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How Boko Haram Started – Their Sponsors & Leaders of The Jama'atul Ahlus Sunna Lid Da'awatis Jihad
Boko Haram is an Islamic Religious sect that's been in existence way before the beginning of their brutal politically-motivated attacks in Nigeria. naijagists.com
The History of Boko Haram In Nigeria
The Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, has admitted of being responsible for the rise of Boko Haram, saying it started as a cell of the sect, officially called Jama'atul Ahlus Sunna Lid Da'awatis Jihad but named Boko Haram … of the northern elite who, under the pretext of sponsoring youngsters to study in the Middle East, sent them to terrorist training camps.
They thought they could manipulate Yusuf but he refused to tow the line, and in the end he was executed by the police, he explained. 'Ifhe were alive, he would have spilled the beans on them. Nonetheless, we will reveal their identities at our convenience,' said Teshako, who is also known as Yusufiyya after the slain leader.
According to him, the clashes between Boko Haram and security forces two years ago were the result of police provocation. The police had shot dead two of its members and wounded 20 more after they followed mourners to the burial ceremony.
The armed uprising that followed affected four northern states and claimed the lives of at least 300 people. 'We are attacking police because they killed our brothers,' Ibrahim Khalil Zarkawi, a Boko Haram leader told Bashir Ibrahim Idris of RFI's Hausa service at the time. (www.naijan.com)
'There isn 't good leadership in Nigeria. Muslims are being killed daily and the authorities are doing nothing about it. These are the reasons why we are retaliating against the police, because they are the ones who killed our brothers.'
Troops stormed Boko Haram's stronghold in Maiduguri and Yusuf was arrested the following day after reportedly being found hiding in his parents-in-Iaw's house. Later, journalists were shown two films – one Jonathan during his inauguration in May, which was marred by a series of deadly bomb blasts apparently showing Yusuf making a confession, the other showing what appeared to be his body, riddled with bullets.
Boko Haram Leader Mohammed Yusuf Interrogation before his execution
Boko Haram History in Nigeria
Boko Haram is a controversial Nigerian militant Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Sharia law in the northern states of Nigeria.
Meaning of Boko Haram
The term "Boko Haram" comes from the Hausa word boko meaning "Animist, western or otherwise non-Islamic education" and the Arabic word haram figuratively meaning "sin" (literally, "forbidden").
Boko Haram Mission & Agenda
Boko Haram opposes not only Western education, but Western culture and modern science as well.
The group was founded in 2002 in Maiduguri by Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf. In 2004 it moved to Kanamma, Yobe State, where it set up a base called "Afghanistan", used to attack nearby police outposts, killing police officers. Yusuf is hostile to democracy and the secular education system, vowing that "this war that is yet to start would continue for long" if the political and educational system was not changed. (www.naijan.com)
Prior to the clashes, many Muslim leaders and at least one military official had warned the authorities about Boko Haram. Those warnings were reportedly ignored.
Boko Haram Attacks in Nigeria
In the state of Yobe, fighters reportedly "used fuel-laden motorcycles" and "bows with poison arrows" to attack a police station. On 30 July, allegations were made that Yusuf himself was killed by Nigerian security forces after being taken into custody.(www.naijan.com)
November 4, 2011 – Major Boko Haram bomb blast killed Over 60 people in Damaturu, Yobe state Nigeria
January 2010, the group struck again in the Nigerian state of Borno, killing four people in Dala Alemderi ward in Maiduguri metropolis.
September 7, 2010, Boko Haram freed over 700 inmates from a prison in Bauchi State.
December 2010, Boko Haram was blamed for a market bombing, following which 92 of its members were arrested by police.
Friday January 28, 2011, a gubernatorial candidate was assassinated, along with his brother and four police officers.
March 29, 2011, police "thwarted a plot to bomb an (ANPP) election rally" in Maiduguri, Borno State. The threat was blamed on Boko Haram. On April 1 (the day before the original date of Nigeria's legislative elections), suspected Boko Haram members attacked a police station in Bauchi . On April 9, a polling center in Maiduguri was bombed. On April 15, the Maiduguri office of the Independent National Electoral Commission was bombed, and several people were shot in a separate incident on the same day. Authorities suspected Boko Haram. On April 20, Boko Haram killed a Muslim cleric and ambushed several police officers in Maiduguri. On April 22, Boko Haram freed 14 prisoners during a jailbreak in Yola, Adamawa State (www.naijan.com)
Tuesday February 8, 2011, Boko Haram gave conditions for peace. The radicals demanded that the Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, should step down from office with immediate effect and also allow members to reclaim their mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. On 9th May 2011 Boko Haram rejected an offer for amnesty made by the governor-elect of Borno state, Kashim Shettima
Boko Haram was blamed for a series of bombings in northern Nigeria on May 29, 2011 that left 15 dead.
June 17, 2011, the group claimed responsibility for a bombing attack on the police force headquarters in Abuja that occurred the previous day. Officials believed that the attack was the first suicide bombing in Nigeria's history and that it specifically targeted Police Inspector-General Hafiz Ringim. (www.naijan.com)
Videos of Major Boko Haram Bombings in Nigeria
Boko Haram Sponsors
Top government officials are the sponsor of Boko Haram group in Nigeria. Few officials have been suspected but their names have not been released yet. – Read updated History of Boko Haram & Attacks Timeline In Nigeria


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Complete upper receiver assembly chambered in the classic 40 S&W pistol round. Includes one 20 round polymer magazine with last round bolt hold open feature. Standard with Picatinny flat-top upper receiver, heavy barrel and picatinny gas block - ready for installation of your optics.
Upper is 100% complete with bolt carrier assembly and charging handle. Ready to drop-on any standard AR15 lower receiver. Simply attach the upper and swap out to the 40 S&W magazine, and you are ready to shoot. Swap back and forth between calibers as fast as you can swap out the upper receiver and magazine.
This caliber conversion does not require the changing of hammers, triggers, buffers or buffer springs. No need to add in a magazine well adapter or mag well plug either. Designed to work with any standard, unmodified AR15 lower with A2 or collapsible stocks.
Other pistol calibers available: 9mm, 10mm and 45 ACP.
Don't forget extra magazines, and spare parts!
All Olympic Arms pistol caliber carbines and upper conversions are BLOW-BACK operated, and are NOT a delayed direct gas impingement system.
Additional Information

subset: commoncrawl


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This is a gradient that I recently did to get the neon out of my system before autumn set in here in Australia. I do a lot of metallic glitter gradients, but I've never done one with black and white - I really like the result! (I posted a tutorial a little while ago on my blog, on how to achieve this effect with a cotton bud, without too much of the clear glitter base making the tip of the mani fat.)
The black and white glitter is Peita's Polish Zebration. Coral is my favourite neon shade - I recently swatched my collection and found 12 very similar coral cremes, out of just under 500 in the total collection, which I think is a bit ridiculous! I used Face of Australia Show Off here, and it's possibly the most neon out of the corals (not as neon as some of my neon pinks though).
I always find corals really difficult to photograph, so this isn't entirely colour-accurate. But the formula of this was great, lovely and smooth. I love a good creme formula!
Like this? Click below to let us know!


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Lavanya Sankaran
Photo: © Anandi Chowriappa
About the Author
Lavanya Sankaran's work has been published in the Atlantic Monthly and the Wall Street Journal. She attended Bryn Mawr College and has worked in investment banking in New York and consulting in India. She lives in Bangalore, where she is currently at work on her first novel.


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- Calm. This is the internal part: Doing what centers and calms you in anticipation of a speech--which, for most folks, is the most unnatural of settings--can counterbalance anxiety. Too many speakers fail to take a few moments to breathe, stretch and center their focus before a talk. (Find a handy stairwell or hallway for this purpose.)
- Care. Are you well-rested? Hydrated? Fed? (I've had trainees faint in speaker training without breakfast, or get to foreign countries and find no available food before a talk--so tote protein bars, if you must, but fuel up.) Wearing comfortable shoes? Stretched out? Care of the speaker is a critical part of avoiding anxiety, in my view.
- Collected. We use this as a term for calm, but I mean collecting all the things you may need in advance of your speech: notes, text, handwritten cues on your speech, a box to stand on if you're shorter than the lectern, a Yellow Pages to prop up your text if you need it closer to your eyes...whatever. Gather your props, aids and helps ahead and you'll feel that much more prepared.
Let me ask you: When you speak, what's the 'opposite of anxiety?' Define it for us in the comments.


