., Inoue, T., Kondo,N., Inoue, Y., Yoshino, K., Kondo, H., Ishida, H., Kiso, M., Hasegawa, A.
Notes: The pCI-neo Mammalian Expression Vector was used to produce stable CHO cell transfectants expressing a fusion of selectin fused to the hinge and Fc regions of human IgG1 heavy chain. (0594)


text:
Wish list for the 2013 F40 X5
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Mein Auto: 2006 X3
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Originally Posted by
Dude, you need more toys. And I'm not necessarily talking Airstream. Someone on here posted pics of his D towing his race car. I forget who it is, but he's my hero. Another uses his D to tow his boat from CT to the Outer Banks.
Sure you could use an F350 SD to tow, but getting there ain't going to be even half the fun, and once you get where you're going, you're stuck riding in a pick'em-up.
Although youre being a complete douche in the other thread, I completely agree 100% with you here.
If I wanted to tow something simple as a pair of jet-skis, why the hell shouldnt I with this? You see all sorts of toys being towed by Mercs and Range Rovers. Cant say I would ever agree to hitch up a massive travel trailer or anything, but if someone wanted to the option should be there and look as well done and integrated as the rest of the vehicle.
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text:
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 16/12/2007 at 11:54
Tags: technical issues
maintenance and servicing
unexplained noises
hiya, i have been experiencin the same sort of problems with my 2.4 gdi spacewagon. it sometimes struggles on tick over, and it missfires occasionaly which causes it to lack in power. i have had a diagonosis check done and was told it was a fault on the cam belt but the previous owner had it replaced, another garage said it was a build up of carbon in the throttle body and that it neede decoked. after reading different forums and seein that quite a few pple have the same problems and how they resolve it so i had a go.
I removed the throttle body and srubbed inside the plastic housing with a little petrol and a bottle brush, then sprayed 3/4 of carbareta cleaner inside. cleaned the butterfly valve and put it back together. the only problem is once i put it all back together it did take a few attempts to start but once she fired she was idling perfect.
I took her for a drive and coudlnt believe how much this could change the performance...she flys like s*** now!!!
im just hopin this has solved the problem and i dont need to spend hundreds of pounds on a decoke!! but i recon this needs to be done every so often due to the build up of carbon that they suffer from. hope this is of some help to you guys and will keep u posted on any change in my car.
Best available rate 9.20%
Total repayment £9,304.93
Total cost of credit £1,804.93
60 monthly payments
Representative example
The Representative APR is 13.2% (fixed) so if you borrow £7,500 over 4 years at a rate of 13.2% p.a (fixed) you will repay £199.21 per month and repay £9562.20 in total.


text:
The C 1 static jacket oxygen bomb calorimeter represents a giant leap forward in calorimeter technology by featuring a high degree of automation in a compact design; the smallest calorimeter footprint available.
It operates according to DIN 51900 and ISO 1928. The temperature readings are analyzed according to the classical isoperibol method of Regnault Pfaundler.
The traditionally known, comparably heavy screw threaded decomposition vessel, has been replaced by a light and easily attachable combustion chamber.
Due to the variety of different interfaces (PC, balance, printer) this unit is easily adaptable depending on the customer's specific application needs. Further adaption to data management and LIMS is possible with our calorimeter software C 6040 Calwin (Accessory).
The C 1 Package 1/10 contains the C 1 Calorimeter (inclusive standard combustion chamber C 1.10) and the cooling water supply unit RC 2 basic.
The unit contains all parts necessary to set up the unit. We also supply wear parts and consumables for the first approximately 500 experiments including 25 calibrations. The C 1.10 combsution chamber is equipped with the C 5010.5 large crucible holder and C 6 large quartz crucible.
- RC 2 basic
- C 1.10 Combustion chamber
- C 27 Calorimeter preparation set
- C 1.101 Set of spare parts
- C 1.50 Dot matrix printer
- C 710.2 Set of VA combustion crucibles
- C 12 A 燃焼バッグ 70 x 35 mm
- C 723 Benzoic acid BIG Package
- Tube Mill control
- MT 40.10 (2x)


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Cougar Opaque Embossed Panel LEE Flat (5-1/8 x 7) Invitations Cards - 50 pack
Print your own DIY Invitation and Announcements
with our premium Cougar Embossed panel Lee Cards. Send your guests stunning, one-of-a-kind invitations printed on blank invitation paper from CutCardStock.com. Whether you are designing an invitation for a birthday bash, a wedding or any other celebration, our Lee sized blank flat 5.125 x 7 invitation featuring an embossed panel is the perfect blank canvas to announce the event to your guests. Match our Cougar Invitations with our Cougar Envelopes.
Our embossed panel Lee Flat Card invitations are sold in packages of 50 so we can offer them for the lowest price at CutCardStock.com. This blank invitation paper is available in two neutral shades: 98 bright White and neutral off white Natural. At CutCardStock.com, our blank invitation card stock is made to be heavy and durable with a 100 lb. cover weight. Contact us today to learn more!


