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The Dry Gardening Handbook: Plants and Practices for a Changing Climate
Thames & Hudson, 2008 - Gardening - 208 pages
A garden that can withstand summer drought and requires little watering is the dream of every gardener who is conscious of the need to conserve water and who wants to create a garden in harmony with the environment. That dream can become a reality with the help of this indispensable new reference book which provides concrete solutions to the questions and hurdles faced by gardeners coping with dry conditions.
Abundantly illustrated with more than 400 original color photographs, this is a vital book for novice and experienced gardeners alike. It includes an A—Z list of more than 500 drought-resistant plants with details on the plant's scientific name, geographical origin, height and width, exposure and hardiness, foliage, ideal soil conditions, and related or complementary plants, and provides techniques for soil preparation, planting, and maintenance of gardens and landscapes.
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The Dry Gardening Handbook: Plants and Practices for a Changing Climate
Olivier Filippi
No preview available - 2019
Common terms and phrases
15 C DROUGHT 80 CM POSITION adapted aromatic Artemisia branches Buddleja carpet Cistus CM HEIGHT CM POSITION SUN CM SPREAD 60 cold colour cultivar cushion cuttings in autumn cuttings in spring dark green deciduous decorative dense DROUGHT RESISTANCE CODE dry garden Euphorbia evergreen evergreen leaves flower spikes flowers appear flowers open forms garrigue Greek green leaves grey groundcover HARDINESS 12 HEIGHT IN FLOWER HEIGHT OF FOLIAGE hybrid inflorescences Lamiaceae Lavandula angustifolia lavender May-June MEDITERRANEAN BASIN MEDITERRANEAN BASIN HEIGHT mediterranean climate mountains oleander ORIGIN MEDITERRANEAN BASIN perennial perfect drainage Phlomis pink flowers POSITION SUN HARDINESS Propagation RESISTANCE CODE 2.5 rhizomes roots Salvia scent seed in autumn self-seeds SEMI-SHADE HARDINESS shrub silver softwood cuttings soil type South Africa species stems stomata sub-shrub subsp summer SUN HARDINESS 15 SUN OR SEMI-SHADE Teucrium thick tolerates alkaline conditions tree undersides unfussy about soil well-drained soils white flowers withstands salt spray yellow flowers


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Jenny is in perpetual search for easy, weeknight recipes to attempt to feed her family. When they balk, she just eats more.
I have a new friend who is on a strict gluten-free diet, which I have chosen to look at as a fresh cooking challenge. As with all new adventures, there have been hits and misses; I am still trying to work through my emotions about matzo balls made with almond flour.
But one dessert I made for G. has become a new favorite in my house, and a go-to cookie for all occasions, gluten-free guests or not. These are tremendously fast -- just the thing for a last minute dinner party -- totally delicious and the only person who won't like them is the chocolate hater, who I am sure is working that issue out with the help of friends and family.
This is my adaptation of the Mexican chocolate cookie, which generally involves chili powder and crushed nuts. I have made the cookie in its original form, which I love, but decided when I was making it for a party that I would make a cookie that was not only gluten-free, but an option for those with nut allergies (or aversions) and without the spice that some kids might dislike.
Often there is an inverse relationship between the amount of effort expended to make food inoffensive and the pleasure taken from eating it. Not here.
This cookie is so pleasurably rich in chocolate, and offers such a delightfully surprising texture, that most people race toward them like deer to a salt lick, until they are all gone and your guests begin staring at you with mild accusation, as if you purposely didn't make enough.
The key here is good chocolate -- the powder can be natural or Dutch processed -- and not overmixing. The batter will look a little odd once you get the egg whites in there, as if there is not enough binding agent. Don't worry about this. Just plop these suckers out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and tuck them into the oven. Once they start cracking, they are done. Take them out and let them cool a while on the pan or they will fall apart as you attempt to remove them.
Once they are cooler, remove them to the rack. Then stand back. They won't be there long.
Divine Gluten-Free Chocolate Cookies by Jestei
This recipe serves a crowd
2.5 cups powdered sugar1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon kosher salt3 egg whites1 teaspoon vanilla extract2.5 cups semisweet chocolate chips
See the full recipe (and save it and print it) here.
Photo by James Ransom
A New Way to Dinner, co-authored by Food52's founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, is an indispensable playbook for stress-free meal-planning (hint: cook foundational dishes on the weekend and mix and match 'em through the week).
See what other Food52 readers are saying.

subset: commoncrawl


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Schuberth North America Opens its Doors
German helmet company takes U.S. distribution into its own hands
With last week's opening of Schuberth's administrative facility in Aliso Viejo, Calif., U.S. riders now have another premier helmet to choose from, even if for now, only the men's and women's version of its vaunted C3 flip-up touring model is being imported.
Schuberth, which is based in Magdeburg, Germany, has long been known for its highly-engineered and pricey helmets designed for a laundry list of industries and sports, including auto racing and motorcycling.
Citing lost consumer confidence after distributor Fairchild Sports ceased Schuberth importation, then went out of business altogether, Schuberth World Wide's CEO Marcel Lejeune, was on hand from Germany to personally usher in Schuberth's renewed commitment.
"We have many customers here, more than 30,000 and many were unhappy because they couldn't get the service any more they wanted." Lejeune said, "We didn't want to do this again, and we have decided to bypass importers and create our own company called Schuberth North America and import ourself, take our destiny in our own hands and work here directly in the market."
Among other luminaries, Lejeune was joined by his new General Manager, Randy Northrup, as well as Aliso Viejo Mayor Phillip Tsunoda, Schuberth-sponsored Indy Car Racer Townsend Bell, and Tim Buche, who is concurrently the president and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council, Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Small Vehicle Institute of America.
Buche's attendance marked Schuberth's having recently joined the MIC, and he offered a membership plaque and hearty welcome for the German helmet maker.
"We want consumers to make good choices, and certainly Schuberth is a good choice," Buche told the crowd of about 40-50.
A moment before the ribbon cutting, the affable and charismatic Lejeune, who'd drawn laughter for insisting he take his sunglasses off for the photos, so he wouldn't "look like a Mafiosi," drew further approval and applause as he charged Northrup to do a good job. Northrup has worked previously for Scorpion and Icon helmets, and he and crew had spent seven months planning in advance of the new facility.
"For you especially, Randy, and for your team, by cutting this ribbon here, the game starts. No more discussions, no more plans, no more changes. The work starts. Know you have to deliver," Lejeuene said with all sobriety mixed at the same time with a light hearted and well-timed dramatic tone, "So you still have a chance of asking me not to cut it. But if you don't insist you aren't, we're going to do it, and after this, no more excuses. Please bring these helmets to this market!"
For the time being, Schuberth will only bring two versions of one $699 helmet to market, but the C3 and the women's C3W version is reportedly responsible for a great deal of its sales. The company says it is the lightest of its type, most aerodynamic, and quietest.
The helmet is a showcase of Schuberth technology, including a pinlock visor, an integrated retractable interior sun visor, and claimed sound level of just 84 dB at 62 mph thanks in part to a neck-hugging wind curtain and tabs on the top of the clear face shield to reduce wind noise. The shield easily releases without tools. The helmet employs a fumble-free microlock closing system, and Anti-Roll-Off System (AROS) in the back of the helmet to keep it in place in the event of a frontal collision. At 62 mph, it's said to flow 1.8 gallons of air per second with vents open, and is offered in two shell sizes to handle its range of XXS-XXXL.
Other Schuberth helmets sold in Europe are not being imported as of yet because they have not gone through DOT certification. They do meet the European ECE standard, but not the Snell standard.
Lejeune says while there are several motorcycle helmet certifications standards now, and more being proposed, his company does not intend to meet the Snell standard, and feels the DOT and ECE standards are more than sufficient.
He said he is unaware of controversy over Snell standards in the past several years, but regardless, vouched for his products as being engineered to be on par with makers such as Arai and Shoei, which do meet Snell standards.
Later, during a presentation inside the newly opened facility, Lejeune elaborated on the German maker's 70-year history and ongoing dedication to providing the best possible safety for any kind of helmet on which the company puts its name.
Included were video demonstrations of military helmets deflecting 9mm small arms fire, and riot helmets meant to withstand molotov cocktails, propelled chemicals and bludgeoning by iron-bar-wielding protestors. Another video graphically demonstrated the efficacy of a shielded helmet meant to protect an electrician from a flaming 3,000-volt short circuit. A helmeted mannequin was utterly flambéed from the torso up by a flaming, sparking junction box, but at least the helmet protected its face and head. Another video showed molten steel being poured on a Schuberth hard hat meant for foundry use which was then flipped over to demonstrate an un-melted, and relatively cool interior.
The message dramatically driven home was that Schuberth thoroughly designs its helmets as solutions for all conceivable eventualities, and each of its helmets are specifically designed for given applications.
Speaking directly to motorcyclists, Lejeune said the commitment is the same: Schuberth helmets are uncompromised, and the beneficiary of research, development and testing prowess second to none.
These assertions actually only reinforce a reputation that preceded the German helmet maker, despite any supply problems the company has suffered in the past.
For years some BMW aficionados in particular were known to travel to Germany and bring back a Schuberth helmet. These coveted lids were as "made in Germany" as their motorcycles, and worn as prized possessions.
Lejeune, who's headed Schuberth for the past three years, said his company invented the flip-up full face helmet in the 1970s, while conceding it and BMW have an ongoing friendly disagreement as to who first came up with the idea.
Proof that Schuberth yet has raving fans was evidenced by several Iron Butt rally riders who'd moto-trekked from northern California and elsewhere on their adventure-touring-oriented KTMs and Beemers and the like to be part of the opening ceremony.
According to Northrup, the C3 and C3W, and the $399 SRC (Schuberth Rider Communication) Bluetooth system developed by Cardo for the C3 (and suitable for already existing Schuberth C2 and Concept helmets) are being sold primarily through brick-and-mortar dealers.
To date, only a handful of dealers are carrying the helmets, and Schuberth North America is selectively seeking more high-quality, service-oriented dealers to sell through. The buy-in for charter dealers includes a full selection of all Schuberth products in all colors and sizes.
Schuberth's limited range of U.S. products will be available online, too, Northrup says, and plans to roll out nationwide regional servicing dealers are still ongoing.
The company will use a third-party shipping and receiving facility, and will not warehouse the helmets at Aliso Viejo. The new facility and its staff of seven will handle marketing, administrative and warranty operations for the small but not insubstantial company.
Lejeuene said some time around June, 2011 another ECE and DOT-certified full face helmet will be brought in to complement the C3 and C3W. He did not specify whether it would be a race helmet, or street oriented, and indicated the decision will be made after Schuberth North America has had time to run for a while.


