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Original author's comments on this response.
ARTHUR SHAPIRO HAS JUST argued that X does not entail Y, where X is biological evolution of the Darwinian or neo-Darwinian stripe, and Y is any particular position on the ultimate origins of life or the universe. To this I offer a hearty Amen. But I also ask, So what? As a mathematician I've had plenty of experience in the logic of entailment-every theorem is entailed by some relevant set of mathematical axioms As a philosopher who works in the logic of conditionals, I'm aware how entailment works outside mathematical contexts. Entailment is the strongest logical connection by far. To say that X entails Y is to say that it's impossible for X to be true and Y false. Alternatively, Y is necessary given X. Thus, to say that X does not entail Y is to say that it is possible for X to be true and Y false. But since Shapiro leaves Y completely open-ended on the questions of origins, to say that biological evolution does not entail any account of origins, be it theistic, materialistic, or whatever, is simply to say that biological evolution is logically compatible with any number of positions on the origin of life and the universe.
Given what is meant by logical entailment-and this is the sense in which Shapiro is using it-I must agree with his claim. Moreover, Shapiro's claim has empirical support: individuals with widely divergent views on origins have made their peace with, or (if you will) have surrendered to, neo-Darwinism. Certainly this is true of "scientistic atheists" like Will Provine. But it is also true of notable theists like Richard Swinburne, who even when writing on teleology and design admits the central claims of neo-Darwinism:
Complex animals and plants can be produced through generation by less complex animals and plants . . . and simple animals and plants can be produced by natural processes from inorganic matter.{1}Suffice it to say, there is no logical impossibility reconciling neo-Darwinism with a host of philosophical positions on origins.
So what? Suppose I place Al and Bob in a room, lock it, reopen it an hour later only to find Al lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with Bob standing over him holding a smoking gun. Denote this scenario by X. Let Y denote the claim that Bob shot Al. Does X entail Y? Well, no. Al may have been suicidal and shot himself. Bob tried to prevent this and is now holding the gun which he was too late in taking away from Al. Suppose, however, we know that Bob and Al are mortal enemies, and that Al has no suicidal tendencies. With this background knowledge, does X entail Y? Again the answer is No. There might be a trap door in the room. Perhaps an enemy of both Al and Bob used the trap door to enter the room, shoot Al, and then place the gun in Bob's hand so as to frame Bob.
If this story appears fanciful, if I appear to be veering from the path of common sense, it is because the logic of entailment cannot distinguish between the banal, the bizarre, and the ridiculous. It can distinguish only between the possible and the impossible. The circumstantial evidence for Bob's killing Al may be excellent if a video camera in the room happens to record Bob shooting Al, there will even be direct evidence for Bob shooting Al. But no amount of empirical evidence will entail Bob shooting Al. Bob's double might actually have shot Al. Bob's enemy might have rigged the video camera so that it only appears that Bob shot Al. I am not suggesting that our reason for believing that Bob shot Al becomes inferior because no evidence can entail this claim. Entailment is simply too strong a logical notion to apply in most matters of fact. In particular, it is the wrong philosophical tool for investigating the relation between Darwinism and origins.
It is here that Shapiro and I part company. Shapiro argues, and I quote,
Biological evolution is no more inconsistent with religion than are other sciences, and . . . the attacks on it specifically are best understood in sociological and political, not philosophical, terms.Philosophy has a lot more to say about the relation between biological evolution and world views than Shapiro is willing to admit. To move from entailment to sociology is simply too abrupt a leap. It is more than a sociological fact that, and I quote Shapiro, "the phenomenal growth of science in the last few centuries has been largely at the expense of religion. By concentrating on entailment and jumping from there to sociology, Shapiro has ignored the epistemological question of what implications exist between Darwinism and religion.
In philosophy, implication is a more general notion than entailment. The scenario of Al and Bob locked in a room together with some appropriate background assumptions would implicate that Bob had murdered Al, but it wouldn't entail that Bob had murdered Al. Implication includes entailment, and therefore addresses questions of possibility and necessity. But implication also addresses questions of uncertainty, partial evidence, and probability. X can implicate Y without X having to force Y to be true under all possible circumstances. X can implicate Y. X can be true, but Y might still fail. Any lawyer will appreciate this point. As an aside, let me mention that this is one reason why I appreciate Phillip Johnson's work of weighing neo-Darwinism in the legal balances. A strict logico-deductive argument will never settle the creation-evolution debate.
I've said that Shapiro ignores the epistemological question of what implications exist between neo-Darwinism and theology. This is true in that he admits no implication other than entailment. Nevertheless, without assigning it any epistemological weight, he does mention a significant implication. Commenting on natural selection Shapiro notes,
Darwin's great intellectual triumph was to provide a mechanism, natural selection, that could account for . . . the appearance of design without invoking a Designer. Clearly, the availability of such a mechanism would gladden the heart of anyone who for whatever reason wished to banish God from the universe. But it itself could not banish God from the universe. If the mechanism works, if it is proven valid and sufficient, then it renders God simply redundant in that context. But that is not to say that it disproves His existence; it merely makes it a teensy bit less necessary for explanatory purposes.I would drop the "teensy bit less necessary" business, and simply admit that if Darwin was right, then design is unnecessary for explaining the complexity of living systems. This clearly is an implication. Note that it is not an entailment. Note also that the concerns raised by this implication are squarely epistemological, not sociological. The implication states that a certain type of explanation becomes insupportable if neo-Darwinism happens to be correct, namely, any explanation that explains living systems as the product of design.
Now I agree wholeheartedly that this implication is correct. Swinburne endorses it as well. I quoted Swinburne earlier as supporting the fundamental thesis of neo-Darwinism, viz., that "complex animals and plants can be produced through generation by less complex animals and plants . . . and simple animals and plants can be produced by natural processes from inorganic matter." Swinburne makes this claim at the same time he is advancing an argument from design. How can he do this? By looking to cosmology instead of biology. Indeed, he admits that Darwin has banished design from biology.
Now Shapiro doesn't think that the implication "if neo-Darwinism is right, then design is an unnecessary explanatory device" has much riding on it theologically. For Shapiro it is enough that the existence of God remain secure. As Shapiro has rightly observed, Darwinism entails nothing about the existence of God. For theology, however, there is more at stake than simply the existence of God. The nature of this God, his relation to the world, and his causal powers to affect the world are part and parcel of any theological position.
In terms of the logic of entailment it makes no big difference to the existence of God whether Darwin was right or wrong. But in terms of the logic of implication it can make a big difference to a theological position whether Darwin was right. Shapiro's theology is certainly at peace with Darwin. A strictly pietistic theology can without much difficulty make peace with Darwin. A deistic theology can readily make peace with Darwin. Only a theology so obtuse as to insist on biblical inerrancy cannot make peace with Darwin; at least this is the impression Shapiro leaves.
What are the implications of Darwinism for theology? Shapiro has correctly argued that Darwinism does not entail any of the isms that contend with religion. Shapiro has also argued, again correctly, that Darwinism implicates the redundancy of design. Phillip Johnson (I believe rightly) takes this implication a step further, viz., Darwinism implicates naturalism. As Johnson puts it,
"Evolution" contradicts "creation" only when it is explicitly or tacitly defined as fully naturalistic evolution-meaning evolution that is not directed by any purposeful intelligence.Once one realizes that natural selection is precisely the vehicle needed to transform a theory of evolution into a fully naturalistic theory of evolution, the implication follows at once. Darwinism does implicate naturalism. The less God has to do, the less reason there is to maintain a theology, the more reason there is to adopt naturalism. This is not a sociological point. This is an epistemological point about the nature of explanation-about not postulating entities that are redundant or irrelevant. X therefore does implicate Y.
In closing this response, I feel it necessary to say a few words in defense of Phillip Johnson. Shapiro has charged Johnson with "making the same vulgar errors as appear routinely in the presentations of professional creationists." There is only one error I can see Shapiro referring to, and that is the error of claiming that Darwinism entails naturalism (a claim that is false simply because God can always be maintained as a useless appendage in any world view). That Johnson never claimed such an entailment should have been obvious to Shapiro, since Johnson as a lawyer is in the business of weighing evidence subject to uncertainties, and not in the business of entailments involving necessary connections. Shapiro's charge therefore cannot be supported.
Shapiro's criticism of Johnson, however, fails in a more serious way. Shapiro claims that Darwinism does not entail naturalism. Johnson claims that Darwinism implicates naturalism. Both are right. Nevertheless, I would claim that Johnson's concern in writing Darwin on Trial was not primarily with X entailing or implicating Y, where X is Darwinism and Y naturalism, but Y implicating X. The reverse implication is really the important one. Sure, Darwinism gives God less to do and therefore implicates naturalism. But naturalism in turn needs something like Darwinism to keep it viable.
As Alvin Plantinga puts it, if you accept naturalism, Darwinism is the only game in town. Plantinga claims an implication from naturalism to Darwinism. Johnson's work properly speaking is devoted to this implication. As a lawyer concerned with how ideological agendas-and naturalism is one such agenda-influence the courts, it is only natural for Johnson to concentrate on this implication. Shapiro has therefore missed the boat twice. The question was never whether X entails Y. It was always obvious that X implicates Y. The central question was how Y implicates X, i.e., how naturalism manages to keep Darwinasm afloat. Indeed, Darwinism needs more than scientific facts to keep it afloat.