text:
Registration is now open for a fun and innovative writing and art program for seventh and eighth-graders from towns on Mount Desert Island, the outer islands and Trenton Elementary — all of MDIRSS and home-schoolers from those areas.
The ARROW Retreat will give them the chance to work with Newbery Honor author Gary Schmidt, artist and picture book author Rebekah Raye and naturalist Rich MacDonald during four afternoons during spring break, April 15-18, at Camp Beech Cliff in Mount Desert. There will be one-on-one sessions with the professionals, group sessions and small-group work with peers, plus take-home assignments. Participants will create their own stories and drawings during the week and showcase them in an exhibition at the end of the retreat.
ARROW is Art-Reading-Reflection-Observation-Writing.
There is no charge to attend the retreat. It is sponsored by MDI-based Island Readers & Writers, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring a passion for reading and learning in children.
All ARROW Retreat participants will get a journal, art supplies and a copy of Gary's wonderful book, "Okay for Now," which was a finalist in 2011 for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
Registration is online only, and on a first-come, first-served basis. Spots are available for 30 seventh-graders and 30 eighth-graders.
To register and for more information, visit www.islandreadersandwriters.org
This post was contributed by a community member. Submit your news →


text:
Items in Cart:
You are bidding on a A Burdall's Liquorice & Menthol Pellets small tin. The tin does have a little wear on the lid.I am selling off some of my collections that I purchased over the years when I lived in England. I will be listing tins, Toby jugs , Dinky Toys and other collectables. Please note the tins I am selling mostly date back to the late 1890's - 1930's , they are not modern reproductions. I will try answer any questions you may have. I try take close up photos to give the best indication of condition. I will combine postage for multiple items purchased.


text:
Poe leads impressive DL group
Scouts Inc.
The biggest story on Monday at the NFL combine was 6-foot-3½, 346-pound Memphis DT Dontari Poe and his epic workout performance.
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DT results
Top 40-yard dashes
Vaughn Meatoga, Hawaii (4.50)
Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State (4.79)
Jaye Howard, Florida (4.82)
Markus Kuhn, N.C. State (4.89)
Jared Crick, Nebraska (4.90)
Slowest 40s
Dom Hamilton, Missouri (5.54)
Chas Alecxih, Pittsburgh (5.41)
Alameda Ta'amu, Washington (5.37)
Tydreke Powell, North Carolina (5.36)
Michael Brockers, LSU (5.36)
DE results
Fastest 40-yard dashes
Bruce Irvin, West Virginia (4.50)
Shea Mcclellin, Boise State (4.63)
Nick Perry, USC (4.64)
Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (4.68)
Whitney Mercilus, Illinois (4.68)
Slowest 40s
Jake Bequette, Arkansas (5.82)
Akiem Hicks, Regina (5.23)
Trevor Guyton, California (5.07)
Jamaar Jarrett, Arizona State (5.02)
Scott Solomon, Rice (5.00)
OLB results
Fastest 40-yard dashes
Zach Brown, North Carolina (4.50)
Demario Davis, Arkansas State (4.61)
Nigel Bradham, Florida State (4.64)
Lavonte David, Nebraska (4.65)
Tahir Whitehead, Temple, (4.70)
Slowest 40s
Ryan Baker, LSU (4.88)
Kyle Wilber, Wake Forest (4.86)
Brandon Marshall, Nevada (4.81)
Terrell Manning, N.C. State (4.79)
Keenan Robinson, Texas (4.79)