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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - After recording the first postseason hat
trick in Tennessee Tech soccer history, junior Jen Hoffman was
named to College Soccer 360's Primetime Performer of the Week
After the Golden Eagles fell behind 2-0, Hoffman scored all three of Tech's goals as the Golden Eagles topped Eastern Illinois 3-2 in double-overtime in the first-round of the OVC tournament on Nov. 5, helping Tech to its first OVC championship game since 2000. Hoffman was the only player from the Ohio Valley Conference to earn honors on the 22-person team after finishing the week with six points.
"Jen had a wonderful season this year and she really took it to another level this past weekend," Tech head coach Becky Fletcher said. "We were placed in a tough situation in the first game, being down 2-0 in the 2nd half. Not only did she score, but she upped the intensity for the entire team and inspired them."
The honor isn't the first for Hoffman this season as she earned one OVC Offensive player of the Week award, and was named the OVC's Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-OVC selection. Hoffman led the league in goals in conference regular season games with four, and finished the year with nine total goals, one assist and 19 points.
Hoffman was a second-team all-OVC selection, and a member of the OVC all-newcomer team after her freshman year in 2006 when she scored six goals and added one assist. She left TTU in 2007, and returned in 2008, when she had to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.
Hoffman's hat trick was the first of her career and made her only the third Golden Eagle in history to accomplish the feat. Tania Desmarais did it against Morehead State on Oct. 6, 2001, and Jill Burns had four in here career at Tech, including one against Morehead State.
Arizona State - Alexandra Elston
Boise State - Erica Parks
Boston College - Jillian Mastroianni
Colgate - Monica Jensen
Davidson - Amanda Flink
Dayton - Jerica DeWolfe
High Point - Marisa Abbott and Laura Shupe
LSU - Mo Isom
Memphis - Ashley Berra and Vendula Strnadova
Michigan State - Lauren Hill
Milwaukee - Sarah Hagen
Monmouth - Mary Wilks
North Carolina - Whitney Engen and Casey Nogueira
UNC Wilmington - Erica Pardini
Oklahoma State - Colleen Dougherty and Annika Niemier
Purdue - Sylvia Forbes
Sam Houston State - Shelby Grissett
San Diego State - Cat Walker
South Carolina - Kayla Grimsley and Blakely Mattern
Southeast Louisiana - Lacey Bockhaus
Stanford - Kelley O'Hara
Tennessee Tech - Jen Hoffman


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In terms of quality and value, purchasing an ESEE Knife is a decision where you can't go wrong. Since 1997 Randall's Adventure & Training has designed no-nonsense, affordable field knives specifically targeted to military, law enforcement, and the special operations community. They have built a solid reputation. Their knives are carried by countless military personnel, law enforcement agencies, and special operations teams around the world. They have survived years of extreme use, brutal testing, and design refinement. Originally designed to withstand the toughest of harsh situations, ESEE Knives now have a reputation that is second to none. To top it off, let's not forget ESEE Knives boasts an UNCONDITONAL No Questions Asked Lifetime warranty, just in case you should manage to destroy your knife (see warranty details below). Buy with confidence, knowing your ESEE Knife purchase carries lasting value.
This ESEE Knife is made from high carbon 1095 steel. And while 1095 is a top choice for professional cutlery designed for hard use, it will rust and stain if not properly cared for - especially on the cutting edge and around the laser engraving. It is the user's responsibility to keep the blades properly lubricated and cleaned. We suggest using a dry film rust inhibitor such as Sentry Solutions MARINE TUF-CLOTH.
Esee knives are not considered "high production" due to the care that is taken during the manufacturing process. After the steel is laser cut to size, the knives are heat treated (**see note below). The Micarta handle slabs are profiled and radiused on a CNC milling machine, and each set of handles are matched and fitted to a corresponding knife blank. The reason for this is during the laser cutting process there is a certain amount of tolerance, so one knife may be a few thousanths of an inch bigger (or smaller) than the next. By marrying a set of handles to a blank throughout the manufacturing process, the user ends up with a finely fitted knife. The handles slabs are held in place with three screws fastened with Loctite into a barrel nut. When the handles are assembled, a fiber liner is placed between the Micarta slab and tang of the knife. The partially serrated knives are made by milling each serration individually with a 3/8" end mill. Unlike a lot of serrations, these are designed to easily cut through fabrics, rope and other flexible materials.
Partially serrated blades are easily sharpened by honing with a flat hone across them in the same manner as you would hone the plain edge. The textured powder coat we use on Esee knives is a special powder that has an increased amount of resistance to wear and corrosion, while maintaining a smoother feel than oxide or phosphate coatings.
**All ESEE Knives now feature a Rowen Manufacturing heat treat recipe that allows for hardening the blade completely to 57 Rc. while still maintaining flexibility.
No Questions Asked Warranty, from ESEE Knives: "If you screw it up, break it, or cut it in two with a cutting torch, send it back and we'll replace it. Warranty is transferable. In other words, we warranty the knife no matter how many times it's been traded, sold or given away. We don't ask for a sales receipt, date of purchase or where you bought the knife - No fine print and no hassles. We do not warranty against rust or normal wear and tear.
A lot of folks have asked us (ESEE Knives) how we can stay in business offering such great customer service and warranty protection. The answer is simple; we believe that our consumers, as a whole, are honest people. The occasional customers who are dishonest are few and far between, so even if we loose every once in a while due to dishonesty, our reputation of great customer service, regardless of the situation, brings us more good customers."
This product is packaged in a heavy plastic bag


