text: From left to right: A-Line Dress with Short Sleeves & Square Neck in Blue & Tan color * Sleeveless A-Line Dress with Round Neck in Green & Purple color. This is a fabulous slinky fabric! It is a very bright and vibrant slinky stretchy print. A very pretty pattern combining paisley elements with squares in 2 different color combinations! Available in either standard a-line or princess cut style dresses & shirts. We also have jackets & dusters, standard tapered pants & capri's, palazzo pants & gaucho's and skirts! Everything is available in sizes Large to 9x (Remember! Our customizable dresses are made for real women! They run *very* big, & are extra roomy! Check the measurements below, if you usually wear a 6x, you might just find youre a 3x or 4x in these, but always check measurements listed to be sure.) And you can customize the length/neckline/sleeves, etc. The fabric is wonderful & a breeze to take care of! Throw it in the washer, dryer, and straight into a drawer or suitcase, take it out days or weeks later, and it's ready to wear! As with all the slinkies, they rarely wrinkle, are very stretchy, and hang great! NEW! Now you can have it either straight across around the bottom, or hi-low cascading style, where it is shorter in the front & longer in the back! (appx 10" difference between front & back). * Poly/lycra blend * Machine washable * Sanctuarie Brand * Made in the USA Approximate Measurements for Jackets, Dresses & Tops: Princess Cut Measurements: 0x: Chest:44" - Hips (appx):58" 1x: Chest:48" - Hips (appx):62" 2x: Chest:52" - Hips (appx):66" 3x: Chest:56" - Hips (appx):70" 4x: Chest:60" - Hips (appx):74" 5x: Chest:64" - Hips (appx):78" 6x: Chest:68" - Hips (appx):82" 7x: Chest:72" - Hips (appx):86" 8x: Chest:76" - Hips (appx):90" 9x: Chest:80" - Hips (appx):94" ** Measurements are always taken unstretched ** A-Line Measurements: LG: Chest:37" - Hips (appx):50" XL: Chest:43" - Hips (appx):56" 0x: Chest:48" - Hips (appx):58" 1x: Chest:52" - Hips (appx):62" 2x: Chest:56" - Hips (appx):66" 3x: Chest:60" - Hips (appx):70" 4x: Chest:64" - Hips (appx):74" 5x: Chest:68" - Hips (appx):78" 6x: Chest:72" - Hips (appx):82" 7x: Chest:76" - Hips (appx):86" 8x: Chest:80" - Hips (appx):89" 9x: Chest:84" - Hips (appx):92" PLEASE NOTE that this material is very stretchy. However, all measurements are always taken as unstretched. Unless specified otherwise, made to order customize dresses, jackets & tops usually ship within 3 - 10 working days*. *You can rush to make your item faster in the selection below. This does not include the actual shipping cost, just the 'rush the process of creation of the item'. You will have the option to upgrade your shipping at checkout and you can choose your express shipping there. 1437 SP-1437


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FSFE to users: Seize your freedom of choice!
FSFE welcomes greater competition in European browser market
FSFE welcomes the arrival of greater competition in the web browser market. From today, Microsoft has to offer Windows users in Europe the possibility to choose among different browsers. This step puts into practice the company's settlement with the European Commission from December 2009. The Free Software Foundation Europe was an active participant in the Commission's investigation.
"For the first time, Microsoft has been forced to offer all users a choice among different web browsers," says FSFE's President Karsten Gerloff. "This is a stop sign for the company's strategy of extending its near-monopoly in desktop operating systems to other markets."
FSFE is fighting for freedom of choice and Open Standards. Microsoft's own Internet Explorer browsers do not interpret web standards correctly. The company's near-monopoly on the desktop has meant that web designers have often catered to Microsoft users only, leaving users of rival browsers to deal with broken pages.
"Microsoft has gained its dominant position in the browser market by violating its consent decree with the US competition authorities. The problem we are trying to fix here wouldn't exist if Microsoft had complied with the laws," says FSFE's Legal Counsel Carlo Piana. "It is no coincidence that we have recently seen more competition among browsers, after years where there was no innovation and a total lack of investment by Microsoft."
It is now up to the users to take advantage of the choice they are offered. Gerloff reminds the EC that it will constantly need to monitor the success of the 'ballot screen'. "Microsoft is a convicted monopolist and has broken countless promises in the past," he says. "We urge the European Commission to keep a sharp eye on how well this measure plays out in practice."
The 'ballot screen' is currently limited to Europe. "We call on competition authorities around the world to take a cue from the EC's good work in this case. The effect on competition and standards compliance would be much greater if users were offered a choice everywhere", says FSFE's Legal Counsel Carlo Piana.
It remains to be seen how the 'ballot screen' will improve competition in the market for web browsers. FSFE is equally concerned about the lack of interoperability between Microsoft's products and Free Software competitors, and the company's practice of bundling its operating system with consumer hardware.
The initial complaint about Microsoft's abuse of its dominant position in the web browser market was brought by Opera. FSFE has supported the investigation as an interested third party, providing feedback and helping to shape the measures imposed by the European Commission.
The settlement on web browsers is only the latest among several European Commission investigations into Microsoft's anticompetitive behaviour. The most famous among these actions -- where FSFE was a key player -- concerned the workgroup server operating system market. Also known as the Samba case, it ended with a landmark decision in 2007 by the European Court of Justice. Microsoft was forced to disclose interoperability information that it had illegaly withheld from competitors.
On the same day that the ballot screen was announced, Microsoft also promised to disclose interoperability information for a number of its products, such as Windows Server, Microsoft Office, Exchange and SharePoint. Here, an investigation by the European Commission is still ongoing.

subset: commoncrawl


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On War Poetry
In 1968, on today's date, January 27, the Marines in the trenches at Khe Sanh were beginning to realize that what began on January 20-21, 1968, would turn into a period of horror and death and destruction which would become seared into the memories and psyches of all those who survived.
The 19th Century German philosopher and poet, Friedrich Nietzsche said: We have art in order not to die of the truth.
The truth of what happened at Khe Sanh often seems like a dose of reality so heinous that it is hard to swallow. We want to reject it as fantasy, as false memory, as fiction. But what happened there is truth with a bitter bouquet.
Down inside our minds, we try to figure a way to deal with that nasty truth and so, as Nietzsche probably would suggest, we often turn the truth into art. Over the last 2700 years and more, warriors have been memorializing their war experiences with poetry, which is certainly art.
Somewhere around the Eighth Century, BC, the Greek warrior poet, Archilochus wrote: "I long for a fight with you, just as a thirsty man longs for drink."*
And in the intervening centuries, warriors have tried to reduce to poetry the profound impacts of combat through imagery be it sight, sound, smell, or the way the mist of a morning before battle gathers on the skin.
In the last one hundred years or so, war poets have been strong voices in articulating what they have witnessed as man has attacked and massacred his fellow man. A list of 20th and 21st Century war poets might include Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen from World War I, János Pilinszky and Randall Jarrell from World War II, Rolando Hinojosa and William Childress from the Korean War, Yusef Komunyakaa and Bruce Weigl from Vietnam, and Brian Turner and Jason Shelton from the wars in the middle east.
Although these poets have gained some fame, the efforts of trying to convert our wartime experiences into something we can look at on a page is a pretty common phenomena.
Fear, horror and pain; what we've witnessed and endured in war sometimes acts as a muse and invites us, the warriors, to create, even those of us who aren't professional poets.
In today's rendition of the blog, we turn to one of our own, Lieutenant Colonel Ken Pipes, USMC Retired, who served as the company commander of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines during the siege. Skipper Pipes is also featured in the documentary, BRAVO! COMMON MEN, UNCOMMON VALOR.
Skipper Pipes' poem is written in classic form, rhyme and meter, and is published here with his permission. Please respect his copyright.
Tribute and Tribulation
Khe Sanh Remembered
To the men who scaled their mountains
and Seized that far flung plateau,
To the men who held the arena
Against the best the enemy could throw.
Who walked the jungle covered valleys
And waded the leach laden streams;
Who moved through the green shrouded alleys,
Till their muscles cramped and screamed.
To those who fell wounded and bleeding,
Yet arose to fight on 'til the end.
To those who fell wounded and bleeding,
Never to rise up again.
To our comrades who carried the rifle;
Who fired both cannon and gun.
To those who supplied and fought with us
We knew that they'd never run.
To the pilots who flew the fast movers,
And herded choppers all over the sky.
Who calmly watched the green tracers
As they went arching and howling by.
To Gentleman Jim, our commander,
And Jaques, Claire, Morris and Chief.
To Snake, Mike, Korkow and Rash,
And other heroes we respect and keep.
To Stubbe, our brave navy chaplain,
Who interceded for us as our link.
And to DeMaggd, our battalion surgeon,
Whose skilled hand drew us back from the brink.
To Blanchfield, and our navy corpsmen,
The finest and most courageous of all;
Who daily and nightly fought to reach us,
Refusing to succumb to the law.
So now as we move far from the valley,
And the years march away to the fore,
We and our families remember,
All those who made it happen; and more.
© Ken Pipes
Oorah for the Skipper! Ooorah! for poetry. Ooorah! for art.
If you have further interest in war poetry, you can find examples here from those mentioned earlier: Siegfried Sassoon contemplates a letter home to a mother here: Wilfred Owen muses on a gas attack here: ; János Pilinszky ponders prisoners of war here:
Randall Jarrell writes about the men who crew bombers here: Rolando Hinojosa contemplates friendly fire here: William Childress remembers the Korean War here: Yusef Komunyakaa at The Wall here: Bruce Weigl muses about the world between war and home here: Brian Turner on the bullet here: and Jason Shelton on Iraq here.
*From William Harris, Prof. Emeritus Classics, Middlebury College. (http://community.middlebury.edu/~harris/Archilochus.pdf).
If you or your organization would like to host a screening of BRAVO! in your town this coming spring, summer, fall or next winter please contact us immediately.
DVDs of BRAVO! are available. Please consider gifting copies to a veteran, a history buff, a library, a friend or family member. For more information, go to https://bravotheproject.com/buy-the-dvd/.
BRAVO! has a page on Facebook. Please "like" us and "share" the page at https://www.facebook.com/Bravotheproject?ref=hl.