text:
Let Hope Rise
By Curt Devine
December 4, 2012
Curt Devine writes about faith and social justice to give a voice to the voiceless. He currently resides in Washington, D.C., where he is pursuing a masterâs degree in international media. Find more o... Read More
In January 2011, a group of the Central African Republic's key leaders met in a bomb-struck, crumbling government building to discuss restoring hope in the hearts of the nation's youth.
They knew their country was in a state of decay. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the Central African Republic (CAR) had, at that point, suffered 11 mutinies and countless rebellions. The country is currently ranked seventh on the United Nations' list of the poorest countries in the world. Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof has called it the most abused country in the world, due to the military and rebel groups who have raped, robbed and killed thousands throughout the capital city and countryside.
One of the leaders in attendance at the January meeting, Jean-Serge Bokassa, grew up witnessing horrific bloodshed at the hands of his father, the emperor of the CAR in the 1970s. Bokassa watched war, political corruption and even cannibalism destroy his family, friends and the entire country he called home.
Today, Bokassa serves as a governmental minister for his war-torn nation. And as he seeks to turn a fresh page in his country's history, he sets his hope fully on one thing: the Word of God.
Dan Franklin, a liaison for the Florida-based international children's ministry, OneHope, was also at that January meeting. As a 30-year-old American, he encountered the CAR from a different vantage point than Bokassa, but he saw the same bullet holes that scarred many of the buildings in the capital city of Bangui—and he also shared the same hope.
As Bokassa, Franklin and the others in the meeting that day sat among the rubble of the nation's violent legacy, the leaders of the country's education, health and environment sectors all agreed: The CAR needed spiritual restoration more than anything else.
"We can see the hopelessness, but God is our hope, And a nation that puts its hope in God will be blessed." —Theodore Kapou, bishop of the Apostolic church
"In that moment, I knew an amazing partnership had formed," says Franklin. "These leaders shockingly agreed that Jesus is the hope of the world. But I knew a long road lay ahead."
Reversing Hopelessness
In many ways, the Central African Republic serves as a metaphor for Africa as a whole. The country has a rich supply of natural resources—diamonds, gold, oil and uranium—yet struggles with a stagnant economy. The average income hovers at about $2 per day.
How does a country rich in natural resources become one of the poorest in the world? A paradox of this caliber could only be created internally—by systemic political corruption.
After decades of witnessing their government embezzle finances and violate human rights, citizens in the CAR have come to expect the worst of those who have pledged to serve them. Societal injury has been so deep—and distrust so widespread—that OneHope president Rob Hoskins believes the nation needs more than another poverty alleviation program.
"You can address the surface issues of the economy and government, but if you don't change the beliefs and attitudes of people, then you're going to see persistent, chronic problems," Hoskins says. "We want to create new hearts and minds based on the Word of God."
And what better way to shift a society's belief system than to engage its future leaders?
According to the Barna Group, nearly two-thirds of believers accept Christ during childhood and adolescence. In the CAR, just over 40 percent of the nation's nearly 5 million people fall below the age of 14, creating a ripe opportunity to counter the nation's scarred past by reaching its youth with the transformative good news of Christ.
After the meeting of government leaders in early 2011, OneHope received the official green light to begin working in schools, neighborhoods and community centers throughout the country. The goal was simple: Share God's Word with every child to undo the cycle of corruption in the nation's youth. The method was straightforward too: Equip local churches to do the groundwork, in order to ensure that God's Word takes root in each unique, local context.
How does a country rich in natural resources become one of the poorest in the world? A paradox of this caliber could only be created internally—by systemic political corruption.
Still, the challenge remained. Undoing the effects of violence on a generation of disillusioned youth would take both creativity and time.
Redeeming the Past
Gordon Olson, founding director of Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, developed a similar vision for reaching the Central African Republic with God's Word—but not before the nation's legacy of violence affected him on a deeply personal level.
In 1991, Olson's 24-year-old son, Tim, traveled to the country with his girlfriend on a mission trip. As an aspiring architect, Tim was supervising the construction of a church in Bangui. While working on the project, he took a short trip to a game preserve in the northern part of the country. On his return from the preserve, a group of armed bandits accosted and murdered him.
When the church's construction was complete, Olson and his wife, Betty, traveled to the CAR to see the project for which their son had sacrificed his life. Local leaders named the church St. Timothy Lutheran Church in honor of the Olsons' son, and Olson began to sense God's calling to bring hope to the country's oppressed people—especially when he realized he was not the only one who had lost a loved one in the war-ravaged country.
"We had to walk a long journey of forgiveness," Olson says. "As a result, we love the country and are committed to its people, through the good and the bad."
It wasn't long before Olson's personal journey overflowed into his work—and Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry began. The organization exists to transform communities from the ground up by equipping local churches and development programs with God's Word. Rather than inserting corporate offices and foreign objectives into the local soil, Lutheran Partners, like OneHope, works primarily through grassroots movements within the church.
One of the ways the organization accomplishes its work is by making the Bible accessible to pastors-in-training in the country. Olson explains that many of these pastors enter seminary with an eighth- or ninth-grade reading level and with torn and threadbare Bibles. When Lutheran Partners learned of this reality, it purchased hundreds of Bibles translated into the local language—Sango—and launched literacy programs through local Lutheran churches.
Of the youth rising to reshape the CAR's future, only about half are young men—and so Lutheran Partners has also sought ways to empower young women. Because illiteracy rates are highest among women in the CAR's male-dominated society, Olson encourages local pastors to promote women's leadership, and he also designed a way for young women to be equipped for the task—Lutheran Partners built a compound to provide literacy and Bible classes for young women, and they offer a scholarship to top-scoring female students who want to continue their studies in Bangui.
Though he once would have never expected it, Olson's life today shares common threads with the narrative of the African country that claimed the final breath of his son. He has suffered great loss because of the country's violence, as have so many who live there, yet he has great hope God will continue to redeem the past while forging a brighter future—a brighter future that is rising even now.
"Even though many people there live in the midst of poverty and hopelessness," Olson says, "they embody the life of the Scriptures."
A Change in Course
While reaching the youth of a nation with Scripture might seem as simple as opening a book, the OneHope team started with something a little less conventional: basketball.
Boasting the FIBA African Championship in 1974 against Senegal and in 1987 against Egypt, the Central African Republic once had a thriving basketball program. But years of civil war destroyed most of the country's sports infrastructure, and many children who would have, in a previous era, practiced shooting basketballs now practice shooting guns.
