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Like many people I know, one of the first things I do upon waking up is reach for my phone to see what's going I. Of course, it is essential to catch up on all of the latest Instagram posts I missed, as well as the group message conversations that occurred while I was sleeping. Maybe I'll even open up my Wall Street Journal app to see what's new in the world, and then check the weather to decide whether I need my snow boots or not (at the rate we're going here in Boston, I'll always need my snow boots).
But one of the recent must-dos that I have found myself constantly checking out are the ever-changing Snapchat filters. Now with a tap on your screen, you can easily transform your face into a puppy, sailor, or queen, just to name a few (the hedgehog is my personal favorite). You can even mutate your smile to take up half of your face, or distort your nose to be the size of a fruit fly (who comes up with these filters¿). Nevertheless, these Snapchat filters have really gained love from the users, being utilized thousands of times a day. Sometimes I'll even find myself sitting on my bed for hours, simply entertaining myself with all the different filters without even sending the Snapchats out to my friends (I live a sad life). It's almost as if I'm missing out if received a Snapchat from one of my friends with a face-effect that I haven't seen before, annoyed that I didn't discover it earlier. It is clearly obvious that Snapchat filters have become a huge part of social media usage.
Many people have jumped on the Snapchat filter bandwagon, also seeing the potential it has to generate awareness to promote companies, products, and events. These "geofilters" are ways to display what you are doing on Snapchat based on your geographical location. In order for this to work, you need to have your Location Services turned on, along with the Filters setting (some people are reluctant to do this out of privacy issues, but that is a discussion for another time). The geofilter itself is a pre-made graphic that appears on the picture you take, classified into two categories: Community Geofilters and On-Demand Geofilters.
Community Geofilters:
This is a space that attracts the market of designers and artists. People of the community can create a graphic to be used for certain cities, universities, attractions, or other public landmarks. This is a free process to be submitted, and allows any person who enters into these areas to add the created geofilter to the picture they take on Snapchat. I have used this plenty of times before, sharing with my friends the cool sites and places that I see. Since anyone can submit a Community geofilter (with the exception of using brand logos), there are always new graphics and designs being published for Snapchat users to utilize, making it fun to see what new geofilters will pop up next. Here are a couple of my favorites:
On-Demand Geofilters:
Here are another group of geofilters tailored towards businesses and people trying to gain attention for a certain cause or event. These are paid filters that are can be used to promote certain products or promotions that are currently happening for a business. This aspect has seen a huge increase in usage towards companies since Snapchat has been so popular amongst the various social media platforms. It is a simple and easy way to spread the word and gain attraction for a brand. McDonald's is one company that has a large inclination towards these geofilters in which they developed various graphics throughout different periods of time. Hollister, Starbucks,
Target, and Express are amongst
the large number of companies that have used these filters to promote their brand. At one point, Hollister created a geofilter that promoted Anti-Bullying, and Express developed one that highlighted its Black Friday sales. As you can see, there are many variations and motives that companies can have for creating these sponsored geofilters.
There are even geofilters created to advertise for new movies coming out, as well as live updates for big sports events occuring. There are really no limits to what a geofilter can be, which is a strong appealing factor to the normal everyday person. These designs don't only have to represent a company, product, or professional event, but can be created for personal reasons too. Weddings, surprise birthday parties, and baby showers are popular events for these geofilters to be generated for, allowing the parties to be shared amongst multiple social media platforms. Lately, people will even create hashtags for these events to make this sharing process easier, many of the times being included in the geofilter created. As we can tell, Snapchat filters and geofilters have become extremely popular for many social media users throughout the world.


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Letters to the Editor
Letter: West Ada board
Regarding the West Ada school board trustees.
I agree with the recent letter from Hal Bunderson, and strongly disagree with Michele F. Swan. The two new trustees may need this reminder: They won their elections by much less than 10 percent of registered voters in their respective zones. We are talking only several hundred votes received, not thousands. That seems to me to be much less than an overwhelming endorsement of their strategies. Rather than tear down what they say is negative "stuff" happening in the district, I would ask the four board members to spend their time looking at all the positive accomplishments of Superintendent Linda Clark, all teachers and staff made during some extremely difficult economic times. I think they should spend some energy getting our Legislature to fully fund (or at least more closely fully fund) education in our state. My perception is that the four board members are going for radical changes, which in the long run will be detrimental to students in the district. I also believe that none of the four care what voters and taxpayers want; they have their own agendas. Sad for us all.
Cathy Dahlquist, Meridian

subset: commoncrawl


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BARAMULLA: A major power power project of Jammu and Kashmir, the state-owned Lower Jehlum Hydro Electric Power Project (LJHP), is in the last stages of its existence, but the higher officials of the Power Development Department and the government are in deep slumber.
Sources said that the project's main machinery, including nine giant transformers of different capacities, pumps, motors, wires, valves, pipes, washers, pressure pumps, cooling system, heating elements, walls and other machinery, along with the project's building and its canal are on their death bed and the overall project is likely to go defunct at any time.
However the higher officials and other government functionaries are silent and have taken no steps for the project's repair.
Instead, said the sources, the project that generates 105 megawatt power is working still only on God's mercy.
The nine giant transformers of different capacities installed to maintain the electricity supply to the project machinery, completely crossed guarantee age and can cease working any time. "Its overall guarantee was 35 years, but these transformers were not changed in the past 40 years and have all been repaired dozens of times," said an official who did not wish to be named.
The official sources said that the project was build in 1977 in Bimyar village of Tehsil Boniyar in border town Uri in North Kashmir's Baramulla district. Most of its machinery was also installed in the same year and has long crossed its age, with the department only changing those parts which were completely damaged.
An official said that, it was written in the project agreement that twenty percent of its revenue would be spent for its repair, but this remained only on paper, with nothing ever spent on repairs and maintenance. He said some of the project's building's walls went black last year when one of its transformer and main store was gutted. "From that time, we wrote to the department several times to release us funds for its colouring, even as we have no money to buy fresh chairs, tables or any other goods. But no one paid attention," he said.
"Last week, a main valve and a pipe line leaked, due to which machinery worth lakhs of rupees were damaged while thousands of litres of turbine oil washed away. The project was non-functional for over 20 hours, and the government lost a lot of money. This happens only because of the non-attention of officials in the government," another official said.
A project employee said that the LJHP's nine kilometre-long canal from Gantamulla to Bimyar is leaking water at hundreds of spots into the river Jhelum while at some places there is only a 10 to 20-foot difference between the river and the project canal. This has happened, he said, because increased water level in the Jehlum washed away thousands tons of mud from the canal over the past several decades. As usual, the government machinery is silent and has taken no steps to build a strong wall at the river banks at the canal side.
The sources also said that the main gates which divert river water towards the canal were outdated and a bridge along the gates was also declared unsafe around 20 years ago, but neither the bridge nor its gates were ever replaced in all their 40 years.
The road along the canal is in dilapidated condition, and the canal is completely without fencing. Some of the small escapes on the canal have also been defunct for decades, but have never yet been repaired or replaced.
Should the project turn defunct, as the sources fear it will at any time, the state will face huge power crises and will lost thousands of crores of rupees.
The local population from Gantamulla to Bimyar have appealed to the authorities to pay attention towards the project and save this lone asset of the state.


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by Alyssa
(DuBois, PA)
Question:I have pretty dry skin. I don't normally care for it but I'm going to get a spray tan on Friday. I have been using products such as bag balm, bath & body works lotions, & baby oil, especially on my elbows, knees, & ankles since Wednesday. Now I stopped toight which is Thursday. I plan to exfoliate tonight & tomorrow before my spray tan. Now I'm not sure if I did the right thing? I'm all about getting my moneys worth & want the spray tan to last as long as possible. Please tell me if I ruined my chances of keeping my spary tan as long as possible or if I did nothing, or if I help the spray tan extend.
Answer: No, you did not ruin your chances of a great spray tan at all. It always helps to have your skin in good condition.
It is good that you stopped moisturizing though. Your skin needs to be oil and moisturizer free so that the solution can actually effect it. If you have an oily surface, everything will just slip off.
Do not moisturize after you exfoliate and you should be fine.
Another things - Baby oil is a killer of spray tans (it is made of petroleum), so best not to use it - ever. It actually dries out the skin in the long run. Use something natural, plant derived that will work with your skin.
Return to Spray Tan Questions..