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Lotto Result July 14 2021 9PM Draw Summary
Lotto Result July 14, 2021 – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office announces the Lotto Result July 14, 2021 at 9PM tonight.
The multi-million PCSO lotto draws to be held are for 6/45 and 6/55 Lotto. Here is the official lotto result today, Wednesday, July 14, 2021:
Mega Lotto 6/45
The lotto results July 14, 2021 for 6/45 Lotto are 16-02-25-34-26-43 in any order with a jackpot prize of Php 19,346,329.40 .
PCSO announced that there are 0 jackpot winners in the 6/45 Lotto draw held tonight.
PCSO holds 6/45 lotto draws every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9pm.
Go to 6/45 Lotto Result section for other prizes.
Grand Lotto 6/55
The lotto results July 14, 2021 for 6/55 Lotto are 21-29-39-42-06-14 in any order with a jackpot prize of Php 46,675,625.60 .
There are 0 jackpot winners in the 6/55 Lotto draw according to PCSO.
PCSO conducts 6/55 lotto draws every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 9pm.
See the 6/55 Lotto Result page for minor prizes.
Latest Jackpot and PCSO Lotto Results as of Wednesday, July 14, 2021
The table below shows the most recent results and jackpot for all these lotto games as of today:
PCSO Major Lotto Draws Results Summary
These are the updated jackpot prizes and lotto result today for Ultralotto 6/58, Grandlotto 6/55, Superlotto 6/49, Megalotto 6/45 and Lotto 6/42 provided by the PCSO.Lotto Draw | Latest Winning Numbers | Jackpot Estimate |
Ultra Lotto 6/58 | 05-01-56-33-11-09 | Php 49.5 Million |
Grand Lotto 6/55 | 16-27-07-25-54-30 | Php 114.2 Million |
Super Lotto 6/49 | 08-43-19-21-48-39 | Php 15.8 Million |
Mega Lotto 6/45 | 30-38-34-29-15-19 | Php 9.3 Million |
National Lotto 6/42 | 25-07-19-13-20-41 | Php 5.9 Million |
Soure: Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
Note: Jackpot prizes are subject to 20% tax and 1% Agent's prize commission.
Aside from 6/45 and 6/55 Lotto, you can also check the results and jackpot of other PCSO major draws at 6/58 Lotto Result, 6/49 Lotto Result and 6/42 Lotto Result pages.
Here is the daily schedule of PCSO's major lotto draws:
The PCSO holds five 6-pick number games, the Lotto 6/42, MegaLotto 6/45, SuperLotto 6/49 GrandLotto 6/55 and UltraLotto 6/58 at Php24.00 per combination (inclusive of 20% Documentary Stamp Tax or DST).
Important Reminders when playing PCSO Lotto
Only persons 18 years old and above are allowed to play lotto and to claim the winnings.
Lotto players should buy their tickets before 8:00 pm in order to join the evening draws.
Players are responsible for checking the accuracy of the all data printed in their tickets such as the number combination, draw date and bet amount.
The TRAIN law requires a 20% Documentary Stamps Tax (DST) added to the ticket cost.
All lottery winnings above 10,000.00 are subject to a 20% tax under the TRAIN Law.
This page was updated on July 14, 2021. Go to this page to see more PCSO Lotto Results and prizes.


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Kids and road trips: an amazing combination of excitement, energy and, if the drive is long, boredom. Playing I Spy or 20 Questions, or looking for license plates from all the states and provinces, is fun for a little while, but those classic road games won't last forever. What if your kids could watch their favorite movies without bothering you? Your local mobile electronics retailer offers many rear seat entertainment options to entertain backseat passengers. This article looks at the most common solutions and how they work.
Overhead Monitors
The overhead monitor is a thin LCD screen that mounts to the ceiling of your car or truck. The screen has a hinge on the top edge so it can be folded up against the roof when not in use. Monitor sizes range from 7 inches up to around 15 inches, with 10-inch models being among the most popular.
Most systems include a built-in DVD player. Watching a movie is as simple as inserting the disc and letting it start. Some systems include USB ports or SD card slots to play MPEG or AVI digital media files. Many units have multiple auxiliary A/V inputs for connections to aftermarket source units or external video sources like a video game system.
Your kids listen to the audio for the movie using a set of wireless headphones. Most of these headphone systems use infrared transmitters, so the kids have to be in the vehicle for them to work; not a problem on the average road trip. Some overhead monitors also include an FM modulator system. An FM modulator will take the audio signal from the movie and broadcast it over an FM radio station frequency. If everyone in the vehicle wants to listen, all you have to do is tune the factory radio to that station.
The installation of an overhead monitor usually requires that your installer cut a hole in the headliner. If you have leased the vehicle, plan on leaving the screen in at the end of the lease. The installer will attach a mounting bracket securely to the roof support structure; then the monitor can be installed. Many overhead monitors include built-in dome lights. The factory dome light location is often a great spot to mount a screen, so integrated lighting replaces the factory unit.
Headrest Monitor Solutions
Headrest monitor solutions are the same as the screens in an airplane. For the rear-seat passengers, the screens are on the back of the driver and passenger headrests. There are two options for headrest screens: a display installed in most factory headrests, or a replacement headrest unit.
Installing a screen in a factory headrest will require that the upholstery on the rear be cut out to mount the screen. Again, this is a permanent solution. Aftermarket headrest systems vary in quality from manufacturer to manufacturer. Since the headrest is a critical and fundamental component of the safety system of your vehicle, this is not a place to skimp out on quality.
Audio playback typically works the same way as an overhead monitor. One advantage of many headrest systems is the availability of two audio channels. If you have two kids and two completely separate playback solutions, each child can watch a different movie. Headrest systems never block the perspective of the rearview mirror.
Integration with Aftermarket Source Units
If you have an aftermarket multimedia receiver installed in your dash, then you can probably use that to play movies for rear-seat passengers. Your passengers will still need monitors in the rear, since it's illegal in most states and provinces to have a video entertainment system playing within view of the driver.
Source units with dual- or two-zone capabilities will typically let you play a DVD and send the audio and video to screens in the rear while the driver and passenger can listen to the radio through the factory speaker system. If this is a feature you want to use, check with your mobile electronics retailer; different brands and models of head units have limitations on what sources can work with what zones.
Alternative Rear Seat Entertainment Options
If you own an iPad or another tablet, many brackets are available to let you secure those to the headrest mounting posts. Your mobile electronics retailer can install a high-current USB port in the back seat to keep the tablets charged for long trips.
A few companies make monitor systems that attach to the rear of a center console or strap to the seat in front of you. While these solutions don't integrated with the vehicle as cleanly, they do offer entertainment – and that's what matters.
If there is no dedicated rear-seat entertainment solution for your vehicle, don't despair. Many mobile electronics retailers can create something for you from scratch. A custom tablet mount for the seat or center console isn't a problem for most of them.
If you're planning a road trip, drop into your local mobile electronics retailer a few weeks before you leave. They can show you the rear-seat entertainment options for your vehicle and book an appointment to have your choice of system installed.
This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.


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Accommodation-CondoAccommodation-Boutique beach resort
9AM - 5PM Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday until further notice.
Create the perfect setting for the type of vacation you deserve in one of our studio, one bedroom, or two bedroom condominium rentals. Jamaica Royale is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico along the white sands of world-famous Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida. A barrier island on Florida's West coast, considered the most beautiful of Florida's barrier islands, Siesta Key's beach boasts "the world's finest and whitest sand".
Jamaica Royale is located on a private lane that leads directly to the beach… no through traffic and no streets to cross ~ just stroll to the famed white sands of Siesta Key Beach. We offer a wide variety of rental units to suit your needs:
One-story villas – Studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom units available: Each of these ground units provide a private patio area, and covered carport parking directly outside your front door.
Two-story penthouses – One and two bedroom units available: Each of these ground units located close to the Gulf provide a private patio area behind the unit, an enclosed balcony and covered carport parking directly outside your front door.
Gulf-view tower condominiums – Two bedroom condominiums are available in the towers that line the beach. These beach-front units have elevators that will transport you to accommodations with a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mexico.


