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Stephen Fry Pens Open Letter: Olympics Cannot Be Held In Anti-Gay Russia
Stephen Fry has penned an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron and the International Olympic committee calling for the removal of the 2014 Winter Olympics from Russia.
In it he details the parallels between Russia's current anti-gay witch hunt and Hitler's Germany--and highlights the mistake the world made by allowing the 1936 Olympics to take place in Berlin under Hitler's rule.
Here's an excerpt:
I write in the earnest hope that all those with a love of sport and the Olympic spirit will consider the stain on the Five Rings that occurred when the 1936 Berlin Olympics proceeded under the exultant aegis of a tyrant who had passed into law, two years earlier, an act which singled out for special persecution a minority whose only crime was the accident of their birth. In his case he banned Jews from academic tenure or public office, he made sure that the police turned a blind eye to any beatings, thefts or humiliations afflicted on them, he burned and banned books written by them. He claimed they "polluted" the purity and tradition of what it was to be German, that they were a threat to the state, to the children and the future of the Reich. He blamed them simultaneously for the mutually exclusive crimes of Communism and for the controlling of international capital and banks. He blamed them for ruining the culture with their liberalism and difference. The Olympic movement at that time paid precisely no attention to this evil and proceeded with the notorious Berlin Olympiad, which provided a stage for a gleeful Führer and only increased his status at home and abroad. It gave him confidence. All historians are agreed on that. What he did with that confidence we all know.
Putin is eerily repeating this insane crime, only this time against LGBT Russians. Beatings, murders and humiliations are ignored by the police. Any defence or sane discussion of homosexuality is against the law. Any statement, for example, that Tchaikovsky was gay and that his art and life reflects this sexuality and are an inspiration to other gay artists would be punishable by imprisonment. It is simply not enough to say that gay Olympians may or may not be safe in their village. The IOC absolutely must take a firm stance on behalf of the shared humanity it is supposed to represent against the barbaric, fascist law that Putin has pushed through the Duma. Let us not forget that Olympic events used not only to be athletic, they used to include cultural competitions. Let us realise that in fact, sport is cultural. It does not exist in a bubble outside society or politics. The idea that sport and politics don't connect is worse than disingenuous, worse than stupid. It is wickedly, wilfully wrong. Everyone knows politics interconnects with everything for "politics" is simply the Greek for "to do with the people".
An absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential. Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lillyhammer, anywhere you like. At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world.
Do you agree with his comparison, Instincters?
Image Source
I believe that economic sanctions should be placed on Russia for their actions, but to ask thousands of athletes that have been working for this once in a lifetime event ( for many) is not what the Olympics should stand for. The Olympic venue Is not to be used for political reasons or blackmail.
President Obama wants to stop the Russian Olympics for their asylum decision for Snowden, you want to cancel it for their political issues, so what are all of our hard working athletes going to think when their dreams can be taken away from the at any political whim. I am a gay man and do not agree with the Russian laws and want them to change also, but at what cost.... I thought that the Olympics were to be a non- political gathering of the nations in the spirit of peace and harmony even in war time.
I just believe politics need to stay completely away from any Olympic decisions at any time. The Olympic awards are determined so many years ahead anything could happen but political issues should not be a reason to pull athletes or cancel the games. Think of the sacrifice of all of the athletes, their families, the economic costs to the host country and the US for all of the coverage.
We have held the Olympics in America while we had terrible anti-gay, anti- black, anti everything laws in every state and the Federal Government. We got them changed as can Russia, but we did allow the games to go on. Do not punish the athletes for politics. Laws are politics and can be changed.
The Olympics have been boycotted for political reasons all through the Cold War. You are right Chuck that the spirit of the Olympics is supposed to be peace, tranquilty, and harmony. However, you must have missed the part of the news about this "russian" law where it was stated that THIS law will be enforced on the Olympics. And its not just one politician over there that is stating that the anti-gay laws WILL be enforced on athletes, coaches, and even tourists. What type of games should be expected when there will be a bounty on every gay person during the events.
I agree the athletes are the ones who ultimately are punished for russian ignorance. So would you agree that the event needs to be moved? To have an atmosphere of peace and harmony it would seem that the only way possible is to move it out of Russia!
Your right Ethan, I did miss the news where it stated that this law will be enforced in the Olympics. Since the Olympics is still a long time away, I think it is still too early for boycott talks. Don't put the pressure on the innocent athletes for these antiquated 3rd world laws. Welcome to the 3rd world Russia!
I believe that the United Nations was put in place to handle this type of situation and that we, as a community, should pressure them and our related governments, to put economic sanctions against Russia and all other middle east, African, and any other third world country that treats it's own citizens this way. They are all limiting the basic human rights and need to be told by the world that this is wrong and they cannot get away with it any longer.
I also believe that every country that agrees with the sanctions should offer asylum to all LGBT people and sympathizers. Once all of the smartest, the youth, and best looking people :-) of the country start leaving it in droves they will see that their future as a nation is in jeopardy and maybe then, they may realize that they need to change their laws so people have the right to live the lives that will make them happy, thus keeping the economy and society happy and thriving.
We should help them leave if at all possible by getting planes full of people out of there going to the various countries offering them asylum and support. When Pop 8 was passed here in California, I did not want to live in a state or country that was going backwards with my rights and I looked into moving to Australia. Australia and Canada are actively looking for immigrants and my partner of 21 years and I would be in Australia already if I was under 40, I did not qualify since I am over 40 so I stuck it out and with the recent changes in the USA, I and am glad that I did.
Let's just help the people that are being persecuted and their supporters get out of those countries so they can start living the lives that they are meant to live. Let those backward countries fail without their future generations. Help those that have decided to leave their homeland and as a result they will be helping every other nation thrive with their appreciation for giving them a chance at the life they are meant to have.
If the United Nations cannot do the right thing and handle these worldwide situations, then I guess it is time to disband it and save America the millions of dollars it spends keeping the United Nations and all of it's delegates around for what... Just kill it if it cannot do any good, it has outlived it usefulness.
If this fails let each individual athlete decide what to do and do NOT hold it against them if they want to go. This is also their lifetime dream and it should not be taken away from them except by their own choice, not as a political pawn. Make sure we do not hold or schedule any Gay Olympics in any country that continues these types of laws. We do not want to be hypocrites and financially support any of these countries.
Personally I don't think we should boycott mainly because it's completely unfair to our athletes who have worked and waited practically their whole lives for this time.
If it could be moved, absolutely! But I think the reality is that these games can take a city years to prepare for, and it's doubtful they could move it at this late stage.
Extremely well articulated truth. This is really what should be America's focus & what should happen. It's embarrassing if we don't boycott them. I hope the power of The Universe makes itself known in the shift of righteousness amongst those that can make a location change for the games because of this, that is my prayer. Amen.
Absolutely agree!
But it also makes me wonder TWO things...
1) Are we going to repeat history? In World War II, the world allowed millions of jewish people to perish under a fanatical leader. Why can't we prevent the violence that is already happening by demanding the UN declare Russian LGBT people political asylum seekers. Nations around the world should allow and assist them to immigrate for their protection.
2) Stephen Fry brings up a great point when he suggests the IOC move the Olympics to a former host city. We should NOT boycott the Olympics, but move them. Deprive Russia of an International audience. Let them know they are out of sync with the world... the way the world SHOULD have done with Hitler when he hosted the Olympics. But are there any host cities that are ABLE AND WILLING to ratchet their areas back up to high gear? Instincters in former host cities should ask their local media and governments.
It has to start somewhere. It should start with our community being firm on this