"It's not uncommon for kids in the CAR to ask themselves, 'Can anything good happen to me in life?'" Franklin says. "We heard how much they loved basketball, so we wanted to give them back the sport as a way to boost their passion."
To help revive this national pastime, OneHope organized youth basketball clinics with local pastors in the capital city of Bangui. They recruited Adrian Crawford, a former Florida State University basketball star, to join the clinics, and they developed a smartphone app to coach pastors on how to run effective practices with their teams.
As soon as practice began on the first day of the clinic, hundreds of kids showed up in a matter of minutes, ready to play and wearing only ragged shorts and flip-flops. It wasn't long before the court was filled with smiles.
But practice wasn't over when the game was.
At the end of the clinic's first day, the staff gave every participant a copy of Book of Hope—an interactive, Bible-based magazine.
As the participants' love for basketball grows, so does their love for God's truth. This is just what happened to 16-year-old Emmanuel, who gave his life to Christ after hearing Crawford speak on a Sunday morning.
When Emmanuel received an opportunity to travel to the U.S. to play basketball, he was thrilled. However, his visa was not approved.
"I assumed he would be so frustrated and would walk away from Christ because he had been denied this great opportunity," Franklin says. But a few weeks later, "[Emmanuel] still had such excitement for his future because of the [promises of the] Word of God. This is the change we strive for."
Emmanuel still hopes to play professional basketball someday, but has plans to complete secondary school and attend a university first.
A Bigger Picture
What about practical issues of poverty? While the Word of God may have the power to restore hope and value, youth who lack basic life skills will still struggle to succeed in the world.
Rather than separate social development from spiritual formation, OneHope coordinates the efforts of local churches to engage social needs through initiatives that are creatively rooted in Scripture.
For example, according to the World Fact Book of the CIA, about 44 percent of the Central African Republic's population is illiterate. But among children, this percentage rises much higher. Franklin explains that in most local schools, up to eight students must share one book, since so many children lack reading materials required to learn.
OneHope chose to combine a physical solution to this problem with a spiritual one. Partnering with local churches, the organization shipped over 200,000 books to schools in the CAR and developed a literacy program specifically for mothers and children. These materials follow the metanarrative of Scripture, so while students become literate, they're also learning the story of how God has redeemed the world.
Another physical challenge facing youth in the CAR is a lack of clean water. The scarcity of this resource has caused over 60 percent of school-aged children in the country to suffer from roundworms and other parasites—diseases that not only debilitate health, but also limit a child's ability to attend school and prepare for the future.
To address this issue, OneHope recently piloted a new hygiene education program for children. Wanting, once again, to do more than meet basic needs, the program provides each child with anti-parasitic medicine as well as an illustrated booklet that couples practical hygiene lessons with biblical principles.
In all its initiatives, from basketball to hygiene, OneHope weaves lessons of character development, as modeled by Jesus and other biblical figures, such as Joseph and Daniel, believing that cultural transformation takes root when change happens on all levels—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
"We don't just want these kids to have a religious experience," Franklin says. "We want the love of God to reflect off every part of their lives."
A Brighter Future
Theodore Kapou, bishop of the Apostolic Church, has been praying for this national renewal in the CAR for years. From his post, where he oversees the country's largest network of churches, Kapou has seen how social ills can be combated with God's truth—and he believes future blessing starts with claiming God's promises in the present.
"We can see the hope-lessness," he says, "but God is our hope, and a nation that puts its hope in God will be blessed."
When Hoskins and Kapou discovered they shared a similar vision for the CAR, they united their efforts in local church communities. Together, the two friends have been raising up youth leaders who model biblical lifestyles for others to follow.
Kapou and Hoskins soon discovered many others who had caught this vision, as well.
Take a young man named Ernest, for example.
When OneHope team leaders hired a translator to help them learn the local dialect, they hired a translator locally known as "Pastor Ernest." When they asked the young man how he had acquired his title, Ernest took a deep breath and shared his story.
He had grown up in the streets of Bangui without an education, struggling to find food every day. He converted to Islam as a teenager to gain access to Muslim feeding programs, but he never understood the religion.
One day, a stranger had pity on him and invited him to lunch. When the man uttered the name of Jesus when praying before their meal, Ernest unexpectedly burst into tears.
"What's happening to me? Why am I weeping?" he asked. The man replied, "Jesus is showing you how much He loves you."
In response, Ernest accepted Christ and became the man's disciple. From that point forward, Ernest thrived in his new faith, yet he was frustrated by his inability to read Scripture. He prayed and asked God for help—and God answered His prayer.
Ten years later, at age 26, Ernest is fluent in English, French and Sango. He has a family, works as a translator and runs a small network of house churches.
When he looks at his past, Ernest realizes it was a single word that set his life on a new course that has led him here. "God has blessed me so much," he says. "I owe everything to the Word of God."
Now, when Franklin looks down the streets of the Central African Republic, he doesn't see the bullets lodged in building walls or the craters left from rebel bombings. He doesn't think of the corruption that has shackled the nation for decades. Instead, he remembers Minister Bokassa, Emmanuel, Pastor Ernest and many others who have endured lifelong hardship yet stand today rooted in the Word of God.
Although placing a country's future in the hands of children may seem risky, Franklin points to the Gospel—the story of one small Jewish child who grew up to forever change the world. In light of God's Word, Franklin—and many Central African Republic youth with him—is beginning to see how the most powerful change starts with the smallest of seeds.
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99 STS Running Hot
My 1999 STS is running very hot. But the thing is it only runs hot at stop lights. If Ikeptp it about 2200 RPM, it doesn't run hot. I'm told that is not a head gasket problem. Can anyone help?
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
Thats not a typical symptom of a headgasket issue, thats more likely an airflow issue caused by fans not running, or a slipping waterpump belt. Headgasket issues mostly show up when the engine is heavily loaded, like when driving up a long hill, or when under heavy acceleration.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
Yep ^^^. Coolant flow problem.
What is the coolant level in the reservoir with the engine cold in the morning ? Half full is proper. Do not check while hot/warm. As Mark Csuggested, check the fan fuse(s) - I believe your car has a maxi-fuse in the secondary underhood box - or was that a year earlier ? Eyeball the water pump drive belt system with the engine idling - anything seem amiss ?
This is a stretch, but......... the water pump impeller has a shroud - in very few cases this shroud separates from the impeller vanes and pump action suffers. Last resort check because you have to drain the system and remove the pump capsule.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
Try flushing the dirt and dead bugs out of the condenser.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
The car takes about 20 minutes of driving before it'll run hotter. Tonight, I had to drive in gear 3 in order to get home in the traffic. That kept the temp gauge at the noon mark. This is very frustrating.