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I've always thought feet were fascinating from a mechanical standpoint; they hold our entire bodyweight and move us around the earth. DaVinci marvelled at their engineering. Unlike other podiatrists, I've never had a major foot problem that pushed me into the field. The connection between medicine and mechanics, as well as being able to treat children to athletes to the elderly persuaded me into the field. (I'm going to print this to make handouts for the office).
Why is it that we hate feet so much? Here are the typical reasons:
1. They look gross. Well, that foot of a chinese foot binder definitely looks gross, but I guess culturally attractive in context. Our feet definitely look gross in part due to our shoes.
2. They smell. The average smelly foot doesn't make me flinch, but the average person is very self-conscious about how their feet smell (once they've smelled a raging diabetic foot infection teeming with maggots, they may re-evaluate though). Why do feet smell? Because they sweat, like other parts of our body, but we cover them with moisture-absorbing socks and boxes because society tells us that its proper and civilized to incubate fungus on our feet. Those lovely conditions allow fungal skin and nail infections that most of the shoe-wearing population deals with at some point.
3. They're ugly. (different from gross, I'll explain). Who tells us what's ugly and what's pretty? Because, back in 1200, the skinniest, tannest women were not in the king's court but out toiling away in the fields. We think a foot crammed and mangled in a $1200 shoe is pretty. We need to forget fashion and focus on functionality.
So, I think shoes are a big reason to blame for why we hate feet so much. Just for kicks, lets visit an alternate reality and see how we'd think about hands if they were treated like feet.....
In this parallel universe, people have placed rigid gloves on their hands for hundreds of years. We don't need our hands anymore because robots do everything for people in this alternate course in the space-time continuum. Men wear really big and bulky gloves to give the appearance that they're larger then they are; women wear gloves that pinch their hands into little points and bend them outward at fixed 90 degree angles, to give them the look of beauty that's popular at this time and place. They go to the hand doctor and ask why he/she would ever want to look at disgusting hands all day. Taking the gloves off exposes a small, moist little hand, often with fungal infections of the nails and skin. The average hand is clammy and weak; it can barely make a noticeable squeeze on exam. Some people wear a light glove that exposes their flimsy, frail little "hammerfingers" within when the weather is nice and there is nothing dangerous around that may result in a devastating splinter or paper cut (paper has been banned for public fear of inadvertent digital amputation). But typically, someone not wearing gloves in public is villified, and on occasion men, women and children vomit at the sight of an exposed hand. Many years ago, poor people and people in other countries used to be uncivilized and gloveless, but now everyone can afford gloves and a robot! Typically people don't question why they wear gloves, since its the only reality they've ever known, and they don't question why they spend millions on gimmicks to make their frail hands feel better. They don't think of ever using their hands again, because the robots make life so easy. Why walk when you can drive, and why go through the difficulty of using your hands when you have a robot to do everything. It frees up time to use the voice-activation system to look for new gloves on the internet, and catch up on "what not to wear...on your hands" and "jersey shore gloves" on the television.
Why hands, indeed....disgusting.


text: This Large South American Mano Fico is made from beautifully grained Brazilian wood with silver applied nails, a thin silver floral bracelet, and a hammered silver scallop and floral cap with twisted rope edging and top hanging ring. Like all mano ficos, the thumb is thrust between the curled index and middle fingers. While this gesture carries sexual connotations, amulets and objects which display it are used for magical protection against the evil eye. Primarily found in Italy and in America among Italian descendants, the mano fico is also seen in South America (due to colonial European influences). This Mano Fico measures 6.75" long with a 5" hand and forearm. Maker, age, and type/grade of silver is unknown. This Large South American Mano Fico is in very good condition with some natural imperfections in the wood and minor dents on the side of the silver cap.


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Theater Information
- Map and Address
1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132
- Website
- www.themiso.org
- Contact Phone
- 305-275-5666
- firstname.lastname@example.com
- Box Office Phone
- 305-275-5666
- Box Office Email
- email@example.com
The Miami Symphony Orchestra at the Adrienne Arsht Center
The Miami Symphony Orchestra (MISO), now in its historic 25th season, is Miami's hometown professional symphony and a valuable contributor to Miami's cultural fabric. With 80 professional musicians selected from around the world, MISO represents the exceptional talent and diversity that mirrors South Florida's international and multicultural richness. With national and world premieres becoming more common, MISO is a source of growing local pride and support. The mission of The Miami Symphony Orchestra is to present symphonic music of consistently high performance standards to a culturally diverse audience, and in a variety of settings and formats, with the aim of educating, engaging, and enriching the community of one of the world's most international cities.


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Wolf Hunting in Alaskans' Best Interest
I am in favor of aerial wolf hunting and feel that the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game should manage game in accordance with sound biological models.
Argentina markets hunting of their eared dove to alleviate devastation of their
agricultural interests. I am sure that millions of non-devalued American dollars
stimulate their economy yearly as a result. Please do not let outside politics
affect our fish and game management
[HOME] [Back to Current Events Menu]
Wolf Song of Alaska, P.O. Box 671670, Chugiak, Alaska 99567-1670


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September 2009
The following email has been received from Nancy Laity, one of our members 'across the pond':
The US Dutch breeders want to thank DCC members who have agreed to sell us some very nice Dutch pigs at the Norton Lindsey show in October. We are still in need of a few well-marked reds and blacks of both sexes. Juniors and intermediates are preferable. If you are offering reds or blacks for sale to us, please contact Nancy Laity at email@example.com in Arizona. I also have Skype at nlaity. I look forward to meeting you at the show.
The wish list is complete. I am happy to say that DCC members have been very generous with us and reserved some very nice pigs for me to bring home to the US for our group of Dutch breeders.


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I was reading the net and saw this story. Sad.
Why do people behave worse than the lowest animal when it comes to doing things in the name of their chosen religious rules which are their manmade rules? Yes, I am aware that some animals eat their young. It mazes( not amazes) me how some people throw up a defense to suit their honour.
Can you spell S-E-L-F-I-S-H? Shame on those snakes! Woe! Woe! (Read Matthew 23)
Even if people are not Christians and belong to some other religion, no one and I do mean NO ONE has the right nor their god-given right to kill or torture another human being with words nor actions. May the Lord have mercy on them.
It brings to mind something I read somewhere, some time ago. I hope to not misquote three things the writer(s) stated:
"We live in a culture and age of dishonor."
"Nobody is safe from attack or being dishonored."
"Men are an expert at finding fault, at finding what was not done right."
It is pure disgrace to God period, regardless of one's choice of religion. People with so much hate will regret their judgment day appointment with The Almighty and Only God. It's sad- It's another way to be stuck between the gulf like the rich man.
No man is a ruler over another person's soul. It's apparent -every second of the day that Man's View of Honour is Not God's View of Honour….otherwise there would be some PEACE in the life of many.
Be in prayer. REPENT – for indeed the Kingdom of God is at hand.


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We also spent some more time with President Gara and his wife, helping them understand their callings and answering questions. Sister Bodell was trying to get a signal on her phone to use the internet, but with much difficulty. President Gara showed her the best place inside to find a signal.
|There's a moral here. Can you see what direction her phone is aimed?
That reminds me of a talk given in Conference. Which direction are you facing?
The Conference talks have been wonderful, as has the music. We particularly enjoy the Sunday afternoon music since Aaron was singing in the choir. Here's a picture. Can't find him? Here's a hint: He's wearing a pink tie.
Need another hint? Try the second row from the top, second one over, the one who's hair cut resembles mine.
The highlight of the week was the announcement of 20th grandchild, Pierson Atticus. He's a handsome little guy. He and his mother are doing well. We can hardly wait to get home to meet him in person. Thank goodness for technology! Here are some pictures of him.
|Gus-Gus with his siblings
|It's just great to have a brother!
|Perfect in every way!
|I hope Lindsey calls him Gus-Gus for a long time to come.
I like it!


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by Markel Insurance Company on Nov 12, 2014
When headlines of this nature occur at an unfortunate frequency, any organization working with youth must create a culture where sexual abuse is discussed, addressed, and prevented.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has excellent resources on this subject. In their publication, Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-serving Organizations, they indentify six key components of a prevention program:
• Screening and selecting employees and volunteers
• Developing guidelines on interactions between individuals
• Monitoring behaviors
• Ensuring safe environments
• Responding to inappropriate behavior, breaches in policy,
and allegations and suspicions of child sexual abuse
• Providing educational programs and training about child sexual abuse prevention
Visit cdc.gov to search the site by topic or publication title. Be sure to utilize the available tools to help your organization initiate and implement this important risk management responsibility.
If you have a safety or risk management question or a suggestion for a topic, please contact us at 800-231-9963 or contactus [at] bitnerhenry [dot] com
Information you need, when and where you need it most. More »
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Welcome to One Cambridge Street.
This modern and spacious flat is in in the heart of Manchester's city centre, in a prime location for reaching university buildings and hospitals.
It lies just behind Oxford Road Station in an area that, ever since the arrival of Manchester's HOME, a cultural hub and home to two theatres, a cinema, art gallery, restaurant, café, bar and bookshop, is quickly becoming filled with nice places to eat and drink.
While only two minutes away from Oxford Road Stattion the flat is also located in close proximity to Manchester Piccadilly station and great bus and tram links.
This flat holds all the benefits of being in a vibrant part of the city but in being located on the 8th floor it provides a quite escape from the hustle and bustle. You can also observe the city from a distance on your own private balcony.
The flat is stylish, spacious and comfortable with an open plan living area with kitchen and dining space and two double bedrooms one with an en-suite and another separate bathroom.
Within minutes of Oxford Road, Deansgate, Castlefield, Spinningfields and the City Centre, the apartment couldn't be better located with easy connections to all corners of the city and Salford Quays.
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We are builders, tinkerers, renovaters, and makers, but most of all, we are motivators. We know you want entertainment, and value, so we designed our workshops around the idea that everyone should leave with something they're proud of, and everyone should leave with a sense of confidence we are proud of.
We are influenced by the design and decoration of pottery barn, restoration hardware, pintrest, and basically anything that we can add to our home . We use these influences to experiment with and build various decorative projects that we know will integrate well into most styles. Bring a drink and a snack; Stay for a new experience; leave with a lasting memory.