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IObit Advanced SystemCare 10.1 PRO (v10.1.0.696) Multilingual
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Advanced SystemCare provides automated and all-in-one PC care service with Malware Removal, Registry Fix, Privacy Protection, Performance Tune-up, and System Cleaning capabilities. It also creates superior and safer online experience with the latest Surfing Protection and Internet Boost technology, ensuring you top online security and maximum PC performance.
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+ No Annoying Ads and Safer Surfing - Removes various online ads and blocks more malicious websites with the larger online database, supporting Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
+ Faster Startup - Optimizes startup items to shorten boot time with new Startup Optimization in Clean & Optimize.
+ Smoother PC - New Resource Manager in Performance Monitor provides an easy way to check the processes taking high RAM/CPU/disk usage in real-time.
+ No Malicious Modification - Redesigned Homepage Protection shields homepage and search engine against malicious modifications.
+ No Privacy Leak - Enhanced Privacy Sweep supports cleaning more programs and Windows apps and secures your privacy.
+ Improved Junk Files Clean - Added cleaning for installed driver packages to free up more disk space.
+ Always Up-to-date Software - Enhanced Software Updater supports to update more popular programs.
+ More Powerful Uninstall - Supported uninstalling more stubborn programs & browser toolbars and removing more malicious & ad-based plug-ins with new IObit Uninstaller 6.
+ Larger Database - Expanded database of Spyware Removal, Real-time Protector, and Registry Fix for a more secure PC.
+ Better Experience - Brand new intuitive UI and decent support for high DPI displays & high resolution screens.
* Supported 36 languages.
* And more can be discovered by you.
Language: Multilingual
Operating System:

subset: commoncrawl


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WOW!.....Joana! Still as gorgeous as ever! Thank you Joana!
Full Scene Downloads
Buxom Pioneer of Romania
"Over the past 15 years, no Voluptuous Girl has had more staying power--more lasting popularity--than Joana Bliss," wrote V-mag editor Dave in the Holiday 2018 issue. "Is Romanian bra-buster and sexpot Joana the greatest V-Girl ever?"
This is an extremely difficult question to answer considering all of the fantastic babes we have featured in V-mag over the years. One thing is true. Joana is a Romanian pioneer in big-bust modeling who is still active today, something that is a major accomplishment in any area of photo-modeling.
Today, Romania is the new Czech Republic, with stacked girls such as the Star sisters, Kitty Cute and Amie Taylor joining the Big Show. We don't know if any of those girls know who Joana is and what her contribution is to the big-boob world but she paved the way.
Always youthful, it seems like Joana has discovered a secret, and by natural ways. Read More »
This is an extremely difficult question to answer considering all of the fantastic babes we have featured in V-mag over the years. One thing is true. Joana is a Romanian pioneer in big-bust modeling who is still active today, something that is a major accomplishment in any area of photo-modeling.
Today, Romania is the new Czech Republic, with stacked girls such as the Star sisters, Kitty Cute and Amie Taylor joining the Big Show. We don't know if any of those girls know who Joana is and what her contribution is to the big-boob world but she paved the way.
Always youthful, it seems like Joana has discovered a secret, and by natural ways. Read More »
Featuring: Joana Bliss
Date: July 29th, 2018
Duration: 17:48
Member Comments
More Big Tit Videos
Jan 11
Joana Bliss
16:08 Mins.
Bringing The World Bliss
Bringing the world big-time bliss since 2004, Joana Bliss goes her own way in the world of big-boob modeling. Joana keeps off social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, doesn't do webcam sessions, sell home-made videos or make public appearances. "I do two hours of yoga and meditation a day and my breasts do not hinder me at all, which is good," Joana said. "Every day, I do this and I enjoy it. It is a spiritual and physical way to stay centered and to unify body, spirit and mind." That hasn't changed Joana's earthy, erotic side. On-camera, she can masturbate with toys or fingers, play with her world-famous tits and play with other girls. "It's about the sensual touch. I'm very sensual."
May 20
Joana Bliss
14:45 Mins.
Joana's Breast Gym Class
"I feel sexy all of the time," said the great Joana Bliss, a New Age goddess who's discovered the fountain of youth through a healthy lifestyle, yoga and meditation. "I have been called a goddess before. It's a beautiful compliment." Joana takes us to a gym where she can have some privacy. She proceeds to workout in stages, from dressed in a sexy fitness outfit to totally naked. We get to see Joana's breast exercises, calisthenics and dumbbell curls and some of it in slow motion too. With her booty shorts peeled off, Joana gives her pussy some exercise also. The gym manager didn't see Joana doing this scene but he did offer her a free lifetime pass before she and our crew exited. Unfortunately for him and his gym customers, it's too long a commute from Bucharest to Prague. Joana has a sly sense of humor too. When we asked her what a guy should do to actually meet her, she answered, "Get in line." It's a good thing we had this gym to ourselves or this video would have never been finished. Joana's been photographed by many different SCORE photographers over the years. All of them loved her modeling style and personality. Enjoy the boob bliss Joana brings.
Sep 28
Joana Bliss
16:49 Mins.
Blissful Boobs
In May 2005 Voluptuous magazine, we wrote "One of the truly bountiful discoveries, Joana came pretty damned close to taking the Newcomer of the Year contest. This very nice, well-mannered girl with a flawless body and sparkling eyes has it all going in every way and is not shy in front of the camera so her vote harvesting was no big surprise." Joana would eventually win Voluptuous Model of the Year twice in a row, in 2013 and 2014, a feat accomplished only by Nicole Peters (2004, 2005), Renee Ross (2010, 2011) and Vanessa Y. (2015, 2016). More than a model, Joana's a big-bust legend. While most girls are active for a few years before moving on, Joana's fire never fades. She keeps the mojo going and seems to have found some kind of fountain of youth.
Oct 9
Joana Bliss
16:32 Mins.
Pure Bliss
"I like to dance, but I have to be careful about what kind of dancing I do because my big breasts bounce all over the place!" living legend Joana Bliss said. "I like all types of music. Old, new, disco, dance music. I like meditative music for exercise and relaxation." Posing has brought Joana a kind of fame that makes her feel good. She tends to stay under the radar and doesn't have pages on social media sites. She prefers the quiet life. "Being a model has given me much happiness and made my life more interesting and creative. I think the human body is one of the most-beautiful creations on our planet. There is nothing shameful about the male and female body. I love to look at the works of the great painters and sculptors that understood this."
Sep 11
Joana Bliss
18:28 Mins.
Juicy Fruits
Joana Bliss is in a state of bliss. Dressed for kitchen pleasure, foodie, vegan and all-around nature girl Joana has her pick of ripe fruit to choose from. She has bananas to put in her mouth and suck. (That's a banana to be jealous of.) Oranges to squeeze so that the juice runs down over her work-of-art boobs into a glass. Watermelons to rub on her own natural melons. Joana must be a lot of fun to food shop with at her local farmers' market. Joana is the kind of girl who puts the romance in Romania. "I like to make a man feel my love," Joana said. "I am playful and spontaneous. I like a man to make me feel the same way and to show me what feels genuine and real to me. The most important thing is to love and then the rest becomes perfect. Sex on the first date? If I am feeling it, then why not?" Joana doesn't go out dressed like a sex bomb. She tends to keep a low profile in public because she knows her super-voluptuous looks will attract too much attention and stares. What she has, other women dream of having.
Oct 22
Joana Bliss
17:39 Mins.
Bikini Bath Babe
Joana Bliss learned to appreciate the bounty that nature blessed her with. She has a lot of love to give. "I love having big breasts. I didn't like them at first. Now I love them. I love the attention I get. I love how they look in clothes and swimsuits. I love that I can suck on my own nipples. Not many girls can do that. I began to like my breasts when men started looking into my eyes and not only at my breasts." Bikini-wearing Joana turns the bathroom into her personal spa and indulges herself. Cleopatra bathed in milk. Ecologically-conscious Joana would consider that a waste of food. She soaps and plays, rubbing and massaging her large baps, shedding her swimsuit and toying around the tub. Joana isn't done after she bathes. Our photographer sneaks up on Joana as she showers off. See this fantastic Romanian beauty hosing off in a separate Bonus Video.
May 6
Joana Bliss
14:52 Mins.
Boob Bouncing With Miss Bliss
Big-boobed superstar Joana Bliss keeps in shape with her daily yoga and calisthenics but never loses her voluptuous curves and huge, natural boobs. Great for her, great for us. Back to the gym goes Joana and we follow to watch her do her yoga, make bouncy-bouncy on a large gym ball and watch her heavy hangers swing in close-up slow-motion. Piece by piece, Miss Bliss's workout outfit comes off as she trains. Fantastic! Because Joana has fidgety finger exercises to do at the conclusion of this fitness session, we rented a gym just for her so the breast goddess could have some privacy.
Jun 21
Joana Bliss
14:51 Mins.
Being employed by Joana Bliss doesn't guarantee job security but it does guarantee that you'll be on time every day for one of her personal meetings in her office. Joana doesn't need to speak at these meetings. She uses body language and she knows that every employee will be totally absorbed in what she has to communicate with her world-famous body and big tits. "I found that dressing sexy has a strong effect on men," said Joana in the understatement of the year. "For some reason they want to spend time with me. They call me names like goddess. That's very nice. Only one man said my boobs are too big. Everyone has a different taste but it is not necessary to say things like that to someone. I prefer to be with people that say good things." When it comes to sex on the first date, Joana is not on that page. "It happened one time. It wasn't sex. It was something more than that. I can't just have sex right away or it can't be just sex. I don't like selling myself short. I like to play with girls but I have no interest in shooting with men. Sex is too personal in my life. I prefer intimacy and love making."