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Coral Smocked Sharkbite Tube Dress
Let the sun kiss your shoulder in this breezy woven dress. Designed in solid coral, it rocks a smocked tube top and ends in a flowing sharkbite skirt. Slip on a statement piece and sandals for a complete look.
- 100% rayon
- Machine wash
- Model wears size Small
- Imported

subset: commoncrawl


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Fellow CONCACAF side Guatemala was joined with Russia, the Solomon Islands and Colombia; Panama was put in with Spain, Iran and Morcco; while Mexico was drawn with Argentina, Italy and Australia for the November 1-18 event.
The 24 qualified countries were divided into six, four-team groups. The top two in each will advance to the second round along with four third-place teams.
This will be a third trip to the Futsal World Cup for both Costa Rica and Guatemala, with neither having advanced past the first round. Panama and Mexico will be making their debut appearances at the quadrennial championship.
Futsal World Cup
Draw Results
Group A: Thailand, Costa Rica, Ukraine, Paraguay
Group B: Spain, Iran, Panama, Morocco
Group C: Brazil, Japan, Libya, Portugal
Group D: Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Australia
Group E: Egypt, Serbia, Czech Republic, Kuwait
Group F: Russia, Solomon Islands, Guatemala, Colombia
Champions League


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Home Based Biz Ops | FlareCopter
It seems Home Based Biz Ops are a dime a dozen and quite frankly many of them suck. There has bee a lot of trial and error for me as a home based business entrepreneur.
As I start to write this I realize it has been quite some time since I last posted on this site and much has changed so allow me to bring you up to date.
First of all when I started with FlareCopter I was located in New York City. I and my partner now reside in Florida. We came here for the winter and it was just so beautiful we decided to stay. In the process of this geographical change much has changed with our business model. While much has changed one thing has remained constant and that is the cash flow provided by FlareCopter.
Cash Flow Is Necessary For Your Home Based Business
Many people start their home based business with a few misconceptions. Maybe the biggest is buying into the lie that is told by almost every marketer on the planet which is "This won't cost you a thing or much".
That is a flat out lie. I am not sure where people got the idea and began to believe the idea that there is a free lunch but it is not true. Perhaps it is from years of watching our government do exactly that, putting in no effort and getting rewarded for it, but we don't own our own printing press and the political side of that is for another day. Suffice it to say that mere mortals actually must put forth effort and their own money to get results.
If you are not willing to engage your time, effort and money in this then don't even get started or you will lose much of each.
Having said that there are ways to maximize all of the above and FlareCopter is one of those ways. I am not saying it is the only way but it is the way that is working for me. Allow me to explain and give a few examples.
Things You Need To Possess To Start Home Based Biz Ops
The first thing you need is desire and it must be unquenchable. If you think you are going to give half an effort and get a full result then you are kidding yourself and yet I see this all the time.
It comes in the form of believing the mopes selling the systems that tell you all you have to do is push this "Magic Button" and riches will be yours. You must get this idea out of your head. If it were that simple then everyone would work for themselves.
So assuming you have the desire the next thing you need is time. This may be the most crucial element. Given enough time you will succeed no matter how many mistakes you make.Ever heard the saying "Even a blind squirrel finds a few nuts every now and then?" Given time your efforts will pay off. Period!
The problem is that most of us have a shortage of time already. What with working to just do life and pay the bills that takes at least 40 hours not including travel time. So you are left with putting in a 12-15 hour day and sometimes more or finding a way to make more money in less time which is why most of us want to try home based biz ops in the first place.
This is where FlareCopter comes in to the picture for me. It allows me to work 2-3 hours per day, 5 or 6 days a week and replace the income I used to make working 60-70 hours a week. In fact it has not only replaced that income but exceeded it.
While the income is awesome the real reward is the time it frees up for me to pursue my longer term goals. To recap those goals are as follows:
- Build a list of like minded people to network with
- Rank my websites to build passive income
- Partner with like minded people in various business opportunities
- Do all of this with the goal of decreasing my time spent working as time goes on
Imagine if you could take your 40 hour work week and compress it into a 10-15 hour week and make the same money you were making before? This takes the pressure off you when starting a home based business which brings me to the next thing you must possess and that is effort.
Realistically how much effort can you bring to home based biz ops if you are already working a 40+ hour work week?
Maybe you can put another 20 hours in a week to build your opportunity but for how long before you explode or your family does? This is the main reason most people fail. It is not for lack of desire. It is because you just do not have the time. Time is not something we are going to get more of so we have to be smarter about how we use our time. We must maximize the amount of time we have. This is where ROI (Return On Investment) comes in.
If I can go sell FlareCopters and work 3 hours a day and make $300.00, and I do regularly, then that leaves me another 5 hours to focus my desire on home based biz ops. But if I am already working an 8 hour day I need to work a 13 hour day to get the same results.
How long can you work 13 hours a day before you explode?
This truly is the reason most people fail. But something that also contributes to the failure is the by-product of this which is fear. See it is a catch 22. Let's say you cut back your hours at your current J.O.B. (Just Over Broke)…well…you are gonna make less money and that leaves you less money to put at risk. Fear of failing will cause you to not try the things you need to because you are just not sure and you can not afford to be wrong or the bills don't get paid. This is a very real fear, a valid fear and quite simply reality.
It is actually an advantage when you are starting and have nothing to lose but most of us are not in that position. Most of us do have something to lose and other people counting on us and our ability to provide.
This is the thing most leader's in the Home Based Business market fail to acknowledge. To them it is some sort of weakness to deal with the reality of having to pay your mortgage. Their attitude is just don't let anything stop you. For some that may work but for most it is just not an option.
This brings me to the third thing you need and that is quite simply money. This idea that you can start a business for $50.00 and never spend a dime to grow it is absolute rubbish and this idea needs to be abolished. It is not fair to the Home Based Biz Ops reputation and not fair to people trying to start their own home based business. So I will say it out loud and if you want to click off this website to find someone that will blow sunshine up your ass then so be it.
It is going to take an investment of real cash to grow your business!
The Truth About Home Based Biz Ops
Here is an example of dishonest marketing:
Empower Network tells you that for $25.00 you can start your own home based business. Maybe you can to get their up front initial fee paid. What they forget to tell you is that to completely follow their plan will cost you thousands of dollars in upgrades and their whole program is based on paid advertising. Obviously paid advertising is not free.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying this is a bad program. I am saying it does not cost only $25.00 and in fact costs much more if you want to be successful.
So as not to single out Empower Network I will give you another example. There is another company out there advertising a 21-Step System and supposedly you can start for Free. Of course only after you pay the $49.00 application fee. They guarantee that if you do not make a profit with-in 30 days they will pay you $500.00. Sounds pretty good right? Problem is that Step-6 in their 21-Step System calls for you to invest another $1000.00+ for additional material and without it you can not complete the rest of the steps. In my opinion this is one of the most scandalous frauds I have see but apparently none of this is illegal because it happens all the time.
The main point is that it takes money to make money and if you believe otherwise you will fall victim to many of these "Businesses". Another point is that these marketer's would not sell their wares in that fashion if they did not know that people believed it. So take off the blind fold and deal with reality. If you want to make money you are going to have to spend some.
FlareCopter has solved the 3 main problems I was faced with Time, Effort and Money. I am not saying it is the only way to go but I am saying it has worked for me. If you want to learn more you can email me at email@example.com and I will be happy to speak with you.
To Your Success,
Curtis Group Inc / Home Based Biz Ops


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By Hindustan Times
Grapevine is abuzz that Ghajini actor has been roped in opposite Akshay Kumar in Khiladi 786. The actress will replace Nargis Fakhri who was dropped from the film as she didn't look the part of Mithun's sister, reports Mid Day.
Asin's father who handles her work tells the tabloid: "It would be better if you ask the production house to confirm".
Asin and producers were not available for comment.
Khiladi 786 is directed by Ashish R Mohan. It will be produced by Eros International and Hari Om Entertainment. The film marks the return of Akshay Kumar to his famous Khiladi film series after 12 years since he acted in Khiladi 420.
The film is scheduled to release on 7 December, 2012.


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See Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age and Dave Grohl's Uncut Grammys Performance [VIDEO]
A couple of weeks ago at the Grammys, there was an all-star rock jam session scheduled to take place with Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl and Lindsey Buckingham. Unfortunately, the Grammys had other ideas and decided to cut the performance short and air commercials instead. Which led to Trent Reznor understandably getting pissed and a lot of rock fans raising hell.
So, even though our rock and roll wet dreams didn't come true at the Grammys, we can still get our fix now as the rehearsal tape has been leaked. And it is AWESOME!
Check it out below:


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Hi everyone ... im kinda new on here (although I've already posted loads before i noticed this intro section)!!!
Im Nicki ... and Im going on a RTW in April 09 with a friend for a year!!!
Im your typical giddy hairdresser with bags of common sense, and a huge sense of adventure. I love a challenge which is probably one of the reasons Im doing this trip!
We'll be travelling to SEA, backpacking for 6 weeks, Australia for about 7-8 months hopefully working for about 6 of those months, New Zealand for a month, Fiji for about a week then finish up in the USA for approx 8 weeks!!!
My friends call me Mrs Google because I research almost everything to death ... which is quite handy if we're all going somewhere new, cos I tend to know whats what!
Well Hi to everyone including those who ive already had some kind of contact with.