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Apple: What the 10-Year Monthly Chart Says
The short-term market is hard to read, so try zooming way out for the long-term view of this tech titan.
Here are a couple key takeaways:
1. Apple's recent undercut of the $500 mark touched and bounced off the 20-month moving average support. Over the past 10 years, this moving average has been broken once (confirming a deeper sell-off) and has been supportive twice (in 2006 and 2008). But I like the comparison to 2008 better; it held initially, producing a nice "backtest" rally, before failing and confirming the aforementioned deeper sell off. Either way, the 500 mark looks like an important toggle to watch on a closing basis.
2. The stock has room down to $425-$450 long-term uptrend support. This doesn't mean that it is magnetized to this level on an immediate basis, but the trend line is there and rising… for now or later. If a break of $500 is sustained, then anything can happen. I have a rather small long position in AAPL (initiated today), but will look to add closer to $500, with the idea of catching an oversold rally that could give the stock some breathing room and put some change in my pocket.
The market is still sending mixed signals, so I am keeping positions small looking to add or cut bait as the price action dictates. Trade safe, trade disciplined.
Editor's Note: Andrew Nyquist is an independent investor based in the Minneapolis area. This article originally appeared on his investing and economics site, See It Market.
Twitter: @andrewnyquist
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Copyright 2011 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Praised be Thou, O Lord, who did not make me a gentile;
Praised be Thou O Lord, who did not make me a boor;
Praised be Thou, O Lord, who did not make me a woman."
—R. Judah
"Now there is neither Jew nor Gentile,
neither slave nor free,
nor is there male and female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
- Galatians 3:28
Denny Burk, an Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College and influential leader in the complementarian movement, wrote a response to me yesterday in which he readily admits that complementarianism is simply a gentler word for patriarchy. Patriarchy—a cultural system in which men exercise unilateral authority over their households and (generally) over society—is, according to Burk, God's ideal for this world. Today, the Gospel Coalition affirmed this position.
Burk quotes fellow complementarian Russell Moore:
"...To use the word 'patriarchy' in an evangelical context is uncomfortable since the word is deemed 'negative' even by most complementarians. But evangelicals should ask why patriarchy seems negative to those of us who serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God and Father of Jesus Christ...Egalitarians are winning the evangelical gender debate, not because their arguments are stronger, but because, in some sense, we are all egalitarians now. The complementarian response must be more than reaction. It must instead present an alternative vision—a vision that sums up the burden of male headship under the cosmic rubric of the gospel of Christ and the restoration of all things in him. It must produce churches that are not embarrassed to tell us that when we say the 'Our Father,' we are patriarchs of the oldest kind."
Burk concludes, "Whatever we call it (complementarianism, patriarchy, hierarchy), Moore's point still rings true. Evangelicals who are unwilling to be counter-cultural are going to find themselves one way or the other accommodating themselves to the feminist spirit of the age and falling short of the biblical ideal." Burk says he agrees with Moore's assessment that too many complementarian marriages are complementarian in name only, that true "biblical patriarchy" requires more hierarchy in the home.
As distasteful as I find his position, I am actually grateful for Burk's post, and the Gospel Coalition's subsequent endorsement of it, because with it, we've finally cut through the crap to identify what this debate is really about: power.
The question at the bottom of it all is this: Does patriarchy—(man's rule over woman)—represent God's ideal for the world, or is it a result of sin? The struggle is not between complementarianism and egalitarianism, or between traditional and non-traditional roles, but between patriarchy and equality.
I believe, with every bone in my body, that patriarchy is a result of sin, and that followers of Jesus are to be champions of equality. I believe it is our calling, as imitators of Christ, to reflect God's new vision for the world, initiated through Jesus Christ, in which there is no hierarchy or power struggle between slave and free, Jew and Greek, male and female, for all are one in the family of God.
Patriarchy is a result of "the Fall."
As we discussed extensively on Monday, the author of Genesis tells a story of creation that presents the first man and woman as true partners. Both are created in the image of God, and both are charged with tending to the earth God has made. With ezer kenegdo properly translated, (and with the creation of woman after man identified as a plot point meant to create drama, not subordination), we see that there are no explicit statements of a hierarchal relationship between man and woman until after the event that Christians have come to call "The Fall."
"Your desire will be for your husband," God tells the woman "[but] he will rule over you."
It is within the context of judgment, not creation, that hierarchy and subjugation enter the Bible's story of man and woman. Where there was once mutuality, there is subjugation. Where there was once harmony, there is a power-struggle. The writer of the Genesis, who undoubtedly had observed this power-struggle in his own world, calls it for what it is: a tragedy, an example of our collective brokenness and our desperate need for redemption.
Burk, Moore and the Gospel Coalition seem to think that a power-struggle is okay, so long as it is the man who comes out on top. But I believe the teachings of Jesus, and their application through Paul, lead us to the conclusion that power is overrated, and that the ultimate goal is harmony, just like we see in Eden.
The effects of patriarchy in scripture...
The effects of the curse that "man will rule over you" are seen immediately in the stories we read in scripture itself. If Burk and Moore indeed dream of a return to the "biblical patriarchy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" then we should be concerned.
- In the patriarchal culture of scripture, women could not inherit property, pursue divorce, or be trusted to make a vow (Deuteronomy 21:16–17; 24:1–4; Leviticus 27:1–8). Wives were considered the property of their husband, though they held a higher status and more privileges than slaves and concubines (Exodus 20:17). When Sarah failed to conceive, Abraham did what was common in a patriarchal culture and impregnated his slave, Hagar. Jacob had two wives (sisters Leah and Rachel) and two maidservants (Bilhah and Zilpah) through which he had twelve sons. Rachel was Jacob's favorite of the women, a fact that caused considerable strain between the sister wives.
- Daughters were considered the property of their fathers and could be either sold into slavery to pay off debt or married for a bride price (Exodus 21:7; Nehemiah 5:5; Genesis 29:1–10). Marriages were typically arranged by the male members of the family before a girl reached puberty. While the virginity of young men was inconsequential, a woman's could mean the difference between life and death. If a woman failed to bleed on her wedding night, she was to be executed on the doorstep of her parent' home (Deuteronomy 22:21). Daughters of priests who engaged in sexual relations outside of marriage were to be burned alive (Leviticus 21:9) When the home of Abraham's nephew Lot was surrounded by a mob of men from Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot refused to send out his guests to be raped but offered his virgin daughters instead, as they were more expendable.
- Virgins captured in war were considered plunder, along with children, livestock, and treasure taken from the besieged city. (Women who were not virgins were often killed along with the men.) In the book of Judges, when the Benjamites were in need of wives, they simply abducted them from a neighboring city when they were out dancing in the vineyards.
There are of course many more stories. The point is, our first glimpses into a patriarchal society, even one in which Yahweh is God, reveal inequity and violence against women. Groups like the Vision Forum have long been advocating a return to "biblical patriarchy" that resembles the culture of the Old Testament, complete with fathers essentially owning daughters until they are given in marriage. I've always been careful to try and make a distinction between this group and complementarians, and am disheartened to see mainstream complementarianism move in this direction.
The effects of patriarchy around the world...
If scripture is not enough to convince you that patriarchy is a result of sin, you need only look at the world to observe its effects.
- Worldwide, women ages fifteen to forty-four are more likely to be maimed or die from male violence than from cancer, malaria, traffic accidents, and war combined.
- Every 9 seconds, a woman in the US is assaulted or beaten. Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. I wish I could say that all complementarians categorically condemn female submission to male violence, but John Piper has said that, in order to model godly submission, a woman may need to quietly "endure verbal abuse for a season" or "getting smacked one night" before "seeking help from the church." (He says nothing about contacting authorities). Similarly, in Created to Be His Help Meet, Debi Pearl advises a woman whose husband pulled a knife on her to "stop complaining" and focus instead on not "provoking" her husband's anger. This is destructive advice and reveals something of an assumption that the preservation of male hierarchy is more important than preservation of a woman's dignity.
- At least 3 million women and girls are enslaved in the sex trade.
- Study after study shows that societies characterized by the subjugation of women are more violent, more impoverished, and more unjust than societies that empower women. In their excellent book Half the Sky, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn argue that "in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality in the developing world." Empowering women increases economic productivity, reduces infant mortality, contributes to overall improved health and nutrition, and increases the chances of education for the next generation. Several studies from UNICEF suggest that when women are given control over the family spending, more of the money gets devoted to education, medical care, and small business endeavors than when men control the purse strings. Similarly, when women vote and hold political office, public spending on health increases and child mortality rate declines. Many counterterrorist strategists see women's empowerment as key to quelling violence and oppression in the Middle East, and women entering the workforce in East Asia generated economic booms in Malaysia, Thailand, and China. (You can find all of these studies cited and analyzed in Half the Sky, which I highly recommend.)
- And as I noted on Tuesday, surveys show that couples who describe their marriage as "egalitarian" are more likely to classify it as a happy one than those who describe their marriage as "traditional." In some cases, the differences are significant. (Dennis J. Preato presented a paper summarizing several of these studies at the 2004 Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, which you can read here.)
Complementarians keep insisting that patriarchy is counter-cultural, and that advocates of mutuality are simply capitulating to culture. But patriarchy itself is a cultural system. The Greco-Roman Household Codes themselves are representative of a cultural system. And systems that reflect the values and dreams of only half of God's human creation, (only half of God's image!), are broken.
Jesus did not come to preach a kingdom that affirms these systems, but rather, to preach a kingdom that transcends them.
Jesus changes everything...
It was no accident that the first person charged with spreading the good news of Christ's resurrection was a woman. Despite the fact that, by virtue of being a woman she would have been considered an unreliable witness whose testimony wouldn't hold up in court, Mary Magdalene is charged with telling the world that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Talk about counter-cultural.
That's because Jesus changes everything. With the resurrection of Jesus, and the inauguration of his Kingdom, the entire world is being made over! The old things have passed away, and "behold, new things have come"!
To participate in the Kingdom of Jesus is to participate in a whole new "system," a whole new mode of being, in which the last is first and the first is last. Is it any wonder, then, that the early church included female apostles, deacons, teachers, and church planters? Is it any wonder that Peter and Paul's version of the Household Codes broke with tradition by instructing men and women, slaves and masters to "submit one to another." Even in a patriarchal culture, the early Christians were doing things differently.
"In your relationships with one another," Paul wrote, "have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5–8).
"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith," wrote Paul, "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
This doesn't sound like patriarchy to me. This doesn't sound like hierarchy, and power, and "he will rule over you." It sounds like dignity, grace, peace, and love. It sounds like mutual respect, mutual leadership, mutual support, and mutual grace.
It sounds like Eden.
For patriarchalists, the power struggle between men and women will only end when men win.
For egalitarians, the power struggle between men and women can only end when, like Christ, we both choose to lose.
To participate in the Week of Mutuality synchroblog:
1. Write a post around the theme of mutuality in the Church, home, and world.
2. Share your post on Twitter using #mutuality2012, and it will show up in the live scroll here on the blog.
3. To be considered for Mutuality Week's Sunday Superlatives, submit your post here
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Dalton Speelman wasn't prepared for the question.
"Are you serious about playing hockey?" the doctor asked.
A junior forward on the University of New Hampshire hockey team, Speelman knew the injury was bad, but for the first time had to come to grips with the reality that it was career-threatening.
"When he came in and said that, it was a lot more intense than I expected," Speelman said. "I came here to play college hockey and I have aspirations to play professionally. What do I do now? I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'm not going to give up. I'm so young. I still want to play. It was tough."
Speelman was hurt early in a game last season against UMass-Lowell at the Whittemore Center when he got tangled up with an opposing player and fell awkwardly into the boards.
The result was a shattered left wrist and a dislocated left elbow.
"Something was definitely wrong," Speelman said, "and I knew it right away. Once I hit the wall I didn't really feel like I had the strength to get up. I tried to, but I just couldn't do it. I laid there kind of cradling my arm and just thinking, 'what am I going to do? I can't move.'"
Speelman didn't notice the pain right away.
"It felt more like pressure," he said. "I didn't even realize my wrist was broken until after the fact. I just felt the pressure in my elbow, but there was a significant amount of pain afterward in the hospital. I spent a while in the hospital."
The wrist had to be surgically repaired and required extensive rehabilitation.
Speelman spent as many as four days a week at Rehab 3 in Somersworth getting therapy for the wrist and elbow and working out at the facility's Center for Athletes.
By the end of last season he was cleared to participate in hockey-related activities, but wasn't physically or mentally ready to play in a game until the end of the summer.
Lack of strength and range of motion were the major issues with the wrist.
"The injury took a lot out of me to be quite honest," Speelman said. "It was a long road. I spent a lot of time in rehab. Day by day it got better. I had a lot of great people behind me."
Dr. Robert Waugh, a hand and wrist specialist with Seacoast Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, performed the surgery.
"I can't say enough about what he did for me," Speelman said. "He gave me my career back."
Speelman, who had a career year as a sophomore with 10 goals and 16 points, received a medical redshirt after missing most of last season.
That means he has another year of college eligibility remaining after this one.
He had three goals and three assists when he was injured on Nov. 18 of last season after playing in only 11 games, depleting the Wildcats' depth up front.
"It was frustrating to sit in the stands and see things and not be there to help the team," Speelman said.
The Wildcats won that game, 5-0, to cap a 5-0-1 stretch after a poor start. It was the only time they were over .500 all season.
They lost seven of their next eight games with Speelman out of the lineup. He held out faint hope that he was going to be able to return last season.
"Obviously you're optimistic about the opportunity to get back," he said, "but the level of injury that I had, I had to re-teach myself how to hold a stick. Strength was a big problem."
Speelman is off to a good start this year. He had two goals and three assists in the first three games skating on the first line with junior Nick Sorkin and sophomore Grayson Downing.
Speelman said he was nervous going into the preseason exhibition against St. Francis Xavier after being away for so long.
Once he returned, he had to get used to playing a new position. After playing left wing his first three years at UNH, he was moved to right wing.
Despite the adjustment, all that matters to the California native now is that he's back on the ice and contributing to the Wildcats' strong start.
"It's wonderful being back and playing again," Speelman said. "I've been looking forward to it since November 18th. It's been a long time."
Al Pike is a staff sports writer for Foster's Daily Democrat. He can be reached at 742-4455, ext. 5514, or at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Al Pike: Long road back for Speelman
Dalton Speelman wasn't prepared for the question.