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Nearly 600 Alabama businesses and individuals are getting state tax credits by contributing to private school scholarship programs.
The tax credits were included in the Alabama Accountability Act that the Legislature passed in February. State Revenue Department spokeswoman Carla Snellgrove says that 582 donors have given $19.5 million to organizations set up under the new law to provide scholarships to students who move from failing public schools to participating private schools.
The individuals and businesses receive a dollar-for-dollar state income tax credit for their donations up to a limit. The Accountability Act sets a $25 million annual limit on the total amount of tax credits.
State education officials say 52 students used the new law to transfer to private schools for the fall term.


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Clipboard - Off-Road News - December 2013Posted in News on October 9, 2013
Packaging Scam
Thought you guys would like (or at least like to know about) this: I went to buy some U-joint straps the other day, saw the right-sized straps on the rack at the auto parts store, and grabbed them. The back of the package said for 1330 or 1310 U-joints. I just assumed some non-English-speaking overseas manufacturer (you mean my U-joints straps aren't made in America?!) got the wording wrong—since 1330 and 1310 straps are obviously not the same size. There were two straps inside the package, but as I stood in line I realized that the bottom one was smaller. There were actually two different-sized straps—one for a 1330 U-joint and one for a 1310 U-joint! So the package labeling was actually correct, but what a scam! I live 40 minutes away from a part store and would have been less than happy if I had to drive back for a second U-joint strap.
Frank Deggon
Frank, we agree. We'd much rather just see double the price on one package of two straps than some deceptive packaging designed to make you buy two of the same items.
Ford TTB ECU Issues
The other day I hit a big whoops section in my 1994 F-150 and the engine shut off part way through. I checked everything, and I mean everything, without getting it running again. We were hooking up a tow strap to pull my truck back when this old guy pulls up in an old Toyota, gets out and walks over asking what is wrong. We tell him and he walks over to my truck, pulls up the plastic inner fender on the driver's side, and jiggles the harness on my ECU (I didn't even know that's where it was). He says, "Try it now!" And boom. My truck fires right up and we're able to keep going.
It looked like my tire had hit the inner fender and just knocked the wiring loose to the ECU. It made me thankful for old guys who know their stuff. Maybe I do have some more to learn from my elders.
Josh Nickerson
Bought by Four Wheeler?!
I heard you guys were bought by Four Wheeler! Is that true? If it is, does that mean you're gonna go away from prerunners and cool trucks and start showing Jeeps and buggies?! I hope not….
Danny Weybridge
Not true, Danny, but with an asterisk. We are part of a parent company called Source Interlink Media, and they own us and Four Wheeler magazine, but we're not run by Four Wheeler. Though we did recently join the "Four Wheeler Network" which you'll find if you punch in www.off-roadweb.com. We'll still be the same OFF-ROAD print magazine that you know right now, covering the same material, but with a new joint website that combines OFF-ROAD, Four Wheeler, Petersen's 4 Wheel Off-Road, JP, and 4Wheel Drive & Sport Utility magazines—all owned by Source Interlink Media.
Long-Term Updates
Sure, it works great for the first week, but what about after?
Flex Fit Radiator
We've run a Flex-a-Lite Flex Fit radiator on one of our project trucks for seven years now. Recently, it finally sprung a leak at the bottom passenger-side corner. Unfortunately this one was probably our fault: Back in 2006, we hard-mounted this radiator onto a stock Chevy 1996 radiator support—no rubber, no urethane, no nothing to absorb forces sent through the mounting brackets, and nothing to allow for frame and body flex. It's actually pretty impressive it held up this long, considering how we mounted it.
We've got a new exact replacement in now, but this time we used rubber to mount it and give a little more cushion to our nice aluminum radiator.
RS7000 Shocks
Remember the original RS7000s? They were some three-way adjustable shocks produced years ago that fell between the RS5000 and the RS9000 (prior to the 9000X) in Rancho's lineup. Well, those are long gone, but the RS7000 name is back. It's on a nitrogen-charged shock that does exactly what it's expected to do: It competes with the Bilstein 5100, the Pro Comp Prorunner, and the Fox Performance Series on every level in the nitrogen-charged replacement shock category that Bilstein has dominated for years.
We've put RS7000s on an old 2WD Chevy, a Tacoma, and a new 4x4 Super Duty with good results. Our one caveat is the rear of the Super Duty did not feel like it had adequate shock damping. In the shocks' defense, we have only tried one shock (with a 2 5/8 body) out of many that felt correct in the back of our Super Duty.
We've had zero leak issues, and some of our RS7000 test shocks have over 10,000 miles on them with no noticeable shock fade or wear.
News Blips
What's going on in the off-road world
Autonomous Vehicle Testing
Ford is now using robots to improve the "Built Ford Tough" durability testing of its Trucks.
Ford is first automaker to develop robotic technology to drive vehicles during new accelerated high-impact on-road and off-road durability testing.
Robotically driven vehicles are ideally suited for durability test conditions that could prove too taxing for human drivers.
New technology is used to ensure Ford trucks, including the all-new Transit van family, are Built Ford Tough.
Chicago Named Top Thrill- Seeking City in BFGoodrich Tires Adrenaline Index
It seems Chicagoans are the biggest thrill-seekers in the country, according to the new BFGoodrich Tires Adrenaline Index. The tire maker surveyed 3,500 Americans across the country, revealing that more than one-third of Americans are self-proclaimed thrill seekers who thrive on new adventures and enjoy activities that provide an adrenaline rush.
Renezeder Sets Nine-Race Winning Streak on General Tires
Apparently a 100-race win record was not enough for Team GT's Carl Renezeder. During Rounds 7 and 8 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) at Miller Motorsports Park, Renezeder made history yet again by winning his ninth Pro-4 race in a row on General's Grabber tire. The nine-race winning streak dates back to Round 15 of the 2012 season. It was almost extended to 10 in Round 8 but Renezeder fell just shy of a win, settling for second.
Thousands Celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day
On July 12, 2013, automotive enthusiasts, car clubs, organizations, and affiliated businesses celebrated in honor of the fourth annual Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). A wide range of official events were held in the United States, Canada, and Australia to commemorate the day throughout July.
The SEMA Action Network (SAN) would like to thank everyone who supported our hobby's "holiday" this year. Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of next year's celebration!
You may have noticed a few changes in your OFF-ROAD magazine recently. Hopefully, this doesn't bring too much stress to your life and you'll handle it! One such change is that we've combined our letters, our news, and our long-term updates all into our Clipboard. You can reach us at email@example.com or at the old email addresses that used to be published.


