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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:04 pm
Post subject: my blog on adapting food intake toward breatharianism
Hello everyone,
I've started to write a blog that details my thoughts and feelings on life and the nature of food, and how I'm changing and adapting to different food intake, with the possibility of going even beyond that...
For anyone interested in following it, it's here
I'll probably add to it a couple of times a week as things occur to me, as I'm pushed/moved along. I'm refining my food intake slowly but surely. I know many of you are doing the same.
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Joined: 29 Nov 2004
Posts: 415
Location: Poland, Poznan
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:06 am
Post subject: copy here
Please, copy your texts also here, as this can be your blog as well.
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Joined: 26 Oct 2009
Posts: 21
Location: Paris, France
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 1:26 pm
Post subject:
Thank you very much lovedimension !
It is a pleasure to read you, I find myself in some passages
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:33 pm
Post subject: my blog on adapting food intake toward breatharianism
Thanks J for saying that I could put my blog up here. I wasn't sure whether this was the place for it really. I tend to write quite often, and wouldn't want to crowd this forum.
I'll try to remember to copy and paste across, but I'm not sure I'll manage an exact replica.
Also, some of it will be very mundane reading, as my first blog post on this forum is going to be!
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:35 pm
Post subject: my blog on adapting food intake toward breatharianism
When nuts and fruits are too much - that's nuts!
There's a distinct change in the way I feel hungry - or not hungry - since I've been eating only fruits in the evenings, nuts and lettuce type things and a wrap at lunch, and a small amount of oats in the mornings. Hunger used to be a growling sensation in the stomach, but these days, it's quite different. It's hard to describe, but it's something like an upward feeling in my torso, a sort of tightening as well (I used to have an ongoing pain there, but it has shifted, this I think was to do with something contracting and readjusting). But not really a feeling of hunger. And I certainly don't lack in energy. On the contrary, I'm more focused for longer periods of time, and manage to keep up with certain creative interests, as well as caring for my two young children during the day. I got to bed late and get up early, usually with disturbed nights because of the children.
However, even the consumption of fruits and nuts etc, and especially wraps and oats, feels like a drag on my system often. Recently, when I've been thinking to myself, in a sort of automatic manner 'time to eat' (e.g. mid afternoon when the kids are having a snack), I've had a small fruit smoothy or juice of some description and it does the job fine, when in the past I might have had something more solid. The more I substitute something I used to have, with something more refined, I feel like something shifts. As if I'm working with a wider process, and energies, that are wanting to establish themselves more firmly.
I often feel like I eat when I don't really need to eat.
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 9:01 pm
Post subject:
Emilie wrote:
Thank you very much lovedimension !
It is a pleasure to read you, I find myself in some passages
Thank you Emilie
I would find it so interesting to read other people's accounts, updated often. Hopefully someone will do just that
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 9:02 pm
Post subject: my blog on adapting food intake toward breatharianism
Moments of Doubt
Sometimes I stop myself in my tracks, and think to myself, what am I doing refining my food intake? Doubt and fear sets in, but it takes only a short while for me to see the conditioning in my mind. That I need this or that to live. That I will become ill and/or die if I continue down this path. My analytical mind steps in, and it starts to lecture me on topics such as Vitamin B12 deficiency, Calcium deficiency, Protein deficiency... and so on. The list could be endless.
And yet at the same time, I feel a strong flow of energy into me, that tells me clearly that the physical body lives without food. That it is the essential energy that animates all life. That the scientific analysis of the body's composition, while being valid, can't tell the whole story - that huge chunks of knowledge are simply missing from the scientific mind. The kind of knowledge that only comes from expansion and self-development, of an intuitive nature.
So my doubts I see, are like hoary old men, ruminating and grumbling all the time. Using logic that certainly works on one level, but which can't operate outside of the sphere, which it already knows about...
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:49 pm
Post subject: my blog on adapting food intake toward breatharianism
An increase in energy
This evening I felt an increase in energy that was quite disorientating. For lunch I had an apple, a banana, some nuts and dates. It was about 8pm and I hadn't had anything to eat since then. This surprised me really, as I had been working hard all day painting and decorating someone's house, while my wife looked after the children. I was feeling wonderful, sensing the energies all around me, going through me, the web of creation. I was doing some spontaneous moves with my body, feeling the coursing of energy. I wasn't feeling hungry particularly, such was the energy.
This increase in energy was disorientating, because I was experiencing what one might call 'reality', in a different way, and myself also in a different way. Of all the other experiences of an abstract nature I've had before, this was a bit different. As if the physical nature of space all around me was changing.
Also, I was experiencing the entrancement of sense-perception (which humans mostly all fall prey to, including myself), and how freedom from the limitations of life, requires one to lay down attachment to so many things. To expand is to move beyond the automatic conditioning of the mind. I could see the very narrow margin which our sense perceptions occupy, and which are so rooted into eating. I could feel so keenly how the removal of eating, totally removes any sense of normality in life, a sensation I feel I'll have to get used to - if I do eventually end up breatharian. The way we have evolved eating, and eating cooked food, is a curious journey...
My wife asked me whether I was eating this evening (meaning am I eating with her or some fruits and such like as I usually do), as she had taken from the garden a nice spaghetti squash which we have growing. I found it impossible to say no, such was the care she was taking in preparing the food. It can be very demoralising for someone to live with a person, who doesn't want to eat the same food. The food felt very gentle. The taste was enjoyable, but I could feel it like a slight hindrance inside of me.
It's somehow making me sad this eating of cooked vegetables - this must sound weird though. What a strange thing to rip a vegetable from the earth, chop it up, heat it up until it changes its shape, and then eat it? For beings of an eternal nature, where is the value in that? Isn't a vegetable, or a fruit, just a beautiful thing that exists for itself?
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:15 pm
Post subject:
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
The thing I'm finding at the moment, is that any progression toward refinement, is often slowed by doubt and going back to old habits, even if briefly. This is not surprising.
While a part of me wants to forget about spiritual refinement, I know that stagnation isn't the answer. Stagnation leads to disease and ultimately death. Illness is stagnation of energy.
Everytime I think to myself, 'let's forget about this whole deal', two things happen. One, is that I truly deeply feel that I just can't and don't want to eat how I used to; Secondly, I feel a calling that I hardly understand at this point. To move things forward. In some ways, I feel that time is running out. It's now or never, for purification. I wonder how many people feel the same?
I don't resent this calling toward purging my body, but it is hard. Working on the concept of food and eating, strikes at the very core of what it means to be a human being, in many ways. Which is also why there is an enormous and automatic resistance from many sides toward the concept of inedia, even hostility. 'If you don't eat you die!' everybody shouts. Addiction. Something I remember that Jericho Sunfire said in one of his videos: 'Don't mess with my tastebuds!', with regards to people who can accept many things, but definitely not refining food intake, or removing it completely
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:06 pm
Post subject: Some developments and realisations, a recap
For a while now I've been feeling this urge to refine my food intake. On this path, I've become vegan from being a vegetarian (though I can't technically call myself a fruitarian nor raw vegan at this point, though I have strong tendencies that way), and I have to say, it feel fantastic leaving these animal products behind e.g. milk and eggs. It isn't only the ethical side of it, and compassion for living creatures that have a sense of self, but also to avoid putting animal energy into my body. It's funny how one becomes accustomed to eating certain things. I remember I always felt eggs to be somewhat weird to eat, but got used to it; and now I can see the weirdness for what it really is. It's putting chicken energy into my body! Do I want chicken energy in my body?? So it isn't just an ethical aspect, in some ways, it's about purifying oneself. It's the aspect associated with forging a path toward unity.
The main drive behind this refinement, is this feeling that we're evolving as a planet, and that each individual who works at their lives, and their food intake, adds to the overall effect of change. We're all changing together. One day we will exist in this planet without needing physical food, once the addictions and attachments have passed. A main angle to this urge toward refinement, is an experience of reality beyond the physical, and a dimension of love that exists only a hair's breadth away from us, every micro second of the day.
What I'm realising, is that it's possible to experience this truth, whether one eats or not. Love and compassion extends to all beings, regardless of activity. And yet, through fasting or refining one's food intake, it's definitely true to say, that it brings one closer to things that are true.