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Beek's Books
- an ongoing collection of comic book reviews
written by Ben Adams, art by John F. Polacek
issue #1 (of 4)
Infochameleon: Company Cult (Mediawarp)
written by Ben Adams, art by Rae Burke
56-page self-contained story
Rating: , Content:
Ben Adams has something to say.
He has something to say about our society and the direction it's heading. His vision of the future (as presented in Prisonopolis and Infochameleon) isn't a pretty one.
He also has something to say about people and what we're capable of. This vision is a somewhat more (but not entirely) optimistic one.
These two titles are recent offerings from Mediawarp Comics, Adams' publishing imprint. Prisonopolis is a 4-part series set in Silicon City in the year 2013, focusing on some of the people who live there. Infochameleon is less focused on the future (though it seems to be set there), about a decent man who gains powers that enable him to subvert society - for the better - by impersonating other people and taking their place.
One trap that's difficult to avoid with social commentary - especially when done satirically - is that it can get a bit obvious and heavy-handed. For example, the "In Your Face News" segment and commuter combat scene that open Prisonopolis, while making it clear that this isn't going to be an escapist story of a man in tights thwarting a mad supervillain, isn't especially subtle. The two character studies that make up the remainder of the issue are more effective, I think. One focuses on a white female artist/musician, a former rich girl. The other introduces a black man whose life has been devastated by the kind of violent crime he's now getting into himself. Basically, each narrates flashbacks of their life stories with commentary, as we follow them going about their lives.
One thing I liked is how Adams tries to get inside the heads of various kinds of characters to explain what makes them who they are. It's easy to demonise the "bad guy", and to an extent Adams does, but in Infochameleon, for example, he introduces us to the villain by hearing him talk pleasantly about his home, his way of life, the values that are important to him... and gradually showing the flaws in his character: an excessive need for control, judgmentalism toward others, etc. to the point where we actively dislike the son of a bitch. I'm not sure Adams always succeeds at making these various "voices" athentic, but they obviously show some insightful thought.
The art on both features is adequate, but not outstanding. The figures are frequently just a bit "off", with faces that don't quite look like faces, eyes not quite in the right place, and so on. Infochameleon artist Rae Burke in particular could stand to vary his line weight when inking. The different hatching patterns help, but at the least, using bolder lines for the foreground and thinner lines for background details and hatching would help the foreground to stand out better and focus attention where it belongs. As it is, the pages tend to get a bit dark and cluttered. His figures tend to be a bit stiff and awkward as well. Prisonopolis artist John Polacek's main shortcoming is that his faces (in particular that of Roxy, the co-star of this issue) sometimes look a bit flat, as if the eyes, nose, and mouth had just been pasted on. Neither artist is bad, but don't expect top-notch art from them... at least not yet.
So Ben Adams has something to say. He says it pretty well, with competent help from his artists. And what he has to say is worth hearing. Take a listen.
This book can be discussed in rec.arts.comics.alternative
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© Todd VerBeek, Radio ZeroTM


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Let's face it ladies – birthing out a newborn baby is not going to be easy, no matter how you do it. Whether bub exits vaginally or through a caesarean, the bottom line is the same – a watermelon-sized infant is coming out of you.
And it's going to hurt.
But, for some unexplained reason many people in our society believe that natural (vaginal) birth is harder than c-section birth. And that it's the 'right' way to give birth.
One mum is speaking up for all the women who have had c-sections and reminding society that caesareans are not the 'easy way out'. And it's a message that I'm sure all women who've had one can relate to.
"Oh. A c-section? So you didn't actually give birth. It must have been nice to take the easy way out like that."
If you've had a caesarean, then you've probably heard this before, or something similar to it. And it's probably made you roll your eyes, cringe, let out a groan or want to throw something at the person who made the remark.
One fed-up mum decided to do something about it. In true 21st century form, she headed to Facebook to share her rant publicly. And it's one that has reached epic viral status in a matter of days.
She speaks the truth about the pain that caesareans involve, not just during the birth, but during the recovery process too.
LONG DRAMATIC POST WARNING:"Oh. A c-section? So you didn't actually give birth. It must have been nice to take the…
Posted by Raye Lee on Friday, 19 August 2016
"This was the most painful thing I have experienced in my life," new mum Raye Lee admits about her emergency c-section with her son, Roxas. "This was not pleasant. It still isn't."
Like many mums, Raye's c-section was not planned. It was not a matter of convenience – it was a matter of life or death for her son. And, like many mums who have the earned their scars, it is not something that she expected or was prepared for.
"Having a shrieking infant pulled out of an incision that is only 5 inches long, but is cut and shredded and pulled until it rips apart through all of your layers of fat, muscle, and organs (which they lay on the table next to your body, in order to continue to cut until they reach your child) is a completely different experience than I had imagined my son's birth to be," Raye writes.
Raye then explains that the recovery process is not exactly a walk in the park either.
"When that first nurse asked you to try getting out of bed and the ripping pain of a body cut apart and stitched back together seared through you, you realised the irony of anybody who talks about it being the 'easy way out'."
But perhaps the most relatable thing Raye says is that, even through the searing pain and the awful recovery process that comes with birth (yes, ALL types of birth), her son is worth it.
"I would honestly go through this every single day just to make sure I am able to see his smiling face."
And, with more than 25,000 shares and 38,000 reactions, it seems Raye isn't the only one who thinks so.
Bottom line? I don't care if you give birth vaginally, via caesarean, on the floor, upside-down, in the shower, in a creek or underneath the stars with your entire family watching – if you managed to not only grow a baby, but then have that baby exit you, then you're awesome.
And hopefully the rest of society will come to see it this way one day too.
(most images via Facebook)


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Find out what's in your pumpkin spice latte
Last month, Starbucks reintroduced their most popular seasonal drink — the pumpkin spice latte. It is available in over 50 countries around the world.
The drink is composed of milk, brewed espresso, whipped cream, "pumpkin spice sauce" and a pumpkin spice topping.
A tall drink has 39 grams of sugar, 240 milligrams of salt and 75 milligrams of caffeine, according to Starbucks's website.
And Studies have found that salt can trigger the nerve cells in a similar way that cocaine does, giving the body an intense rush of dopamine. High doses of carbohydrates, such as sugar, have also been found to be related to food addiction. In a liquid form, the sugars are absorbed very quickly giving a quick "sugar high."
The flavors associated with the latte, such as sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, are strong flavor enhancers, making them much more enjoyable to the consumer. Consuming the latte in the fall helps the brain associate its flavor with the autumn season, so consuming it at another time might bring memories of those fall feelings back.
Caffeine is also highly addictive, having been called the "most commonly used mood-altering drug in the world" by the Behavioral Biology Research Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The drink has many addicting components to it, but like everything, enjoying it in moderation is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Targum.


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All items > Shop by Brand > MecArmy
- Length:2.125"
- Width:1.375"
- Height:0.47"
- Material:Titanium
- Color:Gray
- Weight:1.69 oz.
- Brand:MecArmy
- Model:GP1
- Country of Origin:China
- Product Type:Novelty
This GP1 model is made from titanium with a bead blasted finish.
MecArmy is diving headfirst into the fidget spinner game with an impressive series of GP titanium spinners. The GP1 offers a modern utilitarian design with layered titanium scales in a bead blast finish. It rides on a ball bearing pivot with a 3/4" spin disc. Stop fidgeting and start spinning with the MecArmy GP1 Fidget Spinner.Features:
- Titanium construction for a tough and durable lightweight build.
- Item includes a padded box and a drawstring pouch for safe storage and carry.
- Stainless hybrid bearings provide smooth spinning action and prolonged spin times.


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Clifton Beef – "Chapter II: The Fall Out" EP
On the other side of The Fall In, comes The Fall Out. Getting involved with someone knew is easy. It's exciting and fun. Recognizing when a relationship has run it's course, though, is one of the hardest parts of perpetually giving your love to others – without expectation. Even if you might think you can remain friends after what you had, thinking, maybe, you were strong and knew too much of where you were going to give your all to another person, there might've be people, parties and money that stood in the way of you two. For me, it's been lifelong. Almost everyone I've ever met before 2017 wanted my love to die and lie as deep in the ocean as possible – drowned, lost and forgotten forever. Double Major.


