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Opposition parties have responded to President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (Sona) with most describing it as a 'dream'.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip John Steenhuisen says while parts of Ramaphosa's speech were good, a lot of it consisted of dreams with no real concrete steps to achieve them.
The President delivered his 2019 Sona in the National Assembly on Thursday evening with several key priorities - including education, job creation and economic growth.
READ: President Ramaphosa makes 5 promises that, if kept, will radically transform SA
Steenhuisen says one of the more welcomed developments was the implementation of reading programmes at schools.
There were some good parts of the speech but I think a lot of dreams without many concrete steps about how we are going to achieve those.— John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip - DA
Stretched goals, most of the goals are set over a ten year period. I think a lot of South Africans were looking for some immediate reforms.— John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip - DA
One of the welcomed developments was the reading programmes at schools, I think we can boost education, it always underpins an enterprise economy.— John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip - DA
I think what we saw here tonight was very little in the way of concrete action, more announcements of virtuous ends which I think are not going to feed South Africans. You can't live off a dream.— John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip - DA
Meanwhile Education Minister Angie Motshekga says she agrees with Ramaphosa on the need to improve education at foundation phase, as well as improving the capabilities of teachers.
He really touched on the most important part, that we have to conquer the basics of basic education - the foundation phase.— Angie Motshekga, Minister - Basic Education
Education is a societal issue. Ourselves as government, we are committing to put resources into your reading, foundation phase, but we want everyone else to know that it starts there. We only have four hours with them, you have longer hours with them.— Angie Motshekga, Minister - Basic Education
African Movement Transformation (ATM) president Vuyolwethu Zungula says Ramphosa has not demonstrated that he has a plan.
It seems like a pie in the sky and that is what has characterised Sona's for the past how many years.— Vuyolwethu Zungula, President - ATM
We need a proper actionable plan that is relatable to the people.— Vuyolwethu Zungula, President - ATM
The Inkhata Freedom Party's Mkhuleko Hlengwa says the president missed an opportunity.
If he had actually placed more focus on the seven priorities he pointed to and the five point plan and went into detail, he would have achieved a lot in terms of taking the country into his confidence ... what happened in the latter part of the speech, he presented what was a utopic kind of reality and painted a dream.— Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Spokesperson - IFP
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema shared similar sentiments and says the president has no plan.
The president is dreaming. The president told the whole nation that he is dreaming about a bullet train. The president is dreaming about a city, what type of a president is that? If you speak about the president of China, he does not dream, he says to you, we are going to build a new city here and this is the time frame.— Julius Malema, EFF leader
We have imagined enough, now is time to implement. The president has nothing to offer us.— Julius Malema, EFF leader
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says Ramaphosa's speech was very practical.
It is not slogans, it is the realistic things that we need to do to intervene in the economy.— Fikile Mbalula, Minister - Transport
[There are] A lot of intervening programmes that are going to take this country forward.— Fikile Mbalula, Minister - Transport
Click on the link below to hear more reactions....


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On the 20th of February, participants in the blockade of trade with the territories of the Donbas not controlled by Ukraine accepted Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman's invitation and came to the negotiation table in the hope of resolving the conflict caused by the blockade.
The conflict between the authorities of Ukraine and war veterans in Eastern Ukraine arose after war veterans blocked several railway crossings at the end of January 2017. They are demanding the release of Ukrainian prisoners in the separatist territories, as well as the breaking off of all trade with the uncontrolled territories.
During ceremonies on the occasion of the third anniversary of the tragic events in Maidan [18-20th of February 2014], a rally took place in Kyiv in support of the trade blockade. A scuffle even broke out between participants and the police. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman then called on the leaders of the protest to convene at the Cabinet of Ministers. He made a post to this effect on his Facebook page on the 20th of February.
"I summon everyone who is truly interested in resolving this set of problems [regulation of the movement of goods to the uncontrolled territories and trade with the separatist] to professional discussion and collaboration. The government is prepared to be the venue for such collaboration," Groysman wrote.
On the 21st of February it became clear that this meeting had taken place. Dmitry Stolyarchuk, Press Secretary of the Prime Minister, confirmed this on Facebook. According to him, during the meeting with the participants in the Donbas blockade, Groysman stated that the government is prepared to intensify the regulation of the movement of goods to Eastern Ukraine within the limits of their authority.
"During the meeting, the head of government stressed once more that it is primarily the ordinary Ukrainians who are suffering from the blockade: there is a risk of outages in heat supply, electricity supply and a possible loss of jobs" - Stolyarchuk informed.
He also added that Groysman "spoke in favor of intensifying the fight against contraband in the territories adjacent the front line, and intensifying the regulation of goods which move between the controlled and uncontrolled territories".
"At the same time, he [Groysman] emphasized that the energy situation and the strategy of acquiring Ukrainian energy independence have to be the subject of extensive political dialogue, because they require steps from both the executive and the legislative authorities," the Press Secretary of the Prime Minister added.
The Headquarters of the Donbas blockade gave a bit more detail about the negotiations. The Headquarters had two propositions for Groysman. The first was ensuring the immediate release of prisoners. The second was to adopt a law regarding the temporarily occupied territories which legislatively prohibits any trade. According to the Headquarters' information, Groysman, in turn, allegedly proposed that representatives of the Headquarters join a commission for "prisoner exchange".
In addition, according to the Headquarters' report, the Cabinet of Ministers is revoking the authorization of the movement of goods issued by the SBU, and is issuing a resolution which regulates the movement of freight according to the law on the fight against terrorism.
With respect to adopting a law concerning the temporarily occupied territories, the Prime Minister told representatives of the Headquarters that he cannot influence the decisions of MPs. In addition, the supporters of the blockade demanded that this law be adopted in the Verkhovna Rada. According to the information of MP Semen Semenchenko, organizer of the blockade, the protesters added that the bill should still be placed on the agenda. Voting on it is expected on the 23rd of February.
Later it came out that the blockade Headquarters are thinking of not accepting Volodymyr Groysman's proposition for resolving the conflict caused by the blockade. Anatoly Vinogrodsky, blockade Headquarters coordinator and second commander of the Donbas battalion, made a statement to this effect.
"We are already discussing, and I'm inclined to think that we will not accept [the Prime Minister's proposition]", Vinogrodsky said. The Headquarters needs to make its final decision in one to two days.
He added that Groysman's propositions do not deal with the demands which the blockade participants proposed.
On the 21st of February, information also came out that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has already formulated a resolution concerning the unblocking of the railway along which the shipment of anthracite coal from the occupied Donbas territories takes place. However, according to George Tuka, Deputy Minister for the temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons of Ukraine, nobody wants to use force. Tuka stated that it is precisely on account of reluctance to use force that Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman decided to enter into negotiations with representatives of the blockade on trade with the occupied Donbas territories.
Earlier Greece stands for peaceful resolving of Donbas conflict