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Apple iPhone 5s vs Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Who will win this clash of the 4in titans?
iPhones have always been the smartphone of choice for people who want a smaller easy-to-manage screen size without compromising on specs and power. But now there's mini, mighty competition in the form of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.
It laughs in the face of weaklings like the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and HTC One Mini, and it's here to try and knock the iPhone 5s out cold.
Let's see if it manages to do just that…
Quality all around
Apple normally walks away from the build quality round with an easy victory, but the Xperia Z1 Compact has inherited the premium DNA of its larger Xperia Z1 brother, so it's definitely no walkover.
Slathered in glass on both sides with metal edges, the Z1 Compact feels every bit as premium as the iPhone 5s, and it's available in everything from black to eye-searing yellow.
The plastic port covers might let the Z1 Compact down a little bit, but they bless it with waterproof superpowers. Try dropping your iPhone 5s in the toilet and see how it fares. Or don't.
The iPhone 5s feels every bit as premium as any Apple product we've held before it and it's noticeably thinner and lighter than the Z1 Compact. It's beautiful to look at, and a pleasure to hold, and you'll want to caress it every time you slip it out of your pocket.
So then. In one corner we have the solid, stockier well-built Z1 Compact. In the other, the sleek and graceful iPhone 5s.
Both are well-crafted premium devices that will appeal to different tastes, but the Xperia Z1 Compact just edges out ahead, thanks to its waterproof powers.
Winner: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Mini screens
The iPhone 5s' 4in screen with its count of 326ppi is sharp, bright, has excellent viewing angles and serves up crisp whites.
The Xperia Z1 Compact's display is a little larger at 4.3 inches but has a slightly higher 342ppi, thanks to its 720p resolution.
While you won't notice any difference in sharpness unless you ram your eyeballs against the screens (we wouldn't recommend this), the iPhone 5s' screen is a little brighter with purer whites and text when browsing seems a little sharper.
The Z1 Compact makes up for this with slightly more vivid colours and darker blacks. It's also got far better viewing angles than that of its larger Z1 brother, and matches the excellent viewing angles of the iPhone 5s.
Both devices have excellent screens but the iPhone 5s pips the Z1 Compact to the post thanks to its slightly sharper, brighter screen, and dazzling whites.
Winner: Apple iPhone 5s
Oh snap
The iPhone 5s' camera might be an 8MP offering in a sea of high megapixel cameras, but it still produces some of the best, most accurate smartphone snaps around.
It's got some formidable competition in the Z1 Compact though, thanks to its huge 20.7MP sensor – the same one found in the full-size Xperia Z1.
Those extra megapixels mean that you an crop into photos without losing as much detail – something the iPhone 5s and its 8MP snaps suffer with.
The Z1 Compact also offers tonnes of extra features from Superior Auto Mode to manual mode which lets you tweak the exposure yourself. It's also got a dedicated shutter button to start up the camera app in an instant and take photos, though it's a little too small and stiff for our tastes.
There's also a fun AR mode and Timeshift which takes snaps both before and after you press the shutter button, letting you choose the perfect shot. The Z1 Compact even lets you live stream to Facebook, though why you'd want to is beyond us.
The iPhone 5s keeps things much simpler, which is actually no bad thing. The Z1 Compact can be a little overwhelming with its array of settings and options while the iPhone 5s will be much easier to pick up and start shooting.
The iPhone 5s also has a genuinely cool slow motion video mode which will come in more handy than live streaming your hangover fry up on Facebook.
In practice, the iPhone 5s still produces clearer, more detailed shots than the Z1 Compact, and you'll get better photos from it unless you want to crop into a lot of snaps post-shot – something the average upload-to-Facebook crowd will rarely do.
The iPhone 5s' dual white/amber LED flash also prduces more natural skin tones and colours.
For most people, the iPhone 5s will be the better choice for a quick point-and-shoot snappers, thanks to its detailed, accurate shots and quick, easy-to-use controls.
Winner: iPhone 5s
Power and endurance
Neither the iPhone 5s with its 64-bit A7 processor, nor the Z1 Compact with its quad-core Snapdragon 800 innards, will leave you wanting for power.
Games, multitasking, apps – you name in, they can handle it with ease.
While Apple fans are used to all this power on a smaller device, the Xperia Z1 Compact is refreshing, as it's the first truly no-compromise Android phone with a smaller display. No other Android phone its size even comes close.
The Xperia Z1 does come out ahead of the iPhone 5s on battery life though, thanks to its larger 2300mAh offering, compared to the iPhone 5s' smaller 1560mAh battery.
Unlike the iPhone 5s, the Z1 Compact will happily last a day before needing a top up.
While it's a draw on the power front then, the Z1 Compact easily wins on battery life.
Winner: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
If you're a fan of Apple's gorgeous iOS 7, then there's clearly one winner.
But unlike more bloated Android handsets like the Galaxy S4 or LG G2 which have heavily modified versions of Android, Sony's Android tweaks are thankfully minimal and won't bash you in the face with cartoony icons or crowded features.
While the Z1 Compact is still running Android 4.3, we expect to see an update from Sony to Android 4.4 KitKat in the (hopefully) near future.
Winner: Draw
As long as you're not set on Android, the iPhone 5s edges out as the slightly better choice, thanks to its combination of good looks, premium build, sharp screen, fantastic camera and all the beautiful thrills that iOS 7 has to offer.
Having said that, the Xperia Z1 Compact offers a waterproof build, plenty of power, a decent camera and a formidable battery life for £430 – £120 less than the iPhone 5s.
You can't go wrong either way, so enjoy whichever one ends up gracing your pockets.
READ MORE: Top 10 best smartphones in the world