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General Information (New Players Start Here!)
More Staff Changes and Discussion on UC
Home / Main
Back to Unification Wars
short cuts
The Battle System
The Overmind
Account Related Topics
Account Options
Email Validation
Miscellaneous Topics
Game Rules
Strategy Guides
External Links and Sites
edit this page
Log in / create account
There are three main modes of communication in this game: the help center (forum), the online chat, and the private message. The help center can be accessed by clicking on the "Help Center" button at the top of your game screen next to the "Manage Empire" button. The online chat can be found on the right side of the screen. (Specifically, on the bottom right for people playing on high graphics). The inbox for all private messages can be accessed by clicking on your empire name (on the status bar).
Click on the links below to have an idea of what goes where.
: Java Script or
High graphics
: HTML or
Low graphics
The Help Center
The help center is divided into many sections and functions as a forum.
General: Anything not against the rules can go here
Strategy: Discussion of game strategies goes here
Wanted: Place for bounties and trade offers.
Federation: A place for anything federation-related.
Public: Place where threads go which are created through "Ask." Most threads are hidden from public view.
Announcements: Place where general game announcements go.
Updates: Section for game update announcements. Only game staff members can create threads in the announcement and updates sections.
Bounty: Information regarding rewards offered to players for helping game staff (by writing missions, recruiting players, etc.)
The help center has a search function that can be accessed by clicking on simple filter.
If you experience any problems, have any questions, or have any suggestions to make, go to Ask and select the appropriate message type. A staff member will review your complaint or question within a few days, depending on the complexity of your situation.
Figure 1:The Help Center "Ask" Screen
The Chat System
The current chat system integrates the Galactic Conquest (another online game by Gamestotal) and Unification Wars chat systems into one. If a player from Unification Wars makes a chat post, his name will appear as bluish-grey or yellow, and if a player from Galactic Conquest makes a chat post, his name will appear orange. For people on low graphics, to make a chat post, click on post, type in your message, and then confirm. For people on high graphics, simply enter your message into the box at the bottom of the chatbox and press the enter-key (or click on send). Due to lag, it may take up to fifteen seconds for your message to appear.
The Private Message System
You can send and receive private messages from players. All messages receive show up in your inbox. All the previews of unread messages will show as blue. All messages that show up as blue in your outbox have not yet been read by your recipient.
Messages from players contains 3 small icons in the message detail:
: Views the empire detail of the sender.
:Adds the sender to your ignore list.
: Adds the sender to your friends list.
There are several ways of sending private messages. If you click on the send button, you will see a screen similar to Figure 2. Enter the empire name in the field next to Send to, select game speed of the receiver and write the message to the receiver. Finally, click the `Send` button to send the private message. You can also send private messages by searching a player up on intel and then clicking on "contact." A PM box will appear which will allow you to type a message to that player.
Figure 2:A PM Box
Last updated: 2012-05-10


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I resorted to check on the internet.. I found X is for: x-ray, xylophone, xenops, xiaoxaurus..
So, where do I get that item to put in the Magic Bag? No way!
I changed last night's lesson to an art & craft fun session instead.
He sang the greeting song all by himself, I couldn't contain my happiness.
To be honest, I think this letter is quite tough for him. Maybe coz less exposure, but at least he could remember we saw a xylophone alike in the Malay Heritage Centre!
|Last min decision to ask him to glue the bones onto the X
as feely, when he said "nothing on the letter?"
|He's getting better in pasting
|Tadah! That's our X feely!
|I used daddy's chest x-ray
|Letter X search!
|And asked him to do some colouring
"I like colouring!", he said.
Something I discovered last night
|Not bad right?
If you noticed, the pants are in blue and black.
He said the blue are socks, the black are the pants.
|The second worksheet
|Good job!


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Tackling waste in construction will be easier in future as two web-based tools are made compatible.
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) have announced that users of BRE SMARTwaste, the web-based tool used to prepare and implement Site Waste Management Plans, can now transfer their data directly to the WRAP Waste to Landfill Reporting Portal. In future, users will be able to monitor their individual progress against targets, run reports and benchmark their waste reduction performance.
SMARTWaste users will now be able to select the projects they wish to transfer data from, the time period they wish to cover and the associated spend, and forward this information directly to the Waste to Landfill Reporting Portal. The portal is a free resource set up by WRAP for the benefit of signatories to the Construction Commitments: Halving Waste to Landfill voluntary agreement. The portal enables users to enter and review waste data. The master user for each corporate account specifies their organisation's waste baseline and future reduction targets. The Portal homepage provides two sets of graphical results. The first shows the waste sent to landfill in each year in comparison with the baseline and target. The second details the amount of waste going to landfill over the last 12 months, benchmarked against all of the data in the portal for the same time period. In addition, reports can be generated which provide annual summaries of all or a subset of data either in isolation, or in comparison with an appropriate benchmark.
SMARTWaste is a free tool that has been developed by BRE to help the building industry prepare, implement and review Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) in full compliance with the legal requirements. It can also be used to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes, mandatory requirement for waste. Over 4,600 companies have registered to use SMARTWaste since its launch in June 2008. To date, SMARTWaste has measured over 5.8 million tonnes of waste.
Katherine Adams, BRE's SMARTWaste manager is pleased to be able to offer users the opportunity to transfer data automatically. "By making waste reporting easier for our users, they can clearly demonstrate their own achievements and commitment to reducing waste to landfill," she said.
For more information go to www.bre.co.uk or www.wrap.org.uk
The Watts Bulletin is the technical companion to the Watts Pocket Handbook, the essential guide to property and construction, as used by professionals since 1983.
Watts Bulletin editor: Trevor Rushton.
To subscribe to Watts Pocket Handbook Online, visit wattshandbook.co.uk.Follow @Watts_Group


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We are proud to announce Gambino mmc's second project release of 2017.
"Death To The Trap Vol.2 Da Double Up" mixtape was released 11/18/17.
This mixtape is available for free download on mediafire; also streaming on Soundcloud & Youtube. Will also be available to stream on Spotify, iTunes, & on all major digital music outlets including Amazon & Google Play.
We project this mixtape will receive more recognition than Gambino mmc's first release of 2017, Death To The Trap Vol.1; which has generated 133,269 downloads as of this moment, since its release 5-13-17.
Gambino mmc EPK press kit will also be included for download in our upcoming monthly newsletter along with some very hot #NoSellOut Records Magazine Blog news. Take a look at our blogs to see what upcoming events we have this month. Make sure you don't miss out on anything by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.
Stream Death To The Trap Vol.2 below on youtube.
April 2019


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This is a portrait of me, unknowingly painted by Bruce Horak, as part of his very successful play, Assassinating Thomson. I was in the audience at one of his plays. It is a strange feeling to attend a play, and to discover part of the play is also about @TTLastSpring
Bruce tells the story of my unsolved death/disappearance, including the truth and lies behind the mysterious death of one of Canada's greatest artists and the subsequent rise of The Group of Seven.


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How to Train Your Puppy to Stop Biting
Although puppies are fun to play with, their bites can and do hurt. While many people think that such a behaviour is cute, it can result in unwanted behaviours in adult dogs. Having a dog that is prone to biting may keep friends and family away from the household out of fear. To help prevent harmful bites, here are tips for how to train your puppy to stop biting
1. Be consistent and calm.The first thing to remember is that your puppy is just a baby and that biting is a natural part of play. If you use harsh discipline when training, you will only create an aggressive or fearful pet. Instead, whenever your puppy is doing something it should not, redirect its energy and then praise it when it does something you want.
It is also important that you do not send mixed signals to your puppy during training. For example, some people do not want the puppy to bite hands, but allow it to chew on shoelaces or socks. You should always be firm and consistent in all areas of training to best train your puppy.


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We are local professionals focused on delivering the right solutions at the best value. We are here to solve your toughest challenges and return your property to normal – all without any hassle on your part.
We maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has led the field in area newspapers' readers' favorite polls. We serve the homeowner. Everything we do is to help you have a safer, more comfortable home for your family. We pamper your home with drop cloths, mats, and surgical shoe covers to leave it looking just as we found it.
When our company took off more than 25 years ago, we just wanted to extend a helping hand to our community by solving their HVAC problems. After all these years, the desire to help endures in our company's DNA, and we remain strong in the business. Our growing staff is comprised of competent, courteous technicians and specialists who continue to aim high to give our customers presidential treatment no matter the service being performed.


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Central Division squads meet in Toronto
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) – The Toronto Raptors try to extend their
winning streak to three games tonight when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks to
Air Canada Centre for a Central Division battle.
Toronto is 2-0 since acquiring Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall and Lonny Baxter
from the Chicago Bulls for Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams and Chris Jefferies
on Monday.
Earlier this season, Toronto defeated the Hawks 99-97 in overtime on November
26 at Atlanta.
Vince Carter and Marshall each scored 21 points, as the Raptors
defeated the Boston Celtics, 105-95, on Wednesday in front of their home
Carter also collected 10 assists and five rebounds against Boston, while
Marshall pulled down eight rebounds. Alvin Williams had 18 points and Chris
Bosh added 16 points and eight boards for Toronto, which has won four of its
last five games.
Morris Peterson netted 15 points for the Raptors, who sank a franchise-record
17 three-point shots in 24 attempts (71 percent). The Raptors actually shot
better from the three-point line than they did the free-throw line (16-of-23,
70 percent).
Wednesday's game marked the first time this season that Toronto has reached
the 100-point mark in regulation time.
The Raptors are 6-2 at home this season.
Atlanta lost its second in a row on Tuesday, as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated
the Hawks, 106-94, at Philips Arena.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim paced Atlanta with 26 points. Jason Terry collected 23
points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Hawks, who have dropped four of
their last five games.
The Hawks are 3-7 away from home.
Toronto has won four straight and 10 of the last meetings over the Hawks.
Atlanta has dropped five straight and six of its last seven at Toronto.