The coolant cold is about halfway. And the temp does climb when climbing the driveway, but not if I'm driving uphill in 3rd (because the engine's turning faster).
This method of keeping it cool is REALLY frustrating, and cause abnormally high fuel consumption. And the heat will stop blowing hot air as well, but will return to blowing hot air when the temp goes back down. A CarX mechanic (he says they know NOTHING about the old Northstars) said to turn the heat up to 90 degrees and turn the fan down to help the engine cool some while driving. But it only helps so much, if any at all. When temp goes up, heat blows cool air.
When the temp gauge reaches the 1 O'clock position, the fan will come on. I can't see if this car has one or two, but I definitely see one big one in front of the radiator spinning like crazy when the 1 O'clock position is hit by the temp gauge. And it won't turn off until the gauge is back at the noon position for at least 10 minutes or so. So, the fan's working properly.
I'm sorry, I don't know what the Water Pump Drive Belt System looks like to check it out. BTW, this water pump was replaced 6 months ago, and I've JUST run out of the waranty by 8 days. And I can't afford to replace it. Seems that it's pumping the fluid, but either not fast enough, or flow is restricted in some way. Also, when I stop the engine and am sitting inside the car quiet, I can hear fluid gurgling as if it's moving from behind the dashboard somewhere. Weird. Like it's draining from somewhere, to somewhere. Maybe it's normal.
The dealer wants $175 just to check it out, and if I choose to have it repaired by them, they'll credit the $175 to the bill. If not, I've paid them for their inspection. He said it would take about 10 minutes to diagnose once it's in. I cannot afford that. I love and need my car, but I can't afford that.
Couple of friends have suggested thermostats, and engine or radiator flush (this may by one in the same). I have no clue. Just that this is my only way to work and transporting my children. It's bad enough that the leveling system works whenever IT gets ready. Today=no. Tomorrow.... just maybe.
---------- Post added at 02:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:22 AM ----------
- 12-07-11 04:58 AM #6Cadillac Owners Fanatic
- Automobile(s): 99 STS VIN 9
- Join Date
- Nov 2011
- Posts
- 177
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
The condenser is what the air hits as soon as it passes through the front grill. It looks like a radiator. Washing this area thoroughly never hurts on any vehicle. Be sure the engine is cool and not running.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
Northstar thermostat is very reliable and it should be the very last thing to check. You cannot flush the inside of the engine and you are not having problems because of it.
Water pump drive belt is located at the rear side of the engine (driver's side near your oil dipstick). There should be only one belt on that side so it should be easy to find. Does everything look good? No funny noises or smell around the belt? Is it spinning well?
When the heat becomes cold, it means the heater core is airbound. This means you have air in the cooling system and air will not cool down the engine. Water pump will cavitate and will pump air - no circulation leads to overheating. Also that "air" in the system is likely to be so hot; it is going to show you a false temperature gauge reading. Have you checked your purge line for blockage? Pull out the hose that is attached to the top nipple of the coolant tank. Point it towards to the coolant filler neck and start the car. If you have a steady coolant flow, it's good. If not, either the hose and/or the hollow bolt at the other end needs to be cleaned.
Is the coolant level going down?
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
"One large fan in front" ??? There should be two fans, each about 10" in diameter, in a shroud behind (engine side) the condenser/radiator sandwich.
The condenser is the "radiator" that cools circulating gaseous refrigerant enough that it can be compressed back to fluid, when it goes through the expansion valve (orifice), changes to gas, and in so doing removes heat from the surrounding metal/air passing through the evaporator in the HVAC stack.
The actual coolant radiator is behind the condenser.
The two fans and their shroud attach to the engine side of the radiator - some contortions with a flashlight will reveal the fans.
- 12-07-11 09:02 AM #9Cadillac Owners Enthusiast
- Automobile(s): 97sls,09dts
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- Jun 2004
- Age
- 79
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Re: 99 STS Running Hot
Check the purge line as advised that is the most likely problem, you probably have a slight leak and it is sucking air upon cool down. Replace the surge tank cap.
Also rent a pressure tester and a block tester from autozone (deposit only) get these two test out of the way before you put money in the car.Mike
Re: 99 STS Running HotAnd the temp does climb when climbing the drivewayAnd the heat will stop blowing hot air as well, but will return to blowing hot air when the temp goes back down.Also, when I stop the engine and am sitting inside the car quiet, I can hear fluid gurgling as if it's moving from behind the dashboard somewhere.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
OK. When I locate the purge line, I'll check it. By the sounds of it Ranger, I'm in BIG trouble... I think HG's are VERY expensive. I have another year to pay for the car, and it has 178K miles on it. I wanted it so bad. And now look... I'm in a mess. The leveling system comes on when it gets good and damn ready. So sometimes it's good, and sometimes it's not. And above the rear left wheel, there's rust on the fender. I LOVE this car. I just didn't believe I got a bad one...
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
Annotated coolant reservoir pictures and purge line - click on my username, open my profile. 2 albums in there with pictures of Northstar cooling system parts.
I can't tell that you even read the earlier posts in this thread, but the "one large fan in front" of the A/C condenser (which is sandwiched to the front of the coolant radiator) is NOT factory stock. Someone has modified this car and its cooling system, probably an attempt to stall off the problems you are now having.
Even your fan ON/OFF sequence is incorrect for a stock system: The fans normally go to SLOW (with no A/C function set) at 224 degrees. That action lowers coolant temp, and as it reaches 213 the fans stop........still stuck in traffic ??? The same cycle repeats. Once you get clear and begin steady motion the cycle stops until, for some reason, coolant temp once again reaches 224. In 99.999% of FWD Northstar cars, above 30 mph, the fans (without A/C set) never run at all.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
The coolant or surge tank is where you add coolant.
A HG replacement is about $2000 - $3000 (or more) depending on where you take it. I know 2 guys up here that do it for about $2000.
Oops, Sub beat me to it. Boy, I totally missed that "one large fan" thing.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
The coolant tank also called the surge tank is where you put the radiator coolant into. The purge line is the 3/8" rubber hose that attaches to the top of the tank and runs across the air intake tube, and attaches to the thermostat housing right behind the waterpump. The purge line purges any air and other non condesable gases out of the coolant so they don't get into the water pump and cause it to become airbound and not circulate water thru the colling system. With the engine cool you take the cap off the surge tank, remove the purge line from the tank and stick it into the opening in the top of the tank where you took the cap off. Start the car and check for a steady stream of water flowing out of the hose, if there isn't any then the purge line is plug with something and needs to be cleared. There is a hollow bolt on the thermostat housing the hose slips over, this is the most likely location for a plug to form.
Re: 99 STS Running Hot
This is excellent. I will check this first thing in the morning. I appreciate the help. One guys told me to get a tall bottle of the Barts Block Seal (I think that's the way to spell it). Said it's a permanent fix for HG problems and heater cores. I'm afraid of something like that.
I also wish this forum had an Iphone App.


