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The series finale of Orphan Black aired last night and had two different halves. Initially they concluded the story from the previous week to save Helena as she was having twins. The overall mythology of the series took a big step towards concluding with the death of Westmoreland.
However, while many series would have ended here, the heart of Orphan Black has always been seeing the sisters and other characters together. They were separated a large part of this season with much of the action taking place on the island, but we got a final party with them all at Helena's baby shower. We also learned that Helena was writing a book about her sestras, starting with the event of the show's pilot when Sarah first saw Beth.
Besides the partying, another portion of the mythology was dealt with. Rachel continued her redemption by giving Felix a list of all 274 Leda clones, allowing the episode to conclude with Cosima and Delphine traveling to give them the treatment.
This might not be the end as there was talk about following up the series with a movie.
Deadline interviewed John Fawcett:
DEADLINE: I have to ask right at the top, is this the series finale that Graeme and yourself envisioned for Orphan Black from the beginning?
FAWCETT: I think it is in a lot of ways. In some respects, I think that we imagined that the finale really was going to boil down to Sarah and Helena, and that we were going to have to deal with P.T. Westmoreland. We knew that, critically, we were going to have a really kind of dirty, awful, nasty birth, and that that was going to be part of kind of this two-part finale.
DEADLINE: Well, that does sound like "To Right The Wrongs of Many" in a nutshell…
FAWCETT: Yes, but I think we also understood that killing P.T. Westmoreland was important, but not the most important thing for us. It is something you had to do, but that, tonally, for the final episode, we wanted it to be a much more emotional episode. We wanted to structure it in a way that we were finished with plot fairly early on in the episode so that we could make this time jump, as we did. We were really interested in moving forward into the future three months to see where everyone is.
DEADLINE: Part of that jump, nearly at the very end, with the backyard party at Alison's with the core sestras together around a still shattered Sarah, was Helena reading from her book called Orphan Black of her life and the other clones. Why did you choose that bookending, pardon the pun?
FAWCETT: That was something we devised at the beginning of Season 5, though we had talked about it before. We liked the idea that Helena has been jotting down her memoirs and really, like, exactly that, it comes down to the sisters. It comes down to the twin sisters, between Sarah and Helena.
It's very important that we've ended this in a way that we believed it was nice to have some really strong belief that Helena, after everything that she's come through, is now going to be a very capable mother. So that somehow, by having her read her journals and her memoirs and bringing us back to the beginning of the series, it just seemed like the right place to end her. You know, we laughed a lot about the idea that Helena would wind up somewhere getting a book deal and maybe going on a book tour at some point. Of course, that's just what we've joked about.
DEADLINE: But the series finale is not really the end of Orphan Black is it? With Cosima and Delphine now traveling the world to find the other 274 Ledas, there is a lot of ripe story or a lot more stories to tell, isn't there?
FAWCETT: It certainly is. I think that to Graham and I, the imagery and the ideas that come from the concept of Delphine and Cosima out in the world journeying to find these 274 Ledas is certainly ripe, there's no question. We've talked since the beginning of wanting to do some kind of feature or some kind of two-hour continuation of the series.
At this point, I think we're happy that it's come to a conclusion that we feel satisfied with, and it closes this chapter. Graham and I are both going to let it sit for a little bit, but I know that these characters are so strong with us and so engrained with us, that there's certainly a chance that we'll pick that up and continue…
More at TV Line here and here. Another interview with the producers at Entertainment Weekly included how they considered killing off Rachel. Interview with Tatiana Maslany here.
David Tennant appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert prior to the series finale of Broadchurch airing in the United States. He talked about how Broadchurch is ending after only three seasons, which would not be what would happen with a successful show in the United States:
"It's a peculiarly British thing. I think we see something that works, and we run from it — you heard about Brexit?" Tennant asked. "That's what we do. If it works, and it's solid, and it makes money, and it's good for everyone in it, abandon it immediately."
Tennant also talked about the fans who are unhappy with the choice of Jodie Whittaker to play the next Doctor:
David Tennant, the 10th regeneration of Doctor Who's title character, was one of Stephen Colbert's guests on Wednesday's Late Show, and Colbert asked about his new, slightly controversial successor, Doctor No. 13. "How do you feel, or do you have any feelings about Jodie Whittaker breaking the glass TARDIS ceiling and becoming the first female Doctor?" he asked, and Tennant did. "I'm delighted," he said, noting that Whittaker has starred with him on the BBC detective show Broadchurch for three seasons. "She's a mate of mine," as well as the right actor at the right time.
Colbert noted that not every Doctor Who fan has been so pleased. "Are you surprised that there's been any backlash at all?" he asked. "Do you know, whenever the Doctor changes there's a backlash, because that's a character that people love so people get very affectionate about the Doctor they knew," Tennant said. When he took over the role of the iconic time lord from Christopher Eccleston, "they were like, 'Who's the weaselly looking guy? Who's this? I liked the last guy! This is not going to work for me! This show is dead to me! I resign from the internet! [send].'" And it won't last, he added. "Sure, Jodie is from a different gender than anyone who has gone before, but that will be irrelevant almost immediately once she takes the part."
In recent interviews, Jodie Whittaker has discussed being chosen for the role. She was also interviewed by BBC News in this video:
Peter Capaldi has discussed filming his regeneration scene and leaving Doctor Who.
The Hugo Award winners have been announced. The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin won the award for Best Novel. Arrival won for Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form). The final episode of the first season of The Expanse, Leviathan Wakes, won the award for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form). This was also the name of the first novel in the Expanse series. The full list of nominees and winners can be found here.
After two attempts at a spin off of How I Met Your Mother, 20th Century Fox has now commissioned a spec script from Alison Bennett, a writer from You're The Worst, for another attempt entitled How I Met Your Father. (A previous spin off was to be called How I Met Your Dad). If you know the original show, the premise of the new show should be obvious from the title. The last attempt was to be by This Is Us co-executive producers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, but they had to drop the idea with the success of This Is Us. Perhaps combining the original comedy style of HIMYM with some aspects of You're The Worst could be the way to go.
A third season for Wayward Pines remains a possibility, but no plans yet.
Lana Wachowski is hopeful that Sense8 will receive an entire third season, beyond the single episode Netflix agreed to in order to wrap up the story.
Bryan Fuller says that talks about a fourth season of Hannibal, presumably at a different network, couldn't start until two years after the final episode of season three aired. Such conversations have now begun, and hopefully the show will be back in some form.
Netflix has renewed Alison Brie's series GLOW for a second season.
Kristen Wiig will be back in at least three episodes of The Last Man On Earth.
The big event coming up is the release of The Defenders–final trailer above. In preparation for its release, I gave in and watched Iron Fist last week. As I went into it with low expectations from its poor reviews, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised. It certainly did have its flaws, such as people changing sides too often to be believable, but was quite watchable. It was one of those shows which I spent a lot of time web surfing and otherwise multitasking while watching, which I would have never done with Jessica Jones. If nothing else, a sequence which equates pharmaceutical reps with drug pushers made it all worthwhile.


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'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'Monsters, Inc.' and 'The Little Mermaid' Will Make 3D Theatrical Debut in 2012 and 2013
BURBANK, Calif. – October 4, 2011 – On the heels of the phenomenal success of The Lion King 3D – which will cross the $80 million mark at the domestic box office today – The Walt Disney Studios has announced limited theatrical engagements for four of its classic films for the first time in 3D. The following titles from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will be released in 2012 and 2013:
- · Beauty and the Beast – January 13, 2012
- · Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo – September 14, 2012
- · Disney•Pixar's Monsters, Inc. – January 18, 2013 (Monsters University, a prequel to the original film, arrives in theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013)
- · The Little Mermaid – September 13, 2013
"Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we're fortunate to have a treasure trove of both," said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. "We're thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D – and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen."
Originally released in 1991, Beauty and the Beast is a classic "tale as old as time" that follows the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman imprisoned in the castle of a mysterious beast and his enchanted staff, who must learn the most important lesson of all – that true beauty comes from within. Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film ever nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture, earning an additional five Oscar® nominations and winning two. It has grossed $380.4 million worldwide.