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Saturday, September 6, 2008
Truffle Time
1 comment:
- Aunt Josie said...
I have a favorite truffle story. Uncle Gary and I were in Orvieto, Italy in the region of Umbria during May. Among the things that Orvieto is famous for, is it's beautiful cathedral in the center of town. We found a little restaurant just a short walk from the cathedral and selected it to have our lunch. The waiter spoke some English, but was not fluent. We looked at the menu and to our surprise we saw pasta with fresh white truffles. As you described in your article, May is not truffle season. Uncle Gary, who can speak Italian a bit better than I can, asked in Italian, "how is it that you have white truffles at this time of year?" The waiter replied in rapid fire Italian (assuming Uncle Gary understood, but really he didn't). However, I did understand him and his response was "It is not only in the cathedral where miracles happen." Well obviously white truffles at that time of year were not a miracle, they must have found a good way to preserve them in the caves Orvieto is famous for, but the dish was delicious!!
- September 7, 2008 at 7:51 AM


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FILM: The End of the Line (afternoon)
12.00-1.30pm (Bring your own lunch)
Series: Green City Week
The End of the Line is a film based on the book by the same name by Charles Clover. It examines the threatening extinction of the bluefin tuna, caused by increasing demands for sushi; the impact on populations, marine life and climate change resulting from an imbalance in marine populations; and the starvation and hunger in coastal populations, caused by possible extinction of fish in some waters, the possible loss of livelihoods as experienced in Newfoundland following the collapse of the cod population, along with the potential remedies.
Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act.
In the film we see firsthand the effects of our global love affair with fish as food.
This event is open to students and staff of City University London and to the local community. Registration required.
For further details about other Green City Week (15-19 November 2010) events and activities, please see www.city.ac.uk/thepoint or email email@example.com.
Share this event
When & where
12.00am - 12.00amTuesday 16th November 2010


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PM takes charge of ECC after removing Ishaq Dar as chairman
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday removed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar from his post as chairman of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division and acquired by DawnNews.
The newly-elected prime minister will serve as the chairman of the ECC after Dar's removal, the notification added. Dar will remain a member of the committee and will chair meetings of the ECC in case of Abbasi's absence.
Five ministries — railways, power, communications, statistics, water resources, and privatization — have also been added to the ECC.
The ECC has traditionally been chaired by the federal finance minister and the prime minister is not usually involved in its affairs. Its members include the ministers of 10 key federal ministries.
The ECC deliberates on economic matters of urgent importance and coordinates policies initiated by various divisions of the government. According to its charter, it also "maintains vigilance on the monetary and credit situation and make[s] proposals for the regulation of credit in order to maximize production and exports and to prevent inflation".
Other key responsibilities give it power over "cases of agreements and licencing for oil prospecting and exploration" and the revision of energy requirements and its effect on production and investment.
Dar's removal from the chairmanship of the ECC is one of the major decisions taken by Abbasi after being sworn in as prime minister on August 1.
The news comes as the National Accountability Bureau prepares to file a reference against Dar for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income in accordance with the Supreme Court's verdict that disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (34) Closed
In my view, Isaq Dar is the main culprit of our financial crisis and downfall of Nawaz Sharif. He is dishonest and increased his wealth in billions through corrupt practices - this is why he is facing criminal references in NAB. Sooner we put him behind the bars and cease his assets, it would be better for Pakistan.
Why most of Iqama holders are still ministers? Most of ruling us are tainted!
Good job
Good job
There is NO rule of law in Pakistan, corrupt politicians and dishonest bureaucrats are still holding important positions in the government. Isaq Dar is one of many examples that we see around us!
All the remains and relatives of Nawaz Sharif must be kicked out of the key positions in the government. They are the becoming a curse of the society!!
Good decision. Applauded. Mr Abbasi should remove him from the ministry as well. May be he is gradually headed towards the same goal.
Good riddance!!
"Dar will remain a member of the committee and will chair meetings of the ECC in case of Abbasi's absence."
Why is Abbasi supposed to be absent from the country during his next four week stint? A visit with Trump or to attend a conference to solve the Kashmir issue?
Nawaz and Ishaq made every institute corrupt to lingron their regime
Nawaz and Ishaq polute and made corrupt every institute just to lingrone their royal Corrupt Government
Very strange
In the name of true justice and fair play, kindly remove this corrupt person from all public positions immediately.
New PM is the boss now and old boss is history.
This position rightfully belongs to the PM, how could one of the aminister continue to head a body consisting of other ministers of same position?
The sooner the better, the King of all mess and crimes is taken to task! But why still he is Finance Minister while he has to be behind bars soonest besides confiscation of all his assets and wealth for causing havoc with the country!
Does it make any sense...i will chair the meeting in your absence...even though you have removed me from ECC. May be no one can remove him from being a defecto....i was your cure and you were my disease ...i was saving you but you were killing me...
I appreciate PM.
First step in dismantling the power edifice of Mr. Ishaq Dar who does not enjoy the reputation of " Saadiq" and " Ameen". The new PM should try to find people of integrity around him.
What kind of display of charge of the PM it is that made him include the same failed finance minister in his cabinet?
@Shahid Soon you will see much greater changes KA will soon replace all humpty dumpties from his cabinet
With time Khaqan Abbasi will consolidate his power position and if he and Nisar and Shahbaz can form a powerful trio, they will win the next election. With Nawaz and his women it is a losing game. Nawaz is out and he should accept it. The future is without Nawaz. This is the reality everyone must accept.
This is the first Bold Move by Mr. Abbasi.
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani Please add, all the looted money by him and Ex and current PM should be brought back in Pakistan Than only Pakistan will flourish, IA
This is Khaqan Abbasi's moment ....he must not let it pass.
Thanks! New Prime Minister,.You did a good job. The Nation.will appreciate if you take viable measures to curb or even uproot the corrupt elements not only from your cabinet but also from all over the country
Agree - Ishaq Dar is the main culprit
Very good move to sanitise fast dwindling economy.
Ishaq Dar did a wonderful job as a Finance Minister in the last four years,by pulling back economy from brink of default to a growth of 5.3 percent last year.He is a hard worker and devotes almost eighteen hours a day even on Saturdays and even on Sundays.Ungrateful nation.
Where is Dar's side of the story?
Lawlessness is everywhere but poors are to be accountable for only.
Selective justice is still better than nothing!!!
Great PM.
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani You are absolutely right.


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| Activities | Home |
Division K Governor and Division K Secretary
visit Tawau Toastmasters Club
- 28 February 2005 & 1 March 2005
President Lee Chye Ewe, ATM-G and his members played gracious hosts to the Division K Governor Richard A. Gontusan, DTM and Division K Secretary Andrew Thien, ATM-G, who visited the Tawau Toastmasters Club during their meeting on 28 February 2005. Richard and Andrew were on separate business trips to Tawau.
About 15 members and guests attended the meeting, among whom was the Asst Division K Governor Marketing Victor Rajasekran, ATM-B, who is a supportive member of the club. The Toastmaster of the Evening was Vera Yap, ATM-S, a seasoned Toastmaster who was clearly in her element that evening. Her anagram game certainly aroused the competitive spirit among the members, which was eventually won by Roselind Gan, ATM-B.
Roselind, who recently won the Area K2 International Speech Contest, played the accommodating Table Topics Master as she drew opinions from her respondents on a wide range of subject from money matters to the illegal immigrant issue. Richard and Andrew were surprised to note that most of the respondents were volunteers.
The audience was treated to 3 manual speeches that evening. First was a reading of a story segment by Roselind Gan to fulfil the requirements of her ATM-S No. 5. Next was Annie Pang, ATM-B, who graduated that evening with her ATM-S Award for conducting a television talk on effective presentation. Andrew Thien took the opportunity to deliver his C & L Speech No. 5 by promoting the Division K 9th Annual Convention to the audience. As the Organising Chairman of the convention, Andrew was delighted when 7 members of the club responded positively to his call by signing up immediately that evening.
Richard, who enjoys the role of Humour Master, entertained the audience with his collection of jokes yes clean . which prompted the President to remark that he remembered Richard as a strait-laced evaluation speech contestant at a Division Contest a few years ago. Well, Toastmasters has put the humour into Richard, much to the delight of the audience.
As the General Evaluator, Richard praised the club for its traditions, which have held the club together since it was established several years ago. In addition, he shared several pointers, which could further enhance the effectiveness and smoothness of the club meetings. Overall, he found the meeting to be fun-filled and educational, and congratulated President Lee and his members for the superb quality of the meeting. Finally, he urged the members to repeat history by achieving the Presidents Distinguished Status for the term.
In closing, President Lee thanked his guests and visitors, and encouraged his members to reflect on the pointers raised the Division K Governor. He demonstrated so much warmth towards his guests and visitors that it would be difficult not to pay the club another visit.
The next day was no less interesting for Richard and Andrew. They were invited to a breakfast session with members of the Tawau Mandarin Toastmasters Club. The Area K5 Governor Fung Thin Ken, ATM-B, picked Richard and Andrew from their respective points and brought them to a Chinese shop where members of the club, led by President Datin Yuen Siew Ken, were already waiting.
Richard and Andrew were overwhelmed by the warm reception shown by the members, that they continued to feel warm about the whole reception even after the mee soup had been consumed. Although Richard understands a smattering of Mandarin, the members used mostly English during the breakfast, which again touched Richard tremendously.
After the breakfast, the members and guests walked to the IPP, Linda Lings shop, which apparently is the meeting point of the members when they are in town. Linda treated her guests to Chinese New Year goodies, which put a perfect end to a perfect morning. Richard and Andrew had so much to thank the members Fung, Datin Yuen, Linda, Yun Thai, Fong, Hii and Chung for making their visit to Tawau a most special one.
(Click on image to view Larger image)
Pictures by Andrew Thien, ATM-G and Linda's shop assistant.
| Activities | Home |