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Dinosaurs disembark for the summer in Norwalk
Have you always wanted to walk like a dinosaur, glide like an archaeopteryx or climb the dinosaur family tree?
Then you better make tracks to Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, where the exhibition "Dinosaur Revolution" will open on Saturday, May 25.
This traveling show, created by the Seattle-based Minotaur Mazes, mixes merriment with meaningful learning, a combination that immediately appealed to the museum's staff.
"We know kids absolutely love dinosaurs and science," said Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill, the museum's director of exhibit design and delivery.
Through the exhibition and related programs, she said the museum hopes to provide families with a fun experience this summer, as well as an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the creatures that fascinate people of all ages.
The exhibit is set up as a maze, with areas that encourage visitors to tarry and delve deeper into the world of dinosaurs.
"One of the activities we have is making tracks, where kids can put on large dinosaur feet, strap them on and see what it is like to be a dinosaur," she said.
There also will be a climbing wall where children can ascend in space and knowledge, learning more about the different periods that marked the age of the dinosaurs.
Cifaldi-Morrill said she hopes the activities spark an interest in older children about the field of paleontology.
Such budding researchers will get a taste of what their older, professional counterparts do during Monday and Friday dig sessions beginning Friday, May 31, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., when young people will be encouraged to look for fossils in a large dig pit.
The exhibition, which runs through Sept. 8, spans 150 million years and places visitors in three "Mesozoic Missions."
Young visitors who learn more about the facts behind dinosaurs -- from the eras in which they lived to the ways they survived for millions of years -- have a chance to earn junior paleontologist credentials.
Cifaldi-Morrill said the visuals associated with the exhibition are eye-catching -- sure to appeal to everyone from the youngest visitor to those who first learned about dinosaurs a long time ago.
"It is really important for us to appeal to adults, as well," she said, adding that the staff knows it has done a good job when the adults visiting the show enjoy themselves as much as the youngsters.
The museum's education staff also has developed several related programs, including a a weekly session focusing on a different dinosaur.
There will be special crafts, activities and other pursuits associated with that particular creature. That series will run from Tuesday, May 28 to Sunday, Aug. 11, Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to noon.
There will be plenty to do and see in the museum over the next several months, even for those who may not completely dig dinosaurs.
Other exhibitions available for viewing during the run of "Dinosaur Revolution" include "Healthyville," "Build It!," "ColorCoaster" and "Energy Lab." Cifaldi-Morrill said the new "Nano-Imagine" show in the Light Gallery also has proven popular since its recent opening.
Still Cifaldi-Morrill expects plenty fans of the prehistoric to stop by for a view or two.
"Around here, we have been calling this our dinosaur summer," Cifaldi-Morrill said.
email@example.com; 203-964-2241; http://twitter.com/xtinahennessy
Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Mathews Park, 303 West Ave., Norwalk. Saturday, May 25-Sunday, Sept. 8. $15; $10 seniors; free members and 1-year-old, younger. 203-899-0606, http://steppingstonesmuseum.org.


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The new "Monday Night Wars" should no longer be referred to as a "war" at all. At least until TNA Impact demonstrates that it can at least maintain the 1.2-ish ratings it drew pre-January 4. Nobody, including the brain trust at TNA, could have possibly believed TNA would have scored anything even remotely close to Raw's numbers. I certainly didn't, yet I believed going head to head with WWE on Monday NIghts was the right move for wrestling, which was in desperate need of a shake-up.
I thought that just being in the same timeslot as Raw would goose Impact's rating just a bit. Instead the ratings went in the other direction, failing to crack the 1.0 mark. So much for a rising tide lifting all ships. What these embarrassing ratings now do is put even more strain on Hogan and company to put on a show that doesn't reek of 1987.
The one thing TNA has going for it is the the unpredictability factor, but whatever the creative minds come up with, Impact needs to be based on in-ring action, not who's kidnapping whom in the parking lot. Not who's super cool ring with give him "Mega-hulkster" powers, or who's trying to break into the building. The show needs to be grounded in Style's acrobatic brilliance, Angle's matt mastery, and Morgan's aggressiveness. There is no promo Hogan or Flair or Bischoff can give us that will make new fans switch away from Raw. I also thought the presence of another show on Monday night would inspire Vince McMahon to once again pull out all the stops, but since this "war" is scarcely competitive, it's clear he sees no need to bother, and quite honestly, neither do I. Yes, it's early and TNA would be hasty to turn tail and slink back to Thursday night, but do me a favor, please, wake me up when the war starts.
--Frank Krewda
Monday, March 22, 2010
The War That Wasn't
1 comment:
- J\/\/ said...
The blog of the legendary PWI. Awesome on so many levels.
Feel free to check out my Wrestling Memorabilia blog in my profile. It's right here on Blogspot.
For my name and writing to be associated in even the smallest way with the legendary Weston wrestling magazines is a dream.
-Josh Watko
- March 25, 2010 at 9:43 PM
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Morris County's most populous municipality is a business-oriented community with its share of traditional streets and neighborhoods. Four major highways bisect the township, which has seen a big increase in population since 1960.
Parsippany is comprised of many diverse and charming neighborhoods, high quality business campuses, excellent school and library systems and an extraordinary park system.
The Township prides itself in its fine services with its own water and sewer facilities, one of the most friendly and effective recycling programs in the area and a fine police department, one of only three nationally accredited departments in New Jersey.
One of the most interesting communities is Mount Tabor. Owned by the Mt. Tabor Methodist Camp Meeting Association, Mount Tabor is a small community made up ...more details..
Explore Parsippany, NJ


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For as long as I can remember the most debated Java topic has been the difference in opinion on the heap size minimum = maximum with lots of urban myths and legends that having them equal was better. In a conversation with a number of colleagues and Chris Bailey who has lead the Java platform for many years he clarified the settings for the IBM JVM based on generational vs non-generational policy settings.
"The guidance [for generational garbage collection policy] is that you should fix the nursery size: -Xmns == -Xmnx, and allow the tenured heap to vary: -Xmos != -Xmox. For non generational you only have a tenured heap, so -Xms != -Xmx applies.
The reason being that the ability to expand the heap adds resilience into the system to avoid OutOfMemoryErrors. If you're then worried about the potential cost of expansion/shrinkage that this introduces by causing compactions, then that can be mitigated by adjusting -Xmaxf and -Xminf to make expand/shrink a rare event."
A link to Chris Bailey's presentation on generational garbage collection http://www.slideshare.net/cnbailey/tuning-ibms-generational-gc-14062096
[edit to correct typo, added tags]


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SSL 3.0 POODLE Attack Vulnerability
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol used to establish a secure connection between a client and server. SSL 3.0 was introduced in 1996 and is still in wide use by the internet ecosystem (clients and servers). The latest version of this protocol is TLS (Transport Layer Security) 1.2. TLS 1.2 has not been fully adopted in the internet ecosystem as a large number of legacy systems cannot support TLS. Researchers today published a vulnerability with SSL 3.0, POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption), that could allow an attacker to decrypt secure cookies sent over a secure connection.
Aviso General
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Update The Configuration Of Your Server
This vulnerability does not affect SSL Certificates. No change to existing SSL Certificates are necessary. Customers should review and update the configuration of their web servers to eliminate this vulnerability.
Important Facts
This affects all servers with SSL 3.0 enabled. Although this is a serious vulnerability, it is not at the scale of Heartbleed or Bash in terms of exposure. Hackers would need to already be in a successful Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) position to take advantage of this vulnerability.
CVE 20143566 SSL 3.0 vulnerability is with the SSL protocol.
SSL Certificates (which the SSL protocol uses to establish a secure connection) are not affected.
Existing SSL Certificates do not need to be replaced.
Organizations should disable SSL 3.0 altogether, or disable SSL 3.0 CBC-mode ciphers.
There is a possibility that an attacker who has network control can force a client and server to negotiate a SSL 3.0 connection by disrupting a proper SSL handshake. To remediate the forced downgrade vulnerability, the proper use of TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV is recommended. However, if SSL 3.0 or CBC-mode ciphers in SSL 3.0 are disabled, the forced downgrade vulnerability is less critical at this point.
More Information
Organizations with servers still running SSL 3.0 are those most at risk.
As a server administrator, you should check if your server is configured to allow communications over SSL 3.0, fully disable SSL 3.0, and only enable protocols TLS 1.0 and above.
Server administrators should implement the proper use of TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV to remediate the forced downgrade issue that is part of this vulnerability.
Consumers should disable SSL 3.0 in their browsers.
The uncertainty and lack of technical knowledge regarding this issue in the media may lead to scammers trying to capitalize on this in the form of phishing or malicious spam campaigns.


