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Student Spotlight
Here you can learn about some of our students.
Past Graduation Speakers
"I have experienced several schools in the U.S, so I can say that Edmonds College is the best school I have attended because of the great teachers, the great ESL program and the nice environment to study in."
Yoko Nagano (Japan)
Hello, everyone. I'm Yoko. I am so glad to be here today because finally we can graduate from the ESL program! Thank you, all of you, for coming to our graduation ceremony, and congratulations to us! Also, thank you, all my teachers, for giving me a chance to give a speech here. I don't think I'm a good speaker even though I've given many presentations in this school. Last graduation ceremony, I was here as a level 4 student, and I listened to one of my friend's speech here. At that time, I thought that I might give a speech the next quarter. Then, I'm here now. This is my pleasure.
I have studied at Edmonds College for just 2 quarters. It was very short time. Now I think I should have come to Edmonds College earlier. Actually, I had a hard time in my last school, but since I came to Edmonds College, my American life had changed for the better. First time I came here, I thought everyone in this school was so friendly, and I made a lot of friends here. The ESL teachers are also very friendly and kind. Some teachers gave us a lot of homework, but I even enjoyed doing my homework because all of the assignments my teachers gave me were helpful to me. Now I know most of the grammar, how to summarize articles, how to write essays and how to speak English correctly. I have experienced several schools in the U.S, so I can say that Edmonds College is the best school I have attended because of the great teachers, the great ESL program and the nice environment to study in.
Next quarter, most of my friends are going to college or to a high school program in this school. Unfortunately, I am going back to Japan in a few weeks, and I won't come back here to study any more. I feel so sad that I have to leave Edmonds. I will miss everything in Edmonds, my friends, school, and my host family. I love Edmonds as my second home town. I'll never forget the things I have learned and experienced here.
Finally, I want to say to the other students in ESL. I know all of you have goals here. Please never forget your goal while you are here. Keep studying hard. I believe that our efforts will never betray us. Please never forget that you came here to study English and to achieve your dreams. I hope all of you will succeed here. Good luck! Thank you.
"I have grown up from a boy who can't speak English to a boy who is going to graduate from ESL program."
Allen Xiao Bin Zhang (China)
Hi ladies and gentlemen. My name is Allen. I am an ESL student from level 5. I am glad that I have an opportunity to talk about my experience in the ESL program. I have studied ESL program for three quarters. In these three quarters, I have lots of fun with all the ESL students and teachers. Today, I will graduate from ESL, and I am gong to study college program at Edmonds College.
Three quarters ago I was studying in my own country, and I was really bad at English. In my mind I thought I couldn't even study my own language very well, so how could I study English well? In that time, I was lazy, and I didn't want to spend time learning English. After that, my parents decided to let me study in American. At the time that I arrived in America, I thought that was awful because I could not speak English well and I was very shy. The only thing that I could repeat was "Hi, how are you? and "I am fine, and you?" That was the best sentence I was taught to speak with foreigner by my teacher. I was upset and disappointed in myself. Sometimes I could not totally understand what people were trying to tell me but they were very friendly and nice which make me relax. While I was studying English in these three quarters, my English was getting better and better. Every teacher was very patient. They were trying to teach as many things as they could even though we didn't know too many English words. They also taught us how to study English quickly, and they would solve the problems for us. Because of this, I have grown up from a boy who can't speak English to a boy who is going to graduate from ESL program.
Besides that, there are some suggestions that I want to give to the level one and level two students. First, don't be shy to ask the teachers when you have problems. The teachers are willing to answer all the problems that you have. Try to open your mouth and talk to your classmates who are not from the same country with you. In addition, read some English article or magazine that you will be interest in; otherwise you can watch some English movies in your spare time. Once you are interest in it, you will be able to learn it fast. The important thing to learn English is your attitude. If you don't plan your time to study and care about it, you will finally become a loser and no one can help you, but if you do, you will be successful.
At last, I really have a great time in the ESL program. I really want to thank all of my teachers one by one and tell them I really love them.
"Great Experiences at Edmonds College"
Ana Osorio
When I arrived in the USA, I lived in Florida because my sisters were living there. I enjoyed the weather, the city and my family, but learning English there was not a good idea because there were too many Spanish speakers and to practice the language was almost impossible. I had the opportunity to move to the Seattle area and some friends recommended that I study at Edmonds College. At that moment, I started a new adventure in my life. Not only was I studying English but also, I discovered important possibilities that College has for students.
I remember the first few days when I walked with a map in my hand looking for the buildings which names were so hard for me to learn. TUB, MLT, MUK. Oh my god ! too many acronyms in my head. However, I was amazed by all the new things. Students speaking in different languages, friendly teachers and interesting classes surrounded me. I had classmates from Africa and the Middle East. However, the majority of them were Asian and I thought, "Am I in the USA or Asia?" I was surprised to meet many people from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China. I took advantage of the time to learn about their cultures and at the same time introduced my country too. My classmates have been so nice and friendly, and they are so intelligent. Besides learning English, students at Edmonds College have the opportunity to experience a cultural exchange, which is very enriching for our lives.
I discovered the variety of possibilities that Edmonds College offers students. International students can combine their studies with a job at the college. Two days a week, I work as Spanish tutor at the Learning Support Center and I help students who are learning Spanish. With this job, I have had the opportunity to share my culture and my language with others. In addition, I am working at the OIP Department as an International Marketing Assistant. This department was hiring for a Spanish speaker position. I applied and I was selected to work with them. It was a challenge for me. I had to learn many new things and develop new skills. I got a master degree on DHL shipping. At this moment, I am able to help new students. The teamwork at OIP is amazing. We work hard, but at the same time, we enjoy each other a lot. More than 12 languages are spoken at the office. It is a great service that Edmonds College offers to students from around the world!
Last quarter I had the opportunity to work as a volunteer, too. It was with a program called Partners in Service, which was part of the Speaking and Listening class. I worked as teacher's assistant with little children at Head Start. It is a preschool program for families with low income. This experience was wonderful for me because I had studied Early Childhood Education in my country and I have spent part of my life working with children. In this volunteer job, I had the satisfaction to learn part of American education system and was able to share my knowledge with them. Last quarter was a little crazy for me, I had three jobs, I had to study and at the same time, I was planning my wedding. I was exhausted but I got a great satisfaction from all the good results. As you can see, Edmonds College has many options for student development and the possibilities are equal for all. At this College, the opportunities are there just next to you, but the most important thing is to find them and go for it.
Studying at Edmonds College has been one of the best experiences in my live. I have studied, taught, and made new friends. To my classmates I want to tell you that enjoyed your company a lot and I wish you the best success in College. I want to thank my husband Juan Carlos for his loving support. And finally, I want to thank all the teachers for their patience and for being kind and professional. Thank you Peter, Christine, Kelly, Janet, Cathy, Simone, Trish, Margaret and Barbara, because you have been an important part of this experience. I am completing this stage, with beautiful memories in my heart.
"I have really learned a lot."
Tin Hon Ng
Congratulations for those of you who are going to graduate from this program.
I still remember one thing that happened in the first few days when I came to America. I went to Walgreen's with my friend. Jason. When I wanted to tell the cashier person that I wanted to pay for our stuff separately, I had no idea how to say it. What stupid thing I did was just like that "Me, he….." And then the cashier person asked "Oh! You want to pay separately?" "Yeah! Yeah!Yeah!Yeah!" but actually, I didn't know the word "separately" at that time. However, now, when I go to some places, such as supermarkets, restaurants and stores, I can ask them whatever I want because my English has improved a lot.
I have studied in ESL for 6 months. Actually, 6 months is not too long but during studying in ESL, I have really learned a lot from you guys, not only my teachers but also my classmates.
Our teachers must need to have good personality and experience, and they do. They are patient, they would like to listen to what you say, even how horrible your pronunciation is. They are clever, they can figure out what you are going to ask; even if you have just said half of your question. They are experienced, they know how to control the situation; even many curious, active, and talkative students are in their classes, so now please clap your hands to thank those gorgeous teachers.
In fact, those ESL credits don't count into the college or university degree, so some students might think ESL is not useful and necessary, but they are probably wrong because they don't know how important this program is. Because of the college preparation class, I can have opportunity to observe some college classes. I discovered one amazing thing is I felt I can understand those college classes more easily if I spend more time to study my English. As a result, my experience tells me that the more time you spend studying English in ESL, the more comfortable you will feel in your college or university life.
My teachers, my friends, OIP advisors, my parents and my host parents, thanks for those of you guys' help. I really appreciated that.
Thanks for listening.
"Never say you can't do it. Yes you can."
Fatimah Alzainuldeen
My name is Fatimah Alzainuldeen.
I came to Edmonds College from Saudi Arabia simply to learn English.
Not only I learned English, I also learned about American Culture.
I didn't really choose Edmonds College. My lovely husband chose it for me. He was a student here and recommended it to me. So, I came here. It turned out that my husband did me a great favor.
I began here in ESL Level 1! Everything was new for me, the language, the culture, studying with people from other countries, having male classmates.
I had several things going for me that helped me adjust.
My ESL teachers did much more than teach me English, they taught me how can I become independent, confident and being responsible for my own successes and failures. Since level 1, I've stayed in contact with some of them. They have become part of my family here in America.
Before, I said I can't go the US, I can't be far away from my family, I can't speak or learn English, I can't finish my education. Never say you can't do it. Yes you can.
Here I'm in the US, talking to you in English, and I am going to transfer to the University next quarter.
There are so many chances opportunities to take advantage of and so much new information to gain, it would be a shame to limit yourself. These benefits may be available at other schools, and in other places, but there you might have to open the doors yourself. At Edmonds College I always found the doors already open. It is your choice to go through the doors or not.
Intensive ESL Students Perform at International Night
Several ESL students gave fantastic performances at the 30th Annual International Night . It was a sold-out event. Congratulations!
Woong-Gi (Chris) Kim danced with the Hip Hop Club.
Lin sang "Welcome to Beijing" with the Chinese Club.
Students from Minami-Kyushu performed a Japanese love song.
Many countries and cultures were represented in this fun event.
ISS ended the show with great energy
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I have successfully made macarons before, but today was not one of those days. This month we made macarons, one of my favorite cookie sandwiches, but it just didn't work out for me. Don't get me wrong, they were good. But wrong. They were too sticky, didn't have feet, and felt wrong. I usually make the recipe from Gourmet, but I tested out this recipe. It worked for some other people, but not for me. Oh well.
The 2009 October Daring Bakers' challenge was brought to us by Ami S. She chose macarons from Claudia Fleming's The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern as the challenge recipe.
I won't be posting the recipe because it's posted everywhere else, but just because it didn't work out for me don't think it won't work for you! The 99% humidity here probably has something to do with my failure, too.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fun with costumes!
With all the intense politics going on right now, both locally and nationally, it's a relief to indulge in some Halloween silliness. Our only "trick-or-treaters" tonight were our 80-year-old neighbor who was costumed as a white bird of unknown species and her daughter who was the designated driver, thank goodness. I don't think Miss M. could see very well through her mask.
I should explain that we live about ten miles out of town and a quarter-mile off the highway. We never get trick-or-treaters here, but we always buy some candy just in case. Or at least, that's our excuse for buying some candy.


