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More than 50 years of data show that people with schizophrenia who take antipsychotic drugs lower their risk of relapse, a new study suggests.
Relapse rates were 64% in people not taking medications for schizophrenia, while they were 27% in those who were given them for at least a year. Relapse -- meaning symptoms get worse or come back after a period of improvement -- is a common occurrence in people with schizophrenia.
The study also shows that people treated with these drugs are also less likely to be hospitalized or to behave aggressively or violently.
For this review study, scientists analyzed data from nearly 6,500 people with schizophrenia who participated in 65 research trials published between 1959 and 2011.
Since the evidence spanned more than 50 years, researchers were able to include in the analysis older antipsychotic drugs used to treat the condition, such as Haldol and Thorazine, and newer medications known as atypical antipsychotics, such as Abilify, Clozaril, Fazaclo, and Risperdal.��
The study is published online in The Lancet.


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SIOUX CITY, Iowa — A blip in most of the early polling, GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Saturday he believes his conservative views will prevail.
"Sometimes when people say, 'When you get traction, I'm going to be with you,' my answer is, 'You are my traction,' " the former Arkansas governor told The Associated Press.
"If people of genuine conservative convictions don't support a conservative with convictions, then quite frankly I'm not sure what the point would be to be in politics," he said in an interview.
Huckabee was on a one-day visit to heavily Republican western Iowa, his second trip to the state since forming an exploratory committee. But in a state whose precinct caucuses will launch the presidential nominating season, Huckabee has spent less time than better known rivals and trails in most early polling.
A battle for party direction
Some Republicans said Huckabee's conservative message appeals to the GOP base, but he needs to convince activists he is a serious player. Huckabee said that will happen naturally over the next few months as Republicans begin to sort through the field.
He dismissed early polls as nothing more than a gauge of name identification.
"I believe I can win or I wouldn't be in this race," said Huckabee. "It will happen because over the next few months people are going to start sifting beyond the trappings and start asking not just what is this person saying, but is what this person saying consistent with what this person has been saying and what this person has actually done."
Huckabee argued that the GOP primary will be a struggle for the direction of the party, with better known rivals like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani seeking to move the party away from its conservative roots.
"Conservatives will have a real choice to make," said Huckabee. "They are either going to decide that it does matter who they elect and that's why they are in politics, or the conservative movement will essentially become nonexistent at that point."
The Iowa factor
Huckabee said the first real test of his strength will come this summer when the Iowa Republican Party holds a high-profile straw poll.
"If I can do better than expected in the Iowa straw poll, then it's going to prove there is momentum," he said.
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
Iowa Republican Party Chairman Ray Hoffman agreed caucus-goers are still waiting to decide. "They are looking for a message," he said.
Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats said Huckabee has a shot, considering that Iowa Republicans' tend to favor strong conservatives.
But many conservatives won't pay attention to Huckabee until he proves himself, the same hurdle faced by Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, said the state's House GOP leader, Chris Rants of Sioux City.
"Voters are looking at not just how they match up on the scorecard, but can they go the distance and are they electable," Rants said.
Iowa Christian Alliance head Steve Scheffler said most in the party's religious conservative base also are still looking over the field.
"It's going to take a lot of hand-holding," said Scheffler. "I don't think there's any movement, really, en masse toward one candidate."
Huckabee said that's precisely the dynamic he needs.
"There are several reasons this is the place I am going to break out," said Huckabee. "Demographically and culturally, this is a place where I'm very comfortable and at home. It's a state where retail politics does matter."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

subset: commoncrawl


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We were very sad to hear of the passing of Anne Hudson who had been a supporter of Pestalozzi's work for many years. Anne was a dedicated Soroptimist and together with her husband Andrew had been a committed host parent to many Pestalozzi students. She continued her love and support for her Pestalozzi family long after their Pestalozzi journey had ended. A service of thanksgiving took place on Tuesday 2nd April at St. Andrew and St. Mary the Virgin Church in Fletching. The service was led by Father Brian Murphy and the church was filled with family, friends, Pestalozzi students and alumni celebrating the extraordinary and full life that Anne lived.
There were readings and musical contributions from friends, family and fellow Soroptimists and Anne's host-daughter, Mingyur Paldon, recited a Tibetan prayer. Tributes from Pestalozzi alumni who were unable to attend the service were also read out. Here are some extracts:
Anne was a mother to me. She has taught me so much about courage, simplicity, kindness, cooking, passion, and life in general. I will alwaysremember her spirit, the spark in her eyes, her beautiful smile, the tenderness in the way she cared for the garden, the birds, and the eggs, and of course the taste of the delicious food she made. Pestalozzi andShelley's Barnwere home away from home because of you both. I am really sad that I didn't get to see her again. Uddhav and I were talking a few weeks ago about making a visit once our residency process was sorted out and we would be able to travel internationally. Alas! I still feel the warmth of her big hug from 2017. She will live on forever in our memories. What a role model she was!
Laxmi Rajak
I have a rush of memories in my head. She was an absolute beauty inside out.
From Ram Rijal - Director and founder of Bloom Nepal School.
It is extremely sad news to hear and saddest to believe that Anne is not with us anymore. Sitting at this distant place I wish 'May her beautiful soul Rest in Peace'.
It just feels like yesterday that we were decorating the home for Christmas and enjoying dinner after a having a cooking lesson with Anne. I still remember the taste of delicious food and apple pie cooked by Anne. She gave me lots of cooking lessons but I have not yet been able to get the same taste as hers. Just a memory of all the moments we spent gardening, walking down the autumn colours or celebrating Christmas makes me feel lively till now. Anne driving the car through roads under the shadow of trees… all seems just like yesterday.
Komal Priya - Clinical Research Associate at PFC Pharma Focus and Regulatory Record Specialist at Syneos Health
Donations in memory of Anne can be made online to the Bloom Nepal Foundation: www.bloomnf.org
Any Questions?
Please contact us by clicking the link below.