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jahwise necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 1 diseños de 1 diseñadores freelance.
What I need or require: The Design of the Sales Page for selling Private Label Rights Software
I have the original concept and texts for the sales page. -designer to deliver zip file with an appealing html sales page
What I need or require: The Design of the Sales Page for sellingPrivate Label Rights Software
What I already have versus what the provider will deliver:
-I have the original concept and texts for the sales page.
-designer to deliver zip file with an appealing html sales page & graphics integrated into html file.
-designer to deliver all source files in layered PSD format with fonts in a zipfile
-designer to
Other context/requirements that providers will need to know:
-I am creating a similar site to http://www.nicheempires.com - and http://www.ezminisites.comwhereby I will be selling Private Label Rights softwares, scripts, ebooks,etc. I really like how this site hasgrouped the products into sections. Ihave the right to use the actual software and ebook graphic boxes, but I needsomeone to design a nice smooth sales site with new bullets, new table holders,web 2.0 smooth and clean style (not so spammy as this one).
I have started the letter here:
Specific expertise/background that I am seeking:
Clickbank ebooks sales pages, squeeze pages
Ideally I am looking for someone who fits the following skills sets:
-has html + graphic design experience.
-know how to create web 2.0 graphics and put them inside an html sales letter
-know how to import the entire code from dreamweaver into Joomla WYSIWYGeditor.
*these extra steps are not required but I am willing to pay additional for theextra help, so do let me know.
Timeframe for delivery:
10 days for the final draft and other 4 days for finishing after first review
- clean, web 2.0,
- 1999 design with broken images


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CHINO HILLS — A LifeStream community blood drive will be held Thursday at Keller-Williams Realty, 4200 Chino Hills Parkway.
The drive will be from 1 to 6 p.m.
All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis.
Information: 800-TRY GIVING.


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10 Hardworking Storage Pieces For A More Organized Home
When space is at a premium, you need furniture that works really hard. Pieces that fulfill your functional needs while still offering great style are the key to a good-looking and organized home, so we scoured the web to find the ultimate workhorses. Here are 10 genius solutions for small space dwellers, the organizationally-challenged or those simply hankering for more storage space.
Equal parts coffee table, bench and storage box, this table is perfect for open plan spaces where rooms play multiple roles but are tight on space.
If you have a cramped entryway with no room for a table to put your keys and wallet, this coat rack with a hidden shelf solves all your problems in one stylish package.
The top of this oak dining table slides open to reveal a space for storage, ideal for spare tableware or random knickknacks.
Outfit your kids' play room with this nifty storage table, perfect for collecting stray markers or blocks after a creative afternoon.
Taking a cue from hardworking restaurant bars, these stools feature hooks underneath for jackets and purses, as well as a hidden shelf that can be used to store cookbooks and other miscellaneous items.
This sofa's arms are as functional as they are decorative; the sculptural storage details would look just as good left empty as they would filled with books.
In tight spaces like galley kitchens or narrow hallways, vertical hanging space is crucial. This wire rack keeps everything close at hand and doubles as wall art.
This wine rack's cross-hatched design makes it compact enough to fit under overhead cabinets and narrow enough for most shelves.
This sleek TV stand blends into the wall and has a hidden storage box that offers space for remotes, DVDs, books, and anything else you can think of!
A desk by day, and a bed by night, this folding piece is the ultimate small space solution. There's also a cubby that can serve as a mini bookshelf or space to store your desk accessories for the night.


