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99% Cocoa Dark Chocolate EXCELLENCE Bar (1.8 oz)
This rare find reveals all the strength and richness of cocoa beans-an ideal choice for truly sophisticated palates. 99% Cocoa content reveals the purity of the cocoa bean in its entire complex splendor. A truly intense experience best savored slowly.
More details
Nutrition Information
Lindt EXCELLENCE: Prepared especially for you by the Lindt Master Chocolatiers who, from selecting the highest quality cocoa beans to creating the finest textures and tastes chocolate can offer, demand nothing less than Perfection. Lindt chocolate embodies the passion and expert craftsmanship of its Lindt Master Swiss Chocolatiers. Lindt delivers a unique chocolate experience offering a distinctly smooth and rich, gourmet taste.
- Flavor: Dark Chocolate
- Chocolate type: Dark Chocolate
- Piece count: 1
- Net weight: 1.8 oz (51 g)
- Size (in.): 3.5 x 0.3 x 7.6
- Brand: EXCELLENCE
- Packaging: Wrapper
- Country: France
- Gluten free: Yes


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|Nom du fichier : Ride To Hell : Retribution [Xbox 360] - Auteur : ANO
Complete all other achievements. - To Hell and Back
Defeat 10 Devil's Hand enemies. - Gang Wars
Defeat 500 Devil's Hand enemies. - Master of Massacre
Perform a Rage Attack on foot. - Anger Management
Perform 10 Rage Attacks on bike. - Road Rage
Perform a kill with every type of melee weapon. - Hands On
Get 3 A Grades at the gun range. - Target Practice
Kill 50 enemies with Headshots. - Lead Heads
Perform a Dirty Fighting Technique attack. - Taking the Initiative
Perform an S Grade Wheelie. - Wheelie Good
Perform an S Grade Jump. - Get Some Air
Perform an S Grade Powerslide. - Slide It In
Perform 10 S Grade Wheelies. - Wheelie God
Jump a total of 1000 feet. - Flying High
Perform 10 S Grade Powerslides. - Slip and Slide
Purchase 5 Weapons. - Lock & Load
Save a girl. - Mr. Nice Guy
Save every girl being harassed. - Ladies Man
Purchase all the Manuals. - Bookworm
Sell one of every drug type. - My Prescription
Collect a Playing Card. - Card Shark
Collect all the cards in the red deck. - Card Collector RED
Collect all the cards in the blue deck. - Card Collector BLUE
Unlock all Bike Paints. - Painting the Town
Unlock all Bike Artwork. - Art Appreciation
Unlock all Bike Parts. - Sweet Ride
Complete the opening sequence. - Unfinished Business
Defeat Anvil. - The Bigger They Are...
Defeat Colt. - Killing Cowboys
Defeat Meathook. - Right Hook For Meathook
Defeat Greasy Steve. - Explosive Endings
Defeat Triple 6. - Carpenter
Defeat King Dick. - Holy Ghost
Defeat Pretty Boy. - Pretty No More
Defeat Caesar. - Bloody Retribution
Complete the game on the Easy Rider difficulty setting. - Easy Rider
Complete the game on the Badass Biker difficulty setting. - Badass Biker
Complete the game on the One Percenter difficulty setting. - One Percenter

subset: commoncrawl


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Teaching at Adveti is awful? Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Teaching at Adveti is awful? Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> United Arab Emirates View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message MarthaOKJoined: 20 Apr 2012Posts: 7 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:52 am Post subject: Teaching at Adveti is awful? I read a post on another thread that basically said that teaching at ADVETI was awful. I am currently seeking a job with them (actually with one of their secondary level feeder schools) and would like to have more information. Back to top scot47Joined: 10 Jan 2003Posts: 15343 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:56 am Post subject: All secondary school teaching in the UAE is awful. Without exceptions. Back to top MarthaOKJoined: 20 Apr 2012Posts: 7 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:30 pm Post subject: Could you elaborate? What makes it awful? Back to top veiledsentimentsJoined: 20 Feb 2003Posts: 17644Location: USA Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:11 pm Post subject: With some exceptions, discipline can be a major issue. The kids are spoiled rotten and it often seems that the worst of them and their even more demanding parents run the show. You hear some real horror stories... especially from secondary level teachers. You need to have strong classroom management skills. VS Back to top MarthaOKJoined: 20 Apr 2012Posts: 7 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject: veiledsentiments wrote: You need to have strong classroom management skills. I do. . .here in the US. But classroom management only goes as far as an administration that is willing and able to back up the classroom teacher. Is this something I can't expect in a secondary classroom with this organization? I have never worked outside the US, so I'd really like to know how it compares. Back to top veiledsentimentsJoined: 20 Feb 2003Posts: 17644Location: USA Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:25 am Post subject: The thing is that even within the US, there is great variation in what type of classroom management skills are needed and how strongly the school management will support you. Teaching in urban SE Washington DC is very different from teaching in say... rural Left Overshoe, Nebraska. It's a whole different ballgame in the Gulf and would very likely be similar to nothing that you would find in the West. Add to that dealing with the cultural differences. A friend of mine taught in one of the prestigious International schools in Saudi - all very rich and very spoiled kids... a couple of the kids put up a stink because silverware and table/chairs are un-Islamic. So the lunchroom became a sit-on-the-floor and eat-with-your-hands facility. He hated his turn at lunchroom duty. It is a slightly outrageous example, but his description was that the lunatics ran the asylum. If you are a certified teacher, have you looked into TeachAway? They are an unusual recruiter in that they have drawn few complaints here. VS Back to top MarthaOKJoined: 20 Apr 2012Posts: 7 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:39 am Post subject: Yes, I am a certified teacher and am working through TeachAway. Though I can't imagine how tables and silverware would be un-Islamic, it wouldn't bother me too much if what you described were to happen at a school where I taught. What I'd be more concerned with would be specific bad behaviors in my own classroom, particularly if I worked for Adveti. Back to top veiledsentimentsJoined: 20 Feb 2003Posts: 17644Location: USA Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:55 am Post subject: Have you visited TeachAway's facebook page? It may be a place to touch base with teachers who have more experience with K-12 in the Gulf. Most of the teachers here on this board teach adults... university or oil related or military. VS Back to top MarthaOKJoined: 20 Apr 2012Posts: 7 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:07 am Post subject: Yes, I post on their FB page but there is an absence of any useful information on ADVETI, mostly just posts from Licensed Teachers working in elementary school settings. I have communicated with a couple of secondary teachers working for ADEC and what I've gleaned from them is that a secondary teacher's experience will depend on the administration at their school and that the main problems they deal with are apathy and talkative students (incidentally, those are the main problems I currently deal with in my present position here in the US). From what I have read, there are only five ADVETI campuses, so surely I can get information on how they are run somewhere. The other ADVETI thread on this page contains very little useful information as the discussion about the school was derailed by the argument about salaries, and now it's locked. I am trying to rack up enough posts so that I can PM the people who said they work or once worked there. Back to top Gus BarkleyJoined: 26 Aug 2010Posts: 78 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:05 am Post subject: I was a successful content instructor in the US. I had taught many non-native speakers in my content area so I was not concerned about reaching my students. It is safe to say I was blown away when I arrived. I was completely unprepared and my first two months were such a disaster I expected to shuttled off if I didn't get the guts to quit myself. My 2 biggest problems: 1. I never had classroom management problems in the US and because I didn't I was not ready to deal with students who couldn't care less to be there. In the US if a student really didn't want to be there s/he simply wouldn't come. Here the college education is free but attendance is compulsory. Predictably, some students attend but have no intention of paying attention. 2. I was not prepared for the amount of "help" students would give each other. In the US most good students would not let the lazy students who did not study cheat off of them. Here it is a duty to help your friend. I likened my situation to being thrown in the deep end. I either had to learn to swim very quickly or I'd drown. I'm still here several years later so I'd say I at least learned how to tread water. Back to top MarthaOKJoined: 20 Apr 2012Posts: 7 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:43 pm Post subject: Gus, what are some ways that you have learned to deal with those two issues? Back to top GeronimoJoined: 11 Apr 2007Posts: 498 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 5:43 pm Post subject: Hi MarthaOK, There are some some videos about Adveti on youtube that might offer you a few insights... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TooH2luhAUI&feature=related Adveti is a sizeable operation which warrants more informed consideration in this forum. O.K., and to please V.S., here's a link to "Teach Away in Abu Dhabi".. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7LvqJ0faOY&feature=related Geronimo Back to top MarthaOKJoined: 20 Apr 2012Posts: 7 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:33 pm Post subject: Thanks, Geronimo. Back to top veiledsentimentsJoined: 20 Feb 2003Posts: 17644Location: USA Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:59 am Post subject: Geronimo wrote: Adveti is a sizeable operation which warrants more informed consideration in this forum. Geronimo Agreed Geronimo... but getting information seems to be the hard part. I find it surprising how many teachers in the Emirates currently and for years have never heard of it. VS Back to top D. MeritJoined: 02 May 2008Posts: 203 Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:44 am Post subject: Pretty sure everyone I work with knows about ADVETI. It was being talked about A LOT a couple of years ago when the package was one of the best in the region. Then the package was slashed, and it's probably true to say that they are not talked about quite so much now. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> United Arab Emirates All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. 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These yellow strips are a current favorite because they're new! They arrived wrapped around boxes I received in the mail.
My friends Claire and Marc got married last August and held the reception at their farm.
I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock! See others' completed homework assignments HERE. Come join in! This week our letter is "M."
photos by me © 2010-2012 all rights reserved