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An herbal impotence treatment that targets erectile dysfunction...
Herbal impotence treatments are growing in popularity. Slowly but surely, more men are willing to seek treatment for this condition that significantly impacts one of life's most precious pastimes. If you have signs of impotence, read on to find out how an herbal remedies can alleviate this problem.
The most notable symptom of impotence is erectile dysfunction. In simple terms, this means a man is either not able to achieve an erection at all, or he has difficulty maintaining an erection long enough to penetrate and/or fulfill his sexual partner.
* Inadequate blood flow to the penis due to poor circulation or narrowed arteries is one cause of erectile dysfunction.
* A change in hormone levels, particularly low testosterone also plays a role.
* Problems within a person's nervous system can also impact a man's erection. The spinal cord acts as the main line of communication between the brain and the male genitals so any disruption to the nervous system will negatively affect this communication.
An herbal impotence treatment that is made with the right combination of ingredients will target each of these areas.
Here are some of the all-natural ingredients that are an effective erectile dysfunction remedy:
* Siberian (Oriental) Ginseng, also known as eleutherococcus senticosis has been heralded in eastern civilizations for decades as the herb that will increase a man's vitality. Specifically this herb helps improve blood flow to the penis (and throughout the body). With more blood where it is needed, Siberian Ginseng greatly improves stamina.
* Smilax Ornata restores potency levels by assisting in the production of the male hormone testosterone. The steroidal saparins in this ingredient are believed to be capable of copying the functionality of some hormones found in humans.
* Glycorrhiza Glabra also helps promote the production of another important hormone, hydrocortisone by stimulating the adrenal cortex.
* Turnaria Aphrodisiaca stimulates the nervous system which in turn increases a man's sex drive and overall energy level.
* Kola Vera is another performance stimulant.
See details of available services hereSee rates for services here.See upcoming classes and events here.Contact information here.See our Facebook page here.
The statements made herein are solely for educational purposes only and are mainly based upon the author's own opinion and understanding. You should always consult with your doctor before taking any dietary, nutritional or herbal supplements or beginning or stopping any therapy especially if you are taking any medications. The author is not intending to provide any medical advice, or offer a substitute thereof, and makes no warrant, expressed or implied with respect to any product or therapy, whatsoever.
Tags: health | herbs | male health | men | natural healing | supplements
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Khabir Southwick is available for [face-to-face] consultations in Ojai California or remotely by phone or Skype worldwide. Click here to request for more information.
Call 805-308-3480 for more information or to leave a message. For general inquires: email firstname.lastname@example.com.
"Vitality and Beauty are gifts of Nature for those who live according to its laws."
Leonardo Da Vinci
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How To Use Quotes Affirmations and Sayings by Eleesha
The question that so many people as me when they come across my work is – "What exactly are your Soul inspiring Affirmations, Quotes & Sayings and how do they work?" – Well, on this page I will do my best to explain and answer this very question.
Sharing More Than Just Words
My automatically written Soul inspiring Affirmations & Quotes are merely words that are spoken to your Soul. They are shared with the intent of inspiring your inner Soul, to help create Soulful changes in your life that begin, from within. The question is – how is this achieved? Well, I will go on to explain how this is achieved; how these words can help you, and why I often refer to my Soul Affirmations as being "more than – just words."
A Joyful Process
I will start by telling you that, the joyful process of handwriting and interpreting over 8,000+ original, deep and meaningful affirmations and quotes was borne from expressing, what I call my automatic-writing gift. I also refer to this process as Soul Channeling. This gift and its expression, mysteriously emerged when I was just a child and in time, it evolved to inadvertently help me to bring about tremendous Soulful changes, in my life. By sharing my Soulful work I believe I am now able to, not only share my auto-written passages with you, but help you understand – how to utilize them effectively, to help bring important Soulful changes into your life, too.
First Hand Experience
Doing what I do, has allowed me to experience firsthand, the power of understanding and utilizing my original auto-written affirmations, quotes and sayings, which – although written through me – they have only recently come to be fully understood, by me.
Sharing What I Have Come To Know
The brief interpretations of what I have come to learn will now be shared with you, on this page. However, the greater more insightful interpretations, are now shared in far greater depth in my new book, The Soul Whisperer. In truth, all my work is shared with the intent of helping those who read them to remain Soulfully inspired, motivated and empowered – to invite prosperity, happiness, health and abundance into their lives.
Power of Soul Inspiring Affirmations
First things first, you see unlike traditional affirmations, where you are advised to constantly repeat the words so that they sink into the mind – I soon began to realize that my auto-written Soul Affirmations do not need to work like this – because they work on a much deeper level. This is simply because, the essence of their purpose; meaning; and intent; are not to affect the mind, but to affect and touch the Soul within you. I found a profound passage in one of original quotes, which said…., these words "are not written for you, but for the Soul within you."
How & Why They Work?
They work at their best, when you allow the words to be read to your Soul, so that they can be received and felt within the Soul. The reason for this was also gifted to me, in another affirmation I wrote, which said – "They inspire and affirm from within, outwards – and not outwards, to that which is within."
Answers & Insights?
When I came across these two profound quotes and affirmation I had written earlier, I was stunned, because the answers I had been searching for – to help me define the nature of my work and give sense and meaning to all that I was doing – was literally staring me in the face. Indeed, the answers and the key to understanding my work, including its relevance and interpretation in our daily lives, had already been gifted to me – buried in the auto-written affirmations, themselves. I had simply not realized this, until I began re-reading them, for further interpretation and insight.
A Profound Realization
What I now realized was that, these numerous passages of inspiration, affirmations, quotes and sayings did not need to constantly be repeated to the mind, because in truth, they were not written or intended to be read to the mind, but to the Soul. This is because, unlike the mind, the Soul requires no repetition to be given credence; value; meaning; understanding or purpose; to all things – that are essential to your understanding of life and all your life's experiences.
How To Read My Inspirational Affirmations?
If you can appreciate that all the words I will share are intended to speak to the Soul and not to the mind, then you are already ready, to open up from within, whilst you begin reading them to yourself. In time, as you allow yourself to be open to the process of disengaging the mind's power and control over you and so you can begin engaging the Soul – then you will easily be able to read these words – as they should be read.
The Choice To Grow & Evolve:
These words will help you to instantly connect to your inner Self and Soul, whereby their meanings will come to be clearly understood and appreciated on a much deeper level. This gentle process means, you can begin to grow and evolve on a much deeper level, by allowing the essence of your Soul to glow and shine through like never before, and to help you rise to become all that you were destined to be – by simply choosing to do so, and understanding, how to do so.
How To Benefit From Words That Touch the Soul?
In time, as you come to understand yourself more, you will begin to open up and your mind will begin to loosen its grip over you and the inner you will become more strengthened, and will begin to emerge far more empowered than ever before. You will become accepting of what you have read, because you now know how it should be read and why – thus allowing the words to reach both the inner Self and Soul – without the mind's perpetual resistance, or constant opposition.
Bringing About Change In Your Life?
With the help of these Soul inspired words, you will find that you will begin to change from within – because what is automatically received and accepted by Self and Soul – will be reflected, and thus be given true meaning; understanding; and clarity; on all external aspects of your life – as well.
The Power of Change
Once change is able to take place from within you, then you will naturally begin to change as a person – like you have never experienced before. This is simply because the inward changes, can now be mirrored outwardly as well, and I can assure you that any inward change will never be fleeting – but permanent.
Ability To Manifest Or Create What You Want
By touching the Soul with these simple automatically written words of Soul Inspiration and Affirmation, and by reading the deeper interpretations; insights and reflections that accompany them, then you will become all that you want to be – because, you will become more connected to the Soul. Thus, it will help to supply you with further insight; clarity; purpose; and meaning; in your life and also in all your life endeavors.
What You Can Become, By Touching The Soul?
Let these words touch your heart and Soul like never before, enabling you to ignite something so special from within you, that it will enable you to draw upon your own inner strengths. This is the core of how you can begin a new transformation towards manifesting all the prosperity; happiness; and abundance; you deserve.
What To Do?
I have given you the basics of what you need to know on this web page, but what I am telling you has barely skimmed the surface of what I have uncovered. I have so much inspiring knowledge and wisdom that has emerged from expressing my gift, and it is this which I truly wish to share . So, if you are willing to join me and begin a new Soulful journey in your life – then you can simply begin today !
More For You to Enjoy:
- Get Inspired with my – Life Series Collection
- Get FREE Daily Inspirations
- Understand my Affirmations, Quotes & Sayings
- Read my Inspirational Articles
- Listen to my Audios of Inspiration
- View my Video Inspiration
- Gift my Inspiration to Others


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WICHITA, Kan. — Friday night police responded to an aggravated assault and domestic violence dispute at the 2000 block of N. Topeka.
The call came in at 10:10 p.m. reporting that a 20-year-old woman tried to run over her 22-year-old boyfriend.
The man managed to get out of the way for the most part according to police.
There was one child in the car but the age of the child was not released.
The child was taken into police protection and the woman is in police custody.
KSN will update if more information becomes available.