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After putting years into getting the financing for a club, designing it, building it, hiring staff and everything else that is involved, you don't want to mess up the grand opening. After all, this is the first time your club will get to shine for new members and potential members.
Allstar Fitness, Seattle, WA, and Life Time Fitness, Eden Prairie, MN, have been putting together grand openings for many years. The two companies have differing philosophies on some of the details of grand openings, but they agree on one thing: a grand opening is an opportunity to show off your club to members and potential members, as well as an opportunity to make members feel comfortable in what you hope will be a regular destination for them.
Following are some suggestions from the two companies about how to ensure that your club's grand opening is as grand as it can be.
- Determine an appropriate time and duration for your grand opening
While Allstar Fitness prefers an all-day (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) affair on a Saturday, Life Time Fitness has determined that Friday evenings for a 2-hour to 2 ½-hour span are the best grand opening times for them.
"On Friday evenings, many people are taking it easy, looking for entertainment options," says Jason Thunstrom, director of corporate communications at Life Time Fitness.
- Consider having a pre-grand opening party
Thirty days prior to the grand opening, Allstar Fitness hosts a construction preview party so club members and corporate guests can tour the facility (in hard hats, per prior arrangements with the fire marshal and developer). The pre-grand opening is a smaller party than the grand opening, but it can still get results.
"It provided a great buzz in town and generated a lot of family add-on and corporate business," says Tom Duggan, executive director of Allstar Fitness. "It also served the purpose of lead generation and jump-starting the momentum for the final days leading up to the grand opening."
- Process members prior to the grand opening
Ten days prior to the grand opening, Allstar Fitness opens the club to members by appointment only. The club fills appointments back to back in 20-minute intervals, three people at a time, each with their own counselor, allowing members to pick up their new membership card, schedule their assessment and orientation, receive a list and explanation of the group exercise classes and register to participate in free workshops and clinics the club offers. It also allows registration of children in the kids clubs.
By pre-processing members, the club offers one-on-one time that helps ensure their members' success with their fitness routine and their comfort level in the new club, Duggan says.
The visits also allow the club to gather leads, do family add-ons, personal training and buddy referrals.
- Send out invitations
Life Time Fitness mails invitations to all the charter members (and invites them to bring family and friends) and to city officials, who often have been working closely with the company on the planning and permitting of the club. The city officials take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony as a way to recognize the work of those officials.
The club also posts signs about the grand opening near the entrances and works with the local media to promote the club opening. Life Time Fitness plans for 3,000 to 6,000 people at each grand opening.
In addition, Life Time Fitness invites to the opening a charity that the club wants to become involved with as a way to show the club's commitment to the community and to introduce itself to the charity. Even if the club has been involved with the charity at its other locations, the charity is invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony where the club presents it with a donation.
- Be fully staffed and ready to go
It's important that the heads of all departments and their staff attend the grand opening so members and potential members can ask questions about fitness, the facility and the equipment. All the rooms at the club should be open and the equipment should be in place so members can see where they will go the next day when they come in to work out.
"All of our facility is up and operating to give our members a firsthand opportunity to experience everything we have to offer," says Thunstrom. That includes the café where members can sample smoothies and the pro shop where they can check out nutritional products and workout wear.
"The grand opening model is presenting a living and breathing club so they know what to expect," says Thunstrom.
- Show and tell
During the grand opening, Life Time Fitness doesn't actually hold classes or allow members to work out on the equipment (although they can try out equipment), but it does hold demonstrations of the group exercise classes and the personal training program. The department leads and their teams are available to answer questions.
"The goal is to allow them to see and experience all that Life Time Fitness has to offer," says Thunstrom.
- Have a process in place
Plan ahead how you are going to move people through the facility in an orderly manner, particularly since you could see 3,000 to 6,000 people in your facility that day.
At the Allstar Fitness grand opening, individuals register on a separate sign-in sheet depending on whether they are a member or a guest. They are given a packet of information and price sheet. They are then directed to a decorated studio to wait for the next tour to begin. While waiting, they enjoy food and beverages while spinning a wheel of fitness on which they each win a prize (at the last grand opening, the club also gave away two major vacations). After a tour of the club, they are directed to the closing area. Members who bring a friend receive a free T-shirt and the guest has a chance to enroll at presale rates.
Thunstrom cautions to go low-key on the signups. Staff selling memberships takes away from the overall experience for members and potential members and takes staff away from answering member questions, he says.
"You have to allow people to experience [the club] without any preconceived notions of commitment," says Thunstrom.
- Dedicate staff to the opening
Putting together a grand opening is a lot of work. The planning begins 60 to 90 days prior to the opening with the peak work occurring in the 30 days prior to the club opening, says Thunstrom, whose department is in charge of grand openings for his company's clubs. Work includes getting signage ready, printing invitations, getting decorations ordered, working with the media (a local radio station may want to do a remote at the opening), coordinating with the charity and making sure all departments are ready to go on the day of the opening.
- Budget
The budget for a grand opening can be large. Because Life Time Fitness is a private company, Thunstrom can't divulge the exact cost of a grand opening for his club, but he did say it was in the multiple of tens of thousands of dollars. However, the budgets vary depending on the size of the facility — smaller facilities have smaller openings. Costs include invitations and postage, signage, balloons, flowers, staff time (staff is paid to be at the opening) and prizes. Still, the cost is worth it, says Thunstrom. Exposing people to all the unique programs and services at your facility has been proven to increase the usage of the programs and facilities, he says.
- Keep going
The grand opening may last for two short hours or a long full day, but the club can continue with the celebration through other types of events. Life Time Fitness holds an open house a week after the grand opening. While the grand opening is more about showing off the facility, the open house is about letting individuals come in to work out for free that day. Life Time Fitness doesn't stop there. Two to three weeks later, the facility offers a family fun day, with the emphasis on building sports leagues.
The opening of a club is less about one day and more about multiple opportunities for the community to see and experience the facility, says Thunstrom.


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A fully guided sightseeing tour of Fiji's capital city, Suva. The center of commerce and the Seat of government. Operates Daily except on Sundays
This guided tour will take you to see the President's Residence and nearby Albert Park (where Kingsford Smith landed his small aircraft on his epic flight from USA to Australia in 1928) as well as Thurston botanical gardens. You will have your opportunity to go to the Fiji Museum, Pure Fiji factory and also do some shopping, experience Suva's bustling Municipal market, and choose lunch from a variety of Restaurants that includes Chinese, Indian, seafood and local cuisines Tour.
P.O. Box 9268, Nadi Airport. Nadi


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Shipping Boxes
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Gaylord Boxes
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60-second Animation
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UCB on Today's Green
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UCB's CEO Explains their Business
Awards and Accolades
|Super easy to order, boxes all in really good shape, good price, and we got the boxes the next day! With all the things on "the list" you have to take care of when moving - this was just so easy. Boxes, tape, packing paper, markers, box cutters all in one stop. Crossed things off the list with one mouse click. We were also very happy to be reusing boxes. In our last move we bought from a moving company and besides the cost (very HIGH) it was such a waist of resources. I have already recommended your company to two friends and tell them to order the moving kits - it will be the easiest thing about your move!
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A party strategist and Barnaby Joyce's chief of staff will join long-serving senator Ian Macdonald on the Liberal National Party's (LNP) Queensland senate ticket.
LNP official James McGrath and Joyce staffer Matthew Canavan were chosen to run second and third on the ballot by the LNP State Council in Brisbane on Saturday from a field of 16 candidates.
Their selection puts them in line to replace out-going LNP senators Sue Boyce and Ron Boswell in parliament after they retire at the end of their term in 2014 if the LNP can retain three senate seats.
Senator Macdonald, who has been the number one candidate for the Queensland Liberal Party senate ticket since 1990, was once again selected for the number one position.
LNP president Bruce McIver said the candidates came from all around Queensland and from all walks of life.
"They are united by a determination to fight hard for Queensland and to help deliver the change of government in Canberra that our state so desperately needs," Mr McIver said.
Mr McGrath, an LNP official, was publicly backed by prominent federal Liberals including Malcolm Turnbull when he unsuccessfully campaigned for preselection for the federal seat of Fisher.
He lost to former Howard minister Mal Brough.
Mr Canavan has worked for Senator Joyce since March 2010 and was previously an senior executive at accounting firm KPMG, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Businessman David Goodwin, small business owner and scientist Theresa Craig and barrister Amanda Stoker will also appear on the ballot in positions four, five and six respectively.
LNP state director Brad Henderson said it was a strong field of candidates.
The three spots are all considered winnable.