First released in 2003, Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo takes audiences into a whole new world in this undersea adventure about family, courage and challenges. When Marlin, an overly cautious clownfish living in the Great Barrier Reef, helplessly watches his son get scooped up by a diver, he must put aside his fears of the ocean and leave the safety of his coral enclave to find Nemo. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a forgetful but relentlessly optimistic fish, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero in a seemingly impossible land-and-sea rescue.Finding Nemo won an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for three others. With a total of $867.6 million worldwide, it was the second highest-grossing film of 2003.
In 2001, Disney•Pixar released Monsters, Inc. Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.Monsters, Inc. shattered every DVD-era home entertainment sales record when 11 million DVD/VHS copies were sold during its first week of release. It won an Academy Award® for Best Song and has grossed $526.9 million worldwide.
Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid, stars Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true and save her father's beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula. One of the most celebrated animated films of all time, The Little Mermaid was nominated for three Academy Awards®, winning two. It has grossed $228.9 million worldwide.
For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel; and Touchstone Pictures, which includes the distribution of live-action films from DreamWorks Studios. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!. For more information, visit www.waltdisneystudios.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Your business survives on the ability to leverage your position in the market. Your company plays a vital role in the chain between manufacturers, retailers, and ultimately paying customers relying on consistent and timely delivery. In order to maintain that position you need to keep an eye on what's coming next. You never know when you might encounter a sudden opportunity or challenge that tests your company's budget. It's during those times that having access to steady and reliable cash flow can mean the difference between success and failure. Meeting the demands of the retail industry puts constant pressure on your ability to find quality suppliers and negotiate profitable contracts. When a new product starts flying off the shelves, your partners in retail won't hesitate to find another source if you're not up to the task of delivering. Factoring with J D Factors lets you turn your unpaid invoices into the cash you need to keep your inventory stout. Not every business's needs are the same, so factoring options shouldn't be one-size-fits-all. J D Factors understands the unique challenges of the wholesale/distribution market and has over 25 years experience providing customized factoring plans designed to meet your specific business requirements.
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Anna Faris has advice for you. And it's great advice, because she's been through it all, and she wants to tell you what she's learned.
After surviving an awkward childhood (when she bribed the fastest boy in the third grade with ice cream), navigating dating and marriage in Hollywood, and building a podcast around romantic advice, Anna has plenty of lessons to share: Advocate for yourself. Know that there are wonderful people out there and that a great relationship is possible. And, finally, don't date magicians.
Her comic memoir, Unqualified, shares Anna's candid, sympathetic, and entertaining stories of love lost and won. Part memoir—including stories about being "the short girl" in elementary school, finding and keeping female friends, and dealing with the pressures of the entertainment industry and parenthood—part humorous, unflinching advice from her hit podcast, Anna Faris Is Unqualified, the book will reveal Anna's unique take on how to master the bizarre, chaotic, and ultimately rewarding world of love.
Hilarious, honest, and useful, Unqualified is the book Anna's fans have been waiting for.


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- Sousfonds
- 1827-1972, predominant 1902-1947
Part of L.D. Taylor family fonds
Sousfonds consists of correspondence, photographs and other records of Ted Taylor and members of the Taylor, Pierce and Beaton families, arranged into files by Ted. The majority of records were created or accumulated by Ted, and pertain to his personal and professional activities. Records concern his relationships with family, friends and colleagues, his career as a publicist and reporter in Hollywood, California and Paris, France, and his involvement in various associations. In addition to Ted s records, the sousfonds also contains records of and pertaining to Octavia Beaton, Mary Beaton, Mary Louise Taylor, Ken Taylor, L.D. Taylor, Annie Louise Taylor, Caroline Little Pierce, Winifred Mabel Pierce and Osborne J. Pierce. Material pertaining to L.D. Taylor includes correspondence with various members of the family, photographs, and notes concerning L.D. s activities in Vancouver, as Mayor, and his death and funeral. In addition to correspondence and photographs, record include notes, newspaper clippings, articles, drafts, notebooks, address books, journals, studio passes, cards, drawings, paintings, sketches, press release, publications, scripts, ephemera, legal documents, bills, receipts and other financial records, postcards, agreements and contracts, and objects.
The sousfonds has been arranged into the following seven series: Correspondence and subject files (1906-1947); Family Letter files (1827-1954); Financial and property records (1910-1957); Scrapbook (1918-1924); Photographs ([1909-1947]); Octavia Stewart Beaton records (1902-[after 1946]); Mary Louise Taylor Werbel records (1963, 1972).
Taylor, Theodore Pierce


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Rising threats and attacks on humanitarian operations, as well as the imposition of a string of unacceptable demands from armed groups, have made it virtually impossible for the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue reaching up to one million people in need in southern Somalia.
WFP's humanitarian operations in southern Somalia have been under escalating attacks from armed groups, leading to this partial suspension of humanitarian food distributions in much of southern Somalia.
WFP is deeply concerned about rising hunger and suffering among the most vulnerable due to these unprecedented and inhumane attacks on purely humanitarian operations.
WFP is continuing to provide life saving food distributions in the rest of the country, including the capital, Mogadishu, reaching more than two-thirds of the hungry it has been targeting – or 1.8 million people. In addition, resources and relief workers are being re-deployed from southern areas in the event that people start moving away from areas where food distributions have been suspended.
WFP is an impartial, non-political humanitarian agency that has been working in partnership with the people of Somalia for more than 40 years, providing assistance to the poorest of the poor throughout Somalia's years of conflict and before. The recent pressures on our work from armed groups in southern Somalia are impeding our humanitarian mandate.
Even in good years, Somalia is only able to meet 40 per cent of the food needs of its population through internal production. In the last five years, local production has averaged only about 30 per cent of food needs in Somalia. WFP's operation in Somalia is fully funded in the coming months to reach all the projected beneficiaries.
WFP is working closely with its partners to pre-position supplies and prepare to provide assistance to any population movements either within Somalia, or across the country's borders into neighbouring countries.
WFP's offices in Wajid, Buale, Garbahare, Afmadow, Jilib and Belet Weyne in southern Somalia are temporarily closed, and food supplies and equipment have been moved, along with staff, to safer areas in order to ensure that food assistance continues to reach as many vulnerable people as possible.
Staff safety is a key concern for WFP and recent attacks, threats, harassment and demands for payments by armed groups have decimated the humanitarian food lifeline, making it virtually impossible to reach up to up to one million woman and children and other highly vulnerable people.
Source: World Food Program (WFP)


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The Federal Reserve both met expectations and surprised investors at the same time last week. As expected, the Fed raised rates 0.25%, beginning to unwind the sharp rate reductions it implemented to protect the economy during the early stages of COVID-19. The surprise was the announced intention to raise rates six more times this year. Previously the Fed had indicated around three hikes was likely this year.
Key Points for the Week
- The Federal Reserve raised rates 0.25% and announced it expects to raise rates six more times this year.
- U.S. retail sales rose 0.3%, below expectations for a 0.4% increase. Most of the increase was due to rising prices rather than increased sales volume.
- The S&P 500 soared 6.2% as large growth stocks rebounded from recent declines.
Retail sales were weaker than in recent periods. The value of sales increased 0.3% last month, missing expectations of a 0.4% increase. Slower growth is a healthy step during inflationary times. Retail sales have risen 17.6% in the last 12 months and that rate of increase, along with a tendency to spend more on goods, has put additional pressure on inflation.
The S&P 500 rebounded from recent weakness by rallying 6.2% last week. The rally was strongest in growth stocks, which have lagged this year. The Russell 1000 Growth Index jumped 8.4% last week. The MSCI ACWI added 5.8%. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index fell 0.4% as the more aggressive Fed policy pressured government bonds and mortgages. Key housing data and last month's trade deficit are being released this week.
Figure 1
Meetings that Matter
People don't like meetings. The reasons aren't that surprising. Many argue they could be conducted by email instead or that one or two people do all the talking. Others believe meetings are often redundant and don't decide anything. The most recent Federal Reserve meeting was on the other side of the spectrum. There were lots of strong opinions by multiple key officials, and the Fed decided to increase the target federal funds rate by 0.25%.