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Space Dogs
by Gary Kowalski
Science tells us that what goes up must come down, a law enunciated by Isaac Newton. Religion informs us of the corollary that what goes down must also rise again, an insight expounded in countless myths of death and rebirth, but which probably originated from simple observations of the stars and other rhythms of nature.
Orion the Hunter, accompanied by his mighty dog Sirius, is one of the few constellations that almost everyone knows. In New England, where I live, the pair appears during the colder months, rising in the southeast and arcing across the heavens while we sleep. There's no mistaking the two, because Sirius, the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the sky.
How did this celestial hound get up there? The Greeks said Zeus elevated Sirius to the heavens when the dog's master wooed a goddess and earned a share of immortality. For the Egyptians, Sirius was the abode of souls. The star's first appearance, in late summer, signaled the season for the Nile's recurrent flooding, marking a New Year and the restoration of life. Pyramids were often oriented toward the Dog Star, which served as a luminous beacon guiding the dead on their final journey.
At a little less than nine light years away, Sirius is nearly twice as luminescent as its closest competitor. So it's not surprising this object has been a magnet for myths and legends. But it is remarkable how many cultures—widely separated in time and geography—have associated man's best friend with the brightest lantern in the sky.
For the Chinese, Sirius was known as the Celestial Jackal or Heavenly Wolf. In one preserved mortuary vessel from the early Han dynasty (c. 250 BCE), T'ien Lang, as the dog is called, is depicted lunging with bared fangs at an archer, the constellation Chinese astronomers called the Bow.
For the native peoples of North America, the star held the same associations with dogs and the departed. The Pawnee called Sirius the Coyote or Wolf Star, one of the four pillars that supported the night sky and also the guide who accompanied spirits into the afterlife. For the Inuit people of Alaska, the "Moon-Dog" (as Sirius was known) played a similar role. Cherokee legends suggest that Sirius was one of two mighty dogs, the other being the brilliant star Antares, who together guarded the gates of eternity.
How did Sirius acquire its connection with canines and the great beyond, not only for Greeks and Romans, but also for the Egyptians, the Chinese, and Cherokee? Perhaps the link goes back to Neolithic times, when dogs were first domesticated. One of the first pieces of evidence of the interspecies bond dates back to 14,000 BCE, where dogs and humans can be found buried together at a site in Bonn-Oberkassel, Germany. In Israel, another of the earliest human interments has been excavated, dating back roughly 12,000 years. That grave site also contains the remains of a dog, alongside an elderly person whose hand has been placed rather touchingly on the shoulder of a young pup, as if petting or protecting it. From time immemorial, dogs and their human companions faced the unknown together. And as they pondered the darkness, perhaps inevitably, people's hopes turned toward the night's most lustrous object.
In India, the same traditions can be found. There, Sirius is called Svana, the dog of Yudhisthira, who is the hero of the religious epic the Mahabharata. Yudhisthira is renowned for his love of satya (truth) and dharma (righteousness), but his character is revealed most fully at the conclusion of the drama. Arduously, Yudhisthira and his brothers scale the peaks of the Himalayas on their final pilgrimage. One by one, the four brothers fall aside. But Yudhisthira, who is without sin, achieves the summit and there Indra, the King of Gods, prepares to take the hero to heaven in a golden chariot. Indra tells Yudhisthira he must leave his dog behind, however, as a creature not worthy of eternity. "There is no place in Heaven for persons with dogs," Indra announces.
Yudhisthira responds, "This dog, O Lord of the Past and the Present, is exceedingly devoted to me. He should go with me. My heart is full of compassion for him," and compassion is the great teaching of the Vedas. But you've renounced everything else, Indra reasons. Why not sacrifice this dog, too? Still, Yudhisthira won't betray his four-footed friend, even if it means forgoing bliss. "Hence, O great Indra, I shall not abandon this dog today from desire of my happiness." That's devotion.
At this moment of supreme self-denial, the dog morphs into a deity, who had just been testing Yudhisthira. The gates of paradise open for man and mutt alike. And Svana—whose name in Sanskrit means "dog"—takes his place in the firmament above.
Even Edgar Cayce mentioned the Dog Star in his psychic readings. According to reading 993-6, the ancient Egyptian Temple Beautiful, which was like a university for spiritual learning, had an opalescent hue in the heaven in the dome or ceiling. The Dog Star was specifically listed above one of the seven stations.
What wonderful old stories! They make the night seem less lonely, the stars a bit friendlier and more welcoming. And whatever heaven is out there or up there, beyond the Milky Way, it's good to think that pets are allowed.
Gary Kowalski is the author of numerous books on spirituality, nature, science and history, including the forthcoming volume Blessings of the Animals: Celebrating Our Kinship With All Creation (Lantern Books, 2012) from which this article is adapted. A graduate of Harvard College and the Harvard Divinity School, he has lectured at Association for Research and Enlightenment conferences. To contact Gary or see a complete list of his titles, visit his website at www.kowalskibooks.com.


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By Rhett A. Butler
Unsustainable hunting of forest elephants, gorillas, forest antelopes, and other seed-dispersers could have long-term impacts on the health and resilience of Congo Basin rainforests, warns a study published today in a special issue of the journal Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B.
Conducting a review of more than 160 papers and reports on trends in wildlife populations, hunting, and land use in the Congo Basin, a team of researchers from Oxford University, the University of Queensland, the University of Stirling, and the Wildlife Conservation Society conclude that unless effective management plans are put into place, hunting pressure in the region is likely to increase, with knock-on ecological effects.
The authors warn that "profound ecological changes initiated by hunting ... may even exacerbate the predicted effects of climate change for the region."
While humans have long hunted animals in Africa's tropical forests, in recent decades the proliferation of logging roads, which provide access to remote forest areas, and the emergence of large urban markets for bushmeat have culminated in a sharp rise in commercial hunting in the region. Exploding demand for ivory is worsening the situation, resulting in depletion of a range of seed-dispersing species and wildlife that plays a key role in forest ecology. For example, the loss of elephants from forests in West Africa has triggered a shift toward smaller, faster-growing trees that are less diverse and store less carbon.
"Animal-dispersed tree species, particularly those with large seeds dispersed by large mammals, therefore contribute a high proportion of the overall carbon-storage capacity of tropical forests," the authors write. "Carbon storage may therefore erode over time if tree regeneration is hampered by changes in faunal guilds, including extinction of large specialized disperser species or increases in seed-predating species enjoying ecological release from their predators." More....


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Your morning roundup for Feb. 20. Photo via Twitter. Got any stories or photos for us? Tip your editors.
What we're watching (all times EST): Hawks at Bulls (ESPN) at 4. Connecticut at Villanova (ESPN) in men's college basketball at 7. Ohio State at Penn State (ESPN2) in women's college basketball at 7. Capitals at Hurricanes (NBCSN) at 7:30. Celtics at Mavericks (TNT) at 8. Baylor at Texas (ESPN) in men's college basketball at 9. Vanderbilt at Kentucky (ESPN2) in women's college basketball at 9. Trail Blazers at Lakers (TNT) at 10:30.
Read me
John Fairfax, apprentice pirate, adventurer: "He crossed the Atlantic because it was there, and the Pacific because it was also there. He made both crossings in a rowboat because it, too, was there, and because the lure of sea, spray and sinew, and the history-making chance to traverse two oceans without steam or sail, proved irresistible. In 1969, after six months alone on the Atlantic battling storms, sharks and encroaching madness, John Fairfax, who died this month at 74, became the first lone oarsman in recorded history to traverse any ocean. ... At 9, he settled a dispute with a pistol. At 13, he lit out for the Amazon jungle. At 20, he attempted suicide-by-jaguar. Afterward he was apprenticed to a pirate. To please his mother, who did not take kindly to his being a pirate, he briefly managed a mink farm, one of the few truly dull entries on his otherwise crackling résumé, which lately included a career as a professional gambler. Mr. Fairfax was among the last avatars of a centuries-old figure: the lone-wolf explorer, whose exploits are conceived to satisfy few but himself. His was a solitary, contemplative art that has been all but lost amid the contrived derring-do of adventure-based reality television." [New York Times]
This Date In Deadspin History
Feb 20, 2009: World's Oldest JuCo Player Declared Ineligible
When Josh Beckett says "distracted" he means "drunk": "Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett admitted on Sunday to some 'lapses in judgment' regarding his conduct in the team's clubhouse last season, which ended with a historic September collapse, and said he was 'distracted.' 'We made mistakes in the clubhouse, and that's about as far as I'll go talking about the clubhouse,' he said. Beckett would not elaborate on why he was distracted, but his wife gave birth to the couple's first child late last season. Beckett also insisted there was never a time he wasn't ready to pitch and when asked if it was fair to be singled out for being out of shape at the end of the season, he said, 'I put on a little bit of weight. I don't have a reason for it, but it happened. I'm looking forward to going forward from here.'" [ESPN Boston]
Kobe Bryant hates trade rumors not about Kobe Bryant: "Kobe Bryant lashed out at Los Angeles Lakers management Sunday night for leaving teammate Pau Gasol wondering whether he's about to be traded. In a postgame monologue punctuated by a couple of profanities, Bryant said the Lakers either need to trade Gasol or come out and say it won't happen. Bryant's comments came in the aftermath of a 102-90 loss at Phoenix on Sunday night. He said he doesn't want Gasol to be traded but it's unfair for his teammate to try to play when he doesn't know if he'll be somewhere else the following day. As Bryant put it: 'If they're going to do something, I wish they would just ... do it. Listen, he's been the consummate professional,' Bryant said. 'He's going out and he's trying to do what he can. But let's be real. If you didn't know you were going to be here tomorrow, if your head's on the chopping block and you feel like you're just waiting, it's tough to put all yourself in the game.'" [Yahoo Sports]
Your Reporter WTF Interlude:
Red Wings win record 23 straight home games. In hockey, we think: "Despite defeating the Detroit Red Wings in five straight regular season games dating back to last year—not to mention ending hockey season early in the Motor City the past two playoffs—the Sharks on Sunday became the latest visiting team to pack up and leave the visitor's locker room in a huff. The Red Wings downed San Jose 3-2 in a game televised on NBC as part of USA Hockey's "Hockey Weekend Across America" celebration and pushed their NHL record home-win streak to a jaw-dropping 23 games in the process. 'It's pretty amazing,' said Detroit forward Drew Miller, who led the way with his 12th goal and set up Darren Helm's game-winner in the third with a nice takeaway and feed to the slot. '[The old record of 20] was around for so long. We got a couple games past it, so it's going to be pretty tough to touch it.'" [NHL.com]
Miguel Cabrera is excited to be the second fattest guy on the team, for once: "Looking noticeably trimmer than last year and sounding happy as ever, Miguel Cabrera arrived in Tigers camp this morning. Before he headed to the indoor batting cage, the first-baseman-turned-third-baseman gave his first interview in camp. He talked about the various ways the Prince Fielder signing will impact him. 'I think everybody is excited to have a guy like that in the lineup,' Cabrera said. 'It brings a lot of positive things.' Cabrera said he understood fully why he has been moved to third base. It allows Fielder to enter the lineup and play first, his lone position. 'We are here to win games,' Cabrera said. 'We're here for one reason: to try to win a championship. My goal is always to lose weight and be in the best shape.'" [Detroit Free Press]
Send stories, photos, and anything else you might have to email@example.com.