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I feel like the last school year just ended. Nope. That was an entire summer ago. Before summer school, swim lessons, China and surgery. And lots of other things. Yes those things will all be updated on the blog. In time.
Anyways, Emerson started kindergarten last week and Ashton started his preschool class today. So, the school year is officially underway. Kindergarten is amazing. Emy loves it. She is excited to go in the morning and happy when she comes home. At least for the first hour or so. And then we are in the meltdown/exhaustion phase. We are definitely still in a transitional phase getting used to the early mornings and long days. Bless her heart, some days she just cries for no reason. Okay, not some days, every day. Since school started. She is just so excited, exhausted and overwhelmed all at the same time. I know that, "this too shall pass."
Ashton started preschool today. This is his third year at UCC. We love that place. The extra sweet thing about this year is that he has Miss Joy. She is the same teacher Emerson had when I was very pregnant with Ash. So, Joy has known him since before he was born:) He is an old pro at school. He is comfortable with UCC and Miss Joy already. So when I dropped him off this morning amongst the first day jitters of others, he just gave me a hug and yelled, "Bye Mommy" in his most exaggerated tone. And when I picked him up this afternoon we weren't even out of the building before he said, "today was awesome, mommy".
So, now to the pictures...This is Emerson and Jaylee the night before they both started kindergarten. We celebrated these big girls with dinner out and a barbie cake, of course. And we sang, "Happy kindergarten to you" before eating cake. It was precious when the other tables around us clapped:) Unfortunately these two are at different schools. They always have been but this year is different. They don't have afternoons or a couple days a week off. So, we will have to work extra hard to get them together to play!
Playing in his class. Standing by his cubby and being silly outside school. And yes, we brought Miss Joy a Starbucks treat on the first day. It isn't homemade, but it is something:)


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2/Lt 30 Jan 1930: Lt 30Jan 1933: with Iraq Levies 1936-8: Capt 1August 1938: served in Palestine 1938-9: wounded in Crete 1941:wounded again at Tobruk 1941: and rescued from the Mediterranean by HMS Farndale on torpedoing of SS Chakdina Dec 1941: GSO2 War Office 1944: Major 1946: T/Lt Col C/O 2nd Bn 1947: GSO1 (Intelligence) Far East Land Forces Singapore 1948: Lt Col 1950 Commanding Highland Brigade Trg Centre Fort George 1950: Commanding 2nd Bn on reformation 1952: GSO1 HQ Scottish Command 1953: Col The Highland Brigade an T/Col 1954: retired as Hon Col 1957.
My Buttons I collected so far.
Interesting is maybe the very small one of the Late Brass ones.
Major P. told me that it is a 13mm Greatcoat Button, worn on the back Cut of the Coat.
Also the one next to it.
It's a Gaunt Montreal, so a BW of Canada.
Has to be moved when I found the "real" BW Button.
The 1st one in a Row is a Screw Fit Button for the Shoulder Knots.
Just have to find the other ones missing.
Found this last week while sorting some Old Boxes.
Nice item, spoon is by William Yates assayed in Sheffield with date letter for 1953.
The 2nd Bn were based in Dortmund at this time, the 1st being in Kenya.
Thanks for the Info!
found it in a Box from my old Shop, so I didn't had it in my Hands for over 12 yrs.
Something I found after 10 yrs. in a box in my storage.
Nothing exciting, but a Part of a soldiers life.
Now I need the Content to complete it.


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$ 99.00
The oxidized center and interesting bead makes this piece a very nice addition to a collection of bangles. 16 grams
We do our best to inspect each piece, but on a rare occasion a defective piece or finish does get by us. If you receive a piece that is defective, we will replace it for an identical piece. Please contact us immediately to report the flaw. We will issue a return authorization as well as a credit of up to $5.50 to reimburse you for return postage, via USPS First Class.
Otherwise, if you are disappointed or in any other way unsatisfied with your purchase, we will offer an exchange for store credit to use towards a future purchase. Please contact us via email within 15 days of original delivery to request an exchange and give us a description of the problem or a reason for your exchange. We do not offer refunds but we will work closely with you to make it right.
Items returned for exchange must be unworn and in their original condition, or the exchange will be rejected. Do not ship your item until you receive confirmation that we will honor your exchange. We will not refund or reimbursement for shipping/handling charges. Returns must be sent by purchaser via USPS First Class or more expeditious method.
Most retail orders ship within 2 business days of order. We ship from Northern Indiana, so in most cases your domestic shipment will be delivered within 3-5 business days. If you are in a hurry please email or call us and we will do our best to accommodate you.
We use USPS, Flat Rate Boxes unless otherwise directed. USPS is fast, reliable, cheap, and is now trackable within the United States. We will email you a tracking number when your package ships, whatever the shipping method.
International Shipping: We do ship internationally, but there are a few things you should know. You will NOT be able to track your package past the United States border. Shipping methods that provide door-to-door tracking are INCREDIBLY expensive. Once the package leaves the United States, there can be as long as 2-3 weeks lag time until your package is delivered. You, as the recipient, are responsible for any importation taxes due on the package, which can sometimes be expensive. We have no control over this extra cost. Packages will be marked Merchandise/Jewelry. We will not state that a package is a gift in order to help you avoid these fees.
© 2020 Sterling Silver from Taxco •
Elkhart, IN 46516 • firstname.lastname@example.com • 574.622.0055 • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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I was knocked on my arse last week with a sore throat monster and fell behind in both work and homework - not to mention that as soon as I felt better, I had a wedding to attend that was a 7 hour drive away! No regrets honestly, as I got to see one of my closest friends tie the knot with the most loving, albeit clumsy, sentimental pile of husband I have ever seen ;) I also made them special WEDDING MUPPETS!
Here are pics of them as the glue was drying in the hotel room, minutes before we had to go to the ceremony! Last-Minute-Laberis strikes again!
But in the end they held up and were cherished, just as I wanted them to be, and clearly I earned some karma, as that bouquet just fell right into my hands.
So while I continue to play catch-up, here are some kind of old thumbnails I did for the exclusive alapaca print that we gave away with the book sales at APE. If you're heading to CTN-X in a couple of weeks then you have a chance to grab one, as the final, secret print isn't available for sale by itself. We're sneaky that way ;)
If you can't make it to the Expo, then you can still buy a copy of the book online! I've got some prints up for sale as well. Have a look at the new storefront!
With that, I leave you with a self portrait of me and my fuzzy children. All 7 of them. Rocket is there, she's just tucked away, as she likes to be.
Till next time!


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ENGS 13: Virtual Medicine and Cybercare
There is a revolution in technology that is occurring in healthcare. This new technology will dramatically change how healthcare is delivered in the future.
This course will cover topics related to the virtual human, created from bits. This will include virtual reality, augmented reality and datafusion, computer simulation, advanced 3D and 4D imaging techniques, the operating room of the future, minimally invasive surgery, space medicine, tele-operations, tele-medicine and tele-surgery, Internet 2 and cyberspace, artificial intelligence and intelligent agents applied to medicine, and the National Library of Medicine virtual human project.
We will also discuss the FDA approval of computer simulators, robotic surgeons, and the ethics of robots doing surgery. In addition, we will discuss the medical library of the future, teleconferencing, and the use of interactive media in healthcare education. We will also discuss computerized patient records (CPR) and clinical information systems. Enrollment is limited to 48 students.


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The Boston Archdiocese has admitted for the first time that Irish sex abuse priests worked in its diocese.
The priests, named as Brendan Smyth, Dennis Murphy and Joseph Maguire, were transferred from Ireland to the U.S. in what critics say was little more than an attempt to insulate the priests from scrutiny and possible prosecution.
Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley said that the trio did, at one time, work in the Boston Archdiocese.
But he said he was unaware of any abuse allegations against the three men during their time in Boston or before that.
Well that's alright then.
Is it?
The absence of allegations given the subject matter is hardly reassuring. The Archdiocese, which only released the names under pressure from the activist organization BishopAccountability.org, needs to do more investigation.
Terry McKiernan, for one, from BishopAccountability.org, wants more details.
"It's a bit of surprise and not really a surprise," McKiernan said. "It seems to me a shame that this is still the way things are working. Surely the Boston Archdiocese by now should know it needs to come forward, it needs to come clean about situations like this."
BishopAccountability.org had urged Cardinal Sean O'Malley to give them the names of Irish priests who had served in the area and had been accused of sex abuse in Ireland.
Their request was prompted by the publication of the Murphy report in Ireland which revealed that Dublin church leaders shielded pedophile priests between 1975 and 2004.
The group wants to know if the same thing was happening here.
They maintain a detailed database which seems to suggest that the Irish church kept exporting monsters to the U.S.
One such monster was Brendan Smyth.
Smyth masqueraded as a man of a the cloth in Ireland and the US from the 1940s right up until the early '90s.
As we now know, he was no man of the cloth.
No one knows how many children he preyed upon, but what we do know is that his order, the Norbertines, went to great lengths to cover up his crime.
They moved him from parish to parish whenever any allegations were made against him, and shipped him out to America when they needed to.
It is beyond belief that the man discovered his real faith crossing the Atlantic and became a true man of the cloth.
The Boston Church — and the rest of the American church — needs to do more to investigate whether these men continued their abuse in America and who, if anyone, knew about it.


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Oliver Hoffmann / Alamy via Travel + Leisure
The Olympic stadium in Munich held up to 80,000 people for the 1972 opening and closing ceremonies, track-and-field, equestrian, soccer, and modern pentathlon events.
Slideshow: See the coolest Olympic stadiums
But the stadium is designed to outlast the 2012 Summer Games: the lightweight, ecofriendly structure will be reduced to a more functional size (25,000 seats) as part of the Olympic Park, complete with gardens and a riverfront promenade.
London's building boom is typical for host cities eager to make a big impression on the world stage. But the coolest stadiums make an enduring impression, not only through architectural flair and historic importance, but also by hosting events, guided tours and sports activities that let visitors get a taste of Olympic glory. In Beijing, for instance, the cutting-edge Bird's Nest stadium now attracts wintertime athletes to its indoor ski resort.
Munich, which prior to the 1972 Olympics had no major sporting venues, transformed a rubble wasteland into a 210-acre complex that's since attracted more than 157 million visitors. You can scale the stadium's heights on the Roof Climb tour and then choose your own adventure on the way down: rappelling or ziplining. A more leisurely tour of Mexico City's stadium, meanwhile, reveals murals by Diego Rivera.
With the cost and complexity of these colossal wonders, it's no surprise that things don't always go as planned. The now iconic Montreal stadium, with the world's tallest inclined tower, was only partially finished in time for the 1976 Olympics. A funicular takes tourists up to observation floors for spectacular views of the Laurentian Mountains. But they come at a hefty price: the stadium is one of the world's most expensive, coming in at $1.4 billion in today's dollars.
The lead-up to the 2004 Athens Olympics may be the most infamous boondoggle, and the city's coolest Olympic venue remains its first: the white-marble Panathenaic Stadium dating to the first modern Olympics in 1896. Founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin presided over the unveiling, saying: "A living stadium has not been seen for centuries." Sports arenas of the type we're now familiar with had died out with the Greek and Roman empires; in the following centuries, most sporting events took place on fields before temporary grandstands.
The Panathenaic Stadium — where you can jog on the same track used by the first modern Olympians—was just the beginning of the stadium's comeback.
More from Travel + Leisure