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WASHINGTON — Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has told medical officials that his captors locked him in a metal cage in total darkness for weeks at a time as punishment for trying to escape, and while military doctors said he now is physically able to travel, he is not yet emotionally ready for the pressures of reuniting with his family, according to U.S. officials who have been briefed on his condition.
Bergdahl, who was released last Saturday to U.S. commandos in Afghanistan in exchange for five Taliban detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, remains in a military hospital in Germany without access to news media – and thus is oblivious to the raging criticism from some in Congress about the prisoner swap and even from members of his former platoon who say he deserted them.
Although medical officials are pressing him for details about his time in captivity to help begin repairing his medical and psychological wounds, these specialists have not yet focused on the critical questions about why he left his outpost and how he was captured by insurgents, the officials said — and there is no predetermined schedule for doing so.
"Physically, he could be put on a plane to the U.S. tomorrow, but there are still a couple of mental criteria to address: the family unification piece and the media exposure piece," said one U.S. official who has been briefed on the sergeant's condition.
From the initial briefings given to senior military and civilian officials in the past week, Bergdahl, 28, in some ways seems healthier than expected. He suffers from skin and gum disorders typical of poor hygiene and exposure, but otherwise is physically sound, one official said. He weighs about 160 pounds on a 5-foot-9-inch frame, and is sleeping about seven hours a night.
When the medical specialists deem Bergdahl ready, his next step will be longer-term therapy and counseling at a military medical center in San Antonio before culminating in a carefully managed homecoming in Hailey, Idaho. At some point, he will speak by phone with his family and be reunited with them.
Officials would not disclose if Bergdahl has made any special requests. One thing, however, that does rub him wrong is when hospital staff call him "sergeant," the result of two automatic promotions while he was in captivity.
"He says, 'Don't call me that,'" one U.S. official said. "'I didn't go before the boards. I didn't earn it.' "


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By this point, most of you know that I have moved out of state to pursue an LL.M. in Bankruptcy Law. Earlier this morning, I sent this letter out to the Georgia Democratic Masses, informing them I am going the way of Trevor Southerland, and thus stepping down from my responsibilities as President of Young Democrats of Georgia.
I'm excited to be passing the reins to my good friend Corey T. Boone, and will continue to blog here, when I can, especially now that I am far less restricted in what I can say.
My letter after the jump.
Dear Fellow Democrats,
As many of you know, I am relocating to New York City to pursue an advanced law degree in hopes of reaching my career goals. Over a year ago, when I was first elected President of Young Democrats of Georgia, this was something that was not even remotely on my radar; at that point in my life, it looked as if Georgia would remain my home for many years to come. But this opportunity arose, and for myself and my future family, I had to seize it.
The past two months have been ones of major reflection. When I first joined Young Democrats of Georgia six years ago, I wanted to become part of a storied organization with a history of success. Under Jason, Jane, and Louis, those successes continued, and more great things came to YDG. I was honored to be entrusted with the reins last April, and I do believe that this organization has done great things since then as well.
My loyalties are, and always will be, with Young Democrats of Georgia. For that reason, I know that, to ensure the continued success of the organization, I must step aside as President earlier than expected. Therefore, I will be resigning the Presidency of Young Democrats of Georgia effective July 1, 2014. Simply put, it would be unfair to the organization for its President to be located in another state.
I write this letter some time in advance on purpose. The next few months will be a transition of leadership and knowledge, and I know that my successor, Corey T. Boone, will not only be an able, but an exceptional President. In my time working with Corey, I have become a better leader myself, and with him at the reins, Young Democrats of Georgia will become an even greater organization. I encourage folks to contact Corey to get to know a dynamic Democratic leader at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Though I will have left Young Democrats of Georgia in an official capacity, I have told Corey that I will remain of service to him and to YDG in any way he or anyone else needs. I truly love Young Democrats of Georgia, its members, and all of the lifelong friends I have met along the way. I will always be a short call, text, or e-mail away, and I look forward to continuing to be involved in YDG and Georgia politics during this next chapter.
One Response to The End of An Era
Juliana says:
Steve, you will be missed. GA's loss is NY's gain FOR NOW!
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(IBM-XQ-004) In the XQuery document, there should be no reference to "namespace nodes". Since XQuery does not support the namespace axis, there is no way for an expression to return a namespace node. All references to namespace nodes should be replaced by references to the "in-scope namespaces" of an element, a term that is already widely used in both the Data Model and the Functions and Operators documents. Nodes are needed only to preserve identity and to represent a position on an axis. Since namespace-prefix-bindings in XQuery have neither identity nor position, there is no need in XQuery for the concept of a "namespace node". See IBM-DM-031 for a related Data Model comment, but note that this proposal can be adopted independently of IBM-DM-031 ( http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-qt-comments/2004Feb/0207.html) --Don ChamberlinReceived on Wednesday, 11 February 2004 18:50:07 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Wednesday, 7 January 2015 15:45:17 UTC


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I'd like everybody's attention. Christmas is cancelled. You ca...
Michael: I'd like everybody's attention. Christmas is cancelled.
Stanley: You can't cancel a holiday.
Michael: Keep it up Stanley and you'll lose New Year's.
Stanley: What's that mean?
Michael: Jim, take New Year's away from Stanley.
- Characters:
- Michael Scott, Stanley Hudson
- Episode:
- The Office Season 3 Episode 10: "A Benihana Christmas "
- Show:
- The Office
- Related Quotes:
- Michael Scott Quotes, Stanley Hudson Quotes, The Office Season 3 Episode 10 Quotes, The Office Quotes
- Added by:
- Steve Marsi
- Added:


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Parks and rec column: City busy with full calendar of December events
Dec. 5, 2010 at 6:05 a.m.
By Doug CochranChristmas is just around the corner, and the Parks and Recreation Department wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas.
We have just completed one of our largest holiday events this year and there are several more events scheduled to make your holiday season more festive.
On Saturday, the city of Victoria sponsored the Lighted Christmas Parade. This is the largest event our department produces all year. It takes a combined effort of many city departments to coordinate the Lighted Christmas Parade. Planning for this special event begins in June.
The following city departments helped make the parade a success: public works, police, fire, city secretary, city manager's office, development services, public information, information technology and of course, parks and recreation.
In addition, Victoria school district and local businesses allowed use of their parking lots.
Next year, the Lighted Christmas Parade will be moving back to downtown.
On Dec. 11, Christmas in the Park will be in the Special Events Area, next to Riverside Stadium, in Riverside Park. Last year, we had more than 1,500 families and individuals present to visit with Santa and enjoy some Christmas spirit. Corporate sponsors for this event are H-E-B - Rio Grande, PCT Joyful Jumps and the Texas Zoo.
This year, the Texas Zoo will host Santa Claus. A hayride from the Special Events Area will take you to visit Santa.
Hot cocoa, pony rides, cookies and games will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit our website at the address below.
Dec. 18, will be the last Market Days until the spring. Visit with 120 vendors for that last minute Christmas shopping. Market Days will be at the Specials Events Area in Riverside Park beginning at 9 a.m.
Market Days will start back up next year in March.
In the fall, Market Days will return to downtown Victoria.
On behalf of the parks and recreation department we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
Please visit our website at www.victoriatx.org for information about parks and recreation and other departments in the city.
Doug Cochran is the director of parks and recreation for the Victoria Parks and Recreation Department. Contact him at 361-485-3200 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow us on Facebook at Victoriaparks Recreation.


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Lol , thanksss btw ihave a new one upppp ^
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 10:37 PM
NICKI MINAJ Vs. Lil Kim!
Lol , well ok so the other day iwas at school , and a friend of mine comes up and say's jojo did you hear black friday ,? iwas like you mean PINK ? she's all NO the one by lil Kim ! iwas like . . PAUSE ! Wait holld up whoo ? shes all lil kim made a diss bout nicki minaj called black friday ! OMFG , iwas like shocked iwas all i gotta hear it so iwent to the computer lab and heard it...


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Limited movie runs: '51 Birch Street' and 'Flannel Pajamas'
Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, January 11, 2007
"Family dynamics is a funny thing," says filmmaker Doug Block as he turns the camera on his own family and, in particular, his aging parents, and finds a story he never expected. His lively, affectionate, vivacious mother unexpectedly dies and his "undemonstrative" father remarries mere months later ... to his secretary of more than 30 years ago. Digging through 30 years of mom's diaries containing her most intimate confessions offers surprising answers to their sudden questions about their parents' marriage. Why should that interest us? Because "51 Birch Street," like the best of the recent wave of personal documentaries, is both a compelling story and an eye-opening bit of social history. It upends assumptions about the generation that defined middle-class America in the 1950s and '60s and reveals the dreams, yearnings, compromises and inner lives of two people who kept their disappointments hidden from their children out of love. (Sean Axmaker)
Latest Entertainment Videos
At Northwest Film Forum through Thursday. 88 minutes. No rating, contains adult language and subject matter.
Stuart (Justin Kirk) is a narcissist who falls in love, for no apparent reason, with the insecure Nicole (Julianne Nicholson). Writer/director Jeff Lipsky uses their ill-fated marriage as a forum for his philosophy of relationship and family dysfunction. The title refers to a pair of pajamas Nicole has been keeping in her drawer since she was 7, a symbol of a childhood trauma from which she has not recovered. Lipsky has something to say about the impossibility of human beings to love each other, but his language is that of an amateur playwright who does not know when he is only repeating cliches. Among his faults are tendencies to explain through dialogue that which is not supported by action, and a disregard for following up on plot complications. For instance, Nicole, who is forever being fired by her employers, starts her own catering company. After her first job, there is no further mention of it. In what essentially is a two-character play, Kirk and Nicholson behave more like acting partners than real people. Their lack of appetite for each other is particularly awkward in the frequent scenes requiring casual nudity and sexual activity. (Bill White)
Opens today at the Uptown. 124 minutes. Unrated. Writer/director Lipsky will be present for Q&A's tonight and Saturday night.