Personally, if I've eaten very little (and I have a very busy life, and work consistently hard when I'm working on someone's house, or looking after my children), I see that energy generates energy. I take very minimal breaks when I work, breaks just slow me down. In fact, I generally sit down for 2 minutes at lunch, to rest my legs, and that's it. Then I'm off again. Perhaps this is also why I prefer working alone, where I can set my own pace. The pace of work generates it's own momentum. This snowballing effect of energy, can be applied across most phenomena I think.
But what I have also found, through restricting my food intake - e.g. small breakfast, no lunch, fruits in the evening, is that my own fears and limitations loom mightily in my mind. On the one hand, I know that I'm fine, and have lots of energy, and yet on the other, a part of me is saying: 'You're a fool. You're going to die. Look at all the weight you've lost. You're a sick man!' etc. Weight loss is a significant issue. It's difficult to look and feel thin, when it isn't something one is used to. It is very amazing how many negativities arise when the stomach hasn't got something to latch onto!
Then there is the issue of hunger. It is all entirely psychological I believe. A significant thing I've observed, is that the feeling of hunger I might have when I'm eating next to nothing (which will come and go), is no different to the feeling I have when I have just eating well. So what is going on? How can I feel hungry in both scenarios? I think that it's really only got to do with the stomach expanding or contracting, giving the brain signals. Rather like the hunger one can feel a bit later after a large meal. It isn't hunger of course, it's just that the stomach has been stretched, and now it's beginning to settle back again.
I'm realising that little steps at a time are the best thing for me. Slowly, and appreciatively of what life has to offer. If I was in a different situation, I would definitely want to do a long fast. But it's worth remembering, that large changes in many ways should come from an inner urge, not as a mental concept having seen what someone else has done. I think this is very important. I think there are people out there who have maybe become a bit mixed up, borrowing someone else's life-path, and trying to apply it to themselves. This might work for them (after all, all things do have to start as an idea), but there has to be a genuine resonance for it to be really appropriate for them.
Rooting one's experience and urges in love and respect, without letting the ego always latch onto things, is really the safest way.
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:30 pm
Post subject:
Last edited by Red on Sun Sep 30, 2012 11:06 pm; edited 4 times in total
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Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 121
Location: Texas
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:25 am
Post subject:
lovedimension wrote:
I would find it so interesting to read other people's accounts, updated often. Hopefully someone will do just that
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:37 pm
Post subject: A few days on cooked food
A few days on cooked food
There's so much I'm learning with regards to food. For the last three nights I had cooked food, and I can't say that I feel good on it. In the mornings I can feel kind of muddy - nothing like the lightness from just eating fruit. This process of change in me is unstoppable. I can feel all these things going on inside my body, and my being. I seem to have moved past a whole aspect of fear. More and more I'm feeling the supportive nature of existence. It's strange how experiences of things that penetrate and encompass the material world, are infinite in tone and quality, ever new. I hope that these dark ages that humanity exists in, passes for a while - and all this automatic belief in food consumption with all of the so-called empirical science to support these notions, are seen for what they are. Knowledge bases that really are only self-referring, but that never comprehend the deeper causes of things.
There are so many mysteries, that can only be understood through intuition. So much value is put on empirical methods, and yet, when there's something that doesn't fit a certain model, these things are discarded. For example, evolutionary theory can never answer where on earth (excuse the pun) the Aboriginal people of Australia came from. And that is only one hole, of many, that exist in modern thinking.
Even though I prefer fruits, I find rice ok. But even then, food feels like such blockage. I feel like my body is just saying no to these things; but for the while, from habit and situation, I'm likely to continue eating things, even though I feel that it has short term period for me. I feel more and more attracted to juices. Which I find a little surprising, as I seem to be following a general pattern so far i.e. flesh-eating, vegetarian, vegan, raw-vegan, fruitarian, liquidarian... But who knows what will happen next.
Really, it's such an odd thing ingesting matter. Even fruits and so on, are things of the earth, which are there for their own sake, and that of creation. All things have an effect. Even though eating fruits doesn't have the same impact on self and others as flesh-eating, it's still part of the loop of creation.
I'm really learning the ultra-importance of non-judgement toward everyone, in whatever people do. This seems to be an essential factor in progress, on all levels.
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:45 pm
Post subject: The thinning out of food
The thinning out of food
I thought it was time to update my blog, to chart my progress. I've discovered that maintaining an account can be a useful and an interesting thing. Even if... the intellect is ultimately a rather futile tool when grasping the deeper wonders of our existence. I - or we - think one thing, believing a certain thing to be true or at least a plausible explanation for something, but in fact, it appears to me that intellectualisations of any kind, are only made-up structures that attempt to explain what is already there, or what has already happened. It appeals to the ego, really; some process that exists in time, and needs a map of some kind. But who knows why anything works, why anything exists at all; why humans appeared on earth, how it happened, and indeed, why humans evolved certain eating habits. It happened, and it happens....
Personally, apart from the above abstract, there's more personal stuff I'll detail, with regards to my change of diet. In some ways I've become even more orientated toward fruits, avoiding cooked food. And yet, foods which have been cooked in the past e.g. an oat biscuit, don't weigh as much on me as say, a freshly cooked bean stew. So I still go to some extent for pre-cooked oat based things; and yet, it's fresh fruits that really do it for me.
And yet... Often I feel like the things I'm eating, are equivalent to eating stones or metal. I use this analogy to describe how solid foods often feel to me - really extreme. Extreme inputing o substances... And yet, the hit I get from them, is amazing! When I observe myself eating, I can see that eating really is an imposition on the self, in some ways. Not a bad thing, but a sort of exaggeration of things, a thing learned from the ancestors. At this point in time, I see no real way out of it.
However, recently, I drank juices for breakfast and lunch, which suited me well, though I ate more later in the evening. I think what I need to do, is set aside a time for proper fasting. Not for the sake of 'not eating', but because, I experience the fact that when I'm empty of food, I feel things much more clearly. I'll do a day's fast soon, and see how I feel
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Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:35 pm
Post subject: What was going to happen?
What was going to happen?
When I had an astonishing urge to refine things in my life, including my diet, I turned vegan from vegetarian. I lost a lot of weight, from just under 13 stone (about 82 kg) to now 10 stone (about 63 kg) (I'm 6ft2 in height = 1.87m). At first, my weight dropped to 11 stone, and I was happy with that. I just cut out all of the rubbish really and of course dairy and so on. I've felt great - more flexible, stronger, greater endurance, and of course I look skinnier. I felt like 11 stone was my personal weight, but without really depriving myself, my weight continued to drop, levelling off at 10 stone. At first I wasn't happy about that, but I've easily adapted to this new weight which is normal for me now.
But something has been pushing me onward, and I've been eating less and less recently (well, that is, until 4 days ago), where for 3 days I ate very little, just a little bit of food at one point in the day, and on one day nothing, just juices. I could feel the deeper things of existence with greater clarity. This was a kind of juice-fasting. I could feel a kind of alliance between myself and a deeper reality. And yet...
When I checked my weight, I had dropped to nearly 9 and a half stone (about 61.5kg) and was beginning to look outlandishly slim (but not lacking in energy, I have to say). Still, that was enough for me to worry, and since then I've been eating a lot more. Ironically, while I was worrying about this weight issue, and deciding to get back onto food (cooked and non-cooked), I could feel the strongest impulse yet from deeper sources, toward refinement, which was saying 'don't worry, we have you in hand'. Yet, I haven't been willing (yet) to follow this impulse fully (at this time).
The thing is that being back on the eating, is that I don't feel great on it. In a way it's a series of eating inputs, to mask over the somewhat down feeling from the previous inputs - a cycle at work. Experiencing things this clearly though is very instructive, to see how food works.
What was going to happen with my weight loss? would it have stabilised? I'll have to reduce again at some point.
I'm beginning to see the value also of a quick process, such as the well-walked path of the 21 day process, to make a clean break, though I have little attraction toward it.
Generally, I also have this feeling that there are changes going on inside of me, that are really quite unhindered whether I eat or not, and that it's just a question to time and timing.
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Supercomputers used to supercharge antioxidants
The future of keeping ageing-related diseases at bay lies with the supercomputer according to scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Sydney.
The research, led by Professor Leo Radom from the University's School of Chemistry, and Dr Amir Karton, University of Western Australia, has used sophisticated quantum chemistry and powerful supercomputers to design improved antioxidants which will help stave off ageing-related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Their work was recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and is featured in a current edition of the prestigious scientific journal, Nature Chemistry.