As Figure 1 shows, it was the first interest rate hike since December 2018. While the quarter-point increase was anticipated, the Fed also made large upward adjustments to its forward-looking projections for inflation. In December, the Fed was predicting 2022 inflation would be 2.6%. That prediction has increased to 4.3%.
It is now clear the Fed is responding to inflation concerns with changes in policy that will move markets for many months to come. It forecast an additional six quarter-point increases through the end of the year, which means the Fed is planning to raise rates by 0.25% every meeting for the rest of the year.
The increases are far more than the Fed expected a few months ago. At the meeting in December, it projected the federal funds rate would be at 0.90% at the end of 2022. Now the projection is for around 1.9%, signaling a more hawkish tone that should lessen inflation pressures while also slowing economic growth.
In addition to the rate hikes, the Fed also hinted that it is working on plans to decrease the size of its balance sheet. The balance sheet was expanded through an aggressive bond-buying program that began in 2020 because of the pandemic and only recently stopped. According to Fed estimates, the effect of this quantitative tightening should have the same effect as one additional rate hike this year. With these moves, Fed Chair Jerome Powell shows intent on controlling the inflationary pressures that we've been seeing, even if it comes at the cost of slowing the economy.
When the Fed increases interest rates, it directly affects short-term rates. The three-month Treasury bill is now at 0.37%, which is right between the Fed's target for the federal funds rate of 0.25-0.5%. Long-term rates respond to rate increases but also reflect how the rate hikes will affect the economy and future Fed policy. This week, the market responded by pushing interest rates higher, mainly along the two, three, and five-year parts of the curve. The increase in rates caused some parts of the curve to invert, with the seven-year yield 0.02% higher than the 10-year Treasury yield.
The Fed wants to avoid an inverted yield curve, which is what happens when a bond yields more than other bonds with longer maturities. A miniscule difference between the seven- and 10-year bonds isn't a big deal. The bigger focus is on periods when very short-term rates (one-year or less) are above long-term rates. In the past the economy has often moved into recession when short and long-term rates become inverted by meaningful amounts.
Reducing its holdings of intermediate and long-term bonds puts upward pressure on interest rates and can help avoid an inverted yield curve. The economic consequences of sanctions and the war in Ukraine also make the Fed's job more challenging. Sanctions restrain trade, increasing costs while slowing the economy. The projections for GDP growth in 2022 were justifiably reduced to 2.8% from the prediction of 4% in December as economists recognized the impact of the rate hikes.
We'll likely see continued short-term rates move closer to the yields on long-term bonds, as short-term rates respond to Fed action while the market gauges whether the Fed is tightening too quickly. The intention to raise rates so significantly increases the risk that the economy can't handle the rapid rise and heads into recession.
The Fed talked a pretty strong game last week, but the policy increases are gradual and thus conditional on how the economy performs. While the Fed is committed to raising rates if inflation remains high, it would prefer no new government stimulus, supply chain improvements, a transfer of purchases from goods to services and more people willing to return to the workforce. The more those items go the Fed's way, the less likely it will raise rates as rapidly.
The Fed meets about every six weeks. Weeks when there is a Fed meeting could be more volatile as there is lot riding on the Fed charting the right course during this difficult time.
This newsletter was written and produced by CWM, LLC. Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. The views stated in this letter are not necessarily the opinion of any other named entity and should not be construed directly or indirectly as an offer to buy or sell any securities mentioned herein. Due to volatility within the markets mentioned, opinions are subject to change without notice. Information is based on sources believed to be reliable; however, their accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.
The MSCI ACWI captures large- and mid-cap representation across 23 developed markets (DM) and 23 emerging markets (EM) countries*. With 2,480 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the global investable equity opportunity set.
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an index of the U.S. investment-grade fixed-rate bond market, including both government and corporate bonds.
The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of the large cap growth segment of the US equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with relatively higher price-to-book ratios, higher I/B/E/S forecast medium term (2 year) growth and higher sales per share historical growth (5 years).
Compliance Case #01310080


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Lavoro Large Advantage Premium Height Adjustable Office Desk with White Frame
Product Description
Lavoro Advantage is a high quality, dual-motor height adjustable electric standing desk, manufactured in Europe from top grade steel. Styled with a White Frame and choice of 9 desktop finishes, this large adjustable desk will fit into any office environment, and is perfect for standing desk working, executives and managers.
This height adjustable desk features a sturdy and high quality dual motor systems with advanced anti-collision motors as standard, making adjusting the height of the desk safe, easy, and also protects your pedestals and anything else stored under the desk. As soon as the desk comes into contact with a stationery object, above or below the desk, it will automatically stop and rise/fall by 100mm to allow the user to safely remove the object. The Advantage height adjustable desk is also one of the only next-day height adjustable desks to come with a free no-quibble 5 year manufacturers guarantee - meaning that you can be confident of getting a top quality world class product!
- Premium electric dual motor height-adjustable desk system
- 1600mm Width x 800mm Depth desktop
- High Quality 25mm thick desktop available in Beech, Carbon Marine Wood, Grey, Grey Nebraska Oak, Maple, Oak, Walnut, Wenge, and White
- Height adjustable from 640mm - 1300mm
- Extendable high grade steel frame in White finish
- Metal to metal fixings to ensure the simplest to build, strongest possible construction
- Soft touch up-down switch with upgrade options
- Anti collision motors, automatically stops to rise/fall by 100mm
- Overload and Thermal protection
- Concealed motors and electrics
- Noise Level <42dB
- 120Kg max load weight
- Floor levelling feet
- 5 year manufacturers guarantee on every desk
- Optional Cable port can be pre-drilled into the Top Left or Top Right of any desktop, finished with frame matching cable tidy port
ForMyOffice offer FREE delivery on everything. Delivery times vary by Brand and every product will indicate the specific delivery time at the bottom of the product description.
We will provide tracking details and delivery information via email for all deliveries. When deliveries are longer than 1-3 working days we will contact you to arrange a convenient delivery date. Please note we are unable to deliver at weekends or bank holidays.
Failed Delivery Attempts
If the delivery company cannot deliver the item because no-one is home to receive the order, they will leave a card with a contact number detailing how YOU can contact them to arrange a more convenient delivery date. You must contact the delivery company within 24 to 48 hours. If the carrier receives no contact from you they will return the package to us after a period of approximately 5 working days. This may result in extra shipping costs being incurred for the items return to us and to then arrange re-delivery.
If for any reason you are not happy with your order:- Please call us on 01623 672074 first to discuss why you may wish to return an item and to receive a returns number. We will take all steps possible to solve your problem / offer you a replacement or exchange product, or a refund.
We have a no quibble returns policy within 30 days of purchase, and we will issue a full refund provided the item is in a re-saleable condition, (i.e unused, unassembled, unmarked and in original unmarked packaging). It is the responsibility of the customer to return the item and ensure the package has been reasonably protected in return transit. You must include a copy of your invoice with the return.
Full details can be found here
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For Couples
How much does your relationship mean to you? What would you do to save it? Joint therapy sessions for partners or married couples can resolve current issues, provide a check-up during a transition period or influx of stress, to prevent an exacerbation of issues, or solidify your relationship.
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Our Fees
1 hour session £70.00
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We're just a few seconds away from LG kicking off their CES 2011 press conference, but that doesn't mean we can't bring you the news a bit early. Thanks to LG's press people we have dialed up the official release detailing the LG Optimus Black, the super slim, super bright Android 2.2 handset we first reported to you as the LG B. The phone takes the cake as the world's slimmest at just 9.2mm thick.
The Optimus Black features a NOVA display "designed to be the brightest, clearest and most readable among mobile screens with 700 nits of brightness for optimal visibility." The display also reduces power consumption by 50 percent compared to traditional LCD technology.
The phone is rolling out globally in the first half of this year. Look for videos and hands-on to come, but for now enjoy the press release below.