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Facilitating the spread of knowledge and innovation in professional software development
Back to login
In this series of short talks the authors address a wide range of topics from test automation with Cucumber, to technical debt, quantum computing, how to keep coding after 50, and others.
Robert Roeser and Arsalan Farooq talk about how techniques used in Fintech and Adtech – such as zero copy, flyweights, composite buffers, pooled memory, shared memory transport, direct memory in languages like Java – can be used to improve performance in distributed applications.
Katharine Jarmul provides examples of data (mis)use and asking how we can work with data without violating the trust and privacy of users, producing an ethical product?
Working remotely is becoming routine. Our goal in this eMag is to help you do things better. We'll show how people all over the world worldwide are successfully facilitating complex conversations, remotely. We'll also share practical steps you can take right now, to upgrade the remote conversations that fill your working days.
Jarrod Overson describes the cost vs value justification of an attack, how it shifts over time, and why it means that silver bullets just don't exist. He walks through the evolution of one of the cheapest modern attacks, credential stuffing, and sees what attackers do after they have data and access.
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And the Band Played OnArr. Tom Kubis - Kendor Music, Inc.
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This arrangement of the 1895 song by John F. Palmer and Charles Ward is a fitting tribute for a flugelhorn soloist. Set in a jazz waltz feel, it can be used for change-of-pace programming for advancing jazz ensembles. The dynamic contrasts in the chart are real attention getters and the trademark Kubis sound is present in this warmly orchestrated adaptation. Guaranteed to be a highlight in any program.
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Statewatch article: RefNo# 32056
EU: Europol: "4x4" intelligence handling codes includes "dodgy data"
Statewatch News Online, January 2013
The EU's police office, Europol, is currently drawing up a report - the Serious Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) - that will inform "political priorities, strategic goals and operational action plans" from 2013 to 2017, as part of the EU Policy Cycle on serious and organised crime. However, documents outlining the way in which Europol puts the report together indicate that the agency is willing to make use of data that, judged by its own assessment methods, is to be considered "not confirmed".
The Policy Cycle is aimed at increasing joint law enforcement operations in eight different priority areas through the drafting and execution of 'Operational Action Plans' involving Member States police forces, customs agencies and border guards, and EU agencies and institutions. The current priorities are: West Africa, Western Balkans, illegal immigration, synthetic drugs, container shipments, trafficking in human beings, mobile (itinerant) organised crime groups, and cybercrime, and Europol's 2011 Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA) played a significant role in establishing where European law enforcement authorities should focus their efforts.
OCTA's successor, the SOCTA, will do the same for the "full" policy cycle, from 2013 to 2017. A document outlining the SOCTA's methodology shows the significant amount of data and analysis that goes into the report. But what kind of data gets used?
Dodgy data?
Information obtained by Europol is analysed using the "4x4" system, a method generally accepted by police forces across the Member States. This is based on four source codes:
- A - where there is no doubt of the authenticity, trustworthiness and competence of the source, or if the information is supplied by a source who, in the past, has proved to be reliable in all instances;
- B - source from whom information received has in most instances proved to be reliable;
- C - source from whom information received has in most instances proved to be unreliable;
- X - the reliability of the source cannot be assessed.
The source codes sit alongside four information codes:
- 1 - information whose accuracy is not in doubt;
- 2 - information known personally to the source but not known personally to the official passing it on;
- 3 - information not known personally to the source but corroborated by other information already recorded;
- 4 - information which is not known personally to the source and cannot be corroborated.
The source codes and information codes are cross-referenced via a table so that each piece of information is given a rating - A1 being the best (where the authenticity, trustworthiness and competence of the source and the accuracy of their information is not in doubt), and X4 being the worst (where the source's reliability cannot be assessed, and the information they provide is not known personally to them and cannot be corroborated). A1, A2, B1, B2 all count as "confirmed information" - anything else is "unconfirmed information".
However, Europol does not use this method to assess all the data it receives. Some partners are considered trustworthy enough that information they supply is already considered to be of the highest quality, and automatically graded as such. This includes:
" Europol information: A1
" MS information: A1 (an exception can be made if there is explicit reason to lower the status of the source and/or information e.g. investigation is ongoing and not all information is confirmed);
" Information from EU institutions (Eurojust, FRONTEX, …): A1;
Other sources are more closely examined: "the status of information from grey literature and other open sources can be anything between A1 and X4," and no sources are "immediately discarded, except for suspicious sources, tabloid press articles or similar."
While this checking process makes it possible for the agency to dispense with information deemed to be unreliable, it would seem that the automatic acceptance of information from Member States and EU agencies provides a way for unsubstantiated or unreliable data to become accepted as 'A1' quality at European level. Europol has no powers to examine whether assessment processes at national level or in EU agencies meet the required standards.
Meanwhile, in drawing up the SOCTA, it seems that the agency is happy to make use of source material that does not even meet its standards for "confirmed information."
Although its own information booklet says that A1, A2, B1 and B2 are all "confirmed information", the SOCTA methodology says that "the information that can be used for the SOCTA should have an evaluation of B3 or higher."
Data graded as A3 (the source does not know the information personally, but the authenticity, trustworthiness and competence of the source is not in doubt and their information is corroborated by other sources) or B3 (information not known personally to the source but it is corroborated by other information already recorded, and the source has in most instances proven to be reliable) can therefore be used in drawing up the document's "threat assessments", which will form the basis for coordinated operational action by Member State police forces and EU agencies.
The handling codes are also used for "contacts and associates" of the "suspect", casting a very wide net for the intelligence gathered, processed and passed on.
Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) - Methodology
EUROPOL: New AWF Concept Guide for MS and Third Parties
© Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X
. Personal usage as private individuals/"fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to the terms and conditions oof that licence and to local copyright law. Statewatch is not responsible for the content of external websites and inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement.


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A quick repost of a blog post I wrote up for my students today on the blog project they are working on.
Yesterday was bowl selection day for the NCAA College Football teams across the United States. Teams who won half their games (or others who receive special exemptions despite losing records) are all eligible to play in bowl games. While much of America was screaming at the Orange Bowl for having Northern Illinois University (NIU) playing in a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game, a few individuals were very unhappy that Louisiana Tech was not going to a bowl game. It was not a matter of record (the team went 9-3) or that they didn't get an invite to a game (the Independence Bowl offered), but that the athletic department was indecisive when trying to figure out whether to accept the invite.
The bowl business is tricky stuff, and La Tech was thinking they were going to some specific bowl games coming into the weekend. Then Northern Illinois finished 16th in the BCS rankings and won an automatic bid to the Rose Bowl, kicking Oklahoma out of the BCS. This shift cause other bowls to shift who they were inviting, and soon La Tech found themselves with only an invite from the Independence Bowl. It is not that the Independence Bowl is a bad game to play in, but that the payout the athletic department would receive would be around $1,100,000. While that seems to be a good chunk of change, the bowls that La Tech thought they were in the running for had payouts around $100,000 to $200,000 higher. While this seems like a small amount in the age of athletic departments spending tens of millions of dollars on football, I think La Tech had good reason to hesitate.
The bowl game system is one which invites teams from across the country to travel long distances and stay many days (teams travel, practice, have some fun events, play the game, then go home). Most schools also bring donors, alumni, students, the marching band, athletic department staff, and university staff and administrators to the game. Think about the bill for hundreds of people having to travel, stay in hotels, food, drinks, banquets, tailgates, events, and all of the sudden you are running a pretty high bill. Couple this with the fact that some bowl games require schools to make a revenue guarantee in regards to the amount of revenue generated by fans purchasing tickets, and bowl games can quickly become a losing situation for many athletic departments. In other words, bowl games are a "winners curse" for some.
So did La Tech do the right thing? I think so. It is better, in my opinion, for an athletic department to take their time and make the right decision, than make a poor one which would put them in the red. La Tech's most famous alumni Karl Malone, a former NBA superstar, was not happy. Mr. Malone took to twitter and lambasted the school and its athletic department for not landing in a bowl game. I can understand Malone's anger as those who are punished by this are the student-athletes who earned the chance to a bowl game, but are now not going anywhere. Malone suggested that not going to a bowl game is "exactly what is wrong with our university".
I disagree Mr. Malone. The athletic department was weighing their options carefully. Is it a disappointment? Yes it is, but it does not hint at a bigger systematic issue with the university and the athletic department.


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Abyssinian Cat Portrait Art Tapestry Tote Bag
Artwork by world renowned animal artist, Robert May.
17" width x 17" length
32" black straps.
Jacquard woven 100% cotton. Not a print.
Design is on both sides of the tote bag.
Fully lined.
Spot clean.
Made in the USA.
Special Handling/Delivery:
Made to order. Please allow up to 4 weeks for production in addition to the shipping time. Thank you.
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Combine the worst of SEMA with a CES gadgetgasm and you get this Hyundai Tuscani (Tiburon) with so many LCD screens they stuffed one under the hood. It's so horrific it's fascinating — like movies about serial killers.
Lambo doors, awful paint, giant wings, gaudy ground effects and unnecessary electronics are fairly common these days but few cars combine the worst of everything so effectively in one vehicle. It's not quite all-show/no-go as there's clearly some insane forced induction going on, but we imagine it's necessary just to haul all the crap piled inside.