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USAID Global Development Alliance – Safe Drinking Water Alliance
USAID Global Development Alliance. (2010). Safe Drinking Water Alliance – Experiences in Haiti, Ethiopia, and Pakistan: Lessons for future water treatment programs.
Full-text: http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/ehkm/gda2010.pdf
To address some of the challenges created by lack of access to safe water, in 2004, the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Global Development Alliance (GDA) brought together Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), Population Services International (PSI), CARE USA, and Procter & Gamble (P&G) to create the Safe Drinking Water Alliance (SDWA). The general goal of the Alliance was to test three marketing models to increase demand for water treatment and to identify the potential of P&G's PUR in each model as an alternative POU technology. PUR is a household-based water treatment product that combines disinfection with removal of dirt and other pollutants and transforms turbid contaminated water into clear, potable water. The three models tested by the SWDA included:
(1) a commercial marketing model with full cost recovery in Pakistan;
(2) a social marketing model where some promotional costs were subsidized in Haiti; and
(3) an emergency relief model in Ethiopia.
In Pakistan and Haiti a combination of behavior change communication activities and PUR-branded messages and materials were disseminated to increase the demand for water treatment and to introduce PUR. In both countries, CCP led the behavior change campaigns, while in Haiti PSI handled the specific promotion and distribution of PUR. In Pakistan, P&G focused on creating demand for PUR. In Ethiopia, CARE staff working in the Community-Based Therapeutic program were fully in charge of introducing PUR and providing the motivation and information for its use.
In all three contexts SDWA partners also studied barriers and facilitators to sustained water treatment behaviors, as well as reactions to and use of PUR specifically. Findings have clear programmatic relevance, and add to the emerging literature on water treatment behavior and the adoption of new technologies, and particularly provide insights about feasible directions for PUR.


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Lightning struck parts of the Bay Area Monday, from Sunol to San Jose, in an early morning display of white streaks in the sky.
The concentration of the lightning strikes centered in the North Bay.
That's because an area of low pressure has been spinning off the coast of California with limited moisture, prompting dry lightning strikes through mid-day.
The lightning comes after an unusual weather weekened. Temperatures zoomed past the 100 degree marks Saturday in parts of the East and North bays. The hottest of the hot spots was Walnut Creek which hit 112 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
San Jose hit 100, with one report of 102 degrees in the Almaden Valley.
Then on Sunday, temperatures cooled down considerably as a huge bank of fog blanketed the Golden Gate Bridge and headed inland.
Viewer Sawyer Braden sent in this photo of the lightning from Hidden Valley Lake.


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Information about each section of the PERT is provided on the following pages. Sample questions are also included in the links below. Please review this information for each of these areas prior to taking the PERT.
For test preparation and practice information, you are strongly advised to visit the links below prior to the test.
After a student has obtained a Miami Dade College (MDC) ID #, they may set up a "my MDC Account". At that point they can log into a valuable PERT resource titled the "3Ps" (Pre-Placement Preparation). This is a free online practice test that simulates the PERT and is available for prospective MDC students who have set up their MDC account. At the conclusion of this online practice exam, the student will be provided with a full score report that details their performance in each subject area.


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I continue to see a troubling phrase in regards to certain records, that they "hold little genealogical value." Is this our only concern as researchers, that records hold genealogical information? Is it not possible for records to hold information important to one's research, in spite of the presumptive lack of genealogical information?
The answer to the latter question has been demonstrated, repeatedly and by various individuals, to be an unequivocal and emphatic yes. Directed searches in records that, in general, are believed to "hold little genealogical value" can still be quite useful in sorting out two (or more) individuals of the same name, pinpointing the residence or daily activities of an ancestor or potential ancestor (and thus placing him or her in close proximity to potential relatives), or overcoming local governmental records losses.
One needn't look far for an excellent example. Helen F. M. Leary in her pointed article "Sally Hemings's Children: A Genealogical Analysis of the Evidence"1 used information from a wide variety of sources including Monticello's architecture to demonstrate that Thomas Jefferson was, indeed, the father of all of Sally's children; but, of equal importance, to refute evidence to the contrary. Other examples of the need to expand research into records of "little genealogical value," when circumstances dictate the necessity of doing so, are published regularly, if not frequently, in modern genealogical periodicals.
When records are described as "holding little genealogical value" or otherwise limited in use by well-intentioned authors, it sends mixed signals to less-experienced researchers (should one expand research into non-traditional records or not?) and discourages them from using records creatively in ways that the author might not have considered, in spite of his or her familiarity with the same. A researcher's best action is, therefore, not to ignore such advice, but to judge the value of a record on the merits of how its information affects research outcomes, not on the presumption of whether or not it holds genealogical information.
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1. Helen F. M. Leary, "Sally Hemings's Children: A Genealogical Analysis of the Evidence," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 89 (September 2001): 165-207. This special issue of the NGSQ included several perspectives from various scholars on the Jefferson-Hemings affair.


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I've started looking around at all the ways people are blogging. Today I found out that celebrities are being asked to Blog for Hope with Yahoo.
Blog for Hope is a 30-day blogging event provided by Yahoo and the American Cancer Society. The list of participating bloggers includes: Senator Hillary Clinton; Tom Green, Actor/Comedian; Sam Donaldson, News Anchor; Jill Eikenberry, Actress; Peggy Fleming, Figure Skater; Rep. Deborah Pryce; Deepak Chopra, Doctor; Rep. Sue Myrick; Fran Drescher, Actress; and Rep. Chris Cannon. People visiting the blog can read the blog posts and post comments.
I have to admit it, looking through the blogs, it brought a tear to my eye. First, because I've lost so many friends and family to cancer, and yet when I stop and pay attention, so many of my friends and family are alive today because they DID something about it. They paid attention to their bodies, got tested, and did what it took to beat the thing. That needs to be celebrated.
Second, because they are talking about it. Jill Eikenberry says, "I got my breast cancer diagnosis in 1986. Almost 20 years ago. No one was talking about it then." My mother had successful cancer surgery when I was 15 and we didn't talk about it. No one talked about it then. Even when Mrs. Kelley, my self-adopted grandmother and a woman I adored and respected, was swollen and dying from liver cancer, we didn't talk about it. She just "wasn't herself lately". Here was a woman I'd know all of my life, whom I could talk to about anything, but I couldn't talk about this. I knew what was going on and I wanted to talk about it. But we talked of other things, as if life was normal. It just wasn't the thing to do.
Now, because people are talking about cancer, people are doing things about cancer. They are taking preventative measures, helping develop treatments, and best of all, talking a LOT about cancer. About how there is life with cancer, there is life after cancer, and that cancer can be beaten. And if it can't be beaten, then there is pride in a life well-lived and there is no stigma to dying with cancer. We now know it isn't contagious and people don't have to be locked away in hospitals. There is hope, everywhere.
By talking about cancer, we've shown a giant light into the darkness that haunts the word "cancer". Thank you to everyone for talking about cancer.


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Bow Wow Says He Was Molded Into "Lil Bow Wow" By Jermaine Dupri "I Never Wanted To Be That Nigga. Ever. I Felt Like I Sacrificed Who I Wanted To Be" & Tired Of Not Getting His Respect!
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Tempest in a Teapot
April 30, 2012 4 Comments
When Plan Bay Area released its draft preliminary growth numbers (yes, they're that speculative), a cry went out around Marin that ABAG wants to cram growth down the gullet of stable and ungrowing county. For years, Marin has lost jobs and so either lost housing units or grew at a snail's pace. We aren't like the bankrupt towns of the East Bay or Delta, with vast tracts of new, identical houses. Sadly, if regional and state agencies have their way such reckless and unrestrained growth would come to our counties and you might as well kiss the Marinite way of life goodbye.
It's a good narrative, but as with most sensationalist narratives of the government losing all reason, it's pure nonsense.
Plan Bay Area, the sustainable communities strategy mandated by California, needs to accomplish a simply stated task: find out where people will live and work in 30 years, funnel that growth away from open space, and provide an effective way for people to get around without a car. The first task requires projections of job and housing growth, the second utilizes the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process, and the third uses grants to localities that want to expand or maintain their transit infrastructure.
The fear among opponents is that projections of housing growth will mean that the state will mandate that level of growth. I suppose it's an easy mistake to make. RHNA numbers are released in a similar fashion, and those really are mandates for zoning to accommodate the growth. Thankfully, Plan Bay Area projections are intended to inform the whole sustainability strategy; they don't constitute growth mandates. Yet even if they did, they would mandate slower growth for the county than has occurred in the recent past, though you wouldn't know it listening to the plan's opponents.
Between 2000 and 2010, Marin added about 622 housing units per year. Nearly every incorporated town (excepting Larkspur and Belvedere) and every unincorporated village added housing over the past decade. Plan Bay Area projects that growth will slow to only 272 units per year, less than half the rate of the past decade. This rate of growth includes both affordable and market-rate housing. RHNA will be informed by these projections, and so will mandate even less housing.
Besides, the "mandates" aren't even mandates. As we've discussed before, RHNA requires a city to do two things: zone for affordable housing, and come up with a plan to maybe have it get built. That rarely happens.
So Marin will likely grow faster than Plan Bay Area projects, will likely be required to build less affordable housing than it has been required to in the past, and so things will carry on in much the same way they always have. There is no vast usurpation of local control, there is no growth mandate handed down from One Bay Area, there is no UN plot to confiscate your home. You may notice fewer news stories about grants for roads and more about grants for bikes and transit, and I guess that will be kind of disruptive.