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Last edited: 30 April 2017
In order to combat the effects of deforestation in developing countries, where the majority of cooking fires are fueled by wood, New Energy Works Timberframers founded the Nicaraguan Solar Oven Project.
New Energy Works partnered with the local Victor-Farmington Rotary Club to bring the Nicaraguan Solar Oven Project to the needy people of El Sauce, Nicaragua. Many local area Rotarians have donated to the cause in addition to the New Energy Works and Rotary International contributions. The low-tech devices allow families to cook their food using the power of the sun, reducing the need to gather firewood and eliminating harmful smoke fumes while helping slow deforestation. To date, approximately 500 ovens have been distributed to families in El Sauce.
New Energy Works brought on board a Nicaraguan Project Coordinator, Yacarely Mairena (recent graduate of the University of Managua). She is bi-lingual and already working in the El Sauce region for its greater good. Yacareli was a key component to our efforts, particularly during distribution of the ovens.
Project summaryEdit
- Reduce deforestation: in order to cook many, many families must collect a large amount of wood fuel, depleting forests & habitats.
- Eliminate respiratory illnesses suffered by families, mostly women and children, cooking over open fires.
- Families, especially children, spend large amounts of time, often away from school, collecting wood for their fires.
- Solar ovens reduce deforestation, thereby saving habitats, limiting soil erosion, allowing trees to continue to filter CO2 .
- Solar ovens are healthier because there's no smoke.
Jonathan Orpin, President of New Energy Works Timberframers, shares one of his first experiences when visiting Nicaragua. This was the inspiration for New Energy Works Solar Oven project:
The story goes like this:
"Maxine, Jake River, and I were hiking on Ometepe, an island in Nicaragua,when we came upon a young boy who was chopping at wood with an old, dull machete.
He was upset to see us, because we were in a small preserve (looking for howler monkeys, and dang did they find us!) and he knew he shouldn't be there. The boy should have been in school, not stealing wood. Turns out he was collecting lena, or firewood. We found out that the collection and use of firewood for cooking is a colossal mess of unreal proportions in the developing world.
Where do I begin: collecting firewood is the major cause of deforestation in many countries, and therefore the cause of habitat loss, groundwater recession, erosion, ozone depletion and... okay, forget the environment, let's talk about people: the children stay out of school to gather it, scarce family resources are used to buy it, people get sick breathing its smoke. Lung desease is the second largest woman killer, I've been told. I didn't discover all this, but rather some amazing people have been on the topic for a while. Solar Cookers International is great, with info and technology exchange going on from Calcutta to Equador. Then there two organizations that are making and distributing: Sun Ovens Int'l, which make a personal size and the Villager (!) and the Solar Oven Society which makes a less expensive but still good little unit called the Sport. They're similar groups. You could say they are competitiors in the race to do good here. I've tried out both smaller units up here in temperate-ville, and they work wonderfully on a sunny day.
Now we really wanted to get moving, as the need was immediate. But as I told my friend Jeff recently, immediately takes longer in Nicaragua. Sandinistas don't talk to Conservatives who don't trust Sandinistas. There's a new mayor, and new papers to sign. etc. etc. and thus our decision to hire our own staff member, on the ground. This works too, and we should have thought of it months ago. Part of our goal was job creation, after all.
We chose El Sauce because it has a long history of being a sister city to Rochester, NY. Cuidad Hermana is a program originally put together in solidarity with the Nicaraguan revolution. Now it's got a school, a clinic, a program for visiting college kids from the local State University of Geneseo, and more. They call their program Pregnant Cow, for good reason.
Our goal in the companies is to give 10% of pre-tax earnings back into our community or perhaps an environmental organization. This is an interesting tiger by its very needy tail. (To date over 290 ovens have been distributed to families in El Sauce.)"
Twitter feedEdit
New Energy Works Timberframers
1180 Commercial Drive
Farmington, New York 14425
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/newenergyworks
Instagram: @newenergyworks


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From Our Blog ...
Weddings, Family Reunions, Honeymoons, Romantic Retreats, Friends Get-A-WayJanuary 16th, 2010
CASA DE LA SIRENA, TRONCONES, MEXICO (Ixtapa – Zihuatanejo)
Trip Advisor's #1 International Travel Destination for 2010
What a season! There is so much going on in Troncones these days! This winter update will catch you up on the latest comings and goings in our village and from us at Casa de la Sirena.
Most all of you that have spend even 2 nights here in Troncones will remember Anita LaPointe, the heart and soul of our little village, and owner of Tropic of Cancer Beach Club. If you spent 3 nights here chances are she helped you with something. Anita generously touched each of us and passed away in June before one of the most important construction projects here in our little village had even begun. Our Ejido is building a Zocalo (town square) which we are all very excited about. Friends of Anita is raising funds to build the Kiosko (gazebo) in her honor. It will be the focal point of the Zocalo and the central location for village weddings, quincieras, kermes (fundraisers)…..a perfect gathering place. We need to raise almost $50,000 USD and one of our projects will be a 2011 Troncones wall calendar. Please send any photos you are willing to donate for possible use to firstname.lastname@example.com. We need to have them no later than Monday, February 1st. PLEASE HELP US MAKE THIS HUGE CONTRIBUTION TO THE VILLAGE!
This is HUGE news for us! The state is building a clinic due to open in a few months here in the village! It has 6 examining rooms and will be fully staffed. This is such wonderful news for locals as well as our guests. We also have a new farmacia in the village.
Now is the time to make reservations for the 2010 – 2011 holiday season. As all of you many time returnee guests know, usually the most popular accommodations are rented for the next year before the middle of January. We expect this year will follow last and book a little slower due to the economy, but because the economic indicators are more positive now and the attention attracted from the TripAdvisor.com designation, the beach will fill up quickly. Don't miss the opportunity to really relax and enjoy the holidays with your friends and family in the perfect setting, the beachfront compound at Casa de la Sirena. Take the stress out of your holidays and kick back with us on the beach. We still have some availability. Come on! You know you want to! Don't wait until it's too late J And remember, TripAdvisor.com chose Troncones as the #1 2010 international travel destination!!!! Not vacations in Cancun, Cabo (or Cabo San Lucas) or Puerto Vallarta, or even Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo….but Troncones!
The beachfront Sirena compound is about as good as it gets for group gatherings. We have lots of great gathering places, but each bungalow/mini villa is its' own island offering spacious retreat and privacy. Cooks services are always an option at our compound, but because we do not have a restaurant or bar, you will not be disturbed by the masses and you won't have a tab to settle when you leave! Perfectly located in the middle of the 3 mile stretch of Troncones Beach, but away from the "commercial" end of the beach, we are within easy walking distance of everything in the village and on the beach. The restaurants and bars are minutes away…..away being the key word!
CASA DE LA SIRENA COMPOUND Updates
We have installed 4 additional beach palapas (straw and wood style umbrellas) on the beach right in front of the Mini Villas. So, with the existing ones in front of the private villa, if all our guests use them at the same time, each room has their own! Same with our incredible comfy cushioned pool lounge chairs. The pool umbrellas have been redone in Sunbrella colors that just make the pool a happier place to be! Add an umbrella drink and you're good for the day!
The bungalows and private villa have been updated during the past season. The cushions are a happy tropical mix of colors. The neutral bedding along with the new locally handmade decorator pillows make the suites so comfortable that partners have been known to have to beg their "other half" to come out of the rooms J And kids, forget it. They want to spend all their time indoors studying now. (BIG HA!)
We had a huge turtle year this past season. I never remember so many babies. Roberto's Bistro was releasing sometimes 1000 at a time. Not to mention the ones hatching on the beach and making a run for it. And the whale shows this year have been phenomenal. We are so fortunate to be able to experience the wonders of this part of the world and share it with so many of our guests that appreciate these gifts.
Our staff is still performing their magic making the compound more beautiful and lush every day and our guests feel more like this is their 2nd home than ever. Humberto, Antonio, Maria, Veronica and Victoria join Mike and I in welcoming you into our home for a special retreat from your "real" world.
Something going on here. We have never had so many 1st time guests get the bug for surfing lessons and go do it and fall in love with it! 2010 must be the year of the surfer. And, the Sirena compound is a perfect home base for that….ask our friends at www.swellmagnet.com. Book now for surfing season…..a great family summer vacation!
Adios from all of us at the Casa de la Sirena compound. We would love to hear from you and so appreciate any photos you can share with us either for calendar project or our website scrapbook.
Come see us soon!
CASA DE LA SIRENA, Troncones, (Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo) Mexico
"Where the sole hits the sand"


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Competing for Capital: The Diffusion of Bilateral Investment Treaties, 1960-2000
MetadataShow full item record
Over the past forty-five years, bilateral investment treaties (BITs) have become the most important international legal mechanism for the encouragement and governance of foreign direct investment. The proliferation of BITs during the past two decades in particular has been phenomenal. These intergovernmental treaties typically grant extensive rights to foreign investors, including protection of contractual rights and the right to international arbitration in the event of an investment dispute. How can we explain the widespread adoption of BITs? We argue that the spread of BITs is driven by international competition among potential host countries—typically developing countries—for foreign direct investment. We propose a set of hypotheses that derive from such an explanation and develop a set of empirical tests that rely on network measures of economic competition as well as more indirect evidence of competitive pressures on the host to sign BITs. The evidence suggests that potential hosts are more likely to sign BITs when their competitors have done so. We find some evidence that coercion and learning play a role, but less support for cultural explanations based on emulation. Our main finding is that the diffusion of BITs is associated with competitive economic pressures among developing countries to capture a share of foreign investment. We are agnostic at this point about the benefits of this competition for development.