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Carpet Cleaning in Louisville, Kentucky
Looking for a carpet cleaner in Louisville?
When your carpet starts looking dingy, call Louisville's carpet cleaning professionals at Classic Services of Louisville: (502) 353-5193. Our certified Kentucky carpet cleaners are trained to determine the best carpet cleaning product and cleaning method for all types of carpeting.
We have been in the carpet cleaning business for more than 20 years, serving residential and commercial clients in Jefferson County, KY.
Louisville, KY carpet cleaning.
For a difference you can see, Classic Services of Louisville's carpet cleaning experts use a highly effective hot water extraction process to get your Louisville carpet clean.
We clean all types of carpet in Louisville, including: Berber, plush, shag, sculptured, textured, and low pile.
Our portable equipment allows us to provide our Jefferson County carpet cleaning service for automobiles, recreational vehicles, and even boats.
For the best carpet cleaning in Louisville, call (502) 353-5193. Providing quality carpet cleaning Louisville, Kentucky clients have counted on since 1999.
Call for FREE Carpet Cleaning Quote
(502) 353-5193
Dial Area Code first please.
★★★★★ - "Absolutely wonderful. My carpets have never looked or smelled cleaner. I was so surprised at the stains that they got up that no one else ever did"
Tammy in Louisville, KY2018-08-06
★★★★★ - "I just want to give a shout out to Tony Helms with Classic Services who cleaned my carpets today. He was prompt, professional and courteous and got stains out that were set in my rugs from the original owner 14 years ago! Very competitive rates and he has tools even the big companies don't have! Give him a call if you need any services done. You won't be disappointed! Thanks Tony!"
Ericka Azzarello, Carpet Cleaning in Louisville, KY
★★★★★ - "Brand new beautiful California Berber. Classic services are the best. The attention to detail was fantastic."
Diane H., Carpet Cleaning in Louisville, KY
★★★★★ - "Had hardwood floors cleaned and they look awesome! They were professional and very informative. Will definitely be calling them again!"
Crystal in Louisville, KY2018-04-18
★★★★★ - "I tried Tony out for the first time today. He cleaned my couch and chair. Gotta wait for it to dry to see how it looks (which I am positive will be great) but he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the work. Great Customer service! I will be calling him back to do my carpet. I highly recommend using Tony!"
Barbara Chris Duvall, Upholstery Cleaning in Louisville, KY
★★★★★ - "Tony came a week after we called - it would have been sooner but we only have a one day opening a week. He was awesome. He cleaned the living room carpet, hallway, and my room. If that wasn't enough he cleaned the new brown recliner sofa that is huge and the old 4 seater theater recliners. Everything looks great but I can't tell you how amazing the theater recliners look again! 3 kids 2 dogs family friends and the occasional foster dog -- that thing was nasty! Thank you again for the amazing work and pricing!!"
Lesley Dues-Smith, Upholstery Cleaning in Louisville, KY
★★★★★ - "Great service and great people. Can't say enough nice things."
Buddy T., Carpet Stain Removal in Louisville, KY
★★★★★ - "Tony Helms cleaned the carpets throughout our new home today and to say "what a difference" is an understatement. He did an excellent job making the carpets look brand new and was very knowledgeable in his business and tips for future spot treating. Tony was very pleasant and I enjoyed our conversations also. If you want amazing results for your carpet cleaning needs, I suggest you call Tony at Classic Services."
Wanda F, Carpet Cleaning in Okolona, KY2018-01-11
★★★★★ - "Tony and Jason showed up on time and did an excellent job on our carpets. Very satisfied and would recommend them and definitely use them again. Thanks again guys"
Jeremy Kampschaefer, Carpet Cleaning in New Albany, IN
★★★★★ - "I definitely recommend Classic Services! Tony is simply the best!"
Greg M., Carpet Cleaning in Jeffersontown, KY
Call for FREE Carpet Cleaning Quote
(502) 353-5193
Dial Area Code first please.


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Lucie Wilde is a Adult Model from Czech Republic. She was born in Praha on January 11, 1996. She is listed on FreeOnes since 2014 and is currently ranked 231th place. She currently has 418 gallery links and 53 videos in her own FreeOnes section.
Our records show that Lucie Wilde is currently retired which means she is not making movies, doing live shows and/or doing photo shoots at this time.
|Amount of content
|Navigation & Browsing
|Price vs. Quality
|Quality of content
Busty Buffy is an amateur big boobed teen model who is on a mission to reveal her inner slut to the entire world and she's doing a fantastic job at it. This is her personal website where she proudly rocks her silicone-free, all natural 70H/32G boobs while getting her pussy and ass banged out by both men and women. The site is new but it's off to a very good start so it's definitely worth a look. Visit Lucie Wilde


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Welfare Reform Act 2012
- Type of Bill:
- Government Bill
- Sponsors:
- Iain Duncan Smith
Department for Work and Pensions
- Lord Freud
Department for Work and Pensions
Progress of the Bill
Bill started in the House of Commons
- House of Commons
- House of Lords
- Royal Assent
Last event
- Royal Assent 8 March, 2012 | 08.03.2012
Act of Parliament
|Welfare Reform Act 2012 c.5
Latest news on the Welfare Reform Act 2012
Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 8 March. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).
Summary of the Welfare Reform Act 2012
The Bill provides for the introduction of a 'Universal Credit' to replace a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits for people of working age, starting from 2013. The Bill follows the November 2010 White Paper, 'Universal Credit: welfare that works', which set out the Coalition Government's proposals for reforming welfare to improve work incentives, simplify the benefits system and tackle administrative complexity.
Besides introducing Universal Credit and related measures, the Bill makes other significant changes to the benefits system.
Key areas
- introduces Personal Independence Payments to replace the current Disability Living Allowance
- restricts Housing Benefit entitlement for social housing tenants whose accommodation is larger than they need
- up-rates Local Housing Allowance rates by the Consumer Price Index
- amends the forthcoming statutory child maintenance scheme
- limits the payment of contributory Employment and Support Allowance to a 12-month period
- caps the total amount of benefit that can be claimed.
During the Committee Stage, the Government amended the Bill to provide for the establishment of a Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.
Stay up to date
Keep up to date with the progress of Bills going through Parliament. Sign up for email alerts or use our RSS feeds.
Related information
Guide to the passage of a Bill
Find out what happens at each stage of a Public Bill's journey through Parliament with the Passage of a Bill guide.
When does a Bill become law?
Explanation of what happens after Bills have been passed, and when laws may change.


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Student or Learner
The dying days of Britain's rule in Palestine were marked by destruction, blood, and the start of the Palestinian exile, meaning the expulsion of the majority of the Palestinian people against the backdrop of Zionist terrorism.
More: Britain must atone for its sins in Palestine by supporting Palestinian rights at the UN
Republicans have made the killing of four Americans at the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, a central theme in the dying days of their campaign.
More: Polls throw clouds over Romney chances
Does the dying days mean the last days?
I prefer the OP's 'rule' context rather than the 'campaign' one though. The campaign will end just because it ends, not because of any violence or infirmity or what-have-you. I like my 'dying days' to refer to the death of something, rather than just its end. Not all English speakers share this faddiness though.


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FeelGood Vs Loe Pesci Rap Battle (BOTN Award Winner) [KOTD Canada Edition]
Mic reports "**Toronto Vol.6 *Battle Of The Night* Award Winner* FeelGood -vs- Loe Pesci Judging by: Bishop Brigante, Soze, Leche', Synikal Hosted By: Organik "
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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883 Used Cars in Mooresville NC
Didn't find the right fit?
Just let us know what you're looking for and we'll email you as soon as it arrives!
*Price does not include tax, tag, Envirogaurd, and dealer administrative fee of $799.00. All pricing and details are believed to be accurate, but we do not warrant or guarantee such accuracy. The prices shown above may vary from region to region, as will incentives, and are subject to change. Vehicle information is based off standard equipment and may vary from vehicle to vehicle. Some prices may include qualifying rebates. Additional proof of credentials may be required. Call or email for complete vehicle specific information. Tax, title, license (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance, lease and some other offers.


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But I have finished my first gift for Christmas 2010!
And here's how it turned out:
I'm quite happy with it, and more than a little sad that I have to give it away. But there will be other hats. Even if I do look darn cute in this one:
Pattern: 16-Sixteen Cable Hat
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Olive, one skein
Needles: Size 8
Mods: Eliminated some plain knit rounds on the top to flatten it.
This will be a Christmas gift for my mom, who will probably never wear it. Unless I wear it first, visit her, she sees me wearing and decides she must have one (because apparently she thinks a) there's nothing a knitter loves more than knitting the exact some thing twice and b) there's nothing her grown daughter loves more than wearing matching clothing.)
My mom is complicated.
Anyhow, this pattern was a little tricky. Usually I knit cables without a cable needle, but that wasn't happening, trying to cross 8 stitches over 8 stitches. But even though knitting with the cable needle made that aspect easier, it was still a tight, tight squeeze trying to cross those stitches. Using a size 9 needle probably would've been a good idea as well. Fortunately there was something like 8 plain rows between cable rounds, to give my swollen fingers a break.
The pattern lists a few size and "slouch" options, so I knit the larger size with the extra slouchy rows added in. When it was done, it looked more beanie-ish in shape, so blocking was necessary. Here were my materials:
That's a can of pumpkin, and a plastic dinner plate, probably about 8 inches across. If I'd had a 10 inch plate, I would've used that, but alas, no. And buying extra plates for knitting just seems . . . well, a tad over the line.
And here's a terrible shot of the hat blocking:
You can see the crown is stretched flat over the plate, and then the plate is balanced over the can so the rest of the hat hangs down and doesn't dry all squished.
And here's how it turned out:
I'm quite happy with it, and more than a little sad that I have to give it away. But there will be other hats. Even if I do look darn cute in this one:
(Yes, I have a lot of hair.)
In other news, tomorrow is the first day of my very very favorite month of the year, October. And it's also the first day of Socktoberfest and the Through the Loops Mystery Sock KAL! I've wound up a lovely skein of Skinny Bugga! in Blue-arsed Fly, I can hardly wait!