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Don't forget to get your entries in for the Making Babies November Competition!
We are also running a special (Yes another special, because we are nice like that) on Pre~Seed and OPK (5 Pack).
Normal pricing would be R 355.00 including shipping. We are now offering Combo packs at R320.00 (including registered mail shipping) Saving you R 35.00
Using the OPKs in conjunction with the Pre~Seed will allow you to time your BD sessions and use the Pre~Seed at the correct times, increasing your chances at conception. :)
If you would like to take advantage of the Combo special, please forward an email with your details to email@example.com
Monday, November 30, 2009
Last day for the November Comp!!!
Don't forget to get your entries in for the Making Babies November Competition!
Posted by Making Babies at 8:48 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
What's the hardest part of TTC?
Between all the taking of temperatures, stretching CM and keeping BD schedules - getting pregnant can be taxing on the soul. Please go vote in our poll: What's the hardest part of TTC?
I used to hate those 24 hours leading up to Ovulation. You know it's coming, you pray and beg and plead and pray that what ever you do in the next 24 hours leads to a healthy pregnancy.
Then around 10dpo you get this itch to POAS. Only to sit for hours staring at a possible line that deep down you know really isn't there, but your heart does see something. You get annoyed with yourself for testing early in the first place. You should have waited at least another day (stretching it to maybe another two days.)
Argh, and then AF hits....... TTC is not for sissy's.
In Making Babies news:
We still have a number of specials running for the rest of November, so do check it out.
Our November competition closes this weekend, make sure you get your entry in if you would like to win a Pack of One Step Home Pregnancy Tests.
Posted by Making Babies at 8:38 AM 0 comments
Monday, November 23, 2009
How to use the Conception CAP
I found a cool video clip of the Conception Cap. Sometimes it's better to see than read ;-)
The Conception Kit can be ordered through Making Babies
Posted by Making Babies at 12:57 PM 0 comments
Friday, November 20, 2009
Cranberry for a girl....
We often get into conversations about gender selection while TTC. I found an interesting article on Getting Pregnant Blog
It seems that research has stated that taking cranberry via either pills or juice can influence the gender of your baby, in favour of team PINK.
Cranberry will make your cervical mucus (CM) more acidic, which sperm does not like at all. But since female sperm are stronger than male sperm they have more chance to survive the hostile conditions.
Be warned though that cranberry can affect the amount of CM that your body produces, so you are bound to have less CM which isn't really ideal for TTC. Since you ideally want as much EWCM as possible to increase your chances of any conception. ;-)
If you are already having issues with CM production then I don't think you should be going the cranberry route in order for team PINK. It might just be doing more harm than good.
Posted by Making Babies at 1:16 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
How long is your cycle?
Making Babies Wednesday Poll is up.
How long is your cycle?
"Whenever women are together for more than two days, they talk about their periods," says Whoopi Goldberg.
Now put us all together in one chat room, and we are bound to have fun! Click here to join the Making Babies Network.
Posted by Making Babies at 1:57 PM 0 comments
Monday, November 16, 2009
Pregnancy vs Baby
As I was holding my friend's baby on Saturday morning, I looked down at him ran my finger across his face and smiled. Inside my heart skipped a beat and stung a bit. I realized looking down at his precious little face, while stroking his teeny toes that this might be the closet I get to holding a baby again for a very long time. I was a bit sad that I wouldn't be holding my own very soon. As in - not for a few years at least. But I enjoyed meeting this little guy who we have been planning for so long. It was awesome to have him in real life there, cooing back at you.
(Then my McK ran past and I realized I love her 5 year old toes too, and I am incredibly lucky and blessed to have her.)
Motherhood is a challenge. It's the hardest job you will ever have, and yes it will be the most awesome one too. But it got me thinking, do you want to be pregnant or have a baby? Odd question? I don't think so.
There were many times when I would think I just wanted to be pregnant. To recapture that what I lost with my pregnancy with McK. There are so many things I wanted to do differently. Then I would feel overwhelmed thinking that at the end of 9 months there would actually be a baby. A real person. It wouldn't just be two lines on a HPT. It wouldn't be that first u/s with a beating heart. It wouldn't just be that first kick. There would actually be a baby at the end....
Babies grow up into 5 year old's... and 5 year old's grow into teenagers.... and teenagers... well you know the rest of this story. :) Isn't it wonderful that something so important as two lines on a pee stick can develop into a life changing situation. Even if you aren't prepared for the full package yet.
Posted by Making Babies at 1:33 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
This week on Making Babies
Oddly I take the weeks on Making Babies from Wednesday to Wednesday, I guess because of the Poll we run every Wednesday ;-)
1) How many HPT do you use per cycle? Come on go vote, (Ps the last option is for us POAS-aholics)
Our last poll asked "Are you taking any natural supplements?" I see most of the voters are on either a multivitamin or FertilAid/Fertipil Plus. I hope those supplements start working their magic! ;-)
2) We are giving away Arouse 24 Gel with the first SIX orders of 1x One Step HPT (10) and 1x One Step OPK (10) combo packs. Please note this special only applies to the 10 Pack combo's.
You would need to send me an email order with the subject line HPT/OPK Combo deal :) Only the first six orders will qualify.
3) Competition time.... All TTCers sit hours upon hours dreaming about how to announce their pregnancies. Since starting Making Babies, I've had the pleasure of sharing in these beautiful BFPs and the excitement of announcing them. If you would like to win a HPT (10 pack), submit your story of how you would like to announce your pregnancy. I have lined up a judging panel who will vote for the best (creative) announcement. The winner will be announced in our December Newsletter. (1 Dec)
Please submit your "announcement stories" to firstname.lastname@example.com We will only publish the stories towards the end of the month. So get creative, it's all about how you would like to announce your pregnancy. Use your imagination. :)
And that my dear friends is all I have time for today. I hope you are having a great week so far.
Please note the special mentioned above, as well as the competition is only valid for Making Babies Members, so if you are reading this and still not signed up... CLICK HERE!!!!
Plenty of fertile thoughts going out to everyone.
Posted by Making Babies at 10:33 AM 0 comments
Monday, November 9, 2009
Would you do it again?
I often wonder especially now, if I would ever go through the infertility heartache again. Would I put myself through all that? If I knew how my future was going to turn out, would I have stopped it ages ago and not let infertility or trying to conceive run my life like it did?
Would I do it again? Yes, I think so. I still want another child. One day. So yes, I'm fully prepared to go through all the emotions again. All the frustration, all the stress, all the excitement. All the trying...... I think the next time round will be different because I know exactly what to expect. I hope there will be a next time. I don't doubt for a minute that it won't be heart breaking.
Do I regret going through it? No. I needed it. It changed me. Put everything into perspective for me. I can apply what I learnt from infertility to so many aspects of my life. To appreciate what I have. To have compassion and understanding. I will never say I wasted 3 years of my life TTC. It wasn't a waste. It was a major growth curve for me.
I would never want to do it over or erase it from my life. If I think of my amazing SOP girls. 12 woman who have touched my heart and life in a way I have never thought possible. My dear friend Nicki, who I adore with everything in me!!!! I would never want to imagine my life without her. My mommy girls, my Making Babies members... Each person means so much to me, and play such a huge role. So no, I would never want to erase my 3 year journey. Not for anything in the world.....
Posted by Making Babies at 9:10 AM 3 comments
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Weight and Fertility
Argh, the "W" word. I remember being so petrified every time I used to walk into my EX-Gynae's rooms. My blood pressure would go through the roof. He always complained about my weight. It was the easiest excuse for him as to why we weren't falling pregnant. Blame it on the weight. I remember the one time I was so proud that I had lost 4kg, when I told him he said to me: "By the rate you are losing weight, you will probably be pregnant in 2 years". Idiot.......
So needless to say I was always so demotivated and p!ssed off about my weight and TTC. I wouldn't even open articles that spoke about weight affecting TTC. Until I met my new Gynae. When I told him about my weight issues. He looked at me as if I was nuts, and said "what weight issues? You look fine to me." I nearly kissed the man.
Now I know I wasn't seriously over weight, I could do with loosing a few kgs. (Like any woman always wants too.) But what was amazing was the difference in attitude between the two docs. For 3 years, the EXdoc would literally shout out at me and I would not do anything about the extra weight. New doc, lovely man = me getting more healthier and actually wanting to exercise.
I don't want to preach about weight affecting your fertility. But if you glance through the passages below:
Extract from www.fertilityjourney.com
For women, very low weight can decrease GnRH production, which can result in irregular ovulation or a complete stop to ovulation. Too little GnRH can affect the development of the uterine lining and its receptivity to the implanting embryo. For men, low weight could lead to decreased sperm count or function.
Being overweight can also lead to an abnormal hormonal signal, impacting ovulation and possibly sperm production. It can cause an overproduction of insulin, which may result in irregular ovulation. There is also a link between obesity, excess insulin production and the infertility condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
A healthy return to normal body weight will often reverse hormonal irregularities, thereby restoring fertility. Not only that, but normal body weight is also the healthy way to prepare for pregnancy. Whether you have to shed or gain some pounds, changes in weight should be made before getting pregnant, since drastic changes can be detrimental to your developing baby. If the cause of obesity is related to PCOS, the use of insulin sensitizing drugs may be needed in addition to dietary changes. Please consult with your healthcare provider prior to taking any medications, prescribed or over the counter.
It really couldn't do you any harm to get active and create the best environment (body) to fall pregnant. Exercising makes you feel better, is a great stress reliever and clears the mind. (Well at least for me it does.) And I'm sure you could do with less stress while TTC right?
Don't kill yourself with hectic routines if you aren't used to it. Start off slow, do something you enjoy. Maybe something both you and your partner can do together.
Ps. I'm sure some creative BD sessions could be considered as exercise too *wink wink*
Posted by Making Babies at 9:35 AM 1 comments
Monday, November 2, 2009
November already?
Good morning
It's that time again, beginning of the month. Newsletter time. Click here if you would like to read our November Edition
We will also be launching our new competition for the month soon. So please keep checking back for details. Going to be a fun one :)
Our featured member for November was also announced last week on the Making Babies Network.
So your partner may not be willing to start popping some supplements to increase his sperm count, there are some foods that you could introduce to his diet to help with that ;-)(to help with sperm count not force him to take supplements LOL)
1. Red peppers, carrots, oatmeal, dried apricots. The vitamin A in these foods help grow healthy sperm.
2. Asparagus, snow peas, cooked tomatoes, strawberries. The vitamin C in these foods affect sperm motility and viability.
3. Turkey, eggs, seafood, oysters, pumpkin seeds. The zinc found in these foods help produce healthy sperm.
4. Leafy green veggies, avocados, beans, whole grains. To increase your sperm count, production, and motility.
5. Salmon, sardines, anchovies, walnuts. "DHA and other essential omega-3 fatty acids help improve blood flow to the genitals and increase sexual function," writes Heidi Murkoff in What to Expect Before You're Expecting.
Now I'm hungry after reading that. :)
Hope November brings lots of BFPs!!!
Posted by Making Babies at 9:01 AM 0 comments