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- Destany at Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom tried a new nail art technique, the plastic wrap mani, using Cult Nails polishes.
- This Fall, there's a whole lot to talk about when it comes to NARS Cosmetics. Alison of The Advice Sisters reports on Fall 2012, NARS new skincare collection, and gives a sneak peek at Holiday 2012.
- BeautyJudy shares swatches and a review of polishes from the new lacquer line that Katie Cazorla, star of The Nail Files show and owner of The Painted Nail, has launched!
- Retrodiva's Beauty is at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week and has the scoop on the NARS look at the Creatures of the Night show.
- Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog says Hello Lashes! with a mascara from It Cosmetics.
- Blushing Noir hosts a Back-to-School Giveaway where you can get your hands on goodies like a Danielle Nicole Clutch, OPI Polish, Milani, and more!
- TheFabZilla showcases the return of the vamp for fall ~ dark wine berry lips. See how you can make it wearable to work or at daytime.
- Looking for an ultra shiny, cruelty-free gloss? Making up the Midwest dishes on the one of the best: Youngblood's Mighty Shiny Lip Gel.
- Celebrate a whole month of Birthdays with Midnight Manicures and enter to win one of two prizes which consists of 3 polishes each from the Zoya Fall 2012 Collections.
- Sheila at Painted Ladies has revitalized her curls with Dove's Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner, and has a coupon so you can try it, too!
- Did you know that your sleeping position can put a crimp in your complexion? Head on over to BeautyTidbits to find out how to avoid 'sleep lines'.
- Beauty from Liz tried out The Body Shop All-in-One BB cream - is it as good as Asian BB creams?
- Miss L from Beauty by Miss L found great budget friendly eye primer from MUA Makeup Academy and reviewed on her blog.
- Does Phyrra love or hate "August's GlossyBox"? Find out!
- Christina from Curls N Pearls takes a look back at some of Jessica Biel's most gorgeous hairstyles and colors. Check the looks out for yourself and vote for your favorite!
- Lola's Secret Beauty Blog has foolproof tips for Fall & Winter-ready skin & hair!
- Trina Turk teamed up with Julep to create nail polish colors inspired by her Fall 2012 fashion line! Mina Slater of Fabulous Awesomeness shares swatches of the September Trina Turk Edition Julep Maven Bombshell box.
- School is back and you're probably over your wardrobe already. Give it a little face lift with this Free KEDS giveaway from Seventeen magazine. Also check out these cool bloggers.
- Are you ready for Fall? Pammy Blogs Beauty scopes out Laura Mercier's new Fall 2012 lineup! Great products (including her famous tinted moisturizer now in compact form!)!!!
- Cosmetics Aficionado shows you Chanel's Brume D'Or Joues Contraste blush, quite possibly the brown/orange blush of your dreams.
- Lawless Lacquer (formerly Oh So Lacquered) gets fancy with her dotting tools for a fun accent nail!
- Mimi's Mani's shows how to lighten up with Mally's Airbrush Highlighter.
- Polarbelle found five exceptional top coats in the Cult Nails Deceptive Collection especially when laid on top of the rich black polish Nevermore.
- NYC New York Color has just the thing to help you expand your lippy wardrobe without breaking the bank! Mama Fashionista shares the City Duets 2 in 1 Lip Colors!
- Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful shows you her Apple Orchard nail art, perfect for fall & super pretty in general!
- Ever a foundation fanatic, The Beauty Professor has swatched all twelve shades of the hotly anticipated Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup...it was just released this week!
- Escape to the Amazon in beautiful style with Tarte and Beauty Info Zone. You won't regret it.
Monday, September 10, 2012
BBC Roundup - 9/9-ish
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(Thanks to guest writer Victor Hugo, who having haunted these pages in many a post kindly permits us to republish the open letter he wrote on February 11, 1854 to Home Secretary (and future Prime Minister) Lord Palmerston. This is the English version as published by London's Daily News on February 17 of that year; here is a French version of the same. Hugo at the time was living as an exile from the French Empire in the British-controlled Channel Island of Jersey; the case concerned was the highly controversial hanging of John Tapner on the nearby island of Guernsey for the murder of an aged Frenchwoman. Nobody ever hanged again on Guernsey after this possible wrongful execution.
The footnote appears in the original. -ed.)
Sir, —
I lay before you a series of facts which have transpired in Jersey within the last few years:
Fifteen years ago Caliot, a murderer, was condemned to death, and pardoned. Eight years ago Thomas Nicolle, a murderer, was condemned to death, and pardoned. Three years ago, in 1851, Jacques Fouquet, a murderer, was condemned to death, and pardoned.* In each of these cases the penalty of death was commuted for transportation.
In each case, to obtain a commutation of the sentence, a petition signed by the inhabitants of the island was sufficient.
In 1851 transportation was thought a sufficient punishment for Edward Carlton, who murdered his wife under circumstances of the most horrible description.
All this has taken place within fifteen years in the island from which I now address you.
Let us shift the scene from Jersey to Guernsey.
Tapner, a murderer, an incendiary, and a robber, is condemned to death.
At present, and the facts above stated prove the truth of the assertion, the penalty of death is virtually abolished in the opinion of every sane, well thinking man.
No sooner is Tapner condemned than a cry is heard, petitions are multiplied; one, energetically establishing itself on the principle of the inviolability of human life, was signed by 600 of the most enlightened of the inhabitants of the island.
And it is worthy of notice that not one minister of any Christian sect has deigned to affix his signature to either of these petitions. These men are probably ignorant that the cross is a gallows. — The people cried: "Mercy!" The priest cried: "Death!" — Let us pity the priest and resume our subject.
These petitions have been forwarded to you — a repsite has been granted. In similar cases a respite was equal to a commutation of the sentence — the island draws breath — the gallows is not to be erected — cruel error! the gallows is erected — Tapner is hung! and this after mature consideration.
Why should Guernsey be refused that which has been so often granted to Jersey?
Why deal to one concession and to the other affront? — Why should pardon be sent here and the executioner there?
Why this difference where all things else are equal? — What use was the respite but to aggravate the torture? — Was some mystery involved? To what purpose has been consideration?
Things are whispered, sir, to which I dare not listen. No! it cannot be true. What! a voice, and that of the most obscure, if it be the voice of an exile, cannot ask pardon from an insignificant corner of Europe for a man about to die without being heard by M. Bonaparte, without M. Bonaparte's interference. What, M. Bonaparte, who has the guillotine of Bellay, the guillotine of Draguignan and the guillotine of Montpellier, not satisfied with all these! Has he still an appetite left for a gallows in Guernsey.
What — in such a case could you have refused justice to the proscribed for fear of giving umbrage to the proscriber. If so, the man was hung to accommodate, and the gallows erected as an act of courtesy, and could you have done all this to strengthen your alliance. No, no; I do not, I cannot believe it. I cannot even admit the idea, although I shudder at it.
Before the great and generous English nation can your Queen have the right of pardon, and M. Bonaparte that of a veto. At the same time that there is an omnipotent in heaven, can there be an omnipotent on earth? No.
I merely say that it was not possible for the French journals to speak of Tapner. I state the fact, but I draw no conclusion from it. However this may be, you have determined to use the terms of the despatch, that justice should take its course, and all is over.
However this may be, Tapner, after having been three times respited, and had his case three times under consideration, was hung yesterday, the 10th of February, and if there be any truth in the conjectures, which for myself I utterly reject, I present you, sir, with the bulletin of the day. you may, if such be the case, transmit it to the Tuileries. These details cannot be offensive to the Empire of the 2nd of December. The Eagle will hover with delight over the field of this victory! He is a gallows Eagle!
A garden joined the prison. In this garden the scaffold was erected. A breach was made in the wall for the prisoner to pass through. At 8 o'clock in the morning the neighbouring streets were crowded with spectators, of whom 200 of the privileged were admitted into the garden. The man appeared in the breach. He walked erect and with a firm step; he was pale, the red circle caused by anxious wakefulness surrounded his eyes.
The month just passed had added twenty years to his age — a man thirty years of age appeared fifty.
"A cotton night-cap was drawn over his head and turned up in front (says an eye-witness); he was dressed in a brown coat, which he wore during the trial, and an old pair of slippers."
He walked partly round the garden, in a walk gravelled expressly for the occasion. The javelin men, the sheriff, the under-sheriff, and the Queen's solicitor surrounded him. His hands were tied loosely, as we shall presently see.
According to English custom, while the hands were crossed upon the breast, a cord bound the elbows behind the back.
Behind him, the chaplains, who had refused to sign the petition for mercy, followed weeping.