LG introduces next generation smartphone design and display with LG Optimus Black
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2011 – LG Electronics (LG) announced today it will unveil a new Android smartphone, LG Optimus Black, at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 6th in Las Vegas. Providing users with a dramatically brighter 4-inch NOVA display in the world's slimmest 9.2 mm mobile device, LG Optimus Black creates a one-of-a-kind user experience unlike anything before.
Available for the first time in the mobile market, LG Optimus Black's NOVA display is designed to be the brightest, clearest and most readable among mobile screens with 700 nits of brightness for optimal visibility. LG Optimus Black provides users with an easier and more natural experience when browsing the web, reading emails, or writing documents with higher levels of brightness and pure white tones that deliver true black and white colors for ideal handset viewing. NOVA technology featured on LG Optimus Black also enables users to maintain visibility whether indoors or outdoors under strong sunlight.
In addition to greater luminosity, the NOVA display on LG Optimus Black also radically reduces power consumption by 50 percent during general indoor use compared to a conventional LCD. Similarly, AMOLED consumes twice as much power as NOVA to display a full white screen, the most frequently used color scheme for web browsing. Combined with the 1500 mAh battery of the LG Optimus Black, users will have enough power for their daily needs, even at maximum brightness settings.
Users will never be out of style with the LG Optimus Black's ultra slim 9.2 mm design. Making a strong visual statement, LG Optimus Black weighs only 109g and offers sleek lines and smooth edges that improve handheld grip. Tapering down to the world's thinnest smartphone profile of 6.0 mm, LG Optimus Black's subtle back arch helps to create the illusion of even greater slimness. Unique to the LG Optimus Black, the flush and flawless finish of the front display is achieved by innovatively hiding the Invisible Receiver behind the edges of the phone.
"We are excited to introduce this stylish new Android smartphone and expect the LG Optimus Black to play a key role in the mobile market," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "LG Optimus Black reflects our core strengths of advanced technology, in both display and design, offering the world's brightest screen and the world's slimmest design in an attractive and smart package."
The LG Optimus Black also offers a set of smarter features designed for easy and faster access to important apps and content. Optimus UI 2.0 lets users directly access messages, emails and missed calls from the locked screen with just one single finger tap. The Gesture UI offers more intuitive commands, including lifting, shaking and tapping, for taking calls, entering camera mode, or enjoying music. LG Optimus Black also introduces the world's first Wi-Fi Direct™ for quick and high-quality data transfer between mobile devices and adopts the world's first 2MP front-facing camera.
All LG Optimus Black features are available on the Android 2.2 Froyo platform with Android 2.3 Gingerbread upgrade capability. Utilizing the 2MP front-facing camera, LG Optimus Black allows users to utilize video telephony functions of higher quality after upgrading to Android's Gingerbread.
The LG Optimus Black will be rolled out globally in the first half of 2011.


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Spinal Cord Bridge Bypasses Injury To Restore Mobility
- Date:
- August 18, 2006
- Source:
- Case Western Reserve University
- Summary:
- Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Drexel University and the University of Arkansas bypassed a roadblock from an injury to the spinal cord. This was accomplished, for the first time, by using an enzyme that stopped growth inhibitory molecules from forming in the small scar that forms at the exit ramp of the bridge, where it is inserted into the spinal cord on the other side of the lesion. This allowed the growing axons to reconnect with the spinal cord.
- Share:
The body's spinal cord is like a super highway of nerves. When an injury occurs, the body's policing defenses put up a roadblock in the form of a scar to prevent further injury, but it stops all neural traffic from moving forward.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Drexel University and the University of Arkansas bypassed this roadblock in the spinal cord. First, the researchers regenerated the severed nerve fibers, also called axons, around the initial large lesion with a segment of peripheral nerve taken from the leg of the same animal that suffered the spinal injury. Next, they jump started neural traffic by allowing many nerve fibers to exit from the end of the bridge. This was accomplished, for the first time, by using an enzyme that stopped growth inhibitory molecules from forming in the small scar that forms at the exit ramp of the bridge, where it is inserted into the spinal cord on the other side of the lesion. This allowed the growing axons to reconnect with the spinal cord.
Jerry Silver, a professor of neurosciences at the Case School of Medicine, was senior author among the researchers reporting in the Journal of Neuroscience article, "Combining an Autologous Peripheral Nervous System 'Bridge' and Matrix Modification by Chondroitinase Allows Robust Functional Regeneration beyond a Hemisection Lesion of the Adult Rat Spinal Cord." The other researchers were John Houle, the lead author, and Veronica Tom (a Case alum) from Drexel University College of Medicine; and Gail Wagoner and Napoleon Phillips from the University of Arkansas.
The researchers employed a combination of two strategies--one old and one new--in efforts to regenerate nerves in the spinal cord and restore movement, said Silver.
For more than 100 years, researchers have used grafts of peripheral nerves from the rib area or parts of the leg. While peripheral nerves can be used successfully as grafts in the limbs, spinal cord injuries put up defenses called inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans that create molecular guardrails within scars at the lesion site. These scars act as a barrier to regenerating axons and result in loss of the ability to breathe or move arms or legs, depending upon the injury site.
Silver said the medical community also assumed that the cut axon tips died when they hit the scar wall. In prior research in his lab by his graduate student, Tom, it was discovered that axons are alive and continue to attempt to grow for years. Silver describes them as "trucks stuck in mud going no where." It also explains why some people gain some movement back or come out of comas after many years as the nerve fibers sprout through weakened or remodeled areas of the scar.
About 16 years ago, Silver also made another find that proteoglycans, a sugary protein, is present at the site of spinal cord lesions. He also knew that a particular enzyme from the bacteria Proteus vulgaris, called chondroitinase, might dismantle the proteoglycans by clipping their sugar branches, thereby preventing the scar wall from building.
In a National Institutes of Health-supported animal study, 12 rats had spinal injuries at the cervical level 3 (C3) that resulted in impaired motor functions to their right side limbs. The animals had trouble moving, climbing or grooming.
Combining the old with the new, the researchers grafted a 1.5 centimeter piece of the tibial branch of he sciatic nerve to the C3 area of the spinal cord and allowed the nerve fibers to grow and regenerate over three weeks. .
At approximately two and a half weeks into the new nerve growth, Houle implanted a small pump that delivered a steady dose of chondroitinase to a new incision site near C5 where the researchers hoped to reconnect the other end of the bridge to the spinal cord, but also prevent further scarring. They also primed the newly re-grown axons for rapid regeneration by clipping their ends.
Silver said this method resulted in approximately 20 percent of the nerve fibers leaving the bridge and reconnecting with the spinal cord. It brought about markedly improved mobility for the seven rats given the chondroitinase treatment.
A control group of five rats underwent the same procedure. Instead of the chondroitinase, they were given a saline solution. None showed any nerve growth out of the bridge or improvement in their limbs.
To test whether something other than regeneration was at work in restoring movement, the neural bridges were severed and the rats lost all movement gained from the combination of treatments. This provides the most conclusive evidence to date that severed nerve fibers in the spinal cord can, in fact, regenerate for long distances and establish proper functional connections.
Silver said if the method is perfected and successful with primates, it could go to human trials within a relatively short time.
His next step is a neural bridge that would help quadriplegics, who are unable to breathe without assistance, move their diaphragms on their own. In future animal studies he plans to undertake nerve grafts from the leg to bridge the area of the spinal cord that controls breathing.
"While this was one small step for a rat, it was one giant leap for man," said Silver.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Case Western Reserve University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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text:
When a tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown can be used to restore its appearance, shape, strength and size to fill the area of need. Also referred as ''Cap'' the Crown will help protect the tooth moving forward while acting like your natural tooth.
Why would a dental crown be needed?
A dental crown can be used in the following situations:
- To restore a broken tooth or has been severely worn down
- To protect a weak tooth (from decay) from breaking or holding together parts of the cracked tooth
- To cover a dental implant
- To cover discolored teeth
- To support and cover a tooth with a filling when there isn't much tooth left
- To hold a dental bridge in place
At Bouctouche Dental Clinic, we only use materials for crowns that will provide lasting long-term benefits. Our goal is to give the best cosmetic results to our patients.