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A bomb blast in Kaduna targetted the offices of Thisday newspaper. It was the second time that newspaper offices were bombed in one day. Ten peopple died in the Kaduna attacks while 3 persons including a lone car bomber died in the Abuja attacks.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
BREAKING NEWS: Bomb Blast In Kaduna Kills 10 Near Thisday Newspaper's Bureau Offices In Kaduna
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text:
Whether you're looking to refresh or reinvent your look, DailyMakeover.com is the first stop for "try-it-on style" that doesn't cost a penny! It's also filled with great tips from celebrity hair stylist Ted Gibson on his exclusive blog In His Beauty Universe.
Ted Gibson is one of the most sought-after celebrity hair stylists in the business. Ted is most known for toiling over the tresses of top celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Amanda Bynes, Demi Moore, Renée Zellweger and Anne Hathaway.
Recently, Ted gave insiders tips to create the perfect updated French Twist hairstyle:
Step 1: Begin with a spray of your favorite volumizer and blow dry with a medium barrel brush.
Step 2: Then, backcomb the crown of your hair for volume and height. Starting at the crown, grab small sections of hair, hold up firmly with one hand and insert a fine-tooth teasing comb halfway between roots and ends, glide comb downward. By creating volume through the top, it looks more modern.
Step 3: Next, create the French Twist by starting at the bottom of hair and twist and pin into a twist.
Step 4: Spray hairspray to the twist to create a firm hold. Use your fingers to pull pieces out to make it look a little undone.
Refresh, reinvent and repeat without breaking the bank with these glamorous tips and more from Dailymakeover.com.
About DailyMakeover.com
DailyMakeover.com, from Makeover Solutions, Inc., is the web's leading beauty information site, providing virtual try-on technology and content needed for personalized makeovers. With more than 4 million unique visitors, Daily Makeover enables users to see themselves wearing numerous hairstyles, cosmetics and accessory options to create their best looks, which can be saved, printed or emailed. The site also offers up to the minute trends, celebrity hairstyles, an online community including beauty blogs for women to share style opinions and product reviews. Makeover Solutions, Inc. licenses its turnkey try on tool and vast customizable content library to other publishers. It is currently licensed to 53 web sites in the USA and around the world. For more information visit www.dailymakeover.com, Facebook and Twitter.
About Makeover Solutions
Makeover Solutions, Inc. is a leader in interactive media and virtual reality try-on technology. The company has been developing and delivering image processing tools and technology for more than 10 years. With a library of 7300 hairstyles and 6000 beauty products and accessories, Makeover Solutions has deep content that its partners can leverage to reach a unique set of audiences.
The try-on technology is used by Makeover Solutions' own highly-popular beauty website, DailyMakeover.com, as well as several beauty and lifestyle sites and the sites of major brands. Makeover Solutions, Inc. is headquartered in New York City and is backed by Village Ventures, Rho Canada and Borealis Ventures.


text:
The Associated Press
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, in his first public speech since his countrys official re-entry into OPEC, said Nov. 18 that the 13-nation oil producer group must take on a more political role and that current oil prices remain historically low.
Correa said he joined his Venezuelan ally, Presi....
Click here to subscribe to Petroleum News for as low as $69 per year.
Subscribers log in here to read the entire newspaper (1998 to 06/24/2013)
Copyright Petroleum Newspapers of Alaska, LLC (Petroleum News)(PNA)©2013 All rights reserved. The content of this article and web site may not be copied, replaced, distributed, published, displayed or transferred in any form or by any means except with the prior written permission of Petroleum Newspapers of Alaska, LLC (Petroleum News)(PNA). Copyright infringement is a violation of federal law subject to criminal and civil penalties.


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Classes are $15 a night or $120 for a concession card of 10 classes.
We realise that life can get in the way sometimes so there is no obligation for you to turn up to a minimal amount of classes per week or fixing you into a long term contract.
Classes are held Tuesday night 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
We have four instructors in the club, and will endeavour to have two instructors on the floor for every class. If you have any questions about a technique or a scenario please feel free to ask. We will try and figure it out and if we're stumped, we'll ask the other instructors in the IKI network for help.
Held at the North Shore YMCA, Akoranga drive, Northcote, less then a minute from the Esmonde Rd Off-ramp.
There is free parking at the front of the premises with additional free parking next door at the Fox Outlet store.
There will be opportunities for us to leave the classroom and go outside into a different environment and see how the environment can change our dynamics.


text:
Connecticut home prices rose in December to their highest in five years, said Boston publisher-home sales tracker The Warren Group. Condo prices posted their best performance since 2015.
There were 2,454 house sold statewide last month, a slight decline from 2,473 units sold the final month of 2017, Warren Group data shows.
Last month's batch of house sale bore a median price -- meaning half sold for more, half for less -- of $247,000.
But year-to-date track of home prices yielded a median price of $258,000, 3.2 percent greater than the median as of Dec. 2017 and the highest since 2013, CEO Tim Warren said.
"While a year-end median price of $258,000 is impressive, it's still more than 13 percent below the peak,'' he said. "In 2007, the statewide median sale price reached a record of $295,000."
In the statewide condo market, 682 sold last month -- unchanged from a year earlier, Warren said.
Their one-month median sale price fell 2.7 percent to $162,000 from $166,500 in Dec. 2017. Year-to-date condo sales were flat at 9,067 transactions, but were the most since 2007.
Meanwhile, the year-to-date median condo price reached $165,000 – a 1.2 percent increase from 2017 and the highest median year-end condo price since 2015.
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Break out of your comfort zone!
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We've put together a special, limited-edition #BecomeYou eBook packed with exclusive special treat recipes, a yoga flow lead by IdealShape's Head Trainer, as well as 7 unique challenges to help you break out of your comfort zone and achieve your goals. This book is free with purchase when you spend $100!
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How To Protect Your Home Against The Most Common Burglary Entrance Methods
Eighty percent of burglars gain entry into a home by way of the front or back door, or first floor window. As a homeowner or renter, it is important to be aware of these statistics so you can take the necessary preventative measures to protect your home, family, and any valuables you keep in your home. Here is some information you can use to help protect your home from a potential burglary where the burglar enters through a door or window.
Front, Side, and Back Doors
Although your home's front door is a burglar's first choice of entry into your home, as many as two-thirds of burglars use a door that you have left unlocked to get into your home. You don't want to leave your front door unlocked to give a burglar easy access, even when you are home. Make an easy upgrade to your front door by making sure you have a few extra security features. If you have a side or back door, add these extra security features to these entrances to further protect your home.
First, make sure your front, side, and back doors each have a working deadbolt lock that you can secure while you are home and when you leave your home. This requires the deadbolt to work on a key from the outside. Having this type of extra security can also prevent break-ins while you are at home, as 28 percent of burglaries in the past have occurred when someone was home. Then, seven percent of these burglaries resulted in the household member at home experiencing violence from the burglar.
Another safety measure to add extra security to your front, side, and back doors is to replace the screws holding your door's strike plate with two or three-inch long screws. Most typical strike plates are installed using only one-inch long screws. Using longer screws can help prevent burglars from kicking in your door to gain access into your home.
Just as an unlocked door is an easy way for a burglar to gain access into your home, an unlocked window makes a burglar's task easy as well. For this reason, be sure to close and lock all first floor windows, especially when you leave your home. Then, when you are home, you can choose to open any second story windows in your home. A second story window is more difficult for a burglar to use to gain entry into your home.
Next, be sure to keep bushes and vegetation trimmed away from your home's windows. Vegetation around first story windows can provide cover and a hiding place for a burglar while they try to get into your home. They can also use any vegetation in front of your home's windows as cover while they peek through your windows to case out your home for a future burglary.
If a burglar looks through your home's windows at night to see if anyone is home before trying to break into your home, make your home looks lived in, even while you are not at home. You can set up on a timer one or two lights inside your home to turn on and off throughout the evening. You can also set a fake television on a timer in one room of your house to turn on in the evening. This fake television uses bright LED lights to illuminate a dark room in your home with flickering, changing images, just as a real television would look, but without the same amount of electricity use.
Use this information to help protect your home from burglaries through these common points of entry. For more tips, contact a company like Oversight Security.