subset: commoncrawl


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Ratatouille: A creative challenge
Ratatouille: a cooked melange of summer vegetables that originated in Nice and is popular, in various versions, throughout the Mediterranean countries.
As with most country classics, there are as many recipes as there are cooks.
Everyone seems to agree on most of the ingredients:
- Aubergine (eggplant)
- Bell peppers, any color
- Onion
- Garlic
- Courgette (zucchini)
- Tomatoes
- Fresh Basil
No one seems to agree on the proportions.
Some will add laurel (bay leaves), thyme, a splash of vinegar.
Some use canola oil; some olive oil.
Some will add a dab of tomato paste.
I have six French cook books.
I found six different recipes and methods of preparation.
One said to braise all of the ingredients separately, for varying lengths of time, and to combine, along with the fresh basil, a mere seconds before serving.
One said to throw everything together in a big pan and bake in a slow oven, undisturbed, for four or five hours.
One said to sauté everything and then simmer for 20 minutes.
One said to sauté some things but not others, and to simmer the whole lot for 1 hour undisturbed followed by 2 hours stirring every 10 minutes.
I apologize for not having photos of all the gorgeous vegetables that went in to this, but by the time I actually got to the kitchen I was so confused I couldn't tell the aubergine from the tomato.
Heart of the Matter is having a Picnic and I wanted to bring Ratatouille.
Living in France and all, it just seemed like the thing to do.
One of the best things about ratatouille is, while it is good hot, on the day you make it, it is better the next day… And the day after that.
(Like fine wine and smart women, it improves with age.)
Good hot, but some would argue, better warm or at room temperature.
It can be served on it's own as a first course or side dish, with couscous or rice for a vegetarian main course, or have some grilled shrimp or sausages added to it for a non-vegetarian main course.
It's chock-a-block with fresh summer vegetables (don't bother making it if you don't have the good fresh stuff).
It does have rather a lot of oil in the recipe – BUT, it's heart-healthy olive oil and this recipe will easily make 4 main courses or 8 side dish. Or, in our case (being only two) 4 meals of various versions.
Ratatouille is one of those dishes that simply has to be made large – It's worth it.
This is my adaptation of all the versions and methods…. And I made the recipe as small as I could ;-))
1 small – medium aubergine (eggplant), about 8oz, 250gr
2 small – medium courgette (zucchini), about 14oz, 400gr
1 1/2 large bell peppers, I used 1 green and 1/2 yellow
2 large onions
4 cloves of garlic
5 medium tomatoes
5 laurel (bay) leaves
2 tbs chopped fresh thyme
big handful of fresh basil leaves
4 tbs olive oil
salt and pepper optional
Roughly chop the onions and peppers. Mince the garlic. Cube the aubergine. Slice the courgette in half the long way, then in 1/4″ slices. Peel and roughly chop the tomato.
Heat 1 tbs oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions and sauté until starting to brown. Add garlic and sauté for a minute or two longer. Put onions and garlic (and cooking oil) into a large pot.
Put the pot (with the onions) on low heat.
Return the skillet to heat and add 1 tbs oil. Add peppers and sauté until starting to brown and blister. Put peppers on top of onions.
Return the skillet to heat and add 1 tbs oil. Add courgette and sauté until starting to brown and soften. Put courgette on top of peppers.
Return the skillet to heat and add 1 tbs oil. Add aubergine and sauté until starting to brown on all sides. Put aubergine on top of courgette.
Put laurel and thyme on top of aubergine. Put tomatoes on top of herbs.
At this point you can add a bit of salt and pepper if you like.
Give it a gentle stir or two, cover and increase heat slightly until you hear it simmering. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir it every once in awhile. When ready to serve, remove from heat, tear the basil leaves and stir in.
It took me about 35 minutes to do the chopping and sauteing; everything was tender and well done in 30 minutes but I let it simmer for 45.
Joanna, of Joanna's Food will have the Picnic Round-up around the 29th of August. Be sure to visit for lots of heart-healthy foods!


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TWU ME alumnus Kris Soto encourages adults seeking degree "don't be afraid."
Feb 10, 2017
When Kris Soto started classes at Tennessee Wesleyan, he was 30 years old, taking classes full-time during the day. After spending a full day in class, he would head to work at DENSO, where he worked second shift. Two years into his college experience, Soto got a promotion at work, requiring him to work the day shift and eliminating the possibility of attending classes during the day. Soto turned to TWU's Management Excellence program to finish his degree.
"At that time, I wanted to continue coming to Wesleyan since I went here two years, so I went to the ME program," Soto said. "During that same time, my wife, who had just graduated from Cleveland State, also decided to go to the ME program."
Soto and his wife, Jessica, joined the ME program together, graduating in December 2012. For Soto, the ME program was a big change from attending classes during the day. As a 30-year-old student, he was older than his classmates and had more life experiences.
"Being a full-time day student, I started college back when I was 30 years old, so I was in class with a bunch of 18-year-old kids," Soto said. "They didn't have any life experiences. One of the things that stands out to me was when I was in speech class was 'tell us where you were on 9/11.' For my speech, I was at work, and at the time I was a police officer. It was catastrophic to me and my job. Everyone else in my class was in fourth grade."
Joining the ME program allowed Soto to be in class with people closer to his age, who also worked full-time and had families. The ME program functions as a cohort program, meaning the same group of students progresses through each class together.
"I went from being an outcast, or not even so much an outcast but an outsider, to being with someone who understood my life experience up to that point," Soto said. "I loved the core group. I loved having a group of people that worked and had the same struggles I did. We'd all come to class tired and just weary about school in general, so that kind of helped keep us together and push us through. For that class, everyone was about my age. We all worked 50 or 60 hours a week. We all had the same struggles. We all had to deal with work. We had to deal with kids and sporting events for kids. Our daily lives were so similar, so you know you weren't alone."
In addition to taking classes with other working adults, Soto took classes with his wife. Being in the same classes provided a competitive element, with Jessica pushing Kris to work harder.
"I sat next to my wife," Soto said. "Now, we are completely different people. I have to pay attention. I have to take notes. Jessica, it seemed to me, could play on her phone and not pay attention, and she always got a better grade than me. She was my constant competition. You'd think, you know, we're here, we're husband and wife. But it was who's got the better grade? Who's going to do better on this test? And she would always beat me. And I swear she never paid attention it seemed like to me. Like I said, we're both very competitive. So instead of being that person to lean on and to help you, she was a person to push me to always do better and not come in second place. Although I usually ended up in second place."
The competitive element between the husband and wife team pushed Soto to work hard and finish his degree, while continuing to work full time and balance his family and personal life. When he graduated in 2012, he mostly felt relieved but was also excited at his accomplishment.
"Getting my degree while working was one of the hardest things I've ever done," he said. "[When I graduated, I felt] total relief, excitement and enjoyment that I was done, that I just completed this huge task."
Completing a college degree while working full time and having three children wasn't easy, but Soto believes the time and effort were worthwhile. He encourages other adults wanting to complete a college degree to believe in themselves and know it is possible.
"Don't be afraid. It is hard, but it is worth it," he said. "I have three boys, who at the time were all 6th grade and under. It's one of those things, you'll be hesitant because of time lost with the kids. It'll be worth it. It'll be more beneficial to them, especially as they get to high school, there'll be a better knowledge base as they get ready for college to tell them what to do and what to expect. Before starting college, [I thought] I was too old. I wouldn't fit in. It would be too difficult. I'd lose too much time. But that was a bad mindset. You can do it. You can make it. You just have to push yourself with it."
Hear more from Kris


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You knew it was coming. Didn't you?
I love it when Hollywood makes a film based on a favorite book and almost gets it right, or at least gets the message right. It doesn't happen often, but it would be hard to base a film on R.J. Palacio's Wonder without it turning out… well, wonderful.
Auggie was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by deformities of the ears, eyes, cheekbones, and chin. His facial deformities have meant lots of childhood surgeries, so his loving mama homeschooled him through elementary school. It's time for middle school, though, and Auggie's parents have decided that means public school for Auggie.
And public school can be mean. But it can also be amazing. Auggie gets bullied for being different, but he also makes a couple of friends. It's hard to be friends with the guy who is different, and that fact causes some of the drama in the film, but it's brilliant to see at least a couple of kids choose kindness over fitting in. Even if one of them has to learn it the hard way.
This film isn't just about what Auggie deals with as he enters the new world of public school. It's also about his sister, Olivia, who is coping with always being second in the family, her friends, and even Auggie's newfound friends. What I loved most was that Auggie's parents weren't just there to provide support for him; they were complex characters, too. One of my favorite scenes shows his mom (Julia Roberts) eating breakfast alone at their homeschool table after Auggie starts school. I imagine that tears a whole in a homeschooling mama. I can totally picture myself doing just that after my boys go off to college.
Of course, no film can compare with the way Palacio makes us Feel Auggie's experience rather than just seeing it. Lines like this:
"I don't know if there's a word that means the same as 'bright' in terms of hearing, but I wish I knew one, because I was hearing brightly now."
can't be captured on film. Just no.
But the film is wonderful, and as long as your kids have read it and had the chance to imagine Auggie's face for themselves, you should totally do a movie night for Wonder.
Another thing I loved about this film is that the family sat down to dinner together. A Lot. One of the yummier-looking meals included fresh bread and a large salad. I also spotted some asparagus. And since sometimes it's hard to tell exactly what cut of meat a movie family is eating, I decided to interpret it as roast. Because then I could add this delicious mushroom gravy.
I'm cool like that.
Make your salad however your family likes it. Personally, I throw in everything in the crisper drawer–lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes green peppers, celery, and avocado. Yeah, not making that up.
Instant Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy
Y'all, this might well be the easiest roast and gravy I have ever made. I love my Instant Pot (which was a Christmas gift from the best friend on the planet), but you can get similar results in a slow cooker.
What you need
What you do
Y'all, this might well be the easiest roast and gravy I have ever made. I love my Instant Pot (which was a Christmas gift from the best friend on the planet), but you can get similar results in a slow cooker.
Buttered Asparagus
What you need
What you do
Quick and Easy Wheat French Bread
Very little kneading makes this fresh yeast bread a breeze.
What you need
What you do
Very little kneading makes this fresh yeast bread a breeze.
Because we can, and this stuff is out of this world.
Homemade Cherry Pie
For the crust-What you need
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 egg, well beaten
- 5 Tbsp cold water
- 1 tsp vinegar
For the filling-What you need
- 4 cups frozen cherries, thawed
- 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp butter
For the crust-What you do
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Grease pie pan(s)
- Sift flour and salt together into a medium bowl
- Cut in vegetable shortening until of coarse cornmeal consistency
- Add egg, water, and vinegar
- Blend until dough holds together
- Divide dough in half
- Roll half out on a floured surface to make a 9-inch crust
- Place crust into greased pie pan
- Roll out second half and cut into 1/2-inch strips
For the filling-What you do
- Drain cherries, reserving 2 Tbsp of juice
- Mix 1/4 cup sugar, salt, and flour in a large bowl
- Stir in cherries
- Mix reserved cherry juice and lemon juice and stir into cherry mixture
- Sprinkle remaining sugar over bottom crust
- Pour cherry mixture over sugar
- Dot with butter
- Place dough strips over cherries in a lattice
- Bake 35-45 minutes until cherries are bubbling and crust is golden
Everything is better with cherry pie, but you can't really get better than Wonder. Enjoy your night.
Love wins,
Looking for more family movie night fun? Check out:
Dinner and a Movie: The Little Prince
Dinner and a Movie: The Great Gilly Hopkins
Dinner and a Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Dinner and a Movie: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
KT Brison
Latest posts by KT Brison (see all)
- Story Time: A Christmas Star - November 12, 2018
- American Literature for High School - October 25, 2018
- 9 Fun Halloween Printables and Activities for Celebrating - October 18, 2018