What are Bridges ?
If you are missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference in chewing and speaking. A good quality dental bridge can serve as a valuable solution. Not only will it help fulfill that smile again, they also help prevent serious issues from developing with tooth loss. The bridge can help your teeth from shifting and provide the support for a healthy jaw function.
Most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented on existing teeth or implants and can only be removed by a dentist. These teeth, often called abutments serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments.
What are the benefits of dental Bridges?
Bridges will help:
- Restore the ability to properly speak and chew
- Reestablish your natural smile
- Maintain the shape of your face
- Prevent your teeth from moving out of position


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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
Indispensable implication of Sunna and caution against innovation
All praise be to Allah who completed the religion for us, perfected the blessing on us and chose Islam as our religion. May the blessings and peace be upon His servant and Apostle, who called upon people to obey his Lord and cautioned against extravagance, innovation and disobedience; And may Allah bless his posterity, his companions and those who follow his footsteps till the Day of Judgement.
I have been acquainted with the article published in the first page of the weekly magazine "Edarat" of the Kanpur, Industrial city of Utter Pradesh in India. The writer alleges that the creed of the Salaf (Early adherents to Islam) does not agree with the Sunna. By this, the writer aims at creating division amongst the Ahl-as-Sunna and encouraging the innovations and superstitions. This attitude, no doubt, is most abominable and dangerous and aims at offending the Religion of Islam and spreading innovations and deviations from the truth. Furthermore, the article concentrates clearly on the subject of celebrating the Prophet's birthday as an excuse to discuss the creed of others. Therefore, I consider it necessary to enlighten the People on this subject. So seeking help of Allah, I say:
It is not permissible to celebrate the birthday of the Apostle (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), or somebody else. In fact, it must be stopped, as it is an innovation in the religion. The Apostle of Allah neither celebrated it, nor commanded others to do this for himself. or for any one who died before him amongst the Prophets, for his daughters his wives, or his other relatives. The rightly guided Caliphs the Companions of the Prophet or the successors who rightly followed them did not celebrate this event, nor did any one of the muslim scholars in the centuries before.
They knew the Sunnah of the Prophet best, they loved him more, and followed the Shari'a better than those who came after them. If celebrating his birthday was a good deed, they would have done it.
We are commanded to follow and forbidden to innovate. This is because of the perfection of the Islamic religion and the Sufficiency of what Allah and His Messenger have given us and are accepted by Ahl-al-Sunna wal-jama'at- The Muslim community of the companions and those who followed them in the best way.
It is related to the prophet that he said: He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it, will have it rejected. (Transmitted by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). According to Muslim who reported: whoever does an act which is not in agreement with our matter, will have it rejected. In another tradition the Prophet said: You must keep to my Sunna and of the Sunna of the rightly-guided Caliphs, cling to it firmly… Beware of newly invented matters, for every new matter is an innovation and every innovation is misleading. He used to say in every Friday sermon: The best discourse is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad the Apostle of Allah, and the worst matter is that of innovation and every innovation is misleading. Thus, these traditions contain a strong caution against innovations and a warning that such an act is a deviation from the right course. The Prophet warned the people of the gravity of these innovations and of their bad consequences. There are many traditions adduced in this connection.
And the Almighty has said:
…And whatsoever the messenger (Muhammad, saws) gives you, yake it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain ( from it)…(S.59 A.7)
Allah, Most High said:
And let those who oppose the Messenger's (saws) commandment (i.e. his sunnah: legal way, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.), (from among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them of a painful torment be inflicted on them. (S.24 A.63)
Allah, the Almighty said.
Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, saws) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. (S.33 A.21)
And Allah the Almighty said:
And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajiroon (those who migrated from Makka to al-Madina) and the Ansar (the citizens of al-Madina who helped and gave aid to the Muhajiroon) and also who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success. (S.9 A.100)
And Allah, the Almighty said:
This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion (S.5 A.3). This verse decisively indicates that the Almighty Allah has completed the religion for this Ummah, and has showered His blessings on them.
His Prophet passed away only after he had imparted the complete message of Allah to the Ummah as well as his legislations concerning sayings and deeds. He also stressed that all things invented by people and then attributed to the religion of Islam are innovations and to be rejected, even if their inventors did so in good faith.
It is established that the Companions of the Prophet and the righteous successors after them warned the people against innovations as they add to Islam and legislate what is not permitted by Allah, in line with the enemies of Allah such as the Jews and the Christians who added to their religion and innovated what was not allowed by Allah. Moreover, to admit innovation in Islam is incomplete and imperfect. Such a belief is not only an evil but contradicts the following verse: This day, I have perfected your religion for you…. And the sayings of the Prophet which warn us against innovations.
To celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Prophet and the others, means that the Religion is not perfected by Allah (the Glorious, the Almighty) for this Ummah, and the Apostle did not impart to the people what was necessary regarding their religious duties, till these late ones appeared and invented in the religion what is not permitted by Allah, thinking that this would bring them nearer to Allah.
Undoubtedly, this is a great danger and is tantamount to criticzing Allah the Almighty and the Prophet (Peace be upon him): whereas Allah the Almighty has already completed the religion and perfected His grace, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) has conveyed the message openly and informed the Ummah of all such ways that will lead them to the Paradise and save them from Hell-fire.
According to an authentic Hadith, on the authority of Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As the Messenger of Allah said: Allah Ta'ala (the Almighty) did not send a Prophet but obliged him to lead his people to the best way which is known to him, and warn them against the worst which is known to him. (Transmitted by Muslim).
It is well-known that our Prophet is the best of all the prophets, the last and the most perfect of them regarding the way he conveyed the message and advised his people.
Had the celebration of Milaad been an act of Religion chosen by Allah for His servants, the Prophet would have either explained that to his people, would have celebrated it during his life, or his Companions would have done it. As these did not happen, it becomes clear that Islam has no concern with Milaad. On the contrary, it is one of the innovations against which the Prophet has warned his people as mentioned earlier.
A host of scholars have not only rejected the celebration of Milaad but have warned against it in view of the evidences given above.
According to the rule of the Islamic Shari'a all matters regarding legalization or prohibition and all disputes among the people, should be referred to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (Peace be upon him) in line with the saying of Allah:
A. O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad ), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (and) if you differ in anything amoungst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (saws) if you believe in allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. (S.4 A.59)
And Allah The Almighty said:
B. And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah (He is the Ruling Judge). (S.42 A.10)
Referring this issue back to the Book of Allah, we find it ordaining upon us to follow the Messenger of Allah in his Commandments and warns us against what ever he prohibits. Furthermore it tells us that Allah has perfected the religion for the people. So, as long as Milaad is not among the teachings of the Prophet , it cannot be a part of the religion which Allah has perfected for us and asked us to adhere to by following the Prophet.
Again when we refer this issue back to the Sunnah, of the Messenger of Allah , we do not find either the Prophet or the Companions doing it by themselves or asking others to do it, So it becomes evident that Milaad, is not a part of religion, rather one of innovations and blind immitation of the people of the book, i. e. the Jews and the Christians in their festivals. With this argument in mind, it becomes crystal clear for everyone having the least insight and inclination towards truth and justice, that celebrating any birthday has nothing to do with Islam. It is rather among the innovations which Allah and His Messenger warned against emphatically.
A wise man must not be deceived by seeing a large number of people doing it throughout the world because the truth is known and recognized by the evidences of Shari'a and not by the acts of a great number of people.
Allah Ta'ala (the Almighty) says regarding the Jews and the Christians:
And they say, "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." These are their own desires. Say (Muhammad, saws) "Produce your proof if you are truthful." (S.2 A.111).
And the Almighty also said:
And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah's Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie. (S.6 A.116)
Most of these innovations, in addition to their innovatory nature, also do not usually escape from a number of other evils, such as mixed gatherings of men and women, songs accompanied by musical instruments. drinking intoxicants, narcotics and the like. They may also involve the worst thing i. e. the greatest Shirk, through showing exaggeration in the Messenger of Allah and other saints and through praying to him, invoking his help or believing that he knows what is hidden and all similar claims which render a believer as an infidel. It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah has said: Beware of extravagance in the Religion: It has caused the people before you to perish. He also said: Do not lavish praise on me as the Christians did with the son of Maryam. I am just a bondman. So Simply say: The bondman of Allah and His Messenger (Transmitted by Bukhari).