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Your data are destined to the Centre Technique du Papier. No personal information shall be disclosed to third parties.
You may access, modify correct or delete any data concerning you (Art. 34 of the French Data Protection Act "Informatique et Libertés"). To exercise this right, please contact in writing to: Centre Technique du Papier - Domaine Universitaire - CS 90251 - 38044 GRENOBLE - Cedex 9 - FRANCE


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Playing this video requires the latest flash player from Adobe.
Download link (right click and 'save-as') for playing in VLC or other compatible player.
I will overview the progress of 21cm cosmology, with emphasis on intensity mapping. Current and future experiments have the potential for precision measurements of dark energy, neutrino mass, and gravitational waves.


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Washington's latest kerfuffle, at a time when political kerfuffling is epidemic, concerns the number of women in President Obama's inner circle. Some say there are too few.
A clutch of pundits and editorial writers fears that the latest selections – Chuck Hagel, John Kerry and Jack Lew – reflect a male bias in the Obama Administration. "President Obama ran promoting women's issues," notes Maureen Dowd of The New York Times, and so she now asks, "How about promoting some women?"
The criticism is not only baseless in terms of the president's record; it suggests a ridiculous quid pro quo, as if women cast votes in exchange for political appointments. Women supported the president for myriad social and economic reasons, as reflected in polls, but nowhere in the data is there evidence that female voters were motivated by hopes of gaining more spots in the Cabinet.
Only Bill Clinton placed as many women in Cabinet-level positions as President Obama has, nine, and in Clinton's case the mark was set during his second term. In the nation's history, only 43 women have held such posts, and Obama appointed 21 percent of them during his first term.
But as compelling as the numbers are, this isn't about numbers, nor should it be. At the very time that President Clinton was appointing a record number of women to high-level posts, he, too, was criticized. Clinton's reply was short and direct: "I don't believe in quotas."
Clinton might have added, parenthetically, "...in the nation's highest and most vital positions." There is a good case to be made for affirmative-action style hiring in the lower ranks. Only by placing women and minorities in these positions will there ever be enough qualified candidates for the bigger jobs. That's why, within the entire Obama Administration, the male-female split is about 50-50.
But when it comes to top Cabinet positions and the Supreme Court – where Obama's two appointments were women – there is no acceptable standard except finding the best person for the job.
Hillary Clinton is vacating one of the most powerful posts in government, Secretary of State, and Obama's first choice to replace her was U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice. Rice became tangled, unfairly, in the Benghazi affair and Obama shifted to Sen. John Kerry. But other than Rice, few critics have suggested the names of any appropriately qualified women for State – or for that matter, Defense or Treasury.
Kerry and Hagel, both Vietnam vets with Senate experience, are superbly suited for State and Defense. Lew, who has headed the Office of Management and Budget, is on the shortest of lists of Americans qualified to be Treasury Secretary. It is a list that, at the moment, simply has no women.
The New York Times fueled the diversity controversy by running a White House photo on its front page, showing Obama in an Oval Office meeting attended by 10 males and a lone female, key adviser Valerie Jarrett, who was largely hidden from view. But hours later the White House released a photo of another meeting in which most of the staffers were women.
So the focus shifts to what critics like to call "optics." It doesn't look good, they argue, to see a photo of the president surrounded by white males; it sends a bad message.
But facts carry more weight than optics. "The person who probably had the most influence on my foreign policy was a woman," the president reminded reporters, in summing up his first term. "The people who were in charge of moving forward my most important domestic initiative, health care, were women. The person in charge of our Homeland Security was a woman. My two appointments to the Supreme Court were women. And 50 percent of my White House staff were women."
Women have equal opportunity in the Obama Administration. It's counterproductive to fuss over optics.
Peter Funt is a writer and speaker and can be reached at www.CandidCamera.com.
Washington's latest kerfuffle, at a time when political kerfuffling is epidemic, concerns the number of women in President Obama's inner circle. Some say there are too few.