"While most people consume wine, berries and chocolate for an antioxidant boost, we turned on our computers! We were able to use supercomputers to improve the power of natural antioxidants and this may provide future benefit to the health industry," said Dr Karton.
Antioxidants work by scavenging free radicals and other oxidative species, preventing them from causing damage to the body's tissues and organs. In this research the team, working alongside Professor Michael Davies and Dr David Pattison from the Heart Research Institute, studied a particular type of antioxidant found in meat, fish and eggs called carnosine, and investigated its effectiveness in scavenging the oxidant, hypochlorous acid.
Hypochlorous acid can be of benefit to the body when it is used as part of our immune system to fight off invading pathogens. However, excessive levels of hypochlorous acid in the wrong place or at the wrong time have been linked to the development of heart disease.
"The supercomputer modelling allows us to probe deeply into the molecular structure and helps us to understand just why carnosine is such an effective antioxidant. Armed with this understanding, we are then able to design even better antioxidants," said Professor Radom.
The findings of this research have led to a number of recommendations on how to improve the antioxidant capacity of particular molecules, and ultimately how to custom design antioxidants for specific purposes in the fight against ageing-related diseases.
"Although we can't yet claim to have uncovered the fountain of eternal youth, our findings are one more step towards better treatments for ageing-related disease, which we hope will improve longevity and the quality of life in the future," said Dr Karton.
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Chevy Chase had yet another "outburst" on set of NBC's Community, as reported by Deadline and confirmed by his rep to E! News.
The 69-year-old actor, who has voiced his opinions regarding the show numerous times, this time utilized the N-word.
Chevy Chase rants at Community creator in newly released voice mail and calls the show "mediocre sitcom"
U.S. & World
However, it apparently was not directed towards African-American castmates Donald Glover and Yvette Nicole Brown but rather his discomfort with the way things were going with his narrow-minded character, Pierce, in which he suggested he may next be asked to call Glover's character Troy or Brown's character Shirley the N-Word.
He also reportedly "apologized immediately" to his fellow castmembers.
But as he's expressed before, Chase has not had the smoothest ride while being on the NBC show. Chase even revealed to The Huffington Post UK: "It was a big mistake [taking the role]! I just sort of hung around because I have three daughters and a wife, and I figured out I might as well make some bread every week, so I can take care of them in the way they want."
Check out what to watch this Fall on TV!
He also added: "The hours are hideous, and it's still a sitcom on television, which is probably the lowest form of television."
So what has kept the man on the show? "I think the reason I have stuck around is because I love these kids, the cast--they are very good."
However, the feelings might not be mutual as Yvette took to Twitter in what may be a related post, tweeting, "I have the gift of walking away. Always have. #ThatIsAll."
(E! and Community are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
In other news, check out the best things in pop culture this week!


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Need a reading, mandala or some jewelry? Check it out.
Los Angeles (CNN) -- The portrait of Michael Jackson in the last week of his life, painted by people close to him, is a disturbing picture of an emaciated man, unable to sleep or eat, and unlikely to be ready for his comeback concerts just days away.
"Oh, my God, Turkle, I can see Michael's heart beat through the skin in his chest," stylist Michael Bush said after a costume fitting six days before his death on June 19, 2009.
Turkle is the nickname of makeup artist Karen Faye, who testified Thursday and Friday in Jackson's wrongful death trial. Her testimony has been the most dramatic so far.
Proceedings continue Monday with choreographer Stacy Walker on the witness stand.
"Get him a bucket of chicken," manager Frank DiLeo said in reply to concerns about Jackson's weight loss, Faye testified.
"It was such a cold response, it broke my heart," Faye said through tears.
Michael Jackson's mother and three children contend concert promoter AEG Live is liable in Jackson's death because its executives ignored his health problem and pressured him to prepare for his "This Is It" shows set to debut in London in July 2009.
AEG Live negligently hired, retained and supervised Dr. Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the pop icon's death, according to the Jackson's lawsuit.
The coroner blamed Jackson's June 25, 2009 death on an overdose of propofol, combined with sedatives, given to him by Dr. Murray as a treatment for insomnia.
AEG lawyers contend that it was Jackson, and not AEG, who hired and supervised Dr. Murray, and that he was responsible for his own decisions. They said these were influenced by a drug addiction its executives did not and could not be expected to know about.
Witness: "Everybody was lying after he died"
The Michael Jackson the public saw in the documentary "This Is It" -- produced months after his death with 80 hours of video shot during his last rehearsals -- is not reality, Faye said.
She was asked to help retouch the video to make Jackson look healthier on the big screen, she testified. But she refused.
"It was a lie. I didn't want to lie," Faye said. "Everybody was lying after he died, saying that Michael was well, and everybody knew he wasn't. I felt that retouching Michael was just a part of that lie."
Before Faye testified, jurors heard a similarly disturbing description of Jackson in his final days from "This Is It" associate producer Alif Sankey.
Jackson "was not speaking normally" at the June 19 costume fitting, Sankey said. She and producer Kenny Ortega cried after he left because of his appearance and what he said.
"God keeps talking to me," Jackson told Ortega, Sankey testified.
Faye said Jackson seemed "frightened," and he was talking to himself, repeating "the same thing over and over again."
"He kept repeating, 'Why can't I choose?'" she said.
Jackson was shivering from chills, and it was "like I was touching ice" when she put on his makeup, Faye testified.
Faye said she raised her concerns with AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips. He told her, "Yeah, this is bad. It's not so good. I had to scrape Michael off the floor in London ... because he was so drunk," she said.
The Jackson family's legal representation contends Phillips should have gotten Jackson medical care from someone other than Murray.
Sankey, who knew Jackson since she first danced with him in 1987, said she screamed at Ortega in a phone call after the June 19 rehearsal, begging that he get help for Jackson.
"I kept saying that 'Michael is dying, he's dying, he's leaving us, he needs to be put in a hospital,'" Sankey said. "'Please do something. Please, please.' I kept saying that. I asked him why no one had seen what I had seen. He said he didn't know."
Debbie Rowe was "in love with Michael"
The trial, which enters its third week Monday, could offer more previously unpublicized insights into Jackson's life and death.
Along with his oldest children Prince and Paris Jackson, his ex-wife and their mother, Debbie Rowe, is scheduled to testify.
Faye's testimony on Friday offered a glimpse at Jackson's relationship with Rowe, suggesting there was romance involved, or at least jealously.
Faye said that after she was fired from her job during Jackson's "History" tour in 1997, she learned it was because Rowe felt threatened by her relationship with Jackson.
"She was obviously in love with Michael," Faye said. "She had told me for many years that it was her desire to be with him."
Rowe later apologized to her for asking Jackson's manager to let her go, she testified.
"She told me she was jealous of me," Faye said. "She thought that Michael liked me better."
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I want to share the abstract of our upcoming paper at WWW'2010 (here is a link to the full paper). In case you are interested in our research and going to WWW in Raleigh this year as well, I'd be happy if you'd get in touch.
C. Körner, D. Benz, A. Hotho, M. Strohmaier, G. Stumme, Stop Thinking, Start Tagging: Tag Semantics Emerge From Collaborative Verbosity, 19th International World Wide Web Conference (WWW2010), Raleigh, NC, USA, April 26-30, ACM, 2010.
Abstract: Recent research provides evidence for the presence of emergent semantics in collaborative tagging systems. While several methods have been proposed, little is known about the factors that influence the evolution of semantic structures in these systems. A natural hypothesis is that the quality of the emergent semantics depends on the pragmatics of tagging: Users with certain usage patterns might contribute more to the resulting semantics than others. In this work, we propose several measures which enable a pragmatic differentiation of taggers by their degree of contribution to emerging semantic structures. We distinguish between categorizers, who typically use a small set of tags as a replacement for hierarchical classification schemes, and describers, who are annotating resources with a wealth of freely associated, descriptive keywords. To study our hypothesis, we apply semantic similarity measures to 64 different partitions of a real-world and large-scale folksonomy containing different ratios of categorizers and describers. Our results not only show that 'verbose' taggers are most useful for the emergence of tag semantics, but also that a subset containing only 40% of the most 'verbose' taggers can produce results that match and even outperform the semantic precision obtained from the whole dataset. Moreover, the results suggest that there exists a causal link between the pragmatics of tagging and resulting emergent semantics. This work is relevant for designers and analysts of tagging systems interested (i) in fostering the semantic development of their platforms, (ii) in identifying users introducing "semantic noise", and (iii) in learning ontologies.
