text:
One blond with an amazing body and another blonde with beautiful boobies. Both are well trained fuck machines. When you have that around you, you have no other option than to let them take care of your dick and give them a good gonzo style fuck till they are out of order. Of course never forget to spray all your juice in their throats. They can enjoy the taste as afterparty.
Bety and Daphne - Stunning Lesbians - Two stunningly beautiful babes fuck
Beautiful brunette wearing a nice alluring flowered underwear on cam
Beautiful hottie proud to expose her perfect funbags and get naked
Beautiful brunette Marketa stripping and showing her pink muff
I promised Nicki that we would date on Ibiza. I had a walk with her on the rocks near the sea. Nicki had to follow me everywhere tied up in bondage. When we arrived at a nice place I began to tease her. After that my whip cut the skin of her beautiful ass. She was warmed up now, stretched down and ready to serve. She deserved a long intense fuck, followed by a sensual blowjob. Enjoy the intense emotion of this real beauty.
Tina Blade is a classically beautiful and very horny girl. Here she recreates one of her wildest true fantasies to be fucked senseless by a complete stranger that she can't see. Watch her get so aroused that she squirts twice all over him before drinking those thick white globules of cum from the condom. No fake orgasms from this girl!
Naomi enjoys sitting in bed watching the smoke caress her beautiful black skin
Finally an appetizer steamy pictures of this beautiful teen with her huge toy slowly penetrates in her pussy
Beautiful anette stripping her pink undies showing how sweet her petite body is
Kristi is in her best form as she passionately strokes her beautiful little pussy and huge tits. She is covered in oil and her beautiful skin glistens in the light. This is a truly sensual woman....
Horny beautiful nubile babe masturbates with a kitchen tools in the kitchen
Beautiful hot chick riba graciously pulls up her white blouse to reveal her succulent tiny tits
Beautiful anny cools down her steaming virgin body over the fridge
Beautiful redheaded babe stripping her sexy panties and spreading her tiny slit
Beautiful babe peels off her undies get on the table and spreads her pussy
Beautiful cheerleaders licking their small beavers on the floor
Beautiful nubile babe slams her rosy pussy with a glass dildo on the bed
Beautiful blonde teen takes off her tops and posing her naked juicy body
Beautiful european honey strips her pink clothes and shows her divine breasts
Beautiful teen in tiny jeans skirt Kitty Kim rubs pussy through panties outdoors
Beautiful teen in tiny jeans skirt Kitty Kim rubs pussy through panties outdoors
Glee's blonde bombshell Heather Morris poses in a bikini
Charming nubile babe Makayla wanting to have some hot foreplay in her beautiful bedroom
Beautiful justine spreading her legs and display her white undies on couch
Looking very sexy and all by herself, Ariana Marie would like to show us how itamp;rsquo;s done solo. She likes to tease and ride her toys deep and hard till sheamp;rsquo;s oozing out of her tight snatch.
See meggan and her beautiful curvy body i want to grab and fuck it hard
Lovely beautiful sweetie teasing and posing attractively on web
Beautiful Desi babe


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June 4, 2006 – 3:14 pm
So the past two days, since 5:30pm on Friday, I've been on the bus. Finally got off at around 6:30 this morning. For those of you trying to do the math, yes, that is 37 hours on the bus (minus three hours in Brisbane, collecting luggage—hoo-ray). It's not really as bad as it sounds as long as you have 3-4 books and an iPod. It's just that you literally miss a day and a half. So now, finally, with only three of those days left, I'm back where I started: Sydney.
Sydney's not so bad. I mean, it's a lot colder than it was last time. I now know better than to stay at the YHAs, or buy AUD at a rate of $0.80 USD. I know how to ask people for stuff, and how to answer "how y'goin'?". It's not so bad… especially when you know you've only got those three days. I'm not feeling homesick at the moment although I am still trying to sort out my airfare. As usual for all Australian cities, everything of importance is closed on sunday. My travel agents back home are closed, too. Nothing better to do than do my internet thing in a convenience store, of all places. Took a long walk this morning, saw some cool stuff, and got to upload it right after. Thank you, king and country, for untimed internet access.
You know, on second thought, Sydney's pretty awesome.
This post is tagged: predeparture, sydney. Comments open, and so are trackbacks.

subset: commoncrawl


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According to the manufacturer, the TravelMate of the 620 series are mobile PCs of the business class with extended functional capabilities. They are meant for users which need mobility together with high performance. Thus, this is a business model with mystical extended capabilities. And certainly I will compare the 621XC with the 610TXV we tested before.
|TravelMate 620
|TravelMate 610
The photo shows a 15" model, and they look like two peas in a pot. The keyboards are identical. Well, they follow their proprietary style which looks rather pleasant. But there are still some differences from the previous review.
The first one is a different design of the front panel. The IR port is hidden in a groove, the speakers now take their typical place as this model is thick enough. Although I don't find such position of the IR port convenient, it looks nicely.
On the left:
On the back (left to right):
The right panel, like the left one, is not overloaded - it contains a Kensington lock, power button (!), air vent and AcerMedia Bay.
And what about the screws on the sides? It turned out that they attach the matrix to the lid of the notebook, while the frame is connected only with plastic clips. Probably it's because of the tests with a 14" matrix, i.e. the frame was too wide. But it happened to only one sample. Acer offered us some other samples to tests and they proved to have no such problems.
Fir the first time I was looking for the power button quite long as I got used to the fact that it's located on the keyboard. But it's not a disadvantage.
Well, it asks to insert a Smart card. It's the right time to show how information is protected in the notebook. The preinstalled software includes PlatinumPAS(TM), PlatinumSecure(TM) and PlatinumKey(TM).
The PlatinumPAS protects data on the BIOS level. During the POST procedure the program checks whether a main or emergency Smart card is inserted, and if it doesn't find it the booting process stops.
The PlatinumSecure extends capabilities of the authentification procedure on the OS level using cryptographic methods. When the card is ejected this program starts up the screensaver and locks the system. The emergency Smart card is necessary to enter the system and disable the protection if a main card is lacking. Besides, the utility allows for encryption of files.
The PlatinumKey provides auto user authentification on sites which require passwords.
All those things can be disabled.
When we inserted the card the computer booted up successfully. The keyboard
is very handy. I was never disposed toward TouchPads because you have to
move your hands down to position the pointer or press mouse buttons. And
here thumbs are right above the pointer management system, and you don't
need to raise the base of the palm above the keyboard. The TouchPad of
the TravelMate 620 series differs from that of the TravelMate 610. The
swing scroller is replaced with a disc which has some more functions (like
back-next in the browser).
|TravelMate 610
|TravelMate 620
I don't know how useful these functions are, but the touchpad itself helps a lot.
There are no more complains about its operation. Now let's turn to such function as Recovery. This process is implemented ideally in the Acer notebooks. You boot from the system CD-ROM and choose what you need to do. There are the following ways.
Service. Any of authorized service centers (the list is available on the site) can implement diagnostics of a notebook and, in certain case, repair. But to be repaired a computer gets into the central service center, if the warranty is valid. If not, any Acer's service center can repair it on the spot.
Site. The design is comprehensive, the descriptions of models are detailed and illustrated, supplemented with a demo program etc. There is a base of drivers and BIOS updates.
The hot-line support was checked when we tested the TravelMate350 model. Well, it does work.
So, the scores:
|Scores max.
|Our mark
|Appearance and ergonomics
|Ease in handling
|User support
Total: 88 scores.
We lowered the scores for
"-1" - no floppy disc drive;
"-10" - for the frame's behavior;
"-1" - lack of user manuals and description of accessories on some sites in other languages.
|BAPCo/MadOnion SysMark 2002
|BAPCo/MadOnion SysMark 2002 Office Productivity
|BAPCo/MadOnion SysMark 2002 Internet Content Creation
|ZD Content Creation Winstone 2002
|ZD BatteryMark 4.0 in the highest performance mode
|3 hrs 41 min
|ZD BatteryMark 4.0 with SpeedStep in the battery saving mode
|4 hrs 45 min
The run-down time is really striking! The company mentioned that this base will also be used for models with the P4 processor. That is why this is a very good choice for those who work on the go. The power consumption modes are switched with Fn+F3; apart from the extreme ones there is a presentation mode and some others.
Let's take a look at the graphics
|3DMark Result
|Car Chase
|Low Details
|High Details
|Low Details
|High Details
|Low Details
|High Details
The scores are comparable to one more i830 based notebook - Asus S1. Well, it's not a dream of overclocker.
If it were another sample... the scores could be higher. Nevertheless,
this notebook is a worthy extension of the TravelMate line with a surprising
run-down time. The tested sample is priced at $2057, its elder brother
621LV (with a 15.1" screen, 30GB HDD and 512MB memory, DVD and built-in
802.11b adapter) costs $2077. The price is a little too high, but it's
the Acer's policy.