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An ice cream place in the U.K. just released a new flavor they're calling "Arousal" ... because each scoop has 25 milligrams of VIAGRA in it.
A British ice-cream maker has invented a dessert which can help with erectile dysfunction - by flavouring the batch with Viagra.
The Arousal flavour contains around 25mg of Viagra per scoop. It was created on specific request from a celebrity customer of South Wales ice cream company, Lick Me I'm Delicious.
Inventor Charlie Harry Francis added the Viagra to the ice cream and used champagne for flavour to complete the bespoke recipe.


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|Price incl. VAT
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Experience virtual reality firsthand with glasses I AM CARDBOARD DSCVR, among others, are certified by Google. With 34 mm biconvex lenses will look for a sharp display. The headset is also large enough. No problem accommodate a wide range of mobile phones and can get even with smartphones Nexus 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. And not have to worry that they are not fit your smartphone. Button control in this model the same as with Google Cardboard V2. The glasses are equipped with a silicone valve that prevents accidental falling or slipping out of your mobile phone.
Specifications can be changed without notice. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Retail Price (MSRP) means the manufacturer's/supplier's suggested retail price.
Link to Manufacturer's Website: Enter link to the external review


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Home > National News > Article
Giving Australian workers greater control over their time on the job is turning them into workaholics, working longer rather than shorter hours.
University researchers say economic reform makes workers feel more insecure in their jobs, forcing them to work harder to prove their loyalty and commitment.
The study, by Queensland's Griffith University, also suggests that bosses who don't pay overtime, or give workers time off in lieu, are more inclined to take advantage of workers and make them work longer hours.
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show about 24 per cent of full-time employees work 49 hours or more a week.
The researchers said despite widespread support, especially from the union movement, to introduce an upper limit on working hours, there was no way of enforcing it.
Those working the longest hours are employees who have worked at the organisation the longest - for at least five years.
Even though many workers choose to stay at work longer, 67 per cent of them say there should be a weekly limit.
Those who worked longer hours also reported higher work-related injury and illness rates.
Researchers last year studied 17 organisations, including two manufacturing companies, a government department, a hospital and a bank, surveying 766 full-time employees.
Griffith University researcher David Peetz said those who worked the longest hours had "the greatest say" over how many hours they worked and their start and finishing times.
Dr Peetz said there was pressure on those who had a say to stay at work to "get the job done".
"They internalise the objectives of the organisation and feel it an obligation to work long hours rather than be forced by management," he said.
"Changes in the regulatory framework have encouraged and legitimised these changes in workplace culture which ultimately benefit and are driven by management."
The Griffith researchers suggest the best way to restrain long hours is to provide "collective regulation".
Last year unions lost a test case on working hours in the Industrial Relations Commission.
Although the commission accepted workers should have the right to refuse overtime if it was unreasonable, it rejected a claim for two extra days off on full pay for people forced into long hours over extended periods.
Some unions, however, did not support the shorter hours push, arguing that limits could cut pay for those relying on overtime and weekend work to fatten their pay packets.
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News By Tag
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* Development
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Unique collaborative concept set to revolutionise corporate eLearning
Martin Baker is launching The Corporate eLearning Consortium at Learning Technologies on 25 January. The new Consortium is designed to help corporates save time and money while networking with others - sharing resources, knowledge and best practice
The Corporate eLearning Consortium – launching at stand number 31 at Learning Technologies - is a membership organisation, offering the unique opportunity for organisations to access a wide range of eLearning, whilst networking and collaborating with others with similar goals – sharing resources, ideas and best practice.
Martin Baker – who is passionate about the benefits of collaborative working – is launching this unique concept into the corporate sector, following the amazing success of The Charity Learning Consortium, which he founded and leads. The Charity Learning Consortium is the biggest group of charities in the UK collaborating to share the cost of eLearning.
The newly formed Corporate eLearning Consortium builds on this blueprint of collaboration, and has been designed to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources, particularly about eLearning, but also about other learning technologies.
The Consortium will hold regular members' meetings in central London, with case studies, workshops and sessions led by invited specialists and guest speakers, brought in to discuss issues raised by members. These meetings provide an invaluable forum to meet, network and share best practice.