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FSE's report for the month of July is attached for download.
Find our report attached for download.
Find the report attached for download.
Find the following attached for download:
- FSE's report for March 2020
- notification from the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy.
Pursuant to the announcement by President Ramaphosa of a lockdown effective from Thursday night 12pm, the FSE's physical office will no longer be manned effective from Friday this week for the duration of this lockdown. The FSE will, however, continue to fulfil its objectives in terms of its Memorandum of Incorporation albeit remotely.
The FSE will be available telephonically and electronically and will be engaging in multi-media electronic communication with its stakeholders.
We wish all our stakeholders fortitude and perseverance in these difficult times.
FSE's report is attached for download.
Attached for download.
Report for January is attached for download.
The final report for 2019 is attached for download.
The report is attached for download.
The report for October is attached for download.
Open letter to the presidency attached for download.
The report is attached for download.
The FSE contributed to the article titled "Caught between a rock and hard place" by Nellie Moodley on page 33 of the magazine. An advertisement of the FSE's activities appears on page 14 of the magazine.
Notification of the Withdrawal of the Application of an Amendment of the Environmental Authorisation and Environmental Management Programme for the Sweet Sensation Sand Mining Operation in Free State
The concerted efforts and submissions to the Department of Mineral Resources and...
Pelicam Award for Jozi Gold
The Pelicam Film Festival in Rumania has awarded Jozi Gold a Special Mention. ...
"Varkies" gou op hok, maar als nie pluis | Beeld
Article also available for download as an attachment.
Radon Alert - Carte Blanche
Millions of South Africans are exposed to radioactive radon gas in their homes and workplaces every day, as the naturally occurring gas escapes through cracks in the earth. The second leading cause of lung cancer in several countries, radon breaks down and when inhaled, decaying atoms emit alpha radiation that can damage the DNA. There are no safe levels of radon concentration. The United States Environmental Protection Agency emphasises any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. Carte Blanche investigates why South Africa has no regulations to protect against radon accumulation in the home and what you can do to test your home and prevent lung cancer. Watch the video here.
WITS Economics & Finance Courses: Mining for Development: The Taxation Linkage
Economics & Finance Courses at the University of the Witwatersrand. Mining for Development: The Taxation Linkage - Understand taxation for development and sustainability in mining. View the course here. Enrolment starts on the 7th of October 2019.
Mining activists in SA face death threats, intimidation and harassment - report
SATURDAY STAR | 19 APRIL 2019, 7:41PM | SHEREE BEGA Picture:Yvette Descham On August 13 2013, Billy M heard gunshots at the gate of his house. He didn't know who fired the gun, and, worried that local traditional leadership might be involved, he didn't report the incident to the police. For the next five years, the community activist from Fuleni, a small rural village in KwaZulu-Natal bordering one of SA's oldest and largest wilderness areas, the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, continued to receive threats. "We know our lives are in danger. This is part of the struggle," he says, simply. Billy M's account is contained in a new report released this week, 'We know Our Lives Are in Danger': Environment of Fear in South Africa's Mining-Affected Communities, which documents how community activists in mining areas face harassment, intimidation and violence. The report details how in Billy M's case, mining company Ibutho Coal had applied for rights to develop a coal mine in Fuleni in 2013. The development would have required the relocation of hundreds of people from their homes and farmland and destroy graveyards. "The mine's environmental impact assessment estimated that more than 6000 people living in the Fuleni area would be impacted. Blasting vibration, dust, and floodlights, too, could harm the community," says the report."During the environmental consultation processes, Billy M led opposition that culminated in a protest by community members in April 2016."The company reportedly abandoned the project in 2016 while another firm, Imvukuzane Resources is reportedly interested in mining in the area.The 74-page report, compiled by Human Rights Watch, the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), groundWork, and Earthjustice, describes a system designed to "deter and penalise" mining opponents.The authors conducted interviews with more than 100 activists, community leaders, environmental groups, lawyers representing activists, police and municipal officials, describing the targeting of community rights defenders in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northwest, and Eastern Cape between 2013 and 2018. They report intimidation, violence, damage to property, the use of excessive force during peaceful protests, and arbitrary arrest for their activities in highlighting the negative impacts of mining projects on their communities. "The attacks and harassment have created an atmosphere of fear for community members who mobilise to raise concerns about damage to their livelihoods from the serious environmental and health risks of mining and coal-fired power plants," write the authors."Women often play a leading role in voicing these concerns, making them potential targets for harassment and attacks."But municipalities often impose barriers to protest on organisers that have no legal basis while government officials have failed to adequately investigate allegations of abuse."Some mining companies resort to frivolous lawsuits and social media campaigns to further curb opposition to their projects. The government has a Constitutional obligation to protect activists," write the authors. Picture: Shayne Robinson, Section 27 Authorities should address the environmental and health concerns related to mining "instead of harassing the activists voicing these concerns," remarks Matome Kapa, attorney at the CER.The report starts with the high-profile murder of activist Sikhosiphi "Bazooka" Rhadebe, who was killed at his home after receiving anonymous death threats in 2016. Rhadebe was the chairperson of the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC), a community-based organisation formed in 2007 to oppose mining activity in Xolobeni in the Eastern Cape. "Members of his community had been raising concerns that the titanium mine that Australian company Mineral Commodities Ltd proposed to develop on South Africa's Wild Coast would displace the community and destroy their environment, traditions, and livelihoods. More than three years later, the police have not identified any suspects in his killing."Nonhle Mbuthuma, another Xolobeni community leader and spokesperson of the ACC, has also faced harassment and death threats from unidentified individuals. "I know I am on the hit list.… If I am dying for the truth, then I am dying for a good cause. I am not turning back," she says.But other mining areas have had experiences similar to that of Xolobeni. "While Bazooka's murder and the threats against Nonhle have received domestic and international attention, many attacks on activists have gone unreported or unnoticed both within and outside the country."This is, in part, because of "fear of retaliation for speaking out, and because police sometimes do not investigate the attacks", the authors found.The origin of these attacks or threats are often unknown. "So are the perpetrators, but activists believe they may have been facilitated by police, government officials, private security providers, or others apparently acting on behalf of mining companies. "Threats and intimidation by other community members against activists often stem from a belief that activists are preventing or undermining an economically-beneficial mining project. In some cases, government officials or representatives of companies deliberately drive and exploit these community divisions, seeking to isolate and stigmatize those opposing the mine."The Minerals Council South Africa, which represents 77 mining companies, including some in the research areas, responded that it "is not aware of any threats or attacks against community rights defenders where (its) members operate".The authors state that while the mining sector and the government emphasise how mining is essential for economic development, "they fail to acknowledge that mining comes at a high environmental and social cost, and often takes place without adequate consultation with,or consent of, local communities".The absence of effective government oversight means that mining activities have harmed the rights of communities across South Africa in various ways. "Such activities have depleted water supplies, polluted the air, soil, and water, and destroyed arable land and ecosystems."Researchers also documented cases of police misconduct, arbitrary arrest, and excessive use of force during protests in mining-affected communities, "which is part of a larger pattern in South Africa".Last year, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) at Wits University documented various efforts by traditional authorities to stifle opposition to mines in their communities. "In some cases, traditional authorities label those opposing mines as anti-development and troublemakers, thus alienating and stigmatising them.As a result, community members are often afraid to speak out against a mine in open consultations," CALS found.Research by the SA Human Rights Commission, too, has found that community members sometimes "are afraid to openly oppose the mine for fear of intimidation or unfavourable treatment (by the Traditional Authority)."The SAHRC says many mining-affected communities are experiencing "the creation of tension and division within communities as a result of mining operations.Sometimes, threats and intimidation against activists come from community members who have been promised economic benefit from the proposed project or are politically allied with the government or traditional authority."Local communities often do not benefit from mining activities, says the report. "Although South African law requires the development of social and labour plans (SLPs) that establish binding commitments by mining companies to benefit communities and mine workers, CALS has documented significant flaws in the development and implementation of SLPs."Despite the environmental and social costs of mining, the government is not adequately enforcing relevant environmental standards and mining regulations throughout South Africa. The SAHRC has found that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) often fails to hold mining companies accountable, "imposing few or no consequences for unlawful activities and therefore shifting the costs of pollution to local communities."Compliance with regulatory obligations, as well as monitoring and enforcement of such responsibilities, remains a crucial concern in the context of mining activities," says the SAHRC, noting how the DMR and other governmental agencies often do not respond to complaints filed against mines by community members.The report's authors describe how the lack of government action and oversight has also helped make the mining industry one of the least transparent industries in South Africa. Information that communities require to understand the impacts of mines and to hold mining companies accountable for harmful activities is often not publicly available. "Such information includes environmental authorisations, environmental management programs, waste management licences, atmospheric emission licences, mining rights, mining work programmes, social and labour plans, or compliance and enforcement information."The only way to access such information is through a request under South Africa's access to information law, a procedure that the World Health Organisation has called 'seriously flawed' and which the DMR regularly flouts. In addition, mining companies and the government rarely consult meaningfully with communities during the mining approval process, resulting in uninformed and poor government and industry decisions that do not reflect community perspectives or have their support," says the report.The authors assert how the threats, attacks, and other forms of intimidation against community rights defenders and environmental groups have created an environment of fear "that prevents mining opponents from exercising their rights to freedom of opinion, expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and undermines their ability to defend themselves from the threats of mining".In its November 2018 review of South Africa's compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed concern about "reports of human rights defenders, particularly those working to promote and defend the rights under the Covenant in the mining and environmental sectors, being threatened and harassed". It recommended that South Africa provide a safe and favourable environment for the work of human rights defenders to promote and protect economic, social, and cultural rights, including by "ensuring that all reported cases of intimidation, harassment, and violence against human rights defenders are promptly and thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice". Mining activist Mariette Liefferink, who made submissions to the UN committee, tells how it has become increasingly difficult to work as an environmental rights defender in South Africa. "There is an overwhelming body of evidence of intimidation, whether it is by means of frontal attacks or more insidious attacks on activists."International and South African law requires South Africa to guarantee the rights of all people to life, security, freedoms of opinion, expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and the rights to health and a healthy environment, say the authors."The attacks, threats, and obstacles to peaceful protest described in this report prevent many community activists in South Africa from exercising these rights to oppose or raise concerns about mines, in violation of South Africa's obligations."
POLLUTION OF THE VAAL RIVER INTERVENTION AS PRESENTED at Rietspruit Forum - Aug 2020
The Intervention document is attached for download.
Development of the National Eutrophication Strategy and Supporting Documents
Attached documents:1. DWS Eutrophication SA & GA PSC 1 BID2. PSC 1 Meeting A...
Fears of long term damage to SA's water supply as eutrophication strangles rivers and dams | IOL
Toxic green algae in the Vaal River is caused by eutrophication, which harms wat...