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Small Parcel
Kenco Parcel Solutions offers customized small package shipping solutions for any size company by utilizing unmatched expertise, developed carrier relationships and industry leading technology.
Our team of industry experts has extensive experience in developing pricing, carrier agreements and parcel auditing solutions. We don't take the "one size fits all" approach. This custom fit can include a mix of carriers and technologies depending on the unique business requirements of our clients. We continue to monitor and update these solutions as business and our relationship grows and evolves.
Carrier Relationships
Customers benefit from the strategic relationships we've developed with the major carriers allowing us to leverage the activity and spend at over 100 facilities. While this greatly impacts the rates we are able to extend to customers, it also results in improved support and customer service from the carriers.
Kenco Parcel Solutions' customers have peace of mind that every shipment is billed correctly to carrier agreements and that service commitments are met with our state of the art audit technology. They are able to view their parcel activity and spend utilizing dozens of reports and customized dashboards. We provide information to help customers make data-driven decisions with their small parcel activity.
For an analysis of your parcel activity and optimization possibilities, contact us today.


text:
Plaza 88 - 1103 892 CARNARVON Street, New Westminster, British Columbia
I just finished uploading this Plaza 88 Condo for sale, 1103 892 CARNARVON Street, New Westminster, British Columbia
Plaza 88 Azura II - Fantastic two bedroom unit with great views of City with over 770 sqft of efficient living space. This higher floor unit features granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances large bathroom with lots of storage space, large balcony, storage locker and one parking. Plaza 88 is one of few developments in N. America to have direct access to shopping, transit and entertainment all from the convenience of your front door.
Call or email Barry Connerty for all your New Westminster Real Estate Needs
604.813.5130 email@example.com


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Just wondering... I think they could do more to protect the wildlife from the oil, and the economical turn for tourists in surrounding area and jobs as well.
Most Helpful Guy
look at it this way, we are one step closer to running our cars on oil water.
-steven colbert
on a serious note, we should go through with the plan to nuke it closed because it will work and get the path to recovery started. the more time we spend with out heads up our butts, the more oil spills out so we have to act now00|00|0


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This indoor batting cage not only looks great, but it will significantly improve this baseball player's game! An in-home, indoor batting cage makes regular practice a breeze as he can practice at his convenience. Also, the Arizona summer heat won't interrupt his baseball training schedule as he now has an air conditioned room to practice in. This Scottsdale based professional baseball player stated he will use this batting cage to practice and also do calisthenics. Read about the specs for this artificial turf batting cage below:
Batting Cage Turf Material Specs
This 15 x 65 artificial turf is durable to last through many rounds of practice. Here are the specs of this specific artificial turf batting cage:
- Paradise Batting Cage Turf
- Up to a 15 year warranty
- USA made material
- 15 x 65
Customize Your Artificial Turf Batting Cage
Envious of this artificial turf batting cage? We can create a custom sports areas for you too! We can do indoors and also outdoor artificial turf areas. Also, any size or shape artificial turf area is possible!
If baseball is not your thing, we can install artificial turf for practically any sport! In the past, we have installed artificial turf soccer fields, putting greens, football fields, bocce ball courts and more!
About Paradise Greens
Paradise Greens has been in business since 2005. The company specializes in interior and exterior spaces and also small and large projects. Paradise Greens has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has won several awards for their artificial turf design and installation. This artificial turf company is based in Scottsdale and serves surrounding cities including Avondale, Chandler, Cave Creek, Carefree, Gilbert, Glendale, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe and other nearby cities.


text:
Literacy is the medium of instruction for most subjects.
It is therefore essential that students have the required skills to discuss fluently, to read a wide variety of texts, to write effectively and with correct grammar on a range of topics, using the appropriate style for the task in hand.
It is our aim to ensure our students become fluent and perceptive readers who write intelligently and with creativity, as these Literacy skills are needed across the curriculum not just in English lessons. The whole school termly literacy focus is implemented in every lesson to embed our vision.
In order to achieve this we implement a daily Literacy opportunity in tutor times where strong emphasis is placed on reading, writing and the acquisition of speaking and listening skills. In addition, DEAR (DROP EVERYTHING AND READ) time takes place at the beginning of period 4 every school day, except on Friday when our KS3 students have ESCAPE time. Everyone Sit Comfortably And Prepare Ears, is for Year 7, 8 and 9 groups where the teacher and class decide on a book together that the teacher reads to their class during this time. Daily paired reading is also provided by trained reading tutors for selected students.
Reading Book List (updated November 2017)
"The more you read the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you will go" Dr Suess
Please click here for some top tips on successful reading.
We also have Literacy Handbook which can be viewed by clicking on its link.
Our Library consists of nearly 4000 books to provide stimulating resources for our students. New stock is regularly added and suggestions for new resources are acted upon.
The Library is open from 8.30 am until 8.45 am and from 2.30 to 3.00 pm, every day. Its purpose is to :
• support the curriculum
• encourage use of the library
• support and develop literacy skills
We use Accelerated Reader to :
• Assess a student's reading level
• Recommend reading books at the appropriate level
• Assess a student's comprehension of a reading book once completed
The login page for those in the Accelerated Reader programme can be found by clicking on the link below :
To find a the Accelerated Reader level of a book, please use :


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What do Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Alexa Von Tobel and Steve Jobs have in common? They each took a unique idea and turned it into a successful business venture at a young age. Their stories prove that if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, determination (and know a thing or two about managing money) anything is possible.
Being an entrepreneur means paving a road no one else has traveled on. There are no rules, but there are guidelines to consider when exploring a new business opportunity.
To make your business stand out, you need to do something no one else does, or at least do it differently. Check out this article from entrepreneur.com to see how one college student revolutionized the coat check business. Need some inspiration? Check out springwise.com or thinkofthat.net for your daily dose of innovation and business ideas. If you'd prefer to exercise your creative muscle within a tried-and-true business model, consider companies like Northwestern Mutual for financial careers.
It's true that success as an entrepreneur often requires a serendipitous, act-fast-on-the-opportunity mindset, but it also takes discipline. Watch The Social Network to learn how Facebook came to life. You'll find that business planning typically requires making projections three to five years down the road and outlining the route you'll take to reach your goals (although that doesn't mean you won't be able make changes along the way). Whether you're planning to take out a loan from the bank or using crowd-funding like Kickstarter, you'll need a plan to convince others to get on board and help make your vision a reality.
Can your business benefit from your expertise in Tumblr or Pinterest? If so, make it work for you. If social media isn't your forte, call on your connections. You know your vision, product or service better than anyone else, but there are bankers, accountants, financial professionals and marketing professionals who can make a real difference in your ability to succeed.
While no one inherently sets out to fail, everyone does at some point in their lives. Don't be afraid of failure or let it deter you from taking calculated risks. There are countless stories of how failures made entrepreneurs millions by forcing them to go in a different direction or try something new.
It may sound tedious, but it's essential. If you don't already have a personal budget, it's a good idea to create one. You'll need one for your business, too. Personal budgets usually include categories like housing, utilities, transportation, insurance, food and entertainment, loans and legal obligations, charitable contributions and miscellaneous expenses. While business expenses include many of the same items, you'll want to keep your budgets separate, especially when it comes to accounting for possible tax deductions and keeping track of your income.
Self-employed business owners have unique needs for protecting themselves and their loved ones from risks to their health, income and assets, as well as ensuring their obligations can be met in the event of something unexpected. Read more on risks that may pertain to you here.
You can't have a business without money to fund it. Stay vigilant to keep debt from disrupting your plan and avoid credit card debt whenever possible. Additionally, determine a policy for how to pay yourself. You'll need a dependable cash flow to keep your business running.
For more information on starting and managing a business, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration website.
Share it! Have you started a business or invented something new? Do you have experience working at a start-up company? Are there tips about being an entrepreneur that others could benefit from? Let us know!


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Awakening Your Inner Bruce Lee: Homework without Homework
In Enter the Dragon, a classic martial arts movie, the legendary Bruce Lee is asked about his self-defense style. "I call it fighting without fighting," Lee's character answers, and moments later he defeats his would-be opponent without throwing a punch or breaking a sweat. Lee does, indeed, win by fighting without fighting.
I recently watched Enter the Dragon again (I've seen it at least 20 times), and it struck me that Lee's philosophy can be applied to teaching and learning.
No matter how much I write about what a monumental waste of time traditional homework is, some teachers continue to argue its merits and, sadly, they continue assigning it to their students. They can't escape the outdated notion that students need traditional homework.
Like Lee's unsuspecting opponent, some teachers struggle to comprehend the philosophy of homework without homework.
Summoning your inner Bruce Lee
What if I told you that you can easily inspire students to learn at home without assigning homework? No more workbook activities or worksheets needed. No copying spelling lists or textbook questions. No research outlines and no study guides. When principals or parents ask, "What is the homework policy," you can amaze them by channeling the legend himself: "That's easy," you'll say. "My policy is Homework without Homework."
"How does that work?" will certainly follow. Now, you've got them. As Lee did in Enter the Dragon, you can captivate them with your answer.
5 ways to inspire out-of-class work without assigning homework
1-Create a yearlong project: The best way to motivate students to work on their own is to help them create a project that they build all year. In the social sciences, this is remarkably easy. Use the Reading All Year project, or RAY. Give students an exhaustive reading list (hint: allow them to add and choose what they read). Read in class as often as possible, and use the reading as a springboard for everything else you teach. Meanwhile, explain that reading and writing outside of class nightly will help projects grow, while creating an ongoing conversation about learning. Set goals. For 100 students, try the 2,500-book challenge; this means all 100 students combined will read 2,500 books by the end of the year. Be sure to celebrate reading.
2-Introduce the Information Treasure Hunt: I just made up this name; you can call it anything. In some cases, it could be a web quest. The idea is to make knowledge a valued treasure that all students want to find. Build incentives for locating treasure, which is nothing more than extension of your in-class lessons and activities. For example, in math, the treasure hunt might involve finding real-world examples of weekly math lessons. Students can interview engineers, accountants or bankers. They can build something at home and design a blueprint of what they've built. They can take pictures of math activities or make a library of resources they find on the web, related to class activities. The challenge is always to improve the treasure.
3-Make it social: Create a class Facebook page, Twitter account, Pinterest page or other social network, dedicated to extending learning in your class. Challenge students to teach you, parents and their peers by constructing a social network about class lessons. Emphasize that learning goes on 24/7, and they can create, locate and share information to the learning community anytime, using their mobile devices. They're using them, anyway, so why not learn with them?
4-Make out-of-class learning fun: Banish the word homework from your vocabulary. Homework is work, and most work is not fun. Convince students that there is no homework in your class ever. You run an exciting, adventurous learning community, and its members will want to contribute to the community, as long as learning is fun.
5-Never grade out of class work: Learning can't be measured, so nothing should ever be graded. You may be stuck in the traditional grades world, but you don't have to grade everything. I can't emphasize enough that if you grade out-of-class work, students will see it as homework, and they'll hate it. And many won't do it. If you make it an adventure, a treasure hunt, and a chance to use social media, your students will love it. Best of all, they will choose to do it. Learning will become a 24/7 endeavor, and you will amaze everyone by inspiring learning without homework. Students, parents, and administrators will love you.
Assign homework without homework, and some place in the cosmos, the late legend, Bruce Lee, will smile.
Latest posts by Mark Barnes (see all)
- Mission-Minded Learning Makes the World a Better Place - September 28, 2017
- 5 Coping Mechanisms for Bouncing Back from Your Bad Teaching Day - March 8, 2017
- Boomerangs, Inspiration Boards and Seven More Simple Solutions for Teachers and Leaders - January 31, 2017