"Membership of The Corporate eLearning Consortium is very much a partnership,"
"Having seen the many benefits of this unique collaborative approach, which keeps costs down and also enables networking and sharing of best practice and resources , I'm thrilled to be launching this exciting concept into the corporate world.It's never been more important to 'work smart', and by working together L&D departments really can achieve 'more for less'."
The new Consortium provides a large and growing portfolio of more than 180 eLearning courses to members, created by our UK publishing partner Jenison – which offers the largest range of off-the-shelf eLearning of any UK publisher. These popular courses include leadership and management; health and safety; desktop IT skills and a full suite of 'soft skills' such as communication skills, personal development and customer service. Learners particularly like the UK audio which features on all courses.
But the Consortium provides much, much more than just access to eLearning…. As well as the regular meetings, members can also network online, join special interest groups and monthly web based training courses. Other benefits include a free rapid eLearning authoring tool and access to Towards Maturity's Benchmark Centre.
All courses are hosted by The Corporate eLearning Consortium on a Moodle platform*, reducing the amount of input and support needed from IT departments - enabling corporate L&D teams to spend their valuable time and energy developing their people.
* Courseware is SCORM 1.2 compliant, ready to be installed on any SCORM 1.2 compliant LMS
About Martin Baker:
Martin Baker has been involved in eLearning for more than 20 years and is passionate about the benefits of collaborative working. He is the founder and CEO of The Charity Learning Consortium – the largest group of UK based charities collaborating to make eLearning affordable. He is also the MD of the newly formed Corporate eLearning Consortium – bringing the benefits of collaborative working to the corporate world. Martin is regarded as being one of the top ten most influential people in eLearning in the UK and works to raise the profile of the industry, regularly contributing to publications and presenting at conferences. He is a founding ambassador to the highly regarded learning technologies benchmarking organisation Towards Maturity, is an ambassador for LINGOs and sits on the eLearning Network board.
Note to editors:
If you're visiting Learning Technologies then please come and say hello at stand number 31 – or text Susie Finch at the show on 07938 632 057. Can't make it to Learning Technologies but would like to find out more about The Corporate eLearning Consortium and Martin's vision for the new organisation?
# # #
The Corporate eLearning Consortium - Share.Save.Collaborate
The Corporate eLearning Consortium is a membership organisation, offering a unique opportunity for businesses - of all kinds and sizes - to access cost effective eLearning whilst networking with others with similar goals.
Share: Exchanging ideas, experiences, knowledge and best practice is priceless - being part of our community gives organisations the opportunity to work together towards L&D success.
Save: Both time and money, by developing staff in the most cost effective, efficient way possible - our comprehensive eLearning suite offers flexible learning opportunities, to help plug essential skills gaps.
Find out more at www.corporateElearningconsortium.com
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This is a discussion on Limited Space Still Available for "The Gauntlet" - 16 February 2008 i Colchester, CT. within the Defensive Carry & Tactical Training forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; On Saturday 16 February 2008, Williams Associates Protective Services, LLC will be running a program Identified as "The Gauntlet", this program is designed to provide ...
On Saturday 16 February 2008, Williams Associates Protective Services, LLC will be running a program Identified as "The Gauntlet", this program is designed to provide the participant with an opportunity which is rarely available to private citizens outside of the "Major Training Schools".
The original custom hybrid training course which was scheduled and is listed below this thread has been replaced with this program.
Basic Description of "The Gauntlet"?
Basically the gauntlet is a 1/4 - 3/8's of a mile judgmental shooting course of fire which requires the participant to utilize the following tactical shooting skills and techniques:
Drawing from the holster
Transitioning from "Short Arm" to "Long Arm" and back
Tactical movement
Rapid decision making
Reloading / Stoppage clearing
Combat accuracy
The program will begin at 8:00am on Saturday 16 February 2008 in Colchester, CT. with a live fire warm-up / train-up period where those who require basic instruction in tactical shooting skills will be attended too. Following this period, a MANDATORY safety and control briefing will be conducted before the course will begin.
Ammunition Requirements:
The ammunition requirement for "The Gauntlet" itself is 100 rnds of Rifle and 100 rnds of Handgun. However, anyone who desires to engage in the warm-up or train-up will require additional ammunition.
The cost per person for this program is $95.00 plus ammunition and pre-registration is required no later than Wednesday 13 February 2008 which can be completed securely by following this link with either a Visa, MasterCard or Discover:
Anyone who would like additional information is asked to contact the Training Division of Williams Associates Protective Services, LLC at: firstname.lastname@example.com
Be Safe
Bryan S. Williams
President / Chief Instructor
Williams Associates Protective Services, LLC
Williams Associates Protective Services - Firearms Training & Executive Security