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Old Man Admits To Smoking Weed With Snoop Dogg On National TV!
" Some old guy talks about smoking weed on with snoop on British TV and embarrasses the host" - Mr. Grassy
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Wintrust offers specialized lending services and financial solutions to specific industries.
SBA Lending - Business
Wintrust works with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer government sponsored loans. If you are starting or buying a business, expanding your current business or buying real estate for your business, talk to one of our experienced bankers and see how Wintrust and the SBA can work for you.
- SBA Express Loans: Loans are offered in amounts between $50,000 and $350,000. SBA Express loans include lower down payments on fixed assets and longer amortization on business expansion loans. SBA fees can be financed and can include an accelerated process.
- SBA 7(a) Loans: Loan is offered in amounts up to $5,000,000. SBA 7A loans include longer amortizations on existing and business expansion debt including working capital and business acquisitions. Most businesses are eligible for SBA financing and SBA fees can be financed.
- SBA 504 Loans: Loans are offered for equipment and real estate purchases in amounts up to $9,000,000. SBA 504 loans can include lower down payments with construction financing available. SBA fees can be financed and provide longer term fixed-rate financing on a portion of the debt.
Benefits of SBA loans include lower down payment requirements and longer amortization schedules.
Wintrust supplies banking solutions for franchisees throughout the United States with
our specialized Wintrust Franchise Services™. We provide the loan products, resources and technology to get a franchise up and running, or support anticipated financial needs of the long-time franchisee.
At Wintrust Franchise Services, we recognize that franchisees may have unique borrowing needs. Our loan products are designed to help manage your cash flow and adjust to changing business conditions. Situations arise, from time to time, which may have an impact on your store operations. You may have seasonality or may have timing issues with construction or loan maturity. We pride ourselves in designing a financing package around your specific needs and goals. Because we have flexibility in structuring our loans, we can develop signature solutions.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact any of the following Wintrust Franchise Services experts:
- Sandra McCraren, President
847-432-2488 • email@example.com
- Lori Christensen, Vice President
847-432-2399 • firstname.lastname@example.com
- Sean Willison, Vice President
847-295-4272 • firstname.lastname@example.com
- Melissa Reed, Commercial Banking Officer
847-432-2394 • firstname.lastname@example.com
Temporary Staffing Firms
Tricom Funding is the premier provider of payroll funding, payroll processing, accounts receivable management, financing and back office support for temporary staffing agencies. Tricom Funding finances employment agencies of all types and sizes, whether you are in a specific industry (such as security guard staffing agency) or have a broad-based temporary staffing agency.
For over two decades, Tricom Funding has partnered with temporary staffing agencies across the nation to help them build strong foundations and successfully grow their temporary staffing businesses. Tricom Funding has built an enduring reputation based on stability, temporary staffing industry leadership, exceptional service and business integrity.
For more information about Tricom, please call 1-888-4TRICOM (487-4266) or visit www.tricom.com.
Condo & Homeowner Associations & Management Cos
Community Advantage, a Wintrust Company, has specialized banking services for condominium, townhouse, and homeowners associations, as well as the management companies that serve these associations.
We offer a complete suite of financial solutions and services to assist associations in managing their cash and operations, such as assessment collections, a variety of lending options, reserve investments, disbursement services and account management services. We specialize in everything a community association or property management company needs to manage their finances.
For Building Management Companies, we have the resources to accelerate monthly collections from owners and tenants, control payments, invest reserve funds, forecast daily cash needs, and provide comprehensive customized financial solutions for management companies of any size.
Just like the rest of Wintrust's banks and divisions, we provide the resources of the big banks with the personal attention and focus of a small community bank. Community Advantage is an example of what makes Wintrust great — we have a superb level of knowledge about our industry and can mold our banking solutions to each individual customer's needs.
For more information, please call 847-304-5940 or visit www.communityadvantage.com.
Insurance Agents & Brokers
Through its FIRST Insurance Funding Corp., Wintrust is one of the largest commercial insurance premium finance companies in the United States. And with its recent acquisition, we look to expand our presence in Canada with FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada.
Working primarily through independent insurance agents and brokers, this business has grown from a start-up to more than $4 billion in annual loan volume.
FIRST Insurance Funding has also established itself as a leader in life insurance financing for estates, trusts and endowments.
Wintrust is also a leading provider of financial services to independent insurance agents and brokers, offering full treasury management solutions along with loans for expansion, acquisition and agency perpetuation.
For more information about FIRST Insurance Funding Corp., please call 1-800-837-3707 or visit www.firstinsurancefunding.com
International Business Services
We offer a comprehensive menu of international banking services to help you compete around the globe. Our team of experienced in-house professionals will meet all of your International Banking needs.
- Foreign Exchange:
- Over 80 currencies traded
- Spot and Forward contracts
- Up-to-the-minute rates on our stand alone web-based platform
- www.iBusinessFX.com
- FX Loans
- Trade Finance:
- Import Letters of Credit
- Export Letters of Credit
- Bankers Acceptance Financing
- Standby Letters of credit
- Documentary Collections
- International trade advisory services
- Letter of Credit and payment terms structuring
- Foreign buyer and vendor credit reporting
- Risk mitigation
- SWIFT Address:
- OPTBUS44 - under Old Plank Trail Community Bank, N.A., a Wintrust Community Bank
For more information about Wintrust International Services, please contact Tom Beube, Director International Services, at (312) 291-2904.


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IE8 Group Policy
Hi. In previous posts I talked about the IE8 IEAK and new event logging for IE8 in the Application Compatibility Toolkit. Today, I'm going to discuss the improvements we made to Group Policy support for Internet Explorer 8.
For those of you who might be new to Group Policy, here is a quick background. Let's first assume you use an Active Directory environment to administer the computers in your corporate network. If that is the case, Group Policy provides a wide set of policy settings to manage IE8 after you have deployed it to your users' computers. These settings are locked down and cannot be changed by users, as they are always written to a secure tree in the registry.
The IE Group Policy node in GPEdit.msc (GPEdit.msc is one of the tools used to configure Group Policies):
Group Policy allows you to create IE (and other software) configurations as a part of Group Policy objects (GPOs). The GPOs are linked to hierarchical Active Directory containers such as sites, domains, or organizational units. A client-side extension ensures that your policies are applied and refreshed regularly.
You might be wondering how to configure Group Policy? All the tools to configure create, manage, view, and troubleshoot GPOs are provided in your Windows operating system. Please check the Windows Server Group Policy site to find a list of the tools that are built into your OS.
The IE8 Deployment Guide, a very important resource itself, is now updated to include content for IE8 Beta 2. For instance, as there are more than a thousand IE GPs, configuring these policies for the first time may seem like a daunting task for a new IT Professional. For this very reason, the Group Policy section of the Deployment Guide has been updated to include recommended Group Policy settings for security, performance and compatibility with IE6 and IE7.
Group Policy support in IE8
In IE8, we have added more than 100 new Group Policies, bringing the total Group Policies supported in IE8 to 1300! Virtually all new IE8 features have Group Policy support, whether it is Compatibility View, Accelerators, or InPrivate Browsing Mode. These policies allow administrators to fully control IE8 features: hide the feature completely, preset the default, lock the user to only use the defaults, etc. For example, an administrator could turn off InPrivate Browsing by enabling the Turn off InPrivate Group Policy.
We understand that organizations have different needs. We provided extra granularity in the form of additional policies, so that features can easily be configured to best suit your needs. For instance, Compatibility View has five Group Policies:
- Turn off Compatibility View
- Turn off Compatibility View button
- Turn on Internet Explorer 7 Standards Mode
- Turn on Internet Explorer Standards Mode for Local Intranet
- Use Policy List of Internet Explorer 7 sites
As an example, if you are confident all your internal line of business applications and web sites work best with IE8, you can enable Turn on Internet Explorer Standards Mode for Local Intranet Group Policy. This will overwrite the intranet standards mode to be IE8. As usual, each policy comes with descriptive explain text that allows you to fully understand what the policy has been designed to do.
The Explain Text for Turn on Internet Explorer Standards Mode for Local Intranet Group Policy:
IE8 plays an important role in helping protect users against a range of attacks by offering new security features like the SmartScreen Filter, Data URI and Encryption support. All of these security features are GP enabled so the administrator can ensure their users are safe and secure in corporate environments.
Based on the feedback we received from customers, we have Group Policy enabled some of the legacy settings like secondary home pages, something that wasn't available in IE7. We've also given extensive Group Policy support for the Favorites Bar and Command Bar; an administrator now has firm control over how the IE UI will look.
We have refined our Group Policy support in this release and look forward to your feedback once you've had a chance to try it out.
Jatinder Mann
Program Manager