text: Today many businesses are offering free samples of their products. Sometimes we may think this is madness, but there are reasons for offering free samples. First, this is one way of building their brand and product awareness to potential customers. If they like the samples, they will mention it to their friends who in turn will mention it to their other friends and so on. Marketers know that recommendations from friends are one of the most cost-effective marketing tools. For online marketers, the utmost benefit of giving away free samples is the ability to legally collect contact information in exchange for the sample. I saw an online shop that offers cigars samplers on a regular basis. This way they can get shipping information and as well as serve as a foundation for future relationship building with the customer.


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Our Impact
A pressing need continues to compound in our community as the number of families--and especially the number of children--in poverty continues to increase. According to The Boulder County Trends Report 2015, 11% of families with children live below poverty and 13% of all children live below poverty and an alarming 39% of Latino children live below poverty.
Below is a glimpse of how we helped families in 2015.


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A day after confetti fell from the rafters when the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to regain the NBA Championship, team co-owner Peter Guber joined The Jim Rome Show on CBS Sports Radio and navigated through his emotions of winning by sharing his admiration of an exceptional foe and his remarkable championship organization.
"The feeling of recognizing that you're playing against an absolutely formidable team, with an unbelievable world class, super world class athlete LeBron who just won't let them lose," Guber said. "I mean, he just keeps coming at you. And Kyrie Irving, his wing man, who is essentially unbelievable to watch, really phenomenal, and recognizing that you have to be playing at your very best if you want to want to beat them. To me, it was always a mystery that just when you think you're going to make escape velocity, they're back in the hunt again, so you have to be relentless against that kind of an adversary."
Guber also showed great respect for his head coach Steve Kerr's season long battle with a bad back and how he never lost site of the team's end goal, the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"It wasn't just perspirational, it was inspirational. It was a sense of his desire and his focus and never wavered," Guber said. "His ability to put his own personal pain to the left or the right to focus on the joy of the team was self-evident, and I think the idea was he would never endanger the team if he wasn't capable of bringing his best interest and best efforts in it. So you knew that. So you were guided by him, and he worked through it and provided a sense of rigor and discipline that a team could see, so they had to live up to that kind of standard."
As for the future and whether or not the Warriors can keep the team together, the Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment promised change, because everything always does.
"I think what we do is have an attitude of gratitude first now, of getting where we are," Guber said. "Now, I don't think we can stay where we are. I don't think we can keep where we are. I don't think what we can do, what we are, we have to do what tomorrow needs are.
"Other teams are getting better, we have to determine how we can get better. And Joe [Lacob], and Steve, and Bob [Myers] and the whole group has to be willing to be challenged to our own incumbency. If we just act as the incumbent, we always have to challenge our own incumbency. And that means players and schemes and designs and conditioning, all those things always got to be reevaluated as does the whole culture and organization, how we present it to our fans, how we build our new venue, it's a constant and never ending change."


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Non-Profit Internet Source for News, Events, History, & Culture of Northern Frederick
& Carroll County Md./Southern Adams County
The Hunger Moon
Bill Meredith
The fox knows many things; The hedgehog knows one big thing.
....Aristotle, or someone like that
....Aristotle, or someone like that
February 2 came on schedule this year, and
the local news media pushed aside their headline
stories about earthquakes, senate debates, and
the faltering economy to inform us that
Punxutawney Phil had come out of his burrow on
Gobbler's Knob to see his shadow and go back
to bed for another six weeks. Groundhogs have
never been known for either ambition or
intellect—as Pogo once said, "They's
jes' lazy rascals"—but Phil knew what
he was doing. February is no time to be running
around outdoors if you can avoid it.
For anyone who has to be out in the
environment, it is February, not April, that is
the cruelest month. To some Indian tribes and to
our colonial forefathers in New England, the
full moon in February was known as the Hunger
Moon; it indicated the time of greatest
hardship. Winter was still in full swing, food
stored the previous fall was either getting
wormy or running out entirely, and hunting and
fishing were harder and less productive. If you
made it through the Hunger Moon in those days,
things soon started looking better; spring wasn't
too far off, and your chances of survival for
another year improved. Like the proverbial
hedgehog, groundhogs know this one big thing:
stay indoors until the Hunger Moon is past, and
then some.
It may seem odd to be using groundhogs as a
standard of good sense, but not all animals are
that smart. Skunks in particular come to mind—
or to nose, if you want to be literal. I smelled
my first skunk of the year on Jan. 31, which is
about average for the time when they re-enter
the landscape. They go underground in late fall
in a hollow log or, preferably, an abandoned
groundhog burrow if they can find one; they plug
the entrance with grass, leaves and dirt, and go
into a deep sleep.
The females seem to have the
good sense to sleep late, but males begin to
stir around the first of February. It doesn't
make much sense in terms of human logic; there
is little to eat then except garbage and
carrion, the weather is miserable, predators are
hungry, and prospects for finding their heart's
desire are slim. But where love is concerned,
human logic means little even to people, and
absolutely nothing to skunks. Their biological
clocks have been running, and hormones have
started to flow; so they leave the warm bedroom
for the cold, cruel world outside under the
Hunger Moon.
Male skunks don't wake up in a
very good mood even under the best of
circumstances, and now they're cold and hungry
as well as oversexed; and to make it all worse,
the only skunk they're likely to run into is
another male in the same frame of mind. So they
let off steam— loaded with butyl mercaptan—
at the least provocation. This probably doesn't
affect the outcome of battles between males; it
discourages some predators, although one of
their main enemies, the great horned owl, doesn't
seem to mind it. And it doesn't deter
automobiles at all; for the next several weeks,
skunks will be among the commonest of road kills.
As a child I was taught skunks were to be
counted among the enemy. My mother was sure all
of them were rabid. Grandma, with not much more
factual evidence on her side, believed their
sole mission in life was to kill her chickens.
Several times each year our dog would come in
reeking, eyes watering, sick at his stomach, and
wearing a look that said, "Yeah, I should
know better by now." My Uncle Fay, who
lived just up the road from us, was in some ways
worse than the dog; he waged a skunk vendetta
for years.
He was an inventive man and liked to
do things with style; he usually won, but the
victories were pyrrhic, or at least smelly. One
spring a possum began hanging around his yard
just when the baby chicks were starting to
wander about. He didn't want to shoot it so
close to the house, with kids and livestock
hanging around; so he built an elaborate
deadfall consisting of a large rock propped up
by a small stick, to which he tied some meat as
bait. That night a skunk found it before the
possum did, and the next day he had the task of
removing a hundred-pound rock from a carcass
that was about half an inch thick and a lot
wider than it used to be, and steeped in a most
un-possum like redolence. Another time, he found
a skunk hiding under Grandma's chicken house
and ran for his gun; he killed it, but not
before it fired back, and no one could stand to
collect the eggs for a week.
In my dotage now, I rather like skunks—at
an appropriate distance, of course. I find them
interesting for several reasons. We used to call
them "polecats," a name that was
brought across the Atlantic by our colonial
ancestors; it is correctly applied to an equally
smelly relative, the European weasel. They
belong to the weasel family, which zoologists
call Mustelidae. As the name suggests, all
weasels have scent glands; skunks have simply
perfected them to a greater degree than the rest
of the family.
Weasels as a group are,
pound-for-pound, the most ferocious carnivores
on the planet; fortunately, most of them are
small, but the big ones, like the wolverine, are
so vicious that they are left alone even by
wolves and bears. Skunks, by comparison, are
peace-loving fellows; for survival, they have
traded the family's usual physical violence
for a chemical defense. This enables them to
waddle placidly through life rather than tearing
about like Tex Avery's Tasmanian Devil. They
have evolved a color pattern, the white stripe,
which makes them readily visible; and throughout
their history, when meeting a larger animal,
their reaction has been to raise their tail and
wave it to attract attention. Most of their
enemies are sufficiently warned, after one
meeting, to leave them alone. Unfortunately,
automobiles never seem to learn this lesson.
There are occasional cases of rabies, but
most skunks are free from it, and most people
don't get close enough to them to have to
worry about it. Grandma's beliefs to the
contrary, documented cases of chickencide are
rare; if they find a dead chicken they will gnaw
on it, and they might kill young chicks if the
opportunity arose. But their preferred diet
consists of insects, berries, and mice. They
will eat the young of ground-nesting birds if
they happen to stumble upon them, but they do
far less damage to bird populations than house
cats. Mostly they prefer to go about their own
business, a trait to be admired in a world so
complicated as this.
The Hunger Moon waxed full on Feb. 6 this
year, and there was still snow on the ground
from before Christmas; but as it waned into the
third quarter a week later, the temperature
reached 60 for the first time this year and I
saw a flock of about 40 robins in the field next
to mine. So if you see a skunk, wish him well
and tell him to take heart; if he can avoid owls
and cars just a little longer, spring will come
and the females will awaken. Where there's
love, there is hope for yet another year.
Read other articles by Bill Meredith