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Discover more great recipes and get custom weekly menus and grocery lists
Prep: 1. Cut, mince, dice - chicken, garlic, scallion, red bell pepper. 2. Cut broccoli into florets. 3. Whisk together peanut butter, tamari, sriracha and 1/4 cup chicken broth. Make: 1. Heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken and stir fry until browned on the outside, about 3 minutes. 2. Add garlic, scallion, bell pepper and broccoli and stir-fry about 2 to 3 minutes. 3. Pour peanut sauce over chicken and veggies and toss to coat. If desired, add additional chicken broth for a thinner sauce. Cook until broccoli is crisp tender, about 2-3 more minutes. 4. Season with red pepper flakes, if desired. Top with peanuts and serve.
If you don't have coconut oil, peanut or canola oil is just fine. Soy sauce can easily be substituted for tamari. This is also great with chili garlic sauce instead of sriracha if you have it on hand.
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Okay, so I know this is a 'books and writing' blog, but I do actually have other hobbies, believe it or not, and watching films is one of them. So I thought why not combine two of my loves and come up with a list of films that will resonate with the writers among us.
The Man Who Invented Christmas
This is actually the film that gave me the idea for this post. I saw it recently (yes I know, I watched a Christmas film in March, don't judge me) and thought it was an amazing look into the writing process.
The film follows Charles Dickens as he comes up with the idea for, and struggles to write, A Christmas Carol. He ends up being followed around by his characters as he fights to get them to do what they're told (a fight that writers know all too well), and eventually gets to know them well enough to figure out the best ending for the book.
It's a great film in general, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone. But for writers especially, knowing that even the greats like Dickens struggled with their characters and stories makes our battles that little bit easier to manage.
Stranger Than Fiction
This is another film that's great for any audience, but writers can get a lot from it as well.
Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS auditor who starts to hear a disembodied voice in his head narrating his life as it happens. When the voice tells of his impending death he tries to figure out how he can stop it.
He eventually finds out that the narrator is a writer (played by Emma Thompson), who is writing the story of his life, and he sets out to convince her to change the ending.
Stranger Than Fiction is an interesting look at the writing process, showing how drafts can change as you write them. You don't have to worry if the ending of your book isn't working, it's okay to change it, it won't ruin the book.
Also, like The Man Who Invented Christmas, it's nice to see writers struggling with their characters and know that you're not alone.
Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge is one of my all-time favourite films (the other is Anastasia, in case you're wondering).
It follows Christian, a writer who arrives in Paris during the Bohemian movement and falls in love with Satine, a courtesan at the Moulin Rouge in Mont Martre. We follow their doomed relationship as Christain writes a play based on their romance, and they dodge the Duke and his advances on Satine.
If you haven't seen Moulin Rouge make sure you watch it. It's amazing, spectacular, fantastic, and all the other words that mean you should watch it!
As a writer, this is a great film to see how your own life can affect your work. How you can take inspiration from what's going on around you to make a masterpiece. Let's just hope the ending of your story is a bit happier.
Shakespeare In Love
Another film that shows how someone's real life can inspire their writing, Shakespeare In Love is a fictionalised story of how Romeo and Juliet was written.
William Shakespeare is struggling with writer's block, but when he meets Viola de Lesseps (disguised as Thomas Kent, an actor), he falls in love and is inspired to write his most famous play.
This is a great story, showing how inspiring a muse can be, and giving us all hope that even if we're suffering from writer's block, something will come around the corner to help us write a classic like Romeo and Juliet.
The story of Annie Wilkes and Paul Sheldon acts more as a horror story for writers than an inspirational tale.
After suffering a car accident, writer Paul Sheldon wakes up in the company of his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. But when she finds out that he's killing off her favourite characters, things take a turn for the worst. Let's just say a sledgehammer is involved.
If nothing else, this film is a firm reminder to back up all of your work, so if a crazed fan forces you to burn a manuscript, you still have it backed up in Dropbox.
Have you got any other films you think every writer should see? Let me know in the comments.


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In this tutorial I'll show you how to do an easy, beautiful up-do, using a headband! I'm using my 18″ extensions for this up-do; however any length will work. If you're looking for a fast and easy up-do, look no further! All you'll need is a headband, and a few bobby pins.
You can change up this look by doing a different braid, two braids instead of the twist, or two twists with no braid! The options are endless. This hairstyle would be great for a date night or ladies night out, or even a school dance! Hope you enjoy, xo!


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We have been invited to a costume party this evening and it looks like our dolls are more prepared than we are!
From left to right – AG Julie in the retired Kitty costume, McKenna as Little Red Riding Hood from My Pink Planet, Little Miss Matched Hadley is a Mummy (yep, that's just toilet paper), AG Samantha looks fabulous in the retired Grecian Princess costume, MyAG Alex is Minnie Mouse from the Disney Store, A Girl for All Time Amelia joined in with her Stage Costume, Sophia's Carly is a Mermaid in a costume from My Fancy Princess, and AG Kanani looks awesome in her Pirate costume from My Pink Planet.
We still have to run to the store to get the last bits of our own costumes for tonight. I am going to be a witch, Natalie is going to be Monster High Operetta and Megan is going to be a cat. It should be an interesting night.
So, what are you dressing up as this year? I know some of you don't do Halloween, but still do costume parties – either one is fine!


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Borderlands: Game Of The Year Edition Includes Tokens To Download All 4 Add-On Packs:
Borderlands sends up to four co-op players to the harsh frontier planet Pandora in search of a mysterious Alien Vault. Featuring unique first-person role-playing shooter gameplay, you'll customise your character as you explore and battle enemies in frantic first-person shooter combat.
And what would a role-playing shooter be without loot? Borderlands groundbreaking content generation system creates a near endless variety of weapons and items to customise your character! Players can join and leave other players' games at any time, or choose to face the challenges of Borderlands alone. All these features combine with a deep, rich fiction and a bold art style to create a breathtaking experience that challenges the conventions of modern shooters.
The Game of the Year Edition includes tokens to download all 4 of the add-on packs so that you can enjoy all of the content from one of the Most Acclaimed Games of 2009 in one sweet package.
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i post updates for brette every month
but haven't really said much about my progress.
i'm 6 months post partum on thursday
and there have definitely been some changes.
let's get truthful.
i gained 30lbs during my pregnancy,
tipping the scales at 185.
you can do the math.
that means i started at 155,
which is 10-15lbs heavier than i normally am.
note to self - do not get pregnant when you are already fatter than normal.
and seriously, when does this weight thing get easier?
the first two weeks after having b were the worst.
my stomach was (is?) jiggly,
i had to fill up a water bottle every time i peed,
my arm was killing me from the whooping cough shot,
ronnie made me cry once, which had never happened,
because normally i would just tell him to f off
because normally i would just tell him to f off
and we had guests here every other minute.
yet, it still wasn't that bad.
brette was sleeping and eating just fine,
and i had already lost 20 lbs in the first couple weeks,
and i had already lost 20 lbs in the first couple weeks,
so i wasn't that stressed.
then around 3 months my hair started falling out.
i remember it was the week after my 30th birthday.
everyone sheds,
but i'm talking clumps and clumps of hair.
hello, hair grosses me out.
i hate it and its e v e r y w h e r e.
i vacuum all the time,
but its on me, brette, ronnie, our clothes, our floors.
and it has yet to stop.
i'm don't know how i'm not bald by now.
not sure when the hair loss will subside,
but i hope its soon.
around 4 months i decided that i should maybe
look into losing the rest of the baby weight.
the first 20 lbs came off almost instantly
and then i lost another 3 over the next couple months,
but i was stuck at whopping 162.
(please note, that ronnie has always weighed 174,
until now and he weighs 168. i want to kill him.
it is against my law to weigh more than my husband.
i think he's doing it on purpose.)
one hundred and sixty two
pounds is too much for a girl of only 5'4 to carry.
its not healthy or flattering.
so at four months, i decided to work out.
but it didn't last long.
so in november, i switched to walking on the treadmill
every morning during brette's morning nap.
i lost 2 lbs in 3 weeks.
and then we had thanksgiving and i gained it back.
son of a bitch.
two things happened.
one - i met up with kassie and dana and we
decided enough was enough.
we're all headed to mexico in may for kass's wedding
and i'll be damned if we're wearing t-shirts in the pool.
we all measured/weighed each other (mortifying)
and said we were going to meet every friday
to check in with each other and make sure that we were staying healthy.
oh, and to remeasure and weigh-in. blah.
two - my mom and i joined a 21 day weight loss challenge.
it had the diet and exercise all laid out for me.
today is the start to my second week of "getting fit" and
it's going really well.
i've been working out and eating crazy healthy
and guess what?!
i've lost SEVEN pounds.
i barely slid in my goal of being back to
pre-baby weight by brette's six month birthday.
unfortunately, since i started fatter than normal,
i need to keep going.
i'd love to end up somewhere around 135,
but honestly, at this point, just get me back to normal
and i won't complain.
i'll update you when my 21 days are up.