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At the precise moment I heard that longtime Republican strategist Jack Hawke had finally lost his battle with cancer, I was editing a book chapter about the 1984 race for North Carolina�s governor. It was a pivotal campaign in the state�s political history, as the Democratic Party fractured and the Republican Party elected a man, Jim Martin, who would become the GOP�s only two-term governor to date.
That 1984 race was also a career-maker for Jack Hawke, who served as Martin�s campaign manager and as chairman of the state GOP during most of Martin�s tenure.
Hawke didn�t design the campaign�s successful strategy. Then-Congressman Martin relied on his longtime consultant Brad Hays, brother Joe Martin, and mentor Bob Bradshaw for that. But Hawke was integral to the execution of the strategy, which sought to exploit Democratic divisions while attaching Martin at the hip to the reelection bid of President Reagan.
When reporters needed information or a quick quote, they frequently got what they needed from Hawke. He was quick-witted and often witty. And he returned their calls.
The 1984 campaign was hardly Hawke�s first. After undergraduate education in New Jersey, where he chaired the College Republicans, Hawke came to North Carolina in 1964 to attend Duke University�s law school. Like many other transplants, he decided to stay. In 1966, he managed Jim Gardner�s surprising congressional victory over House Agriculture Committee Chairman Harold Cooley, who had represented eastern North Carolina in Washington for more than three decades.
In 1970, Jack Hawke learned a valuable political lesson, this time as a candidate. He was the Republican nominee for the 4th Congressional District against Democratic incumbent Nick Galifianakis. Knowing that Hawke would be sensitive about being a transplanted Yankee, the Galifianakis campaign ran a newspaper ad alleging that Hawke had resided in North Carolina for only four years.
Hawke took the bait. He called a press conference, brandished the ad, and angrily accused the Galifianakis campaign of printing a lie � because Hawke had actually lived in North Carolina for six years . According to Galifianakis strategist Grady Jefferys, the Democrats knew that all along. They had tricked Hawke into calling more media attention to his �carpetbagger� status than their own ad could have done. The press conference �altered the dynamics of the race,� Jefferys later wrote. Galifianakis won 52 percent of the vote.
From this episode, Hawke learned not to snap at every piece of bait he saw � and not to get in the way when an opponent was self-destructing. Near the end of Jim Martin�s first gubernatorial campaign, these lessons proved valuable.
During the 1984 Democratic primary, several of Rufus Edmisten�s rivals had not-so-subtly questioned his personal character. He had braced himself for similarly rough treatment from the Republicans. In late October, he received a copy of a letter on Martin campaign stationery that referred to Edmisten�s alleged �boozing,� �womanizing,� and consorting with �gamblers and dopers.�
Just as Hawke had done in 1970, Rufus Edmisten took the bait. He called a press conference on Oct. 24 and angrily disputed what he called Martin�s �smut sheet.� That guaranteed several rounds of press coverage of the letter�s allegations during the last few days of the 1984 campaign.
As it happened, the Martin campaign hadn�t tossed this particular bait. The fake letter was concocted by former Charlotte News reporter Max Veale, dismayed at being fired as Martin�s press spokesman in July after being arrested for solicitation. His motive seems to have been to embarrass both candidates � Edmisten with the character attacks and Martin with the image of a dirty campaigner.
But Hawke, Hays, and the Martin campaign didn�t bite. They calmly but firmly denied all knowledge of the letter and then got out of Edmisten�s way. Their strategy, Hawke explained, was �to make sure the message gets out that nobody is circulating that stuff except Rufus Edmisten.�
Lesson learned. North Carolina politics will be a lot less colorful without Jack Hawke thick in the middle of it, as he was for five decades. R.I.P.
Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation.


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Ladies Style & Warmth for this fall starts with a Vest! Any female will tell you that style and fashion are important…to a point. Some search only for that specific color in order to create the WOW factor; yet others want the WOW but do not want to give up the much-needed warmth from their wardrobe choices once the leaves fall and winter comes a callin'.
What people need to understand up front is that the "warm winter vest" is no longer about oversized, bulky gear that turns the beauty into looking like a hunter lost in the North Woods for the past decade. And women, you know what I mean by that. Go on Amazon now, and you'll find a ton of brands that take care to offer you a multitude of colors and styles, but also make sure they provide that extra warm weather layer that will help keep the cold and flu season at bay.
Vests are the most versatile addition to any wardrobe. When choosing layers to utilize in colder temperatures, a great many people overlook the absolute value and versatility that the vest brings. In many temperatures, outdoor vests can easily take the place of mid-weight jackets, without sacrificing the heat. It works this way: When your core temp starts to drop the body reduces the blood flow to your extremities.
Your skin grows cold because your body is immediately sending the blood flow to your very core in an effort to keep your interior warm. However, if that good vest is in place, your core will not only be insulated—making sure the blood flow does not decrease to your outer layer—but it will also help you be more active by freeing you from the bulky sleeves that come with that heavy winter coat.
We are talking about a slew of fun sports you can enjoy, as well as camping, hunting, skiing and a whole lot more. The vest will even keep you warm while taking that much-needed shopping trip (Here Comes Christmas!) to the always air-conditioned mall. Your arms are free, you enjoy a full range of motion and, if things get too warm, a vest is far easier to store and/or carry than that oversized jacket.
Even in milder temperatures, the vest is the best. Think about it. When you're active, you can become too warm, which is also a concern. You've produced enough heat buried in that jacket, but now you're feeling a bit faint. What's the answer? The vest solves it all. As Goldilocks said: "Not too hot. Not too cold. It's just right."
When looking at the fashion side of things, make sure to remember that vests come in a wide range of materials. There are even some with different features, such as waterproof pockets or detachable hoods. Some are lined, insulated and are very becoming which makes them one of the "must-haves" for your closet. With the varying weights of the vests, you can also make sure to fit the vest with your level of activity. Versatility, fashion, and warmth – the vest covers all three. Enjoy those cooler temps! Many colors and styles to choose from Click Here.
Original Source: Sportsmans Lifestyle.com


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The Full Moon of Coll
This image of the Salmon in the pool of Segais is my inspiration as we approach the full Moon in Coll. The card is from the very beautiful Druid Animal Oracle, (Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm) illustrated by William Worthington. The Salmon lives in the Pool of Segais and eats the hazelnuts which fall from one of the nine hazel trees (Coll) which surround the pool. Salmon is revered as the Oldest Animal. He represents wisdom, inspiration and rejuvenation. Despite all obstacles, the salmon returns to her place of birth to mate and lay eggs. Like the Salmon this may be a time to return to our original source in order to find the eternal youthfulness we have forgotten.
The Moon of Coll
This twisting, is it ivy?
or the heavy grape on the vine?
No, it's Coll, the Moon of Hazel,
come to grapple with our soul.
Hazel witches for water,
this Moon finds our dark wet center.
Hazel nourishes the salmon
who lies in the deep and silent pool.
–Sarah Fuhro
With Neil Young's haunting Deep Forbidden Lake we can feel the approach of seasonal change and our own depth.
This is the second full Moon in the sign of Aquarius this year. Last month, the full Moon of Holly (Tinne) was in the first degree of Aquarius and Leo. This Moon on August 20will be in the last degrees of this constellation of new consciousness. The Sabian Symbols for this chart are quite startling in their combined message of transformation. The Sun at 28° of Leo: 'A Mermaid emerges from the ocean waves ready for rebirth in human form.' While the Moon: ' A Butterfly emerging from a chrysalis' seems to echo this theme. Many of us find ourselves at a turning point. Imagine yourself as a newly human mermaid or freshly unfolded butterfly—how will you test your new form?
The signs of Leo and Aquarius provide us with the opportunity to walk the tight rope between full and radiant expression of the Self (Leo) and immersion in the social structure we have created (Aquarius), and the impetus to create a human community based upon a more loving and inclusive vision.
Both Sun and Moon have companions in their monthly face off. Ceres (Earth mother), Mercury, who has a message, and Vesta who reminds us we must each find our own truth in order to truly be 'at home' trail the Sun. Mercury's message may be to the new human arisen from the sea. Will she remind us that we are not alone on the planet?
The Moon is rocked in the arms of Neptune whose Sabian Symbol 'A council of ancestors is seen implementing the efforts of a young leader' gives the freshly minted butterfly of the Moon's Sabian Symbol the support she needs. It may be time to look to the past to find a way to sustain life for humans on earth.
Pluto, Uranus and Jupiter are arranged in a T-square. This period of time is marked by the square between Uranus and Pluto, which reverberates with other powerful times of change in the world. In the 1960's we had a Pluto Uranus conjunction, and shortly before World War II, another very tumultuous period, we had the last square between these two outer planets. While Pluto (who loves to dig deep) and Uranus who likes to start over, are in the square dance over several years, Jupiter's presence is a shorter interval. Will he in true Jupiter form; expand the revolutionary nature of the Uranus Pluto square or will he lighten up the intensity of the square's action (Uranus) and reaction (Pluto)?
The Moon has been very beautiful as she sets on the Western horizon during this waxing period.
May she shine upon your happiness!
Sarah Fuhro
Keeping our Ancient Wisdom Alive
The Wisdom Tradition evolved over the centuries to address our deepest human needs. Sarah Fuhro is a practitioner of its many forms; including Astrology, Tarot, Flower Essences and Druidry. In addition to personal consultations, Sarah teaches workshops and private classes, offering both clients and students knowledge powerfully rooted in the past, presented in the language of the present. To learn more, please visit www.sarahfuhro.com.


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|Bird's eye view of the Color Guard entering the 20th Anniversary Gala
Other special moments from the evening included a video tribute from former President George H.W. Bush, who dedicated the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial 20 years ago, and now serves as Co-Chair of the National Honorary Campaign Committee of the National Law Enforcement Museum, along with former President Bill Clinton. Actor, director, and producer, Clint Eastwood, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and National Law Enforcement Museum, also shared some encouraging words of support for the Museum via video.
Stirring musical tributes from singer Daniel Rodriguez, Pipe Major Steve Butterbrodt of the Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Department Pipe & Drums, and Officer Chris Jackson (ret.) of the Metropolitan Police Department of DC, were beautiful parts of the celebration. Linda Moon Gregory, National President of Concerns of Police Survivor, Pat Montuore, Police Unity Tour Founder and CEO, and Barb Lyons, Police Unity Tour participant and mother of fallen Oregon State Trooper Scott Lyons, also shared touching remarks.
Dick Wolf, of Law & Order fame, received the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's 2011 "Distinguished Service Award. The evening included a 20th Anniversary Memorial and Museum video tribute produced by A&E Television, that beautifully captured the meaning and essence of the Memorial and upcoming Museum.
The event offered one of the first glimpses of the upcoming Museum's Hall of Remembrance, an exhibit designed to tell the stories behind the names currently inscribed on the national monument dedicated to America's fallen law enforcement officers. It was a wonderful way to raise money for the Museum and recognize American law enforcement for their role in upholding the ideals of the U.S. Constitution.
Additionally, the announcement of a $2 million dollar gift to the National Law Enforcement Museum was made at the Memorial's 20th Anniversary Gala. The gift from GLOCK, Inc. will be used to develop an educational and interactive exhibit at the National Law Enforcement Museum called The History Beat. GLOCK is a global manufacturer of pistols and accessories and is the pistol of choice for over 65% of American law enforcement agencies.