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Rugby League Forum' started by Shoe1, Oct 27, 2014.
I'm not sure yet whether I will support Rick's faction or Scott's faction. What about you lot?
With all these Penns we should at least get some players to put ink on paper
I tried a bad joke about this in another thread. Nobody appreciated it but at least I did and gave myself some internal likes.
We really need to sign a mr or mrs ink, paper and contract.
The closest we had was Albert torrens. He was a type of land title legal classification.
Bit too much information there.
Which Penn do I prefer? Depenns.
Let's agree to always refer to them as the Penn's, with the apostrophe. It's incorrect but I am warming to it.
Lol. You know those moments when you press post and then realise that someone's going to take it to another realm.
Whose side is Sean on?
Couldn't help myself.


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"The 'war' on the motorist is a myth" – apparently!
Motorists can afford to pay more and fuel prices should go up, according to a report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
No, seriously that's what it says!
The report says raising the cost of private motoring would bring economic, health and social benefits and the Chancellor should press ahead with the fuel duty rise scheduled for Jan 1. (Happy New Year, everybody!)
Petrol and diesel prices have risen across the UK by around 2.5 percent in the past month alone and oil prices on the global market are continuing to be pushed up.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee admitted back in March that any worsening of the underlying tensions in the Middle East could have significant implications for future oil prices. Then there's tropical storm Isaac currently battering the west coast of Louisiana which has forced about 78 percent of crude oil production and 48 percent of natural gas production in the region to be shut down and could potentially further push up fuel prices.
But, the IPPR is pressing ahead with its assertion that in real terms the cost of motoring hasn't increased "as much as rail and bus users who have seen fares spiral out of control". So, the IPPR's logic is that because public transport is a massive rip off, motorists are fair game to be just largely ripped off – ludicrous!
Importantly the IPPR report ignores commercial motoring which is suffering the most from these unsustainable levels of fuel duty which are actively damaging the UK economy.
In the CEBR report commissioned by FairFuelUK earlier this year, the findings suggest a 2.5 pence reduction in fuel duty would result in the creation of thousands of jobs and would not result in any fiscal loss to the Government.
Do you know what's even crazier? Even the French Government has realised high fuel is counterproductive and has announced extensive measures to lower the price of fuel which is at a record 1.46 Euros. (That's 115p per litre – those were the good days, when fuel was just 115p per litre!)
Our Government needs to listen to the pleas of UK motorists who are struggling to keep their cars on the road; to commercial motorists who are being undercut by foreign drivers travelling on cheaper fuel from the continent; and the Government needs to take a look at France which is recognising the damage high fuel prices are doing to its economy.
IPPR – I think you need to have a reality check!
No related posts.
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OFT fuel price review is too little, too late »


text:
A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys
Page: 55But, before he was out of hearing, one of the maidens called after him.
"Keep fast hold of the Old One, when you catch him!" cried she, smiling, and lifting her finger to make the caution more impressive. "Do not be astonished at anything that may happen. Only hold him fast, and he will tell you what you wish to know."
Hercules again thanked her, and pursued his way, while the maidens resumed their pleasant labor of making flower-wreaths. They talked about the hero, long after he was gone.
"We will crown him with the loveliest of our garlands," said they, "when he returns hither with the three golden apples, after slaying the dragon with a hundred heads."
Meanwhile, Hercules traveled constantly onward, over hill and dale, and through the solitary woods. Sometimes he swung his club aloft, and splintered a mighty oak with a downright blow. His mind was so full of the giants and monsters with whom it was the business of his life to fight, that perhaps he mistook the great tree for a giant or a monster. And so eager was Hercules to achieve what he had undertaken, that he almost regretted to have spent so much time with the damsels, wasting idle breath upon the story of his-119- adventures. But thus it always is with persons who are destined to perform great things. What they have already done seems less than nothing. What they have taken in hand to do seems worth toil, danger, and life itself.
Persons who happened to be passing through the forest must have been affrighted to see him smite the trees with his great club. With but a single blow, the trunk was riven as by the stroke of lightning, and the broad boughs came rustling and crashing down.
Hastening forward, without ever pausing or looking behind, he by and by heard the sea roaring at a distance. At this sound, he increased his speed, and soon came to a beach, where the great surf-waves tumbled themselves upon the hard sand, in a long line of snowy foam. At one end of the beach, however, there was a pleasant spot, where some green shrubbery clambered up a cliff, making its rocky face look soft and beautiful. A carpet of verdant grass, largely intermixed with sweet-smelling clover, covered the narrow space between the bottom of the cliff and the sea. And what should Hercules espy there, but an old man, fast asleep!
But was it really and truly an old man? Certainly, at first sight, it looked very like one; but, on closer inspection, it rather seemed to be some kind of a creature that lived in the sea. For, on his legs and arms there were scales, such as fishes have; he was web-footed and web-fingered, after the fashion of a duck; and his long beard, being of a greenish tinge, had more the appear-120-ance of a tuft of sea-weed than of an ordinary beard. Have you never seen a stick of timber, that has been long tossed about by the waves, and has got all overgrown with barnacles, and, at last drifting ashore, seems to have been thrown up from the very deepest bottom of the sea? Well, the old man would have put you in mind of just such a wave-tost spar! But Hercules, the instant he set eyes on this strange figure, was convinced that it could be no other than the Old One, who was to direct him on his way.


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text: I think I have read every thread about these two mowers and I am still having trouble picking one. I need a self-propelled mower for two yards - estimate a 100 hours a year. My preference is to buy a really good mower keep it for many years. I don't have storage space for a rider or a trailer for a larger mower. The Honda has all the bells and whistles but seems complicated and expensive to repair any major problem. Maintenance I will do my self. The Exmark with the Kawasaki seems simple and cheaper to repair if needed. How well can the speed on the Exmark be varied? Can you go slowly around a tree or along a fence? Will the Kawasaki last as long as the Honda? I can get the Honda for $1149 and the Exmark for $1079. The Exmark appeals to me because of simplicity but I can't help but think the Honda is more for the money. Any advice is appreciated. BTW, I got a chance to use a friend's Toro 22197 and I hate the controls and have already eliminated that mower.


text:
Well, spring break officially ended on a high. We rounded out the week with a trip to the always interesting local Dogwood Festival. It is a perfect evening activity for the kiddos, but can often bring out a iffy crowd. We took Chloe along for the trip, because her mama was teaching Zumba and needed some help with childcare. It is always fun to have a buddy right?
Chloe was actually a lot more adventuresome than our little man. She tried a few more rides, like the daring swings and the dragon roller coaster all by herself. I don't think we have much a thrill seeker on our hands. Bradley was fine to sit on the edge of Ellie's stroller and cheer on Chloe every time she came past us on the swings. It is sweet that he is so supportive, even when he isn't in the spotlight. I think this is why he often shines as a big brother. He is totally fine sharing the attention with Baby Ellie, well, as long as Kim and Adam or Shawn and Rebecca aren't involved. Then he can get pretty territorial.
Even Ellie joined in the fun and made her first trip on the carousel. It was adorable to see her eyes the size of saucers as she went round and round.
I am not sure if she totally enjoyed it, but she was trying to take it all in. Little girl you are growing up!
Bradley did brave the dragon roller coaster one time, with the support of Daddy by his side. Little man, I love your sweet heart and your shy spirit. You definitely don't approach new situations with reckless abandon, which I know I will appreciate in your teenage years. Look at sweet Chloe riding in the car solo, she didn't mind a bit. She even rode the dragon another time by herself!!
These two are such sweet buddies, I hope that continues through the years.
As for spring break, overall it was great! It just made me realize how much routine and structure preschool provides in our weekly schedule. I will be working hard in the next two months to plan out our summer. Daily trips to the pool, our favorite Mint Springs Park, and other little day trips will definitely be in store for us. Hopefully if Ellie is mobile we can do more and more outside, and our mornings will open up if she begins to drop her morning nap. It may be a perfect summer, just the three of us!