The gravel walk led to the ladder — the cord was swinging — Tapner ascended the ladder — the executioner trembled: inferior executioners are at times susceptible of pity. Tapner placed himself under the noose, and pressed it over his head, and his hands not being firmly tied, he desired the executioner, who seemed quite confused, to arrange the rope. Then, "as if he had had a presentiment of what was to follow," says the same eye-witness, "he said, 'Tie my hands tighter.' 'That is unnecessary,' replied the executioner." Tapner standing thus with the rope round his neck, and his feet on the trap, the executioner drew the night-cap over his eyes, and nothing more could be seen of that pale face but the mouth moving as in prayer.
After some moments, the man destined to this high office pressed a spring — the drop fell, and the body fell abruptly through — the cord tightened, the body turned, and the man was considered dead.
"It was thought (says the eye-witness) that Tapner was killed at once by the rupture of the spinal marrow, he having fallen 4 feet," but the witness further adds, "the relief of our oppressed hearts did not last two minutes." Suddenly the man not yet a corpse, but already a spectre, moved.
The legs were thrown convulsively about, as if seeking some stay in the empty space; what could be discovered of the face was horribly disfigured; and the hands, which had become loose, were clasped and relaxed, as if to implore assistance. The cord around the elbows had snapped in the fall. Amidst these convulsions the rope began to swing, the elbows of the poor wretch came in contact with the edge of the trap, he clung to it with his hands, rested his right knee upon it, raised his body, and seemed to lean towards the crowd. Again he fell; and twice, says the eye witness, was the same scene repeated. He then raised his cap, and the crowd gained a sight of his face. This, it seemed, was too much. It was necessary to close the scene. The executioner reascended the scaffold, and caused the sufferer (I still quote the eyewitness) to let go his hold. The executioner and the victim struggled for a moment; the executioner triumphed. Then this wretch, himself like one condemned, threw himself into the aperture where Tapner was hanging, straightened his knees, and hung to his feet. The rope oscillated for a moment, bearing the victim and the executioner, the crime and the law. At last the executioner himself relaxed his hold; all was over; the man was dead.
Also a prolific drawer, Victor Hugo produced this Ecce in 1854, and several other depictions of the gallows in the ensuing years — possibly inspired by his horror at Tapner's fate. Ecce is also known as John Brown, although that American slavery abolitionist was not executed until 1859.
You see, sir, how things were managed; the effect was completed; for the town, being built as an amphitheatre, everything was seen from the windows, all eyes were fixed on the garden. If it were the object to excite a feeling of horror, it was done: the crowd cried "Shame, shame," and several females fainted.
During this time, Fouquet, who had been pardoned in 1851, is repeating. The executioner has converted Tapner into a corpse; Mercy, Fouquet into a man!
Between the time when Tapner fell into the trap, and that in which the executioner, no longer perceiving any motion, let go his feet, 12 minutes elapsed. Twelve minutes! Let that time be calculated, if any one knows by what clock to number the moments of suffering. Such, sir, was the mode of Tapner's death.
The theory of example is satisfied; the philosopher alone mourns, and asks himself if this be what is called allowing justice to take its course? We must believe the philosopher to be wrong. The punishment has been frightful, but the crime was hideous. Must not society be defended? What will become of us if, &c. &c. The audacity of criminals would meet with no restraint. There would be nothing but atrocities and murders. A check is absolutely necessary. At least, it seems your opinion, Sir, that Tapners should be hung unless they be emperors. Let the will of statesmen be done!
Theorists, dreamers, those visionary spirits who have formed some notion of good and evil, cannot sound, without difficulty, certain depths of the problem of destiny.
Had Tapner, instead of killing one woman, destroyed 300, adding to the heap some hundreds of old men and children — had he instead of breaking a door, violated an oath — had he, instead of purloining a few shillings, stolen 25 millions — had he, instead of burning the house Saujon, overawed Paris by force of arms, he would have an ambassador at London.
It might, however, be as well to define a little more precisely the point at which Tapner ceases to be a robber, and Schinderhannes commences politician. Sir, this is horrible! We are members, you and I, of the infinitely small. I am only a refugee, you are only a minister — I am ashes, you are dust — Atom may surely speak freely to atom — where each is nothing, truth may be spoken. Well then, be assured, whatever may be the actual success of your policy, however glorious the alliance of M. Bonaparte, however honourable it may be for you to act in strict union with him, however far famed and magnificently may be your common triumph in Turkish affairs, this rope, which was fastened round a human sack, the trap which opened under his feet, the hope that, in falling, he would break his spine, the face become livid beneath the deep shadow of the gallows, the bloodshot eyes bursting from their sockets, the tongue lolling from the throat, that groan of anguish only stifled by the knot, the terrified soul which still clings to its tenement, the convulsed knees which seek some support, those bound hands mutely clasped and asking help — and that other man, that man of darkness, who throws himself upon these last struggles, who clings to the knees of the dying wretch, and himself hangs upon the hanging — Sir, these things are frightful!
And if haply the conjectures which I disavow be true, if the man who hung to the feet of Tapner were indeed M. Bonaparte, it would be monstrous. But, I repeat, I do not believe this. You have yielded to no influence; you simply said — let justice take its course; you gave this order, as you would have done any other, the prolonged discussions concerning capital punishment do not interest you. To hang a man, and to drink a glass of water are the same things in your estimation — you did not comprehend the importance of the act; it was the oversight of a statesman, nothing more. Sir, keep your blinders for earth, and do not offer them to eternity! Do not trifle with such deep interests, mix nothing of your own with them; it would be impudent. I can see more deeply into those interests than you — Beware! Exul sicul mortuus. I speak as from the tomb.
Bah! what matters it? A man is hung; and what more? a coil of rope to be wound up; some timber work to be taken to pieces a corpse to be buried. Certainly these are great matters! We will fire the cannon, a little smoke in the East, and all will be over. A microscope will be required to detect Guernsey and Tapner. Gentlemen, this rope, this beam, this corpse, this dreadful though invisible gallows, this suffering, carry us into immensity. They involve the social question, which is more important than the political; they do more — they carry us beyond earth. That, which is of little consequence, is your cannon, your politics, and your smoke. The assassin who to-morrow becomes the victim, as a soul which takes its flight holding the end of the gallows-rope — it is this which is frightful. Statesmen, who between two protocols, two dinners, and two smiles, carelessly press with white-gloved hand the spring of the gibbet, and the trap falls under the feet of the victim. Know you what you do? The infinite appears; the unfathomable and the unknown; the mighty shade which rises suddenly and terribly beneath your littleness.
Proceed! Let us observe the men of the old world at their work. Since the past still struggles let us examine it. Let us observe its successive phases.
At Tunis it is impaling; with the Czar the knout; with the Pope it is the garrot; in France the guillotine; in England the gallows; in Asia and America the slave market. All this will be swept away. We, the anarchists, the demagogues, the blood-drinkers, tell you, the protectors and saviours of the world, that human liberty is to be respected, human intelligence is holy, human life is sacred, and the human soul divine. Now go on hanging! But beware! The future opens. You think that living which is dead, and that dead which is living. The ancient form of society, but it is dead. You are deceived. You have stretched out your hand to the spectre of darkness, and chosen her for your bride. You turn your back upon life: it will soon arise behind you. When we pronounce the words Progress, Revolution, Liberty, Humanity, you smile, unhappy man, and point to the darkness in which we both are involved. Do you indeed know what that night is? Learn the truth; ere long the ideas will burst forth in all their strength and glory. Democracy yesterday took the name of France; to-morrow it will take that of Europe. The eclipse does but conceal the increasing magnitude of the star.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Marine-terrace, Feb. 11
* We read in the Jersey newspapers, of January 7, 1851:
James Fouquet — We are informed that James Fouquet, condemned to death by our Royal Court, for the murder of Derbyshire, and whose punishment was commuted by her Majesty into transportation for life, was removed, about six months ago, from the prison at Milbank, where he had hitherto remained, to Dartmoor. He is nearly cured of the wound in his neck, and his conduct has been such, while at Millbank, that the governor of that prison thinks it extremely possible, there will be a further commutation of his sentence into banishment from the English territories.
On this day..
- 1945: Giovanni Cerbai, partisan
- 1726: Margaret Millar, infanticide
- 1938: Vladimir Antonov-Ovseyenko, Winter Palace stormer
- 1956: Elifasi Msomi, witch doctor
- 1945: Anacleto Diaz, Philippines Supreme Court Justice
- 1973: Tom Masaba, Sebastino Namirundu, and 10 other Uganda Fronsana rebels
- 1892: Four anarchists in Jerez
- 1794: Jacques Roux, the Red Priest, cheats the guillotine
- 2011: Rashid al Rashidi, Mousa mosque murderer
- 1952: Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan, the first corruption executions in Red China
- 1956: Wilbert Coffin
- 1905: Samuel McCue, mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia


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Viewing entries tagged with 'traditional barbel angling'
Traditional Angling on a Glorious Autumn Day
It is nice once in a while to be able to angle with people we haven't or rarely get to fish with.
I guess I must have known Bob Brookes for 30 odd years now after swapping many a brown paper bag of fishing tackle for his hard earned, for many years before his retirement. I guess a lot of the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire based anglers used the tackle shop for a little lunchtime therapy after a gruelling morning at work.
I always enjoyed serving Bob, his cheerful face would brighten many a day and one of the minority you could enjoy a sensible relaxed conversation with.
Hang on a minute, time to change tract, it's starting to sound like a obituary and after watch Bob stomp across the fields the other day with a full pack, shortly after a session in the gym, this is far from being a obituary.


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India's leading ayurvedic brand, Torque Ayurveda has recently launched a campaign to highlight the importance and benefits of Ayurvedic products amidst the current pandemic situation. Torque Ayurveda is dedicated towards revolutionizing the healthcare sector with excellent products backed by stupendous R&D along with state-of-the-art technology. The firm aspires to make products that are affordable and accessible for all nationally as well as internationally.
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Getting a divorce can have serious, long-term effects, both emotionally and legally. There are also strict legal requirements that cover everything from choosing a method of legal separation to selecting where and how to file, to deciding how the property should be divided. The divorce process can be confusing, especially without legal assistance. FindLaw's directory can connect you with trusted divorce lawyers in West Virginia to guide you through the divorce process and minimize the stress you experience during this difficult time.
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We're going to start the program today with the ongoing turmoil and uncertainty in Haiti following the assassination this past week of President Jovenel Moise in his home. There are still many unanswered questions surrounding the assassination, but so far, two Haitian Americans have been detained, along with several former members of Colombia's military. Just yesterday, Haiti's interim government said it asked the U.S. to deploy troops to stabilize the country and prepare for elections. But today, a senior Biden administration official told NPR that there are no plans to provide U.S. military assistance at this time.
We wanted to understand how Haitian Americans are responding to this week's events, so we're going to head to New York City, home to one of the largest Haitian communities outside of the country. Ricot Dupuy is the news director of Radio Soleil, a Haitian radio station in Brooklyn, and he joins us now. Ricot Dupuy, welcome.
RICOT DUPUY: Thanks. Thanks, Danielle, for having me.
KURTZLEBEN: Of course. First, I'm curious, what were your thoughts when you heard the news of President Moise's assassination?
DUPUY: Disbelief. That night, I went to bed, and I closed the door to my room so that the air could stay in my room. And I didn't have my cell phone with me. I left my cell phone outside. So around 5:30 or a quarter to 6, I heard something that sounded like a phone call. I wasn't sure, so I got up. And then I realized that there were so many calls to my phone. Some of them started as early as 2 a.m. And then I turned on the radio - a radio station in Haiti, and I could not comprehend what they were talking about. They were talking about assassination. And I don't know what they was talking about. It was - when the tone was somber, I realized that something big, terrible had happened in Haiti. And eventually, I found out that it was the assassination of Jovenel Moise.
And, my goodness, I could not believe that. I am one of the fiercest critic of Jovenel. If you realize, I don't call him president. I call him Jovenel. I never called this guy my president for a number of reasons. But, my goodness, nobody foresaw that, and nobody wanted that. And it feels like the country is just so exposed, so vulnerable. So it is shock. And it is - and that is the reaction of basically everybody. No one wanted Jovenel assassinated.
KURTZLEBEN: Well, as we mentioned, Haiti's interim government asked for U.S. troops to come in and help stabilize the country. Is that something that you would want to see happen? And also, I'm wondering what your read is on what Haitian Americans would like to see happen now in the immediate term.
DUPUY: Well, remember; the United States has been the country for a number of years. And I don't even think the United States have to be in - have troops on the ground to help stabilize the country. The influence of the United States in Haiti, I mean, it's total. So whatever you hear, like to - the United States or State Department or anybody telling you, well, it's an independent country, we are limited, no. The United States has total, total influence in Haiti. There is no leader. Nobody becomes president of Haiti without the support and acceptance of the United States. That is a reality. Everybody knows that.
And so the United States doesn't have to invade or send guard. They just have to send a clear, determined signal that this is the direction things have to take. So no one expects Haiti to come out of the mess that it is without the support or a change, of course, of policy by the United States. That is the reality. We just hope that when they change course, they change it the right way, they side with the proper side. And I hate to say that has not been the case because Jovenel was supported by the United States, as you know. The United States keep insisting for election to be organized by this year. I'll tell you, this is insanity. We're talking about a country where when you leave your house, you know you leave your house, but you don't know if you're coming back.
KURTZLEBEN: And speaking to that instability in Haiti, this week, a New York state assembly member, who represents a large Haitian American population, told reporters that she's been getting a number of calls into her office from people afraid for their family members back home in Haiti and that she expects people will start to request political asylum in the United States. Are you hearing similar stories?
DUPUY: Well, in Haiti, everything is possible. Yes, there's some truth to that in the sense that people expect things to get worse before it gets better. On the other hand, they expect that the international community not sit passively and allow this descent into the abyss. So something somehow will come. And as I said before, all the United States have to do is to send a clear signal that Haiti needs a reset, there are things that will not be accepted anymore. The gangs have to understand because the gangs have - they had a leader. They had a chief. And that chief was Jovenel Moise. That's exactly what it is. So whether or not that will signify to the gangs that time is up, I'm hoping that's the case. And that probably would prevent the scenario you just mentioned to materialize, yes. There's that fear there that we could have a descent into a - into the abyss. And, of course, that would cause an outflow of Haitians looking for appropriate action, via they would go to the Caribbean, attempt to come to the United States and so on. Yes, I hear that.
KURTZLEBEN: That was Ricot Dupuy with his view of the situation in Haiti right now. He is the news director at Radio Soleil, a Haitian radio station in Brooklyn. Ricot Dupuy, thank you.
DUPUY: My pleasure. Thank you very much. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Official statements calling gays and lesbians "disordered" and "violent" do little to make them feel welcomed and respected in the church. A pastor argues that it's time to stop the name-calling and start treating gays and lesbians as brothers and sisters in Christ.
I MET LAURA AND LYNNE AT A PARTY GIVEN BY A mutual friend. It was there that I learned they were awaiting word from halfway around the world about a baby available for adoption. A few months later, the two women brought home their new daughter, Chloe.
Soon afterward, they invited me to dinner to discuss a possible Baptism. Lynne, especially, was concerned about whether or not she could have her daughter baptized in a church that was so hostile toward gays and lesbians. It was a good conversation in which we agreed that everything said by church authorities isn't equal to the gospel of Jesus. A few weeks later, with family and friends gathered, Chloe was baptized.
This new family gingerly made its way back to church. Like many returning Catholics, they weren't at Mass every Sunday, but often I'd look up and see Chloe and her two moms making their way to a pew. The love they showered on Chloe was evident—love that had begun to undo some of the damage resulting from her isolation in the orphanage. They were just like every other family in their cares and concerns. The only difference was that they were a lesbian couple.
When the Vatican released its letter Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons last year, it stated, "Allowing children to be adopted by persons living in such unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development. This is gravely immoral and in open contradiction to the principle, recognized also in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, that the best interests of the child, as the weaker and more vulnerable party, are to be the paramount consideration in every case."
For Lynne, this was the last straw, and Laura agreed. How could they possibly participate in a church that called their love for Chloe "violence" and claimed they were immoral for raising her? As I talked to other gays and lesbians, it became clear many perceived this latest document from Rome as one more in a series of attacks upon their humanity. Their response to the name-calling by bishops wasn't to respond in kind, but to make a silent and determined resolution to leave the church because they could not tolerate the hatred directed at them anymore.
When I spoke with another priest about this, he told stories of similar reactions. As pastors we were convinced it was not right for the church to alienate so many people on the basis of an orientation over which they had neither choice nor control. Last December we wrote an open letter to the bishops to encourage them to stop treating gays and lesbians as though they were creatures from a different planet and instead sit down and talk with these brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus who were trying so hard to lead good, moral, spiritual lives.
As we made clear in the very beginning of the letter, "We respect the teaching authority of the church." We were not writing to challenge dogma but to encourage bishops to exercise sound pastoral judgment in the care of these children of God. We stressed, "The life journey in faith is unique and sacred, including the personal integration of sexuality and spirituality. Condemnations leveled at sincere Catholics attempting to make sense out of their journey are inappropriate and pastorally destructive."
The response to the letter has been both rewarding and disappointing. It is rewarding in that so many people have written to thank us, to tell their stories of feeling outcast and deeply hurt, of trying so desperately to hold on to their faith in the Catholic Church. But we have been disappointed in the limited response from bishops. Our own archbishop, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, was one that did respond. He wrote, in part, "Your concern that language can make it difficult to welcome people is one I share. The church speaks, in moral and doctrinal issues, a philosophical and theological language in a society that understands, at best, only psychological and political terms. Our language is exact, but it does not help us in welcoming men and women of homosexual orientation. It can seem lacking in respect. This is a pastoral problem and a source of anxiety for me as it is for you. It would be good to discuss it together."
He went on to remind us that "pastors have to mediate the tension between welcoming people and calling them to change, to repent and convert and live according to Christ's teaching transmitted by the church. That tension is often resolved in practice by a pastor's love for his people."
Which brings us to the crucial question: How can the church be better at "pastoring" its gay and lesbian sons and daughters? I believe this conversation could be helped by following a strategy employed by the members of the Second Vatican Council. Rather than trying to find a way to connect every development in the past two millennia of church history, go back to the source: the gospel of Jesus Christ. Specifically, let both sides use as a common foundation the new commandment of Jesus, "Love one another" (John 13:34). Many gays and lesbians express dismay that their attempts to follow this commandment are met with such hostility, while the bishops express dismay that their teachings, which flow from this commandment, are resisted and even rejected.
As the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago frequently insisted when dealing with groups in apparent opposition, dialogue needs to be entered into with the presumption on each side of the goodwill of the other. Demonizing those who disagree, regardless of the topic, precludes dialogue.
Mutual respect is the necessary starting point. If we can begin with a presumption of goodwill and a foundation in the commandment of Jesus to love one another, three steps might follow to encourage a positive dialogue bringing both sides into closer communion. The first step is for both church leadership and members of the gay community to listen to each other while resisting the urge to speak in moral tones. Beginning with judgment leaves both sides aggrieved and feeling that if they dare to let their guard down for an instant, all will be lost.
Perhaps a sense of hope and direction can be found from the challenge of a younger generation that does not seem overly concerned about either side. Studies of younger Catholics indicate that for the under-30 generation, sexual orientation is not an issue. If we are to offer the next generation any wisdom, perhaps we first have to learn from them and acknowledge that both sides have something to offer and neither has all the answers. If we expect the younger members of our community to listen to us, we must first listen to one another.
The second step is to recognize that there is a lot of pain on both sides. Gays and lesbians feel they have been reduced to less than full human beings whose lived experiences are neither valued nor honored. They point to the language of church documents and episcopal pronouncements when making their case. As Cardinal George said, language is a concern he shares. Because the language of morality and ethics is, by its very nature, judgmental, the church, even if it doesn't want to be offensive, is perceived as offensive. Another way of speaking must be found that avoids this offense.
The gay community, on the other hand, has become so frustrated in attempting to dialogue with the official church that many members have given up and dismiss the church as having nothing to say in such an important area of life—sexuality. The gay and lesbian community needs to admit that two millennia of church experience and wisdom do have something to offer the discussion. In each recognition, there is an implied request for and granting of forgiveness—a positive and respectful human activity.
The third step is to encourage conversation at the local or parish level. If official statements can make the object of the discussion sound as though they are aliens, the local community or parish knows gays and lesbians as human beings—neighbors, school board members, CCD teachers, store owners, factory workers, and fellow parents of children who share babysitters. The frightening and threatening predictions of certain pundits about the collapse of society if gays and lesbians were to receive equal respect and dignity is not matched with the reality of those who experience gays and lesbians living down the block and fully integrated as members of their families.
It seems generally accepted that asking individuals to live in a state of denial about their sexual orientation is unhealthy and destructive. Such denial is contrary to full human development and the journey toward holiness. The church needs to be a partner with those searching for such holiness.
Cardinal George reminded us that part of our job as pastors is to call people to conversion. Conversion always means change. He is correct in his summons, but it cannot be limited to the gay and lesbian members of our faith community. The church also is always called to conversion. The process I have outlined is one possible strategy for engaging both sides in a conversion process.
Lynne, Laura, and Chloe deserve to have a welcoming church. And the church deserves to have them as members.