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Europe worries over Russian Gazprom's influence
Politically the phrase "Soviet satellite" would seem to be plucked from the ashcan of history, but political theory
does not always govern economic reality.
Much to the consternation of the European Union, which now numbers several former Soviet block nations among its members, Russia through its natural-gas monopoly, Gazprom, has spun a web of control over energy supplies extending from Estonia on the Baltic Sea to Bulgaria on the Black Sea.
Russia holds the world's largest natural gas reserves, with 1,680 tcf, more than twice the reserves in the
next-largest country, Iran, according to the Energy Information Agency of the US Department of Energy.
Not surprisingly it is the world's largest natural gas producer and exporter, giving Moscow considerable economic leverage over the countries that are dependent on Russian gas, and the leverage is not limited to the former satellites. Over 44 % of the European Union's gas imports come from Russia, mostly from Gazprom.
Late September, a delegation from global-minded Gazprom visited Washington at the invitation of Commerce Secretary
Donald Evans and met with government officials and executives of American energy companies, including David O'Reilly,
chairman of ChevronTexaco.
Through joint ventures with offshore trading companies, in which Gazprom has invested $ 2.6 bn, the Russian energy giant now controls the supply, sale and distribution of natural gas through much of Europe. In September, Gazprom became a major oil producer as well by acquiring Rosneft, Russia's No.5 oil company. The combination could give Russia even more bargaining power in global energy circles.
Gazprom is the sole gas supplier to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia, and provides 89 % of Hungary's gas, 86 %
of Poland's and nearly three-quarters of the Czech Republic's. In May all three nations joined the European Union,
which has called on members to diversify their sources of energy supplies. In addition, according to the Energy
Information Agency, Gazprom supplies 36 % of Germany's gas, 27 % of Italy's, 25 % of France's, 67 % of Turkey's, 65 %
of Austria's and 100 % of Finland's.
"Russia wants to sustain its market position in the whole of Europe and especially in the ex-Soviet block countries," said Agata Loskot, a Russian expert at the Centre for Eastern Studies. "Of course, its activities in the new EU member states can be helpful in the expansion into western Europe."
According to the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, Russia now supplies 44 % of the
natural gas and 18 % of the crude oil imported by the 25 member states.
Gazprom has a big economic interest in increasing its sales to western European markets because prices on the world market are considerably higher than in Russia, where they are capped. Although only a third of Russia's gas sales in terms of volume go to Europe, they account for 70 % of the revenues from natural gas.
Claudia Kemfert, energy expert at the DIW economics research institute in Berlin, said, "On the one hand, these
countries do feel more secure now that they are inside the EU." But, she continued, "The entry of these countries
into the EU has not led to more competition or diversification of energy supplies."
"How can these countries diversify?" Kemfert added. "Gas and oil comes from Russia. The point is that it is hugely costly to modernize these energy sectors. So if they can continue to get the gas and oil from Russia, maybe in the long term it is cheaper for them."
Emmanuel Bergasse, administrator for Central and Eastern Europe at the International Energy Agency, an
intergovernmental body based in Paris, said, "Gazprom gains control through direct investments and
Indeed, under the stewardship of Alexei Miller, whom President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia named CEO in 2001, Gazprom has expanded at home and abroad. The acquisition of Rosneft, previously a state-owned company, gives the Kremlin a controlling interest in Gazprom, just over 50 % from 38 % previously. But the remaining shares are publicly traded, and foreigners may buy them.
Gazprom holds nearly a third of the world's natural gas reserves and produces 90 % of Russia's natural gas. The
company's tax payments make up nearly a quarter of the national government's tax revenues. Last year, according to
the company's annual report, it had revenues of 780.6 bn roubles, or $ 26.7 bn, and net profits of 142 bn roubles --
a rise of 270 % over the previous year.
Gazprom also operates the country's natural gas pipeline grid, giving it immense power over competitors, and in the East European and Baltic region, Gazprom now has at least 23 big joint ventures and offshore companies, many of them involved in gas distribution and transportation. Its interests extend to other energy sectors. In Lithuania, for example, Gazprom has a 51 % stake in the Kaunas electric power plant.
According to a report by Ewa Paszyc for the Centre of Eastern Studies in Warsaw, Poland, Gazprom has used these
offshoots to maintain control of distribution in the post-Soviet era.
"Gazprom establishes a holding or a joint venture with a local gas-pipeline operation, creating a transit monopoly for Russian gas," Paszyc writes. Then through both contracts and informal means like personal connections and lobbying, it gains control, she added. In 1998, for example, Gazprom, took over the shares of Topenergy, a Bulgarian company dealing with commercial distribution of gas in Bulgaria. Until then, Bulgargaz, the state-owned gas company, had owned Topenergy. Gazprom finally clinched the deal only after promising to take over Topenergy's debts.
The monopoly's deals are worrisome to Westerners, who want to see more competition among companies.
"This is not how business is done inside the EU," said Bergasse of the International Energy Agency. "There is the issue of security of supply. If you buy gas from an offshore trading company, it could disappear. Who will then take over the supply and the obligations that go with it?"
Furthermore, he said, Gazprom's network of joint ventures across eastern Europe is interfering with the European Commission's aim of diversifying energy supplies to European Union countries.
"Gazprom's stated aim is to extend its dominant position," Bergasse added.
But even as Westerners worry about Gazprom's expansion, some Russians involved in the energy sector are sceptical
about the financial value of the joint ventures. A report issued by Hermitage Capital Management, Russia's largest
equity-investment fund, with assets of $ 1.5 bn, including shares in Gazprom, said Gazprom did "not seem to be
receiving significant profit from its investments in these joint ventures."
"I have raised the same question about the role of these joint ventures in eastern Europe," said Vadim Kleiner, director of research at Hermitage. "Are there any economic returns from these investments for Gazprom, and if not, what is the business rationale for spending such money?"
Asked about the profitability of its investments in the area, a spokeswoman for Gazprom, Olga Moreva, said only, "Gazprom is satisfied with the financial performance of its joint ventures in the European region."