More details can be found in the full paper.
This work is funded in part by the Know-Center and the FWF Research Grant TransAgere. It is the result of a collaboration with the KDE group at University of Kassel and the University of Würzburg. You might also want to have a look at a related blog post on the bibsonomy blog.
Some background about the distinction between categorizers and describers can be found in a related paper:
M. Strohmaier, C. Koerner, R. Kern, Why do Users Tag? Detecting Users' Motivation for Tagging in Social Tagging Systems, 4th International AAAI Conference on Weblogs and Social Media (ICWSM2010), Washington, DC, USA, May 23-26, 2010. (Download pdf)


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Perhaps a little outdated, but I thought I would share a couple of photos from the day I was sworn in as a Licensed Legal Intern on 10 February 2010. This is the Oklahoma Supreme Courtroom. Pretty cool little room with some amazing wood and plaster work.
A mug shot with me and Justice Edmondson.
Let's not forget Amanda!


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Mandy Chitty pauses May 23, 2013 while ending the day's search for personal belongings at her home in Moore, Okla.
By Suzanne Choney, Contributing Writer, NBC News
Friday's devastating tornadoes, coming so soon after the heartbreak in Moore, means even more help will be needed in the weeks and months ahead. There are many, many relief organizations already in the area, working with residents. Here are some of them and ways that you can help.
American Red Cross
The Red Cross has set up shelters in various communities. You can donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund here, and the organization also suggests giving blood at your local hospital or blood bank.
If you're searching for a missing relative, check Red Cross Safe & Well's site. And please register if you're within the disaster region. The site is designed to make communication easier after a tragedy like this.
If you want to send a $10 donation to the Disaster Relief fund via text message, you can do so by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. As in the case with other donations via mobile, the donation will show up on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your balance if you have a prepaid phone. You need to be 18 or older, or have parental permission, to donate this way. (If you change your mind, text the word STOP to 90999.)
The Red Cross also accepts frequent flier miles as donations. Delta, United Airlines and US Airways partner with the Red Cross throughout the year, which uses miles to help get volunteers and staff to key locations during disasters. (Note: The donation is not tax-deductible as the IRS considers it a gift.) For Delta, email: email@example.com with your SkyMiles number, the number of miles you want to donate, and specify the Red Cross as the charity. You can donate miles online at United Airlines Donate Your Miles and US Airways Dividend Miles.
Phone: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767); for Spanish speakers, 1-800-257-7575; for TDD, 1-800-220-4095.
OK Strong Disaster Relief Fund
The state of Oklahoma, coordinating with the United Way of Central Oklahoma, has established the OK Strong Disaster Relief Fund to help "with the long-term medical, emotional and educational needs" of tornado victims.
Donations can be made online at UnitedWayOKC.org.
Phone: 1-405-236-8441.
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, working with the Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, is seeking monetary donations. To donate, visit the regional food bank's website, or give $10 by texting the word FOOD to 32333.
Phone: 1-405-972-1111
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief
This organization says donations will "go straight to help those in need providing tree removal services, laundry services and meals to victims of disasters."
It is requesting monetary donations (It says clothing is NOT needed). For more information, and to donate, visit Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website.
You can send checks to: BGCO, Attn: Disaster Relief, 3800 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK., 73112.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army sent disaster response units to serve hard-hit areas in central Oklahoma, including Moore, where it is set up mobile kitchens that are helping to feed people every day, and to South Oklahoma City.
Supporters can donate online via the organization's website, SalvationArmyUSA.org. You can also text the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation via cellphone.
If you want to send a check, the Salvation Army asks that you put the words "Oklahoma Tornado Relief" on the check, and mail it to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK., 73157.
Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
Related: Consumers warned about fake Oklahoma charities
The Oklahoman, NewsOk.com
A teacher hugs a child at Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, Monday, May 20, 2013.
Central Oklahoma Humane Society
The Central Oklahoma Humane Society is in need of towels, paper towels, bleach, gloves and crates to help with lost and injured animals. "Currently our greatest need is financial donations to help us treat and house lost and injured animals at our facilities," the society says on its site. Donations can be made online here and should be designated for the "OK Humane Disaster Relief Fund."
Phone: 1-405-607-8991
Feed the Children
Feed the Children has set up five locations in Oklahoma City to accept donations to help victims of the Moore tornado. The organization is accepting items including diapers, canned goods, non-perishable food, snack items, water and sports drinks. The organization is also supporting mobile canteens in partnership with the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.
You can donate online, or make a $10 donation by texting the word DISASTER to 80888.
Phone: 1-800-627-4556
United Way of Central Oklahoma
The recently established United Way of Central Oklahoma's Disaster Relief Fund is meant to help to tornado relief-and-recovery efforts, the organization says on its site.
"Financial contributions are the best way to help unless otherwise requested." Donations may be made online here. Checks, with a notation of "May Tornado Relief" can also be sent to the United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK , 73101.
Feeding America
Through its network of more than 200 food banks, Feeding America, whose mission is to "feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks," says it will deliver truckloads of food, water and supplies to communities in need, in Oklahoma, and is setting up "additional emergency food and supply distribution sites as they are needed." You can donate online here.
Phone: 1-800-910-5524.
Operation USA
The international relief group, based in Los Angeles, says it is providing "essential material aid — emergency, shelter and cleaning supplies" to help Oklahoma's community health organizations and schools recover.
You can donate online here. You can also give a $10 donation by texting the word AID to 50555. Checks should be sent to: Operation USA, 7421 Beverly Blvd., PH, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 1-800-678-7255.
Convoy of Hope
The Missouri-based nonprofit organization has done work in other disasters, including the Haiti earthquake, with a mission of getting food and water to those after disaster strikes. Now it's doing the same for Moore, Okla. You can donate online here. Convoy of Hope is also going the crowd-sourced route, using HopeMob, a site similar to Kickstarter but for raising money to help disaster victims and others in need, which charges no fees to the organizations that use it.
Phone: 1-800-988-0664
Direct Relief
The Santa Barbara, Calif.-based, non-profit organization provides medical assistance and personal hygiene items to those hurt in disasters, as well as in other circumstances.
"Direct Relief has been receiving requests for emergency supplies, personal care and protection items — including hygiene supplies, infection control products, gloves, soap, shampoo, deodorant, sanitary napkins, diapers, wipes and formula," said Kerri Murray, Direct Relief vice president, in an email.
To donate, visit DirectRelief.org.
Phone: 1-800-676-1638
The Emergency Response team for AmeriCares is in Oklahoma, "coordinating deliveries of emergency aid and assessing the needs of survivors and health care organizations in the disaster area."
Since 1982, the Connecticut-based nonprofit has delivered medicine, medical supplies and aid to those in need around the world and across the United States.
You can donate online here. You can also give a $10 donation by texting the word LIVE to 25383. Checks or money orders can be mailed to: AmeriCares, 88 Hamilton Ave., Stamford, CT 06902.
Phone: 1-800-486-HELP (1-800-486-4357)
Operation Blessing International
Humanitarian organization Operation Blessing International, which previously coordinated more than 500 volunteers in Granbury, Texas, after that area was hit by a tornado, is working with The Home Depot and dispatching a construction unit, mobile command center, trucks with tools and supplies and a team of construction foremen to Moore.
On May 20, Operation Blessing International also "loaded and deployed two tractor-trailer truckloads of food and emergency relief supplies from its warehouse in Dallas, Texas, in partnership with the humanitarian organization, Mercury One," said a Operation Blessing spokeswoman.
The Virginia Beach-based group's online link for donations is here.
Phone: 1-800-730-2537
Samaritan's Purse
The international Christian relief organization focuses on cleaning and repairing damaged homes and sent two disaster relief units from North Wilkesboro, N.C. to Oklahoma May 21. "The tractor-trailers are stocked with heavy-duty plastic, chainsaws, generators, and other tools and equipment. The units also will serve as command centers for the response," Samaritan's Purse says on its website.
You can donate online here. You can also give a $10 donation by texting the word SP to 80888.
Phone: 1-800-528-1980
Save the Children
Save the Children responds to disasters around the world, and has created an "Oklahoma Tornadoes Children in Emergency Fund" for online donations. The organization provides food and medical care to children whose families have been displaced from their homes. You can give a $10 donation by texting the word TWISTER to 20222.