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Professional Community for Car Dealers, Marketing, Advertising and Sales Leaders
So after the last couple conferences I have blogged a recap, highlighting tips shared with me, or ones I have learned though personal experience. Because a number of people have commented on these tips, I have decided to make a master list of what I have learned from my conference adventures.
First, let me say it was 2 years ago that I attended my first automotive conference with Digital Dealer 8. I was in Business Development at CarSoup.com, primarily working with Minnesota dealers, had about 250 Facebook friends and didn't participate in any other social media networks. In the year since, I have attended half a dozen more conferences, have more than 3,600 Facebook friends and operate an entire social media syndication. I now blog, post, tweet, skype and consult regarding digital automotive technologies.
There's a lot of power and value in conferences if you do them right. Depending on your conference strategy you can either grow your network and utilize your resources to create professional momentum…or you can return broke, tired and hung over. So pay attention to my list below, because it won't steer you wrong.
My Master List for Success, Comfort and Survival…
Define your objectives. What are the goals of your trip? To learn new ideas, find specific solutions, get motivated, look at products, get demonstrations, earn business, meet new people, or do you just want to go to Vegas and have your company pay for it? If my boss is reading this, I want you to know that the last statement isn't me at all. Vegas? Yuck.
Go in with a game plan. Write down what you want to accomplish and whom you want to meet. Circle the sessions you want to attend, and then leave yourself time to meet with new companies. Know what you are in the market for, whether it's a new CRM, website, third party lead provider, SEM, phone system, live chat, etc. Stay focused on your goals because once you get into the conference its mayhem, a whole gang of ex-car sales people trying to get the attention of other car people. In other words, don't chase digital shiny things.
Write things down. FACT: You WILL forget most of what you learned unless you take time during the conference to write down what you know was important and what you plan to put in place as soon as you get back home. Forget your pages full of notes and your pocket-full of business cards. Write a "To Do List" of goals and tasks, as bullet points are the way to go. If you are sending an employee, require them to give a presentation to the rest of the company on what they have learned.
Utilize your Social Media. For example, turn on Foursquare mobile pings. Foursquare is a mobile application that allows you to broadcast where you are to your network of friends on the same application. Facebook also has this feature, calling it "Places." Pings are notifications, so in my home city I leave this feature off. I really don't need to know my friends' whereabouts on an hourly basis (hey, if I stop at KFC that's my business). Locally I use it as a game or a way of finding coupons. At conferences, however, I use it like a fish-finder for my friends. I can see where everyone is clustering so I know where to go. Other suggestions are to post on Facebook, Linked In, Trip It and Twitter. Create a favorites thread using the events hash tag so you can stay current with attendees' tweets.
Maximize your days AND nights. Attend as many workshops as possible, meet as many people as you can and preview as many technologies as possible. I try to attend several cocktail parties to increase networking. If you stay in the same place all night you limit the number of people you get to meet.
The booth babes are paid to flirt with you. I know it's hard to stay focused when a pretty girl is waiving her technology at you, but don't cave and whatever you do don't take your pen out to sign anything. Shiny things, remember. Don't be lured by them.
Leave your comfort zone. I can't recommend networking highly enough. This is the perfect environment to grow from others' experiences. Introduce yourself to new people.
NEVER drink and social media. Friends don't friends tweet while intoxicated. Definitely don't Foursquare from the bar at 2 am if your boss follows you on 4SQ or Twitter. Just to be safe, don't post anything past 10 pm. Nothing good can come of it.
Do not skip dinner and instead go straight to drinking vodka from an ice bar. Even if they have root beer favored Absolut (I know, these tips seem a little specific, but they are designed to help).
Make good decisions. Everything ends up on Facebook so don't get your picture taken or do anything that your boss, mom or spouse can't witness. Some wives may not want a picture of you on Facebook in Vegas at 1 am with a girl named "April Rain".(I know weird, right?) . This, of course, definitely is in conduction with the tip regarding cocktails and social media. If you are inclined to make generally goofy faces when you drink, then don't get your picture taken.
You are not a Rockstar. Something happens to people when they are in Vegas or other major cities. They get caught up in the whirlwind of limos, good food and parties. My first conference I thought I could party with the vendors all night and still keep my early morning meetings. Remember, these vendors do a lot of conferences. They are pros. There is NO WAY you can keep up. If you try, you will be in pain. Know your limits. On day one, I'm an uber energetic superstar… On day three, I look like I stared in Zombieland.
Be a considerate Facebooker. I always show people the picture I take so they have the first right of refusal. If they hate the picture, I delete it. I also don't criticize or slam on social media. Digital karma operates faster than the speed of light!
Consider your sources: Be objective when listening to sessions. There is a lot of good content out there but there also are a lot of people who are motivated strictly to sell their own product. Research speakers before you attend. It can save a lot of time.
Stay hydrated. I've been a runner for years, but all this 'on the go' can be more tiring than a half marathon. Plus, all the happy hours will dehydrate you.
Eat healthy! It sounds easy right? I am the worst at this. I found myself surviving the weekend with "on the go" smoothies, granola bars and five hour energy drinks. There is a lot to do, so be sure you eat a hearty meal at least once a day.
Don't wear high heels. This rule doesn't pertain to the majority of automotive conference goers, but it's still a great piece of advice (unless your only 5'"', at which point you're tempted to endure the pain to offset you vertical disadvantage). So, let's de-gender this tip to say: "wear comfortable shoes".
Meeting Management: Don't make hard meetings. You'll find yourself trying to fly from one end of the conference hall to the other (trust me, I learned this one the hard way). I have also found that if you are going to have meetings with ridiculously smart data analytics experts, do it on day one when you're rested and far, far smarter.
Keep mints on you. When you are trying to network in a small area and you lean in close to hear someone, if you smell like yesterday's cocktail hour and coffee you may not be conveying the long lasting impression you are hoping to achieve.
Maximize Your Workshops. In advance, look for to what appeal to your interests and schedule the times and locations in your Outlook/Google calendar.
Strategic Cocktailing: RSVP in advance. Look at all the party options. Here's a clue, companies with big money have big parties. With that said, small intimate cocktail parties are great for networking and connecting on a more individual basis. I also participate in great communication networks. I create a group of well-informed conference elite that agree to share with you the hot spots in exchange for you doing the same.
Raiding the free booth prizes. Be sure to do this on day one. That way you'll be sure to get all the cool phone holders, flashlights, fliers, and even teddy bears to bring home to the kiddos. If you wait till the last day, you'll be leaving with gum and a foam stress ball.
Watch out for Family Vacation Syndrome. Trying to keep track of your group can drive you crazy. If you get sucked into other people's agendas you'll miss opportunities to do the things you wanted to do. If you are traveling with a group, meet for an early morning coffee/breakfast then divide and conquer. Regroup early afternoon and then split up before finally reconvening at the evening spot.
Power Management. Charge your phone at every opportunity. It is the worst to be disconnected in the evening just as you are trying to locate everyone. I always bring at least two back-up batteries.
The Naked Salesman: Actually, I am just worried I have lost you by now so I am making my titles more creative. This is all about dressing the part. I have a rule: Always dress for success. People will never fault you for looking too nice. But if you look like a slob it will impact peoples' perception of how you do business. You never know who you will meet , so I believe it's always better be safe than sorry. I know it's inconvenient, but if it helps make you money then suck it up. To all the ladies, for evenings the black casual cocktail dress is priceless. I will inevitably spill something on myself at the beginning of the night and the dress helps to camouflage such mishaps. Plus, it's both dinner and club appropriate. For men, nice jeans and clean trendy shirt work best. Once again, I remind you that you are not going to score with either the booth babe or the hot internet manager from Illinois. So lay off the heavy cologne.
Packing: Here's my quick checklist of useful items you may forget about: puffy eye cream for the sleep deprived, a huge stack of business cards, Tylenol, Vitamins, note paper, pens, cash, breath mints and five hour energy shots.
Disclaimer: I am neither trained nor certified in automotive conferencing. Therefore, follow my tips at your own risk. In fact, I have no real credibility here (except a whole lot of experience), so I am not responsible for any negative consequence you receive as a result of taking my tips. I will, however, gladly accept credit for the good things that happen if you do.
April Rain
Strategist, Digital Rain Management
sms: 612-701-5016
Views: 984
I agree with Ralph, The booth babes love him, they just do! April, Great post, and great advice. I will eat better and use the gym this time, really I will.
Kick Ass read!!!
Little disappointed the Booth Babes are fake...I suppose you're gonna tell me that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are fake as well....
Very funny. Great read.
April - I have to disagree with you on one of your points of guidance... All my Google Analytics, data charts and CRM application based objective analysis prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the NADA booth babes REALLY are attracted to me... Meybe it's the pheromones, my stunning good looks or that suave debonaire attitude I project, but those booth babes are putty in my hands, and all those contracts are merely the small talk they use to meet me!
April, as always very funny, concise and well thought out. However I have some questions.... "Booth Babes?" really they don't work for the company and find me irresistible? I agree with the high heels, last time I tried it did not work out too well for me. How are you going to make apologies if you don't drink and text? And again with the breath mints, it's a genetic thing.
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For Use: Immediately
Date: September 12, 2013
SUBJECT: Washington County Meeting
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be hosting an Insurance Outreach Meeting to help answer questions related to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. The law reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30, 2017.
The meeting date, time and location:
September 17, 2013 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. Narragansett Town Hall, Council Chambers 25 Fifth Avenue Narragansett, RI
FEMA and RIEMA representatives will be available to answer questions and review new coastal flood maps from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. A formal presentation will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m., followed by a question and answer session. All residents near or located in a designated FEMA floodplain are encouraged to attend.
All questions and additional inquiries for information regarding these Insurance Outreach Meetings can be directed to Michelle Burnett, State Floodplain Coordinator, at firstname.lastname@example.com or phone (401) 462-7048.


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FUKUSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) - Dogs and cats that were abandoned in the Fukushima exclusion zone after last year's nuclear crisis have had to survive high radiation and a lack of food, and they are now struggling with the region's freezing winter weather.
"If left alone, tens of them will die everyday. Unlike well-fed animals that can keep themselves warm with their own body fat, starving ones will just shrivel up and die," said Yasunori Hoso, who runs a shelter for about 350 dogs and cats rescued from the 20-km evacuation zone around the crippled nuclear plant.
The government let animal welfare groups enter the evacuation zone temporarily in December to rescue surviving pets before the severe winter weather set in, but Hoso said there were still many more dogs and cats left in the area.
"If we cannot go in to take them out, I hope the government will at least let us go there and leave food for them," he said.
A 9.0-magnitude earthquake and massive tsunami on March 11 triggered the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years and forced residents around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to flee, with many of them having to leave behind their pets.
More than 150,000 people from Fukushima prefecture still cannot return to their homes, with nearly half of them from the exclusion zone.
While Japan focuses on containing the nuclear accident and protecting people from radiation, Hoso, representative director of United Kennel Club Japan, has been trying to save as many dogs and cats from the no-go zone as possible, or keep pets for those who are living in shelters where pets are not allowed.
Toru Akama, an engineer working at the Fukushima nuclear plant, asked Hoso to look after his 14 dogs when an entry ban was imposed on his town.
"I was really happy for my dogs. They are part of my family. There was no way I could abandon them," Akama said.
Hoso said he aims to carry on until the last dog in his shelter is returned to its owner or finds a new home.
"When dogs are returned, many owners are really grateful and a limited few are not so grateful. But when it comes to dogs, all of them, without exception, become really ecstatic when they get reunited with their owners," Hoso said.
"That is what keeps me going, what makes me determined that I have to push ahead until the last one goes back to its owner."
Reporting by Issei Kato and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Chris Gallagher
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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- WaterlooHotel
Martin's Grand Hotel | Business hotel in WaterlooMartin's Grand Hotel, Waterloo, offers comfortable guest accommodation and adaptable rooms for your seminars, conventions and receptions.
- PROMOLa HulpeDesign
Dolce La Hulpe Brussels | Business hotel in the heart of the forestDolce La Hulpe Brussels is a 4-star hotel offering guest rooms with uninterrupted views over the trees and 4,000 m² of space for your events.
- SpaDesign
Silva Hôtel Spa-Balmoral | Your meetings and events in SpaThe 4-star Silva Hôtel Spa Balmoral & Wellness has 126 luxury guest rooms and many function rooms for your business events in Spa.
- TubizeHotel
Martin's Red | Sport-lovers' business hotel in TubizeNext to the Belgian national football squad's training centre, Martin's Red (the colour of the team's shirts) business hotel is pleased to host your business event in a colourful, modern building.
- GenvalDesign
Martin's Château du Lac | Luxury business hotel in GenvalOn the shore of Lake Genval, the attractive business hotel of Martin's Château du Lac offers a blend of comfort, luxury and wide open spaces to its guests.
- SpaHotel
Radisson Blu Palace | High-end business hotel in SpaLocated in the centre of Spa, the Radisson Blu Palace is a 4-star hotel offering everything you need for high-end business accommodation.
- DinantChâteau
Castel de Pont-à-Lesse | High-end conference venue in DinantThe Castel de Pont-à-Lesse conference centre is a 3-star manor house dating from 1810, set in peaceful and verdant surroundings.
- GosseliesHotel
Van der Valk Charleroi Airport | Business hotel in Hainaut provinceThe Van der Valk Charleroi Airport hotel is able to host your business event in comfortable surroundings close to Charleroi-Bruxelles-Sud airport.
- MonsHotel
Ibis Mons centre gare, a hotel in MonsThe Ibis hotel, in Mons, offers comfortable, fully equipped settings in both its rooms and meeting spaces.
- FrancorchampsHotel
Hôtel de la Source | Business trips to Spa-FrancorchampsThe Hôtel de La Source, combining nature and motor sport, is a venue not to be missed for business meetings, seminars and conferences in Spa-Francorchamps.