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(b. Nov. 29, 1835, Beijing, China—d. Nov. 15, 1908, Beijing)
Cixi, who is also known as the Empress Dowager, was a consort of the Xianfeng emperor (reigned 1850–61), mother of the Tongzhi emperor (reigned 1861–75), adoptive mother of the Guangxu emperor (reigned 1875–1908), and a towering presence over the Chinese empire for almost half a century.
Ruling through a clique of conservative, corrupt officials and maintaining authority over the Manchu imperial house (Qing dynasty, 1644–1911/12), she became one of the most powerful women in the history of China.
Cixi was one of the Xianfeng emperor's low-ranking concubines, but in 1856 she bore his only son. On Xianfeng's death, the six-year-old boy became the Tongzhi emperor, and state business was put in the hands of a regency council of eight elder officials.
A few months later, after Gong Qinwang (Prince Gong), the former emperor's brother, was victorious in a palace coup, the regency was transferred to Cixi and Xianfeng's former senior consort, Ci'an. Gong became the prince counsellor.
Under this triumviral rule (but largely under Prince Gong's leadership), the government entered a temporary period of revitalization. The great Taiping Rebellion (1850–64), which had devastated South China, was quelled, as was the Nian Rebellion (1853–68) in the northern prov-inces.
Schools were created for the study of foreign languages, a modern customs service was instituted, Western-style arsenals were constructed, and the first Chinese foreign service office was installed. Internally, an effort was made to end governmental corruption and to recruit men of talent.
Although the regency was terminated in 1873 after the Tongzhi emperor attained maturity, Cixi's involvement in state affairs continued. Following Tongzhi's death, Cixi's three-year-old nephew (whom she had adopted) was named the new heir.
The two empress dowagers continued to act as regents, but after Ci'an's sudden death in 1881, Cixi became the sole holder of the office. Three years later, she dismissed Prince Gong.
In 1889 Cixi nominally relinquished control over the government to retire to the magnificent summer palace she had rebuilt northwest of Beijing.
However, in 1898, a few years after the shocking defeat of the Chinese forces in the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), the young Guangxu emperor, under the influence of a group of reformers, put through a number of radical proposals designed to reno-vate and modernize the Chinese government and to eliminate corruption.
But conservative officials, who again used the military to institute a coup, collected around Cixi. The new reforms were reversed, and Cixi resumed the regency. Most historians believe that China's last chance for peaceful change thus ended.
The following year Cixi began to back those officials who were encouraging the anti-foreign Boxer rebels. In 1900 the Boxer Rebellion reached its peak; some 100 foreigners were killed, and the foreign legations in Beijing were sur-rounded. However, a coalition of foreign troops soon captured the capital, and Cixi was forced to flee the city and accept humiliating peace terms.
Returning to Beijing in 1902, she finally began to implement many of the innova-tions that had been reversed in 1898, although the Guangxu emperor no longer participated in the government. The day before Cixi died, Guangxu's death was announced.
Since then, it was generally believed that the emperor had been poisoned, but that fact was not substantiated until 2008 when a report was issued by Chinese researchers and police officials confirming that the emperor had been deliberately poisoned with arsenic. Although the report did not address who may have ordered his death—and there never has been any hard evidence of culpability—suspicion long has pointed toward the Empress Dowager.


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Cleaning Your Jewellery
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Jewellery Care
To keep your piece shiny for an extended time, avoid harsh chemicals like nail polish removers, detergent or perfume to keep this piece fresher for longer.
Wipe this item with a dry tissue or cloth after wearing to remove any body oils or sweat before storing in a cool dry place.
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The product is so pretty and fast shipment
it's beautiful and the pendant is perfectly sized. the clasp mechanism can be a little difficult but other than that it's exactly what i wanted. really pretty!


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MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday signed the Women's Health and Safety Act, a measure that will improve and strengthen the standards of care at women's clinics in Alabama.
"As a physician, and as a governor, I am proud to sign this legislation," Governor Bentley said. "This bill provides appropriate standards of care. It has been endorsed by pro-life groups across Alabama. This is a key piece of legislation in the House Republican Agenda, and I am honored to stand with legislative leaders and sign this bill."
"I am strongly pro-life," Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey said. "We can't ban abortion—that's a federal issue that's been confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court—but at the state level, we can regulate and control unsafe health practices. I support the Legislature's efforts to restrict the operation of unsafe clinics to help ensure a woman's health."
"With the Governor's signature on the Women's Health and Safety Act, Republicans are fortifying our efforts to safeguard the health and safety of Alabama women and defend the rights of the unborn," said Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn). "Since the U.S. Supreme Court unfortunately allows abortion to remain legal, this law is imperative to ensure that the procedure is performed in the most safe and healthy environment possible."
"The women of Alabama deserve the highest possible standard of healthcare, particularly at such a difficult time," said the bill's House sponsor, Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin (R-Indian Springs Village). "If an abortion clinic is truly dedicated to providing adequate care, ensuring dependable safeguards and putting patients' needs before profits, it will embrace this legislation rather than oppose it. For far too long, Alabama has had more health regulations in place to protect your cat or dog at a vet clinic than it does for a woman receiving an abortion; this law will correct that shameful disparity."
The Women's Health and Safety Act will require clinics that provide abortions to meet the same facility standards as ambulatory care centers. The legislation also calls for doctors who provide abortions to adhere to stronger standards, including having admitting privileges at local hospitals. The bill also includes strong enforcement procedures for doctors or clinics that fail to comply with the new health and safety standards.
"I applaud Governor Bentley for signing this legislation to provide reasonable and medically-appropriate health and safety standards for women's health clinics," Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) said. "These patients deserve to be treated in a safe environment and in a facility capable of responding to medical emergencies should the need arise."
"Even though I continue to be disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed abortion to remain the law of the land, we can take these measures to protect the health of women," said Senator Scott Beason (R-Gardendale). "With the signing of this important law, we are taking steps to implement a comprehensive set of safety standards that will ensure that women's health clinics are providing an appropriate level of care."


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Kellie Pickler's OFFICIAL New Music Video for Someone Somewhere Tonight feat. Derek Hough
Wow. It's gorgeous. And, some damn good acting from both of them…to the point that one of Derek's regular trolls on twitter told him to "leave Kellie alone, she has a husband". You can't make this stuff up, I tell ya! 🙂


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Hang Gliders
2nd Hand Gliders & Gear
0 items
This aluminium part fits against the stop ferrule in continuous front to rear rigging that is often fitted to Icaro and A-I-R hang gliders.
In conjuntion with the stop ferrule on the lower front to rear rigging iIt prevents the bottom of the upright from moving along the wire. It also connects the plastic upright end fitting to the upright.
When and upright is bent it is not unusual to damage this component as well.
They are simple to change.