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CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Trion:Z, which bills itself as the leader in magnetic/negative-ionic sportswear, has signed PGA Tour player Rickie Fowler to a longterm endorsement agreement, company officials have announced.
Fowler becomes the fourth PGA Tour player to sign with the company in 2010, joining LPGA Tour player Brittany Lincicome, Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa.
A California native, Fowler at Oklahoma State University, where he was selected to two consecutive U.S. Walker Cup Teams, was a two-time All American and won the 2007 Ben Hogan Award as the nation's top freshman.
For 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008, Fowler was the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world. In 2009, Fowler carded two top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, and now has begun his first full season on the PGA Tour.
Experts on the business and game of golf. The best coaching tips and latest golf news delivered straight to you. Sign Up to get the latest.


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- Email:
- email@example.com
- Primary Discipline:
- Engineering Faculty Web page
- Keywords:
- biostatistics, genomics, global health, health care delivery, imaging, prevention
Dr. Nehorai is a professor in the Division of Biology and Biomedical Studies (DBBS), Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering, and Director of the Center for Sensor Signal and Information Processing at Washington University. He is interested in the optimization of health care delivery. Dr. Nehorai's research includes work in statistical signal processing and imaging with applications to security, defense, biomedicine, energy, and the environment. Applications for his work include remote sensing, radar, sonar, biologically inspired sensing, genomics, and biomedical imaging.


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Life insurance can be a complicated topic under the best circumstances. However, things can quickly become more complicated than you bargained for. Recently, our consumer advocates received an inquiry about what happens to a life insurance policy payout if the person who is named as the beneficiary has died.
In Washington, the life insurance payment would go to the beneficiary/ies named on the policy. If the person named as beneficiary has died, the money would go to the policyholder's estate. The person named as the estate's representative would distribute the money in accordance with the terms of the policyholder's will. If there are no terms laid out in the policyholder's will, the designated personal representative is responsible for deciding how to distribute the assets. The personal representative is obligated to act in the best interest of the estate rather than his own best interest.
Insurance companies are not obligated to follow the terms of a policyholder's will and typically refuse seeing a person's will even if someone offers to share it because they don't want the responsibility of trying to split an insurance payout among multiple parties.
However, many consumers do not have a will or don't have enough assets to require the estate to go through probate. In that case, the life insurance company would send the money to the Washington state Department of Revenue's unclaimed property.
Another factor is whether the consumer was married and living in a community property state at the time s/he bought the policy. In community property state, including Washington, spouses are entitled to 50 percent of a life insurance policy's proceeds, even if the spouse isn't listed as a beneficiary of the policy.
If the policy lists more than one beneficiary and one or more has died at the time of the policy's proceeds are claimed, there's a chance the decision will be made by a court.
- Review your insurance policies periodically to take a look at your beneficiaries.
- Review your will periodically to take a look at the terms.
- If you don't have a will, make one. You can use an attorney or you can find free will templates online. If you do your own will, Washington state law requires that you get it notarized or have two people witness you signing it. It doesn't need to be filed until after you die, and it's a good idea to give your personal representative(s) a copy along with your heirs. It's also a good idea to keep a copy for yourself somewhere safe that is not at your home, in case of a natural disaster or fire. Do not keep the only copy of your will in a safe, because your heirs likely will need a court order to open your safe to see your will.
If you have a complicated estate or property holdings, it is best to consult an attorney to make sure your wishes are documented.


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From Wikimedia ZA
Revision as of 09:59, 5 January 2013 by LouriePieterse (Talk | contribs)
To enable us to plan our work for 2013 and 2014, we need a full day session with as many board members as possible present.
Meeting Planner
- Date: 12 January 2013
- Time: 10:00 - 20:30
- Venue: Cape Town (venue TBC)
Introduction of members and guests
Review and approval of agenda
Approval of previous meeting minutes (2012-11-17-Minutes)
Decision on Wiki Indaba 2013 and Wikimania 2014.
Start planning for WLM 2013 (including report on WLM 2012)
Discuss financial compensation for directors taking time off work to work on projects.
Approve new director (will solicit applications before meeting)
Wikimedia Chapters Association representative nominations
South African Wikipedias portal
Next Meeting
- Dumisani (talk) 19:32, 10 November 2012 (SAST)
- Slashme (talk) 12:21, 12 November 2012 (SAST)
- MADe (talk) 10:23, 23 December 2012 (SAST)
Recorded and ratified minutes of this meeting can be found at 13-01-12-Minutes.


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Diabetes is a condition that affects how insulin is produced and used
in the body. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. A person who has
diabetes either does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use it
properly. Over time, this condition can accelerate hardening and narrowing
(atherosclerosis) of the coronary arteries. This results
in coronary artery disease.
People who have diabetes are 4 times more likely to have coronary artery disease than people who do not have diabetes.1 People who have diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to die from coronary artery disease than people who do not have diabetes.2
If you have diabetes and coronary artery disease, you can help lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke by managing your diabetes and having a healthy lifestyle, which includes being active, taking medicines to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and not smoking.3
CitationsGreenland P, et al. (2010). 2010 ACCF/AHA guideline for assessment of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 56(25): e50–e103.Roger VL, et al. (2011). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2012 Update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 125(1) e2–e220.Smith SC, et al. (2011). AHA/ACCF secondary prevention and risk reduction therapy for patients with coronary and other atherosclerotic vascular disease: 2011 update: A guideline from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation. Circulation, 124(22): 2458–2473.
Last Revised:
April 6, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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Buying & serving organic foods helps the environment, but are they safer to eat? Are they healthier or more nutritious? As organic foods become more prolific, operators are asking these questions to see if these foods will work for them.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic foods account for only 2% of the U.S. market. But the market has been rapidly growing, as much as 20% annually nationwide over the past decade.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) reports organic products now total more than $10 billion in annual consumer sales. However, organic foods can cost 10% to 100% more than conventional foods. Are they worth it?
Organic standardsIn 2002, USDA set national standards for domestic and imported foods to be certified "organic" based on how they are grown or raised. The regulations prohibit use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers for at least three years before harvest of organic crops. Organic does not mean pesticide-free, since natural (e.g., sulfur, copper, plant extracts) and some synthetic pesticides are still allowed.
Use of irradiation, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and sewage sludge (for fertilizer) for crops, and growth hormone and antibiotics for farm animals, is prohibited. Livestock must be raised on 100% organic (pesticide-free) feed and have access to the outdoors.
There are no "organic" standards for fish. Be careful; seafood marked organic may be farmed and contain contaminants like mercury.
Organic farming uses methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment by consferving water and soil, recycling animal waste, releasing fewer chemicals (creating less pollution), improving soil fertility (creating less erosion), promoting crop diversity (crop rotation), and protecting farm workers, wildlife and livestock from potentially harmful pesticides (e.g., using biological pest control like beneficial insects).
Food safetyOrganic foods do not guarantee safety or purity. These foods can be spoiled or contaminated with bacteria like E. coli or salmonella that can cause illness or death. Proper food handling and thorough cooking are just as essential for organic foods like meats and eggs as for conventional foods. Organic produce must be washed well.
Organic products packaged without preservatives will spoil faster. Refrigerate and/or use them quickly. Freeze organic meats cured without nitrates or nitrites.
Studies show organic foods contain less pesticide residues than conventional foods, yet there may be residues from chemicals used years before. Also, cross-contamination may occur from synthetic pesticides carried by wind, rain, ground water or soil from other farms. Low residue levels pose minimal health risk. The health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables (either organically or conventionally grown) daily outweigh the potential risks of pesticides.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a public watchdog and promoter of organic foods, recommends buying organic (due to high pesticide residues in non-organic) for the following 12 fruits and vegetables: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.
Nutritional value:Organic crops compare favorably in taste and appearance to conventional crops. But research shows organic foods may not be nutritionally superior or healthier than conventional foods. Processed organic foods (e.g., candy, soda, crackers,desserts, snacks, cereals and frozen dinners) may still be high in calories, fat and sugar and low in fiber.
For example, although organic potato chips don't contain unhealthy trans fats or many food additives, they still are not nutritious.
Plants can't distinguish between organic and synthetic fertilizers. Fertilizers must be broken down to nurture crops. Nutrient content depends on many other factors including plant genetics, variety and maturity, climate, soil quality, growing region, handling and storage methods. Locally grown produce may be fresher and more nutritious than food shipped cross-country.
Some studies show organic produce contains more high-quality protein, minerals, Vitamin C and phytochemicals (plant substances that may help prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease) such as lycopene (e.g., tomatoes) and phenols (e.g., strawberries, corn). Organic crops may also contain fewer nitrates, which can be toxic if consumed in excessive amounts.