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DALLAS -- Monday's game started out like the Dallas Mavericks were going to run the San Antonio Spurs completely out of American Airlines Center.
The Mavs converted 5-of-11 shots and held the Spurs to 1-of-10 shooting in building a 12-2 lead and getitng the crowd all fired up less than six minutes into the game. The AAC was rocking, and the Mavs had a ton of momentum which they hoped would carry them to another improbable victory over the Western Conference's No. 1 seed.
But then it all came crashing down as the Mavs couldn't find the basket with a GPS system, and the Spurs rallied to square the best-of-seven series at 2-2 with a pulsating 93-89 victory.
"At the beginning of the game we had great energy,'' said Monta Ellis, who poured in a team-high 20 points. "They made their run, got us down, and playing against a great team like that you've got to use a lot of energy to come back, and we did that and it went from tit for tat.''
Ellis had a chance to tie the game. But with the Mavs down 91-89, he missed a driving layup in a crowd with 3.9 seconds to go.
A pair of free throws by Manu Ginobili sealed it with 1.7 seconds left and helped the Spurs regain home court advantage in this series.
"They kept playing,'' forward Dirk Nowitzki. "They are a smart team, they are persistent.
"We had some tough shots, they forced us into some stuff that we didn't want.''
The Spurs used some excellent defense and shot-making to mount a 58-38 lead with 9:18 remaining in the third period. But the Mavs rallied and eventually led 81-80 with 4:50 left behind the spirited play of DeJuan Blair.
But Blair was ejected a short time later for what the referees described as a "hostile act.'' In other words, Blair kicked center Tiago Splitter in the head with the Mavs up 83-82 and 3:08 to go.
Blair was also issued a foul and a technical on the play.
Ginobili made the technical free throw, Splitter buried a pair of free throws and the stunned Mavs suddenly found themselves down 85-83.
Blair claimed his innonence afterwards, saying: "No, it was clearly a reaction to the call. Actually I didn't know because I was facing down there, so they are going to judge off of what they do.
"It's real disapointing because with me in the game our momentum was going great, and when that happened and that got me out of there it was a big deal.''
A big deal the Mavs ultimately couldn't overcome.
"It was a great comeback we had in the second half,'' Nowitzki said. "We just weren't smart enough down the stretch.
"It was a tough one.''
-- Dwain Price
Follow me on Twitter


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TOWN OF CLIFTON: Ordinance 3-2013 (Frac Sand Mining)
Public Notice
Please take notice that the Town of Clifton enacted Ordinance No. 3-2013, established a NONMETALLIC MINING LICENSING ORDINANCE on June 4, 2013. The ordinance establishes guidelines essentially for "frac" sand mining, which is a major land use issue impacting west central Wisconsin. The full text of Ordinance 3-2013 may be obtained at the town clerk's office (please call for an appointment 715 426-6332) or at the River Falls Library and the Prescott Library.
Please take notice that the Town of Clifton enacted Ordinance 3-2002, amended on June 4, 2013 established the form and relating to issuance of citations for violation of ordinances. This Ordinance may be obtained at the towns clerk's office, the River Falls Library or the Prescott Library. For additional information, contact the Town Clerk's office at 715 426-6332.
__________________________________ (Pub. 06/20/13) WNAXLP


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Updated Course: How To Make A Game Like Flappy Bird
Learn how to create an iPhone game called Flappy Bird, in this step-by-step video course for complete beginners.
Writer • Illustrator • Developer • Speaker
Tammy Coron is an independent creative professional and the host of Roundabout: Creative Chaos. She's also the co-founder of Day Of The Indie, the organizer behind Indie DevStock, and the founder of Just Write Code.
For more information, visit TammyCoron.com.
Learn how to create an iPhone game called Flappy Bird, in this step-by-step video course for complete beginners.
Check out our 12-part course where you'll learn how to make games in iOS using SpriteKit, Apple's built-in 2D game framework – creating a fun game called Zombie Conga along the way!
We've updated 8 tutorials for Sprite Kit, Scene Kit, and Metal to Swift 3: check out what's inside!
We are looking for some new authors and tech editors to join our Apple Game Frameworks team!
Review what you learned in our Beginning SpriteKit video tutorial series and find out where to go from here.
Learn how to port Zombie Conga to the Apple TV.
Learn how to work with labels in SpriteKit.
Learn how to work with scenes and scene transitions in SpriteKit.
Learn about collision detections in SpriteKit.
Learn more about SpriteKit actions and how they can be used to animate sprites.


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How to ... Freeze Herbs
Nothing tastes better in a dish than a handful of fresh herbs thrown in at the end of cooking. But there's nothing sadder than finding those expensive bought herbs lying limp in the fridge drawer a few days later, which then get thrown away and wasted.
Tips for Freezing
Freezing herbs is a great way to retain colour and flavour. It is particularly suitable for culinary herbs with very fine leaves or a very high moisture content, and for those that lose their taste when dried.
Good candidates for freezing include fennel and dill tips, tarragon, chives, parsley, chervil and basil.
For herbs you intend to use in small quantities or add to wet dishes, such as soups, casseroles and risotto, freezing herbs into ice cubes works perfectly. Rinse fresh herbs under cold running water before chopping them finely. Place a tablespoonful of the chopped herb into each segment of an ice-cube tray, add a little water, and then place the tray in the freezer. When the cubes are frozen, transfer them into a labelled plastic bag or container, and they'll keep for months.
Freeze whole bunches of herbs to use in larger quantities or in recipes that won't benefit from the extra water of the melted ice. After rinsing the herbs, pat them dry with a paper towel and tie them loosely together. Place the whole bunch inside a sealed and labelled plastic bag and store it in the freezer. The frozen herbs will become quite brittle, so before you use them, just scrunch the bag with your hand to break the leaves into pieces.


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Paint This Homemade Headboard?
Q: When I built this headboard for my bed, I had originally intended to paint it a bright color. Now I am wondering if I should even paint it at all? Any ideas on whether to leave the natural wood or to paint it?
Editor: Leave your suggestions for Kate in the comments - thanks!
• Got a question? Send us yours with pic attachments here (those with pics get answered first)


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Hockey Party in Montreal: Leafs vs Habs
by Amy Johnson, Managing Editor, HockeyPub.com
MONTREAL, QC — It's official! The NHL schedule has been released and fans everywhere are gearing up to watch their favorite teams on opening night. We've waited for what seems like forever for the lockout to end, and we are ready to party. Hockey Party, that is!
For Montreal Canadiens fans, the Bell Centre won't be the only place rocking with raucous celebrations. On Saturday, January 19th join fellow passionate hockey fans at McLean's Pub at 1210 Peel Street in Montreal for an All Habs Hockey Party!
Enjoy great food and drinks, along with some special menu prices, while watching the game and cheering on the Habs with fellow fans. It's a great way to enjoy the game with your friends or family, while meeting new friends who share a common bond. Compete with pub patrons in the All Habs Trivia Challenge for fun prizes and giveaways!
We're also proud to announce another very exciting highlight for this event, and for that I'll hand the writing reins over to Erica, a member of the All Habs team, to tell you all about it along with information on how to reserve your seat for this event at the end of the article:
At this first All Habs Hockey Party of the new NHL season, we'll be asking our attendees to help us raise money for a good cause. And, to be honest, I'm pretty excited about it. We'll be holding a raffle to raise money for the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation!
The Foundation helps children by building rinks, organizing activities, and promoting active lifestyles in underprivileged neighbourhoods. They also organize activities for children suffering from long-term illnesses, such as coordinating game nights in the Bell Centre loge that Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez bought for this purpose.
Normally, during the hockey season, the Foundation makes money at every Canadiens home game by selling raffle tickets at the Bell Centre. A shortened season has likely had an impact on their ability to raise the amount of money they normally would, so we at All Habs have decided to help them out.
By purchasing a raffle ticket on January 19th you are directly helping the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation, which will receive all proceeds. But every raffle must have a prize, and I'm sure you're asking yourself what that is. We're fortunate enough to have not one, but two awesome prizes: a Canadiens cap signed by none other than Carey Price, and a jersey signed by Masterton Trophy winner and scoring machine, Max Pacioretty.
Tickets will only be available at our Hockey Party, on January 19th at McLeans Pub. Hope to see you there!
Seating will fill fast for this popular event. Click here to RSVP today and receive the Hockey Party VIP treatment with prime seating at McLean's Pub, food and drink specials, and the chance to win fantastic prizes!
► UPDATE: Win Autographed Raffle Prizes, Help Canadiens Children's Foundation


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The new Capitol Portraits are sure to illicit some oohs and ahhs from the Hunger Games saga's devoted followers.
Over the last few days, promo photos for Catching Fire, have started surfacing, and these dramatic pictorials are revving up some serious anticipation for the film's fall release.
The production team began teasing us on Monday when they released the first portrait of Elizabeth Banks (aka Effie Trinket) tantalizing in a red confection.
Two days later, portraits of Jennifer Lawrence in an ethereal cascade of white, Woody Harrelson with Keith Urban-esque hair, Stanley Tucci in a flashy suit, and Lenny Kravitz looking dapper as ever were released as well.
Now, the entire set of Catching Fire portraits have finally been released!


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Hey Protesters…see what you did!
24 Oct, 2008
Thanks to the recent protests regarding the Burton Love snowboards, Sabre has released their own way of solving the issue by giving equal opportunity for the women.
I know when I said put hot male models on the uninc, now I know that I should have been more specific. Please put hot male models that are well-kept up in their trimming appearance.
"In what seems to be an amazing sequence of events only days after burton releases the controversial snow board line called "Love and Primo" graphics, Sabre unveils it's "Dudes on the mountain" Snow board graphics. In what seems to be a manly attack of a niche market towards those lonely housewives and stay at home Dads with credit cards! Sabre's boards will be seen riding hard all over the mountain this winter……"
About the author
1 Comment
October 24, 2008
Finally a board for me…


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Jayma Mays: Returning to HeroesMatt Richenthal at . Comments
Jayma Mays is not leaving her role as Emma Pillsbury on Glee.
But the actress is returning to Heroes for an episode, as Entertainment Weekly reports she'll reprise her role as Charlie.
A diner waitress, Charlie fell in love with Hiro on season one, only to pass away from a terminal illness. This fall, after Hiro himself is diagnosed with a disease, he'll travel back and forth through time in order to fulfill various dreams and desires.
Yes, a lot more time-traveling is in store. Does this make you groan or jump with joy?
Chime in now in our Heroes forum!
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.