text:
Fallen tree blocks city centre road
PUBLISHED: 15:23 10 August 2019
A tree has fallen down in the centre of Norwich blocking a road.
Fire and police received several calls at 11.30am to reports of a tree which had come down on St Andrew's Street, near to St Andrew's Church.
The road is closed between Exchange Street and the top of Prince of Wales Road.
Alan Jay, manager at Earlham Fire Station, said that with the help of the urban search and rescue team crews would try and clear the road within the hour.
He said: "If you look at the tree it's actually quite brittle.
"Thankfully no one was injured, which is really lucky bearing in mind how busy Norwich is at this time of year and how quickly it would have happened."
George Akister, from St Andrews Brewhouse, saw the tree fall, he said: "There was a loud crack and it immediately fell into the middle of the road. Everyone was standing around watching."


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Drama in one act with a prelude and a postlude.
Libretto in French by Marc Henry (the pseudonym of Achille d'Ailly-Vaucheret) (as Les Yeux morts); German translation by Hans Heinz Ewers.
First performed at Dresden Court Opera on 5 March 1916.
The action is set in Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
In the Prelude, country workers are returning home late on a summer evening. A reaper stops to chat with a shepherd, he has a feeling of longing and does not want the company of his fellow reapers. The shepherd is content with his life, but when his boy arrives with the flock and confesses that one lamb is missing, the shepherd too is filled with sadness and he sets out to find the lost lamb.
The opera itself begins with great excitement in Jerusalem because the news has gone around that the prophet who has been going around performing so many miracles is expected to arrive in the city. Outside the house of the Roman ambassador Arcesius, a group of Jewish women are drawing water from a well and one of them, Ruth, tells Arcesius's slave woman Arsinoe about the miracle worker. The women leave, and Arcesius and his wife Myrtocle come out onto the verandah of the villa, Myrtocle is very beautiful but blind, and Arcesius is deformed and ugly. He leads her with great tenderness and she sings of how she has a dream that one day her sight will be restored and she will be able to see the beautiful world around her, especially her husband, whom she imagines to be very handsome. She reminds him of how he found her, poor and blind from birth, in Corinth, and of how he once told her the story of Cupid and Psyche, and how Psyche, forbidden to look upon her husband, crept into their room one night with a lamp – only to find that he had disappeared.
Their reverie is broken by the arrival of Galba, a Roman officer and Arcesius's friend. He has come to tell him that the governor, Pontius Pilate, has called a meeting to discuss how the Romans should handle the arrival in Jerusalem of the man Jesus from Nazareth, whom their agents have reported is a dangerous agitator. Arcesius bids a tender farewell to his wife and leaves.
Myrtocle is now visited by Ktesiphar, an Egyptian quack who has sold her medicines to cure her blindness before. He offers her another potion and she agrees to buy it only if he agrees to be held under arrest in the villa and, if the potion does not work for Myrtocle, to be blinded himself so that he can experience the potion first-hand. He sensibly declines and leaves. Myrtocle sighs that she will never be cured, and Arsinoe diffidently tells her about Jesus and his miracles.
Suddenly, there is a commotion outside – a crowd is gathering because Jesus is coming towards the villa. Sick people jostle one another to get to the front of the crowd and Myrtocle joins them. The crowd turns nasty – she is Greek and married to a Roman, and Jesus has only come to cure Jews. But one of Jesus's friends, Mary of Magdala, tells them all that Jesus, like a good shepherd, has time for all his sheep, whoever they are. Jesus approaches riding on a donkey and Arsinoe, with Mary's help, leads Myrtocle towards him. As the crowd watch expectantly, Jesus touches her eyes, and her sight is restored: Jesus tells her that before the night is out, she will have cause to curse him for what he has given her.
Myrtocle, overjoyed, rushes into the villa and asks for a mirror: she sees how lovely she is and sets about adorning herself for the return of her husband. Arcesius arrives home with Galba, but Galba has secretly loved Myrtocle for a very long time, and he chooses this moment to say goodbye to his old friend for ever, because he cannot bear to continue to see her knowing that she can never be his. But before he can leave, Arsinoe bustles in looking for the mirror that Myrtocle was using. Arcesius quizzes her about why his wife needs a mirror and when he learns about the miracle he is horrified. Afraid that his wife will now be able to see how ugly he is, he hides behind the well outside the villa. Myrtocle comes out and sees Galba: he is a very good-looking man and she assumes that he is her husband. As she approaches Galba, he is too astonished to speak, but he is overcome by his love for her and takes her in a passionate embrace.
From his hiding place, Arcesius is mortified by what he is seeing, and without thinking he rushes out and strangles Galba. Both he and Myrtocle recoil in horror and as he rushes out Myrtocle calls for help; Arsinoe arrives and tells her the truth. Myrtocle now curses the man who restored her sight but has now destroyed her happiness: she knows now that her dream was a lie, and that she is just like Psyche with her lamp who only wanted to see her husband, but unlike Psyche, what she has found instead is a monster.
Arsinoe encourages her to believe that she has not lost everything, and Myrtocle remembers Jesus telling people to give up their own happiness to give happiness to others. She destroys her sight by staring into the sun and when Arcesius comes back, Myrtocle, now blind again, tells him that with her briefly restored sight, she saw Jesus and Arsinoe and Galba – and Galba's murderer, but she never saw her husband. Restored to her world of dreamed beauty, she lets Arcesius lead her, trembling, back into the villa.
In the Postlude, the shepherd returns to his flock with the little lamb which had been lost, and the opera ends with a reprise of Mary of Magdala's music: 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my little sheep that was lost'.
Related OperaStory articles can be found on
- The life and operas of Eugène D'Albert
- The background to the writing of Die toten Augen
- The stories of several others of D'Albert's principal operas available free
© Roger Witts 2011


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The Bible contains hundreds of promises for you personally. They are not mere words, but as Jesus said, they are "spirit and life."1 They are power promises that will strengthen your faith in God and propel you over any obstacle.
Here are a few that have been tried and proven by millions down through the ages. You can stand on them too!
When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you … when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you.—Deuteronomy 4:30-31
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.—Deuteronomy 32:4
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.—Deuteronomy 33:27
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.—2 Samuel 22:2
Those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.—Psalm 9:10
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.—Psalm 34:19
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.—Psalm 36:7
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.—Psalm 55:22
From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.—Psalm 121:2
In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.—Psalm 138:3
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; you will stretch out Your hand … and Your right hand will save me.—Psalm 138:7
Whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.—Proverbs 29:25
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. … The Lord is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.—Isaiah 12:2
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.—Isaiah 41:10
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you."—Isaiah 41:13
For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you.—Isaiah 54:10
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.—John 14:18 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.—Romans 8:28
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.—1 Corinthians 10:13
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.—2 Corinthians 2:14
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I will never leave you nor forsake you.—Hebrews 13:5
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.—1 Peter 1:6-8
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect [make you better or stronger spiritually], establish, strengthen, and settle you.—1 Peter 5:10


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The Museum Files
In this multi-part series, the Tallahassee Museum presents The Museum Files—lectures in criminal justice, forensics, behavioral profiling, police investigation, myths, legends, and unsolved crimes.
The Science of Solving Crime
Do you like crime related TV shows like CSI? Come and learn what forensic science is and how it is used to help solve crimes in real life. This will include a hands on activity and will be limited to 30 participants.
Charla Perdue, Forensic Scientist, FSU
Charla Skinner Perdue is the Coordinator and full time faculty in the FSU Crime Scene Investigation Major program within the College of Applied Studies located at the Panama City Campus. She has a Masters in Criminology from Florida State University and a Masters in Forensic Science from the University of Florida. She is a certified Divemaster and has earned graduate certificates in Underwater Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Death Investigation. She is a member of many forensic related organizations including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the International Association of Identification and the Counsel of Forensic Science Educators.