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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe emerged as one of the team's better defensive players during a season capped by a victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday.
The Ravens will look different on defense next season whether they like it or not, but Ellerbe, set to become a free agent after filling in capably for retiring linebacker Ray Lewis during much of the season, wants to stick around.
"I hope to be back," Ellerbe said on "NFL AM" on Thursday. "My heart is here in Baltimore, but I haven't really had conversation or dialogue with the Ravens yet. I have faith I will (be back)."
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport told "NFL Total Access" on Tuesday the Ravens would like to work out a deal with Ellerbe.
The Ravens should expect competition for his services after the 27-year-old graded out as the top inside linebacker on the team's roster, per ProFootballFocus.com. Ellerbe, however, doesn't view himself as an heir apparent to Lewis.
"It's not about filling shoes, it's about coming back and making plays," Elleberbe said. "Ray Lewis does such a great job, you can't try and step in and fill the shoes of a legend. All I can try to do is go out there, make plays and make my own legacy."
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.


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Results 1 to 1 of 1
#1 Combined State and Federal Gasoline Tax is 45.8 Cents Across the Nation
- Join Date
- Aug 2005
- Posts
- 22,889
The best and worst states for taxes
Taxes...An oldie but a goodie !
Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes Are the rule.
Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat.
Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he Tries to think.
Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries, then Tax his tears.
Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass
Tax all he has Then let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough.
When he hollers, Tax him some more, Tax him till He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in Which he's laid.
Put these words upon his tomb, "Taxes drove me to my doom..."
When he's gone, Do not relax, Its time to apply The inheritance tax.
Where you live can make a big difference in how much you pay in taxes. So can whether you smoke and how you get to work in the morning.
The state in which residents pay the most in combined state, local and federal taxes, per capita, is Connecticut (38.3%), followed by New York (37.1%), New Jersey (35.6%) and Nevada (35.2%). Oklahoma residents pay the least (27.8%), followed by those in Alabama (28.0%) and Alaska (28.1%).
We pay Uncle Sam the same no matter where we live, but property, gasoline, tobacco, sales and state income taxes are all over the map.
The differences can be extreme. An Alaskan keeps 7 cents more of every dollar than a Vermonter, once cities and the state have grabbed their shares.
Factor in federal taxes and the gap grows even wider. Those who earn more money generally pay a greater percentage of it in federal taxes, so states with a greater percentage of highly paid workers end up paying more.
We're all paying more, though. The U.S. average for state and local taxes in 2007 was 11%, up from 10.8% in 2006. The average combined state, local and federal tab for 2007 was 32.7%, up from 32.3% in 2006 and 30.7% in 1980.
On same income, taxes vary
Of course, even Ted Taxpayer and Debbie Deduction, two people making the same salary and living in the same neighborhood, pay different amounts in taxes. For example, Ted's house is worth more, so he pays higher property taxes; Debbie buys fewer goods and services, thus saving on sales taxes; Ted drives a gas hog and commutes farther to work, costing him more in gas taxes; Debbie doesn't drink or smoke, so she saves on so-called sin taxes. That's not to mention the countless other ways they can incur, avoid or defer taxes.
There are 50 states in the union and, it seems, 50 formulas for collecting taxes.
Only seven states -- Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming -- don't assess income taxes, and New Hampshire and Tennessee have income taxes on just dividends and interest. These states balance the lack of income taxes with other taxes, notably sales taxes.
Five states have no sales tax -- Alaska, Montana, Delaware, New Hampshire and Oregon. For 2007, the state with the lowest sales tax rate is Colorado (2.9%); the highest is California (7.25%). Among the sales-tax majority, every state but one (Illinois) exempts prescription drugs, while 31 states exempt food. Counties and municipalities can add their own sales taxes, so comparisons are difficult between states. To find the sales tax in a specific ZIP code, click here.
Gasoline and diesel are taxed at different rates in most states. Besides the straight excise tax, which varies from a low of 4 cents a gallon in Florida to a high of 36 cents in Washington, most states add other gas taxes that increase the toll. The state with the greatest total state tax on gasoline is California (45.5 cents per gallon); the lowest is Alaska (8 cents). Those are levied on top of the federal tax on gasoline, unchanged from last year at 18.4 cents per gallon.
On average, the combined state and federal gasoline tax is 45.8 cents across the nation, making the United States one of the least expensive places in the Western world to buy fuel. In Europe, government taxes make up about 60% of the price of fuel, on average, according to The Christian Science Monitor. According to the American Petroleum Institute, motorists in the western U.S. pay the most in fuel excise taxes (53.9 cents), while those in the South pay the least (38.4 cents).
Continued: States lead way on tobacco taxes
Last edited by megimoo; 12-20-2008 at 01:11 PM.
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The Aiken Department of Public Safety officers are offering residents a chance to chat over a cup of coffee on Thursday morning.
The inaugural Coffee with a Cop will be held at the York Street McDonald's.
Cpl. Jennifer Bickel said Public Safety plans to hold this event once a month in different parts of the City to connect with the community in an informal, neutral environment.
Coffee with a Cop is a nationwide initiative that's supported by the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, according to a press release.
Bickel said the program goes hand-in-hand with the City's Safer Communities Initiative.
Bickel said that, oftentimes, the interactions between the police and the public are during an emergency or other stressful situations. Coffee with a Cop is a chance for residents sit down with local officers to ask questions, discuss community issues and learn more about the Public Safety Department. The officers are available to answer questions, or to simply talk with the residents.
"We hope that community members will feel comfortable to ask questions, bring concerns, or simply get to know my fellow officers," Bickel stated in a press release. "These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships."
Bickel said these casual discussions over coffee can help establish stronger bonds between residents and those who serve to protect them on a daily basis.
Bickel added that any local cafes or restaurants that would like to host a Coffee with a Cop can contact her at 803-642-7620 or email@example.com.
Coffee with a Cop will start at 8 a.m. on Thursday at the McDonald's located at 1157 York St.
Amy Banton is the County beat reporter for the Aiken Standard. Originally from Rustburg, Va., she graduated from Randolph Macon Woman's College and has been with the newspaper since 2010.


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- This event has passed.
Intensive Family Support Services
April 16 @ 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm
An event every week that begins at 1:15 pm on Tuesday, repeating until December 17, 2019
Intensive Family Support Services, funded by the State of New Jersey, are a range of supportive activities designed to improve the overall functioning and quality of life of families with a mentally ill relative. These support activities may include psychoeducation groups, single family consultations, respite, family support groups, systems advocacy, referral/service linkage, and medication monitoring. Services provided by Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) of Oaks Integrated Care


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Help prevent youth suicide
With 3 simple words – TALK TO ME – you can let someone know that you care and are willing to listen without judgment.
With 3 simple words – TALK TO ME – you can let someone know that you care and are willing to listen without judgment.
Senator Tom Coburn blocked IAVA's bill that could have prevented as many as 22 veterans from dying by suicide each day
The Declan Crouch Fund was set up in memory of a 13 year old boy who suicided in 2011. If he had been diagnosed as being
Bullying is a horriable people say i am tough i can stick it out But some of them are lieing.
ARIEL IACOBINI (ARAD, Timis) ARIEL IACOBINI - ARAD (ii foloseste abuziv identitatea lui EVELINA NEGARA din ORHEI
Safety is important in so many ways, we want to create a Safe Center to allow Children to grow, learn and thrive.
Gulf Coast Giving is excited to announce the first ever Cyberbullying Awareness Week set for September 23 -27th, 2013.
Our children deserve better, please help me spread meditation. This photo is 1,000 High School Kids in Meditation.
The smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference
Let's stop the hate from bullies and haters and teach others the value of spreading kindness. share a smile, help


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For nearly a century...
the landmark address of 2100 Van Ness Avenue has hosted some of the finest meals on the west coast. Opened in 1984, Harris' continues the rich tradition of luxurious dining in a warm, comfortable, sophisticated environment.
Private dining
Harris' has three private dining rooms
available for all occasions.
A Evening To Remember...
Harris' Restaurant has served the finest midwestern beef available on the West Coast. Executive Chef Michael Buhagiar has created our award winning menu, which offers a wide selection of aged beef including our signature dry-aged Porterhouse and Harris' bone-in New York steaks. Our steaks are prepared by our in house butcher and grilled to perfection.
Harris' also offers a variety of appetizers, salads and soup to start your meal in addition to Maine Lobster, Lamb Chops, Salmon and Chicken entrees.
Finish your dinner with our delicious seasonal desserts.