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Will Net Investment Income Tax Disappear in 2017
The House Republicans on Monday released a new 43 page "manager's amendment". This was primarily done to placate some of their more conservative members who would have voted against the original proposed plan. One of the items in the amendment accelerates the repeal of "Obamacare" taxes from 2018 to 2017. This includes the "dreaded" 3.8% net investment income tax that is applied to investment income above a certain threshold. I know many of our farmers have been faced with this tax and in some cases, the extra tax has exceeded $100,000.
The amendment also proposes giving the Senate a buffer to increase the amount of tax credits for older Americans and eliminates the ability to deposit excess tax credits into Health Savings Accounts. There are also some proposals allowing states to implement work-requirements for Medicaid recipients and allows itemized medical deductions in excess of 5% of gross income instead of the current 10% (before Obamacare, it was 7.5% and the tax reform would eliminate the deduction completely).
The net investment income tax imposes an extra 3.8% income tax on the lower of net investment income or the amount that your gross income exceeds a threshold ($200,000 for singles and $250,000 for married couples). Investment income includes interest, dividends, rents, passive income, etc. Farmers who self-rent their land to their farming entities are not subject to this tax, however, if the land gets rented out to others, it potentially can subject the net rent income and the gain from selling the land to the tax.
For example, assume a farmer has 2,000 acres of good farm land in Illinois. He paid $500,000 for it many years ago and it is now worth $25 million. Let's suppose he sells it and reports a gain of $24.5 million subject to the 3.8% net investment income tax. This would create extra federal tax of $931,000 plus certain states are now piggy backing on this tax and assessing an additional net investment income tax.
As you can see, this tax can add up in a hurry and it would be great if we can get a repeal effective to January 1, 2017. We will keep you posted.
Do you have any info. on whether it is best to do a 3 month harvest lease, whick Kubota offers, at about 2,000/mon. for a 131 horse tractor, vs buying the tractor for about 65K on their 0 interst plan for up to 7 yrs.? I really only use this type of tractor for haying season. I have 3 other tractors I use for other haying jobs and throughout the year. They are all fully depreciated. I'm in the 28% marginal tax bracket.


text:
8 Things you need to know before we start
There are some things we need to get clear right from the start. I have too much respect for us both to waste our time. If these things don't apply, we just aren't the right fit.
It's not you, it's me. I guard my time closely, have exacting standards about my work and I want to collaborate with people who are doing great stuff and going places. So let's lay them right out on the table.
You and I are collaborators
I'm on your team. Your success is my success. We're both going to be working hard. Clear communication is vital and we need to be honest with each other. I have no interest in stealing your business secrets, but I will be asking specific questions in order to really get results.
You're going to do some leg-work
There's packing to be done. Materials need to be gathered. Ducks need to be put into rows. Answers need to be given and decisions made. If we are going to be successful, there is work to be done by you or your team. Let's be clear – this is going to take up a good chunk of time. You ready for it?
You need to know where you want to go
Scenic hikes are nice. But it's hard to plan a trip if you don't know the destination. The only way to get what you want is to know what you want. If you are ready to commit to that, then I can help you get there.
You're going on a journey
Websites are not set and forget. They are an ongoing relationship that will take time and money. To get the results, you need to put in the work – test, improve, maintain and keep on going. But you won't be doing it alone.
You won't be an overnight success
Things don't happen overnight. You won't suddenly sell a tonne of product, attract a legion of new customers, or get to number 1 on Google overnight. All of these things take work. They take time. And they can take money. If you're prepared to put in the resources and commitment, we can do great things.
Your website is not for you
Websites and marketing aren't for you. They're for your customers. My job is to translate your work, passion and offerings into a website that your customers love and buy from.
You won't get all the new toys
Just because it's shiny and new doesn't mean we're going to use it. Let's see what actually works. What works for you. Just because all the other kids are doing it, doesn't mean you have to waste your money chasing the new hip thing if it won't deliver you results. Let's look at quality tools and shape them to fit your path.
You need to love what you do
Passion is the stuff that moves mountains. If you aren't sincere about what you are doing or just looking to make a quick buck – sorry, our services aren't for you.
And so I ask you, are you in?


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Everything here was fine. The highlights were the excellent continental breakfast and the very comfortable room. The rates were also very reasonable. The best value that we had on our entire trip! The only cavit would be that the pool was quite small and had no "walk in" steps (only ladders) for the little ones. Located on the river walk, it is only a short walk to the falls. Really nice!
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
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A hard drive is an essential part of a computer, whether you own a laptop or a desktop. But did you ever wonder how this part is made?
Overview of Hard Drive Components
First, to completely understand the manufacturing process, you need to know a bit about how hard drives work. While it may look like a plain metal box from the outside, a hard drive actually contains several parts. These include the following:
- Magnetic metal platters, which store information and are mounted on a spindle that rotates at high speed
- A read-write arm and head that, as the name suggests, records information on the platter similar to a phonograph's needle
- An actuator in the form of voice coils for precise positioning of the read-write arm
- A circuit board that manages the flow of data to the platter
- Plug connectors that link the hard drive to the rest of the computer
With these many parts crammed into a metal box that fits in the palm of your hand, precision manufacturing processes are a must. As such, hard drives are made in a facility with clean rooms; most of the action happens in automated assembly lines equipped with components like high-precision ball screw linear actuators.
Making the Hard Drive
Now that you have a general idea of what makes up a hard drive and where they're made, it's now time to know how this essential computer part is made.
First, raw metals such as platinum are processed and manufactured into the magnetic metal platters. After they're made, these platters are cleaned and polished to ensure no residue remains on their surface. Then they're tested to ensure that they can be written on before being sent to the assembly line.
At the assembly line, these platters are now set up in the metal case of the hard drive. A spacer is added between each platter to ensure they don't come into contact with each other while being written on by the read-write arm. At the same time, those spacers also help stabilize the spin of the platters. The top spacer is then secured with a clamp plus Torx bolts.
After the platters and spacers are installed, the other parts follow the head stack assembly that includes the read-write arm, plus the actuator and an air filter. Then this portion of the hard drive is covered. Meanwhile, the circuit board is installed on the underside of the drive.
Once all these physical components have been installed, it's time to calibrate the firmware for the hard drive. Any proprietary software is also installed in during this step.
Now that both the hard drive's hardware and software are complete, the part is then sent for a final round of testing to ensure everything works well. When the part passes the final QA check, it is then packed in a sterile bag and eventually sent to a distributor.
As you can see, while hard drives are made using a precision manufacturing process, the methods utilized are generally straightforward. Hopefully, with this knowledge, you'd have a better understanding of how your computer is made and how it works.


text:
The Palm 2012 — 2013
From Broadway legend and Tony Nominee, Sharon McNight, to the hilarious Emmy-Award winning Leslie Jordan (Will and Grace, The Help) telling his "Stories I Can't Tell My Mama," to local singer, Jorge Acosta, The Palm Cabaret has many surprises, musical treats and laughs in store for you this season. Returning favorites like Kim Kuzma, Joanna and Sol Rose add to the excitement. … [Read more...]
Men's Chorus Debut Concert
TICKETS 250 PESOS (This is actually on Sunday, June 17, and not Monday, June 17, as the poster indicates....) www.boutiquetheater.ca www.pvmenschorus.org … [Read more...]
Gurlesque II
Gay PV Map
An interactive map of Gay Puerto Vallarta restuarants, bars, safe ATMs, stores, etc. Courtesy of gayguidevallarta.com. … [Read more...]
Duckaton 3 – February 29
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- 2
- 3
- …
- 13
- Next Page »


text: I know these questions get old, but I need the help..... Only have 10 accounts. Which some are underpriced and annoying, so when I raise I may lose 3-4. I am part time but would like to get 30-40 accounts. Right now I have a 36inch WB (Lesco), and an old EXmark 48inch with a TRac vac for pick ups and cleanups. Originally I thought, just get a 48inch belt/fixed and see where it takes me, but recently I have kind of wanted a float deck. I know there is differing opinons of this so I am not sure (aka if you have flat properties that the fixed is fine) Well I dont know what I will get so I am not sure...Anyway 48 Exmark Metro Belt/Fixed-2800 after tax All the others are close...Lesco, Toro, Encore...2800-3100 (A trac vac add on would be about 1400....so 4400 total. or I saw one in the classifieds and looked at it, very nice. Toro 52inch Hydro Float deck WB. 40hrs with a TRac VAc/w extender wand. $5200. or Just get the dang ZTR at 9000....which brings on getting a new trailer and truck probably....The WB's I can fit with my current situation..I guess the main question is between the WB setups above but all help is appreciated What to do??? Thanks


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Available in this stunning blue, this Wavepoint HO LED Super Blue & Daylight 36 inch Lighting system is an energy efficient strip light for aquariums that lasts longer, and creates a higher light output than older, non-LED models, available for the best price at Swell UK.
This Wavepoint LED High Output Strip uses both Super Blue and Daylight LED bulbs.
Using 15 Super Blue and 15 Daylight LED lights, this unit is perfect for your tropical fish tank. Creating a high colour temperature that closely replicates natural sunlight and creates a realistic shimmer effect upon the water
All of the Wavepoint LED HO units are versatile and tough. They can be mounted in three different forms; as a single unit, a slim tank mounted fixture or fitted on to the tank via the Retrofir Kit provided.
Key Features:


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Alcorn State University GRE code
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Info concerning Alcorn State University GRE code, and registering for elective lectures and seminars. As a student, your first stop should be the registrar's office, where you can pick up a free copy of both the academic calendar and course catalog, in order to find available credit classes that you may be interested in taking. You may be surprised that you can enroll for a full-time course load, without having to attend any 8am classes at all. Finally, check with the admissions office for assistance with prerequisites, tuition payment deadlines, and Alcorn State University graduate record examination information. Please use the form above to request admissions info for Alcorn State University.
For multiple-choice tests like the GRE Test or GMAT Exam, look at the number of questions and the total number of minutes you're allowed. If there are more minutes than questions, you have over a minute for each. However, if there are more questions than minutes, you better scramble, as you have under a minute on each question. Round off all numbers you see, and look for tips in the test questions that point you to the correct answer. Look for word patterns in the vocabulary section, and in the math section, saving just a few seconds on each test question can lead to a much higher math score.
Exams are a huge portion of your final grade, and every professor will let you know in their own way which questions will be on the final exam. They may raise the pitch of their voice when stressing certain points, show slide presentations, or write course material on the blackboard. On the test day itself, arrive early after a good night's sleep, and pick a seat near the windows in order to get sunlight and oxygen. Trust your first instincts, and don't change your mind on a second pass. Beyond degree requirements such as Alcorn State University GRE Test, you may consider Huntingdon College final exam schedule for complementary electives to your primary course of study.
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Pennsylvania State Police have revealed that a gunman who started a shootout with police at a Walmart over the weekend is currently undergoing surgery for two bullet wounds.
According to Daily Mail, the man was randomly firing a semi-automatic rifle in a Walmart parking lot in Wilkes-Barre Township when police arrived on the scene at around 12:30 pm on Saturday. After the gunman shot at them, police returned fire and hit him twice.
Though multiple rounds were exchanged, State police Capt. James Degnan confirmed that nobody else was hurt. The shooter was reportedly wounded in his abdomen and thigh.
Tina Wagner, an assistant manager at the Walmart store, said the shooter never interacted with store customers.
"We kept all our associates and customers safe," she told reporters.
"I think we were here right in the time frame when (the police) just got the call," recounted AnaMaria Antonesca, who was with her children inside the Walmart during the shooting. "That's when they were worried about locking the doors."
"They wouldn't let anyone evacuate, but they were more worried about locking everything down so the shooter wouldn't get in," she added. "I think at that point the shooter was scrambling around trying to get away."
Thank God nobody else was hurt in this shooting!


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Within the framework of the Ted Talks program anthropologist and journalist of National Geographic Wade Davis explains what "ethnosphere" is, tells about disappearing cultures and languages and demystifies why this process is a disaster for all mankind.
According to scientists, humanity exists about 200,000 years, while the familiar industrial world was created only 300 years ago. Undoubtedly, the real progress in the history of mankind is connected with these last three centuries: significant scientific achievements, advancement of high technology and virtual reality. In this sense, it seems obvious that the Western culture is superior to all others, and the assimilation of other cultures is an undeniable fact and reality. However, according to Wade Davis our epoch will go down in the history of mankind not with its scientific and technological breakthroughs, but with the biological and cultural diversity of the planet – the ethnosphere. He states that the ethnosphere is the richness of humankind, which teaches us that it is possible to exist differently, to think differently and to orientate differently on the Earth.
To focus on the problems of the ethnosphere, Davis provided some statistics that over the past few decades the number of languages in the world has decreased by half. In this regard, he defines language as the cultural heritage of every nation. In addition to this, talking about the diversity of cultures and the changes that are taking place today in the world, he offers his listeners to go on a journey through the ethnosphere – to make a short excursion into ethnography to understand how great the loss is due to the constant disappearance of ancient cultures. He provides dozens of examples that make us think that perhaps the western myth of prosperity and progress is not the greatest achievement for those who live on our planet. For instance, he claims that when the population of a large panda or Amur tiger is threatened with extinction, people begin to support all campaigns to conserve these species, since it affects population diversity and, consequently, successful evolution of the biosphere. However, despite the fact that the reduction of cultures is no less a tragedy, it does not cause us such feelings and impulses. Meanwhile, he states that the civilization is the sum of the cultures existing on Earth: kogi cultivars, voodoo rituals and European traditions are equally important. Accordingly, the extinction of cultures leads to the loss of diversity.
Overall, the speech of Wade Davis on the importance of cultural diversity is a window to another world, the world of the etnosphere, which is, unfortunately, being neglected. Personally, I totally support his views on the significance and challenges of the ethnosphere, however, I am against on the idea of placing prioritization on the ethnosphere towards the biosphere. In my point of view, both of the issues need equal attention.


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Ready for Round Two Rally
March 7, 2015 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Event Navigation
Are you Ready for Round Two? We sure are. We're kicking off the second leg of the election with our Ready for Round Two Rally at noon on Saturday, March 7th, at our campaign office at 4962 N. Milwaukee Ave. We'd love to see you there! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to show your support! There's not much time left, and we all need to work together if we want the 45th Ward to continue moving forward.


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Message Isn't Black & White in THE GREY
When thrust into a violent Alaskan landscape where death seems almost certain, a formerly despondent man suddenly manifests an incredible will to survive, to fight, to lead a group of men through the wilderness and combat the wolves at their heels.
Less an action film and more an essay on naturalism, on what it looks like to truly build on Bertrand Russell's firm foundation of unyielding despair. It evokes Solomon's lament about the similarities and differences between man and beast in Ecclesiastes 3.
The film is an incredible treatise on why we choose life and fight to survive that demands conversation with a mixed crowd. Does the ending satisfy? Why or why not? Like it's name, The Grey doesn't give a black and white answer and crashes that plane across the landscape of conversation. Go deeper in our short video review…
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I enjoyed your take on this film. Though I'm surprised you didn't comment on the part when Ottway was cursing and questioning God, his desperate pleading for help and wanting to believe. I found that to be an especially powerful scene.


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It's Election Day in Calgary, and Roger and Dave walk you through the Wards and run down the election issues in their own unique style.
Still deciding who to vote for? Can't really help you, unless you're basing your vote on funny names. How close did NTL get to being correct? We'll know soon enough.
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Sonoma Pot Store Furor Grows
March 31, 2004
Lori A. Carter, The Press Democrat
Sonoma planners have determined that medical marijuana shops will be allowed in town, but proprietors of a proposed club must find a new location after their landlord decided not to rent to them.
The Sonoma Cannabis Buyers Cooperative was originally planned to open today on Broadway a few blocks south of the historic Plaza, said proprietors Aaron Mitchell and his mother, Karen Van Kayne.
But the deal fell through after landlord Jack Powers said he decided he didn't want to take on the potential legal liabilities of allowing his building to be used for such a controversial service.
Mitchell and Van Kayne both accused Sonoma Police Chief John Gurney of pressuring Powers to back out of their signed lease agreement -- a charge Gurney vehemently denied.
After meeting with Van Kayne, Mitchell, the city prosecutor and police, City Planner David Goodison determined a marijuana co-op is a medical service that would be allowed in certain commercial areas, subject to city-imposed conditions.
But shortly thereafter, Powers asked Gurney for information about current laws regarding marijuana. Powers said he decided that he did not want to expose himself to potential legal problems because federal law -- unlike state law -- does not recognize the medical use of marijuana.
'I'm not going against any laws,' Powers said.
Van Kayne and Mitchell both accused Gurney of 'harassing and threatening' Powers into backing out of the agreement.
'They are absolutely lying,' Gurney said.
'The landlord wasn't happy once this thing got media attention,' he said. 'He called here wanting to know what he could do. We told him they had the right to be there and that if he made the decision to lease to them it was his problem. He found a loophole.'
Van Kayne said losing this property was simply a minor glitch. She and her son are searching for another location for Sonoma's first official medical marijuana dispensary.
In 2000 and 2001, the Sonoma County Hemp Bank operated on Napa Street, dispensing the drug to more than 150 patients, unbeknownst to city officials. It closed after a related club in Oakland was raided by federal authorities.
Mitchell described himself as a businessman who runs a company called Mitchell Bros. 21st Century Film Group. His father, Artie, a self-proclaimed 'king of porn,' was shot to death by his brother Jim in 1991 during an argument. The pair, operating as the Mitchell Bros., were pioneers in the live and film porn business in San Francisco.


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String theory, a developing theory in particle physics which attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. There aren't many documentaries on the subject unfortunately, so this one is in some parts a bit irritatingly slow,childishly simple and technical terms are kept at a minimum (and in some cases a bit below minimum), but aside from that, it still is very informing about the string theory itself. This documentary is an adaptation from a book by Brian Greene and was originally aired on PBS' NOVA.
Episode 1 – Einstein's Universe
Episode 2 – String's The Thing
Episode 3 – Welcome to the 11th Dimension
6 Responses to The Elegant Universe
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The Louis Vuitton bags can be purchased from any exclusive shop or in the malls at very inexpensive prices. Most of these products are produced from canvas meaning they are waterproof so because of this ideal during the boisterous months.