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Throughout history, Montraker was the largest and most significant quarry in Vrsar. It was exploited from prehistory until the middle of the 20th century. It was there that the famous Vrsar stone, the material many of the most significant buildings in Venice – but also across Europe and the world – are built from was mined. The abandoned cliffs of Montraker bear witness to its extraordinary economic significance and segment of the stone crafting industry, which amounted to 15 % in the total income of Vrsar throughout history. Today it is an inspiring place for holding various events and shows.
The Montraker quarry is situated on a peninsula to the northwest of the old town centre of Vrsar (on the northwestern side of the church and the old Benedictine Abbey of St Mary). Due to its size, location and historical significance, it is surely the most significant stone deposit in the area around Vrsar. Stone has been extracted from that place since probably as early as ancient history, while the stone from the quarry was used for the construction of Roman buildings around the wharf of Vrsar (horreum, villa rustica on the location of today's Church of St Mary) and the Roman wharf itself. The continuity of stone extraction can be followed for the whole duration of the Duchy of Vrsar (until 1778), the short-lived Venetian reign (1778-1797), the French administration (1806-1813) and the Austrian rule (1797-1806 and 1813-1918) through the Italian (1918-1943) and German (1943-1945) occupation to the period of Yugoslavia (since 1945). The Montraker quarry is considered to be an ancient stone deposit and exploitation area of Vrsar.
Originally, Montraker was certainly not a single quarry, but rather consisted of several smaller exploitation zones which, were, as it seems, merged into one quarry during the late Austrian rule in the 19th century or during the Italian occupation (1918-1943). On the location of today's abandoned quarry there was once a large hill with the same name, comparable to the hill of Vrsar on which the old town centre of Vrsar sits with regard to its height and circumference.
The material obtained from that place belongs geologically to the Upper Jurassic Period (J33). It is a markedly hard type of limestone, with a light grey colour, appearing in layers up to 2 m thick and with thin lumps of greenish feldspar. When chroniclers and archival sources speak of veins of blue stone from Vrsar, they usually refer to the stone that used to be extracted from the deposit at Montraker. The methods of stone exploitation at Montraker remained identical or similar for centuries, and changed only once dynamite mining techniques were introduced.
The stone obtained in Montraker was used for the construction of the Mestre railway bridge (Il ponte feroviario Mestre fra Veneia e la terraferma) in the 1840s (completed in 1946). The bridge is 3,601 m long, with 234 arcades, each spanning 8 m, while the Vrsar stone was used for the cladding of the bridge structure made from brick. For the transport of stone from Montraker, 46 boats and 14 ships were used permanently[1]. That exploitation project was the most significant and most comprehensive episode of Vrsar stone extraction.
The view from the Vrsar hill to the northwest reveals the abandoned Montraker quarry, a sort of "Vrsar stone desert". Edo Murtić (1921-2005), a famous Croatian painter and ceramicist, experienced a renewed impetus in his abstract opus in the 1990s, inspired and provoked by none other than the Montraker quarry. Until 2000, he painted his "Montraker" series – scenes from the abandoned quarry – in large formats, with intensive colours, open gestures and symbols. Murtić considered Montraker to be his favourite motif; he frequently visited and observed it from his nearby studio in Vrsar.


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- Posted on Wednesday 28 Mar, 2012
- by admin
- Category: manama-nightlife
Night Clubs in Manama
Causeway is link in between Saudi Arabia Bahrain, but nightlife in Manama differentiates later by its ways and styles. That's why Manama receives thousands of visitors from neighbor countries every weekend too. Night clubs in Manama have recreated the city with drinks, dance and meeting points for life and business. European visitor entering the city feels stunt while seeing a comfortable adjacent atmosphere. At the same hand visitors from surrounding states takes a sigh of relaxation having their weekends smooth and comfortable. Manama receives human gatherings crowded and cheers its shakes and dears in glorious way. Manama has its basic three districts namely Adliya, Hoora, Juffair and Business Center. Digger's is at Delmont Hotel. It is based on Australian style. It is sports and pub center. Traders Vic's is unique in its composition. It is from the American Chain. It has bar with live music. Menu is sea food Pacific Islands Csusine. BJ"s, Warblers and Digger's are other centers to attract people. These night clubs besides having modern ways retain Arabian style contents also. JJ Murphy is very decent bar/club. The unique thing in this bar is its maintaining decorum of principle and certainty of atmosphere. Meal is provided beside of its being bar.Inferno and Key Club are some naughty clubs. Key Club receives some old visitors too. So if a tourist is old then don't worry he has place to feel passions with young dance soft-passions. Savage Garden is very beautiful in its design and service. Meals are served. Young people like of ages ranging in between 18 to 20 are also seen here. Henry's is an old style club. It is very classical in presentation. So visitors who have some classical taste have a best place for their taste. Baranby Joes is the spot where European visitors can be seen in large number. They have, Ade it their place for life, relaxation and discussion. The fantastic thing is that Manama serves you cosmopolitan taste and atmosphere. It gives the lights, roads and clubs in popular, modern and even in classical way. Its desert grains picks up the visitors firm and keeps them at clubs and bars beautifully. Bahrain has taken its own way. Like other cities of Bahrain Manama has taken all ways easy. Taxies, rental cars and other forms of transport can take a tourist in few minutes' drive to his choice destination.Read More


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Light and fragrant with notes of wild flowers and acacia
Availability date:
Try this wine with any whites meats or cold cuts. Great with a souffle!
The story about Viticoltori Friulani La Delizia is a story of foresight, passion, diligence and tradition. The Cooperative was born on May 7, 1931 due to the first 70 charters members, who joined their forces to create a big cooperative, subscribing the Constitution Act of the Cantina Sociale Cooperativa Destra Tagliamento.
Established in 1931 as Cantina Sociale Cooperativa Destra Tagliamento, the company Viticoltori Friulani La Delizia is the largest wine-making facility of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The company rates more than 500 wine growers with 2000 hectares of vineyards that extend throughout the Friuli plain, within the renowned "Friuli Grave" and "Prosecco" D.O.C. Areas historically vocated to the viticulture and to a production that allows to obtain wines with a strong identity and character, exported successfully in the major foreign countries.
In a specific area of over 100 hectares are present the different varieties of grapes growned in Friuli. In collaboration with leading Research Institutes and Centres, clonal experiments are carried out and a nursery activity aimed at improving the research and the quality of the wine heritage is developed.