It is curious to note that a great many people partcipate most actively in these celebrations and defend them vehemently, while they sit back from attending the obligatory forms of worship such as daily and friday prayers. They are not even ashamed of this, nor do they realize that they are committing a great evil.
Undoubtedly, this shows the weakness of their faith, their short-sightedness, and the deeply ingrained rust on their hearts because of sins and disobedience. We ask Allah's protection for us and for all the Muslims.
It is even more astonishing to note that some people believe that the Messenger of Allah is present at Milaad. Consequently they stand to greet and Welcome him. That is not only a sheer lie but a worst form of ignorance, as the Prophet shall niether come out of his grave before the Day of Resurrection, nor shall he meet the people or attend their meetings. Instead, he shall remain in his grave till the Day of Resurrection while his soul rests at the highest of the high with his Lord in the most exalted and highest place.
Allah Ta'ala (The Almighty) Says:
After tht, surely, you will die. Then (again), you will be ressurrected on the Day of Ressurection. (S.23 A.15 & A.16)
And the prophet said: I am the first one to rise from the grave on the Resurrection Day and I will be the first intercessor and the first one whose intercession is to be accepted.
The aforesaid evidences from the Quran and Hadith prove beyond doubt that the dead people will come out of their graves only on the Day of Resurrection. All the scholars of Islam agree upon this. A Muslim should be aware of these things and must not be easily misled by the innovations and the superstitions created by the ignorant people with no authority from Allah at all.
As for offering the blessings and greetings (Salat and Salam) to the prophet (peace be upon himl, they are among the most prefered and virtuous deeds in accordance with the saying of Allah:
Allah sends His Salat (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad, saws) and also His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who Believe! Send you Salat on (ask Allah to bless) him (Muhammad, saws), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salaamu-Alaikum). (S.33 A.56)
The Prophet has said: Whosoever sends blessings on me one time, Allah sends blessings on him ten times.
It is prescribed on all times, particularly at the end of each prayer. It is held obligatory at last Tashahud of each prayer by most of the scholars. It is strongly required at a number of occasions such as immediately after Adhaan, at the mention of the name of the Prophet , during the day of Friday and the night preceding it according to a host of Ahadith.
This is what I wanted to emphasize regarding this issue. I hope it will satisfy everyone whom Allah has shown the light.
How sad it is to see some devoted Muslims, known for their strength of faith and love for the Prophet organizing such innovatory celebrations.
Let us ask such people: "Tell us, if you belong to Ahl-as-Sunna and follow the Prophet , whether he himself or one of his Companions or their Successors did this or is it no more than a blind following of the enemies of Islam from among the jews and the Christians and the like?"
The love of the Prophet is not reflected by the celebration on his birthday, but by obeying him, believing in his teachings, keeping away from what he prohibited and by worshipping Allah in the way he prescribed for us.
It is also reflected through offering Salat and Salam to him from time to time, particularly at the mention of his name and during prayers.
The Wahhabiyya, as the writer tends to put it, are not new in rejecting all such innovations. Their creed is to hold fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger : to follow his footsteps and those of his rightly guided successors: to believe and practice what was propounded by the virtuous predecessors and the Imams of learning and guidance who were capable to issue religious injunction concerning the knowledge of Allah, and His attributes of perfection and dignity as shown in the Glorious Book and the authentic traditions of the Prophet and as wholeheartedly accepted by his companions. The Wahhabiyya believe in them, the way they are reported without any alteration, personification, examplifying or negation of such attributes. They stick to the way of successors and their followers from among the people of learning, faith and piety. They believe that the foundation of the faith is to bear witness that there is none to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. To them, this is the root of faith and one of its most exalted branches as well.
They know in accordance with the consensus of the muslims, that this root requires knowledge, acknowledgement and practice.
It implies that none is to be worshipped except Allah the Almighty. Who has no associates at all. It further implies the negation of worshipping any other except Him. It shows why jinn and mankind were created; why the Messengers were sent and why the Books were revealed.
In addition, Ibada (worship) is not only complete submission and love but also complete obedience and veneration as well. Islam is the only religion prescribed by Allah and disseminated by the prophets and nothing, save it, is acceptable to Allah whether in the past or the present. The one who submits his will to Allah as well as to someone else beside Him is a Mushrik (polytheist). The same is true for the one who prays to Allah and someone else beside Him. As for the one who does not submit to Him, he is arrogant concerning his duties towards his Creator.
Allah the Almighty Says:
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities etc., i.e. do not worship Taghuts beside Alah)." (S.16 A.36)
Thus the creed of the wahhabiyya is based upon fulfillment of witnessing that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and completely abandoning all innovations, superstitions and whatever goes against the Shari'a.
This is what Shaikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab – may Allah have mercy upon him – believed and invited others to believe. Whoever accredits to him anything contrary to it, does not only lie but commits a great sin and claims what is totally unfounded. He will, no doubt, receive what Allah has promised to all the fabricators of lies.
The Shaikh has shown – through a series of his well-known treatises and scholarly books on the topic of the Declaration of Unity: La ilaha ill' Allah. – that no one deserves worship except Allah the Almighty and that this type of worship should be devoid of all sorts of SHIRK whether big or small. Anyone who is aware of these writings, his way of preaching and calling people to Allah and of the way of his pupils and disciples, can easily find out that his approach was not different from that of our virtuous predecessors, the great Imams of learning and guidance. Indeed, he has propounded what they did throughout their lives concerning the worship of Allah Alone and leaving all innovations and superstitions aside.
It is in no need of any addition after what Allah and His Prophet have ordained and what the Ahl-al-Sunnah Wal' Jama'at, from among the Companions, the Successors and their followers have already received. To forbid celebrating the birthday of the Prophet due to its innovative nature in addition to the signs of extravagance and Shirk normally associated with it, is not un-lslamic orderogatory to the Prophet . Instead, it is an act of obedience as the Prophet himself said: Beware of the extravagance in matters of religion. Those before you have perished because of extravagance in the matters of religion.
Again he said: Do not lavish praise on me as the Christians did with the son of Maryam. I am but a bondman. So simply say: "Slave of Allah and His Messenger".
This is what I wanted to point out regarding the aforesaid article.
May Allah help us and all the Muslims to understand His religion, to continually confirm us on it, stick to Sunnah and keep away from the innovation. Indeed He is Generous and Kind.
And May Allah Shower His blessings and mercy upon our prophet Muhammad, his posterity and his Companions.


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105-year-old great-grandmother receives high school diploma
OAKDALE, Pa. - A 105-year-old great-grandmother in Pennsylvania is living proof you can never consider yourself too old to reach your goals.
Theresia Brandl donned a cap and gown last Wednesday at her Oakdale nursing home to celebrate finally graduating from high school. She was surrounded by four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Brandl had always wanted to finish high school, but life's circumstances wouldn't have it that way. She had to choose between caring for her sick mother or finishing school.
"She couldn't take care of herself, so she needed someone to take care of her, so I quit school to take care of her," Brandl said.
However, nothing would stop this 105-year-old from getting her high school diploma.
"All of my friends had one and I decided I needed one," she said.
Her family and friends got in touch with the Twilight Wish Foundation, an organization which helps fulfill wishes for people over 65, to make her dream come true.
"They all chipped in a little bit and helped me get it," Brandl said.
Brandl attended Stowe High School until she dropped out. The school was later merged with a nearby school, forming Sto-Rox High School, which awarded her an honorary diploma.
As for staying young, Brandl also said she has eaten right over the years - especially her favorite food, fried chicken.


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The smartphone footage shows the two blood-soaked men pleading for their lives. Moments later they were dead, two more victims of lynchings sparked by rumours spread on Facebook and WhatsApp in India.