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At Caravan, Tigers stirred by Agar's determination
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Johnny Agar became an inspiration for many when he stepped out of his wheelchair, rose to his feet and completed the final mile of a 5K race last summer. Thursday was a chance for the Detroit Tigers to do their small part to return the gesture.
Cerebral palsy limits the 19-year-old's muscles, making every day a fight, race day or no. Inside that body, however, sits a sharp mind and an incredibly strong spirit. As new Tigers reliever Joba Chamberlain and others talked baseball with him, both were evident.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Johnny Agar became an inspiration for many when he stepped out of his wheelchair, rose to his feet and completed the final mile of a 5K race last summer. Thursday was a chance for the Detroit Tigers to do their small part to return the gesture.
Cerebral palsy limits the 19-year-old's muscles, making every day a fight, race day or no. Inside that body, however, sits a sharp mind and an incredibly strong spirit. As new Tigers reliever Joba Chamberlain and others talked baseball with him, both were evident.
Agar would like to cover baseball one day and follow the Tigers. Here, the Tigers were coming to him, talking about their game. As big of a thrill as his race was, this wasn't far down on his list.
"It was remarkable," he said afterward. "You see what these guys do on TV, and you don't see what they're like off the field."
Off to the side, his father, former Tigers Minor League pitcher Jeff Agar, was beaming with pride.
"He just loves the Tigers, knows everything about them," he said. "He has a phenomenal mind. Stats, players, everything -- he knows it all."
While the hallway at DeVos Place buzzed with guests, waiting for the annual West Michigan Whitecaps Winter Banquet, more than a dozen Tigers players were meeting with the Agars in a side room. Some Tigers, such as Don Kelly, had met them when they visited camp last Spring Training. Others, such as Justin Verlander, learned Agar's story from an ESPN feature in the fall on the youngster's quest to complete a race.
It began several years ago as a way for father and son to bond together. Jeff would run distance races, pushing his son in a racing wheelchair in distances ranging from 5K runs to a marathon. It became a summer circuit for them, the two as teammates.
After a while, Johnny wanted to give his father a break, knowing full well the challenge that entailed. It wasn't just about using his muscles, but about building the endurance to do so for a long stretch.
He began pushing himself, training to walk distances. He had his goal clearly in mind, to be able to walk across a finish line. A 5K in their hometown of Rockford last August provided the opportunity. An ESPN camera crew captured the quest.
"He'd been working out," Jeff Agar said. "He'd been practicing and training. He'd done close to a mile previously, but this was a really hot day. It was tough, and with the cameras and everything on him, it was a lot of stress. It was a cool experience.
"He did an amazing job, to be able to walk a mile like that. It would be like you or I running a marathon. It's been amazing."
That moment unintentionally set up this one. Verlander saw the piece and wanted to get involved the next time the Tigers came through Grand Rapids. The Tigers make the trip every year for the caravan, but the schedule made sense.
Verlander couldn't make the Winter Caravan following core muscle surgery earlier this month. He had no shortage of players on the team picking up the effort. Together, they met with the family, took all the photos they wanted and gave Johnny a jersey.
"[Verlander] got the Tigers involved and tried to contact us," Jeff Agar said. "Thanks to him, the Tigers PR people just kind of took over. They did an amazing job. To have all these players and Johnny getting to meet them, and the jersey, it's just unbelievable."
Fellow Tigers starter Drew Smyly tweeted about the meeting.
What an honor to meet @agar_john and his family last night. You inspire everyone that meets you! Keep on keeping on Johnny! #tigers- Drew Smyly (@SmylyD) January 24, 2014
The Tigers' ties already ran deep in the family before Johnny. Jeff pitched parts of three seasons in Minor League ball, three of them as a reliever in the Tigers' farm system. He made it as high as the Double-A level in 1987.
Those ties carried on to his kids, though it wasn't something he pushed. Johnny wasn't around when Jeff was a pro player, but he was there for Jeff's days playing softball.
Still, it was more than baseball running in the family. The statistics, the strategy caught his interest early, Jeff said. He began watching every game he could.
"He puts the word 'fan' in 'fanatic,'" Jeff Agar said.
When the Agars visited Spring Training last year, Johnny recognized head athletic trainer Kevin Rand by name. He had read and watched enough coverage to know that.
He didn't have a chance to play growing up, but the passion carried over. Now that he has the feeling of crossing a finish line on his own, he's still pushing himself for more.
"He wants to walk half of a 5K," Jeff Agar said, "and his ultimate goal to walk a 5K on his own."
That's for warmer weather. As cold as it was in Grand Rapids Thursday, the look on Johnny's face after the Tigers filed out showed he was warmed by their visit.
"I'm sure they have a lot more things to do," he said. "But for them to take the time out of their schedule to meet me, it's really special."
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason.


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Monday, April 20, 2009
Penrose 2009
3 comments:
- Elizabeth said...
How did the tree that was in front of the house get translated to two trees behind the house? And where is the blue roof? And the pine tree at the corner of Dwight's bedroom that took so many years to grow? Or the honeysuckle hedge to the north? Oh, dear, it's true - you can't go back. Memories are, perhaps, a better avenue?
- April 20, 2009 at 12:43 PM
- Ann said...
It is strange to see the house looking so different. I think I will keep my happy memory pictures safely tucked away where time can't change them. On the other hand, I am grateful the house is being kept neat and tidy. However, I do agree with Elizabeth, the only happy roof on that house can be a blue roof!
- April 20, 2009 at 2:36 PM
- Judy said...
I once knew what the cost of building this house. It wasn't much, but I always appreciated the extravagance of the pretty glass doorknobs and the front door with windows and the fancy latch.
For now, though there are some changes (and who has not done that to where they now live?) I am thrilled that the place is in good repair. Today is another part of history.
- April 22, 2009 at 9:23 AM


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Porsche is a car company with many successes on the racetrack and plenty of knowledge learned during its motorsport achievements. But how does this influence its passenger vehicles? It's a good question and one that Porsche has decided to answer through a new online video.
In the clip, Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport discusses the links between successful race cars and street cars. Kristen also takes a look at the future of Porsche's place in the motorsport arena. This includes a look at some of the technology in the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car (pictured).
Check out the video below.


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The simple contemporary design, and neutral colors of the adjustable height Tabella corner desk will blend seamlessly into any work environment. In a society where sitting is becoming less and less in vogue, having the ability to switch up your work day with an adjustable height work surface option is not only trendy, it also has a positive impact on your health. The Tabella corner desk is quiet, compact, and has an adjustable height range that can accommodate users from petite to big & tall.
The Tabella corner desk is constructed with dual motors for reduced noise. The height can be adjusted from 25" to 50.5". The vertical motion moves at a stealth-like rate of 1.5" per second, and this desk can support up to 250lbs, evenly distributed. There are no visible crossbars that interfere with user comfort.
Assembly required.
This item is a GSA Schedule Contract item. National Business Furniture's GSA contract number is: GS-27F-0024V.
For more information, please call one of our government specialists at 800-558-1010, or visit this page to learn about all our government contracts including Navy BPA, Air Force BPA, TXMAS and CMAS.
For a limited time, take an additional 15% OFF the price of this item by entering promo code HARVEST during checkout! Your discounted price will be reflected at checkout. Promotion valid for 15% off all qualifying products (excluding tax and shipping) using promo code HARVEST only. Qualifying products will be marked with a 15% Off tag. Promo code cannot be used with any other promotions or discounts and is limited to one use per customer. Promo code applies to merchandise only. Enter promo code on payment page in check out to see discount before submitting order. Promo code valid November 1, 2018 to November 30, 2018 11:59 p.m. CST.
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Open Gym
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Student Reviews
HITT / Tabata
Constance "subbed" this class for Stacy and used Stacy's workout....holy kill me dead batman!!! - Eric L. (09/17/2016)
Hit it! hardBODY
Kevin...just being his Energizer Bunny self and doing what he loves. Cubs themed HardBody tonight to help them with Game 4 plus Kevin DJ'ing his Old Skool Vinyl records! Oh....and he killed every muscle group in our bodies! So glad I changed my mind and came to class today! - Cindy L. (Oct. 19, 2016)
Hit it! Kickbox
The Queen is having fun trying out all different routines on us lately.. love the variety. Oh...and faster tempos - Cindy L (Aug. 30, 2016)
Hit it! hardBODY Extreme
OMG....my chest and front "T" got an amazing workout today. Awesome class! Hit IT! Fitness really makes you push past your strength limits. No class like it!- Chris B. (Aug. 12, 2016)
Boxing Bootcamp
Awesome - Thank you Jonathan! - Patti R. (June 28, 2016)
Hit it! hardBODY
These classes are so freaking addictive - Julia W. (July 25, 2016)
HITT / Tabata
Today's format was a fun one! Increasing rep counts each round (10,15, 20, 25, then back to 20, 10) with laps outside in between rounds increasing from 1 to 4 and decreasing back down. The fact that each class is always different is one reason I am motivated to get myself here every day, especially at 5: 30 am! - Cindy L. (July 1, 2016)
Athlete Yoga
Kathy always seems to know exactly what my body needs that day. It was perfect! - Karen S. (October 18, 2016)
WTF? Bootcamp
Always a great workout at HIT IT! Fitness - Leanne M. (Feb. 23, 2016)
Hit it! hardBODY
Hardbody never fails to kick my butt! - Stephanie E. (Sept. 12, 2016)
Hit it! hardBODY Extreme
Great Class and a stretch at the end - Mark L. (Aug. 4, 2016)