Phone: 1-800-728-3843
United Methodist Committee on Relief
The committee works with local United Methodist churches and trained disaster response workers to help with cleanup and rebuilding, pastoral counseling and support for children and youth who have been through trauma.
You can donate online here. You can also give a $10 donation by texting the word RESPONSE to 80888.
Phone: 1-800-554-8583
Life Church.tv, which describes itself as "Oklahoma's largest evangelical church," says its Oklahoma City metro locations will accept donations of items over the next week, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and distribute them to tornado victims. Among the items needed: Toiletries, diapers, wipes, formula, baby bottles, new clothing, new shoes, and bags, backpacks or plastic tubs for carrying items.
You can also donate money online by visiting LifeChurch.tv, or by texting the word RELIEF to 86613, and selecting an amount you would like to donate.
Phone: 1-405-216-7054
Jewish Federations of North America
The Jewish Federations of North America is working with the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma, which is coordinating efforts with a local food bank, Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross. The Jewish Federations of North America has established an Oklahoma City Tornado Relief fund. Donors can contribute online here.
Checks can also be sent to the JFNA national mailbox at: The Jewish Federations of North America, Wall Street Station, P.O. Box 148, New York, NY, 10268. Please indicate "JFNA Oklahoma City Tornado Relief Fund" on all checks or in the designation box online.
Oklahoma Tornado Relief 2013
The Oklahoma Tornado Relief 2013 fundraising effort is being done through a crowd-sourced effort using Fundly, a website for fundraising, akin to HopeMob, mentioned above. On the site, you'll find various fundraising causes to help tornado victims, and can choose which you'd like to support.
DonorsChoose.org is creating a special online fund to collect donations for the teachers and schools of Moore, Okla., to help respond and rebuild. Donors Choose will work with the teachers of Moore to assess what they need for their classrooms and allow them to identify the real-time solutions and supplies their community and their students need: everything from clothing for their students to first-aid kits.
To donate, visit www.donorschoose.org
And a note of caution ...
Emotions are running high, understandably, in light of the awful news from Oklahoma. Many of us want to help in some way. But this vulnerable time is also rife with and ripe for scammers who want to prey on your emotions and wallet. They may seek you out via email, knock on your door, or even try to get you to give money via Facebook.
The Federal Trade Commission has guidelines about charity donations, including these tips:
- Donate to charities you know and trust. Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight in connection with current events, like the tornadoes.
- Ask if a caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and what percentage of your donation goes to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don't get a clear answer — or if you don't like the answer you get — consider donating to a different organization.
- Don't give out personal or financial information — including your credit card or bank account number — unless you know the charity is reputable.
- Never send cash: you can't be sure the organization will receive your donation, and you won't have a record for tax purposes.
- Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.
- Find out if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state by contacting the National Association of State Charity Officials.
Ben Popken and Devin Coldewey also contributed to this report.


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They will say, "If only we had really listened and used
our reason, we would not have been
Companions of the Blaze." (Surat al-Mulk: 10)
From the beginning of the book we have mentioned how wisdom can be acquired
and improved. However, the important thing is for people to learn how
to apply wisdom in their lives and find out where and when they can use
it. Wisdom is not a quality that comes about with great inventions or
something that enables success only in important areas of our lives. On
the contrary, it is reflected in our daily lives, from cleaning to eating,
from clothing to art. For this reason, we will give examples of how wisdom
is applied to everyday life in this chapter.
Above all else, the wise person thinks of how he can earn Allah's approval at all times. He analyses everything that goes on around him and, abiding by his conscience, decides what is the best thing for him to do in that situation.
He never restrains his thoughts, he thinks freely. His horizon is as broad as possible. He is freed of all bigotry, baseless fears and dogmas.
Because he doesn't place any limits on his thoughts, he always comes up with ideas which are straightforward but very effective.
He never occupies his mind with unnecessary thoughts. He never spends his time on things that will not benefit him, that will waste his time, or that will hinder him from spending time on truly important issues.
He puts the needs of the people around him first. He thinks of how he can help these people with their safety, health, and happiness and, if there are any obstacles in achieving these goals, he deals with them without any delay.
He always thinks of things that can be of benefit to religion and believers. He always wants and tries to do beneficial things.
A wise person also plans ahead of time. He focuses his thoughts on whatever he is aiming at. He never concentrates on trivial details.
He thinks of events in stages. He takes precautions by predicting what will happen a few stages later, what the potential dangers might be, or what improvements are likely to happen.
He also thinks of past events. He draws the most sensible and wise conclusions from his experiences and hence accumulates valuable lessons that he may apply in the future.
Whenever negative or wrong things come to mind, he knows that they are only Satan's deceitful words and he takes refuge in Allah.
And with the knowledge that there is a purpose and beauty in everything Allah
has created, he thinks "there is good in all".
A wise person's utterances are the most fitting, wise, genuine, and helpful. Because his vision is broad, the examples he gives are most original and therefore the most effective. Instead of talking excessively he prefers to talk briefly of worthwhile things. He talks when it is necessary and when it is most appropriate. In his wisdom, he determines when it is best to speak and when it is not. For example, he doesn't engage a person in a hurry with unimportant things.
Moreover, he doesn't waste his time by making pointless speeches on meaningless topics. And he only talks about an important topic in relation to its significance.
A wise person makes sincere speeches straight from the heart. He doesn't have a set type. He knows that a truly effective speech is one that comes from within.
Neither does he speak in a monotonous voice, or repeat the same words, sentences,
and style. He doesn't use abusive or hurtful words in his speech. He never
upsets others by mocking them. He always conveys what he wants to in a
clear and precise way.
A wise person takes Allah's artistry as an example above all else. He knows that the imagery of Heaven mentioned in the Qur'an draws attention to materials that give the most pleasure to the human soul and so he tries to imitate these decorations in worldly terms.
As with everything else, he doesn't constrain himself with any rules on this issue. He knows that he doesn't have to place constraints on his style by following fashion. He can make use of all the civilizations and cultures throughout history and be inspired by all the works of art they left behind.
Among these works of art he can analyse which ones are the most appealing to the human eye and give pleasure to the human soul in terms of art and aesthetics. And by combining the most aesthetic pieces, he can come up with an incomparable masterpiece.
Such a person can also combine comfort with art and aesthetics. For this reason, it is very pleasurable as well as comfortable to live in a place which a wise person has decorated. The pieces he chooses are designed to be the most hygienic for human health, most comfortable, easiest to clean, and the most hardwearing, as well as being aesthetically pleasing. For example, he won't use a piece for its good appearance, if it contains harmful smells or chemicals. Instead, he can achieve the same beauty by using different materials.
In addition, he can continuously make new changes in decoration. With the same materials, in the same setting he can put together hundreds of totally different kinds of decor. He never allows for the decoration of the place he is living in to become monotonous. He always makes the place he lives in beautiful by making small or big changes.
Decoration put together by the power of wisdom won't include anything unappealing to the eye. The light and sound arrangement, and the choice of colours would be the most calming and pleasurable to the human eye and soul.
He gives importance to symmetry in decoration. He can calculate the pleasure
of symmetry and confusion of asymmetry that the human eye and soul will
A wise person achieves dexterity by using his wisdom. When he faces a situation that requires him to use skill, he appraises the available options in the best way, plans which task performed in which way will yield the best result, and when he applies this, he achieves the perfect solution. He carries out every job in the most practical way. When he faces a sudden problem, he deals with it in the best way with whatever he has to hand, if it is insufficient.
When he faces a setback, he firstly figures out if he can offset it by whatever means and knowledge he possesses. If he can solve the problem he tries to get rid of it. But if the problem is a technical one and surpasses his ability, he solves the problem by calling on the most competent and knowledgeable person in the field, without wasting any time.
He brings lasting and clear solutions to problems, not temporary or primitive ones. He knows that the harm that may be done if the task is not correctly carried out will require greater effort to reverse than that initially expended on the problem.
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Update on the Arizona Immigration Issue
Since I provided my legal analysis of the new Arizona immigration law, I've become aware of a few interesting developments in that regard.
First, it seems that I wasn't working off the latest version of the bill — which I should add is awfully hard to find. Indeed, perhaps we should excuse Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano for not having read it; both the Arizona Senate's website for SB 1070, and the Arizona House's website for the amending legislation, HB 2162, list several different versions under their "Bill Versions" tabs that do not match the bills in the other. As someone who typically plays in the federal sandbox, if someone can direct me to a verified true copy of the final operative bill, as signed and amended, my colleagues and I — indeed the entire policy community — would be grateful.