The two men were young and well-educated. Gregarious, dreadlocked musician Nilotpal Das, 29, and his businessman friend Abhijeet Nath, 30, were both from Guwahati, capital of the northeastern state of Assam.
On the fateful day last month when they were beaten to death by a crazed village mob wielding bamboo sticks, machetes, and rocks, the friends were driving back from a day in the country, near a popular waterfall.
"He liked to listen to the sounds of nature to find inspiration for his music," his grieving father Gopal Chandra Das, 68, told AFP at their home, the television table in the living room now a shrine to his son.
Viral rumours about kidnappers, spread through Facebook and WhatsApp, have led to the lynching deaths of some 20 people in the last two months in India, according to a tally from local media reports.
Indian authorities have scrambled to respond but awareness campaigns, public alerts and internet blackouts have had limited success in deterring the spread of misinformation.
Instead, officials blamed WhatsApp for the "irresponsible and explosive messages" being shared by its 200 million Indian users -- the company's largest market.
WhatsApp said it was "horrified" by the violence and promised action. The social media giant took out full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers offering "easy tips" to sort fact from fiction on its platform.
"Together we can fight false information", the slick adverts declared.
Child kidnappers
On their June 8 excursion, the two men were unaware that "fake news" on child traffickers had been spreading on social media in the area.
In the isolated, impoverished district of Karbi Anglong, Facebook and WhatsApp have become the new word of mouth, and messages on the platforms -- however outlandish -- are often taken as gospel.
Late in the day, the two men were sitting by a stream when a villager confronted them, causing an altercation. The young men left in their car in a hurry, but their antagonist warned the next village they were coming.
"He made a phone call. He said that child kidnappers were on the way, that they needed to be stopped," said Gulshan Daolagupu, deputy division chief of Karbi Anglong.
The mob surrounded the car on the country road. Convinced they had caught the child kidnappers, they launched a savage attack, posting videos of the killings online.
The images shocked India.
An enquiry is under way to establish whether the suspect who instigated the attack, a 35-year-old taxi driver, genuinely believed he had caught the purported child kidnappers or whether he had ulterior motives. Some 50 people have been detained over the attack.
"Had social media not been there, had this been 2014 -- Facebook was not there, smartphones were not cheap -- this would not have happened," said G.V. Siva Prasad, superintendent of police in Karbi Anglong district.
"The speed at which it goes, nobody can address it, it is almost the speed of light."
One month after the incident, the village of Panjuri Kachari is almost deserted. Only a few women, children and elderly people remain. The men are behind bars or on the run.
'It could have been me'
Lynchings based on misjudgement or malicious information are not a new phenomenon in India. But the spread of smartphones and internet access in the country's poorest and most isolated areas has exacerbated the problem.
Close to half a billion Indians are online, most accessing the internet via their smartphones. India was the fastest growing market for smartphones in 2017.
Internet penetration in rural areas, though low at 20 percent, is growing. The tumbling cost of handsets, many priced at well below $100, coupled with cheap data plans is attracting many first-time users to the internet.
For researcher Abdul Kalam Azad, the lynchings in Panjuri Kachari must be seen in the particular context of Assam state, which is a patchwork of ethnic tribes and has been routinely hit by intercommunal strife.
"Assam has been experiencing violence for a long time. In this situation of conflict, fake news become more dangerous, more violent and that's evident now," he told AFP.
The killing of Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath has resonated broadly among urban, well-educated Indians and played on perceptions that rural districts are backward-looking and lawless.
"Everyone could feel: 'it could have been my son, it could have been me,'" said Ittisha Sarah, 25, a friend of the victims.
"That feeling is impacting people a lot. That it could have been anyone, so innocent, in that barbaric incident."


text:
Café Diglas
Wednesday evening,
with the Golden Hour's light
flooding in through
tall windows and
bathing the interior
in its glow
Café Diglas
is my favorite
great coffee,
fantastic food,
what more could one
wish for?
Grumpy waiters?
Oh well,
they'd have to hire actors
to perform that feat,
Diglas waiters
have friendliness in their genes,
they couldn't be grumpy
even if they wanted to!
What more
could one wish for?
Better pictures,
for once,
to really do this jewel justice,
but then, who am I
to reveal all its glory
when you can go there
and see for yourself?
Images and Text
© by Merisi


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Low Income Tax Clinic
This clinic consists of two components: a seminar about federal tax practice and procedure and a practicum in which students assist in the representation of low-income Virginia taxpayers before the IRS and in U.S. Tax Court cases. The seminar includes a detailed and systematic exploration of federal tax practice. Students are instructed in interview techniques, client relations, case evaluation, settlement, negotiation, and trial techniques and strategies. Ethical issues are also explored.
Quotations from Low Income Tax Clinic students:
"I feel more comfortable with federal income tax issues, in general. I also believe that 'learning by doing' helped me reiterate the skills that I learned."
"I was able to get more real hands on experience with day to day legal work. Also the satisfaction of helping pro-bono clients is so great that I want to continue making it a part of my practice post-law school."
"I really liked the practical instruction in tax controversy work. The book was very good, and Professor Bell did a great job teaching it and applying it to our own cases and his wealth of experience."
"I enjoyed the experience of working with actual clients and interacting directly with the IRS. It was interesting to get a sense of the dynamics of interacting with all sides of a process rather than focusing solely on the intellectual challenge of a particular case/issue."


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Campus Lunacy
ACRU Staff
March 31, 2016
This column by ACRU Policy Board Member and Professor of Economics Dr. Walter E. Williams was published March 30, 2016 by Townhall.com.
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni publishes occasional reports on what college students know. Nearly 10 percent of the college graduates surveyed thought Judith Sheindlin, TV's "Judge Judy," is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court. Less than 20 percent of the college graduates knew the effect of the Emancipation Proclamation. More than a quarter of the college graduates did not know Franklin D. Roosevelt was president during World War II; one-third did not know he was the president who spearheaded the New Deal. But it is little mystery why so many college students are illiterate, innumerate and resistant to understanding. Let's look at it.
Student activists at Brown University complained of emotional stress and poor grades after they spent months of protesting for various causes. They blamed the university for insisting that they complete their coursework. One of the objects of their protest was an op-ed in The Brown Daily Herald, the university newspaper, that was deemed racist because it defended the celebration of Columbus Day. Brown University's faculty recently took care of that and renamed Columbus Day "Indigenous People's Day."
Professor Salvador Vidal-Ortiz of American University told his students that capitalism dehumanizes brown people and black people. If his students had one iota of brains, they might ask him why it is that brown and black people all over the world are seeking to flee to countries toward the capitalist end of the economic spectrum rather than the communist end. Campus Reform reports that Vidal-Ortiz, during the Q&A of a book talk at the University of Virginia, said he tells his students that though he is light-skinned, he refuses to be called white. "I will not be labeled as something that I know is violent," he said.
College administrators are short on guts and backbone. But there is a glimmer of hope every now and then. Young Americans for Liberty at Rutgers University invited Breitbart News' technology editor, Milo Yiannopoulos, who is a homosexual, to give a lecture. Yiannopoulos describes his lecture tour as "The Most Dangerous Faggot Tour." His lecture was titled "How the Progressive Left Is Destroying American Education." There were about 400 students who attended his lecture, plus there were protesters who smeared themselves with fake blood. Despite student opposition, Rutgers University President Robert Barchi called on his university to stand up for free speech, saying, "That freedom is fundamental to our university, our society, and our nation." That was also Yiannopoulos' message, namely: "The purpose of university is to interrogate new ideas, discover ourselves, meet new people and explore the world. What it ought to be is a free space without trigger warnings. In my view, anyone who asks for a trigger warning should be expelled. What they've demonstrated is that they are incapable of being exposed to new ideas."
Then there is Dr. Everett Piper, president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, who bravely told his students, "This is not a day care. It's a university."