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It's no question that social media has changed the way we communicate with our family, friends and even customers. Social media touches many marketing channels and allows your customers to reach out to you (and you to them) through several different ways, whether through Facebook, Twitter or customer review sites (Yelp, etc.).
Having multiple social media channels for your Volvo repair shop allows you to reach customers all at once, strengthen relationships online, and hopefully keep them coming back into your shop. You have a larger connection with customers and more personalized interactions when using social media.
Increase your reach by setting up a Facebook page for your Volvo service center. This will help build word of mouth and create awareness for your shop and the services you provide. Also, it's a nice tool to have in case an issue needs to be resolved (e.g. a negative review left on your Facebook page by an unsatisfied customer). Facebook has the capacity to let you turn a negative into a positive with just a simple reply post. It is quick and effective.
Real time and personal, Twitter is a unique way to communicate with your customer base, as well as acquire new customers, using 140 characters and hashtags. By proactively reaching out to customers with "tweets," such as and oil change service special, you can help create a personal experience. With hashtags, you are able to see what your customers are talking about and monitor things that pertain to your Volvo repair center.
Customer Review Sites
Customer review sites such as Yelp can help to improve your reputation online and more and more people are turning to them to check out your Volvo repair facility before they pick up the phone to make an appt. These type of sites are the most credible because real customers are sharing their experience for others to see.
When using social media for your Volvo repair shop, make sure you understand your customer's behaviors. Be honest, helpful, personalized and over-deliver the customer service experience.
Get their feedback from their experience having their Volvo serviced at your shop, monitor interactions between them, you and others, and keep them coming back by reaching out.


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Car hire in Australia and the Pacific
There's no better way to explore Down Under than by car.
Rent a car in Australia
Australia is a dream backdrop for a driving holiday. Start out from Sydney to cruise up past the Blue Mountains; Melbourne for a dramatic coastal drive along the Mornington Peninsula; or Cairns to explore the eucalyptus-infused tranquillity of Cape Tribulation and the Far North Queensland rainforest. Take to the Gold Coast for a surfing safari, while outback adventures can launch from Adelaide, Alice Springs or Darwin. Or what about gliding between the gorgeously secluded wineries of the Margaret River, just south of Perth?
Rent a car in New Zealand
New Zealand, now also known as Middle Earth, or Narnia, is another nation ideally suited to the self-driver. A circular trip on famously empty roads from Christchurch on the South Island, for example, reveals geothermal hot springs, glaciers, canyons, glow worm caves, magnificent lakes and fjords.
Even further off-piste, you can hire a car with Avis on most of the Pacific Islands you can name, from American Samoa to Vanuatu. In many of these destinations, without regular bus services or trains, your own wheels are vital to get around. Explore paradise at your leisure.
Where would you like to meet us and begin your journey?
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Some maintenance around here was desperately needed… the site has been upgraded, so there may be some issues here and there. I'm aware of the dozens of articles that have no category.
If you see anything strange, use the brand spanking new Contact button on the left and scroll down, fill out the form, prove you're a human, and by the miracle of technology, I will receive your message.
A couple of other changes are afoot.


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Yesterday's historic Supreme Court rulings will have a ripple effect on the lives and futures of gay couples, especially when it comes to their personal finances. The Court's decision on the Defense of Marriage Act means that people who marry and live in states with legalized same-sex marriage will have that union recognized by the federal government — including the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and so on. Financial planners who work with same-sex couples say these are the biggest ways the Court's decisions will affect them if they marry.
Social Security benefits: When one spouse dies, the survivor has the option of claiming either his or her own Social Security benefits or those of his or her spouse, whichever is higher. "That's really important because you often have couples with a high-earning spouse and a low-earning spouse," said Dana Levit, principal at Paragon Financial Advisors. It's especially good news for gay stay-at-home parents who left the workforce to raise their kids.
In a similar vein, a gay person now should be able to collect a spouse's federal or military pension after the spouse dies, says J.T. Hatfield Charles, an independent financial planner with Raymond James.
Estate taxes: Millionaire, billionaire, doesn't matter: You can leave a Scrooge McDuck-sized money pile to your husband or wife and he or she won't have to pay any taxes to the I.R.S. on it. But until today, a gay person would have to pay taxes on an inheritance above the estate tax exemption threshold. At roughly $5 million, it's not something many of us have to think about, but this is the issue that kicked off the case that culminated in DOMA's demise: Edith Windsor was handed a tax bill for more than $363,000 by the IRS after her wife (the couple was married in Canada and lived in New York) passed away and left Windsor her estate.
(MORE: In Court Victories for Gay Marriage, Signs of the Longer War to Come)
Gift taxes: As with the estate tax, husbands and wives can give one another anything, and the tax man never gets involved. But until today, that didn't apply to gay couples. "Let's say I bought a million dollar house and added my husband to the deed. As of yesterday, that would've been a $500,000 [taxable] gift to him; now there's no tax implications. That's huge," Charles says. Previously, the spouse whose name was added to that deed would have owed tax on all but the first $14,000 (the gift tax exemption threshold for non-spouses).
Health insurance tax: "A big benefit I'm seeing is people are taxed on their health insurance if they get it as domestic partners, so it should eliminate that," Levit says. If you're straight and married, and your husband or wife gets health insurance through your job, that's a tax-free benefit to you. But gay people in state-recognized marriages previously had to pay federal income tax on that employer contribution — called imputed income — to their partner's health insurance premium.
(MORE: Change in the U.S.: Rolling Back DOMA and the Voting Rights Act)
Filling taxes jointly: Taxes are bad enough, but for gay couples in states like New York and Massachusetts where same-sex marriage is legal, it was exponentially more complicated. They could file jointly as a married couple in the state,but they had to file as singles with the IRS. Now, this process is only as complicated as it is for straight married couples — although financial advisors point out that filing jointly could mean a bigger tax bite for high-income couples. That's because single tax filers can make up to $400,000 before they hit the top tax bracket of 39.6%. Married couples hit that bracket if they earn a combined $450,000, though — a $350,000 gap. "You push a ton of income into the highest income tax bracket," Olivieri says.
Married gay couples will have the option of amending their federal tax returns for the last three years (provided they've been married that long, of course). If filing jointly is better, couples can amend, but they don't have to, says Anna Pfaehler, chief compliance officer at Palisades Hudson Financial Group. "Same-sex couples should not feel obligated to amend a tax return to claim joint status since they filed according to the law and instructions at the time."
One big caveat, especially given the extent to which yesterday's DOMA ruling throws the issue of gay marriage back to the state level: It's not yet clear how government will handle these and related legal and tax issues if people live in or move to a state that doesn't have same-sex marriage.
(PHOTOS: Supreme Victory: Gay Marriage Decisions Spark Celebration)


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According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% (3.5% annualized rate) in December. The median CPI is a measure of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) monthly CPI report.
Earlier today, the BLS reported that the seasonally adjusted CPI for all urban consumers rose 0.5% (6.7% annualized rate) in December. The CPI less food and energy rose 0.2% (2.3% annualized rate) on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Over the last 12 months, the median CPI rose 3.7%, the CPI 2.5%, and the CPI less food and energy 2.6%.
Over the past few months, several Fed officials have commented they think inflation was too high. While no one has mentioned the Cleveland median CPI as the source of their information, I am beginning to think it carries more weight than the Fed is letting on. I can't prove that -- it's just a hunch.