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Hauppauge WinTV-NOVA-TD-Stick
A DVB-T USB device from Hauppauge.
It is supported under Linux.
This device features two tuners and is supplied with two antennas. You'll have adapter0 and adapter1 in /dev/dvb, which you can use separately.
The "Diversity" option is a hardware based feature that allows for the device's two receivers to be configured in a combined use mode to achieve better reception on a single channel. The diversity feature of the DiBcom demodulators is currently not implemented in the Linux-DVB drivers, so only the dual tuner configuration is presently supported on such devices [1].
Components Used
- 2× Microtune MT2266 tuners
- Dibcom DiB7700P DVB-T demodulator
This device's USB ID is 2040:9580.
Making it work
Diversity mode
The driver currently does not support Diversity, it only support Dual-Tuner.
First problem is that it comes in Diversity mode as default. So, is needed to change from Diversity mode to Dual-Tuner mode by using Windows/MacOS driver diversity utility (it is only needed to change once, first time).
You will need the dvb-usb-dib0700-1.10.fw firmware file in /lib/firmware or the relevant place for your distribution.
Support is present in the Linux kernel from version 2.6.24-rc1.
Just use Mercurial by following the How to install DVB device drivers instructions.
Sample kernel output
From 2.6.20-16-generic with drivers compiled from repository 4th Jan 07:
$ dmesg | grep dvb [ 40.858884] dvb-usb: found a 'Hauppauge Nova-TD Stick/Elgato Eye-TV Diversity' in cold state, will try to load a firmware [ 40.912496] dvb-usb: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-usb-dib0700-1.10.fw' [ 41.624338] dvb-usb: found a 'Hauppauge Nova-TD Stick/Elgato Eye-TV Diversity' in warm state. [ 41.624397] dvb-usb: will pass the complete MPEG2 transport stream to the software demuxer. [ 42.047026] dvb-usb: will pass the complete MPEG2 transport stream to the software demuxer. [ 42.359232] dvb-usb: schedule remote query interval to 150 msecs. [ 42.359235] dvb-usb: Hauppauge Nova-TD Stick/Elgato Eye-TV Diversity successfully initialized and connected. [ 42.359404] usbcore: registered new interface driver dvb_usb_dib0700 [ 68.220540] dvb_usb_dib0700 2-4:1.0: resuming [ 68.220812] dvb_usb_dib0700 2-4:1.0: resuming


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June 9, 2018, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ City Hall
District Four Commissioner, Todd Drosky is happy to introduce Saturday office hours, at City Hall located at 150 Second Ave., Deerfield Beach. Commissioner Drosky will be available to meet with constituents on an appointment basis, between the hours of 10am – noon. To schedule an appointment please contact the City Manager's Office at 954.480.4263


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Shop mercury glass decor, objets d'art, pillows, throws, and more.
We dwell in our living rooms, bedrooms, home offices and children's rooms. These places define us, they impact our moods and make or break spirits. And whether your abode is a dorm, first apartment, house or estate _ design and decor matters. The littlest of details can make all the difference in creating the warmth of your hearth. Just like you, we live to make sure every table, nightstand, mantel and entryway looks thoughtful, considered and inviting. Mix and match to your personal flow with perfectly placed pillows, draped tapestries, vintage style vases, and divine candlelight. Your home is your sanctuary _ settle in. Make it dreamy, and please share the magic!


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Devin Friedman writes about social media; I need to quote at length:
[Silicon Valley] isn't just the place where they invent this shit; it's the single place where the life that's advertised is lived. Where the adoption rate, if the product is right, approaches 100 percent. Where the world has been mapped out by the inquisitive people with GPS-equipped smartphones and Foursquare, and difficult technical questions are answered by friendly experts you don't know. (It's hardly a coincidence that the one area of Quora that's already fleshed out is the part about how to build thingies.) It's like that because it's a small world, filled with highly educated people with similar interests and a deep philosophical understanding of what the point of all this stuff is. That it's the perfect social network doesn't just mean Silicon Valley is more efficient at making stuff. It affects the products they make. Products that promise to, if we can work together, systematize the world. It's a place where there's a deep belief that human society can be perfected. These people . . . are optimistic not only because theirs is the last ascendant American industry but because implied in all those products is the idea that the human problem can be solved. They're working in a world — the Internet — that's wholly manipulable, that behaves according to rules. A world like a geometry textbook. And that way of thinking bleeds out into how they design stuff for us to use.
But you know why I think they're really happy? Because they get to build all this stuff. The act of creation is maybe the most frictive thing going. Using the stuff is meant to be frictionless, but making it isn't. And their happiness comes from friction. Most happiness probably comes from friction. It's why having sex with someone you've fallen in love with (not the easiest, safest process, falling in love) is so much better than having sex with a prostitute (no friction there). And that is why the happiest and most fulfilled people who use social media are here. Making it. The only problem is that it's not scalable. That's the flaw, really, with this: The only way to scale it is to remove the friction.
The "friction" metaphor is a little odd, especially when applied to sex . . . but I think I know what he's talking about. What he calls friction one might call, simply, complexity, or multi-dimensionality — or resistance. And making things to be used on the internet is more multi-dimensional than using those things — at least, most of the time. It poses problems that look intractable, so that solving those problems creates a great sense of accomplishment.For makers and users alike, not all resistance is the same. Very few people find pleasure in trying to get Microsoft Word to do what they want it to do, or to stop doing things that it insists on doing that no one ever asked it to do, dammit. (There's your problem.) But many people have had a great deal of fun trying to get Twitter to do things they want it to do, because the problems arise not from over-engineering and cruft but from strict intentional limitations: you get 140 characters of plain text, and that's it. From this starting point, some people decided that they needed to figure out how to search Twitter; from that point other people figured out that if you used hashtags instead of plain old words you could make topics searchable; and from that point people discovered that mock-hashtags were a great source of Twitter humor. I could go on, of course. All this from 140-character chunks of plain texts and simple string searches. Twitter offered resistance to complex use-cases, wich just made it more interesting and fun to make it embrace complex use-cases. For me, here are the Big Questions arising from all this: Can the dominant social media be hacked so that they embrace complexity, multi-dimensionality, and resistance? Or will we, conversely, just come to accept less rich and dense and textured relationships as the inevitable price to pay for entrusting those relationships to the safety and security of the cloud?


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In case you hadn't heard, Lindsay Lohan is getting all serious on us and is starring in a super distinguished biopic of Elizabeth Taylor called Liz & Dick…..for Lifetime. Yes, the life story of legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor will be immortalized as a Lifetime Movie starring Lindsay Lohan. The first images of Lohan as Taylor and Grant Bowler as Taylor's lover/husband Richard Burton. Lohan really doesn't look anything like Taylor, but I guess we should all just be happy that she actually showed up on set like a professional.
Hit the jump to check out the images. Liz & Dick is currently in production.


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I came into Gabriel Iglesias' stand-up special Aloha Fluffy with two things: I had barely any knowledge of his comedic work, but I knew of him from his appearance in the Channing Tatum pseudo biopic Magic Mike. So why not use my familiarity with the latter to help improve the former? And that is the genesis for checking out Iglesias in Aloha Fluffy.
Recorded at the Hawaii Theatre, Iglesias comes out to the stage to the dulcet notes of "Don't Stop The Party," the Pitbull-penned song found frequently in beer commercials. What struck me first about the guy who promotes "Unity Through Laughter" as a motto, one of the first riffs he goes into onstage is examining the life between the more anglo-centric tourist components of Hawaii, and compares it to the local's interpretation of it. Points to Iglesias for what turns out to be a pretty good grasp of pidgin at least.
From there on out, Iglesias spends approximately 90 minutes touching on various aspects of his life, whether it is trying to avoid the hamstringing of his work as a 'latino comic,' to the ordeal of raising a teenaged stepson, to performing in Riyadh for a Saudi prince. He juggles all of the stories with rapid fire impressions of all of the relevant people, and good on him for doing a Saudi Navigator driver and his girlfriend, among a bevy of other people he comes in contact with. He does a good job in setting the picture and drawing the viewer into what happened in these stories.
The funny thing is that when it comes to the ends of these stories, the payoffs tend to not live up to the backgrounds he illustrates. Moreover, the set just comes off as a flat to me. Perhaps that is where I suffer from a bit of a disconnect as a married, childless white guy, I don't know. I admire the effort and respect the game, but I did not enjoy it as much as the crowd did, and I was left to wonder what the general fuss was all about. Iglesias knows who his audience is and is loyal to them, and that makes me respect his work, even if I do not appreciate it.
While Gabriel Iglesias proves to be a semi-decent actor, where he really cuts his teeth is in the stand-up comedy world, as Aloha Fluffy attempts to show us. As a newcomer to his work I think it has its moments, but he seems to be another in a line of comics who does work exclusively for his fans without branching out much more past that. It works for him, not as much for me, but maybe I need some "Hey Juice."
The show is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and in high-definition using the AVC codec. There are not a lot of colors presented in the palette; you've got Iglesias' Hawaiian shirt, set against the dark backdrop of the stage, and crowd shots interspersed into it, basically your standard stand-up camera shots. The colors look natural and the black levels are generally stable. Flesh tones are accurate and image detail is about what could be expected. It is fine, nothing special.
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround for the special. It was not wholly necessary to be sure, but what is here is fine. Dialogue is well-balanced in the center channel, and crowd noise is clear in the rear channels and provides for a modestly immersive listening experience. Subwoofer activity and directional effects are at a minimum, but it was to be expected for this spoken word joint. You can't ask for more than what this track provides.
Quite a few extras for a standup comedy disc, a pleasant surprise. Things start with a Behind the Scenes look at the special (24:42) which shows him explain why he picked Hawaii as a venue, and shows Iglesias and his touring crew get to Hawaii, do promotion for the show, and doing a USO show for some Marines on the island. He flies to Maui and spends some time there and does another show before coming back to do the taping. The day after has the crew blowing off some steam, including a 'pancake challenge' where willing members of his crew attempted to eat four pounds of pancakes for $5,000 out of Iglesias' pocket, which was a funny challenge to be sure. Next is an encore by Iglesias (16:04) where he talks about landing the role in Magic Mike and a funny encounter with Matthew McConaughey. Some footage of one of Iglesias' opening act, a guy named Alfred Robles (7:46) follows, before the clip of him recalling his first time having malasadas from Leonard's Bakery (a Hawaii favorite, and they are all that) is the last extra (2:03).
While Aloha Fluffy was not my particular cup of tea, it is clear is following is as ample as his pant size, and he does have a knack for telling stories in the vein of a young Bill Cosby, and others will enjoy his work. Technically the disc is solid and from a bonus material is not horrible, and the entire package is worth checking out for a laugh if one seeks it out hard enough.