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(This is a guest post — so before you think we're leaving Berlin, hold your horses. We're not going anywhere. 😉 )
Moving overseas from the United States is a true adventure… but what about moving back home? Often, individuals that have lived abroad think that the adventure is long over once they return stateside, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Arriving back in the United States after months or years away can be a difficult challenge. In fact, it can provide a culture shock all its own. Some people take years to recover from living overseas, while others bounce right back into the swing of things. Here are some steps to take that might help make settling back home a little easier.
Say a proper goodbye but look forward to the future
Despite so many USA houses for sale, finding a good deal on real estate is no reason to quickly pack up and move back to a country one hasn't lived in for a significant amount of time. You must be absolutely sure before making such a move, and once that decision is made, proper goodbyes are necessary. Yes, this means saying goodbye to friends but also to the host country that has been "home" for so many years. Closure is essential, so allow it.
Arriving back in the United States can be exhilarating – seeing old friends and family often has that honeymoon experience kick. It is a time where old friendships can be rekindled and new connections made with the mother country. It is also a time to become reacquainted with one's home country as it is now. Remember, everything changes and the United States is no exception. Life has certainly changed for family and friends, so be sure to share any overseas adventures in small doses and ease back into living stateside.
Moving is stressful for anyone, whether moving across the street or across an ocean. This is especially true for those who have decided to move back to the United States after living overseas – it is important to remember that readjusting will take some time. Be open and honest and let friends and family know how things are different. Living overseas is a life-changing experience that one cannot simply divorce. However, be sure not to alienate friends and family with too many complaints about the transition!
The process is arduous but there is light at the end of the tunnel
An international move is never simple, but moving back to the United States from another country is fairly straightforward for citizens. Though the process does take a while, it generally lasts only a couple of months. If one is moving alone, the process will be fairly simple, with the most complicated aspect being the transport of personal effects and household goods but that can be simplified by looking for international moving companies. If one is moving with children, a spouse or pets, things can get a little more complicated in terms of paperwork and planning.
Before locking down a move back to the United States from overseas, it is a good idea to do a little research on any rules and regulations regarding re-entry into the country. Customs regulations are constantly changing, so before sending a shipment of household goods, it is wise to double check that everything can be shipped and to look into what sort of fees may be involved.
Have you recently returned to your mother country? How did the transition go?
Or are you considering a move overseas? What do you think will be your biggest challenges?


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Buying a home?
Here are some things you need to know
The spring house hunt is now well underway, and with rates at historic lows, homebuyers are actively looking at properties in markets across the GTA. For most Canadians, buying a home is the single largest financial transaction they will ever encounter and it's critical that prospective homebuyers prepare themselves before they start their search.
Here are some tips for those navigating the home buying process:
1) Know what you can afford. A mortgage pre-approval offers peace of mind by helping you determine the price range of homes you can shop for and the maximum mortgage you can afford. Remember that final mortgage approval is also based on your information and the property that is to be mortgaged.
2) Lock-in a mortgage rate before you begin shopping for a home. Many financial institutions will lock-in a rate for up to 120 days when pre-approving potential borrowers for a mortgage. Remember to renew the 120-day period if mortgage rates fall during this time.
3) Be specific about your lifestyle needs. Remember to consider not just the home itself but the property as a whole, including the neighbourhood and its proximity to work, shopping, restaurants, and other important places you'll be spending your time at.
4) Don't confuse an appraisal with a home inspection – you need both! An appraisal determines the worth of the property by estimating the market value of the land and building. A home inspection inspects the adequacy and condition of the building and all major systems.
5) Place conditions on your offer. Conditions provide you with the flexibility of withdrawing your offer if you are unable to obtain the necessary financing, or if the inspection reveals structural problems with the home. Even with pre-approval, homebuyers who make an offer without conditions do so at their own risk.
6) Borrow up to $25,000 for your down payment from your RRSP – tax-free! If you are a first-time buyer, the Homebuyers Plan (HBP) allows you to withdraw up to $25,000 from your registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) to buy or build your home.
7) Understand closing costs. When buying a home, it pays to be informed about closing costs, which can represent up to three per cent of the purchase price, including: land transfer tax, lawyer's fees, appraisal fees, title insurance and home inspection fees.
8) Know your financing options. Many lenders offer mortgages which feature a 5% or 10% down payment. If you borrow more than 80 per cent of the purchase price, your mortgage must be insured, typically by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
9) Don't do it alone – explore the benefits offered by mortgage brokers. Mortgage brokers act as a one-stop shop for planning advice and the best rates. Mortgage professionals work with prospective homeowners across Canada to provide valuable advice before and during the home buying process.


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By DALE ROBERTSON Houston Chronicle
GUEUGNON, France – Another miserably hot day, another scary closing sprint for the go-for-broke green-jersey glory-seekers like Friday's repeat winner, the resurgent Mark Cavendish.
The high peaks, now not far beyond the horizon to the east, couldn't be more inviting for some members of the peloton.
"Yeah, these big group finishes," Lance Armstrong said, shaking his head. "I'm ready (for the mountains)."
Truth to tell, Armstrong is ready. He feels great, with no lingering consequences from his crash on the Col de Stockeau black comedy of a descent Monday in the cool, rainy Ardennes. His RadioShack mates feel great, too, despite the sweltering temperatures of the last two days.
The Shack is ready to go on the attack, it would seem.
"If you take flat out," Armstrong said, "We'd be even-Steven right now.
But they aren't even-Steven because, as he reiterated, "we can't take it out. So there's no point in crying about it."
Armstrong's front tire blew on the penultimate section of cobblestones Tuesday near Arenberg in the far north of France and, by the time he started rolling again, he'd lost nearly a minute to Alberto Contador. Those 55 squandered seconds figure to loom larger and larger with every crank of the pedal in the Alps and Pyrenees, if not in the Jura Saturday.
"I think you'll see more animation Sunday," said Armstrong of the first summit finish in the ski town of Morzine.
He has to keep reminding himself that he could have been confronting a bigger, more insurmountable deficit. The defending champion Contador experienced mechanical problems of his own on the cobbles – "something was rubbing" on his rear tire, he explained – approaching the finish of the bone-and bike-jarring third stage and that probably cost the defending champion a lead of another 20 or 30 seconds over the 38-year-old Texan.
As it stands, the 50-second spread is manageable if Contador shows some weakness, any weakness, when the pedaling turns vertical. But that's a huge if given the 27-year-old Spaniard's expected strength in the mountains, based on the muscle he showed in Andorra and Switzerland last summer. When El Pistolero came out firing, everybody had to scramble for cover, Armstrong included.
Assuming this Contador is the same Contador, the fat lady is already singing.
But, in Armstrong's opinion at least, nothing definitive figures to come out of the next five days, starting with Saturday's 103-mile roller-coaster of a ride from the Maconaise vineyards into the modest massif that straddles the French-Swiss border above Lake Geneva. As eager as Armstrong and the other yellow-jersey hopefuls such as Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans may be to force Contador to show his cards, it's probably not going to happen until the Pyrenees.
Or as Armstrong put it in cycling-speak, "I don't know how selective the Alps will be." He suggested being behind won't force RadioShack to gamble with the Tour's monster stages still a week further down the road.
"No, I think we'll just sit back and watch and see what happens," he said. "I suspect there will be some attacks. We'll wait and see."
In 2009, it would be the Pyrenees that were largely neutered, although Contador got some time on everybody – 21 seconds on his then-teammate Armstrong – with a surprise attack before the summit finish at Arcala in Andorra. However, it wasn't until the peloton reached the Swiss Valais, specifically on the steep switchbacks up to the ski resort of Verbier, that Contador delivered the KO punch, pushing Armstrong a further 1:37 behind.
That afternoon, which all but ensured Armstrong's seven-Tour winning streak was coming to an end, Contador was said to have ascended at a jaw-dropping rate of about 6,000 vertical feet per hour. Only the late Marco Pantani, possibly cycling's greatest climber (if also one of its most troubled souls), is believed to have exceeded that rate.
That's why when Armstrong suggests Contador might be "the best ever to swing his leg over a bike," he can't be accused of gross hyperbole.
The weather will stay sultry Saturday with highs in the low 90's until the riders get above 3,500 feet on two late Cat-2 ascents. The official forecast for the weekend calls for "scorching heat," reason enough for exercising caution.
"On the flat days, it's not a factor," Armstrong said of the Texas-like temperatures. "But in the mountains it certainly is, if you don't do the right things. If you let your habits slide…hydration, food…then it becomes a huge factor. Everybody knows heat is the biggest factor affecting performance."
Asked if these last couple of sweat-soaked, strength-sapping days harkened back to the diabolical conditions of 2003, the closest he came to defeat during his seven-year reign, Armstrong practically blanched.
"Don't remind me," he said.
But he did find a way to win. Can he do it again?
"Well," he said, "we're going to have to be creative."
Assessing the Tour with one week down and two to go:
* Miles traveled: 754
* Miles to go: 1,509
* Riders left in the race: 188 (of 198).
* Most significant abandonees: Christian Vande Velde, U.S. (Garmin Slipstream) after the second stage with broken ribs; Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank) after the third stage with a broken collarbone. Both had yellow jersey aspirations, although Schleck was primarily riding to help his brother Andy win the Tour.
* Most significant development: Lance Armstrong, U.S. (RadioShack) suffered a flat tire on the next-to-last section of cobbles near Arenberg, costing him a delay that accounts for the 50 seconds that separates him from defending champion Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana).
* Biggest surprise: Twice runner-up Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing) ranks at the head of the G.C. class, nearly two minutes ahead of Armstrong, after a super-strong and super-lucky ride through the cobbles.
* Biggest disappointment: Ivan Basso, Italy (Liquigas-Doimo). After winning the maglia rosa in the Giro, the one-time maillot jaune heir apparent to Lance Armstrong appears hopelessly buried already with a 3:20 deficit.
* Blood-and-guts award: Tyler Farrar, U.S. (Garmin-Transitions). Still hoping for his first Tour stage win, he's riding with a broken wrist suffered in the carnage on the slippery descent of the Col de Stockeu in Belgium's Ardennes. Amazingly, he managed to fight his way into second place behind Mark Cavendish Friday.
Robertson's recalibrated odds: Contador even; Andy Schleck 3-1; Cadel Evans 4-1; Lance Armstrong 5-1. Bradley Wiggins 10-1. Ivan Basso 100-1
* Green jersey (Points) – Thor Hushovd, Norway (Cervelo Test Team).
* Polka-dot jersey (King of the Mountains) – Jerome Pineau, France (Quick Step).
* White jersey (Best Young Rider) – Thomas.
Stage 6: Montargis to Gueugnon (141 miles) – The longest stage of the Tour was subjected to more searing heat, both from the sun and HTC-Columbia's rebounding Mark Cavendish, who copped his second win in as many days by beating Tyler Farrar and fellow double-stage-winner Alessandro Petacchi across the line. That gives the 25-year-old sprinter from the Isle of Man 12 victories in less than 2 Tours, matching the career totals of the retired Italian great Mario Cipollini and Aussie veteran Robbie McEwen. McEwen finished fourth.
Lance at a glance
Armstrong figures to be in a reflective mood Saturday when goes up and over the Col de la Croix de la Serra about 17 miles from Station des Rousses. It was there in 1996, laboring hard in the opposite direction, that he was forced to abandon the Tour, saying he couldn't breath. Three months later, he found out he had cancer.
Other news:
Will look for some of these later, but don't hesitate to peruse the wire.
Quote/Tweet of the day
Armstrong's lieutenant, Levi Leipheimer on his condition and that of the entire RadioShack team after a week of racing: "It's the Tour. I've got some heavy legs at times. But, in the final (meters), when we've got to go, I can go and that's what matters. We've had some crashes, but which team hasn't? I think the last two days we've come together. We're riding a lot more attentive as a group. We definitely have a team for the mountains, I predict we have the best team for the mountains. We have a lot of guys who can climb. We can take advantage of that."
Stage 7: Tournus to Station des Rousses (103 miles) – Heading slightly southeast from Tournus, the race heads into real mountains for the first time, but it won't be a shock to anyone's system unless the brutal heat takes a toll. There are six classified climbs, the last three of them Cat 2s over the final 45 miles into the cross-country skiing paradise. Those chasing the polka-dot jersey figure to make the most noise. The G.C. guys will eye each other warily.
Versus Network – Live coverage 6:30-10:30 a.m. Houston time; replays and expanded coverage 7-10 p.m. Houston time. Viewers can access live streaming of the race at www.VERSUS.com or, for a fee, get it on any 3G or 4G network phone. A free Versus app provides access to highlights, standings and course profiles.
Tour history
Neither the start nor the finish towns have ever hosted the Tour before, but the Saône-et-Loire environs have welcomes six stages over the years and is also the home to French cycling hero Bernard Thévenet, who claimed the yellow jerseys in 1975 and 1977, signaling the end of the Eddy Merckx dynasty.
Cycling 101
Categorized climbs are classified 1 through 4 – 1 being the hardest – based on the length and steepness of the ascent as well as where they occur in a stage. (The later the more difficult, obviously) The most demanding, however, are given the hors categorie or HC designation, meaning they're beyond categorizing. The first HC of this Tour will be the Col de la Madeleine en route to St. Jean de Maurienne. It's 15.8 miles at an average 6.2 percent incline.
Between the River Saone and the Mont du Maconnais about 60 miles north of Lyon, Tournus (pop. 6,826) sits at the juncture of the Côte d'Or and the Maconnais. It was a fortified village in Roman times. The painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze was born there in 1725 and a major museum devoted to his work is a popular tourist destination. Another is the well-preserved Saint-Philibert Abbey, which dates from the ninth century.
Tournus is thought to have restaurants collectively possessing more Michelin stars per capita than any town in France. (Aux Terrasses is a fabled spot.) And the nearby village of Chardonnay gave the name to the grape. These vineyards don't possess the cache of those to the north in the Côte de Beaune, but the wines are excellent and far better value. King Charles VI, who reigned in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, included "le Tournus" Beaune and Dijon offerings among the five major wines of Burgundy. But the vineyards were completely wiped out by phylloxera in the early 20th century and had to be replanted from scratch.