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Alphadreams, Clair Higgin |
I did get a nice surprise last week. Spoonflower, an on-demand digital printing company, was having a BOGO fat quarter sale. Now, I've been meaning to try Spoonflower since it opened in 2010 but have been put off by the price of the process. But with this kind of sale, I thought I would give it a try!!
First of all, I decided not to design my own fabric but browse the thousands and thousands patterns of other designers. Among the many, many, cutsy modern prints, I did find some amazing surface design type patterns. I finally settled on ones that used letters and numbers in their designs and made an order. Here are my findings!
Soft City, Jay Trolinger |
1. You can easily design your own fabric exactly the way you want it. The site shows you how with
plenty of information.
2. Ordering is easy and the lead time for fabric is less than 2 weeks. I paid a little extra and got it in 1 week so I could take it with me to QBL.
3. The print looked closed to what was depicted on my computer screen, with the lines nice and crisp. I did notice on one of the darkest of the designs the colors were more muted then shown in the online picture. (I like the muted version anyways) The site shows you exactly how the print will come out on a fat quarter which is great so you can see the scale of it.
4. The range of designs on the site is incredible. Plus you can print them on a big array of fabrics which even includes knits.
5. They're printed in the US.
1. The process is still pretty costly. The cheapest fabric still $17/ yd with a fat quarter being $10.50. I got the "Ultra Cotton" which I found pretty thin and next time I would spent the extra $$ to have Kona cotton. I can tell you, if I saw a print on that thin of cotton in JoAnn's fabric, I wouldn't buy it.
2. Since these are digitally printed, the hand of the finish product is totally different than commercially made fabric. It has a rough kind of feel. Spoonflower recommends to wash the fabric with a non-phosphorous detergent, which I did, and that helped a lot. It was still a bit rough but MUCH better. Still, I don't normally pre-wash my fabrics so this add an extra step.
Alpha Dreams, Clair Higgins |
4. (This is pretty petty - but its a pet-peeve of mine) My package did not come with an invoice inside. It only had an inventory packing slip. I like to have an actual invoice for my records rather than having to print it out myself off my emails.
So, as for this purchase, I LOVE the prints I bought and am glad that the royalties are paid to the actual designers. I would have bought a lot more of their work if I could actually afford it.
In the future, I probably will order from Spoonflower again when I find something interesting OR I get brave enough to actually design something myself. It definitely would have to be for a special purpose and not a "Just because" kind of thing. I also, for sure would buy a thicker fabric!!


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Sunday, July 9th, 2017, 1:00-3:00pm. A discussion/support group on Grief and Loss. This is an ongoing series of discussions with Donna Smith, LCSW. Call LPSS at 914-514-3220(Fran) for more information. Pre-registration is not required. Light refreshments provided. $5.00 donation requested.
The group will meet at The LOFT: LGBT Community Center.
Throughout our lives we experience all sorts of types of loss such as a partner, family member, pet, job, health, relationship, etc. This discussion and support group is for members of the LGBTQ community to have a safe space to grieve and discuss the feelings of loss they are experiencing.
Lambda Peer Support Services provides workshops, ongoing and short-term support groups, Holiday Connections activities, and other programs and activities for the LGBTQ Community of the Lower Hudson Valley. All support groups are conducted by trained peer facilitators under the ongoing supervision of certified clinicians. LPSS strives to foster a sense of community, erase stereotypes about homosexuality and to address the effects of homophobia, discrimination and prejudice.
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Welcome to AIK- Adams International Knifeworks!
Since 1987, we have offered the most Unique Opening Knives and Accessories to Collectors, Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Military, and Rescue Personnel all over the World.
We are a family based business that specializes in Automatic Opening Knives for Collectors and those who depend on them for their profession. We have been selling automatic knives before there was an "internet" and helped design and distribute Benchmade's first automatics.
We worked with Al Mar, and distributed his automatic; the "GPA" (General Purpose Auto), and worked with A.A. Sanders and Mike "Whiskers" Allen, (Protech has two automatics based on Whisker's design), and helped them to introduce their coil fired scale release autos. We have seen many makers, dealers, and companies come and go over the years, however AIK has been, and will always be, the original and best automatic knife-switchblade dealer.
We have one of the Largest Selections of Automatic, One Hand Opening, Switchblade, Gravity Fed and Unique Opening Knives available and offer the collector and professional Exclusive Automatic Knives found nowhere else.
We are Authorized Dealers for Benchmade, Protech, Piranha, Microtech, Hubertus, AGA Campolin, Hogue, Gerber, Kershaw, and many other High Quality USA brands that offer a Lifetime Warranty on their products. In addition to these brands our special contacts in Germany, Italy, France, Czech Republic, and Russia to bring you the rarest knives from around the world.
AIK's Custom Shop produces the most Beautiful Knives available, turning the ordinary into extraordinary, and making those everyday pieces that everyone else has, into one of a kind knife art for the finest collection at a very affordable price!.
Our Master Engraver Andrew Lee Adams produces some of the most beautiful pieces in the industry, and has worked with several knife companies and makers as collaborations. In addition to engraving, we also specialize in Hand File Work, Milgrain Work, Handle & Inlay Replacement, and Stone Setting, and can apply these arts into your current knife; manual or auto opening. We also offer some of the finest Custom Handmade Models from the most recognized names in the Auto-Knife /Assisted Opening industry.
In addition to automatic knives, we have the largest selection of Bowies, Daggers, Skinners, Hunting and Survival Knives from William "Bill" Miller (Warsaw, MO) & Amish Maker Sam Stoner (Scottsville, KY),
We are always interested in purchasing your knife collection, whether it is one piece or 1000 pieces, and are known for offering the best price. We also offer a Layaway plan for most every item we offer, and can sell your knife (co-sign) your knives for you. Email us if you have a collection for sale, if you would like to put an item in a payment plan, or would like us to co-sign one knife or your entire collection at email@example.com
Please give us a try, our customer service is second to none. We've been in business since 1987 for a reason! We look forward to doing business with you!


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From respected at elite universities to wanted for murder
By SOPHIA TAREEN, Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — After a cross-country manhunt, a Northwestern University professor and University of Oxford employee are in custody for the brutal stabbing death of a 26-year-old hair stylist in Chicago. The case has involved peculiar twists, including a cash donation by one of the two suspects in the victim's name at a Wisconsin library and a videotaped confession sent to friends. The two men surrendered peacefully in California after eight days as fugitives.
Northwestern microbiologist Wyndham Lathem and Oxford financial officer, Andrew Warren, were wanted on first-degree murder charges for the death of Trenton James Cornell-Duranleau. Lathem is due in court on Monday.
Here's a closer look at the case:
The body of 26-year-old Cornell-Duranleau was found stabbed to death inside an apartment belonging to Lathem in an upscale neighborhood near downtown Chicago. The July 27 attack was so violent the blade of the knife believed to have been used in the stabbing was broken, police said.
Authorities said the building's front desk received an anonymous call that a crime had been committed in the 10th floor apartment. When police opened the door, they found Cornell-Duranleau's body. He had already been dead for at least 12 hours.
Police said the victim and Lathem had a personal relationship, but they have not elaborated or released a motive.
Authorities' primary target in the investigation has been Lathem, who's been on Northwestern's faculty since 2007. The 42-year-old is an associate professor of microbiology and immunology, though university officials say he primarily worked in a research lab. Published in top scientific journals, he was a sought-after speaker on pneumonic and bubonic plagues.
Over the years, he taught medical students or graduate students, though he was not teaching at the time of the crime, said officials with Northwestern, which has campuses in Chicago and suburban Evanston.
Investigators said Lathem sent a video to friends and relatives apologizing for his involvement in the crime, which he called the "biggest mistake of my life." The video raised concern among investigators that Lathem might kill himself.
Lathem was under intensive observation over the weekend in jail, according to authorities.
Less is known about Warren, who's British. Warren and Lathem were seen in surveillance video leaving Lathem's high-rise apartment building the day of the stabbing, but it's unclear what Warren's relationship was to the other two men.
He is in charge of pensions and payroll at the University of Oxford's Somerville College. Chicago police have said he's 56 years old, while California authorities booked him into jail at 49 years old.
Warren arrived in the U.S. three days before Cornell-Duranleau's death and after being reported missing in Great Britain, Chicago police confirmed.
Cornell-Duranleau, a Michigan native who received a cosmetology license, moved to Chicago last year. He lived in a neighborhood just southwest of downtown.
Family members issued a statement asking for time to grieve before commenting further, saying they're "deeply saddened" by the loss.
"It is our hope that the person or persons responsible for the death are brought to justice," the statement read.
A funeral will be held Aug. 12 in Lennon, Michigan.
The day the crime was committed, police say Lathem and Warren drove about 80 miles (128 kilometers) northwest of Chicago to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where one made a $1,000 cash donation to the local library in Cornell-Duranleau's name. Lake Geneva authorities said the man making the donation didn't give his name.
The two eluded police for eight days before their separate surrenders Friday evening in the Bay Area.
Lathem turned himself in at the Oakland federal building roughly the same time Warren turned himself in to police in San Francisco, authorities said. A U.S. Marshals spokesman said surrender negotiations through an attorney began late Friday afternoon.
Warren is being held at the county jail in San Francisco. It was unclear if he had an attorney.
Lathem was being held without bail in Alameda County and faced a Monday court appearance.
One of Lathem's attorneys, Barry Sheppard, in Chicago, said he helped facilitate the "peaceful and orderly" surrender and expects his client to waive extradition. He said his client is a distinguished scientist with a "fantastic record" of service.
"I hope that the public doesn't engage in a rush to judgment against Mr. Lathem," Sheppard said. "The details of the investigation, as they emerge, will hopefully clarify my client's role in whatever did in fact occur."