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Carnival of the Recipes #175
New Year's Day and New Year's Eve Traditions
Cooking for New Year's Day and New Year's Eve tends to be a random affair punctuated by comfort food and easy to prepare meals to be eaten at parties and in front of the television.
One of the most well-known traditions is that Black-eyed peas are traditionally eaten on New Year's Day, often with collard greens or mustard greens. The tradition indicates that the eating of black eyed peas will bring good luck and fortune.
With that in mind, we have a couple of Black Eyed Peas Recipes submitted by various members of the Carnival of the Recipes.
Shawn Lea presents her Recipe for good luck in the new year with … Stewed Black-Eyed Peas posted at Everything And Nothing.
Famous Recipes presents new year's eve recipes – New Year's Eve Black-Eyed Peas Recipe | World Famous Recipes posted at Famous Recipes.
And here are a couple of more Black Eyed Pea Recipes for good measure:
Black-Eyed Peas with Garlic and Kale Recipe
1 1/2 lbs. kale, washed and drained
1 T. olive or other vegetable oil
1 T. chopped fresh garlic, or more to taste Pinch of dried red pepper
2 C. canned or cooked black-eyed peas
1 T. cider vinegar, or to taste
Pull the kale leaves from the tough stems. Discard the stems and chop the leaves into one-inch pieces. Place about two inches of water in a large pot and heat to boiling. Add the kale, cover and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes.
Drain. Reserve the water for soup, if desired. In a large non-stick skillet, combine the oil and garlic. Cook the garlic over low heat, stirring, until it begins to sizzle, about two minutes. Add the peas and red pepper and cook until blended, stirring, about three minutes. Add the kale and stir to blend over low heat. Add the cider vinegar just before serving. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Serves 6.
Black Eyed Peas with Ham
Eating black eyed peas on New Year's Eve is supposed to bring you luck, or so says Southern tradition. Why leave it to chance when you can cook up a delicious pot of black eyed peas instead?
Cooking black eyed peas at a low simmer instead of a boil will keep the skins from bursting and give the dish a better appearance. Also add salt after cooking is complete as it can make the beans tough.
3 1/2 C canned or frozen (and thawed) black-eyed peas thawed
3 C chicken stock or canned low-salt broth
4 oz finely chopped ham
1 C onion, chopped
2 T balsamic or red wine vinegar
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp (more to taste) crushed red pepper
pepper to taste
Serves 6
Bring all ingredients to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
And now for the rest of the New Year's Eve and New Years Day Holiday Traditional Recipes
Michele presents Sausage and Cabbage Casserole posted at Meanderings.
Slow Cooker Recipes presents Slow Cooker Recipes – Crockpot Scallop Potato-Tomato Pot posted at Slow Cooker Recipes.
Bill presents Surprise Dessert posted at Recipes – World Famous Recipes.
Carl Chapman presents The Best Turkey You Ever Ate! posted at Confessions of an Executive Restaurant Recruiter.
Laura Williams presents Chocolate Extract Coffee posted at Laura Williams' Musings.
Famous Recipes presents Vanilla Cream Frosting posted at Famous Recipes.
Diabetic Recipes presents Diabetic Recipes – Vegetable-Barley Pilaf posted at Diabetic Recipes.
Crock Pot Recipes presents Chili-Cheese Taco Dip posted at Crock Pot Recipes.
Kevin P Menard presents Midnight Meat Pie aka Tourtierre posted at technogypsy.
Martin Lindeskog presents EGO: PIZZA SLICE posted at EGO.
Kevin P Menard also presents some traditional recipes left over from last week … Holy Supper Recipes – Pirogi, Pagachi, Mushroom Barley Soup, & Bobalky posted at technogypsy.
Easter Recipes presents Blueberry Dumplin's posted at Easter Recipes.
Thelly presents Chicken Recipes – Chicken Biryiani Recipe posted at Chicken Recipes.
Famous Recipes presents Peanut Busters posted at Famous Recipes.
Marsha Hudnall presents Healthy Recipe: Tomato Basil Squares posted at A Weight Lifted.
Pancake Recipes presents Pancake Recipes – Deli-Cakes posted at Pancake Recipes.
Sarah presents Historic recipe for homemade PB cups! posted at SARAHSPY.
Akumakann Recipes presents Amaretto Almonds posted at Akumakann Recipes.
PabloPabla presents Chinese Stewed Duck posted at Hochiak! Delicious Asian Food.
Turkey Recipes presents Turkey Tamale Pie posted at Turkey Recipes.
Thai Recipes presents Vegetarian Thai Red Curry with Eggplant posted at Thai Recipes.
Free Recipes presents Confetti Appetizers – New Year Recipe posted at Free Recipes Online.
Recipes presents Saturday Night Chicken posted at Recipes.
World Famous Recipes presents Red Velvet Cake Recipes – Velvet Flag Cake Recipe | World Famous Recipes posted at World Famous Recipes.
Famous Recipes presents Crazy Crust Apple Pie posted at Famous Recipes.
Next week The Carnival of the Recipes will be hosted at TechnoGypsy and will be dedicated to "Russian Christmas or 12th Night."
You can send recipes or links to email@example.com by noon CST on Saturday.
For a line-up of future Carnivals, visit our Carnival of the Recipes page on Blog Carnival.
You can submit to the next Carnival of the Recipes using this form


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A viral video, trending topic, Twitter hashtag and free app of the day.
Viral video: James Cameron dives to Earth's deepest spot
Free app of the day: RunKeeper, from Nike
Now that the weather is warming, this app for the iPhone and Android is great for runners and joggers embracing the outdoors. It uses your phone's GPS capabiltiies to track your route, pace and calories burned. You can share your map online and add your treadmill runs manually.
Trending topic: 'Mad Men'
"Mad Men" is trending today because after an 18-month hiatus, the fifth season of the Emmy-award winning TV series premiered Sunday. Catch up on past seasons and episodes at www.amctv.com/shows/mad-men.
Hot hashtag: #TebowTakesManhattan
#TebowTakesManhattan is trending on Twitter because Tim Tebow was officially traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets Sunday. Jets owner Woody Johnson told ESPN that the trade was not based on Tebow's off-field popularity. He also said Mark Sanchez remains the team's starting quarterback.


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City of Palm DesertHome Menu
The men and women assigned to the Palm Desert Police Department are proud to bring you this web site, with the hope that it will foster better relations, communication, and understanding of the role this department has in our community. The Palm Desert Police Department is dedicated to providing the citizens, business owners, and visitors to Palm Desert a safe and pleasant environment in which to live, work, and enjoy the amenities of this fine city.
This web site offers a brief look at the many services the Department provides. The Palm Desert Police Department is proudly served under contract by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Contract law enforcement has been in existence for many years, in fact, the Riverside County Sheriff's department has been providing law enforcement services to the City of Palm Desert since the city was founded in 1973. Palm Desert is one of 17 cities in our county that have asked us to provide law enforcement services.
The Palm Desert Police Department is proud to provide quality service to the City of Palm Desert. We are, as our slogan reads, Professionals Who Care. Again, thanks for visiting our website and remember that public safety is everyone's business and we are here to protect and serve you.


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Functional Sports Training - Latest Posts
Short plyometric lower body exercise sequence
Plyometric training consists of exercises which require both, strength and velocity. It will improve your power, speed and elasticity. The elastic quality of your muscle will help you to prevent injuries. You can do this little workout (after warming-up) e.g. before your strength training. We recomment 3 sets of these …Read more
Mobility warm-up for better performance
Warming up - give mobility to the 3 key joints! Beside increasing your blood flow, your core and muscle temperature etc. one essential goal of warming up for a best possible performance is also to increase the mobility of your joints.Of course the focus on joints you are warming up …Read more
Climbing and Riding some Couloirs in the Italian Dolomites
One reason we train for is to be ready for adventures! see here some POV impressions of our day climbing and riding some couloirs in the italian Dolomites! with Bibi Toelderer-Pekarek, Mitch Toelderer and Klaus Zwirner Couloir Day in the Italien Dolomites from GoPro Fitnesstraining on Vimeo.Read more
GPFT's Top 20 workout beats!
Music is one of the most important factors to me when it comes to get fired up during the workout session. With the great help of our facebook friends we created this hit list because it's always a mission to find new (or old?) motivating tunes for a change of …Read more
Stay balanced in 2013!
Wishing all of you a great New Year! Bibi & Mitch http://www.goprofitnesstraining.com `everytime i was taking the new train to town i was looking at the old historical railway line and wondering if it would be fun to ride it once it would have enough snow on it ´ …Read more
DO ANYWHERE CIRCUIT: Cotopaxi, Ecuador
This time of the year is the best time if you want to ride some snow right on the equator! While we were attempting to hike and ride some of Ecuadors pretty high volcanos for the Summits4Kids project we had to kill some time in between, fooling around by working …Read more
The stretching confusion: 5 rules to do the right thing!
Everyone seems to have his own theory when it comes to stretching. I totally understand if you get confused by all the different information out there. Maybe you asked yourself these questions before:"Should I stretch before training", "Should I stretch to prevent muscle soreness?", "Will I ever get as flexible …Read more
Functional Training for Snowboarding and Skiing: SESSION 3
Get ready for your snow season! This is the last session of our snow training series for this winter season to come. It's an individual new functional circuit but you can also combine it with Session 1 or Session 2 for a more intense training unit. If you want …Read more
Functional Training for Snowboarding and Skiing: SESSION 2
Get ready for your snow season! Here are four new exercises to be prepared for your first snow experience this season. It's an individual new functional circuit. If you want to ride longer, and stronger than your buddies you can even combine Session 1 and Session 2 to profit …Read more
Functional Training for Snowboarding and Skiing!
Get ready for your snow season! Winter is coming closer and we are getting more and more excited on the coming snow season. We were putting this Functional Training Video Series together to share it with the snowboard and ski community out there for getting in the right shape for …Read more
Functional training video with Jussi Oksanen
Looking out of the window and the first snow is already falling...Seems like a reminder to get fit for the winter season! Next week we will start our "Get ready for your snow season" functional training series - stay tuned for that! For the meantime we found some good …Read more
Want to push your riding performance? How to easily integrate an interval unit into your routine
In this video you can have a look how Mitch prepares for the cardic and circulatory load during his snowboard runs when there is no snow around. It's easy to copy! For the ones who wanna know more: Interval training stimulates different metabolic adaptions of your body. Studies …Read more
One great exercise for your core
Today we introduce one beginner and advanced core exercise out of our 6-weeks-program: Exercise description: Sit on your knees in front of a gymball and place your forearms on the ball or get in the plank position with your forearms on the gymball. It helps your stability …Read more
GPFT team in 'Further' freeride movie
We are excited about todays World Premier of Jeremy Jones 'FURTHER' in Truckee, California. The GPFT team, Bibi and Mitch, is pround to be part of this extraordinary snowboard freeride movie! Here you can check out the trailer: On Mitch's blog you can gain some insight …Read more
The secret of the best training method for fat loss
I would say almost everybody who is training wants to lose fat or at least takes it as a very welcomed side effect. Me included! Most people got limited time. Beside the job there are family commitments. Which is the best way to spend your precious time to lose some …Read more
Get creative! and take your training wherever you go
Hello everybody! Usually I dont snowboard in summer, but no matter if staying at home or if travelling for surfing, it is important for me to work on my fitness constantly to be in shape for the next winter season. Specially when spending a good part of the summer in …Read more
The benefits of warming up
Do you warm up? When I was younger I never ever used to warm up. To me warming up before sports was something boring I didn't even feel the need for. These days without warming up I feel stiff during my first turns when snowboarding or first paddle moves …Read more
Dietary supplements Facts and Myths
Americans now spend an estimated $ 28 billion a year on dietary supplements. But do supplements actually work? Who needs to take them? That was what I was questioning myself, and so I started to research on that topic. I was never really into taking pills, not even for nutritional …Read more
5 great exercises to prepare for surfing
Want to get fit for your surf trip? Summer is full on already. We are still landlocked but we are looking forward to our surf trip and we want to be prepared when getting into the waves during our holidays. You might not live at the ocean as we …Read more
Why GoProFitnessTraining?
Welcome to our GPFT Blog! Watch this and get fired up... What is this blog about? Mitch and I are both fully dedicated to outdoor/action sports. To get the best possible performance doing the sports we love to do we got into training our functional fitness …Read more