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Carbon Emissions Image from Shutterstock
According to a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Earth System Research Lab, the average monthly measurement for greenhouse gas was recorded at 400 parts per million in a remote Arctic location. The finding marks "a troubling new milestone for carbon dioxide" that signals increases in greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, which some scientists have warned about for several years.
The NOAA have a series of monitoring stations across the Arctic that have been measuring how much CO2 is in the atmosphere. This spring, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Barrow, Alaska was measured as 400 ppm.
In a press release, Pieter Tans, an atmospheric scientist with NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) said: "The northern sites in our monitoring network tell us what is coming soon to the globe as a whole. We will likely see global average CO2 concentrations reach 400 ppm about 2016."
As a planet, we passed the 350 ppm mark years ago, which many scientists have said is the highest safe level for carbon dioxide. It now stands globally at 395 (average global levels of CO2 were 390.4 ppm in 2011). Before the Industrial Revolution of the 1880s, it is estimated that the global average CO2 was about 280 ppm.
"Turning up the levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is like turning up the dial on an electric blanket," said Jim Butler, director of the ESRL Global Monitoring Division. "You know it will keep getting warmer, but you don't know how quickly the temperature will rise, and it can take awhile for the blanket – or the atmosphere – to heat up."
While these numbers are still technically "preliminary" and won't be finalized until next year, they are not expected to change by more than 0.2 ppm. The NOAA calculates the Annual Greenhouse Gas Index every year, which takes into account the heating effects of other gases that are emitted from human activities, such as methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs.
Click here to watch a NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory animation of carbon dioxide levels for the past 800,000 years.
+ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Lab
via AggieSports
Images © NOAA


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The Down Home Log Home Difference...
Down Home is defined as "Of, relating to, or reminiscent of a simple, wholesome, unpretentious lifestyle". Also "having comforting qualities like a country home." That is what we at Down Home Log Homes have been doing for over 20 years, giving you a country home with comforting qualities.
Thank you for taking time to visiting our website. As you look through our site we hope that you will picture yourself "down home" in one of our log or timber frame homes. For your questions we are only a phone call or a click away.
Again, thank you for visiting Down Home Log Homes!
Down home where they know you by name and treat you like family
Down home a man's good word and a handshake are all you need
Folks know if they're fallin on hard times they can fall back on
Those of us raised up down home
From The Song: Down Home
By: Alabama
Featured Floor Plans
Bedrooms: 2.0
Bathrooms: 2.5
Stories: 2.0
Square Feet: 2046.00
Bedrooms: 3.0
Bathrooms: 2.5
Stories: 2.0
Square Feet: 1810.00


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"The human body is not lent out, is not rented out, is not sold."
That was the 1991 conclusion of the high court of France when it ruled against the practice of hiring a woman to carry a child for someone else to parent, a practice known as surrogate motherhood.
Yet, in many countries today, including some parts of the United States, it is perfectly legal to "rent out" the human body as an incubator for a baby who is ordered up by someone who wants a child and has the cash to pay a woman to be impregnated and then hand over the child at birth.
Surrogacy thus reduces the baby to a commodity to be purchased and the mother to an object to be used. The practice also demeans the family and "fractures" the "triune relationship" between the parents and the Creator, said Marie Hilliard, director of Bioethics and Public Policy at the National Catholic Bioethics Center (see Page 12).
No national statistics on surrogacy are kept, but experts say thousands of surrogate pregnancies occur every year in this country, and untold thousands more in other countries, for surrogacy has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that is largely unregulated. Even "surrogacy tourism" has become popular in poor countries like India, where "surrogacy farms" house poor women eager to earn money and willing to accept less than the going rate in wealthier countries.
Surrogate pregnancies originally were accomplished by artificially inseminating a woman, and this is called "traditional surrogacy." However, after science developed in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create an embryo outside the womb (1978), so-called "gestational pregnancy" has become a more popular way of getting a baby since the 1980s.
This method is popular for legal reasons, because it is more difficult for a surrogate mother to try to keep the child after birth since the baby is not biologically related to her. The surrogate mother is considered to be merely the "carrier," "vessel" or "surrogate uterus," according to terms in the industry.
In a gestational surrogacy, the intended parents may contribute their own eggs and/or sperm, or the eggs and/or sperm are obtained from an egg or sperm bank. So-called "designer babies" are offered by some IVF clinics, which allow prospective "parents" to choose the gender of the child as well as egg and sperm donors by profiles that detail the donors' appearance, talents and ethnicity.
The price charged by a surrogacy broker in the United States ranges from $40,000 to $120,000, but the U.S. surrogate mother typically receives only $20,000 to $25,000, according to The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. On the other hand, an "exceptional" egg donor with high I.Q. and grades from a prestigious college can receive more than the $10,000 maximum recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
The specter of eugenics and exploitation of the poor certainly is raised by surrogacy, and disdain for human life is evident not only by discarding embryos that don't measure up, but also by aborting children that are not the perfect little creatures the "parents" ordered.
This business of manufacturing children to order for anyone with the money to pay has become accepted in many cultures without a full analysis or understanding of the implications for humanity and society.
While surrogacy agencies provide feel-good accounts by surrogate mothers, a large body of anecdotal evidence reveals that surrogate mothers risk being exploited, bullied and abandoned, all the result of the commodification of human life.
In March, for example, CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen told the story of Crystal Kelley of Connecticut, who agreed to be a surrogate mother and was promised $22,000. When an ultrasound at five months revealed the baby had a cleft lip and palate, brain cyst and serious heart defects, the couple offered her $10,000 to abort the child.
When Kelley refused to abort, the couple told her they would assert their legal rights to the child and relinquish her to the state when she was born. Wanting better for the baby she carried, Kelley moved to Michigan, which does not enforce surrogacy contracts, and found a loving adoptive home able to care for the special needs of the little girl.
ABC News reported in 2011 about Carrie Mathews of Colorado, a mother of four who agreed to carry a child for an Austrian couple for $25,000. Pregnant with twins, Mathews experienced several medical problems during the pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia and need for a Caesarean section delivery. After the birth, the Austrian couple departed the country with the twins, still owing Mathews more than $14,000 and leaving her with more than $200,000 in medical bills.
Surrogacy mother message boards and Internet postings also reveal many difficulties suffered by surrogate mothers, including the agony of giving up the child she carried for nine months, the problem of explaining to her children why she gave away their baby sibling, being abandoned during the pregnancy after the intended parents decided to divorce, and failure to honor agreements that would allow the surrogate to be part of the child's life.
Jennifer Lahl, a nurse and president of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, told Our Sunday Visitor that surrogacy businesses try to present the facade that surrogacy is a win-win situation for everyone involved. In her research for her upcoming documentary film on surrogacy, Lahl said she interviewed a variety of surrogates who had "disastrous experiences," all the outcome of the unnatural practice of "buying and selling babies."
In her previous documentaries, "Eggsploitation," dealing with donation of eggs for in vitro fertilization, and "Anonymous Father's Day," dealing with sperm donation, Lahl had investigated the negative health and psychological repercussions of those practices suffered by the donors as well the children created from those "donations."
Internet message boards like The Other Side of Surrogacy and The Unanimous Us Project also detail many difficult personal experiences of surrogates and the offspring of these pregnancies.
Acting as a surrogate mother or donating eggs for a pregnancy are not the carefree, simple, safe experiences they are often made out to be. Dr. Anthony Caruso of Chicago discussed with Our Sunday Visitor the medical risks involved for the surrogate mother, the egg donor and child.
Caruso had become a reproductive endocrinologist because he wanted to help infertile couples have a baby. However, after 15 years of helping couples achieve pregnancy through in vitro fertilization, he became uneasy about the process when he began to encounter multiple combinations of people who wanted to create a child. He also started to witness embryos being treated with little respect and easily discarded.
As his uneasiness was growing, "Dignitas Personae: On Certain Bioethical Questions" was issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2008, summarizing Church teaching on all the emerging reproductive technologies. Caruso studied that document and came to understand better the Church teaching that IVF was a commodification of human life that he could no longer practice.
Because of his religious and ethical positions, Caruso resigned from the Chicago Association of Reproductive Endocrinologists in 2010 and became an obstetrics hospitalist for a Catholic hospital. He also joined the Catholic Medical Association and the Catholic Physician's Guild.
He currently is in the process of opening a medical practice in Downers Grove, Ill., to provide moral care for patients wanting to achieve pregnancy.
Caruso explained that a woman preparing to have embryos transferred into her uterus must take daily estrogen doses, and just before the embryo transfer, she takes high doses of progesterone. The estrogen increases the risk of blood clots, and though each woman is different, the hormone administration also potentially creates emotional problems.
He also noted that the bonding between mothers and their children that develops during pregnancy could have a psychological impact on the surrogate mother who is contracted to give up the child. Also, since between one and four embryos usually are implanted, twin and higher order pregnancies are possible and present additional risks to the mother.
Risks for the donor of the egg also are present, for medications she must take can cause headaches, mood swings, bloating and nausea. There is always a risk that the ovaries will be overstimulated, Caruso said, leading to dehydration, possible blood clots and kidney problems. Also, retrieval of the eggs presents the risk of infection and injury to the surrounding blood vessels as well as risk of adhesion formation, which could theoretically increase the egg donor's future risk of infertility.
Caruso said the majority of babies born from IVF are normal, but a number of studies show that IVF children have increased risks of lower birth rates, cardiac abnormalities, asthma and problems in the formation of the gastrointestinal tract.
"Studies have also suggested that IVF babies are twice as likely as naturally conceived children to be diagnosed with a major birth defect by 1 year old," he said. "Pediatricians have described that a higher percentage of IVF children suffer from Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, a condition which can be associated with accelerated growth and cancerous tumors."
As for the whole concept of surrogacy, Caruso said that of all the advanced reproductive procedures, none is more objectifying than the use of a gestational surrogate:
"It is the final step in the complete dissolution of the physical marital bond. Now any sperm, egg and uterus can be 'combined' to 'make' a baby."
Ann Carey writes from Indiana.
Copyright © 1996-2019 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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Single player first-person tower defense where your mission is to defend your hometown from hordes of invading alien creatures. --- Sanctum stared out as a total conversion mod for Unreal Tournament 3. Now it the students have started a game developer studio, Coffee Stain Studios, and are developing Sanctum as a standalone game using the UDK.
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.
Various screenshots of the new Sanctum Demo. Soon on a Steam near you!