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Subsea Energy Production Beats Topside Method Says ABB
ABB recently entered a partnership with international energy company Statoil to develop power solutions for subsea oil and gas production. A key challenge they identify is to develop reliable long-distance power transmission technology and to build components that can function for several decades at depths of up to 3,000 meters. The subsea industry has gained worldwide importance as oil companies strive…
Chinese Hospital Ship Support Effort Recognized by WHO
Since its arrival in Tacloban city in Leyte province of Philippines, the "Peace Ark" has used a forward hospital as the pivot and the hospital ship as the major platform, and integrated forward medical detachments and medical visits, as well as ship-borne medical helicopter transfers of the sick and the wounded evacuation. reports 'China Military Online'. The "Peace Ark" hospital ship of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN)…
Port of Hueneme Hi-Tech Security Drill Deemed a Success
The security drill was the first since the rollout of the Port's new Maritime Advanced Systems and Technology Lab (MAST) program and involved an Offshore Platform Security Threat Awareness and Response Program exercise (OPSTAR) conducted by the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Asymmetric Warfare and the U.S. Coast Guard. The half day OPSTAR exercise called for a simulated attack and occupation…
Baltic Trading Take Delivery of Capesize, & Charter Out
Baltic Trading Limited has accepted delivery of the first of two new bulk carriers, 'Baltic Tiger', a 179,185 dwt Capesize vessel, and found a time charter for the vessel without delay. The Baltic Tiger delivered to its charterer, Swissmarine Services S.A., has commenced a spot market-related time charter for 10.5 to 13.5 months. The rate for the spot market-related time charter, which is subject to the completion of definitive documentation…
Offshore Industry Instant Weather Forecasting by TerraWeather
Singapore's Terra Weather say that Offshore planners and asset managers will now be able to plan critical offshore activities with greater confidence and accuracy, by taking advantage of a first ever cloud-based weather planning tool that allows users to get real-time, instant weather information any time, anywhere. An internet connectio is all that's needed. TerraWaves is a global online weather service…
UAE Ensign to Fly First Time on Commercial Vessel
The oil tanker "Energena' managed by Gulf Stolt Ship Management and currently undergoing maintenance at Drydocks World, will become the first commercial vessel to sail under the UAE flag , reports 'Trade Arabia'. The Tasneef (Emirates Authority for Classification) classification document recorded that the tankship was registered in the UAE making it the first commercial vessel to be so registered.
Huge Sea Defence Contract for Boskalis-Van Oord J/V
The contract , to be signed shortly, with a value of approximately EUR 140 million comprises the construction and maintenance of a new sandy coastline for 20 years. The project is part of the second national High Water Protection Program. The Hollands Noorderkwartier Regional Water Board and the Department of Public Works and Water Management are to contract the Van Oord (50%) - Boskalis (50%) joint…
Small Size Important Say Hyde Marine of New BWTS
Hyde Marine, Inc. has introduced the Hyde GUARDIAN Gold™ Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS), which they claim offers the smallest footprint of any BWTS in the maritime industry. The IMO Type-approved Hyde GUARDIAN Gold provides a 50 percent reduction in footprint with its new filter. The system is ideal they say for retrofits as it provides the compact size required by a growing number of ship owners and operators…
Seadrill Appoint David Sneddon Chief Accounting Officer
David Sneddon is to succeed Robert Hingley-Wilson as Chief Accounting Officer and Senior Vice President of Seadrill Management Limited. Mr Sneddon joined Seadrill effective December 1, 2013 as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to Seadrill he held several senior positions in Novelis Inc., most recently as VP Finance in Europe, and prior to that held various positions in Alcan.
Greenpeace Russia Vessel Detention: Dutch Government Bond Ready
The Dutch Foreign Ministry has finalised a bank guarantee of 3.6 million euros in compliance with a binding ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ordering Russia to release the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and the Arctic 30 protesters. "The Netherlands has now fulfilled its part of the Tribunal's binding order and Russia is obligated to also comply by releasing the ship and the Arctic 30, as the Tribunal so ordered.
Offshore Ship Repairs Keep Gibdock Full in 2013
Gibraltar ship repair facility Gibdock say that it has been operating close to full capacity throughout 2013, with offshore sector business the main driver. "We have seen a number of high profile offshore vessel-operating customers returning. Repeat business from such demanding clients is a testament to our performance, with everyone from project planners and managers to yard craftsmen closely involved in ensuring we complete these complex jobs on schedule and to specification.
Thailand's Ports Still Operating Normally Despite Mayhem
In spite of rising political tension expressed in Bangkok rioting, government sources state that all official services, including Customs and port authorities, are working as normal, reports ship services supplier GAC. However, according to reports in the local press, anti-government protesters are now targeting the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Government House and Parliament and other state offices could face rallies. Protests in other provinces are also possible.
Claxton Remember Past North Sea Subsea Engineering Feat
Claxton Engineering Services Ltd, a member of the Acteon Group's risers, conductors and flowlines business, has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its success with the world's first rigless platform well abandonment operation. In that first rigless abandonment project, at the Perenco Well A1 in the Leman field, southern North Sea, Claxton used a custom conductor reaction recovery system designed and…
China Offshore Inert Gas Orders for Norway's WTS
Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS) say they have secured multiple orders to supply Maritime Protection Inert Gas Generator (IGG) systems for installation on vessels under construction for operations offshore China. The Maritime Protection systems will be installed on three FPSOs for oil major China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Two identical systems, comprising a deck house module with electric power…
Dredge, LCS, Submersibe, Figure in Latest DoD Contracts
Dutra Dredging Company, Calif. was awarded a $19,869,500 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging in the Thimble Shoal Federal Navigation Channel and the Cape Henry Federal Navigation Channel…
Commissioner Doyle Applauds FMC Hosting of Global Regulatory Summit
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission will host a Global Regulatory Summit in Washington, D.C. on December 17, 2013. The Summit will include shipping and transportation regulators from the European Union and China. "I am pleased that officials from China and the European Union accepted FMC Chairman Cordero's offer to hold this Summit." On October 22, 2013, the Chairman called for a Global Regulatory Summit. "Consultations among and between governments are very important.
Alignment Supplies Debuts Shaft Alignment System for iPad
Greg Knitz, President of Alignment Supplies, Inc., announced the North American launch of the ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER, a completely revolutionary new system for shaft alignment that combines all of the best aspects of Apple's iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone with the most streamlined and easy-to-use shaft alignment interface ever developed. "ALiSENSOR has already revolutionized the world of geometric measurement with the ALiSENSOR Level," said Mr.
Capstone Expands LNG/Diesel Microturbines in Marine Market
Capstone Turbine Corporation, a clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, is expanding its product offering in the marine market and has appointed six Capstone marine distributors.
Gladding-Hearn Delivers First of Five NYPD Boats
With more than a dozen patrol boats and a fireboat built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation and operating in New York Harbor, the NYPD's Harbor Unit turned again to the Mass.-based shipyard for five new patrol/rescue boats, three 61-footers and two 70-footers. The first high-speed vessel, outfitted for the harbor unit's dive team, was delivered November 4. Measuring 61 feet on deck with a 17-foot beam and 3-foot draft, the boat was designed by C.
RAmparts Tugs Delivered in China
The first of a new series of the RAmparts 3500 Class ASD tug design was delivered to its Owners Tianjin Port, a port in the northern part of China. The vessel was constructed at Shanghai Harbor Fuxing Shipping Service Company, and was named Jin Gang Lun 26.A sister vessel is under construction at the same shipyard. The hull of the new 35 meter design has been developed from the very successful 32 meter Ramparts design series, of which more than 100 tugs have been built in the past decade.
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Mike came home from class and saw his mother and father getting ready to head out for the night. "Hey Mom you guys look nice were you going?"
"We are headed to a party at your fathers work. It is a few hours away so we will stay the night there. Your sister has some of her friends over so be nice to them." She said as she kissed him on the check and started to head for the door. Mike was back for the weekend from college. So his mother knew he was only home to get some studying done away from the distractions that come from college life.
"Ok mom." he answered. With that she left the house and was followed by Mike's father.
Mike headed to his room to finish up a paper that was due Monday. His room was at the end of the hall with his sisters being the first room, and as he past by he saw that his sister and two of her friends were sitting on her bed talking. His sister Missy squealed with joy as he walked passed and said "There is Mike he will take us."
Mike just turned away and said "Like hell he will." He got to his room and closed the door before she could say any thing.
About fifteen minutes later a knock came to Mike's door. He paid it no attention because it could only mean they still wanted something from him. But the person just knocked again, and again. After about the 10th knock he stood up and swung the door open and said "What do you want. I am trying to write this paper."
To Mikes surprise it was not Missy it was Kristin one of his sisters friends. She was a cute young girl about 15 with smooth light brown skin. She has a cute face with all the proportions just right with her deep brown eyes and little noise. She was standing in front of him in a tank top and some rather short shorts that hugged he ass very nicely. Her body was near perfection with nice sized b cup breast for her just over 5 foot frame. She has a small waste that lead into a juice round ass.
She cocked her head to the side and down a little and pouted her lips and looked up at Mike with her bid round eyes. "Could you please take us to the store so we can get a movie and some food so we don't have to bother you again?" She said all this with her handsand behind her back as she swayed her ass back and forth.
Mike could easily be mean and say no to his sister there was no way he could say no to this cute young thing. With out saying a word he turned around and got his wallet and keys and started walking to the door. Kristin let out a giggle "hehe I knew I could get him to do it." Mike knew he was being manipulated but he did not like having his faced rubbed in it like that, so he turned around and head back to his room. Kristin jumped in front of him, but mike just started to push her out of the way when she wrapped her arms around him and said "I am sorry. I am sorry. Please take us I will love you forever." Once again mike found it hard to say no so he sighed and shook his head and turned back around.
Kristin ran over to the other girls and the walked in front of Mike as they all headed out side. He had seen Kristin a lot because Missy and Kristin were best friends. Mike was admiring the scenery as they walked out He was looking at the third girl by the name of Katie, she had a great tan but also had fiery red hair. She was thinner then Kristin so her ass and breast were not quit as nice and developed but they were nice all the same.
Mike got into the car and leaned over to unlock the other door on his truck. There was only the front bench seat so mike told the girls it would be a tight fit. Kristin got into the car first followed by Missy and then Katie. Katie could not quit get all the way in. "come on slide over more." She cried. "No were else to go unless one of us sit on Mike and he anit going to like that." Missy replied. As she said that Kristin looked over at Mike and gave him a very sly smile as he raised her self on to his lap. That gave Katie enough room to get in so she closed the door. Mike would have protested but was wanted to see what the smile was all about.
With this fine young thing on his lap and the constant vibrations of the car Mike could not help but get a little hard during the trip. He tried to hide it as to not freak Kristin out, but he was not sure how successful he was. They got to the store and he dropped them off at the front door and they ran inside. After what felt like forever he saw Kristin come out of the store, but he did not see the other two. He pulled to car around so she could get in.
"What they hell is taking them so long."
"John is in there and they like flirting with him." She said as she slid over to the middle and put her bag of snacks on the floor.
"Why did you not stay it there with them? You don't think he is cute." Mike inquired.
"Its not that just I like someone else, so I don't really care to flirt with him." She replied as she played with the radio.
Then suddenly Kristin's bag fell over and all her stuff fell over the floor board by mikes feet.
"Crap, my bad Mike I will get it." She then leaned over and reached between mikes legs to try to get the stuff. As she came up she accidentally rubbed mikes cock and it stirred.
She gasped and with drew her hand mike pulled the car into a parking space so he could get the rest of the stuff.
After he put the items back in the bag he saw that Missy and Katie were by the front door of the store waiting for him. Kristin saw this too and moved up onto mikes lap as he pulled the car around.
During the ride home the girls talked about the boy they meet at the store and other girly crap. Kristin's hand was resting at her side and Mike saw it slowly creep down the side of here leg until it was just about to be resting on mikes crotch when she retracted it and joined in on the conversation with her friends. When they got home the girls ran in to Missy's room and shut the door so they could talk about stuff and mike would not be able to hear.
"Well did you make your move?"
"I tried but I got nerves." Kristin said as she sat on the end of the bed
"I have one more idea to help you." Katie said as she got the movie out of the bag.
"I don't know about this guy, he is my /> "Even you said he was cute." Katie said as she headed for the door with the movie
"I know but still."
"But nothing this plan is going to work." With that Katie opened the door and head to the living room.
Once there she reached behind the T.V. and loosened one of the video cables. She then stuck the movie in.
"Ok Kristin go get him to come help fix the T.V." Kristin smiled and ran down the hall to Mike's room.
Mike was already deep into his paper and another knock came at his door. Like before he ignored it, but the knocking would not stop. Mike got up and opened the door and sigh loudly as Kristin stood there with her cute little look. "Please come fix the T.V. the movie will not come up."
"Look I want to finish this paper tonight so I don't have to worry about it again for the rest of the /> "It will just take a second." With that she grabbed his hand and started to lead him into the living room.
"See no picture but there is sound."
Mike walked over to the T.V. and messed with it a little with no success. He then move around the T.V. to make sure every thing was plugged in and he saw the one loose cord. He reached back and pushed it back in and the video came up. A load squeal came from the girls as the jumped up for thanked mike for helping. But Kristin reached over and hugged him again but this time her hands were lower around him so they were resting right on the top of his ass. Of course he stood there pretending that he did not like her touching him but they all knew he did. She looked up at him and said "Could you please stay and watch it with me they got a really scary one. They knew I did not like those kinds of movies." She gave him that look that he could never say no to.
Missy and Katie had already spread out over the couch so the only chair that was left was the big recliner.
"Its big enough for the both of us mike I don't take up a lot of room"
/> Mike shook his head like he was not totally against the idea. Mike sat down and Kristin sat some his lap. She moved her head back so it was resting just below Mikes face. He could smell the sweet aroma of her shampoo, and body lotion. The time passed as they watched this crap B horror film.
About mid way though Missy got up and headed to the back of the house
"I have to go to the /> "Damn I need to go too can we pause the movie." Katie said as she reached for the box.
"What ever don't be long." Mike replied.
As Katie walked passed mike could have sworn she winked at Kristin. But it was getting late so he just though he was tired. Mike leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. After a few minuets he felt something rubbing down his chest. He cracked one eye as he felt Kristin's hand was now rubbing his stomach just over his waist band of his pants. Wanting to see were she was going he let he go with out saying any thing or opening his eyes more. She finally got to right above his cock which by this time was fairly hard form having thing cute young thing sitting on him and rubbing him.
Kristin built all the courage she had and started to rub mikes cock. She followed it down admiring how big it was she had never seen a dick before being a virgin. She keeps running her hand up and down the length of his cock. Mike was sure he was not confused by her intentions any more. So he felt it was time he took some action.
"You know it easier to do that if we pull him out first." Mike said as he looked down at her.
"Well what are you waiting for." Kristin replied with a sly smile on her face.
Mike reached out and undid the button on his pants and unzipped them. Kristin not satisfied with the speed at which mike was proceeding moved his hand out of the way and reached into his pants. She started to pull his boxers down and Mike remembered that there were two others in the house.
"Shit we need to stop before they come back." He said as he tried to close his pants back up.
"They will give us as much time as we need, don't worry." she reassured him.
"So you planed this you little fox."
She said as she tried to pull his boxers down.
Mike lifted his butt up so she could get his pants off. As she slid his pants off his cock sprang free. Kristin gasped not expecting it to be as big as it was. It was a good eight inches and as tick as her wrist. She reached her little hand out and grabbed it and slowly moved her hand up and down the shaft.
Mike reached his right hand around and started to caress the inside of her thigh. Kristin flung her leg over the arm of the chair so he could have easy access to the prize. Mike moved his hand closer to her cunt and he could feel the heat coming of it. As he started to rub he snatch he felt wetness coming trough her cotton shorts. He realized at that point that she opted to not wear any panties. Mike then kicked his pants the rest of the way off and picked Kristin up and moved her over to the couch. As he laid her down he reached around her shorts and pulled them down, reveling and freshly shaven pussy with just a thin strip of hair above it. He smiled at her and started to kiss the inside of her leg starting at her knee. He slowly progressed down her leg closer to his ultimate goal. He got closer to her dripping pussy he could smell the intoxicating aroma coming from her. He kissed around her pussy getting very close then pulling away. She was moaning heavily and panting she reached down and ran her hands through his hair. The sensations were driving her crazy he was sending shivers down her spine and he has not even touched her pussy yet. She could not take any more of this and she grabbed hold of his head and ground her pussy into his face. He got the message and started to lick deep into her pussy sticking his tongue as far as he could reach it into her. She was starting to shutter and was close to orgasm. He took hold of her clit between his lips and started to suck and he slid one finger into her cunt. That was it she screamed in ecstasy as he kept a tight hold on her clit and never stopped sucking. As her orgasm subsided she pulled his head up to hers and kissed him deeply tasting her cunt juices all over him. She broke this kiss and looked deep into his eyes.
"Mike I am still a virgin and I want you to help me with that."
Mike kissed her again and reached down and lined his cock up to her pussy. He stopped the kiss and looked deep into her eyes and he slowly pushed his way in to this untouched girl. She was so tight that it felt like the circulation was being cut off to his cock. He was not in very far when he felt more resistance he looked at Kristin who was biting her lip and she nodded. He pushed past it and he gasped and closed her eyes tight form the pain. Mike stopped to give the pain a chance to subside; once she opened her eyes again he continued to fill her dripping pussy. Inch but inch it went in until he had her fully impaled on his shaft. He pulled out almost to the put of coming out completely, and slowly pushed his way back in. after several stokes like those Kristin reached around and grabbed Mikes ass with both hands. Mike knew that she wanted him to go faster so he picked up the pace. He kept it slower the normal but faster then he had been going. After a few minutes of that he felt her tense up again and he knew she was having another orgasm. She opened her eyes and smiled at him and that was all it took, he felt his balls tighten and the first eruption escape his cock deep into this beautiful young girl.
Just then he felt tiny hand reach around him and grab the bottom of his shirt he looked up and say Missy standing there in a red corset with matching garter belt and stockings. He looked back to see who had there arms around him and it was Katie wearing the same thing only in black. She pulled his shirt off and leaned in close and said.
"Did you think we would let Kristin have all the fun?"
I will be working and the next part if you guys like this one. And it will have more action in it for sure.
story by: Mike32
Tags: fiction young virginity male / female teens sex story
Author: Mike32