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Greetings, Rhonda! I see you haven't been active at Atheist Nexus since April. We have a new group where you might feel more at home. Please consider joining Hang With Friends , where we can share our stories and laugh, and discuss anything on our minds.
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Kevin Durant scored 22 points and rattled in the go-ahead basket on a baseline runner with 18 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder scored the final nine points to rally for a 77-75 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.
Oklahoma City trailed by seven with 2 minutes left before surging back with a series of defensive stops by its stars to take a 2-0 lead.
Game 3 is Friday night in Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum scored 20 points apiece for the Lakers, who came up empty on their last six possessions after Bynum's hook shot made it 75-68 with 2:09 remaining.
After struggling throughout the second half, the Thunder suddenly came alive after Scott Brooks called timeout following Bynum's basket that gave Los Angeles its largest lead of the game.
James Harden drove for a layup before Durant used his height advantage to reach up and tip away a pass from Bryant, who he was guarding. Durant ran out for a right-handed dunk at the other end before Russell Westbrook forced another turnover by aggressively challenging an outlet pass to Bryant along the sideline.
Harden made the next stop, blocking Bryant's jumper on the next Lakers possession and getting a layup in transition off it to cut the deficit to one in the final minute.
Bryant couldn't connect again, this time on a 3-pointer, to give the Thunder the ball back with the chance to take the lead and Durant was able to make it happen.
Steve Blake missed a 3-pointer from the right side with about 5 seconds left after Metta World Peace couldn't get the ball to Bryant on the inbounds play. Durant was then fouled with 0.3 seconds left and made his first try before missing the second on purpose -- failing to hit the backboard or rim for a violation.
The Lakers got a desperation try but World Peace's long pass for Bynum was intercepted by Harden.
Westbrook added 15 points for Oklahoma City, which matched its lowest scoring total of the season but still gutted out the win.
Historically, the loss makes a huge difference. Los Angeles is 29-12 when splitting the first two games of a seven-game series and has lost 17 of 19 when falling into a 2-0 hole. The Lakers' last comeback was in the 2004 West semifinals against San Antonio.
The Thunder have won all nine of their series after leading 2-0, dating back to the franchise's days in Seattle.
In a game that was nip-and-tuck throughout, the Lakers started inching away early in the fourth quarter while Westbrook was on the bench.
Bryant drilled a jumper from the left wing and Blake followed with a 3-pointer before World Peace hit one of two free throws for a 69-63 advantage with 7:27 remaining -- the Lakers' largest lead to that point.
Westbrook returned then but only provided the briefest of sparks for the struggling Oklahoma City offense, and Bynum's second straight basket -- on a left-handed hook shot at the left block -- made it 75-68 with 2:09 to play.
Until that point, Oklahoma City had made only 7 of 27 shots in the second half while committing eight turnovers.
After getting ripped apart by the Thunder's pick-and-roll attack and giving up 119 points in Game 1, the Lakers made it an emphasis to put up more resistance in the rematch and it showed. Matt Barnes shuffled back and forth around three Nick Collison screens to contest Harden's jumper and preserve the Lakers' 22-21 lead after one quarter.
The Lakers' defense was at its best just after halftime as they got out of a 48-45 deficit by holding Oklahoma City scoreless for the first 4 minutes and allowing just two baskets in the first 8 minutes. But Los Angeles still couldn't create any sort of a cushion and Westbrook's wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner -- after World Peace airballed a similar shot on the opposite end -- had the Thunder back within 57-56 with 3:31 left in the third.


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French Cleat Video
Instead of ruining a piece by drilling holes and putting screws through it to hold it to the wall, try a French cleat. The French cleat can mount objects, such as mantles, to the wall without the use of unsightly fasteners.
What is a French cleat? It is two pieces of material that interlock with each other. It can be made from wood or metal. Use it to mount picture, plate, mantel, etc. to a wall. To make one out of wood, set your circular saw to 45 degrees and rip a 1 x 3 in half down the length of the board. Attach one of the pieces to the wall with the V facing up. The other piece gets attached the opposite way on the object being hung. Slide the two pieces together and you will have an interlocking mount.
Great for hanging objects without having nails or screws showing.
3 Responses to French Cleat Video
Thanks for the video demonstration on the French cleat. I'm going to remember to use it when I have a project that calls for it. Thanks much.
Would you recommend using French cleats to secure the top portion of tall bookcases and other tall furniture pieces to ensure they won't fall over during an earthquake or be pulled over by children vs. the straps?


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Some important information not entirely unintended for your reading pleasure…
Website terms and conditions are a strange animal. And they're sometimes even more puzzling when they're on a lawyer's website. I've been thinking about what the terms and conditions for this site should say, and so I've come up with the following. Sure I could make it all legalese and complicated, but I'm trying a more conversational approach. Here goes.
Dear Reader:
When you read this website, internetcases, please keep the following in mind. If you cannot or will not accept what is stated below, please direct your browser somewhere else. If you go ahead and read the content on the site, I'll conclude that you agree to all of this. I don't want there to be any misunderstanding as to the purpose of this website or as to the relationship between author and reader.
This is a website that provides information. It is not legal advice. Is it an advertisement for legal services? I say no. I don't intend for this website to be an advertisement, and I don't think you should either.
Unless you have signed a written agreement with my employer, I am not your lawyer and therefore, you are not my client. That means there is no attorney-client relationship. Even if you are one of my clients, the information here is intended for a general audience and is not tailored for your specific needs. If you need legal advice, get in touch with a lawyer directly. You'd be foolish to make important decisions relating to your life, liberty or property based only on information you read online. You shouldn't do that with any website, and certainly not this one.
Although I try my best in every instance to be accurate, it could be that some information on this website contains errors. I'm a lawyer, all lawyers are human, and therefore, I'm a human. Moreover, the information you find here may have become out-of-date. Opinions get overruled and the law changes. I DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ACCURACY OR CURRENTNESS OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREUPON.
The vast majority of the time I do not editorialize or state opinions of what I think the law should be. Instead I talk about what the law is. In the rare instances that I do indicate some opinion or put a spin on an issue, that is in no way a reflection on or a representation of any opinion held by my employer. Furthermore, I never write about ongoing matters in which I represent the participants.
I like getting e-mail from my readers, and if you'd like to contact me, go right ahead. But please use discretion when doing so. Again, unless there's a written agreement in place, I'm not your lawyer, and so the question of confidentiality in that situation may be problematic. (What if I already represent the other side?) If you write to me and I don't get back to you, please don't take it personally. It does not mean that I don't like you. It's just that I'm very busy and I have to prioritize.
If you're with the press, or are looking for a speaker at your event, I'll probably be more than happy to talk with you.
Check back to this page from time to time, as I reserve the right to modify these terms and conditions, and if you continue to visit the site after those changes are made, I'll assume you accept them.
Thank you for visiting internetcases.
Evan Brown


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State v. Noll, 2011 WL 2418895 (Ind. App. June 14, 2011) (Not selected for publication)
Defendant used a sexually explicit photo of the victim in an attempt to gain leverage in an intra-family dispute. She handed an envelope containing the photo to the victim, and indicated she would begin distributing the photo if certain demands were not met.
Defendant was convicted of intimidation under Indiana law. She sought review of her conviction. On appeal, the court affirmed.
One of the arguments that defendant made on appeal was that there was no intimidation because distribution of the photo to persons such as the victim's husband or co-workers would not subject her to hatred, contempt, disgrace or ridicule as required by the Indiana statute. Defendant pointed out that the victim had posted the sexually explicit photo of herself at issue on the web five years earlier. So in essence, defendant argued, further distribution would do the victim no harm.
The court rejected this argument, finding:
The fact that [victim] already publicized the material herself certainly merits consideration, but is not alone determinative because publicizing material to a particular audience does not necessarily mean that further, targeted, publication would not lead to hatred, contempt, disgrace, or ridicule. In other words, we consider [victim's] posting of these photographs online in the past as it might mitigate reputational consequences of [defendant] mailing the photographs to others. Although internet websites are of an unusually public and long-lasting nature, we also recognize that making an obscure set of photographs available online is qualitatively different in nature from directly mailing the same photographs as hard-copies addressed to a particular individual or company. [Victim's] husband or employer could have discovered [victim's] prior internet posting of the photographs, but a direct mailing is certain to reach them.
The court similarly rejected defendant's argument that because the victim had posted the photo on the web before, she had no reasonable expectation of privacy in the photo and thus could not be the subject of intimidation. The court disagreed with the analogy to the Fourth Amendment expectation of privacy because in this case, the privacy interest was the victim's, not the defendant's. So use of such an analogy might "misdirect [the court] from the determinative issue of whether she would be exposed to reputational consequences."