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Candy makers standardize with a one-size-fits-(nearly)-all digital dosing pump
Take a fruity gumdrop.
Notice its colour. Pop it in your mouth. Taste its flavour.
Like most candies, this one started as a sticky mass of glucose syrup and water.
Glass cases display candy like jewellery around Martin McDermott. This is Chocotech, in Wernigerode, Germany, a nearly 100-year-old company and maker of "kitchen" equipment for sugar confectionaries: hard and chewy candy, jellies, caramel, nougat, marshmallow, fruit snacks and chocolates.
He holds up a clear-coloured wine gum.
"It's all about colour, taste and texture," says Martin McDermott, Chocotech's Director of Sales & Marketing. "All of these pieces basically start neutral in flavour as cooked sugar. What we're doing is making goodies out of them."
Three key ingredients
To get personality – say, a sour-orange gumdrop – a candy-maker needs to add three things to the sugar mass before processing: colour, flavour and acid.
"In order to do this, there are many changing parameters around the colour-flavour-acid additives. You must meter them consistently and accurately into the mass. You can't manually add them."
That is where good dosing pumps come into the picture.
Piston pump drawbacks
Jens Fleisch, Chocotech's Technical Director, draws a diagram to show how Chocotech used to build its equipment to dose the additives. Each tank had its own piston pump: one for colour, one for flavour and one for acid. One motor drove all three pumps.
Using the same pump three times was possible, but it needed an additional collateral flow meter and was difficult to hit the accuracy and cost required in the marketplace, he says.
Plus, the previous piston pumps had been adapted from an application in power plants, able to pump up to 800 l/h and 700 bar – many times the capacity needed for dosing for candy. Not only were they cumbersome but Chocotech needed to have on hand 20 different sizes of pump heads and their spare parts to cover all its needs.
"A piston dosing pump itself is very accurate," says Jens Fleisch. The piston moves forward and backward, sucking and feeding a liquid precisely, depending on the length of its stroke. "It's not so flexible, however, because the diameter of the piston must match the amount of liquid you are feeding, and the stroke must be set to values between 3.0 mm to 15.0 mm, or a range from 1:5."
A frequency drive runs between 20 and 80 Hz, giving the motor four speeds, or a range of 1:4. Therefore, in the old system, the possible variations were (1:4) x (1:5), or 1:20 for each pump size, he says.
"We've secured substantial orders due to the new Grundfos pumps. We could not have done this due to the older way, which was so much more expensive."
Martin McDermott, Director of Sales & Marketing, Chocotech
One size fits all
A Grundfos Digital Dosing DDA membrane pump (for more information see the tab "Facts on pump supply") can be adjusted steplessly in a range from 12 ml/h and 12,000 ml/h – or a range of 1:1,000 – that is 1,000 variations in dosing volume. Thus, one pump size fits all – or at least 95% of the applications in Chocotech's machinery.
Add to that the accompanying stepping motor technology, flow control monitor, user-friendly design, "E-box" electronic control system and Profibus connection, and for Chocotech, the package is complete.
"Grundfos made life much easier," adds Martin McDermott.
First for candy
Chocotech was the first confectionary company in the world to use the Grundfos DDA for processing. The pumps are typically used in other industrial applications, such as water treatment, washing and cleaning or clean-in-place (CIP) systems.
We're getting feedback, like 'Wow, this is good you're offering something new.' It allows us to innovate.
Martin McDermott, Director of Sales & Marketing, Chocotech
Chocotech's customers have responded well to the new type of dosing pump, McDermott says.
"We have had at least two cases where we've secured substantial orders due to the new Grundfos pumps. We could not have done this due to the older way, which was so much more expensive," he says.
"If you have 20-30 pumps in your kitchen and you need to upgrade them all – including all their variants and spares and drives and flow meters, the price is very high. But we're getting feedback, like 'Wow, this is good you're offering something new.' It allows us to innovate. And we can only be innovative if we have innovative suppliers."
"Grundfos made life much easier."
Martin McDermott, Director of Sales & Marketing, Chocotech
Know-how, expert insights and engineering tools to ease your day.Grundfos for Engineers supports you in specifying pumps and enhances your expertise by delivering industry knowledge and insights on system design, as well as cases, films, tools and more.
Chocotech GmbH of Germany designs, manufactures, installs and commissions kitchens for hard and chewy candy, jellies, caramel, nougat, fondant, foam, jellies and fruit snacks, as well as speciality equipment for chocolate, chocolate shells and chocolate lentils.
The company was founded in Wernigerode in 1920. In 1991, it became part of the Sollich Group.
Grundfos supplied the following pump models and equipment to Chocotech:
E-box 150
Read more about the Grundfos SMART digital DDA dosing pumps.
Pumped liquids:
Flavouring agents based on oil or water
Citric acid,
CFA (food colouring)
Vitamin dissolution
Sugar syrup


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Impress Everyone with a 360 SELFIE Video Booth for Ad Agencies, Events, Weddings, Birthdays
Who wouldn't want to have something that people remember weeks, even months, after your company event, product launch, pre-nuptial kissy-kissy, wedding reception, birthday celebration – any activity that even ad agencies and PR firms would want their clients to stand out? Yep, the title says it all – impress everyone with a 360 Selfie, now available in the Philippines.
360 Selfie is, as self-described, a 360-degree beyond-the-photo-booth video booth set up whereby a camera is revolving around the subject, taking in as much as four people in the middle of the circumference, and creating a TV-like output. Special effects, music and even logo and text branding can easily be incorporated. Once done, 360 Selfie e-mails the 360-degree selfie video (yes, it's a video, not a still shot – so, dance and make a fool of yourself) to the guest or anyone else.
How would you like all your guests to be your instant brand ambassadors when they share this at all the social media accounts? Heck! I even saw a few make it their profile photo or cover photo (remember, Facebook now allows videos to replace traditional profile or cover photo). For more information and booking, click to visit www.360selfieph.com.
Disclaimer: This post was done as a favor.
Written by Raffy Pekson II
July 31, 2017 at 7:57 am
Posted in ICT, Music & Video, Press Release
Tagged with 360 SELFIE, 360-degree, 360-degree selfie video, Ad Agencies, beyond the photo booth, birthday celebration, Birthdays, bits and snippets of the philippines, camera is revolving around the subject, clients stand out, company event, creating a TV-like output, events, four people in the middle, Impress Everyone, Impress Everyone with 360 SELFIE for Ad Agencies Events Weddings Birthdays, instant brand ambassadors, logo and text branding, MiniPhilippines, miniphils, Music, PR firms, pre-nuptial kissy-kissy, product launch, share at all social media accounts, Special effects, video booth, wedding reception, Weddings