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UK's BAA called (14-Dec-2010) on the UK Government to cut aviation tax after the Irish Government announced a 70% reduction to its air passenger duty (APD) to support tourism. The move follows similar changes in Amsterdam where the tax was cut completely in 2009. According to BAA, the UK now has the highest levels of aviation taxation in the world. [more]
BAA: "The Irish recognise that aviation is fundamental to their recovery and this is very much something ministers in the UK need to take note of. We must stop treating air travel as if it's a luxury we can do without and appreciate the very real contribution it makes to the economy. Around 250,000 UK jobs rely on aviation - with 40,000 being created by our new Terminal 2 - but strong links are vital for all businesses. David Cameron is doing great work in building business ties with China and India but the UK currently has the highest aviation taxes in the world. The government needs to ensure we are not making ourselves uncompetitive with punitive tax measures that will damage us in the long-term," Nigel Milton, London Heathrow Airport Policy Director. Source: BAA, 14-Dec-2010.


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Kids Chinese Podcast: Newsletter No.10
Dear subscribers,
Welcome to Chinese Lessons at KidsChinesePodcast.com!
Thank you very much for your continue support!
In August ~ September, we learned the following Chinese Lessons:
Lesson 47: Taking a Bath (I)
Lesson 48: Taking a Bath (II)
Lesson 49: Going to Bed (I)
Lesson 50: Going to Bed (II)
Lesson 51: Good Night
Hope you enjoy the Chinese lessons. If you have any question or suggestion, you can comment each lesson at KidsChinesePodcast.com, or use our contact form at Contact Us. You also can send an email to me directly at email@example.com.
In addition to Chinese Podcast Lessons, we posted several articles on Learning Chinese Language, if you are interested; please refer to "Chinese language". I recommend you to read "Learn Chinese Words".
To help you learn Chinese, we added "Chinese-English Dictionary", which is a online version that you can access at http://kidschinesepodcast.com/worddict/.Or from Top menu "Study Guide" -> "Chinese-English Dictionary".
If you like a paper Chinese-English Dictionary, we recommend you check "Oxford Beginner's Chinese Dictionary". It is a very good choice that provides many example sentences and phrases, which are very helpful when you learn Chinese
Hang in there; I am sure you are making progress on your Chinese study!
If you are not a member of Kids Chinese Podcast yet, please consider "Sign up" for a trial (30 days money back guarantee) to learn more Mandarin Chinese Language and achieve better learning results.
If you just joined our e-mail newsletter list, and would like to read our previous newsletter, you can find them at http://kidschinesepodcast.com/category/newsletter/
If you like Kids Chinese Podcast learning program, please help us write your reviews on iTunes or leave your comment at KidsChinesePodcast.com website. So that we can improve Kids Chinese Podcast and provide more value to our listeners and readers.
Happy Chinese Study!
Kids Chinese Podcast 学中文
Learn Chinese Starting with practical dialogs,
having fun and achieving the best results!


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Triesman backing Bennett red
Lord Triesman has praised referee Steve Bennett for having the 'bottle' to send off Javier Mascherano.
By James Pearson
Last Updated: 26/03/08 8:41am
The independent chairman of the Football Association Lord Triesman has praised referee Steve Bennett for having the 'bottle' to send off Javier Mascherano.
The Liverpool man, who had already been booked against Manchester United, was incensed when team-mate Fernando Torres was booked for questioning why he was not being protected enough.
Mascherano ran approximately 20 yards to get to Bennett, including shrugging off Xabi Alonso, to question why Torres had been given a yellow card.
However, Bennett was having none of Mascherano's behaviour and immediately dismissed the Argentina international, an action which infuriated many throughout the country, but received praise from Triesman.
"I thought he had done what I would like to feel referees will do - which is to have the bottle to do what is necessary," he told the Daily Mail.
"I'm not going to prejudge the issue because there may be hearings here, and I'm not going to cloud the process, but in my view it's the beginning of referees saying they are part of the equation.
"They have to use the powers they have. You can have the campaign, try to work with parents, devise new rules, but someone has to do it in the middle of the field."
Former England boss Sir Bobby Robson recently criticised the conduct of modern players when compared to their predecessors, a view which Triesman has supported.
"I think we've gone through a period when, in my view, culturally the game has degraded," he continued.
"I have a sense we're at a tipping point. If you lose the scrupulous fairness of a Bobby Moore you potentially lose it for a very long time."


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Turtle power is back! If you're like me you grew up watching these spirited turtles dash through New York City so you will sure to love the 2nd installment movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
I got to preview it a few weeks ago and I have to say I absolutely loved it. All your main characters are back with some new additions like Casey Jones played by Stephen Amell who you may recall from the CW series The Arrow. He was the perfect Casey Jones complete with hockey stick & mask. It was great to finally see this character join the gang.
The sinister Shredder, played by Brian Tee, returns to wreak havoc on the turtles with some help from Bebop & Rocksteady, who I must say the kids will love to hate! They are played by Gary Anthony Williams and WWE wrestler Stephen Farrelly. They go from on the run convicts to oversized animals is hilarity at its finest. They were the perfect pair. I laughed at every scene they were in.
The movie is high powered with action & humor. The turtles have grown up and have developed into their own personalities and curiosities which tugged at my heart strings. Michaelangelo just wants to be "normal" and fit in with everyone above ground. I think this is a great talking point & lesson for the kids. It doesn't matter what you look like each individual is unique in its own form. There's a fun scene where Mikey finally doesn't feel like a spectacle!
So are you ready for some Turtle Power? Buy your tickets today & head to the theaters! You won't be disappointed!


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Khloe Kardashian cryptically denies Odell Beckham Jr. romance
Khloe Kardashian is fighting back against reports that she scored a new man.
On May 31, multiple reports indicated that Khloe had been dating NFL stud Odell Beckham Jr. on the sly for several months. Photos of Khloe sitting on the New York Giant's Wide Receiver's lap at a private party seemed to corroborate the story.
And, Odell was also seen with Khloe in Las Vegas a few days prior to that at Scott Disick's 33rd birthday party.
Khloe, though, said looks can be deceiving and, to steal a line from Jamie Foxx, "blame it on the alcohol."
Lamar Odom's ex took to Twitter on Wednesday, as word of her new beau had caught a fever pitch, to cryptically deny everything.
"[To whom it may concern]: Sorry to burst your bubble. When a couple drinks, a little flirting and an invasion of privacy collide things may look crazy," she wrote. She then added, "However…this ain't that and that ain't this."
It seems that she is referring to the photos and the reports.
TMZ had reported that the two flirted at Drake's celeb-packed pool party near Los Angeles on Memorial Day. Grainy photographs showed her sitting on the New York Giant's stud's lap late into the night.
The website said Khloe and Odell were "definitely into each other" and "looked like a couple."
MediaTakeOut.com said the two have been have seeing each other for months, but have been very low key.
Maybe Odell can rest easy knowing that, if these are indeed nothing more than a boozy filtration, he won't fall victim to the so-called "Kardashian Curse."