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In the ballsiest racing pass in a long time, a Lotus Exige GT3 sliced between a Miata and a Boxster in Australia's Island Magic Enduro 2011 race, overtaking both cars at 152 miles an hour with barely inches to spare. Was this a safe pass?
The Teamchapman Mazda in Group E was working his own pass on a Group E Boxster when Bart Mawer in the Lotus flew by him. The Mazda driver says he saw Mawer coming around the last turn before the pass, hunting down a Gallardo in Class A. From the Lotus' in-car footage it looks like the driver had time to size up the pass.
Ballsy move or too-ballsy-move?


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Jakelaban needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 113 designs submitted by 19 freelance designers.
Spa @ SBL
The esthetician arm of a medical skin care practice; this is the 'child' brand of Skin by Lovely, Inc. Facial treatments are performed here. The 'mother' brands branding elements and personality can be seen at http://www.SkinByLovely.com
This is to be the 'younger' and 'hipper' brand extension of the Skin by Lovely brand. The name 'Spa @ SBL' is one that the designers should have fun with, given the symmetry. I invite the designers to take the 'bird' element out of the current logo for the 'mother' brand, attached here. I would like to see the the color scheme and font be unique, but complimentary. Our current font is Goudy Old Style. Overall, we are a young company, catering to a younger audience. 96% of our patients are female, cost conscious, and obviously, into beauty. You can get a good flavor for the 'mother' brand's personality at http://www.SkinByLovely.com or on our Facebook page.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick. Often, only one part of the heart is thicker than the other parts.
The thickening can make it harder for blood to leave the heart, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. It also can make it harder for the heart to relax and fill with blood.
Alternative Names
Cardiomyopathy – hypertrophic (HCM); IHSS; Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis; Asymmetric septal hypertrophy; ASH; HOCM; Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition that is usually passed down through families (inherited). It is believed to be a result of several problems (defects) with the genes that control heart muscle growth.
Younger people are likely to have a more severe form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, the condition is seen in people of all ages.
Some patients have no symptoms. They may not even realize they have the condition until it is found during a routine medical exam.
The first symptom of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy among many young patients is sudden collapse and possible death. This can be caused by very abnormal heart rhythms (
Common symptoms include:
Chest pain
Dizziness Fainting, especially during exercise
- Fatigue
Light-headedness, especially with or after activity or exercise
- Sensation of feeling the heart beat (
palpitations) Shortness of breath
with activity or after lying down (or being asleep for a while)
Signs and tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope. Signs may include:
Abnormal heart soundsor a heart murmur. These sounds may change with different body positions.
- High blood pressure
The pulse in your arms and neck will also be checked. The doctor may feel an abnormal heartbeat in the chest.
Tests used to diagnose heart muscle thickness, problems with blood flow, or leaky heart valves (
Holter monitor(heart rhythm monitor)
Cardiac catheterization
Chest x-ray ECG Echocardiography(the most common test) to diagnose and follow the condition MRI of the heart
- Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
Blood tests may be done to rule out other possible diseases.
Close family members of people who have been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be screened for the condition.
If you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, always follow your doctor's advice about exercise and medical appointments. You may be advised to avoid strenuous exercise.
If you have symptoms, you may need medication to help the heart contract and relax correctly. These may relieve chest pain or shortness of breath when exercising. Some medications used include beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.
Some people with arrhythmias may need treatment, such as:
- Medicines to treat the abnormal rhythm
- Blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots (if the arrhythmia is due to atrial fibrillation)
- A permanent pacemaker to control the heartbeat
- An implanted defibrillator that recognizes life-threatening heart rhythms and sends an electrical pulse to stop them. Sometimes a defibrillator is placed, even if the patient has not had an arrhythmia, but is at high risk for a deadly arrhythmia (for example, if the heart muscle is very sick or the patient has a relative who has died suddenly).
When blood flow out of the heart is severely blocked, symptoms can become severe. An operation called surgical myectomy may be done. In some cases, patients may be given an injection of alcohol into the arteries that feed the thickened part of the heart (alcohol septal ablation). Patients who have this procedure often show significant improvement.
If the heart's mitral valve is leaking, surgery may be done to repair or replace the valve.
Expectations (prognosis)
Some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may not have symptoms and will have a normal lifespan. Others may get worse slowly or quickly. The condition may develop into
People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are at higher risk for sudden death than the normal population. Sudden death can occur at a young age.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a well-known cause of sudden death in athletes. Almost half of deaths in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy happen during or just after the patient has done some type of physical activity.
Calling your health care provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
- You have any symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- You develop chest pain, palpitations, faintness, or other new or unexplained symptoms


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Two Arab assailants stabbed a Jewish man in Jerusalem on Friday, leading to a showdown between Jewish and Arab demonstrators a day later.
The attack happened on Friday evening, when the victim and a friend were walking back from Jerusalem's Old City to a Jewish-owned house in the predominantly Arab neighborhood of Ras al-Amoud.
The man was moderately wounded in the attack and transfered to a nearby hospital.
On Saturday evening, a group of some 30 Israeli Jews gathered in the area to protest the lack of police protection for Jews in Arab-dominated parts of the city.
In response, a number of Arabs gathered and launched fireworks (in celebration of the stabbing?) and scuffled with police.
Tensions between the Jewish and Arab halves of Jerusalem have been rising in recent years, despite efforts by Mayor Nir Barkat and local Arab elders to calm the situation.
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Home > Clarkson Store > Offshore and Energy Offering > Diaries, Maps & Books > North Sea Oil & Gas Map
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ORINDA — Sleeping Orinda residents awoke to masked men with guns in a home invasion robbery early Wednesday, authorities said.
The three residents were asleep at about 1:40 a.m. when two suspects entered the home on La Espiral Road, said Jimmy Lee, a spokesman for the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.
The robbers woke up the victims, pistol-whipped two of them and left with goods, Lee said. Authorities did not say what was taken from the home. No arrests have been made.
The sheriff's office is investigating whether the suspects knew the victims or were familiar with the home.
It appears the robbers walked in through an unlocked front door.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact the Orinda Police Department at 925-254-6820.
David DeBolt covers breaking news. Contact him at 510-262-2728. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.