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King Abdullah names Prince Bandar, director general of the Saudi Intelligence Agency, on top of his post as secretary-general of the National Security Council.
By Zvi Bar'el | Jul. 25, 2012 |
Saudi Arabia's Prince Bandar bin Sultan fell in love with the United States when he was still an air force pilot and took aerobatics training on an American air base. The romance was renewed several years later when he was named the Saudi ambassador to Washington, a tenure that lasted 22 years. He was a regular guest of George H.W. Bush and later his son, and was the only ambassador guarded by the U.S. Secret Service.
Last week, King Abdullah named Bandar, 62, director general of the Saudi Intelligence Agency, on top of his post as secretary-general of the National Security Council, which he has held since 2005.
Bandar's appointment to the Saudis' most important security post is no coincidence. For one thing, he's very well connected to the kingdom's leaders. His wife Haifa was the daughter of King Faisal, who was assassinated in 1975. Her brother Turki al-Faisal once headed Saudi intelligence, and another brother, Mohammed al-Faisal, is one of the kingdom's richest men.
But it seems the main reason for his appointment now is that Saudi Arabia is preparing for the next stage in Syria, after President Bashar Assad leaves the political stage one way or another and Syria becomes a battleground for influence.
An intense campaign is under way over this inheritance, with the United States, European Union and Russia taking part. But the ramifications of Assad's fall on Iran and Hezbollah - and Iraq - are more important. And when Egypt is hobbling in its effort to establish its "Second Republic" and the Arab League is paralyzed, Saudi Arabia is left to draw up the Middle East's new map.
The view from D.C.
From Washington's perspective, Bandar's appointment is important news. Sure, his wife was investigated by Congress a decade ago about her connections to Al-Qaida activists. But Bandar is considered the CIA's man in Riyadh. He's not just a rugby fan and man-about-town - he's known as a can-do person who makes quick decisions and doesn't spare resources to achieve his objectives.
When there was a need to transfer money to the Nicaraguan rebels in the 1980s, Bandar dealt with the Saudi "grants" requested by the White House. He also arranged things when Saudi Arabia was asked to help fund the mujahideen's battles in Afghanistan against the Soviets.
Bandar is a member of the part of the royal family that opposes the revolutions in the Arab states; they see the Muslim Brotherhood's rise no less of a threat than Iran's influence in the region.
He helped King Abdullah (when the latter was still crown prince ) put together the Saudi peace plan - later the Arab Peace Initiative - to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And he fashioned the Saudis' tough stance against Syria and Hezbollah after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. A few years later, he suggested that the king change course and reconcile with Syria in an effort to cool relations between Damascus and Tehran.
From Bahrain to Tahrir Square
When the revolutions broke out, Bandar supported sending troops to the small kingdom of Bahrain next door to quell the Shi'ite revolt, which Saudi Arabia perceived as Iranian intervention in the Gulf states' affairs. Saudi Arabia also moved fast to support the new regime in Cairo, depositing more than $3 billion as a guarantee at the Egyptian central bank.
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi knows well that this aid doesn't stem from Saudi Arabia's great love for the Tahrir revolution, let alone for the Muslim Brotherhood. But it's meant to block Iranian efforts to gain a foothold in Egypt. As a result, when Morsi was invited to Tehran for a conference of nonaligned nations, he stopped first in Riyadh so as not to give Iran the satisfaction of being the new Egyptian president's first host.
Saudi commentators say Bandar was the one behind the decision to give money to the Syrian rebels, and even to buy weapons for them. They say the Saudi demand that Assad step down is part of Bandar's strategy, which guides the kingdom far more than the positions of the 88-year-old king, whose health is failing.
The Saudi policy on Syria is being closely coordinated with the United States; both countries (like Israel ) want to separate Iran from its most important Arab base and slow the weapons flow to Hezbollah. These goals haven't eluded Iranian eyes, so Tehran is strengthening its position in Iraq and the Kurdish zone of northern Iraq. Moreover, according to reports from the Syrian opposition, Iran is making clandestine contacts with rebel representatives in Europe.
There's no way to know what Syria will look like after Assad, or which rebel faction it pays to invest in. Saudi Arabia, as is its wont, is investing in them all. Hopefully the United States will get the payoff.
How Saudi Arabia's 'Plan B' became a game-changer in Syria
Friday, 12 April 2013
Saudi Arabia has always been renowned for its signature "silent treatment" on most affairs. Rarely confrontational by nature, and always extra-cautious, Saudi officials often repeat that the Kingdom's policy is not to interfere in the affairs of other countries.
Rather, things usually happen behind closed doors in Saudi Arabia. Most of the time, issues are resolved through negotiations, and the Saudis usually have the means to make them fruitful. However, striking deals is not always attainable, and there have been instances in the past where Saudi Arabia had to resort to alternatives which secured a quicker remedy.
Recent unconfirmed reports suggest that Saudi patience with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been exhausted and estimates that there could be a possible end to the Syrian regime "within months."
Over a series of interviews, the source, which has opted to remain anonymous, reveals that Saudi Arabia has managed to secure wide international – albeit unannounced - support for its initiative to end the Syrian crisis. The Saudi efforts are reportedly spearheaded by the Kingdom's recently appointed intelligence chief, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.
Ever since, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has been able to operate in a more effective manner and has enjoyed a significant upgrade in its arsenal; this is mostly due to better international coordination and management of the situation.
A proven track-record?
Despite a reputation for being laidback, inconsistent and ideologically restricted, Saudi Arabia has previously proven that it can be an extremely influential player when it chooses to intervene in global events.
Its role was paramount in ending the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In addition, the Saudis have been an important – if not the most important – player in the global fight against terrorism falsely conducted in the name of Islam.
The common factor among those three examples of extraordinary Saudi ability is the fact that they all involved very close cooperation with the United States. More importantly, they all required very precise 'casting' on behalf of the Saudis to get the right man, or men, for the job.
When it came to the current Syrian crisis, the kingdom chose earlier on to break its silence. Since it became evident that the Assad regime had decided to make a bloody massacre of the peaceful protests that started in March 2011, Saudi Arabia has made its concerns vocal. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz recalled his ambassador from Damascus, and made very strong statements criticizing Assad.
When it became clear that - due to Iranian and Russian support - Assad was winning the war he is waging against his own people, the Saudis decided they needed a plan B.
However, when it came to logistical and military support for the Syrian opposition, most of the work was being done by the kingdom's small neighbor Qatar. "The truth was that the Saudis and Qataris had reached an agreement, whereby Saudi Arabia outsources the logistical and military support tasks to Qatar, and confines itself to just paying the bills," the source told Al Arabiya.
By March 2012, a year after the outbreak of the crisis, the Saudi-Qatari arrangement had achieved very little on the ground. The death toll stood at over 50,000, while hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians became displaced and sought refuge in neighboring countries
Both the Saudis and the Qataris understand that if the situation is not contained more rapidly, then not only will there be very few Syrians left to save, but Iran will be a major step closer to achieving regional hegemony.
The issue with Iran
Unlike how some orientalists prefer to analyze the situation, the efforts to curb Iranian enthusiasm for regional domination is not due to it being a Shiite state and Saudi Arabia being Sunni.
There is also a widely-believed thought that Saudi Arabia is now acting against Assad because the latter happens to hail from the Alawite minority, while Syria is predominantly Sunni. This is laughable because the same regime has been ruling Syria for 42 years, so anyone who actually believes this is insinuating that it took the Saudis four decades to find out the Assad family's religious background.
The Saudis and the Assads go back a long way. However, the relation was much better when the late Hafez al-Assad was alive.
"Hafiz rarely said yes, but when he did say yes, he meant it. On the other hand, Bashar always says yes, but he never means it," the Saudi source told Al Arabiya.
"Bashar is politically immature and a pathological liar. He had full Saudi support when he first assumed office, but the support quickly began to vaporize until none was left at all following the assassination of (former) Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005."
Hariri was a moderate Sunni leader whom Saudi Arabia nurtured and supported. His rise to power came as a result of the Saudi-brokered Taif Accord of 1989, which effectively ended 15 years of Lebanese civil war. Syria was responsible for Lebanon's security as per the Taif Accord, which is why upon the assassination, fingers were quickly pointed at Damascus and its ally, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Albeit a purely Shiite group, Hezbollah enjoyed wide support across various Lebanese sects – including Hariri's – when it was regarded as a resistance movement fighting the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. Today, it is labeled a terrorist organization, and reportedly continues to receive weapons from Iran through Syria.
Upon the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah began consolidating power internally. It forced Lebanon into a war with Israel in 2006, and in 2008 it used its arsenal against its own people to occupy Beirut.
The crisis ended after a political agreement was reached, but there is nothing to stop Hezbollah taking over Beirut (or attacking Israel) again. As such, the group continues to be a double-edged bargaining chip for both the Iranians and the Syrians.
Just this week, Bahraini lawmakers voted to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The group, along with Iran, have been accused of stirring trouble and promoting sectarian strife between the Sunni and Shiite populations of Bahrain.
As such, it could be argued that the true face of the Saudi-Iranian confrontation is not a Sunni-Shiite one, but an Arab-Persian one, whereby the oil-rich successor to the Persian Empire is using its allies in Syria and Hezbollah to destabilize and control Arab nations. Needless to say, what did not help limit Iran's regional ambitions was the miserable American failure in handling post-Saddam Iraq.
Following a swift and successful military operation that toppled the long-standing regime of Saddam Hussein in less than a month in 2003, the U.S. administration at the time adopted a series of extremely ill-advised strategies that did nothing except give Tehran more influence over its partly-Shiite neighbor.
With all of this in mind, when it became clear that - due to Iranian and Russian support - Assad was winning the war he is waging against his own people, the Saudis decided they needed a plan B.
B is for Bandar
Throughout 2012, there were many rumors that contrary to the previous arrangement of outsourcing logistics and military support to Qatar, the Saudis were involved in arming the Free Syrian Army, but nothing was ever officially confirmed. In fact, by the end of the year, some senior FSA members were actually predicting that due to a certain "game-changer," Assad's fall was only a few months away.
Many analysts argued that what helped change the situation was that the American elections were finally over, and the road was now clear for President Barack Obama to act without restraints. Others said it was likely due to a change in the hitherto extremely pro-Assad Russian position.
Whilst both those reasons were to a certain extent true, the Saudi factor did not emerge as a publically-known reality until the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January this year.
"I'm not in government, so I don't have to be diplomatic. I assume we're sending weapons, and if we're not sending weapons, it would be a terrible mistake on our part," said Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former intelligence chief himself and a former ambassador to both London and the United States as well.
Prince Turki's statement came as part of a special panel on Syria, which was moderated by Al Arabiya News Channel at the WEF. Unsurprisingly, the statement was all over the international news wires within hours. Of course, it was significant enough that such a statement (albeit carefully worded) came from a senior figure in the Saudi royal family, but the timing of the statement was of particular importance as well.
Only six months prior to the WEF event in Davos, Prince Turki's brother-in-law Prince Bandar bin Sultan was appointed head of the Saudi Intelligence Agency (al-Istikhbarat).
As in the United States - where the FBI focuses on domestic security, while the CIA is responsible for international intelligence-gathering - in Saudi Arabia, the Istikhbarat handles international threats and operations, whilst another body called the Mabaheth - whose head reports to the Ministry of Interior - handles domestic security.
Despite the fact that his "official" role has long been Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar – especially under the late King Fahd – has always served as his country's international man of difficult tasks.
During the Lebanese civil war, he was a personal envoy of the late king, mediating between rivals and negotiating with the Syrians. As ambassador, he brokered what was at the time the largest U.S. arms deal in history, to deliver AWACS surveillance planes to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli opposition. Furthermore, he played a significant role in assisting the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Following his tenure as ambassador, he was appointed secretary general of the Saudi National Security Agency. Prince Bandar is believed to be in his mid-60s. In recent years, he was a victim of rumors that raised questions about his health, his loyalty to the Saudi throne and suggested that he was assassinated by the Syrians, all of which turned out to be untrue!
"When Syria started looking like it's going to be mission impossible, the Saudis turned to Prince Bandar to manage the situation. Knowing him, he would never agree for anyone else to be behind the steering wheel, so Qatar was asked to take a back seat," Al Arabiya's source said.
"Prince Bandar toured the world, gathering support for his mission to end the crisis in Syria. Many countries in Asia and Europe offered their support, and began actively arming the FSA with lethal and advanced weapons, although they might deny this publically."
The source confirmed recent stories in Western media that the weapons were being shipped to the FSA through Turkey and Jordan from countries such as Croatia. These weapons have been reaching FSA fighters since December 2012. "The Jordanians' help has been crucial. They know that if the Syrian crisis is further prolonged, then the spillover across their border will be inevitable," the source added.
According to unconfirmed reports, Jordan is supposed to be hosting an advanced joint-operation centre, where the situation is monitored. Throughout the crisis, and especially since the beginning of Plan B, the Americans have been indirectly supplying its allies with highly-sensitive and accurate information about the situation within Syria.
"Jordan has to play its cards very carefully. We're in a very delicate situation, given our proximity to Syria. Bashar can cause trouble in Amman within hours. This is probably why we haven't expelled the Syrian regime's ambassador yet," a veteran Jordanian journalist told Al Arabiya during a meeting in Amman in March.
So why has Plan B not worked so far? And what happened to the optimism, towards the end of 2012, that gave Assad only a few months before he would be taken down?
"There are a number of factors as to why we haven't succeeded yet. Unfortunately, we (the opposition) are partly one of them," a leading Syrian opposition figure told Al Arabiya in a private meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah last month.
"Can you believe that (the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition) Sheikh Moaz (al-Khatib) declined to meet (American Secretary of State John) Kerry and senior U.S. military figures? What was he thinking? The Americans were ready to listen to us and to help us early on in the year. We're still immature politically as an opposition group," he added.
In the meantime, Al Arabiya sources say Assad's fall is imminent. How long will it take? "A couple of months, and if it doesn't happen within a couple of months, then I'm afraid it might be a very long time," said the source with access to a prominent Saudi official.
*Faisal J. Abbas is the editor-in-chief of Al Arabiya English. He can be reached on @FaisalJAbbas on Twitter.