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Before today, I had never heard of Todrick Hall, but now he's my favorite former-"American Idol" contestant ever, leapfrogging that girl with the thing and Clay Aiken. He wrote and filmed a pitch-perfect parody of Belle's first scene from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, turning it into Beauty and the Beat. Instead of receiving a book from Old Man Bookseller (he probably has a name), Belle goes into a barbershop and is handed a kid. "This provincial life" is changed to "this hoodrat life," kindly bakers become cracked out hobos yelling about brownies…it's a whole lotta stereotypes like that, but who doesn't love a good Tyrese Gibson joke? Not I, says no one.
Heyyy, Sweet Brown, I see you gurl.


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Homeschoolers Shine at National Competitions
- 2003 12 Jun
Once again, homeschoolers have shown the world how dedicated parents can achieve academic success with their children.
On May 22, eighth-grader James Williams of Vancouver, Washington, became the second homeschooler in a row to place first in the National Geography Bee. James answered the question, "Goa, a state in southwestern India, was a possession of what country until 1961?" James' correct answer, "Portugal," netted him a $25,000 scholarship and a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine.
On May 29, homeschooled eighth-grader Evelyn Blacklock from Tuxedo Park, New York, placed second in the National Spelling Bee. The word that finally tripped her up? "Gnathonic," which means sycophantic or fawning. In spite of missing out on first place, Evelyn still took home a $6,000 cash prize.
"Success in these kinds of competitions is a logical extension of good academics," says Michael Smith, President of Home School Legal Defense Association. "The achievement of these homeschoolers shows that their parents have provided excellent academic instruction."
The impact of homeschooling in these academic competitions goes beyond students who win. Although homeschoolers make up approximately 2 percent of the U.S. school-age population, they made up 12 percent of the 251 spelling bee finalists and 5 percent of the 55 geography bee finalists. Three of the past seven spelling bee winners have been homeschooled. Last year's homeschooled winner of the geography bee was 10 years old, the youngest in that event's history.
The high percentage of homeschoolers in national competitions has garnered complaints from homeschool critics. Some feel homeschoolers have an unfair advantage over traditionally schooled students since they do not have to follow a public school schedule. One recent article even suggested that these winners come from families who homeschool for the sole purpose of winning contests.
"No parent I'm aware of homeschools just to win academic competions," says Mr. Smith.
Parnell McCarter, father of last year's geography bee winner Calvin McCarter, agrees. "I think people feel that homeschoolers can sit at home 10 hours a day studying one subject to prepare for these kinds of competitions," Mr. McCarter told WORLD magazine. "Nothing could be further from the truth."
Homeschooling is not a magic ticket to academic contest victory according to Mike Smith. Yet homeschooling does allow for extra flexibility for children to pursue what interests them.
"Parents create their homeschool program to adapt to their child's strengths, weaknesses and interests. To compete on the national level, the child must have an intense amount of personal motivation, whatever kind of school that child attends," says Mr. Smith.
Visit HSLDA at www.hslda.org


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We love Doctor Who here at Vulture Central. And with the warmer seasons upon us, why not don some suitable attire while barbecue-ing over a steaming Dalek?
These T-shirt costumes will lighten the mood at any party you go to. My personal favourite is the Tom Baker one, but they're all worthy additions to a Doctor Who enthusiast's wardrobe.
The shirts come in four designs representing the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Doctors.
All are available exclusively from Forbidden Planet. The first two will set you back £16 and can be picked up now, while the second batch are an extra quid and will be in stock from April 22.
If you feel like a rest from playing cyber-man, then pop on a Doctor Who t-shirt, grab your sonic screwdrivers, fire up the barbie and get your "Troughton". Careful not to exterminate your food as you Galli-fry that fish though. ®


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Instructional Sections
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Why Saving Community Journalism Is Important
local news organizations are the glue that binds communities, reminding us 'every day of our collective identity, the stake we have in one another, and the lessons of history.' -Ron Heifetz, Harvard University
The historic role of newspapers – informing, nurturing and improving communities, both large and small – is vitally important in the digital age. That's why both newspapers and digital start-ups must reimagine journalism and reinvent their business models so they can continue to provide the news that feeds our democracy.
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Learn more about the 200 students and professors, as well as industry and business experts, who inspired and contributed to this project, including the book, Saving Community Journalism, and this instructional site.More


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Oct 31, 2019 - Nov 03, 2019
Opens: Oct 31, 2019
Closes: Nov 03, 2019
Detroit, MI 48226
Website: Youmacon
Add to Calendar
From: Maelish
Youmacon, a Michigan anime convention, is a popular culture event similar to most "Comic Cons", however instead of focusing on comic books, Youmacon is a celebration of Japanese popular culture and its influence on our own culture over the past few decades. Common themes throughout the event are Anime (Japanese animation), Video Games, Japanese style artwork and comics, and the rising internet culture influenced by all of the above.
Youmacon brings a unique all-ages mix of interactive events, celebrity guest panels, and live musical performances to Downtown Detroit. One of its most popular events, "Live Action Mario Party", emulates the video game experience – often filling the room to fire code capacity. Players participate in game show-like mini-games to help their teams advance and win.
Wearing costumes, or "Cosplay" as it's known at conventions, is very popular with attendees of Youmacon. It is not uncommon to walk into a pair of Italian plumbers in overalls on the escalator, only to meet someone dressed as Edward Elric or Master Chief from Halo minutes later.


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Well it finally happened yesterday,,,,,
My son out shot me yesterday for the first time,,,,ever! GOOD JOB SON!! But it did take him till he was 26 almost 27, to do it!
We started out with the VZ's, Ar's and Ak's on targets and clays hanging in branches, at all different kinda ranges and that was to easy so we switched it up to shooting the eyes out of the targets(4, 20 round groups in the pidgin), then the beaks,, still to easy with the AR. Then through the center of a 1/2" washer @ 50 and 75m, if you hit the washer,,,you loose. Still it wasn't much of a challenge for either of us so,,, we switched it up to shooting Penney's @75 and 100m with 22's in the South 40 and of course as always a friendly competition arose out of it. We usually glue 5 Penney's to 2 pieces of paper and take turns shooting at the Penney's, kinda like a dueling tree,,first one to miss,, looses,,,,
I finally missed after about 1 1/2 bricks of 22 ammo ,several rolls of Penney's and 4 1/2 hours of shooting,,,DOWWWWWW!!!!
The heat is on now, time to practice up a bit and tighten up my groups,, the kids getting good!!!!!
The challenge is on now, he could hardly get through the door his head was so swelled up with pride!!! Little shit!
I got to get busy, I seem to be slacking nowadays,:scared:
The old eyes just aren't what they used to be! I used to be able to shoot the nuts off gnats @ 100m, but now I just wing them, gezzzz,,, slipping I guess! Got to practice up, I'm loosing my touch. Here's just one of the targets and a few of the Penney's we blistered. My poor angled backstop is getting beat too, as you can see by all the lead splatter, time for a new one, soon.
We did shoot lots of different guns yesterday and tons of ammo for the first time in months, were both refreshed now. I miss shooting like that on a regular basis. We ended up going through 2-3 K rounds at least, by the time all was said and done, but what to hell! But I'm thinking there will be a fresh challenge coming this next week end. He's buying his own ammo this week though! Especially if he keeps beating me! :geezer:
What better a way to spend a 4th of July week , shooting and celebrating Independence,,,,, and just having a great time with your son,,,,does it get any better than that??? Don't think so folks!
Semper Fi!
In Vermont,,Were still enjoying the freedoms you've helped us keep my brothers. Your never forgotten here.
Happy 4th folks! :troops:


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Sunday, October 9, 2016
4:00 pm
Choral Evensong
Location: Duke Chapel
Trinity Choir of Men and Boys
Choral Evensong is a centuries-old tradition that continues to be prayed every day all over the world. It will be offered every Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in Duke University Chapel. All are welcome! Drawn from the 17th century, worshippers are invited to enter into a sacred space of reflection through music, scripture, and prayers that have shaped Christian lives for hundreds of years. ** Note: Incense will be used at this service. **