In any case, I'm please to announce that the (seemingly) final amended version I'm now working from has improved an already constitutional bill by further safeguarding civil liberties. Most notably, the "may I see your papers?" provision was changed to read that law enforcement officials shall make a "reasonable attempt … when practicable, to determine the immigration status" only after having made a "lawful stop, detention, or arrest … in the enforcement of any other law or ordinance … where suspicion exists that the [detained] person is an alien and is unlawfully present in the United States" (amended text in bold). This establishes a higher predicate standard for police to initiate contact with any person to whom this law will be applied. In other words, there has to be an independent reason for the stop or detention before the police can ask to see proof of immigration status.
The amended bill also prohibits any consideration of "race, color or national origin" in enforcing the new law in any manner that runs afoul of either the U.S. or Arizona constitutions. Moreover, the legislature clarified that the determination of an alien's immigration status would only be performed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Border Patrol, or a "law enforcement officer who is authorized [to do so] by the federal government."
All of these changes unquestionably improved the civil rights provisions of the law and should further protect it from successful legal challenge — again without saying anything about the law's policy wisdom.
Second, while some analysts have argued that Arizona's law might be preempted by federal law — although the leading case, De Canas v. Bica, 424 U.S. 351, which is 34 years old and predates more recent immigration reforms, is not favorable to that position — Roger Pilon alerted me to a 2005 case (unanimous in the judgment, less so in the reasoning), Muehler v. Mena, 544 U.S. 93, that shows that Arizona's law doesn't go as far as the Constitution might allow. In Mena, the police detained the inhabitants of a house whice they were searching pursuant to a lawful search warrant. While most of the officers performed the search, others questioned one detainee about her immigration status without any reasonable suspicious that she committed any crime — and certainly without having any reasonable suspicion that she was an illegal alien. The Supreme Court, in an opinion by Chief Justice Rehnquist, upheld this line of questioning. Part of the reasoning was that the "may I see your papers?" bit did not prolong the detention in any way — the search was still ongoing — but this is at least some indication that the Constitution allows immigration‐related questioning without even the reasonable suspicion required by Arizona.
Third, apparently the head of ICE, John Morton, said his agency will not process illegal immigrants referred to them by Arizona officials. Morton apparently doesn't think that laws like Arizona's "are the solution." Well, we at Cato certainly agree that Arizona's law will not solve a problem that demands a comprehensive federal solution, but that doesn't mean federal officials can simply decline to perform their duties under the law as it exists. What Morton proposes is akin to state "nullification" of duly enacted federal law — except worse, because his agency's job is to enforce that very law. If Morton feels that strongly about our immigration laws, he should either resign or, while complying with his duties, testify before Congress about the law's defects and lobby his boss, President Obama, to push reform.
Fourth and finally, President Obama is deploying 1,200 National Guard troops to the border and requesting $500 million more for border security. With due respect to Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, who want even more troops and money, this approach is neither here nor there. (And it echoes Obama's split‐the‐baby decision on Afghanistan, not willing to go for a whole‐hog escalation but also not willing to rethink the overall policy.) Half‐measures won't do it here, Mr. President (and Congress). If you lack the heart (or have too much of a brain) for a full wall‐and‐militarization of our southern border — and perhaps mass rounding up and deportation of 12 million people — it's time for a fundamental reorganization of the immigration system.
U.S. immigration (non-)policy is nonsensical and unworkable. We're beyond the point of perestroika; it's time for regime change.


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Please note: The Frank Talk articles listed below contain historical material. The data provided was current at the time of publication. For current information regarding any of the funds mentioned in these presentations, please visit the appropriate fund performance page.
Worried about Higher Taxes? Take Action
July 13, 2012
About 1.25 million Americans would pay more in taxes next year if President Barack Obama's latest plan is approved. The White House wants to allow taxes to rise for households making more than $250,000 by boosting the top marginal tax rates to 36 and 39.6 percent (currently, it's 33 and 35 percent).
In an environment where government policy favors higher taxes, investments that lower a tax bill can look attractive. I asked John Derrick, portfolio manager of U.S. Global Investors' tax free funds, to give an update on the municipal bond environment and how some of the fiscal challenges are affecting municipalities today.
A few years ago, it was predicted there would be a possibility of municipal bond defaults. Has that happened?
It's been more than two years now since well-known banking analyst Meredith Whitney declared on 60 Minutes that there would be massive bond defaults across numerous municipalities. We were skeptical of this prediction at the time and have not seen this happen to date. In fact, municipal bonds are as resilient as they have historically been. A recent report from Moody's Investors Service found that defaults for rated municipal bonds remain extremely low, with only 71 defaults from 1970 to 2011. About 73 percent of those defaults occurred in the family affordable housing and not-for-profit health care sectors—only five were general obligation bond issues.
What do you think accounts for the difference between these two types of bonds?
General obligation bonds, such as school district bond issues, are backed by taxpayer dollars, and essential service revenue bonds, including water, sewer or electrical utility issues, are backed by water or sewer bills. We find that, in general, residents have continued to pay their bills, and cities generally pay their bond payments, while cutting expenses in other areas.
Moody's indicates that municipal issuers, such as cities or school districts, have a lot to lose when they default because it causes significant borrowing difficulties in the future and some issuers could face higher borrowing rates. It's kind of like the equivalent of an individual's credit rating—if you stop making payments or default on a loan, you could face higher borrowing costs in the future.
Further, issuers in the health care and housing sectors usually face competition and economic volatility in their local markets.
With any bond purchase, we believe investors should be aware of any factors that may affect an issuer's ability to pay.
Can you give us some examples of recent news in the municipal market?
Extreme examples include the cities in California seeking bankruptcy, including tiny resort town Mammoth Lakes, San Bernardino and Stockton. Stockton is the largest city in the nation to file Chapter 9, as the city was encumbered with rising retiree health-care costs, decreasing tax revenues and a high foreclosure rate.
On the positive side, two California cities are having success with improving their budgets while still paying debt service. In San Diego and San Jose, voters overwhelmingly approved cuts to retirement benefits for city workers. This action will help improve their financial situations while still paying debt service on outstanding bonds.
With U.S. Global Investors offering two bond funds, how do investors choose between the funds?
The Tax Free Fund (USUTX) invests in municipal bonds that generally have longer maturities and is focused on providing a higher level of tax-free income. The Near-Term Tax Free Fund (NEARX), which has an overall Morningstar rating of 4 stars, invests in municipal bonds with relatively short maturities of generally five year or less and seeks to provide tax-free monthly income and stability.
From a credit perspective, both funds seek high-quality bonds. The fund's net assets are invested in investment grade municipal securities. This means, at the time of purchase, the ratings on the bonds must be rated at least BBB or equivalent by Moody's Investors Services or Standard & Poor's Corporation. If there's no rating, it needs to be determined to be of comparable quality.
Right now, the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire at the end of this year, but with election season underway, it's unlikely we'll see a solution to this fiscal cliff. This could mean a higher tax bill for all Americans. As Winston Churchill once said, "We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." In face of higher taxes, tax free bonds could be an investor's tool.
To see if the Tax Free or Near-Term Tax Free Funds are appropriate for your portfolio, call our Shareholder Services at 1-800-873-8637 or click here to send a request for more information about the funds.
*Among 130, 130, 109, and 74 municipal short-term funds, the Near-Term Tax Free Fund earned 4 stars for the overall, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ending 6/30/12.
Please consider carefully a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. For this and other important information, obtain a fund prospectus by visiting www.usfunds.com or by calling 1-800-US-FUNDS (1-800-873-8637). Read it carefully before investing. Distributed by U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc.
Morningstar Ratings are based on risk-adjusted return. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted-average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five- and ten-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For each fund with at least a three-year history, Morningstar calculates a Morningstar Rating based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a fund's monthly performance (including the effects of sales charges, loads, and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. (Each share class is counted as a fraction of one fund within this scale and rated separately, which may cause slight variations in the distribution percentages.)
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor.
Tax-exempt income is federal income tax free. A portion of this income may be subject to state and local income taxes, and if applicable, may subject certain investors to the Alternative Minimum Tax as well. Each tax free fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that pay taxable interest. Income or fund distributions attributable to capital gains are usually subject to both state and federal income taxes. Bond funds are subject to interest-rate risk; their value declines as interest rates rise. The tax free funds may be exposed to risks related to a concentration of investments in a particular state or geographic area. These investments present risks resulting from changes in economic conditions of the region or issuer.