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DWTS Season 16 – Rumor Round-Up!!!
Ok kids, we're at about t minus
66 21 13 hours until the cast announcement, and it's time once again to break down the various rumors we've heard about the cast so far – which, unfortunately, haven't been too plentiful this season. But hey, at least it has given our imaginations the chance to run wild and we may be in for some big, hopefully pleasant surprises on Tuesday morning 🙂
I went ahead and broke the rumored names into categories: the ones that we think are legitimate possibilities (names we keep hearing, from reputable sources), the ones that are a longshot (they've been a rumor, but they're more likely to say "no" than the legitimate possibilities), the ones that have said they want to do the show or have campaigned to get on the show (but probably haven't been/won't be asked), the random one-offs that are usually referred to by a 3rd party (and not a reputable source or the person themselves), and the "endless parade of no" – the celebs who were reportedly asked to do the show, but turned it down.
ETA: Added a new rumor, and threw in some updates on others. Things are starting to take shape! 🙂
ETA2: The rumors came flooding in today…and some of them seem pretty legit.
Legitimate possibilities:
Sean Lowe
Aly Raisman
Victor Ortiz – confirmed
Somebody from General Hospital – right now, all we know for sure is that it's not Kristen Alderson or Nancy Lee Grahn
Kellie Pickler
Jacoby Jones – confirmed during Oscars telecast
Lisa Vanderpump – already following new pro Gleb on Twitter, and vice-versa
Andy Dick
D.L. Hughley
Colin Kaepernick
Wynonna Judd
Emily Maynard
Kourtney Kardashian
Mama June
Katie Couric
Christie Brinkley
Jordyn Wieber
Jerry Supiran
Finola Hughes
Dina Lohan
Perez Hilton
Bobby Bones
Barbara Evans
Deena Cortese
Shannon Bex
Maia Campbell
Miss America Mallory Hagan
Daniella Monet
Pure Randomness:
Billy Idol
William Shatner
Miss Alabama
Arianny Celeste
Tito Ortiz
Danica McKellar
Adrienne Maloof
The Endless Parade of "No":
Eric Idle
Lance Armstrong
Lindsay Lohan
Bobby Flay
Ann Romney
Victor Cruz
Tori Spelling
Curious as to what pros we're going to see/not going to see this season? Be sure to keep an eye on Heidi's Pro Watch to keep up with all the in's, out's, and new faces this season. And be sure to tune into PureDWTS starting at 7 AM EST on Tuesday (2/26), as yours truly will be live blogging the cast announcement on GMA…things could get crazy, kids. You won't want to miss it 😉


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A Banksy artwork which was painted on a wall outside a cash-strapped youth club has been sold to a private collector for £403,000.
Mobile Lovers, showing a couple embracing while checking their mobile phones, appeared on a doorway next to Broad Plain Working With Young People in Bristol in April.
The piece, attached to a piece of wood and screwed to the wall on Clement Street, was removed by members of the youth club with a crowbar.
Club owner Dennis Stinchcombe moved Mobile Lovers to a corridor and invited members of the public to come and view it, with donations optional.
Within days, police removed the stencil and handed it to the city council, which put it on display at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery while its ownership was established.
Elusive artist Banksy later took the unusual step of writing a letter to Mr Stinchcombe, stating that ''as far as I'm concerned, you can have it''.
It was announced that Broad Plain Working With Young People had sold the piece to a private collector in the UK for £403,000 - securing the future of the club.
Mr Stinchcombe welcomed the sale of the piece and thanked Banksy for saving the youth club, which has operated in Bristol for 120 years.
''We are incredibly lucky to have Banksy donate their piece to our club,'' Mr Stinchcombe told a packed press conference at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.
''Within 12 months we could have well been closed, which means 120 years of exceptional youth work in Bristol would have been lost.
''That would have been a tragedy for Bristol.''
All proceeds from the sale will go to Broad Plain Working With Young People, with a portion shared with a number of other voluntary sector youth clubs across Bristol.
Mr Stinchcombe said: "Banksy came along at the right time. It has been really good for Bristol all round - £403,000 is really going to do something for us.
"If that's what Banksy has done, what a fantastic thing. Thank you, Banksy."
Mr Stinchcombe said members of the youth club had widened their hobbies from sport to art, with a "Thank You Banksy" wall erected by the side of the site.
The sale of the piece was organised by the UK's leading street art expert, Mary McCarthy, of MM Contemporary Arts Ltd.
George Ferguson, mayor of Bristol, said the city would be sad to see the piece go but welcomed the amount paid for it.
"We couldn't have a better outcome," he said. "In a way I am sorry that Bristol loses the work because it would have been lovely to have that win-win.
"Thanks to the client too, in a way it is a bit of philanthropy what they have done. They have not just bought a work of art, they have donated something really worthwhile to an organisation that gives kids a real second chance.
"Some kids in the centre of the city are left with a really difficult time. When you can get them off the streets and do worthwhile things, that is a huge service, not just for those kids but for the whole of Bristol."
The work drew large crowds to the museum and art gallery, where it has remained since April, raising more than £2,000 in donations for the club over the April Bank Holiday weekend.
Broad Plain Working With Young People was facing closure earlier this year and required £120,000 to survive - until the Banksy stencil arrived next to the club's gates.
Mr Stinchcombe, who faced death threats after removing the piece from the wall, previously said offers of £2 million had been made for it.