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This posting compares and contrasts interesting provisions within the most recent contracts between two Alaska school districts and their respective local unions. I place these analyses within the context of Alaska's scope of bargaining statute, and within the larger context of Alaska's unusual K – 12 student demographics. In an effort to explore how differences between urban and rural education in Alaska are reflected in the content of local contracts, I examine the Anchorage School District's 2010-2013 contract with the Anchorage Education Association, and the North Slope Borough School District's 2009-2012 contract with the North Slope Borough Education Association. I argue that each district's unique setting is reflected in the language of their contracts, and that on the North Slope, steps should be taken to align local union responsibilities with the District's current educational reform initiative. I premise the discussion by providing a brief synopsis of the state's scope of bargaining, as defined by statute, before introducing the Anchorage School District (ASD) and the North Slope Borough School District (NSBSD). I provide an overview of these districts and then discuss salient differences in their respective provisions.
Alaska's Scope of Bargaining
Alaska's scope of bargaining statue permits collective bargaining between school districts and representative bargaining organizations, and striking by labor organizations representing employees of a municipal school district. Negotiations are limited to wages, hours of work, compensation, fringe benefits, and personnel policies. Recognition and grievance procedures, extra-curricula activities and duties, professional development, life, health and liability insurance, automobile allowances and reimbursements for physical examinations are also mandatory subjects of bargaining. The document cites Alaska Supreme Court precedent[1] as bases for the narrowing of scope to the economic interests of employees and attendant aversion to issues that deal with professional goals and methods. Although "professional goals and methods" are not defined, the following subjects are non-negotiable: relief from non-instructional chores, class size, teacher load and preparation time, evaluation of administrators, numbers of teacher aides, para-professionals, and specialists, and the school calendar.
Contextualizing the ASD and NSBSD
There are remarkable demographic and geographic differences between the ASD and NSBSD. In 2010, nearly 300,000 people were living in Anchorage, the most populous and ethnically diverse city in Alaska (U.S. Census, 2010). As of the 2010-2011 school year 49,206 K-12 students were enrolled in the ASD's 97 schools, 53% of who are of color (Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, 2010). That year, 72% of Anchorage high school students graduated.
By contrast, the NSBSD encompasses 11 schools in eight Iñupiat (Inuit) communities above the Arctic Circle, spanning an area larger than the state of Minnesota. As of 2010, 9,430 people were living in the region, and 80% of the District's 1,605 students were Iñupiat. The high school graduation rate for NSBSD students is about 59% overall and 54% for Iñupiat. In keeping with the District's mandate to provide culturally and locally responsive education, the District began unrolling a school reform initiative in 2006 that places the learning priorities of the dominant Iñupiat population at the center of the education system (Siku News, September 10, 2010). As illustrated in the following section, language alluding to this initiative is curiously absent from the NSBSD's contract with the North Slope Borough Education Association (NSBEA).
Comparing ASD and NSBSD Contracts
The ASD and NSBSD contracts appear to stay within the narrow parameters outlined by statute, with the main differences being that the ASD-AEA contract is much more specific while the NSBSD-NSBEA contract leaves sections such as "Reduction in Force" and parent-teacher conference requirements extremely vague. It is questionable whether certain supports available to Anchorage teachers, and provisions concerning teacher-parent-student relations on the North Slope may fall within the excluded "general policies describing the function and purpose of a public employer." The ASD's contract with the AEA supports "experimentation to improve student performance," and encourages teacher innovation, recognizing the benefits of classroom visits and innovative site-based activities. This implies that teachers have a certain degree of latitude when it comes to developing curricula and crafting pedagogical practices. The ASD-AEA contract also provides for the development of mentoring and Instructional Coach programs in order to "strengthen educator recruitment, retention, and student achievement."
In contrast to ASD language about school-level improvisation, the NSBSD-NSBEA contract tends to concentrate power and decision-making at the district level. Teacher innovation and experimentation are not stressed, and comparable teacher mentorship opportunities do not exist. If teacher mentorship opportunities are designed to increase teacher retention, it is important to note that teacher turnover is more than twice as high in rural Alaska school districts than in the state's five urban districts. The NSBSD-NSBEA contract gives teachers the freedom and responsibility to plan, develop, and implement teaching techniques and methodologies in keeping with prescribed curriculum guides. A superintendent-appointed Curriculum Development Committee exists within the NSBSD, and the NSBEA is entitled to representation on that committee. As the district works to implement the Iñupiaq Learning Framework at the center of its reform initiative, it is likely that greater centralization of curricula and pedagogy will be necessary due to the local knowledge limitations inherent in an overwhelmingly non-Native and non-Alaskan teaching force.
On a related note, it is startling that the NSBSD-NSBEA says nothing about the educational goals of the majority Iñupiat population, as outlined in the Iñupiat Learning Framework. I know from work experience that the Framework asks teachers to occupy significantly different roles than they have in the past, as facilitators of self-determination rather than colonization. The contract does not allude to the challenges universally endemic of an education system that has been imposed upon a population as a colonizing device, nor does it mention the words "Iñupiat," "Indigenous," or "Alaska Native" at all. In fact, the only sign that teachers will be occupying different geographical and cultural space is the contract's "Village Cost Differential Payment," which is meant to compensate for the region's exorbitantly high cost of living. Perhaps similarly, teachers are eligible for "Family Communications" performance pay of up to $1000 for classroom and face-to-face communications with parents/family in the presence of students. It is unclear whether this is a trust-building measure or a substitute for parent-teacher conferences.
The ASD-AEA and NSBSD-NSBEA contracts differ substantially yet both appear consistent with Alaska's scope of bargaining statute. ASD-AEA generally gives schools and teachers more discretion in decision-making, and perhaps this helps explain why contract language was much more detailed and specific in contrast to NSBSD-NSBEA, which tended to leave issues relatively vague. This is probably due to the relatively small size of the NSBSD, or it may betray an aversion to concentrating power and decision-making in the hands of teachers who are much more likely than Anchorage teachers to leave the district after a short time. School districts such as the ASD are privileged when it comes to teacher mentorship and support – services that are at least contractually absent from the NSBSD, ostensibly due to high teacher turnover – and this is one symptom of inequity between urban and rural districts. My most salient finding, however, was the seeming inconsistency between the stated educational goals of the region's majority Indigenous population as outlined in the Iñupiaq Learning Framework, and contract language that does not speak to the problematic role non-Indigenous teachers often find themselves in as outsiders with little guidance, imposing their values in classrooms.
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. (2010). "Enrollment by District, Ethnicity and Grade as of Oct. 1, 2010," accessed February 29, 2012, http://www.eed.state.ak.us/stats/.
Siku News. (September 10, 2010). "New Inupiaq framework says it all", accessed February 29, 2012, http://www.sikunews.com/News/Alaska/New-Inupiaq-framework-says-it-all-8095.
U.S. Census (2010). "QuickFacts", accessed February 29, 2012, http://quickfacts.census.
[1] Alaska Public Employees Ass'n v. Alaska State Employees Ass'n (1992) and Kai Sch. District v. Kenai Educ. Ass'n (1977).