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LeRoy "Michael Blue" Archambault
- 55 years old
- Date of birth: Mar 15, 1955
- Date of passing: Oct 15, 2010
|Let the memory of LeRoy be with us forever
This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, LeRoy Archambault, 55, born on March 15, 1955 and passed away on October 15, 2010. We will remember him forever.
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Rental Refi Did Not Work
I am kind of disappointed this morning since I found out yesterday that the refinance on the rental homes would not work. Apparently, my credit score is not good enough. Ever since 2008, it has been incredibly difficult to get credit so I will be focusing on getting out of debt instead.
Ultimately, it turns out that the net impact on the monthly cash flow won't be all that different without the refinance. That is because I had to have 2 appraisals and one came in below the expected amount. As a result, I had set aside $10,000 to bring to closing in order to save about $650-$700 per month through decreased payments.
Now that the refinance won't be going through, I will using that money to pay down a credit card balance in order to save over $2300 per year in interest. Once I get this card paid off which should be in the next few months, I will save almost $800 per month in cash flow which can be added back into the budget. So all is not lost with plan B.
Plan C
Then once that card is paid off and I get a little more credit card debt eliminated, my credit score may very well be in a better place that I could refi the rental houses, decrease my interest rate and my term. I don't anticipate rates moving up any time soon. I would think that I have a year or more to get a better interest rate.
If not and rates start to increase, that would mean that the economy is heating up which will only help my retirement account investments in the stock market. So I look at it as a win-win.
With this behind me for the time being, I can now focus on getting the business transaction complete and meeting my 2 goals for this year which are losing weight and paying off debt. In fact, I am about to launch a blog solely devoted to working my way out of debt which should bring some increased accountability and motivation to the equation.
I will let you know when it is up and running.
Here are the recent carnivals that have included articles from my blogs:
Categories: Investing, Credit/Debt Tags: Debt consolidation, Personal Finance, Refinancing, cash flow, credit card, credit card debt, credit score, debt
Busy on Many Financial Fronts
Boy, have I been busy these past two months. The activity has kept me from posting as much as I would like, but it is more important that I get some of these things done. I don't have time to go into all the detail, but will share just a little bit. The good news is that I will have additional material for posts in the future.
These are the items that have consumed the majority of my time away from work:
1. Canceling a Timeshare Contract
There is a lot to this story and I will share every detail later on when I have more time. Actually, I might just end up copying and pasting some of the letters that I have sent. The short version is that my wife and I got sucked into a presentation while trying to get discount show tickets in Vegas. We left unsure about the purchase after signing paperwork. We tried to cancel and they tried to run the transaction anyway. We finally got it cancelled. No money has yet changed hands, but I do have a few loose ends.
2. Refinancing Rental House Mortgages
I have been working to refinance 5 rental houses. Of course, this involves a ton of paperwork, signing a bunch of stuff, arranging appraisals with the tenants and contacting everyone so we are all on the same page. The plan is to decrease the interest rate, decrease the term and decrease the monthly payment. So far, all is going according to plan but one of the appraisals came in lower than I would agree with. It means more money at closing, but the savings will be big.
3. Negotiating Purchase of a Business
I have also been working to negotiate the purchase of a local business. This occupies some time as I have reviewed the books, met with the owner and spent a weekend back and forth negotiating points and creating a framework for our agreement. The next step is to meet with the banker on the Monday after I get back from a South Carolina golf trip. I am really looking forward to the trip as the time away will be very relaxing.
Going forward, two of these items will no longer occupy a bunch of my time. Now if we purchase this business, I will have to spend some time each week looking over and reviewing numbers and signing checks. But even if it is five hours per week, it should still be worth it. I can share more details later as well.
Here are the most recent carnivals in which my blogs have participated.
CFM is Cash Flow Mantra (which is this blog)
GPM is Grand Per Month
PT is Penny Thots
Categories: Investing Tags: Business, Mortgage loan, Ownership, Refinancing, Timeshare
Hoping the Rental House Refinancing Works Out
A little while ago I mentioned that I was looking into refinancing some of my rental property. I figured that interest rates had gotten so low it was worth looking into and seeing what might happen. I think there is only one way for rates to go and that is up. Well, life got in the way and I had to get some other things done first as I am sure that most of you know. But now, I have been able to begin looking into the refi again.
It turns out that the mortgage guy at the bank left so I am with a new guy. I have only spoken with him on the phone, but I think I like him better. He is fairly responsive, and I think we can get this done.
The Numbers
I made myself a spreadsheet at the end of October with the data from all 6 of my rental houses. One is the place we used to live in before moving 12 years ago. We have a second mortgage on it so there is not a lot of equity. But the other 5 are the ones that I will be able to refinance. I figured that while I was decreasing the interest rate, I would also look into decreasing the term.
Currently, my rates run from 6.38% to 7% with remaining terms of 21 to 23 years. I had him look at 20 year and 15 year numbers, and I am liking what I see.
For the 20 year term, the interest rate would be 4.25% and I would have to bring just over $13,000 to closing. The payments would decline by about $948 per month. It would take about 14 months to break even and get my cash back.
For the 15 year term, the interest rate would be 3.125% and I would have to bring $10,500 to closing with payments being reduced by $659 per month. It would take me 16 months to get the cash expense back. But I would save 5 full years of payments at the back end compared to the 20 year mortgage. And I will definitely save a bundle compared to my current situation.
The savings could be used to pay some of my other debts which I am working aggressively to get under control. Right now, that seems like the best use of cash right now. I would prefer not to bring that much cash to closing, but consider the return on investment, and it is a great deal. If over the first year, I save $7908 in cash on my $10,500 investment now, my cash on cash return is just over 75%. Who wouldn't take that kind of return on investment? So it makes abundant sense to get this thing done.
Which is why I hoping the refinancing on the rental houses all works out.
Categories: Credit/Debt Tags: Business, FHA insured loan, Mortgage loan, Refinancing, Renting, mortgage, return on investment


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I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Forgiven and Free." In that phrase lies the appeal of Christianity that has survived throughout the centuries.
As a young child, I had already been indoctrinated with the idea that I was a sinful being worthy of being roasted in the fires of hell. This was all because of Adam's sin, I was told. I was quite upset with that and thought it rather unfair that I should suffer for his stupidity.
"It's not like that," my teacher said. "We're not paying for something he has done. Rather, his fallen nature has transferred to his descendants. We are therefore paying for our own sins. I mean, you've committed some sins, haven't you? You've lied, or disobeyed your parents, or fought with your classmates? We can't help it because no matter how much we try to be good, our fallen nature pulls us down."
I thought about that for a moment. It seemed to make some sense. So I nodded my head.
"That is why," the teacher continued, "God showed his love for us by sending his only son Jesus, to die for our sins. Can you imagine that? That is why the Bible says that 'whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.'"
At that time, I didn't think about how God could have had a son when he didn't have a wife, and if he did, why wasn't she a Goddess ruling beside him? I didn't think about the irony of God's son being himself and the self-imposed sacrifice he penalized himself with for a situation he could have prevented easily by not putting that godforsaken tree in the middle of the garden. I didn't think about how hollow such a sacrifice was. I mean, even I would go through 3 days of hell if I knew at the end of it that I would be resurrected and raised to the highest throne above all creation. Excruciating pain and suffering for a few hours and death for 3 days in exchange for an eternity of glory and all of creation worshipping me? Where do I sign up?
But like I said, I didn't think about any of that. I just thought, "Yeah, he's right. I'm a turd worthy of being flushed down into the fiery abyss, but thank you Lord for saving me."
This is the doctrine of depravity — that we are born depraved, broken, shameful, enslaved and condemned — and out of all the religions that play this game, Christianity has played it very well. First, it convinces us that depravity is a fact. As illustrated by my Sunday School example above, it often starts at childhood when adult Christians show children that they are inherently sinful because they cannot control their undesirable impulses and actions. And then, contrary to other religions where you need to work yourself out of that situation (by doing good works, thinking good thoughts, constantly improving yourself, etc.), Christianity offers a relatively easy way out — have faith in Jesus and you are already saved.
But doesn't make one free to do evil things after one has believed in Jesus' redemptory sacrifice? Not at all, because now they say that you "prove" your belief is real by your actions. If your actions are contrary to Christian teachings, then that only shows your belief is simply lip service and God will not be fooled that easily.
Finally, it puts the fulfillment of salvation just beyond your reach — after death — where no one can demonstrably verify the truth of its claims about heaven or hell, of being united again with your departed loved ones, or of mansions and rewards and meeting Jesus face-to-face. So one goes through life constantly nurturing this hope, afraid to doubt and let go of belief because the cost of that is too high — one might lose the golden ticket and be turned away at the pearly gates for lack of faith.
It is a stroke of genius, really. It is easy to get in the door, yet hard to leave because the perceived rewards are too great to give up, or the perceived punishment for doing so is too gruesome to contemplate. That is why a preacher remarked that if he cannot get a person interested in the beauty of heaven, then the next strategy was to put the fear of hell into him.
Yet it all hinges on one accepting that initial premise — that one is broken and depraved and the only solution to that is Jesus.
It is a worldview I no longer accept. Humans aren't broken. We simply go through stages in life, learning along the way, making mistakes as we grow and adapt to our environment. This is true all throughout nature. Seeds become seedlings, then saplings, before becoming full-grown trees. There is no talk of seeds being imperfect trees, or tadpoles being imperfect frogs.
Yes, it is the nature of children to be rude, selfish and petty, but that is not due to the inborn stain of original sin — as if it was a manufacturing defect — that is simply how children are. Then we learn how to become social beings. We learn how to act unselfishly and relate to others in a friendly manner. We learn how to forgive others and ourselves. We learn how to love others and ourselves.
Loving and forgiving ourselves is actually more difficult than it sounds. If there is anything that children are burdened with, it is the illusory guilt of not being good enough, of not knowing enough, of being "just" kids. We grow up with this guilt and feeling of inadequacy, and this is where Christianity's vast appeal comes in. It is our nature to value other people's approval and validation, and what could be more appealing than having the approval and acceptance of the creator of the universe, the ultimate father figure?
I believe this is just a subconscious projection. When we think we have been forgiven by God himself, we are actually giving ourselves permission to forgive ourselves in a way that circumvents the feeling of being self-serving when we just forgive ourselves anyway.
But it is possible to truly love and forgive ourselves. That is all we really need. Because when we learn to see ourselves for who we really are, and learn to accept that, we realize there is nothing to forgive, and we have always been free.
Originally published in Sunstar Davao.
Email me at email@example.com. View previous articles at www.freethinking.me.


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Four killed in Nigeria gun attacks
Gunmen suspected of being members of a radical Islamist sect have killed at least four people - including a six-year-old girl - in recent attacks in Nigeria's volatile north-east, authorities say.
In the north-eastern city of Potiskum, gunmen opened fire on a policeman and his family, killing the policeman's six-year-old daughter, Yobe State police spokesman Toyin Gbadegeshin said.
Earlier, gunmen killed three people when they attacked a police station, a church and a bank in the border town of Dikwa in the north-east.
Joint Security Task Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa said a local politician, a police officer and civilian were killed along with three gunmen.
Lt Col Musa blamed the attack on members of the Boko Haram sect.
Mr Gbadegeshin also blamed Boko Haram, a group waging an increasingly bloody fight with security agencies and the public. More than 380 people have been killed in violence blamed on the sect this year alone, according to an Associated Press count.
The attacks follow a suicide bombing in the city of Kaduna yesterday. That attack killed at least 38 people in a massive blast which rattled a city long at the centre of religious, ethnic and political violence in the nation.
While no-one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion immediately fell on Boko Haram. Some fear the attack could further inflame tensions around Kaduna, a region on the dividing line between Nigeria's largely Christian south and Muslim north.


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This download looks like an addon. You need to extract the downloaded zip and put the addon folder in your Garry's Mod addons folder. You should end up with a directory structure similar to below:
Don't know where the Garry's Mod folder is or how to extract zip files? See more useful installation tips.
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