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Citizens' Rights-When Towed From Private Property
If your vehicle has been towed from a private parking facility, you are entitled to the following:
- Assistance in obtaining transportation to pick up your vehicle, such as a telephone call to a taxi service or information about bus service.
- To receive information about the applicable rates when calling for release information.
- To wait no more than 30 minutes at the storage yard, after the agreed appointment time, for an attendant to arrive to release your vehicle outside of regular business hours which are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, excluding official City holidays.
- To receive a rate sheet detailing all applicable fees and a clear, itemized receipt for all charges.
- To pay for the tow by cash or a valid credit or debit card bearing the VISA logo and issued in the name of the vehicle owner or owner's agent.
- To receive correct change for your cash payment, not later than the end of the following business day.
- Assistance in retrieving ownership documents from the towed vehicle.
- Release of your vehicle at no cost, if the hookup is not complete, the driver in the truck and the truck rolling forward when you return to your vehicle.
- Release of an animal left in the vehicle, or contents of an emergency nature, as specified in ORS 98.858, with proof of ownership or authorization by the registered owner. An after hours or gate fee may be applied for such requests outside of regular business hours.
- Information about how and where to file a complaint with the City of Portland.
Questions or complaints should be directed to:
Towing Coordinator
City of Portland
Portland Bureau of Transportation
Phone: (503) 865-2489
1120 SW 5th Ave, Suite 1410
Portland OR 97204
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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My name is Alex. I am a 2nd generation Arizonan. I've been married 15 years and am a father of two. I work as a fire captain for the City of Phoenix and have done so for 19 years. Seven more years and we plan on moving to a location where there is a lot more trout waters, Montana, Idaho etc.. I took up fly fishing 9 years ago and now my two brothers and many friends have done so also. I love small stream fishing in hike-in waters fishing for cutthroat. Our favorite waters are in Utah. Current Creek, Strawberry. Deschesne, Uinta River, Sevier, Logan, and naturally flaming gorge. I lucked out this year and found an Alumaweld drift boat whose owner lived in a very run-down trailer court in the worst part of town. $ 600 bucks including the trailer. Even a blind squirrel gets a nut sometime.
First off, Don Miguel, thanks for the site.
Me, AJ Cadena...born in Queens, NY during the sixties. With a love for the outdoors dating back before I can remember.
Picked up the 'stick' in '86, and have never looked back. I've been fortunate to have fish some very cool places. Arizona being one of them!!
Not married, no kids (****, I'm still a kid myself)....a fantastic girlfried though; brains and looks.
Currently helping my brother with his Atlanta based start-up; keeping my ears to the rail though for another gig in international.
Rusty Topping, 45, born on the East Coast and grew up in Baltimore. I fished some there and messed around with a fly tying kit as a kid. I moved to Florida in '78 to go to school and stayed for 15 years - slow learner. I did a lot of off-shore fishing there. Been married 21 years, two kids 12 (son) and 14 (daughter). Been an Arizonan since '93. I did not fish out here until about 4 years ago. My fishing buddy from college happened to move out here and we hit Lees Ferry once and that was all it took. It is amazing how addictive flyfishing can be. I still have my original fly tying kit and use the vise for all of my flies.
Hey guys, just found the web page. It looks like a GREAT site. Seldomseen, are you the one running the webpage? IF so, good job.
My name is Brent, I ocasionally post on AZOD as trophy hunter and I am almost always logged on to AZbasszone.com another great weppage if you dont know about it.
I am 17 and was born here in AZ. I typicly fish one or two times a week at local ponds around the vally. About once or twice a month I can get out of the vally and fish one of the salt river lakes for bass, or head up to the mountains for some trout fishing.
I look forward to getting to know everyone
Hello to all!
My name is Ken. I was born and raised in wisconsin. Moved to AZ 20 years ago. I've fished all of my life but just about 7 years ago I became a flyfishing junkie. I have not touch a spinning rod since.
I'm 35 years old, been married 8 years and we just had our first child 18 months ago. He's put a crimp in my fishing lately but it will be well worth it down the road when I can get him out fishing.
I own a health food store in chandler. Make sure to take your vitamins. I enjoy fishing all types of waters, but I have a soft spot for high alpine lakes(boulder mountains in utah). Hope to see you on the water.
Mike H. Born in the San Francisco Bay area in Dec 63. Graduated HS in 82 and went right into the Army. Forced medical retirement some yrs later. Been fishing the long rod for most of my life.
Long road trips with Seldom gives me gas.
Moved here from Utah 2 yrs ago and miss the fishing in Ut but nothing else. The state as a whole blows.
In moving here I have met some great guys and finally some people that enjoy drinking as much as I do.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. - Socrates
Hello Guys! What a killer site. Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry it's taken so long to jump on board. Really busy with work and ski trips. Zach Forman, 25, U of A grad, investment banker/developer, AZ native, not married, two Boxers Ginger and Riley (my kids), saltwater fanatic (flyfishing, scuba, free diving, etc), live in north Scottsdale, love to fish the Whites, the Ferry (used to work up there in college), and enjoy snowboarding almost as much as fly fishing (powder nut!) Best accomplishment: going 3 for 4 in Costa Rica for sailfish on billfish poppers I tied (jumped in the water afterwards to watch them swim away) By far one of the most memorable experiences of my life! I have made some cool friends on the AZOD board and hope to meet a few more here! Take care all thanks for all of the great posts!
My best,
One of the Old Farts tuning in......born in Denver a gazillion years ago, grew up, got eddyujakaeted, ended up working on 6 Continents (lived on 4), retired in '91, re-retired in '96 and then finally retired in '98, took up fly fishing after 3rd retirement. Through the AFC I learned to tie flys, build rods and construct laminated wood landing nets. Spend a great deal of time in a local hospital and a local school with my Therapy Dog, Lancaster dealing with (primarily) Oncology children and/or mentally/physically disadvantaged kids. Speak a couple of languages fluently and can navigate in a few more. Hope to see you guys/gals out on the streams soon.
I am...
Hello all,
I am an emergency medicine doc;hence the name... I am from Boston originally, born in '63 and fished for everything you can in New England (even eel gigging!). Came to AZ in 1993 to work at Maricopa Medical Center("County") and have been at Mayo in the ED for the last 6 years. Took up fly fishing about 4 years ago as a way to reduce stress and they seemed to be catching all the fish when I am camping up on the Rim. My wife, Dee, is from Mt. Shasta, CA and a big-time camper. My best gift to her(besides the diamond) was a Coleman camp kitchen. I have 2 boys, age 3 & 5 and I want them outside & away from an Xbox as they get older. I am new to fly fishing but not above spin casting. I am amazed at how every body of water has to be fished differently- so much to learn! I haven't even started to tie my own. My other hobby is autoracing medicine. I have been a track doc at Phoenix International Raceway since 94, worked the Indy 500 since 92, even did consulting for NASCAR and now I am the medical director at PIR. If any of you get to the races, come to the infield med center & say "Hi". Better yet, say "Hi" on the stream, river or lake. This is a great venue for info about fly-fishing & I really appreciate all the assistance I have already received! And "No" I don't mind a medical question as long as I can ask one about fishing!
Tony Pugliano
Born March 29 1984
Lived in Flag all my life
Started this fishing buisness when I was ten, but fished almost everyday when I turned 16. Been guiding on the Creek three summers now. I am set to graduate this may with a degree in Hotel Restaurant management from NAU.
I live to fish and fish to live.
P.S. Paul check out my profile pic. That is a cutt from that river by you we talked about.
Last edited by Iluvmyfly; 03-13-2006 at 11:13 PM.
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Posted by Patricia Laplante-Collins at 1:33 PM
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Every Sunday and some Wednesdays, Patricia welcomes Americans, Europeans and the rest of the world...Each evening, there is a guest speaker after dinner. Perhaps a writer, actor or historian - you name it, Patricia hosts them all. The wine flows freely, the food is often fabulous and the conversation even better. See SOME UPCOMING EVENTS on www.parissoirees.com. For others, email Patricia on firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Sugar Rush: A Different Kind of Club Sandwich at Chez L'Épicier in Montreal
When your meal starts with an amuse bouche of a sweet-looking macaron that turns out to be savory, you know you're in for a witty and whimsical dinner. Such was the case at Chez L'Épicier in Montreal. This quaint restaurant (and gourmet grocer) may be in tourist-oriented Old Montreal, but it's a favorite with locals as well, making it a much-celebrated destination for dining.
That macaron was made with black olive and goat cheese, and was absolutely terrific. So after a fabulous meal that included beef tartare with beet purée and crisped lard, as well as scallops with pan-seared foie gras, I couldn't wait to tackle the dessert menu.
My dining companion had a flight of four crème brûlées, boldly colorful and flavorful, providing four chances to shatter the sugary crust. As tempting as it was for me to order more of the house-made macarons, I took the advice of many Montrealers I had met and went with the Club Sandwich ($10).
I had a good laugh when the server brought the playful plate. Before me: two skewers of quartered "sandwiches" made with chocolate and vanilla mousse inside slices of cake. A closer look revealed slices of strawberry standing in as tomato, and basil leaves pretending to be lettuce. The "French fries" were actually pieces of fried pineapple, and the "cole slaw" was creamy honeydew melon salad with mint. Good flavors and textures, fun for the eyes as well as the taste buds. And a fitting end to a fun meal, taking me full circle of twists from the start of a savory macaron to the finish of a sweet sandwich.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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The most rigid and dimensionally stable backer board available. Excellent surface holdout for any type of adhesive or dry mount when framing. Also, use as a support in comic books, magazines or letter files.
Cuts cleanly with any mat cutting equipment or sharp blade. Acid-Lignin Free, pH 8.0 – 9.5, Virgin Alpha Cellulose Fiber, Pigment Non-Bleeding Color, passes Photographic Activity Test.
Thickness: 4-ply - .062"/1.6mm
Sold per package.
**Additional shipping charges may apply**
Hollinger Metal Edge Inc
9401 Northeast Dr.
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Phone: 800-634-0491
Phone: 540-898-7300
Fax: 800-947-8814