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Hamamatsu, Japan, October 29, 2010 - Heavy favourites Brazil defeated a surprisingly strong Kenya team in straight sets (25-15, 25-16, 25-11) in the opening Pool B match at the 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship at Hamamatsu Arena on Friday.The vision of the Brazil setters and precise spiking of Fabiana, Jaqueline and Joyce found gaps in the Kenya defence as the match progressed. But the Africans, who are hoping to win at least one game in Japan, can take a lot of confidence after staying close to the mighty Brazilians in the first two sets before withering in the third.FIVB Women's World Championship Japan 2010 official pageUnderdogs Kenya surprised Brazil by claiming the first point of the match on a block by Jackline Baraza. But Brazil quickly stormed into a 6-1 lead through some dipping serves from Sassa and sharp spikes by Jaqueline. After a timeout, Kenya inched back with two points to 6-3 and with the Africans' substitutes leading the cheers from the side, they closed the gap to 9-7. Joyce had a set go through her fingers, but Lydia Maiyo missed a chance for Kenya by serving wide.
Brazil's blocking wall of Dani Lins and Fabiana consistently repelled the Kenya attack, though Brackcides Khadambi did manage a score with a feathery spike that caught the Brazilians out of position. Yet Jose Guimaraes's team remained in command, with the accurate spikes of Sassa and Joyce extending the lead to 17-11. Although a spike by Kenya's Mercy Moim narrowed the gap to 20-13, Brazil surged ahead on Jaqueline's clever tip into open space, and their strong serving secured the set at 25-15. In the second set, a spirited Kenya took a 3-2 lead. But Brazil came back to lead 7-4 as Fabiana nailed a spike straight down and Joyce extended the advantage at 11-7 on a spike that Kenya deflected out. A block by Kenya's Baraza and Moim narrowed the gap to 12-9, but Moim's serve then floundered into the net. Kenya stayed positive, scoring two in a row on missed Brazilian blocks, but the downward spikes of Fabiana and Jaqueline evaded the diving Kenyans, keeping Brazil in command at 20-12 and finally 25-16. After probing in the first two sets, Brazil found more holes in Kenya's cover in the third, as Dani Lins scored on clever placements and Fabiana's spikes from the right wing found space cross-court near the sideline. Sassa's clever tip to 18-6 underlined Brazil's superiority at the net and the South Americans eventually coasted to a 25-11 win. Brazil's next test is against the Czech Republic on Saturday, while Kenya continue their search for an historic first win against Puerto Rico.


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Last week, Patrick Chung (of my beloved New England Patriots) laid a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit on Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts III during the final drive of a tight game. New England took a 15-yard penalty for the dirty hit, but Shorts was done for the day. A few plays later, Chung made the interception that ended the game.
Football has its hands full with the head-injury crisis, as every week brings more lawsuits and more damaged former stars. The NFL has instituted new medical regimens to protect concussed players, and made refs crack down on the most dangerous hits. But it hasn't considered an obvious step that would deter dirty play: a penalty box.
Like the NHL, pro football should force teams to play a man down after a flagrant foul—on top of the usual 15-yard penalty and automatic first down. There are a few ways a NFL penalty box could work: The penalized player could sit out until the next first down (which could be just a single play), or until the next change of possession, (which could be 15 plays), or a set number of plays. The NFL could even borrow the red card from soccer: Not only is the dirty player thrown out of the game, but his team plays a man short for the duration. This feels like a nuclear option to me, but if nothing short of it stopped this kind of hit, why not give it a try?
I'd stay non-nuclear at first though: Cut the team to 10 players on the field for a set number of plays, maybe two for a minor flagrant hit and five for a major one. As with an NHL power play, if the man-up team scored, the penalty would end.
The advantage of an extra man would be enormous in football. Most NFL offensive schemes are designed to achieve a man advantage in a particular part of the field. The penalty box would guarantee that advantage.
The penalty box would undoubtedly need tinkering. Would it work if the offensive team committed the flagrant hit and went a man down? Would it create a too-big advantage, requiring other rule adjustments? As the NHL icing rule is suspended during a penalty, would the NFL need to put in rules making the passing game tougher (tighter intentional grounding rules, or tweaks that make pass blocking harder, so quarterbacks have less time to target a downfield receiver)?
That kind of rebalancing toward the defense would probably have to be hashed out over several seasons, and it might get messy. It seems worth it, though, because the protections in place right now for receivers aren't working.


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Liana Kabel designs - visit the store
About Liana
- Liana Kabel
- Brisbane, Australia
- My studio is located in Brisbane, Australia. For the past 10 years I've been enjoying creating jewellery designs from an array of mundane materials. Tupperware and knitting needles have remained a firm favourite. My designs have been published numerous times, graced the shelves of many wonderful galleries and stores and been worn by those whose aren't afraid of colour and attention. All of which I am very grateful for. For several years I've also been fortunate enough to work with many businesses as a coach and workshop facilitator.


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Crest Hardware is a representation of the neighborhood's evolution. Originally a well-stocked hardware store, Crest has become a place for local artists to show pieces among the hammers and plumbing supplies.
Close to 200 artworks of varying sizes and price points are currently on display in the store and in the outdoor garden. Costs range from $100 all the way up to $18,000.
"There is art on so many different levels, from people who are new to the art world to people who are really established," Franquinha said. "A good amount of the artists are from Brooklyn and most of the others are living in the city."
Two pieces came from outside the city limits. An artist from Munich, Germany, sent two drawings to be shown.
Money from the show will go toward the refurbishment of Macri Park, which is located just down the block from the hardware store. Franquinha said he hopes to refurbish the bocce court and build a fence. He added that he would like to commission artists to beautify different panels of the fence for the park.
"I hope to raise a lot of money. The project will likely cost a couple thousand dollars, but the more we raise, the more we can do," Franquinha said. "Maybe next we'll take on another community effort."
The opening day of the Crest Hardware Art Show on Saturday brought both longtime residents of Williamsburg and newcomers to the impromptu gallery.
Serena Handley went to Crest to see her friend Laurie Benoil do a performance in front of the store. Handley attended the Crest Hardware Art Show last year and was a little taken aback by the uniqueness of the event, but has now come to appreciate it.
"It makes sense in the neighborhood to do something different and a little ironic," she said.
Benoil and her performance group said they were playing with possibilities as they twisted and contorted themselves outside the store with rope, a wooden "T," and a 180-pound bag of sand.
"What they have here and the sense of community is really great," she said. "It's a surprise unraveling in the aisles and seeing what's for sale in the store and what's the art."
Nunzio D'Alto, a longtime resident of Williamsburg and an artist showing at Crest, said it's great for the people of the neighborhood to have a place where they can come and meet and show their art.
"These kids can barely survive in this economy, but they are able to express themselves with their art," he said.
D'Alto's wife, Lena, said her family has been frequenting the hardware store for years, and she is proud to be raising her 17-year-old daughter in the neighborhood.
"Williamsburg has now become the center of art," D'Alto said. He added it is like night and day from the Williamsburg of the 1970s to the Williamsburg of today.
The change in Crest Hardware store from a neighborhood shop to an art gallery originated with artist Gene Pool. Franquinha's father, Manny, said Pool asked if he could use a little bit of the window space. A little bit of space eventually became the whole window.
Crest Hardware held its first art shows in the 1990s, but went on hiatus until Joe started the unique gallery up again last year.
"The concept is that art begins with hardware," Manny said. "It gives back to artists who are just coming into the field and gives them a chance to show because galleries won't take the chance."


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Fiction or Fact – writing in the land of literary scholars
If you want evidence of a place informing art, take the poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree. Here we have no more than an uninhabited isle in Sligo's Lough Gill but to Nobel Laureate WB Yeats, it became something different entirely. Hear those words 'I will arise and go now, and go to Ininsfree' and you're in. Yeats isn't going to the island alone – you'll be right there with him.
You might wonder if Ireland has any inspirational places left for the rest of us. Is there a corner of the island that we can call our own, where a blank page comes alive with that prose and that poem we've been agonising over for months?
We needn't worry. People like Irene Graham have us covered.
Ireland's literary heritage combined with its idyllic landscapes makes it an ideal location for a creative writing course, according to Irene Graham, founder of The Creative Writer's Workshop. For Irene, "Raw beauty, comfortable surroundings and good food combined with creative writing workshops allow the writer to draw upon their unconscious, create and write."
Irene believes "the writing environment, like time, is precious". And the right backdrop is essential too. Surely, then, the West of Ireland is a must for any writer. Imagine being surrounded by Connemara's smattering of lakes or the lunar landscape of the Burren, County Clare, while you write that next chapter – pure bliss. But according to Irene, that's only touching the surface:
"The Creative Writer's Workshop weaves ancient Ireland and the art of writing into memorable writing vacations. Writers can explore the mythical legends of Inis Mór Island, the Sligo countryside that inspired W.B. Yeats and can amble around the rugged landscape of Clare Island – as a part of their writing journey."
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As one writer, Vivienne Nichols from the USA found out, Inis Mór, retains the power to bewitch "Creative writing on the magical, mystical island of Inis Mór was an extraordinary experience. Lyrics, lore and landscape offered refreshment, while Irene Graham's mastery and generosity helped and inspired beyond expression".
With another two Aran Islands to Inis Mor's east, there's plenty of inspiration for everyone.
And if dreaded writers' block does strike, just take a moment and drink in your surroundings. Imagine maybe how JM Synge felt spending his summers on the Aran Islands immersing himself in the local culture, or how Narnia came to life for CS Lewis as he traversed through the Mourne Mountains.
Modern-day authors continue to soak up their Irish settings too. Maeve Binchy always gave her favourite Dublin locations pseudonyms in her novels; Roddy Doyle's best work is set in North Dublin while Colm Toibín included his native County Wexford in countless tales. In her recent award-winning novel, Solace, Belinda McKeon delicately reminded us not to overlook the midlands with its pastoral romance and connection to the rural elegance that still beats at Ireland's core.
In the year of The Gathering, hundreds of people are landing on Irish shores in search of their ancestors and Irene wonders if "maybe our collective ancestral history is buried in the stones? And if it is, could there be a better place than the West of Ireland to explore it as you dig deep into your creative genes and write engaging stories?"
While many of Ireland's sights may leave you speechless for some moments, we're certain you'll have plenty to write about them for many years to come.
Irene Graham is the founder of The Creative Writer's Workshop and The Memoir Writing Club. She is also the author of The Memoir Writing Workbook.
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