text:
SF Weekend
Weekend in San Francisco. Need two of three to make it a winning road trip.
Brandon Webb is the best pitcher in baseball right now and he showed it yesterday. Dominating pitchers usually count on heat but Webb is different. His sinker recorded 17 ground ball outs.
Of course the big news this weekend is the potential return of Jimmy Rollins from the disabled list. He last played on April 9. Decision probably won't be made until close to game time.
Ground Work
While the team is on the road, Mike Boekholder and his merry ground crew of eight worked daily on the Citizens Bank Park field.
Aerating the entire playing field was Monday's project. Then, top dressing the grass with some sand to help drainage, re-seeding and fertilizing. Rain today allowed the crew to gear down.
Tomorrow, there's a wedding on the field which could create an issue with the amount of rain today. Sunday is Mother's Day but Mike and his crew will be in early for mowing.
For Tuesday's 7:05 night game, Mike and his staff will arrive around 10:00 a.m. and won't leave until sometime after 11:30 p.m. His staff increases to 22 on game days, with the extras arriving at 5:30 p.m.
Blank TV
Tomorrow afternoon's 4:05 (EDT) game will not be on television in Philly or SF because FOX has exclusive rights for that time slot.
MLB.TV will have the game.
Radio broadcasts are not affected.


text:
Let me initialize the forum.
Now that it's in the main kernel and I expect that within the next 9 months at least one or two bleeding edge distros will ship with 2.6.31 or later kernels, PAPI installation will become a lot easier. But that assumes a backend that works with perf_counters. When can we expect that?


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This story was told to me by David Goodman, Executive Director of Kisharon and my boss. David is a cousin of Prof. Reuven Feuerstein, the renowned psychologist and originator of the Dynamic Assessment and Instrumental Enrichment approaches to helping people with special educational needs.
Prof. Feuerstein developed his theories and methods out of his post-war work with traumatized and educationally arrested young Holocaust survivors. His successes came to the notice of a wide audience, and in the early '60s the U.S. government commissioned him to roll out his system among the educationally low-achieving and highly segregated Native American Indian population.
In due course, in 1962 Prof. Feuerstein found himself, together with his sister who worked with him, sitting on a buffalo hide in the tribal Big Chief's wigwam on a major reservation. He and his sister sported elaborate Indian headdresses, as the rituals of a traditional welcome ceremony unfolded before them. Struck by the bizarre, almost surreal absurdity of the occasion for two traditional Orthodox Jews, Prof. Feuerstein turned to his sister, and in their childhood home tongue, Yiddish, said to her, "What would Mama have said if she could see us now?!"
The tribal Big Chief, in full ceremonial dress, leaned across to him. "And what," he asked in equally fluent Yiddish, "would she say if she knew I understood what you just said?!" Big Chief was none other than a heimishe Yid who, after the horrors of the war, decided to flee the Jewish world for the most outlandish, different and separated culture he could find, and there assimilate and build a new life…
Sadly, the sequel to this story, if there is one, is not known.


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I am putting the Italian Series on hold... and heading off to the Everglades National Park. I have the Artist-in-Residency to experience!
It's fun, scary, and an adventure. I've never done anything like this before-- so don't know what to expect.
But I am GAME!
My quarters in the Park are right down the road from the ALLIGATOR FARM! woo hoo! I see many good paintings ahead!
I am armed with my camera, watercolors, bike, snorkel and mask. I hope to walk, hike, swim, snorkel, canoe, boat, air boat, and drive my way through the Glades for the better part of the month in hopes of getting enough information to do a compelling visual exploration of the fragile oasis known as the Everglades!
Please come back here to see and read all that I discover.
There won't be any internet in the Park -- but I will find connection every few days when I go to Homestead.
Italy 87
10" h x10" w


text:
DJ Webstar & Jim Jones (Feat. Juelz Santana) - Dancing On Me
Official video for DJ Webstar and Jim Jones "Dancing On Me" featuring Juelz Santana.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Social Responsibility
Donations and investment in education industry
CN Innovations had established MianDe middle school in Chaozhou in 1982 and have sustainably improved its facilities, such as establishing the science and technology building, library, student dormitory, purchase modern teaching facilities and so on. In addition, CN Innovations donated HK $ 5 million to The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to support the nano-science R&D project in 2010.
Caring the underprivileged class
CN Innovations paid attention to the underprivileged class, and hoping to explore a new public service model between business and charity. We Are Family Foundation Ltd (Wer family) was founded on this basis, and aims to create an inclusive platform for jobs creation, take care of those in need, and guide them to struggle with fate. "We R Family Foundation", "L Plus H Limited" and other social benefits programs were the charity projects launched by Wer family.
Wer Family Foundation initiated the "333 Learning Companion Leadership Program", targeting students from low-income families and offering them free after-school tutoring, aim to address student's academic problems, help them to establish self-confidence, and more importantly, let them feel loved.
Caring the employee and community
We set up a mutual fund to support employees who suffer from major illness or accident. When earthquakes, floods and other disasters occurred, CN Innovations will be timely response and make donation.
We view the company as a platform where employees from different background can participate and learn from each other. We motivate our staff by providing extensive training and opportunities to develop their career with professional standards, and thus enhance the efficient operation of the company. We, CN Innovations, are using our own approach to pursue sustainable development of public welfare and assume social responsibility.
333 Learning Companion Leadership Program
Participation of Volunteer Service
Donation to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Donation to MianDe middle School


text:
I just love this sweet drab ole harvest pumpkin girl ;)
She is listed on eBay now....so have a look if you have time!
Just click on her picture to go to the auction....
Have a great week!!!!!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Harvest Pumpkin Girl Doll....Listed on eBay!
Posted by Becky at 7:18 PM 6 comments
Friday, September 25, 2009
Harvest Scarecrow Doll Just Listed on eBay!
Posted by Becky at 1:58 PM 3 comments
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
New auction listed tonight!!!!
I just LOVE this wreath!! I hope you do too :)
You can click on the picture to go to the auction to see more pics! 7 Day auction!!
I have also listed some patterns up for bids....so if you get a chance check those out too :)
Posted by Becky at 8:06 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Just a reminder
I just wanted to remind you all that the freebie will be posted in the right column from now on....Where you can easily find it :) I will remove the the previous free e-pattern once I add a new one.....
Maybe this will make it easier to find :)
Hope you all have a wonderful day!!!
I am working on something new for Halloween......Hopefully I will be finished with it some time today :)
Until next time......have a great day!!!
Posted by Becky at 4:46 AM 3 comments
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Blog worthy
I just wanted to share this lady's website with you....She has made several of my patterns into finished goods & she has done an AWESOME job!!! primitiveraggedys.com
Thanks to Norma!!! :)
Posted by Becky at 4:27 AM 0 comments
Sunday, September 13, 2009
E-pattern special
******NEW E-PATTERN SALE....You pick your sale...Get 3 e-patterns for $10.00 OR 5 e-patterns for $15.00!!!!!! Hurry & get yours while you can at an awesome discounted price!! In order to receive the special just send me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com with a list of the e-patterns you want...Then I will send you an invoice for the amount through Paypal :)
Posted by Becky at 6:21 PM 1 comments
New Freebie!!!!
Here is a Halloween freebie for you!! have fun :)
Posted by Becky at 7:30 AM 2 comments
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Pumpkin Crow Pie listed on eBay!
Posted by Becky at 7:49 PM 1 comments
New e-pattern finished for Scarecrow Head Door Hanger!
I finished a new e-pattern for my scarecrow head door hanger! Be sure to check it out :)
You can get an instant download for it by clicking on it below and ordering through patternmart.com!
You can also find it on my website!!
TRP Primitive Grungy Halloween Fall Scarecrow Head With Crow Door Hanger Epattern
A new Tennessee Ridge Primitives design! ©09
You will received detailed instructions on how to ...
Price: US$8.25
Don't forget....E-pattern sale still going on....3 for $10! It will be ending SOON...so hurry and get e-patterns at a discounted price while you can :)
Have a WONDERFUL day!!!!!!!!
Posted by Becky at 6:20 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Frosted Pumpkin Patch Listed on eBay!!
Get your bid in.....9 grungy dirty frosted pumpkins!!!!! Look like they are still in the pumpkin patch with the first frost on them :)
Hope you like them...listed them on eBay tonight!!
Posted by Becky at 8:31 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Scarecrow Head Door hanger wreath just listed on eBay!
Posted by Becky at 9:00 PM 1 comments
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Witch doll listed on eBay!
I just listed this witch doll on eBay.....She has an old baby dress on for her dress :) I really love how she turned out :)
Hope you like her!!!!!!
Posted by Becky at 4:27 PM 2 comments
Friday, September 04, 2009
NEW e-pattern sale..........Get them while you can!!!! AWESOME low price!!!
3 e-patterns for $10.00!!!!!!!!!!
In order to get this e-pattern special, 1st thing you need to do is pick your e-patterns out that you want from my website at Tennessee Ridge Primitives ;)
Then send me an email at email@example.com.
I will then send you an invoice for the patterns through Paypal.......Or you can simply send me the money through paypal then email me your list of e-patterns and I will get them to you via email ASAP :)
Remember, do NOT use the shopping cart on my website....it will charge you full price for the e-patterns!!! And once it is processed through the shopping cart & paid for I won't be able to refund money....
Thanks a bunch :)
Have a great Labor Day weekend!!!!!!
Posted by Becky at 6:02 AM 1 comments
Thursday, September 03, 2009
29 Gifts.org
This site has made such an impact on me & the way I feel! It is TOTALLY AMAZING to GIVE!!!!
You would be so surprised at the way you feel if you just give ONE thing a day....and it doesn't have to mean that you go out and buy something & give it away....it means just simply GIVE.....you could give your place in line at the grocery store...You could send an old friend a card, or give some advise! If you get some time go check out the website...It is awesome & I hope you will sign up! IT IS FREE of course!!! :)
So if you get a free minute....check it out :)
WONDERFUL site!!
I think that we all could change for the better if we just learn to "give" and learn to receive as well...We can all make a change in the world if we start with ourselves :)
Just click on the graphic to go to the website....
Posted by Becky at 4:18 AM 0 comments