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Manx Tomkinson Country Twist Gold
Delivery costs are worked out during checkout, you will be able to see the charge before you finalise your order. costs depend on amount ordered and location. one you have placed your order we will contact you to arrange a convenient delivery date with you.
Simply select your required width & length from the drop down menus
Why choose a carpet?
A well made fitted carpet offers the luxury feel of a natural textile, attractive to look at and soft to the touch. A safe and friendly environment for adults and children, which is both slip resistant and comfortable to walk on. It maintains the warmth of your home in winter, whilst at the same time reducing unwanted noise around your house. As a flooring material, a modern carpet offers an unparalleled choice of fashionable colour and texture, and if treated sensibly will stay looking attractive and give you years of service.
What are the benefits of carpet?
- Adding Warmth
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- Adding Insulation
- Adding Interior Design Flexibility
- Adding a Low Cost Alternative
- Adding Sound Reduction Qualities
- Adding to Creating Cleaner Air
- Adding Extra Life to Your
- Adding An Element Of Easy Care


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In September 2016 we released Oceanhorn on PS4 and Xbox One, our very first console game. Since its release we received so much love and overwhelmingly positive feedback from console gaming community. Thank you so much!
Oceanhorn is our love letter to action adventures from past generations and combines the action and puzzle elements from Zelda games with the emotional journey of the Final Fantasy and Mana series.
|Oceanhorn on PSVita in action
|Wow these colours pop on the PS Vita screen!
Soon after launch we received many requests from players who'd love a portable PS Vita version of this game so we decided to do a Twitter Poll about it. What followed was an incredible Tsunami of likes and retweets – it blew us away! We are very happy to announce that Oceanhorn – Monster of Uncharted Seas will arrive on PS Vita on May 17th, 2017.
Taking full advantage of PS Vita
We've been working hard to deliver the same gameplay experience that you've loved on consoles, so we put many hours into optimizing our code. We're very happy to confirm that the whole game runs beautifully on the PS Vita delivering smooth performance all the way through the entire game.
It's just amazing to see the game coming to life on the colourful PS Vita display. Everything looks so expressive, adding an extra punch to the huge variety of islands like rainy forests or scorching desserts. Explore all of them on the go!
|The game will take you from the deepest dungeons to the highest skies
Beautiful Game for a beautiful Handheld System
We didn't stop with just porting it, we also added features to take advantage of the Vita in unique ways. You decide if you want to use them or play in a traditional way. First of all we enabled Touch Screen for casting spells and to navigate the menus. This is a very comfortable and direct way of choosing targets or menu options. Furthermore we enabled PlayStation TV so you can play on the big screen.
Oh and in case you're wondering: The game features its own set of trophies, so all trophy hunters rejoice, another Platinum Trophy to hunt for. Altogether we aimed to deliver a must have for every PS Vita library and it's our way of saying thanks for your support. Cheers!
Korbinian Mossandl// Producer, FDG Entertainment


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Same place in France
Dear Em.
Now Ive got to apologize for what I said last night, and when I tell you that I received three letters from you today dated the 14th 20th and 23rd you will know what Im apologizing about.
If you havent received my letter dated Dec. 20, Ill tell you that I think I was disapointed when I failed to hear from you yesterday. Im not going to try and tell you how much I appreciate your Christmas present, (and that is just what these three letters are) for I don't want to fill this letter up with some thing you already know. Im going to tell you that youve got quite a scheme, addressing your letters with bleueing.
Em, you speak of receiving my letters; what letters, for you see Em it is so long between letters that I wish you would state the date so that I will know how my mail is getting along. Parlez vous. Your letter of the 13th of Nov. said that I spoke of being short of tobacco. I not only got your package, but I also got one from the boss and one from an old member of Co. K 8th Mass. V.M. A sister of one of the fellows at the shop wrote and said she was sending me a package. The boys of 85 South St are sending a large package, so the shipper writes, and Im not being forgotten by Lil. So you see Im pretty well healed if I am away over in France. Now Ill appreciate all you send (but) don't go to too much bother (all you folks) by sending a lot of packages, for they may get lost after all. You speak of getting another box ready and I hope it reaches the party it is intended for.
You also speak of getting some news through the papers but Em, don't take too much stock in this news. I hear that one Boston Paper had a piece stating that the 103rd Reg. was already in the trenches. We are as safe now, as we would be were we home among the slackers (yes I think more so.) Tell Bert I thank him very much for what he is doing toward supplying me with fags and quid and also Pa for his help.
So the Ayer boys are going South. Well Em give them all the luck and sympathy you can, for their never getting any from the Sammies. Im glad to hear that Henry and Leonard are getting sociable, and I hope they will continue to be so. Give him my very best regards and tell him I wish him the very best of luck. It is funny that sugar is so scarce over there when we get it in our coffee, although we see very very little milk. OH you condensed milk.
As for taking a bath, say Em Ive got all through worrying. Im going to be frank and say Ive had just two of these since landing in France and we hit here which was just two months tomorrow. And Im feeling great. You will be able to use the toilet all the time when I get back at this rate what? Its tough to think Ill be dirtier before the job is done though.
Em as you state in your letter of the 13th of Nov. Do you notice how I pick your letters to pieces and just eat them up. You say you're with me what ever I do and where ever I go and I realize it Em. Im glad to hear that all is well with every body and remember me to the Hollands individually please. Did they get my letter yet? In your letter dated the 20th you start by saying you received a letter from me Friday. Id like to know what date it had on it so I would know how many of my letters are in route. You said you worked all day Saturday which must have been the 17th. I suppose this working over time is a thing of the past now, and I don't know of any better use you could put your over time to now than write to A.E.F. I hope Pa enjoyed the day off he had and also his visit to Madge. I bet you think your some kid in your darby coat. More speed to you.
I sent Aunt Mollie and Little Mary some mail c/o of you for I couldn't for the life of me think of her address, and it is just as well that I did Im thinking for you say she is moving. How's Mc. Im sorry to hear she isnt feeling any to well and hope that by the time this reaches you she will have fully recovered. You spoke of yesterday being a good day, but this is not the case here, the only good day we get here is Bon Jour from the natives. Every day is snow rain windy or damp and cold. But Im feeling great. Did Henry stick to his promise by spending Thanksgiving with you. How was the stuffing, squash, say tell us about it will you?
Im a Y.M.C.A. crank from now on. Yes they are doing splendid work, and I know beleive me. Ever since leaving the shores of A. we have been helped wonderfully by this organization. No matter where the U.S. troops go the Y.M. is there ahead of them with their huts and good advice. The next draft you say is in Feb. Well Em I may be a veteran in this game by that time, soft peddle, but a lot of music. March is the spring remember. Nuf Ced.
I can see Pa sitting there in that rocking chair as plain as you could the night you wrote this letter. Does he use the lamp Henry put in? OH you comforts of home. You say Bert and Lena have gone out, I bet Len looked pretty clever, she's there (but don't tell her I said so.) OH you Theresa at the piano. Im all alone here tonight and I can hear her tickling the keys as I have when every one at home was out and me sitting at that kitchen table reading or wondering whether Id go out or not. You said you had the door open so you could hear her, just as I would if I was there all alone tonight. You start now and Ill sing tenor. Don't you remember the cat yowls we used to have. You spoke of my letter which stated Im not receiving any mail. I guess Ill have to take this all back now.
Washing, say Em Im ashamed to mention this part of this trip so nuf ced. Lets talk of pleasant things, even if we are not at the table. I havent spent an unpleasant day yet since leaving Westfield as far a my health was conserned, and if Sam has any thing to do with it I will come sailing into Boston Harbor or some other welcoming seaport of Uncle Sam and American flag.
Your letter of Nov. 23-17 is the darb. It states that you received my letter of the 31st of Oct. Now I know that you've got a lot of mail coming to you. And if there is a letter for me for every one that is on the way to you, Ive got some coming to me. You said it was longer. Im glad of that, for I must have had some thing to write about. Tell Sadie Im waiting for a letter from her now that she said she would write. Tell her not to put off til tomorrow what ought to be done today. Tell her Im sorry for that leg she hurt and tell me if it is better. OH I went and read the letter wrong it was her arm she hurt. Well she can tell me about that too.