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Police are investigating after a woman and a 22-month-old boy were found dead in a house.
The bodies of the 26-year-old woman and the baby - understood to be a mother and son - were discovered after officers were called to an address in Euxton, Lancashire.
Detectives are treating the case as a murder inquiry but are not looking for anyone else over the deaths.
Post-mortem examinations are due to take place to establish the causes of death of the pair.
Detective Superintendent Eddie Thistlethwaite, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: "This is a tragic case. It is being treated as a murder inquiry, although we are not looking for anybody else in connection with this incident.
"We are still in the very early stages of this investigation but we are conducting a number of inquiries in order to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths."
The bodies were found after police were called to the house at 6.55pm yesterday.


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Monday, January 20, 2014
Suitable for a Valentine
I also put up a couple of the Montmorency Medallion kits in our store
Hurrah quilt….
Not much else going on here. I went to a kids hockey game this weekend and as usual…… I came home with a cold. I think it's the combination of sitting in a hockey rink for several hours and also being exposed to kids germs. Hockey rinks - the breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. Someone should do a study.
Hopefully I'll have pictures of NEW things in a few days ….. keep watching.
4 comments:
- Vicky said...
(sigh) You keep posting things that I want!
- January 20, 2014 at 10:57 AM
- Pam P said...
I made a scarf for myself and gave the second one to my daughter - We just love these! I could use one in blue . . .
Sorry to hear about your cold! Germs = Yuk. Feel better soon!
- January 20, 2014 at 2:50 PM
- Carrie said...
I thought all you northern types were much heartier than that! Colds wouldn't dare invade your space! lol
Feel better soon... Market sewing is looming. ;)
- January 20, 2014 at 3:38 PM
- hannah said...
I just watched your video on Big Stitch Hand Quilting on the Fat Quarter Shop blog. I am totally intrigued with it and want to try hand quilting using big stitches. I have a couple of basic questions: where can I find a quilting hoop like you were using; what was the tool you were marking with; and where can I purchase the Aurifil thread (I have 50 wt. but haven't seen the heavier weight}. Thank you for your help. Your quilts are so beautiful!!
- January 22, 2014 at 7:06 PM
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David Lee Roth is back with Van Halen … again, and rockers the world over are rejoicing. VH's 12th studio album, and their first solid album in far too long, "A Different Kind of Truth" will have Van Halen fans well satiated with an old-school rock vibe that hearkens back to when the band was at its zenith before internal issues sent Roth packing.
Not that "Truth" is necessarily all "new" material; as Roth recently told the Los Angeles Times, the band reworked some of their unused material from their pre-1978 debut for the album – which was a genius move to bring the band back to their roots. Eddie Van Halen's sweet guitar work sounds like it did back when this was one of the most rocking' bands on the planet, before he became fascinated with synthesizers and a more pop sound. He eschews the keyboard completely on "A Different Kind of Truth" in favor of going back to what he does best with the power and steel of his electric guitar. His virtuoso playing on this album truly illustrates his legendary status in the annals of rock.
As for Diamond Dave, most press reviews of "Truth" dis a little on him for what critics say is his lack of vocal powers like he had back in the good ol' days. Let us not forget that the man is 58 years old, and he still sounds dynamite on "Truth" no matter what the naysayers tout.
Alex Van Halen remains on drums, thankfully. The only downer to the current Van Halen lineup is that former bassist Michael Anthony is still M.I.A. However, all is not lost. Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen rocks the bass and deserves full props for his skill at cinching the band's signature harmonizing vocals. Still, it would be nice to have Anthony back to make the band whole again, but that does not seem likely anytime soon.
Nevertheless, "A Different Kind of Truth" is straightforward rock 'n' roll the way only Van Halen can do it. There are strong tracks and weaker tracks on the album, but as a whole it is a must for any Van Halen fan's collection.
Sadly, leadoff track "Tattoo" is the worst of the bunch, yet the one chosen as the first single release. Let's hope this tune gets out of the way soon to make room for better offerings from the album. The lyrics on this song are terrible and way too heavy-handed, with the word "tattoo" repeated over and over. At their best, Van Halen is renowned for making not-too-veiled sexual innuendo into a most entertaining trademark of their music – take "Hot for Teacher" for example. However "Tattoo" fails epically in its homage to aged tarts. "Swap-meet Sally/ tramp-stamp tat/ housewife to momshell in the time it took to get that new tattoo."
There are other limp tunes on "Truth" as well – such as "Honeybabysweetiedoll," which only begs the question, "Why?" It is kind of a mess.
Thankfully, there are more interesting tracks on "Truth" than not, and some that will make longtime fans feel like they are in a time warp back to the high times of smoky concert arenas and general admission seating – "Outta Space" being a case in point. "Stay Frosty" is a wonderful bow to "Ice Cream Man," a blues beauty. Other standout songs include "Blood and Fire" and "Big River," on which Eddie shreds.
Van Halen plays Tacoma Dome on May 5.


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Learn to Read Rhythms…Better! is a complete program that teaches how to read rhythms from beginning to advanced levels—perfect for self-teaching or as a supplement to lessons. Pat's widely popular "Sound Picture" method associates how each rhythm looks and sounds to help foster better sight-reading skills and overall confidence in reading rhythm notation. Topics include: basic rhythm notation; quarter, eighth, and sixteenth note combinations; all dotted rhythms and rest combinations; syncopation notation combinations in "straight" and "swing" interpretations; all triplet rhythm combinations; common and odd time signatures; and codas and repeats.
To view the official DVD trailer, visit http://youtu.be/s5tRPm4DuZc
Each on-screen example is guided by a digital pointer, with a click track provided. Special features include MP3 clips of each example, and a 105-page printable e-book of all the examples found in the DVD. The DVD set is the culmination of Pat's many years of teaching at Drummers Collective in New York City. Known as both a dynamic drummer and world class clinician, Pat endures as a significant influence to the drum performance and education community.
Learn to Read Rhythms…Better! 2-DVD set (98-8527129) is now available for $29.95 at music retail stores and at alfred.com/drums.


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Published Apr 25, 2007
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Mr. Baker's Magic Box
Mr. Baker's Magic Box
Mr. Baker's Magic Box
Genius! Congrats!
YAY! :) Congratz! I was waiting for it to be printed! added to cart!
very nice bro.
You are one of my favorte artists on here!! I wish you the best of times!! :D
This model is awesome, but i have a question. The Hoodie version, Has a wire space inside or dont? ; i really need this information, because I usually use my cellphone in my pocket, and if the cable is inside the hoodie, it`s safer for the cellphone.
repriiiiiiiiiiiintttttttttttttt ):
I've got this hoodie for about a year and I simply love it !!! It has always been a piece of conversation in the many magic conventions I have brought it in, not to say that it's supercomfortable and great quality :)


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Welcome from Texas!
This is a discussion on First post and get my CCW tomorrow! within the New Members Introduce Yourself forums, part of the Welcome To DefensiveCarry.com category; Welcome from West Kentucky....
Welcome from Texas!
"Texas can make it without the United States, but the United States can't make it without Texas!".... Sam Houston
Retired LEO
Firearms Instructor
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Hello from Upstate New York.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the son of man be. Mathew 24:27
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from Central Florida!
Proverbs 27:12 says: The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
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Howdy neighbor!
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With great power comes great responsibility.-Stan Lee
Timid people sleep peacefully at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Molôn Labé!
Welcome from the East Coast.
The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome from Virginia.
Freedom doesn't come free. It is bought and paid for by the lives and blood of our men and women in uniform.
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From Texas friend....
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
― Thomas Paine
Welcome from Las Vegas, Nevada! Congrats on the approval of your permit! Be safe.
"Gun control is being able to hit your target."
Glock 26
Semper Fi
Welcome from Michigan!!!
Behind every successful man there is a woman, behind every unsuccessful man there are two.
I would rather die with good men than hide with cowards
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans
Don't ever think that the reason I'm peaceful is because I don't know how to be violent
M&Pc .357SIG, 2340Sigpro .357SIG