text:
Sept 10, 2013 – Femi Fani Kayode Calls Bianca Ojukwu A Jezebel As Dating War Turns Legal
The ongoing romance fight between ex-Nigeria's minister of aviation Chief Femi Fani Kayode and the widow of late Igbo leader, Bianca Ojukwu is getting serious.
Few days after Fani Kayode withdraws his romance comment, the now Nigeria's ambassador to Spain has started a new line of fight.
Bianca claims she is not satisfied with Femi's romance comment withdrawal and this has sparked a serious anger in Fani Kayode's camp.
Yesterday, FFK claims he is ready and able to fight Bianca legally and that she should get her attorney ready to confront him.
He also took to his Facebook page few hours ago calling Bianca Ojukwu a Jezebel.
He vows to fight Bianca and her supporters spiritually with the backing of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ.
Read his Facebook message titled An Ode to Jezebel below;
The Holy Bible says, "who is he that sayeth a thing and it cometh to pass when the Lord God of Hosts has commanded it not?" It says, "who can lay a charge before God's elect? It is Christ that justifies". It says "who can separate us from the love of the Lord" and that "in all these things we are more than conquerors". It says, "the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall". My God is awesome. He that is known as the Ancient of Days never sleeps and never fails. The battle belongs to Him.
Sit back and watch this show unfold for it was ordained before the oracles of time and there is a hidden and divine purpose for it. I never wanted it to be like this. I never asked for a fight and I did all I could to avoid it. I may have been indiscreet in my attempt to make a simple point but I am not a liar and neither will anyone brand me as one just to please their oriental constituency. I was taught to always avoid rancour, discord, war and conflict and to always seek the path of peace, especially when dealing with ladies. But when war is forced upon me and my integritry is put at stake we I will fight with everything that I have got to protect it and to defend myself. This is because truth is like a pearl that must never be allowed to be buried or shattered and I am a servant of truth.
By the time all this is over we will know who the liar is and whose God rules in the affairs of men. Meanwhile the one that is encouraging my adversary to take this ugly road to perdition and that is using her to try and discredit and silence me shall fail. This, by the grace and power of the God whose I am and the God whom I serve, shall surely come to pass.
In the meantime use all the power and influence that you have and use all your Jezebellian wiles. These are nothing before the Living God and the Lord shall meet you there. You have woken up a lion that never backs down and that has never lost a war- He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and He is with me. Unless I have told a lie about what transpired between us in the distant past, may God cause you and those that are encouraging you on this destructive course, to suffer the consequences of your lies and sheer wickedness. This because you have chosen to repay my good with evil.
I never thought FFK is a Christian… All the same both of them are adult and they should be more matured than this.
When is this romance fight going to settle?
If they're both in love with each other, why can't they go ahead as adults.
Bianca Ojukwu is a widow while Femi Fani Kayode is still married but sources claim they almost got married in the 80s.
The daughter of former Oyo Governor Kemi Omololu Olunloyo claims Bianca was a frequent visitor to Femi Fani Kayode's apartments in London back in the 80s.
Please guys settle this fight. Enough of washing your dirty linen in the public.
Please let the elders come and intervene in this matter. It's getting out of hands.


text:
I have a rather coarse vector map with polygons and want to calculate a (sufficiently) finer raster map defined by spatial extension and resolution. Every polygon of the vector map has a value associated that describes the percentage of pixels of the finer map inside the polygon that should be randomly set to 1. The fraction of pixels set to 1 should be as exact as possible.
Example: Polygon 7 is associated with a value of 20%. 50 pixels of the finer map would be (mainly) situated inside Polygon 7. Thus, 50*0.2=10 out of the 50 should be set to 1.
As a possible approach in GRASS, I found
v.to.rast with
use=cat to create a raster map from the polygons where the value indicates in which polygon they lie. Now, I would need to select randomly a percentage of the pixels with the same value.


text:
The smart brush head makes it all possible
The ultrasound is generated by the patented Piezo-Chip in the brush head. Each minute up to 96 million air oscillations are directly introduced to the ultrasonic toothpaste. Nano-bubbles clean your teeth thoroughly and take care of your gums without the need of brushing. Beautiful smooth teeth are the result. Bacteria are removed and the oral cavity remains fresh also a long time after cleaning.
Clinically tested by the University of Witten-Herdecke - Germany
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Peter Gängler – CEO oral medical department of the University Witten-Herdecke:
- "Unique dental cleaning without any brushing"
- "Removes the biofilms of the tooth plaque certain and thoroughly"
- "Completely prevents the risk of abrasive damage to teeth and roots"
- "Especially recommended for sensitive teeth"
- "Avoids gum injuries by abrasion-free application"
- "Supports the reduction of gingivitis with regular use"
- "Cleans teeth thoroughly and spares the gums without brushing"
- "No damage to dental enamel"
"The motionless dental care prevents tooth and gum irritations through a gentle application".
As usual, for the cleaning of interdental spaces we recommend tools from emmi®such as dental floss, interdental brushes and also mouth rinsing solutions.
Please note: The only ultrasonic attachments suitable for the emmi®-dent Platinum are emmi®-dent M2 / M4 / S2 / S4 and PM2 - Article no. 65107 / 65108 / 65110 / 65111 / 65123.
emmi®-dent – Innovative dental cleaning without scrubbing.


text:
Call closed 11:59pm 01/21/2011 PST.
At the inaugural edition of Strata, we're hosting our first ever Startup Showcase. Highlighting the startup ecosystem's creativity and variety, the Showcase will give you a chance to get your company in front of a global community of leaders in the technology industry-—as well as potential investors.
On Tuesday evening, February 1, we'll have approximately 15 data related startups demoing in one large room. If your company is chosen to participate, we'll provide you with a small table and room for two people to demo—-you'll bring a laptop (or two) and a founder (or two).
Strata attendees and a panel of judges from the investor community will have an hour to visit the demos and listen to your pitches-—we'll sound a chime every five minutes or so, letting people know it's time to circulate. As they walk around, attendees will vote on their favorite demos. At the end of the hour, the judges will announce their top picks along with the audience favorite. These winning startups will then each give a pitch and have an on-stage conversation with the judges.
For information on exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at the conference, contact Susan Young at email@example.com
Download the Strata Sponsor/Exhibitor Prospectus
View a complete list of Strata Contacts


text: You can also create your own custom tee, with our online t-shirt designer. We print them with our state of the art Digital printer. It is eco-friendly with water based inks. Browse our Design Ideas which are full of all sorts of Athletics Logos to get some ideas on creating your custom tee.


text:
Seth Meyers gets engaged to girlfriend Alexi Ashe, Ashley Benson is dating Pretty Little Liar costar Tyler Blackburn and Kylie Jenner celebrates July 4 with Jaden Smith: See Us Weekly's top 5 stories from Friday, July 5, in the roundup!
1. Seth Meyers Engaged to Girlfriend Alexi Ashe!
No joke — Saturday Night Live star Seth Meyers is engaged to be married! The future Late Night host, 39, recently popped the question to longtime girlfriend Alexi Ashe, a rep for the couple confirms exclusively to Us Weekly.
2. Ashley Benson Dating Pretty Little Liars Costar Tyler Blackburn!
Life is imitating art for Ashley Benson and Tyler Blackburn, who play teen sweethearts Hanna Marin and Caleb Rivers on ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars. In the July 15 issue of Us Weekly, multiple insiders confirm the costars are dating in real life. "He makes me laugh," Benson, 23 tells Us of her beau, 26. "I have such a crush!"
3. Kylie Jenner, Jaden Smith Celebrate 4th of July: Pictures
Talk about fireworks! Kylie Jenner and boyfriend Jaden Smith celebrated the 4th of July holiday together at her dad Bruce Jenner's beach house in Malibu Thursday.
4. John Mayer Addresses Rumors "Paper Doll" Is About Taylor Swift
Did John Mayer write "Paper Doll" about ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift? During a performance on the TODAY show Friday, July 5, the 35-year-old singer was asked to address rumors that his new single was written in response to the country singer's 2010 song, "Dear John."
5. Busy Philipps Shares First Photo of Baby Girl, Says "No Name Yet"
First mother-daughter photo! One day after giving birth to her second daughter, Busy Philipps shared an adorable baby photo on Twitter. The 34-year-old Cougar Town actress welcomed a baby girl with husband Marc Silverstein on Tuesday, July 2, her rep told Us Weekly. "I can confirm she gave birth to a baby girl on July 2 who weighed 8.5 pounds," the rep said. "Everyone is healthy and happy."
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!