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Day to day commutes might get a little easier for Garden Grove residents following a decision by city council members to adopt traffic light synchronization projects for Garden Grove Boulevard and Katella Street.
"With the traffic delay, also severed is the cost of business, the cost of potential people that can come and shop in Garden Grove," said Mayor Pro Tem Phat Bui, "And therefore, I think there is a real strong (contingent) for intention-able benefits, 45 minutes each day, 365 days a year add up to a lot more than the city matching fund is.
"I just want to clarify this point to the public, I believe the benefit (of reducing traffic) in terms of financial would be tremendous for merchants in Garden Grove," he added during the Nov. 28 city council meeting.
The Orange County Transportation Authority issued a call for projects to coordinate traffic signals across jurisdictional boundaries in the county funded under the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Programs. Two corridors, Garden Grove Boulevard and Katella Avenue, were identified as heavily traveled corridors that would benefit from traffic signal coordination.
Traffic signal coordination occurs when a group of two or more traffic signals are working together so cars moving through the group will make the least number of stops possible.
There will be no impact to the Garden Grove General Fund. Public Works will be funding the projects through Traffic Mitigation Fees and Measure M2 Local Fair Share according to Public Works Director Bill Murray.
This is just one transportation improvement Garden Grove has been making steadily since The West County Connectors project was completed in 2014. The project was a partnership between OCTA and Caltrans linking (HOV) lanes/carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) with those on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) and San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) to create a seamless carpool connection among the three freeways.
"Those streets have been compacted over the years, and that's why these synchronization projects keep coming up, is as cities develop and there's new destinations that are created, traffic patterns tend to change," Murray said. "Also our freeway improvements or even construction works will have a significant impact on traffic patterns."
New planning theory, coupled with consumer demand for public transit, has brought greater attention to how transportation planning decisions fit into the design of healthy communities. According to Murray, the transportation improvements and specifically, the traffic light synchronization, will have a positive impact on commuters and the city.
"It will move the vehicles along at an orderly pace and with the overlaying hope that they will spend less time stopped. When you reduce the amount of vehicle down-time in terms of being stopped at a signal, you save motorists in terms of gas and you also save them in terms of emissions, so you are not creating as much smog, theoretically," he said.
The proposed Garden Grove Boulevard project spans approximately 8.6 miles and includes 34 traffic signals. It would begin at Valley View Street in Westminster and end at Bristol Street in Santa Ana. Garden Grove currently has jurisdiction of 20 traffic signals on Garden Grove Boulevard.
The proposed Katella Avenue project spans approximately 19.6 miles and includes 73 traffic signals. It would begin at the I-605 in Los Alamitos and end at Jamboree Street in Orange. Garden Grove currently has jurisdiction of two traffic signals on Katella Avenue.
See maps here
The City of Garden Grove's financial responsibility for the two projects is estimated at $464,972, covered by the Traffic Mitigation Fees and Measure M2 Local Fair Share, not the general budget.
"People get excited, you see those large figures," said Council Member John R. O'Neill. "I just wanted to point out that 464 is not coming out of our general budget – the general plan I should say."
Both projects will include the development and implementation of signal timing, traffic signal equipment upgrades, and two years of traffic signal timing maintenance. The projects are anticipated to begin September 2018.
Natalie van Winden is a student journalist at Chapman University participating in the Voice of OC Youth Media program.