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April 10, 2014
For those of you who are fans of or remember Jay Ward's legendary "The Bullwinkle Show"/"The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show" and particularly the "Peabody's Improbable History" segments created by Ted Key, you're in for a howling good time as everybody's favorite talking canine Mr. Peabody, his adopted son Sherman and the infamous WABAC machine are resurrected, reimagined and brought to the big screen in DreamWorks Animation MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN. And for those of you experiencing Mr. Peabody and Sherman for the first time, you'll quickly find MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN a doggone delight! Veteran animation director Rob Minkoff and screenwriter Craig Wright not only pay homage to the original cartoon series and characters, but under the watchful eye of Jay Ward's producer daughter and keeper of the flame, Tiffany, stay true in core visuals and storytelling to the spirit of Ward's original tales while punctuating and pumping up the volume of animation quality and making great use of 3D technology.
In short: PEABODY IS PERFECTION!
Mr. Peabody is the smartest beagle on the planet; actually smarter than any human. Abandoned as a lonely pup, Mr. Peabody had a lot of alone time but used it wisely, studying everything and anything. As a result, he became an inventor, a scientist, a master chef, musician, Nobel laureate, Olympic gold medalist, confident and counsel to world leaders. But there was something missing in his life. A family. Stumbling upon a young bespectacled orphan named Sherman with whom he immediately bonds, Peabody decides to adopt him.
A perfect pair, Sherman has all the enthusiasm of a young boy, but also all the smarts of Peabody. Exposed to living history thanks to Peabody's invention, the WABAC machine, Sherman is often bullied and picked on by kids his own age for being "a nerd". When Sherman's first day of school rolls around, things really take a turn for the worse when Sherman gets into a heated argument with classmate and school prima donna, Penny Peterson.
Summoned to the principal's office, Peabody is shocked and ashamed at Sherman's behavior as he was taught not to fight and to resolve conflicts amicably. But there's more to just Sherman's outburst here. Adoption agency worker/counselor Miss Grunion threatens to have Sherman taken away from Peabody. Knowing that he must smooth over the situation, Peabody invites Penny and her parents for a fun evening of gourmet food, masterfully mixed drinks, musical entertainment and hopefully, pleasant parental chats to "break the ice."
While the parents get to know each other, Sherman and Penny are off on their own, getting into another spat over the truth of history. This time about George Washington and the cherry tree. Defiant and proud of his true knowledge, Sherman does the one thing Peabody warned him to never do - talk about the WABAC machine. Uh, oh.
Now wanting to impress Penny, and given her own buttinsky spirit, Sherman and Penny had back in time with the WABAC. But there's a problem. Penny doesn't want to return from ancient Egypt and a boy named Tut leaving it up to Sherman and Mr. Peabody to perform a comically daring rescue. Unfortunately, in so doing, the space-time continuum is thrown into chaos with everyone travelling back and forth in time trying to right a wrong and Sherman doing what all boys do, pushing the envelope with his dad.
Beyond joyous, the fact that the franchise has been lovingly cared for and tended and not exploited makes my heart leap. The characters are true to the legacy and iconography but also true to a new generation of fans. The story is smart, historical eras visited are visually captivating and allow for not only visual, but action laced story sequencing.
Craig Wright has written an intelligent script, finding a common ground for all ages - something that is tough to do. While kids are gonna go nuts for "butt" jokes and visual references (Trojan horse with men dropping from the butt entrance like horse poop on a parade route; Peabody and Sherman shooting out of the butt of the Sphinx - HILARIOUS!!!!!), adults will even be peeing their pants with laughter. Even the basest jokes are handled with such an off-the-cuff casualness without being slapstick that the humor is elevated by the very organic nature of the script, resonating for kids and adults alike. And while steeped in kid-friendly dialogue and visuals, the script is so rich with adult humor rooted in life, history, politics, society that is never "in your face", "stupid" or "ignorant", so as to be beyond engaging.
The heart and life lessons that are imparted are brilliantly incorporated into the story - bullying, friendship, parenting..... and the reverse love of a boy and his dog. You will get teary in multiple scenes.
Key, of course, is implementing the WABAC machine on a trip through history. In the original cartoon series, snippets of Mr. Peabody's time travels into history were inspiring and made me want to go to the encyclopedia and history books and learn more. Now, with stops to visit Tut, Leonardo daVinci, Marie Antoinette, the first Continental Congress, the Trojan War, and all done with more visual and fun history rich detail, the same is true for not just a new generation, but even adults who may want to revisit history themselves beyond the film.
Animation is pure and perfect. Maintaining the integrity and spirit of the 1960's stylings of Ward, DreamWorks animators and director Minkoff then embrace the technology and advancements of the 21st century without turning the animation too high tech or sci-fi and allowing the story, actual history and the WABAC to command front and center. Achieving what Ward and Ted Key did in the tv series, every element of MR PEABODY & SHERMAN spurs the imagination, makes history and learning fun and will get kids inspired to learn.
Use of color is nicely done. Essentially primary colors are used in present day animation which are then complimented and offset by richer palettes for the historical travels. So often, movies and tv series that have time travel backwards go for a more desaturated color palette with the past, making the present more vibrant. With MR PEABODY & SHERMAN, it's the reverse with the richness infusing history, making it come to life. There is great dimensionality infused into the visual design. A fun animation are the wormhole-like routes by which the WABAC travels; very similar in design to that in the live action "Contact". The design of the WABAC itself also bears strong animation detail to the "Contact" space pod with its octagonal honeycombed panels and design.
Pacing is perfection. Editor Tom Kinnon keeps everything keeps moving , allowing nothing to stagnate - key to keeping even the youngest moviegoer enthralled and engaged. Editing is judiciously executed to greatest effect, fueling the infectious wide-eyed wonderment of Sherman.
Voicing is spot on and not only honors the original series and its voicing but thanks to Ty Burrell and Max Charles, respectively, maintains the cadence of Mr. Peabody and enthusiastic wide-eyed wonder of Sherman. Animation embraces the physicality and personality of not only the characters but the voice actors themselves, wonderfully capturing vocal intonations. Max Charles is as much a delight in person as he is as Sherman. In person, Max has the same inquiring exuberance that he brings to Sherman. Ty Burrell is magic as Mr. Peabody! He nails the tonal inflection and cadence of the character as we remember from the original cartoon while adding a bit more tone and depth to the parental aspect of Peabody. It's a wonderful voicing balance to capture history without mimicry or mockery and then elicit the depth of heart and emotion that Burrell delivers. Burrell truly embodies the fun, heart and parental spirit of Peabody that Burrell brings. Allison Janney is divine as Mrs. Grunion. Similarly, Patrick Warburton as King Agamemnon, Mel Brooks as Sigmund Freud, Stephen Colbert as Paul Peterson and Stanley Tucci as Leonardo DaVinci are a joy. It's almost as much fun to listen to the voicing and try to identify each voice actor.
And as comes as no surprise, Danny Elfman delivers a soundtrack that captures time and space not only of the true spirit of the characters' origins with a present day vibe, but the fun.
MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN and their WABAC machine took me "way back" to the joys of childhood, of education and entertainment and fun all rolled into one, to the purity of animation and cartoons, to the spirit and truth and magic of Jay Ward. I am sure that Jay is looking down from above on Tiffany right now, going "That's my girl!" Let it take you there, too.
Not a mis-step to be found, MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN is perfection, destined to be the Best Animated Feature of the Year! You'll be begging for more!
Directed by Rob Minkoff
Written by Craig Wright
Voice Cast: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Allison Janney, Leslie Mann, Stephen Colbert, Mel Brooks, Patrick Warburton, Ariel Winter


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An interactive architecture offers an explicit engagement for the user, a de-emphasizing of the architect; allowing anyone who enters the space to become at minimum a collaborator and in some cases a co-creator. The moment of the aesthetic of the collaborative, the utilitarian, the designed and empowering solution has arrived. In the histories of kinetic sculpture, video, installation, performance, littoral practices, there exist historical antecedents for interactive art practices. To the architectural, participating in the computational data rich experience and the interactive, presents a new escape, a new collaborative attitude, and an antidote to the static, extemporal, and spectacular that has dominated architectural thinking over the last 50 years.
The medium of architecture itself is changing, becoming a combination of spaces, networks, and agents both mechanical and organic. We already experience architecture as a shifting array of mediums. Architecture bloggers Stephen Becker and Rob Holmes winkingly named the iPhone as one of the most important architectural works of the first decade of the new millennium, arguing: "urban systems are defined most fundamentally not by structure and infrastructure, but by practice, action, and thought-process; what act has more significantly altered the practices and thought-processes of urbanites in the past ten years than the mass distribution of smart phones?" The Rhinoscript-ing of Parametric Architecture is most certainly, if nothing else, a demonstration that compelling notions of space can be generated by algorithmic processes. Architecture historian Beatriz Colomina argues in Architecture between spectacle and use that the fame of Mies van der Rohe is largely based on photographs of his work. The medium of architecture is already diffuse and complex. The interactive architectural environment simply extends that diffusion, integrating a dynamic system, an interconnected series of structures, situations, and objects that participate in the myriad ways that we consider and shape urban and living space.