Lena is Hoverizing on food stuffs, and I guess Im doing some of this econimy stuff with this paper. Getting down to my old speed now I guess. You said Lena was making all kinds of bread. We get this (so called bread) once a day. You could make me hungry by mentioning any thing that Lena cooks. You spoke of a service flag outside the shop on which was nine stars. It is the first I heard about this flag, and I could name every one they represent. I think I would too if it was not for the fact that Id be putting draft men where they did not belong as did the firm.
Im glad to hear in your letter of the 22nd of Nov. that Mr. Holland is now up and well and tell him to cut out this being sick buisiness. It isnt good for a body. (Im not through yet) Also Mollie. Tell her I dont want to hear of her being sick again. You see us fellows over here have no time to be sick. A sick man is almost as bad as a (Bosh). You say you havent been to any dances. Whats the matter, are your legs petrified or are you feeling like sixty. Put me inside of Roughan's tonight and I wouldn't care if this old war lasted forever. Im in my right mind too Em.
OH before I forget it tell Bert if he wants to read a book, a real book tell him to get "Over The Top" written by Arthur Guy Empey. It discribes to the letter the recriut and rookie in this war. I cant mention where we've been, the conditions under which we traveled and lived. I read the first part of it and it seemed as though I was relating my own personal experience. Well Em Ive written two letters besides this tonight equally as long and as taps has blown a half hour ago I think Ill call this quits for tonight and finish and send it on its long journey tomorrow. Bon niut…
© Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.


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Fresh Lavender Garden Scented Wax Melts
$ 1.99 $ 2.49
We currently have 30+ in stock.
A long time ago in 1987, when Burt Hanna was a poor college student trying to make ends meet, he started making potpourri in the basement of his house. He started selling the potpourri and had great success. So much success that he was able to move out of his basement factory into a real factory. He entered the home fragrance industry as a young entrepreneur, tried making just about everything that had fragrance, and found a niche in the emerging scented candle market.
Today Hanna's Candle Company makes tons of candles. We use 20 million pounds of wax a year (10,000 tons), which would make 3.2 billion birthday candles; which would circle the earth 6 times. We make beautiful, wonderfully scented candles and home fragrance products that are affordable and relevant to today's home decor colors and design.
Here at the manufacturing plant, you will regularly find Burt in the lab up to his elbows creating and testing new products to introduce to you, out valued customer. Each season brings new events to celebrate with family and friends; and candles help create the perfect atmosphere! Our memories of the fragrances, colors and sounds of our loves are the gifts that we cherish and visit often, focusing on what matters most.
Burt has been a member of the National Candle Association since 1994 and in 2011 was presented with the National Candle Association Hall of Fame Award for Special Achievement. His hard work, respect for his employees, and commitment to protect the interest of the domestic candle industry in the U.S. is why Hanna's is still here after all these years. Hanna's Candle Company is proud to bring you an array of home fragrance products that you will enjoy and share.
These comments are direct from the feedback option on every order receipt. These are the comments that make or break our day. We strive for very happy customers.
- Fresh Lavender Garden fragrance: This fragrance opens with the sweet, sparkling aroma of Lavender de Provence, jasmine flowers, and rose petals
- Melts do not have a wick and are made to be used with a warmer. A great alternative when flames are not allowed or desired. All the fragrance, none of the flame!
- Melt burner required and sold separately.
- Approximate usage time varies according to warmer used
- Made in the USA
- 2.5 oz
- product weight (including plastic clamshell): 3.1oz
- 12 individual cavity melts
- Melts are: flameless, wickless, no wick, no flame
**Discontinued first quality item. Limited quantities. No refunds or exchanges.
HANNA'S® at Home Melts Collection has over 30 sure to please fragrances! How many have you tried?
QUESTIONS & ANSWERSAsk a Question (quick reply)
Do u have only lavender scented wax melts
The essential oil line has a true Lavender fragrance:
I hope this helps!


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Friday, May 18, 2012
Mahjong Room, Surry Hills
The decor is thoughtful and warm. There are no laminex tables or tissue boxes on the table. The dining room feels modern yet has a traditional "oriental feel" to it. The food is GREAT - traditional Chinese food (says the Aussie gal from the country town up North) with a clean, modern twist. It's 100% better than anything you'd ever eat at your local Chinese. For me it had that elusive "thing" that makes a restaurant feel welcoming...and wonderful (plus a meal deal voucher and you KNOW how much I love them).
Our meal kicks off with a never ending cup of tea, which is lovely on what has turned out to be a rather wet, and not-so-warm night.
The voucher deal includes four entrees of the restaurants choosing. They happily whip up some non-red meat/lamb/chicken options for us - I forget to mention my quirky eating habits when I made the booking. My Bad. I thought The Boy would be unhappy that his San Choi Bao come sans meat, but he loved the mix of finely diced vegetables, topped with crunchy noodles. The Steamed Scallops were lovely, fresh and light - and I loved the addition of enoki mushrooms to the garnish.
The poached Blue Swimmer Crab Gow Gee were sublime. Really meaty and flavoursome, and I loved the light broth the dumplings came submerged in (not a drop was left when the waiter came to collect the bowl).
The Boiled Vegetarian Dumplings held their own against the wonderful Crab Gow Gee. Filled with choy sum, black fungus, and pressed doufu (aka Tofu) they were hearty and packed with simple, yet delightful flavours. Again I slurped up every last drop of the broth.
Our first main was the delectable Tiger Prawns with Sugar Peas. The prawns and snow peas were wok fried in XO sauce (is that Chinese for Kiss Hug Sauce)? Really REALLY good. The Snow Peas were so fresh that they still had a wonderful crunch to every mouthful. The Steamed Fish of The Day (Barramundi) was cooked with ginger, shallot and chili came served on a bed of wonderfully soft, slippery (and really tasty) Tofu. Both of these mains were a winner in my book - and who knew Tofu could taste SO good?
Of course we have room for dessert. Who could say no to Chocolate Banana Spring Rolls - with lychee ice cream. The Boy's eyes rolled back in his head when he bit into the Banana Spring Roll - that good huh Mister? I loved the lychee ice cream, slightly tart yet sweet at the same time.
I haven't been to Billy Kwong's or Spice Temple yet, but I imagine that The Mahjong Rooms take on Chinese food is quite similar to theirs. Clean, simple, modern cooking techniques and ingredients that really highlight what good food is all about - just not quite as expensive as those places. It's a modern take on Chinese food and I loved it. LOVED it!
The Mahjong Room is at 312 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney Telephone 02 9361 3985.
10 comments:
I always walk by this place and think about going...so glad you liked it. Will definitely be giving it a try now!ReplyDelete
Sounds good...banana spring rolls, that is cool :)ReplyDelete
Lol @ kiss and hug sauceReplyDelete
Ahh, I walked past this place last night after Toko. Will have to give it a try! Haha, kiss hug sauce!ReplyDelete
Those Gow Gee look fantastic. The dishes here do look really lovely and bright. I just finished reading The Joy Luck Club for work and I was craving good Chinese food. I wish I wasn't on an eating out ban. I'd really love to pop over there now.ReplyDelete
The Mahjong room is high on my want to visit list, but.......... I want to go to one of their once a month mahjong yum cha events!! You get to eat great food and learn how to play mahjong.ReplyDelete
Everything you had looks great, and I love how they, with no fuss, catered to your food preferences.
- AnonymousMay 20, 2012 at 3:11 PM
i've always been intrigued by The Mahjong Room (because i loveeee mahjong) and the crab gow gee sounds amazing as well as the chocolate banana spring roll with lychee! kiss and hug sauce had me giggling haha :DReplyDelete
This sounds SERIOUSLY scrumptious. Thanks for the excellent review, I'll definitely have to check it out now! :)ReplyDelete
I quite like this place. It's not terribly exciting but the food is good and it's fairly similar to Billy Kwong and Spice Temple.ReplyDelete
ahh so THIS is the mah jong room! always been so curious about this place. The food looks so good! love your photos Mel!ReplyDelete


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So what happens when retail doesn't get anything new for months?
On a semi-related note, I was able to order a Sideshow exclusive edition 12" Boba Fett on Friday within three minutes of logging on to Sideshow's site. No issues putting anything in my cart, no issues checking out, and no issues with late email confirmations or confusion. And especially no issues with a slow site or "underestimated demand." Not directly related to the mail-away Fett, but it bears repeating that some companies obviously know how to handle online transactions.
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