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Name: Chris Hutchings
Club: Bradford City
Reign: 18 June 2000 - 6 November 2000
Number of games: 12
A trusted number two at Valley Parade who helped Bradford move from League One into the Premier League, Hutchings took charge after Paul Jewell moved to Sheffield Wednesday. He took Bradford into the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup and won just one game. Not the best CV.Picture: ACTION IMAGES


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Stitch is a drop-in urban sewing lounge open for Bay Area urbanites to sew and socialize. Imagine a location for a modern sewing circle, where you can use (but don't have to keep and maintain in your city-sized apartment) all the sewing equipment you need. It is a place where a beginner can feel comfortable working on easy sewing projects and more advanced seamstresses can take advantage of industrial sewing equipment.
Products and services include:
*Studio time -- access to sewing machines, sergers, cutting tables, other sewing tools and equipment, and friendly assistance
*Materials -- fabric, notions, patterns, instructions, second-hand clothing (ripe with potential), etc.
*Classes taught by local designers
*A boutique offering finished goods made by local designers.


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I'm still waiting for responses from a couple of my favorite creative people and I realized that I haven't properly introduced myself. Hi everybody!
Name: Chris
Age: Mid-30's, going on ancient crone.
Occupation: Crafter & Creator of All Things Handmade
Creative Mediums: Quilting, Sewing, Painting, Photography, Jewelry Making, Writing, Crocheting, and anything else that crosses my path.
Favorite Materials: words, stone beads, anything that can be recycled or upcycled
Favorite Subjects: Nature, especially water and plants; Old cemeteries
Inspirations: Everything. I find inspiration everywhere and from all variety of things and people. An old pair of children's hiking boots at a yard sale inspired an entire log garden filled with pots made of odd things found at thrift stores and flea markets. I just never know when that creative spark will happen.
Favorite Colors: various shades of purple and greys
Favorite Quote: "I'm… complicated." – Dorian Gray (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)
Where to find my creations: Online at my shops (see links to the right), local festivals and fairs
In My Own Words:
I've been crafting since childhood, introduced to it at an early age by the industrious and creative women in my family. Over the years, I've dabbled in a range of projects and still enjoy learning new skills. My passion for photography and writing I owe to my father, who encouraged me to pursue both from an early age. For many years, my creative projects served as pleasurable hobbies.
A dozen or so years ago, I began to vend at small, local fairs and markets and haven't looked back. Good fortune allowed me to leave the 9 to 5 world two years ago to pursue arts and crafts full-time. For the first time I ventured into online sales and my inner geek has been immensely pleased ever since. It's been a wonderful journey so far, filled with amazing experiences and phenomenal people.


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Your inquiries are important to us. Please be patient as someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Until then, RELAX, BREATHE and SMILE. Namaste..
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Looking for Alaska
- 06.08.2015
- 0 Free Audible Account
Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave "the Great Perhaps" even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . .
After. Nothing is ever the same.
Categories: Fiction & Literature
Tags: Alaska Young, Death & Dying, download, epub, free download, free ebook, mobi, pdf, Teen books


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One of the biggest concerns anyone who is going to college has is how to pay for it. Scholarships and grants help, but even after the financial aid package is submitted, many students have to acquire government or private loans, resulting in incredible debt after graduation. For students at one Missouri college, the number on the price tag is zero.
"Hard Work U", better known as College of the Ozarks, is located in Point Lookout, Missouri where around 1,400 students attend free of charge. This is accomplished through a work program in which students are required to work 15 hours per week on campus and two 40 hour week jobs over break. College of the Ozarks also offers an optional summer job program to pay for room and board during the year.
With students' time split between class and work, not much time is left for recreation, but that doesn't stop Ozarks students from making noise at sporting events. During basketball season, College of the Ozarks student section gets loud and proud for their team whether they're home, away or even at the NAIA National Tournament.
"They will bring about 50 kids or so to the national tournament every year we go along with some cheerleaders and the mascot and they get really noisy. A lot noisier than you would think for a small number of students like that," said George Wilson, College of the Ozarks women's basketball coach.
Most people assume that the most effective student sections are ones with great numbers like the Cameron Crazies at Duke University, but ask the Lady Bobcat players and that just isn't the case.
"It's a big deal for us that our fans get to come every year to support us and go crazy. They bring signs, paint their faces, jump up and down, and get the place rocking. If we're losing some momentum, they get us going and get us back into the game, it's a great booster to know you have someone there that has your back," said Morgan Smith, junior center for the Lady Bobcats. "All season long at away games it always seems like we have more fans there than anyone else ever brings. In times like the national tournament, they're sometimes the reasons why we win [and] get the victory."
The students dress up in wigs, have massive amounts of face paint, have some pretty funny costumes and shout clever chants. Along with traditional chants like "de-fense," some of their more thought out chants are "Take his whistle" when they disagree with a call the official has made, "We are C of O" continually which stands for College of Ozarks and "The U, The What? The U, The What, The U, The What? The HARD WORK U."
In the first round of the NAIA Division II National Tournament, College of the Ozarks, a No. 1 seed, took on Valley City State University, a No. 8 seed. It was close the whole game, but in the second half, the Tyson Event Center started to rock as the rowdy "Hard Work U" student section went to work screaming and yelling to get their team the victory. Late in the game, the Lady Bobcats finally started to pull away and defeated VCSU 57-51.