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Quick hits (New Year's day edition)
January 1, 2019 2 Comments
1) Really enjoyed Austin Murphy's account of what it's like to go from a successful Sports Illustrated journalist to delivering packages for Amazon.
2) Why it's not a good idea to tie allowance to chores. In our case, it's a huge parent fail in not having my kids do more chores. But at least we're not giving them an allowance for it 😉
A range of experts I consulted expressed concern that tying allowance very closely to chores, whatever its apparent short-term effectiveness, can send kids unintentionally counterproductive messages about family, community, and personal responsibility. In fact, the way chores work in many households worldwide points to another way, in which kids get involved earlier, feel better about their contributions, and don't need money as an enticement.
Suniya Luthar, a psychologist at Arizona State University who studies families, is skeptical of the idea of paying kids on a per-chore basis. "How sustainable is it if you're going to pay a child a dime for each time he picks up his clothes off the floor?" she says. "What are you saying—that you're owed something for taking care of your stuff?"
Luthar is not opposed to giving allowances, but she thinks it's important to establish that certain core chores are done not because they'll lead to payment, but because they keep the household running. "It's part of what you do as a family," Luthar says. "In a family, no one's going to pay you to tie your own shoes or to put your clothes away." Whatever the approach, she adds, it's important to acknowledge that parenting is confusing and exhausting work, and it can be difficult to broker household labor agreements without ever resorting to bribery of some sort.
3) Christian nationalists (and their love of Trump) are the worst:
I have attended dozens of Christian nationalist conferences and events over the past two years. And while I have heard plenty of comments casting doubt on the more questionable aspects of Mr. Trump's character, the gist of the proceedings almost always comes down to the belief that he is a miracle sent straight from heaven to bring the nation back to the Lord. I have also learned that resistance to Mr. Trump is tantamount to resistance to God.
This isn't the religious right we thought we knew. The Christian nationalist movement today is authoritarian, paranoid and patriarchal at its core. They aren't fighting a culture war. They're making a direct attack on democracy itself.
They want it all. And in Mr. Trump, they have found a man who does not merely serve their cause, but also satisfies their craving for a certain kind of political leadership.
4) This NYT interactive series on women's reproductive rights is amazing (honestly, I get more value from my $15/month for NYT than for about anything). There's too much here to take all on, but I found the part about feticide laws and how they take away women's rights especially compelling:
Nine states recognize feticide only in later periods of a fetus's development, such as when it could survive outside the womb. In 2004, Congress passed the first federal statute to give victim status to fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses, in cases of violent crime against pregnant women.
These laws have meant that pregnant women who were addicted to drugs, were suicidal, were in car accidents, fell down stairs, delivered at home, refused C-sections or went about their lives in ways that were perceived to harm their pregnancies have been detained and jailed for a variety of crimes, including murder, manslaughter, neglect, criminal recklessness and chemical endangerment.
5) The war between abstinence and medication-assisted-therapy approaches to drug addiction. The fact that science has shown the latter approach to be far more effective does not always matter.
Anti-craving medications are not a silver bullet; relapse is common even among people who take them, and some in fact do better with an abstinence approach. But there is substantial evidence that buprenorphine and a similar drug, methadone — which has faced ideological resistance on and off for decades — reduce the mortality rate among people addicted to opioids by half or more; they are also more successful at keeping people in treatment than abstinence-based approaches.
6) Had a recent argument with my stepmom about how Trump was actually not making America great again. I kind of wish I had these charts to show her. Of course, it wouldn't matter. As my NeverTrump sort-of-still Republican sister tried to convince her mother and said, "but I'm right," I explained that being right never convinced anybody. But, still… facts.
7) Ezra Klein with a great summary of Hetherington and Weiler's work a couple weeks ago. Meant to do a post. You should read it. On a related note, I've assigned Prius or Pickup for my upcoming Public Opinion & Media class.
"Of the many factors that make up your worldview, one is more fundamental than any other in determining which side of the divide you gravitate toward: your perception of how dangerous the world is. Fear is perhaps our most primal instinct, after all, so it's only logical that people's level of fearfulness informs their outlook on life."
That's political scientists Marc Hetherington and Jonathan Weiler, writing in their book Prius or Pickup, which marshals a massive trove of survey data and experimental evidence to argue that the roots of our political divides run so deep that they make us almost incomprehensible to one another. Our political divisions, they say, aren't about policy disagreements, or even demographics. They're about something more ancient in how we view the world.
Hetherington and Weiler call these worldviews, which express themselves in everything from policy preferences to parenting styles, "fixed" versus "fluid." The fixed worldview "describes people who are warier of social and cultural change and hence more set in their ways, more suspicious of outsiders, and more comfortable with the familiar and predictable." People with a fluid worldview, by contrast, "support changing social and cultural norms, are excited by things that are new and novel, and are open to, and welcoming of, people who look and sound different."
What's happened in recent decades, they argue, is that politics in general, and our political parties in particular, have reorganized around these worldviews, adding a new, and arguably irreconcilable, difference into our political divisions. That difference is visible in everything from what we think to where we live to how we shop, but it's particularly apparent in how hard it is for us to understand how the other side views the world.
8) I'm not going to read this biography of John Marshall (pretty much never read biographies), but I really enjoyed what I learned in this review.
9) Vox recently recycled it and for all I know, I've linked it before, but I really like it. Current American society/culture makes it too damn hard to make adult friendships. David Roberts, "How our housing choices make adult friendships more difficult." Very true. I'm very lucky that I have several truly good friends at NC State, but I really wish I know more people in my neighborhood.
10) I loved this essay from Jennifer Weiner on the value of re-learning piano and middle age. A lot of it resonated with how I feel about taking up guitar.
11) So, as you know, I'm re-working my way through Breaking Bad (love it even more the 2nd time) with my firstborn and reader of this blog. This time I went and found the video for this song that serves as the music for a terrific scene in a 4th season episode.
I think that will do it for now. A few more that I wanted to put here, but I'm still hoping to find the time/incentive to give their own post. Plus, still vacation for today.