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I am looking to develop a tool for editing Closed Captions for MP3s. It is mostly in support of YouTube music videos. I've been looking over the Supported Caption File Formats in this YouTube page and the example they show is:
This text displays for two seconds starting
1 minute and 23 seconds into the video.
This text displays from 2 minutes and 20.25 seconds after the start
of the video until 2 minutes and 23.8 seconds after the start of the video.
This text displays beginning 3 minutes and 14.159 seconds
after the start of the video for an undefined length of time.
It seems clear enough there, with the first line being start,end time, the blank line being a delimiter, and the rest indicating text and line breaks. The last 'time' entry indicates a start time but no explicit end time - it is up to the software to define how to render it (any examples my software makes, will have an explicit start & end time). That is basically what is shown in the SubViewer (http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SubViewer - link broken to reduce 3 links to maximum of 2) example at Wikipedia.
What neither page makes clear is whether the captions could effectively overlap. E.G. a busy meeting, or songs with lead and back-up vocals. An example of the latter is Johnny O'Keefe's - She's My Baby.
The BG vocals start
1. Bom, bom, bom, BOM..
Continue that with 2 & 3 (when you're on a good 'bom', roll with it..)
Then JO'K cuts in with ..
4a. Short black hair..
4b. Bom, bom, bom, BOM..
Does the format specify/expect that all captions will be non-overlapping periods of time, like lines 1-3, or does it also support 'interleaved' text as with lines 4 a/b?


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A drone! Miami Beach! A water slide! Sly Stallone! Machu Picchu! (Macchu Picchu?)
Those are only a few of the many, many images that flit by as you watch a four-minute video created by the Trump administration (specifically, the National Security Council), which the White House posted to its Facebook page Wednesday morning.
The video — extolling the virtues of international cooperation between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — was shown to Kim by Trump himself, on an iPad toward the end of their Tuesday summit in Singapore.
It's ... not subtle.
The video consists entirely of rapidly edited stock footage (Clouds! Power lines! City at night! Orchestra! Little girl in wheat field at sunset!) while a narrator extols the virtues of international cooperation and lays out the grim consequences of its absence (Missiles launching! Empty store shelves!). Rhetorical questions are asked. Superlatives unleashed.
"The light of prosperity and innovation" gets a shout-out. Ditto "the light of hope," which, much like the light of prosperity and innovation, "can burn bright."
The video presents itself as a trailer for a nonexistent movie produced by "Destiny Pictures" (get it?), but it's really an extended piece of propaganda engineered to persuade Kim to "shake the hand of peace." (There is a real Destiny Pictures, by the way, in California. The company says it had nothing to do with the video.)
I asked NPR National Security Correspondent David Welna to help me determine whether the video sheds any meaningful light on the two world leaders who figure so prominently in it, and what it may suggest about the Trump administration's approach to foreign policy.
Glen Weldon: David, I'll kick this off by noting, as a movie critic, that this trailer is ... pretty lousy, as trailers go. The narration is ham-fisted, repetitive and riddled with clichés and there are shots that just leave you staring, mouth agape. What's your take on it, on a purely aesthetic level?
David Welna: This strikes me as a kind of storybook fable, with lots of pictures. It's a mashup of images in striking colors of a world of cars, crowds, postcard landmarks and then Trump and Kim themselves, shown in commanding shots. Then it all gets dark and nasty, with black-and-white shots of soldiers, warships and a menacing jet fighter. The message seems to be, "That's the world you'll be stuck with, pal, if you don't make the right choice here." Then, as if that right choice had been made, we see missiles launching in reverse, the rockets sucked back onto their launchpads, along with images of bright skies. "The future," the narrator concludes, "remains to be written."
Weldon: Is it possible to glean anything from the Trump administration's thinking here? I mean, clearly Trump assumed this approach — promises of prosperity, etc. — could sway Kim.
Welna: I'm not sure if Trump had this video made to be an ace up his sleeve at his Singapore meeting with Kim, should things not go well and the power of video — in which Trump is a firm believer — could be brought to bear. Trump waited to show it to Kim and his aides until the talks were ending, as a kind of a favor. The message seemed to be that all these wonderful things you see in the video can be yours, too. Here's an excerpt of the narration:
Will this leader choose to advance his country and be part of a new world? Be the hero of his people? Will he shake the hand of peace and enjoy prosperity like he has never seen? A great life? Or more isolation? Which path will be chosen?
Weldon: It's propaganda, and certainly the U.S. has a long history, through entities like USAID and Voice of America, of producing content that promotes the American way of life. How does this odd thing slot into that history, if it does at all?
Welna: It does feel a bit retro — Trump even referred to it as a "tape." This is good, old-fashioned government advertising reformatted for the digital age. The video's opening shot has the words "A Destiny Pictures Production" superimposed on the image of a turquoise mountain lake. But this is, in fact, a product of the White House's own National Security Council, "to help the president demonstrate the benefits of complete denuclearization, and a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula," as an NSC spokesman put it.
In intelligence and military circles, this video might be seen more as a psychological operations, or psy-ops, maneuver — a selection of images and information crafted to influence emotions, objective reasoning and ultimately the choices people make.
Weldon: The odd thing — well, one odd thing — is that the kind of trailer it's imitating hasn't been made in a decade or so. That "voice of God" narrator has gone the way of the dodo. As your editor mentioned, it feels a lot more like a Trump real estate video, right?
Welna: There certainly is a Trumpian feel to the video, though we don't know how much of a hand he had in it, if any. But if you listen to a promotional video Trump did with his children Ivanka and Eric a few years ago to sell units in a Trump Tower being built in Manila, there's that same bombastic, superlative-heavy tone.
Weldon: Is it possible that Trump might be projecting here? That this kind of gambit is something he'd find appealing, or convincing, so he figured it'd work on him. Does that scan?
Welna: That's entirely possible. Trump seems endlessly transfixed by TV, especially when he's the topic, and this video gives double billing to Trump and Kim as the leading men. Trump also seems to believe in the magic of envy, of making people want something they don't have because someone else has it. In this case, it's the promise of the wealthy world showcased by the video. Whether Kim's going to be swayed by any of that, of course, is another question. His vice minister of foreign affairs put out a nasty statement last month belittling the U.S. for thinking North Korea would ever trade its nukes for American economic support.
Weldon: Are you looking forward to seeing what's next? Trailers for Trade Tariffs: The Movie? Or Tax Reform 2: The Secret of the Ooze?
Welna: Perhaps one whose target is closer to home: Mr. Mueller, the Time has Come to Choose.
Toward the end of the summit in Singapore, President Trump showed Chairman Kim Jong Un a video created by White House staff.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: He looked at that iPad and I'm telling you, they really enjoyed it, I believe.
CORNISH: It's now posted on the White House Facebook page and kind of looks like a trailer for a movie that does not exist. The message - North Korea can choose future prosperity or nuclear weapons but not both. It was an unconventional thing to do at a summit. So unconventionally, we invited our national security correspondent David Welna and culture critic Glen Weldon to offer their observations.
GLEN WELDON, BYLINE: Hey, David.
DAVID WELNA, BYLINE: Hey, Glen.
WELDON: So this video is, I think it's safe to say, unsubtle.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Seven billion people inhabit planet Earth.
WELDON: Here's what it looks like - a bunch of stock footage of at first very positive things - clouds, orchestra, a little girl in a wheat field, Machu Picchu, for some reason.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: A new story, a new beginning.
WELDON: A then it's contrasted with images that we are to infer would result if Kim made the wrong choice - an empty grocery store, an abandoned bike, American missiles launching.
WELNA: This really is kind of a storybook fable. It shows both Trump and Kim in very commanding poses. And then it holds out this glorious ending.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: One moment, one choice - what if? The future remains to be written.
WELDON: So we should talk a little bit about where it came from.
WELNA: Right. It's labeled as coming from Destiny Pictures. But that's actually a production company in Los Angeles that had nothing to do with it. In fact, it was the National Security Council that finally admitted having commissioned this film. Exactly who made it, we still don't know.
WELDON: So can we look at this and glean anything at all from the Trump administration's mindset in kind of creating this video?
WELNA: Well, you know, I think Trump the developer really comes out here. He, in fact, made a video a few years ago with his children Ivanka and Eric selling the Trump Tower in Manila. And what you hear from that video really is kind of a rough draft of what we heard from Singapore.
IVANKA TRUMP: The architecture is exquisite, the interior design...
ERIC TRUMP: Very tall, very chic.
D. TRUMP: This is going to be something that people love, that people respect as a structure.
WELDON: Yeah, it does sound a lot like that real estate marketing video because speaking as a film critic now, it doesn't really feel too much like a trailer that's been made in the last 10 years. We've lost that voice of God narrator in trailers for a long time.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: It comes down to a choice on this day, in this time, at this moment.
WELDON: You know, it's very bombastic language, like the light of prosperity and innovation has burned bright and there are doors of opportunity.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Will he shake the hand of peace?
WELDON: It's propaganda, not really a film trailer.
WELNA: But it's also, I think, something that we might call psyops, psychological operations. This was something that was done in the military and intelligence for many years, showing selected images and information to influence emotions, objective reasoning and ultimately decision-making in the people who see these things. Now, whether Kim might be swayed by all this is quite another question. Just last month, his government put out a statement saying the U.S. was trumpeting economic compensation if North Korea abandoned its nukes.
And it then said we have never had any expectation of U.S. support in carrying out our economic construction and will not make such a deal in the future either.
WELDON: OK, so what is next? Is this a one-off thing that they did or is this a trend? Are we looking at trailers for trade tariffs, the movie or tax reform, too?
WELNA: Or perhaps a longer title - Mr. Mueller, the time has come to choose between a witch hunt and a full and total clearing of my name.
WELDON: There you go.
WELNA: That's NPR culture critic Glen Weldon and national security correspondent David Welna. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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30 gram 2016 Chinese Panda PCGS MS 70 Gold Coin
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Many schools have holiday assemblies that involve singing, historical portrayals, plays, which are usually run by the drama department. But what happens when the science department takes over? Or specifically when two high school science teachers run the show?
X-Mas Men!
Our school is a private boarding school that grants scholarships to students from a limited means background. We have a Lower School (1st – 6th) and an Upper School (7th-12th). The assembly began a few years ago when we were trying to to make sure our students would have a good holiday. Because of the nature of our school's admissions policy, we have a lot of families that cannot provide financially for their children.
Our assistant academic dean suggested a Make A Wish idea.The students decorate an ornament with their wish on it and hang it on a tree. The wishes are then collected and the faculty comes together to make them happen. Granting 150-180 wishes with only about 20 educators is no easy task. In fact, our Make A Wish assembly gained recognition by various news groups when a student wished to hug the people of Newtown.
Organizing and granting the wishes are tedious tasks. Our assistant academic dean approached me and another science teacher about running the show. We are both young, enthusiastic, and childless – perfect for the long hours needed to pull this off. As most of you know, science teachers never do anything the easy way. Many became science teachers for the simple reason that we get to blow up, dissect, and infect students with our irrepressible love of science (often times doubling ingredients to reactions to get a bigger result). So how about infusing that spirit into our Holiday assembly?
It took my colleague and I .004 seconds before deciding to don our alter egos and bring some science fiction to a holiday that is severely lacking it. Some fiction is there though, and overlaps with sci-fi: an individual that can bend space-time, defies the laws of physics, and brings gifts to all deserving girls and boys. Seems like Christmas Beast and Wolverine Claus could potentially be plausible hosts for our Holiday Assembly.
The Holiday Assembly was the perfect time to highlight these teachers for the heros they are. I assembled the faculty and laid out the plan: we would film a video introduction called X-Mas Men. I would shoot and edit the video, play it at the beginning of the ceremony, and set the tone of a Holiday assembly straight out of the pages of a Marvel comic. With furried and clawed hands my colleague and I passed out baseball gloves, sketchbooks, breakfast sandwiches, candy, shoes, and a bicycle. 160 gifts in all were delivered to the students by two holiday mutants, backed up by a room full of everyday superheroes.
Teachers aim to bring a better educational experience to their students. They know that they cannot bring their bad day, personal problems, exhaustion, sickness or anger into the classroom. Storm may have been talking about teachers when she said "There's more to it than simply possessing super powers. To be an X-Man means possessing a strength of will – of self identity – that nothing can subvert. For better or worse, being an X-Man means not merely being born a mutant….but a hero."
Science teachers do not have an off button, we don't just love our content, we live it. This passion is infectious. The students see grown men and women dressing as their favorite science fiction characters and living out childhood fantasies with genuine enthusiasm. These experiences are important to the development of the student scientist. They discover that science is not something to fear, but something to enjoy.