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Q: I'm a 65-year-young woman and had been without sex and a relationship for four years. I have met a 61-year-old man and and we have been seeing each other for six months. The sex we have is something I dreamed about. I call him my sex therapist. He has introduced me to "toys" and oral sex, among other wonderful experiences. Is this normal at this time in my life, or do I need some help? We are seeing each other exclusively, but we do refer to ourselves as "friends with benefits." I'm scared, but also have been walking with a bounce in my step that I haven't had in many years.
Dr. Pepper Schwartz: It's very normal – and it's very lucky. How fantastic to meet a man (at any age) who can bring erotic joy and adventure into your life. The only thing I worry about for you is whether you can really be in a relationship that is labeled "friends with benefits" instead of wanting more.
If both of you can just enjoy great sex without wanting great love, more power to you. But great sex has a habit of creating great desire for emotional connection – so there may be a time you (or he) wants more and the other person wants things to stay the same. If so, there may be some emotional cost to this sensational sexual relationship. But as long as you know that possibility may exist in the future, it's just fine to enjoy the present!
Dr. Schwartz answers questions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Submit your question here. Read more of Pepper's columns here. And be sure to follow Pepper on Twitter @pepperschwartz.


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Anchorage's African American pastors rebuff push to equate gay & civil rights
Are homosexual rights a natural extension or a distortion, of the 1960s' Civil Rights Movement?
This question is under debate in Alaska and across much of the country.
In Anchorage, homosexual rights advocates are attempting to rally support for a proposed homosexual and transgender nondiscrimination law by comparing their effort to the historic civil rights struggles of African-Americans. So far, the comparison has met with resistance from local African-American pastors.
"They have a right to have their position on this, but I don't think they should compare the gay rights movement to the African-Americans' position," said Rev. Alonzo Patterson, a prominent African-American pastor in Anchorage and a long-time civil rights activist.
Patterson, 74, is former president of the NAACP in both Fairbanks and Anchorage and the senior pastor at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, home to about 1,200 members. Patterson marched in civil rights demonstrations in the 1960s but said the current homosexual and transgender agenda is a break from that historic movement.
"The core of it is this — I was born an African-American — I had no choice," he told the Catholic Anchor. "As an African-American, I should have the same inalienable rights as everyone else — I had no say as to who I was, no more than any other American did."
He contrasted this with homosexuality, which he said involves practicing an "immoral behavior."
"To say that this is the same as the African-American civil rights cause is a major insult," Patterson added. "Every African American should be up in arms and for the most part they are."
In fact many black pastors in Anchorage took issue with Wanda Green, the current president of the ACLU in Anchorage when she wrote a Jan. 11 column for the Anchorage Daily News in which she urged voters to pass the Proposition 5 ballot measure on April 3. The proposed law would establish "sexual orientation" and "transgender identity" as protected classes under the city's nondiscrimination code.
On March 8 in Anchorage, local pastors gathered to form a coalition of more than 100 Protestant and Catholic clergy who oppose an upcoming ballot initiative regarding legal protection for homosexual and transgender behavior. — CatholicAnchor.org
"Since 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has led the mission to promote equality in the United States of American," Green wrote. "That is why as the leader of the NAACP Anchorage and a member of this community I believe our gay and transgender neighbors should be given the same legal protections the rest of us already enjoy."
Patterson has known Green since she was a child and has served in Christian ministry with her father Pastor William Green. But Patterson said it would be a mistake to think that Wanda Green has spoken on behalf of the wider African-American community.
"Wanda is a wonderful young woman, but she was born in a generation that has not suffered many of the atrocities that many of us senior African Americans have," Patterson said.
Pastor Green told the Catholic Anchor that he agrees with his daughter in so far as she is advocating for basic human rights for all people. However, he did not think that the homosexual lifestyle should be especially protected under the law.
"Rather, they should be given equal rights – the same as any other person," he said. "Everyone deserves basic human rights. I don't condemn them. I condemn the sin but I love the individual and pray they will come to repentance."
Patterson noted that the national NAACP is in the midst of an internal struggle over how to approach the homosexual rights movement. Current NAACP President Ben Jealous is a vocal supporter of homosexual and transgender rights. But prominent national NAACP board members disagree with the direction Jealous is taking the organization.
Last year, during the NAACP annual convention in Los Angeles, the group held its first town hall to discuss homosexual and transgender issues. News videos of the event show a heated debate and division among the leadership.
Recent polls by the Pew Forum show that a majority (62%) of African-American Protestants do not favor laws recognizing homosexual "marriage." In Maryland, in fact, a large coalition of black pastors is leading the charge to repeal the state's newly approved same-sex "marriage" law.
Patterson said the homosexual agenda being pushed by some NAACP national leaders is contrary to the views of most African-Americans, including those in Anchorage.
"I think their support for this agenda is going to hurt the NAACP in many areas of support," he said.
Patterson said local homosexual activists are merely "using" NAACP Anchorage President Green "as an icon of support for their views."
One of the leading advocates for the Anchorage ballot measure is Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of ACLU of Alaska. He has given a number of public talks in the lead up to the April 3 vote. In February, he spoke at YWCA Alaska for an event titled "Civil Rights, Then & Now" in which he tried to make comparisons between homosexual and civil rights.
But Rev. Ken Friendly, an African-American pastor of the 1,000 member Lighthouse Christian Fellowship in Anchorage, said equating the homosexual movement with civil rights fails to do justice to the historic civil rights struggle.
"Before the Civil Rights Movement, African-Americans, in some circles, were not considered real human beings," he told the Catholic Anchor. "Gays have never been denied the rights and freedoms that black people were denied."
"Gays and lesbians have rights under the First Amendment, the Fourteen Amendment and our state constitutions," Friendly added. "These provide protections for every human being."
Fundamental human rights are not based on a person's sexual preference, he explained.
"But the gay rights movement is not about basic human rights. It's about a sexual behavior being elevated to a minority status, a special class with special rights," Friendly said. "I don't think that is something that Reverend King was shooting for."
Rev. Frank Thompson, an African American pastor of Anchorage's Hosanna Fellowship and president of the Anchorage Mayor's Prayer Breakfast agrees.
"Anybody who says this is a civil rights issue is off course. This is not what Reverend Martin Luther King was fighting for. He was trying to bring people out of oppression," said Thompson, who at 78 years old, remembers marching in civil rights demonstrations as a young man.
"A lot of them now don't think the way Reverend King thought — there's a big divide," he said of younger activists who equate homosexual rights with civil rights.
Thompson said no one should have the right to force others to support their sexual lifestyle.
"This is not about discrimination against their civil rights, but disagreement with their sin," he said. "They want their sin to be accepted everywhere. That's where we differ."
Patterson said he fully expects the African American community in Anchorage to give a strong argument against Proposition 5. On March 8, dozens of African American pastors joined with a larger coalition of more than 100 Anchorage pastors to speak out together against the ballot measure.
"The senior pastors in the African American community totally oppose this," Patterson said. "I don't know of an African American pastor in Alaska that supports this proposition."


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The first run for the 2009-10 Huskies is over. The purple-and-gold scrimmage capped Midnight Madness at Bank of America Arena Friday night, about 6,000 fans plowing through the rain and brutal traffic to attend.
The dunk contest was won by Isaiah Thomas. The 3-point contest was won by C.J. Wilcox and his partner from the crowd. The scrimmage, won by the purple team 35-20, wrapped up the night's events.
Coach Lorenzo Romar, sum it up:
It will be a dramatically different environment Saturday when practice gets under way, not at St. Martin's College as in the past, but in Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
An example of what practice will be like did show in the scrimmage. Venoy Overton harassed freshman Abdul Gaddy. Overton even grabbed Darnell Gant under the hoop, forcing Gant to the line as opposed to giving up a layup. Whether it was a bogus scrimmage was irrelevant to Overton.
As far as the Gaddy/Overton battle, Romar expects more to come.
"All those guys are going to compete against each other and what we want to come out of that, because everyone is pushing each other every day, is when we play the opposition, we are that much more prepared to go," Romar said.
That happens for the first time Nov. 4 when Central Washington visits for an exhibition. Things start for real Nov. 13.
Stats from the scrimmage, according to Washington:
#1 Venoy Overton
1-4, 3 points, offensive rebound, assist, 2 turnovers, steal
#2 Isaiah Thomas
3-5, 7 points, defensive rebound, 4 assists, turnover
#10 Abdul Gaddy
2-2, 4 points, defensive rebound
#11 Matthew Bryan-Amaning
1-2, 2 points, 2 defensive rebounds, 2 blocks
#12 Clarence Trent
3-5, 6 points, offensive rebound
#15 Scott Suggs
1-3, 2 points, defensive rebound
#20 Quincy Pondexter
2-5, 6 points, 3 defensive, 3 offensive rebounds, 4 assists
#22 Justin Holiday (Did not play)
#23 C.J. Wilcox
2-3, 6 points (2 3-pointers)
#31 Elston Turner
5-6, 10 points, (3-4 in three pointers)
#33 Tyreese Breshers
1-2, 2 points, offensive rebound, turnover, block
#44 Darnell Gant
2-2, 4 points, 2 offensive rebounds, defensive rebound, assist


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My 2006 Nissan Sentra has around 90,000 miles on it. For the last 10,000 miles or so, I've had a difficult time getting it started. I turn the key in the ignition and the starter motor will crank a few times, then nothing. I'll do that for about ten seconds and then it starts right up. I don't know if the ignition is broken or not. Could this be a real problem?
The cranking without starting is caused by the crankshaft position sensor intermittent open circuit not giving a code in the engine control module continuously. This can make it hard to diagnose. Nissan has a recall 07v527000 dated 11/15/2007 where the dealer will replace the crankshaft sensor, then reprogram the engine control module. The recall should fix the no start issue.
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About Mature Young Moms 16-25
This is a group for young moms to give/get advice without all the high school drama =). If you had your baby bfore 16 or during the ages 16-25 feel free to join. I look forward to meeting you and discussing our children, relationships, and futures!
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