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Distances are calculated in a straight line and may not reflect actual travel distance.
This is one of our Short-let properties
SHORT LET - ALL BILLS INCLUDED A brand new one bedroom apartment. The property comprises; open plan living space including modern fitted kitchen with appliances, double bedroom and modern bathroom. Available unfurnished, one allocated parking space and communal bike store available.
Shepperton village centre is within 1/4 mile and offers local shops and a mainline railway station. The river is also a major feature of Shepperton, giving delightful walks and a selection of pubs and restaurants nearby in the old part of the village. The main towns of Walton on Thames and Weybridge offer a wide selection of shops and superstores, bars and restaurants. The local area is well served by both state and private schools, including St. Nicholas Primary School and Thamesmead Secondary School. Along with golf and leisure facilities. The M3/M25 are approximately 4 miles away for London, the South and both Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
Brand New
One Double Bedroom
One Parking Space
Epc - B
Contact branch for relevant Energy Performance Certificate


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- Female blue crabs mate only once during their lifetime.
- The average lifespan of a blue crab is 3 years.
- The scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, means "savory beautiful swimmer."
Blue crabs are crustaceans with a hard upper shell, typically grey, blue, or brownish-green in color. The blue crab gets its name from its sapphire-tinted claws. Blue crabs have two large claws, six walking legs, and two paddle-like swimming legs. One thing that sets male and female crabs apart is that females have red tips on their claws. Another distinction between male and female blue crabs is the shape of the abdomen. A blue crab male's abdomen has a long, narrow, inverted "T" shape while females have a broader, rounded "U" shaped abdomen.
Blue crabs spend the majority of their lifetime in estuaries which often have accessible shorelines, making blue crabs a delicious challenge to catch. Blue crabs are not only sought after by commercial fishermen but recreational crabbing has become rather popular as well.
Louisiana's blue crab fishery is the largest in the United States accounting for more than half of the total amount harvested in the Gulf of Mexico each year. Blue crabs are prized for their sweet, tender meat and are one of the most popular forms of seafood in the United States.
Blue crabs tend to feed on oysters, mussels, snails, plant and animal detritus, and even smaller or soft-shelled blue crabs. These creatures are very sensitive to environmental changes and populations will drastically decline if habitats are disturbed. The blue crab relies heavily on healthy wetlands for survival and the sustainability of their population. The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act supports healthy estuaries that serve as habitat for species such as the blue crab.


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Suddenly a siren blared as Mr. Jacobson walked through the door telling us what to do. It was our immersion assembly, to welcome Pt. England back to school and to find out what we are doing for each term and in term 2 we are doing Active Earth.
First Mr. Burt came up and showed is his emergency kit for when a volcano will erupt. He had alot of stuff like this weird lawn mower, two torches and alot more.
My highlight of the immersion assembly was when it was team 4s turn to get on the stage, I was so excited. First Maggie Magma (Miss. Vaafusuaga) and her assistant Mrs. Lavalava (Mr. Barks) introduced themselves and then announced the three contestants.
My other favourite item was team 1s item . It was cool when Miss. Wild coughed out flour.
I can not wait to find out what we are doing in our classes for Active Earth.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Immersion Assembly Term 2
Posted by Room 15 Pt England School at 1:49 PM
2 comments:
- Mrs LagitupuApril 28, 2010 at 9:26 AM
Hi CrusaderReplyDelete
I like your introduction for this recount about immersion assembly. I agree with you, team four had a cool item. I hope that you learn a lot about this topic this term, and that you have fun doing so.
- CrusaderMay 4, 2010 at 9:08 AM
Thank you Mrs. Lagitupu for commenting on blog. I am having lots of fun learning about volcanos and stuff.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Copyright @ 2012 World Interiors. All Rights Reserved
Mambo Bar Table
Product Code: Mambo Bar Table
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This very popular and affordable bar table can be easily placed anywhere, it comes in a choice of black or white gloss, with chrome coloured accents, it has an adjustable height with turnable capabilities. A little easy self assembly is required. £95.00. Delivery is for mainland UK only, alternatively please feel welcome to arrange own collection if preferd.
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This feature originally appeared in Songlines #105 (January/February 2015) p24. Download a pdf here. Alexandra Petropoulos talks to the singer and flautist who is re-rooting herself in the folk music of Japan When Maïa Barouh first heard about the 2011 earthquake and nuclear accident in Japan, the singer and flautist found herself at a critical point in her … Continue reading
Posted in December 2014 …
My World: Jools Holland
This feature originally appeared in Songlines #105 (January/February 2015) p8. Download a pdf here. British pianist, bandleader, TV presenter and all-round music enthusiast talks to Alexandra Petropoulos about some of the artists who have stood out for him on his BBC TV programme (Photo: BBC/Andre Csillag/Relay Photos) Jools Holland is certainly a man with a passion for music. In a career … Continue reading


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My truth
What is my truth? Well, I'll try to quantify it. I've seen a lot, done a lot, had a lot, lost a lot more and gained tenfold more than I ever thought possible. I used to believe my truth was something I could find, that it was connected to a person, a thing, a place. Uh uh. No, missy, it is NOT any of these things. Our truth is inside of us, there from our first breath in this world. I didn't know this until about 3 months ago. Now that is a long fucking time to not know how to find your truth. That's over 30 years of searching and the whole time I was looking, it was already there – you can imagine, I was a bit pissed off. Hell, I was pretty incandescent with rage and contempt for the people who never told me it was there. And I was pretty fucked off at myself too – how could I have missed it? I'll tell you exactly how I missed it – I had been told that this 'hole' I felt was meant to be filled with something else. That something was God. Yes, we're back on this again. I'm really beginning to see how this concept is pretty damn destructive in so many ways. I have attended several different churches in my life, this is what happens when your parents are devout. This is one of the only things I can remember about my childhood. Seriously, until I left home I can recall very little. The things that stick in my mind are these: my first day at school, twice (I attended 2 different primary schools), a boy with both his legs in braces, a teacher looking after me whilst my youngest sister was being born, another teacher asking me how to spell something when I was 10, bullies and church. There is very little else. Oh, and the house we lived in, with a lime green dining room and yellow bathroom. Anyway… The most prominent of these are the bullies and church. Church was, when I think about it, pretty bloody awful. I remember feeling guilty a lot of the time, and I always KNEW that I didn't fit in right, that I was different. And the attitude of certain people, including my parents, towards the bullies was directly related to church life. You guessed it – turn the other cheek. Who the FUCK thought that shit up! It's basically a free pass for people to treat you like shit and you have to stand there and take it. To hell with that! Well, I can say this now, but at the time I was so scared of making a fuss that I retreated into myself. My folks knew I was unhappy, but I don't remember them helping me to deal with this. They didn't help me find my truth then, so I could be strong and stand up to these kids. All I remember them saying to me was 'they're jealous, just ignore them.' This is the shittest advice in all the world. I'm going to make a statement here: KIDS, DON'T PUT UP WITH BULLIES – YOU ARE AWESOME, THEY ARE RUBBISH. THEY GET OFF ON MAKING YOU FEEL CRAP TO MASK THEIR OWN FEELINGS OF CRAP-NESS. TELL SOMEONE, PLEASE! DO NOT SUFFER IN SILENCE, EXPOSE THEM! OK, feel slightly better for that. But this was the mistake that I happened to suffer. My parents' attitude to bullies caused me to suffer in silence. Even my father, who was bullied himself, simply said 'I had it pretty shit, you just have to get on with it.' Thanks Dad. NOT helpful. So, basically, from the ago of about 7 until I was 18, I didn't feel able to find any truth within myself as I was too busy keeping my head down and trying to avoid the bullies. I've just this moment realised how bad this was. Why did nobody help me find my truth? I was so alone. It seemed that nobody cared. I didn't trust anybody, let alone myself. Although, with hindsight, if I had been able to trust myself, I might have fared better. But then I didn't have my truth, so it's a bit irrelevant now. How much better things could have been if I was only taught how to deal with it. I digress – no truth + church guilt = nasty bullies who made my life hell. Eventually I dropped out of school because of this, I had no friends left. I'd only had 3 to start with. Then I started to search for the truth which eluded me. I tried various things. Went a little crazy. I now tend to flit and I am fickle. Trying to find your truth outside of yourself does not work. Believe, sister. I thought I had to FIND some outside thing that would reveal it to me. Nope. Not men or sex, not alcohol, not work, not study, not chocolate (although this is pretty good), not religion, not friends, not enemies, not success or recognition, not even having children. Only when you learn to love yourself can you find it. I still struggle to love myself. All the years of hate and pain and loneliness poured over me, drowning me, obscuring my view – or both myself and others – suffice to make loving yourself incredibly difficult. It's a slow and painful process to learn this. But I AM learning. Learning that I am enough, that I may be damaged but the damage has forced me to forge myself anew, into something better. I am more than the sum of my parts. I am beautiful and sexy and desirable (those 3 I've never put on paper until now, the thought of doing so caused me to feel sick with shame). I am NOT ashamed of who I am or where I have been, what I've done. I am not whole, I'm still broken. But broken = beauty. Chaos = perfection. I love myself and I will live my truth.