Stanford University's board of trustees is to be congratulated for not caving in to the diversity crowd in its selection of highly distinguished scientist Marc Tessier-Lavigne as university president. Students furiously denounced the choice because Tessier-Lavigne is a white man. The student-run Stanford Political Journal wrote: "We believe the Search Committee intended to select the best possible candidate, and, of course, white men should not have automatically been precluded from the search. However… it would have been fitting for Stanford to select a president that deviates from the traditional white, straight, male mode."
The University of Missouri System's board of curators is also to be congratulated for firing professor Melissa Click, who was videotaped intimidating a student reporter during demonstrations that led to the cowardly resignations of the system's president, Timothy M. Wolfe, and chancellor, R. Bowen Loftin. Her firing was not a result of administrator and faculty decency. Private donations had plummeted, and Missouri lawmakers were proposing an $8 million cut in the system's budget. That proves what I have always held: Nothing opens the closed minds of administrators better than the sounds of pocketbooks snapping shut.


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Alex Bowman
PriceFrom $22.99
- 4.5 oz/sq yd, 100% Ring Spun Cotton for the solid colors
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We offer a variety of experiences to help students, staff, faculty and the local community bond and grow together. This wealth of opportunity creates a social vitality that's as energizing as it is enriching.
When friends have the tools to help each other thrive, anything is possible. We collaborate with, and train, student leaders to develop social and orientation programs that foster a diverse, vibrant community.
The office is staffed with the Director of Campus Activities and New Student Orientation and Coordinator for Campus Activities and Commuter Life. Both the director and coordinator work with student groups to assist them with event planning, fundraising, and other group functions. This includes working with the Student Government Association and class officers. The office tries to have a wide variety of events for resident and commuter students at the College.
When students join our team to plan, design and implement social and recreational activities for the College community, they gain organizational skills that last a lifetime-time-management, communication, programming. Whether they're helping us with Family and Friends Weekend, Homecoming, Spring Fling or other events, they're not just lending their time and energy, they're also learning and laughing along the way.
Stop by the Campus Activities Suite on the Main Level of the Sheehy-Farmer Campus today.


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For many business owners or entrepreneurs, the long-term goal is to sell your company and monetize all the value you have created. So, what can you begin working on today to ensure that you rake it in from the eventual sale of your business?
Prepare for a Sale
Is your company in shape to be sold? For too many companies, the answer is "No." For them, it's time to clean up and begin to operate like a business rather than a personal fiefdom.
Get the books audited (buyers rarely trust unaudited statements). Clean up legal issues, especially ensuring that you have title to the shares of the business and all assets (including patents and copyrights). To do this, bring in a good lawyer to assess the legal state of the business and all the contracts. And if you have any outstanding legal issues, get them resolved.
Make sure that your tax structure is correct, so you can retain as much of the sales price as possible. If you have multiple shareholders, get all the significant owners on the same page and in agreement about the long-term exit plan. Get all the processes and facilities in shape. Make sure the business and operations look spic and span. Would you buy a beautiful house if the front door knob came off in your hand? The impressions of your business matters to prospective buyers a lot.
Develop Relationships with Potential Buyers
Reach out and network with larger players in your industry, as well as potential business brokers or private equity players. What interests them about your business? What do they value most highly, and why? At this stage, your business is not officially for sale, so you're on more equal footing with them and will better be able to pick their brains and learn what you can do to drive value in your business. Further, these will be the people you can reach out to directly when you are ready to sell the business.
Build Value in Your Business
The vast majority of buyers will care about one thing—EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). It represents the earning capacity of the business. For buyers, EBITDA thus determines how much debt, which the buyer will take on to fund the acquisition, can be paid off yearly. Most buyer valuations start out with some multiple of EBITDA. So, to increase your sale price, you must first build your EBITDA. Growth in revenue is good only if that means growth in EBITDA.
Second, get yourself out of the business. If you're still "a genius with a thousand helpers" running the business as a one-man or one-woman show, then you're not creating sustainable value for your business. Buyers hate to be dependent on any one person (you) after they've bought a business. So, start to delegate and build successors.
Finally, continue to conduct your business ethically. Good buyers are going to perform extensive examination and assessment of your business (due diligence), and they'll find out how you run it and how you treat your customers. Thus, continue to have good, solid customer relations, and continue to have a good reputation in the marketplace.
Consider the Timing of Any Deal
Most businesses are sold at multiples of EBITDA. But, the multiples that companies are sold at change depending upon the economy and how "in" or "sexy" a business is. So, think about when you are going to put the business up for sale.
You'll need to think ahead since the sales process will generally take six to 12 months. Realize that potential buyers will walk away from a deal at the last moment if your business begins to deteriorate during the sale process. A general rule of thumb is to sell moderately early in a growth upswing for your business. That way, you'll have time to show EBITDA growth, and that growth will be more likely to keep going for another year or so. Deciding to sell too late or insisting on too high of a price will inevitably lead to "no deal." Remember: Pigs get fat, but hogs get slaughtered.
Get the Deal Closed
Before you put your business up for sale, have everything ready. You must be aware that the "kimono will be fully open." In the due diligence process, the buyer will want to know everything, so be ready with accurate details and supply them when asked.
Back to point number one, ensure that you do not have any hidden time bombs that will crash the deal. Two further points to consider. First, negotiate from a term sheet or formal letter of intent that spells out and addresses all the potential issues (payment holdbacks, indemnification, limitations of liabilities, caps and baskets, etc.). If you don't know what I am talking about, then it's time to speak with an experienced deal attorney (note: your local attorney who may have only done real estate deals or one or two small deals is the wrong person).
Second, move fast and respond promptly. The longer the deal takes, the more the power shifts to the buyer. Nearly all sellers will go down a slippery mental slope and develop a condition known as the "psychological pre-sale." As the seller, you'll begin to dream of the money and life after the sale, and you're likely to become committed to completing the deal even if it no longer meets your original objectives.
For most business owners and entrepreneurs, selling your business is the biggest financial decision you'll ever make. As such, it takes careful planning and consideration and the advice of others (especially a respected merger & acquisition lawyer and a tax expert) to ensure that you get the most money in your pocket when you sell.
David M. Shedd heads Winning B2B Leadership, an advisory firm serving small to middle-market companies in the concrete products and other manufacturing industries. His experience includes 10-plus years in executive positions with a major precast concrete producer. He is the author of Build a Better B2B Business and maintains a blog at www.helpingleaderswin.com. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at 480/734-0569. This is the second in a series of columns addressing leadership and business success for the concrete products executive.
The Oz Principle
Be Accountable, Be Responsible, Be Answerable
In their book, The Oz Principle – Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability, Roger Connors, Tom Smith and Craig Hickman discuss the pervasive lack of accountability in the corporate world.
Dirty Little Secret. The dirty little secret is that most companies lack accountability and responsibility at all levels from the leader to the top executives to front-line managers to individual employees. As a result, companies do not execute and achieve what they set out to achieve. As the authors point out, most companies fail because of managerial error, but not many senior executives involved will admit that. Most companies explain away the brutal facts rather than confront them head-on.
By contrast Andy Grove at Intel was famous for always being paranoid. But, this paranoia led to him being responsible and answerable for the success of Intel. His famous question was: If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what do you think he would do?
Keys to Accountability. The key to accountability is the willingness of an organization's people to embrace full responsibility for the results they seek. Many organizations move from one illusion of what it takes to achieve organizational effectiveness to another without ever stopping long enough to discover the truth: The results you seek depend on shouldering greater accountability for those results. The success or failure depends, first and foremost, upon the leadership and the people and their decisions and actions, all of which are under their own control.
The essence is to get people to rise above their circumstances and do whatever it takes (within ethical boundaries) to get the results they want. Even in the worst of circumstances, people cannot move forward if they just sit around feeling powerless and blaming others for their misery. Instead, as management guru Peter Drucker famously said, the key question for every employee in an organization is: What can I contribute that will significantly affect the performance and the results of the institution I serve?
The Oz Principle
Above the Line — Steps to Accountability
See It • Own It • Solve It • Do It
Below the Line — The Blame Game
Wait and See • Confusion/Tell Me What to Do • It is Not My Job
Ignore/Deny • Finger Pointing • Cover Your Tail
Accountable employees, leaders and organizations operate above the line.