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In-App Purchases (IAP) on the iDevice is nothing new, but it was given significant news coverage earlier this month when an 8 year old unknowingly spent $1,400 in real money buying Smurfberries — used to speed up the growth of the virtual crops and village — in the popular game Smurfs' Village. Aside from parents not being aware of the potential costs that can accompany such "free" farming-type games, the 15 minute login window that Apple has implemented has made inadvertent (or unauthorized) IAPs more rampant. What this means is that once the password has been entered on the device when an app is downloaded, iOS won't prompt the user for another login during this time frame, be it for downloading new Apps or IAPs.
So until Apple decides to change their policy or even enforce a login for each IAP, what can you do to prevent your children or nieces/nephews from racking up the bill? We'll show you below in a few simple steps how you can disable In-App Purchases on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.


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Yes, I'm still around.
Life has sort of gotten a little busy at times, and I've not been blogging. I hope to get back to it soon, and be much more consistent about my posts.
School is going okay. It could be better, but I'm trying not to get all stressed out about things I have no control over. I've been trying to leave work "stuff" at work and enjoy my time at home. I'm also not staying after school nearly as much this year. Those days of staying until 6 or 7 pm, are OVER. It's not that I don't love what I do, because I DO! It's just that the more of myself that I give to my job, the more that's expected of me. I don't mind giving 150% all the time, but it gets discouraging when it's not noticed or appreciated, and then expected.
Like I said, I absolutely love what I do...it's so rewarding to see the sparkle in a child's eye, and a huge smile when they "get" something. It's like they've just discovered a new world! I work with some second graders on a computer program called "Math Facts in a Flash." It breaks basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts into levels, and a student needs to complete 40 facts correctly in 2 minutes or less in order to go on to the next level. Even though I work with them on their facts, their regular classroom teacher also schedules time for them to work independently on this computer program. When I see these kids in the cafeteria when I have duty, they just love to tell me that they passed a certain level. I try to make them feel like they've won the lottery, because many of them don't get much recognition at home. I love seeing their reactions when I gush over them passing levels. That's what makes my job so great.
So anyway, it's not the kids that make me frustrated, it's the other factors.
Alex turned 20 last weekend, so we told him that we would take him and a couple of his friends to dinner in a city near his college.
Megan, Tino, and Alex...The guys decided to wear ties. Something about watching "Breakfast at Tiffany's" a few days earlier. Yes, I realize his hair is VERY long. I'm trying to pick my battles. And for the record, he's scheduled for a TRIM the day before Thanksgiving.
A few days after we told him this, he said that he invited EIGHT of his friends!
John, Dan, and Emily...they agree that Alex needs a haircut!
Alex has made some excellent choices with friends. These young people are all very ambitious and I was impressed with their selections of majors and minors.
Apparently I didn't make it clear what was meant by a couple. Alex wanted to go to Olive Garden, and as it turned out, only five were able to make it, but we had a very nice time. Joe was able to join us too.
Joe returned to college for an additional Bachelors Degree (this time in Journalism), and it's going quite well for him. This has been a whole new experience for him, as he got his first degree (in Business) while living at home. Now he's living in a dorm on the campus of the second largest university in Ohio. He's actually adjusting quite well.
When they both come home for the same weekend, it's really entertaining. I've walked in from school on a Friday and have seen them both at the kitchen table, with their laptops open, sitting across from each other, discussing music and radio. They both have weekly radio shows at their perspective campuses. Joe has his own 2 hour show on Monday mornings, and Alex co-hosts a 2 hour show on Tuesday evenings. It's as though they can finally have actual discussions about things and not get into a big altercation.
So...life is going okay right now. I'm going to try to be more diligent about updating here. That's my personal goal for the rest of 2010!


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Bishop Conley Comments on America's Hostility to Religion
'God, not government, is the only sure guarantee of human rights and the blessings of our liberty. We need to live as if we believe that,' the bishop said at a recent pro-life dinner.
DALLAS (EWTN News/CNA)—Increasing hostility to religion and growing restrictions on religious expression are "the biggest challenge the pro-life movement faces," Bishop James Conley told a benefit for a Dallas pro-life group.
"If we think it's been hard over these past four decades, I think the biggest challenges we face lie ahead of us," the apostolic administrator of the Denver Archdiocese said Nov. 5.
"America today is becoming what I would call an atheocracy — a society that is actively hostile to religious faith and religious believers. And I might add — the faith that our society is most hostile toward is Christianity in general, and Catholicism in particular."
The bishop's comments came in his address to the annual benefit dinner for St. Joseph's Helpers and the White Rose Women's Center in Dallas.
Secularism, Bishop Conley said, is not simple neutrality towards religious beliefs. American elites are not neutral towards religion, but are "deliberately engaged in a process that aims to remove all traces of religious faith from our public life."
This creates "publicly enforced religious indifferentism" in which Americans participating in civic life must first agree to think and act as if they have no religious convictions or motivations at all.
This "atheocracy" has no ultimate truths or inviolable ethical principles for its guidance.
"Hence, it has no foundation upon which to establish justice, secure true freedom or to constrain tyrants," Bishop Conley said, citing John Paul II's warning that a democracy without values easily turns into "open or thinly disguised totalitarianism."
"God, not government, is the only sure guarantee of human rights and the blessings of our liberty. We need to live as if we believe that," the bishop said. "Only a people who believes these truths to be sacred and self-evident can build a society worthy of men and women created by God."
The 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide, is an example of how "atheocracy" works by "the violence of the strong against the weak," he added.
"Without God, there is no basis for morality and no necessary protections for man. The strong decide what is right or wrong — even who lives and who dies."
The bishop denounced abortion, embryonic experimentation and euthanasia. He also strongly criticized the federal government's plan to force employers to provide health-insurance plans with sterilization and contraceptive coverage, including coverage for abortion-causing drugs.
The push to recognize homosexual unions is another danger, he said, because "our atheocratic government now deems itself competent to rewrite 'the laws of nature's God' — the God-given definitions of marriage and the family."
In response to these trends, he said Americans need to restore "our sense of government based on theism and natural law." They need to recognize "radical secularization" and remind others that "the America we have become is not the America our founders had in mind."
Faithful citizens should rediscover "the basic religious and Christian values" in the Declaration of Independence, he suggested.
The Declaration recognizes the inalienable right to life, but that right is rooted in a broader framework of assumptions about what rights are and where they come from. Despite some "profound moral blind spots" of the American founders, "the Declaration's expressed belief in the divine origin of the human person is everywhere presumed in the Constitution."
"And throughout American history, this belief has served as a goad to our national conscience," he noted.
"The pro-life movement has always been a force for moral renewal in America," Bishop Conley said. "Like the abolitionist movement before us, the pro-life cause has always called our country back to its beginnings — as a nation under God. Our country needs our witness now more than ever. The way forward begins with us."
The bishop praised the White Rose Women's Center and St. Joseph's Helpers as "a beacon of hope for Dallas and for our country."
"I salute you for everything you are doing, at so many levels, to defend the sanctity and dignity of human life."


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Once again Jason Hammel was brilliant in six innings of work for the Cubs as they held on to beat the Marlins 3-2. Hammel thought he could have went longer, which is usually the case as he only threw 80 pitches before being lifted for Miguel Montero in the bottom of the 6th (Montero failed). The strike zone was getting worn out by Hammel who finished the night throwing 52 strikes, and just 28 balls. Joe Maddon felt it necessary to pull Hammel in favor of Montero to try and capitalize on a scoring chance against Jose Fernandez, it didn't work out.
Pedro Strop was ineffective but his stuff was pretty darn good to this uneducated baseball watcher. Strop gave up two runs, only one of them was earned as he was charged with an error on a botched double play ball. It looked like there was a lack of communication between Zobrist and Russell on the play, shortly after that a ball ricocheted off of Strop and into right field for single to score the second run, just odd. Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman shut the door in the eighth and the ninth to secure the victory. Dexter Fowler was in the middle of it all as usual at the plate, he went 3-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. Willson Contreras also had a stellar night against one of the best in Fernandez, he went 2-for-3 with a walk, and an RBI. The Cubs will go for the sweep tomorrow behind John Lackey, and the Cardinals lost so the NL Central lead swells to nine games.


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Texas Tax Free Weekend Coming in August
Broadway Square Mall in Tyler and other retails stores around East Texas will be packed the weekend of Aug. 17-19. That's the time frame for this year's Sales Tax Holiday shopping weekend.
Us gals don't often need an excuse to shop. We'll fight the crowds in search of a good deal any old weekend. But just in case you do need an excuse to swipe your credit card and feel good about it, the tax free weekend provides one. It always draws a huge shopping crowd.
What's tax free this year?
Most footwear and clothing sold for less than $100 will be tax free during the holiday weekend. You can buy two shirts for $80 each, and both items qualify for the exemption, even though the total bill is over $100. The tax free basis is per-item. Cool!
Most backbacks, book binders, pens, pencils, glue, legal pads, tablets and school supplies are tax exempt during the sales tax holiday weekend, too. The school supply lists for many Tyler schools will be released sooner, but to save a little money you might want to procrastinate and buy them in mid-August.
And, if you're like me and you've got babies, baby clothes will be tax free too. Babies are too young to be in school, but the government must understand that babies outgrow clothing at the speed of light and more is always necessary. Thank you, Texas.
For the complete list of tax free items, CLICK HERE, and plan your attack!