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Downtown DivaA blog on local events, shopping and dining in Tulare County. Email the Diva at firstname.lastname@example.com
Recent Posts
- Diva dishes: Downtown Visalia landmark business to close
- Diva's breaking news: Guess who the Candy Cane Lane Parade grand marshal is this year?
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- Diva dishes: Downtown Exeter filling empty space with frozen yogurt and clothes
- Diva's Delight: Wilson's Cyclery shop inhabited by coolness again
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Dec. 7, 2012 In the words of Choices editor Jim Ward, "I've always thought there should be a machine that was the opposite of a microwave that makes things really cold really fast." That's not verbatim, but you get the … Continue reading
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Here you will find more information on our organization's structure, experts and global reach.
Although we operate in very different cultures, we are united by our WTS spirit: a personal and appreciative corporate culture.
With a representation in over 100 countries, our team offers local expertise on a global scale. Learn more about our experts.
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Basic Pastry Shell:
1+1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
3 Tablespoons cold water (up to 4)
Combine flour and salt in a medium bowl, cut in shortening with a pastry blender until crumbly (mixture should have irregular-size pieces).
Sprinkle cold water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, evenly over surface and stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. (Squeeze dough firmly between your fingers after adding 3 Tablespoons water. If it falls apart, add remaining Tablespoon water).
Shape dough into a flattened disk and then wrap in plastic wrap and chill 2 hours or freeze 30 minutes. Let stand at room temperature 5 minutes.
Turn dough out onto a floured surface and roll to 1/8-inch thickness.
Place in a 9-inch pieplate. Trim off excess pastry along edges; fold edges under and crimp. Prick pastry a few times with a fork if baking. (Do not prick if pastry is going to be filled before baking).
Bake at 450F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Makes 1 (9-inch) pastry shell.
Note: To freeze unbaked, press crust into a aluminium pie tin. Cover with plastic wrap. Can be baked from frozen state.