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Liberty News
Kristin Lock receives award for outstanding service
Liberty University senior Kristin Lock received this year's Christian/Community Service Volunteer of the Year Award in Wednesday's Convocation for her outstanding contribution and commitment to service in Autism Speaks U (ASU).
Lock started Liberty's chapter of ASU, a program designed to support college students in their awareness, advocacy, and fundraising efforts for Autism Speaks. She has contributed more than 160 hours in Christian service this year, helping ASU raise more than $13,000 through various fundraisers.
Lock's interest in autism awareness sparked as she worked with an autistic individual for three years. She has channeled that passion by working with ASU and studying Special Education at Liberty.
"I was really impacted by the way people with autism interacted with people — how they were different, but they weren't less," Lock said.
|Dr. Deanna Keith (left), ASU faculty sponsor; Kristin Lock, Liberty's 2013 CSER Volunteer of the Year; Dr. Lew Weider, director of Christian/Community Service; and Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Dr. Deanna Keith, the faculty sponsor for ASU, said Lock has gone above and beyond in her service.
"In addition to Kristin's many accomplishments, I believe it is the essence of who Kristin is as a person that makes her such a phenomenal individual and so deserving of this honor. Kristin possesses such character and leadership that she will be an amazing representative of Liberty University," Keith said.
The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented annually to a student who demonstrates excellence in Christian service and ministry. Students are nominated by their supervisors at the organizations where they volunteer.
Liberty requires students to complete a minimum of 20 hours of Christian service each semester to fulfill graduation requirements and support the mission of the university to serve others.
The award was presented before the guest speaker, Tim Lee, a retired Marine, longtime friend of Liberty, and member of Liberty's Board of Trustees, delivered the main Convocation message (see it on Liberty's YouTube channel).
|Evangelist Tim Lee
Lee encouraged students to share their story of God's grace in their life and shared his own story of how he lost his legs in a land mine explosion while serving in the Vietnam War in 1971. Up to that point, he had been running from God, he said, but decided that day to turn his life around.
He said he could have "wallowed in pity and bitterness," but rather made the choice to be thankful. Lee said he knew it was God who had spared his life. Today, he is an acclaimed evangelist and has won many souls for the Lord with his testimony.
"Make a commitment today, this last Wednesday Convocation, right there where you sit, say 'God, I want to have a story for Jesus Christ,'" Lee said.
Lee also was the featured Convocation speaker last fall during Liberty's Military Emphasis Week.


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De Palma Image of the Day: The Fury
Eric and Zach have been doing De Palma Images of the Day.
Amy Irving, on the stairs, in the middle of a telekinetic episode, flashes back to a past event. Suddenly, she is completely surrounded by the event she's witnessing, as if it were a film playing, all around her, to every side—she is completely enveloped by it. (De Palma shows us this envelopment by having the camera orbit her once, doing a 360.)
Now, here's the really amazing part—Irving is in the foreground, but the event is rear-projected. So she's both in the middle of the past event—because she's surrounded by it on all sides—and removed from it because the event is rear-projected, and she's not.
What does De Palma's staging say about the reality of her (voyeuristic) telekinetic moment and its space-time paradoxes? That the moment finds her simultaneously in two time periods at once—she's in the present, watching a past moment—but also in two spaces at once—both watching a 'film' (being outside it) and being surrounded by it on all sides, and thus, being inside it.
And as if all that weren't enough—we could also read this moment as an allegory for the way we experience cinema: watching in the present something that 'occurred' in the past; and being situated in our own space but also having the film reach out in the dark and enfold us, so that we feel as if we were entering its space.
The above passage—among the most startlingly beautiful I've ever seen in a movie—lasts about forty seconds. Zach's image captures the moment immediately following this passage, as soon as Irving's telekinetic spell breaks.


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Saturday, May 09, 2009
A Minimalist Banana Bread
My minimalist banana bread, with a handful of dark chocolate chips thrown in.
April 2011
Don't get me wrong. I still love Nigella Lawson-style lusciously rich full-of-rum-soaked-raisins banana bread. But sometimes I feel I don't deserve all that deliciousness. Or there's that feeling that perhaps, just perhaps, I don't need all that richness in a cake.
Well, this minimalist banana bread is just the cake for those occasion. Still lovely, still tasty. But it won't spend a moment on your lips, followed by a lifetime on your hips, as a famous saying goes.
Minimalist Banana Bread
(MInimalistlik banaanikeeks)
Serves 8
2 large eggs
100 g caster sugar (just under half a cup)
150 g plain/all-purpose flour (that's about 1 cup)
2 tsp baking powder
2 ripe medium-sized bananas (about 200 g peeled weight)
100 ml milk (about 7 Tbsp)
Whisk eggs and sugar until pale and frothy in a large bowl.
Mix flour and baking powder in a small bowl.
In another bowl, mash the peeled bananas with a fork, then mix in milk.
Fold the dlour mixture and banana-milk mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Stir until just combined.
Pour the batter into a lined 2-litre loaf tin and bake in the middle of a pre-heated 175 C / 350 F oven for about 50 minutes, until a wooden toothpick pushed into the cake comes out clean.
Let cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then trasnfer onto a metal rack to cool completely.
9 comments:
- Nupur said...
That banana bread sure looks pure and delicious!
Thanks for stopping by my blog to say hello, Pille :)
- 1:23 pm, May 10, 2009
- Claudia said...
This sounds very simple, yet just right for a mid-morning snack with tea. I also want to try your Tosca cake, perhaps with macadamia nuts, instead of almonds?? I like to try new ways of using what we grow ourselves.
- 4:10 am, May 12, 2009
- Bea said...
I really like this kind of 'minimalist' food.
It'll be a great snack :)
- 7:44 am, May 12, 2009
I made it. Not too sweet and just enough banana flavour. x
- 11:50 am, May 17, 2009
- Jo said...
I made it, too - but I think it needs a bit longer than the 50 mins (I've got a fan assisted oven, and even after an hour, it wasn't cooked all the way through)
But delicious all the same! :-)
- 2:24 pm, May 18, 2009
- Ternovnik said...
What a lovely recipe! I made this last night, and it took 10 minutes to put together and tastes delicious. I am eating it for breakfast now with plain yogurt and tea. I'll never make another banana bread with sticks of butter thrown in again!
- 4:05 pm, July 22, 2009
- Pille said...
Nupur, Bea - thank you!
Claudia - it's simple but delicious. Re: tosca cake with macadamia nuts - wouldn't it be a bit too rich? Perhaps you could combine them with almonds?
Roxy - so glad you enjoyed this - it pleases me a lot!
Jo - I guess it depends in your oven. Mine was definitely cooked in 50 minutes (in the middle shelf; no fan). Good you liked the flavour!
Ternovik - cannot believe that there are already 3 persons who liked this cake :) It's my happy day :)
- 4:13 pm, July 22, 2009
Sounds good, I will have to try it.
- 9:47 pm, June 15, 2010
- Myla said...
Just made this, added sultana's and made it into muffins! Perfect to take to school
- 11:02 am, September 30, 2012


text: The Battle of El Alamein marked the culmination of the World War II North African campaign between the British Empire and the German-Italian army. Deploying a far larger contingent of soldiers and tanks than the opposition, British commander Bernard Law Montgomery launched an infantry attack at El Alamein on Oct. 23, 1942. German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel returned to battle from illness and tried to halt the tide, but the British advantage in personnel and artillery proved too overwhelming. After Hitler blocked an initial retreat in early November, Rommel managed to escape annihilation by withdrawing his men to Tunisia.


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SACRAMENTO — New regulations that include fines up to $500 a day for residents who waste water are taking effect in California.
The State Water Resources Control Board approved the rules earlier this month, making it illegal for people to hose down driveways and sidewalks, waste water on their lawns or wash vehicles using a hose without a shut-off nozzle.
The Sacramento Bee reports (http://bit.ly/1oHSC9S ) the regulations took effect Tuesday after a state legal review.
The stronger enforcement was triggered in part by a state report that found water consumption has actually risen amid the worst drought in nearly four decades, despite Gov. Jerry Brown's push to cut water use by 20 percent.
The rules apply to residents and business owners for nine months, but they could be renewed.