text:
Two Bessemer City High School students say their school bus driver engaged in a sex act with them in their neighborhood, according to police.
Two Bessemer City High School students used Facebook to try to extort $60 from a school bus driver with whom they engaged in sexual activity, according to police.
The female bus driver, Kwanda Carpenter, 33, faces two charges of sexual activity with a student by school personnel other than a teacher.
She was booked into Gaston County Jail on Wednesday night under a $5,000 bond. She has been suspended from her bus-driving duties at Bessemer City High School with pay, pending a school system investigation, said school spokeswoman Bonnie Reidy.
Carpenter denied having sexual contact with the students, according to Gazette news partner WSOC.
The incident did not come to light until Carpenter went to a school resource officer to complain about a private Facebook message the two boys sent her, said Gaston County Police Sgt. Josh Hamlin, who oversees the county�s school resource officers.
�The (students) sent her a Facebook message trying to extort money from her for not reporting the sexual contact,� Hamlin said.
The students sought $60.
This marks a first, said Hamlin, who has 17 years in law enforcement including time as a detective investigating sex crimes.
�This is the first time where I�ve had alleged victims try to blackmail the suspect,� Hamlin said.
Hamlin said the two teenagers, both 17 years old now, have been charged with blackmail.
Malik Ty Mel Moore, of 648 Dundeen Drive, faces two blackmailing charges. He was served with warrants Thursday and released into the custody of his mother.
The warrants state both Moore and Donja Phillips, of 625 Dundeen Drive, sent messages to Carpenter and threatened �to call the police and report that she had raped them if she didn�t give them money.�
Reidy said she was unaware of the students� alleged involvement and did not know whether they would also face school discipline.
Moore�s mother, Tamara, said neither she nor her son would comment on the incident. Phillips could not be reached for comment.
The sexual activity did not occur at school nor on the school bus, but rather in the bus driver�s private car at a dead-end road near the boys� homes, police said.
Carpenter, who is married, according to police, picked the two teenagers up around 10 p.m. on their street in the first week of October and engaged in a sexual activity with both of them, police said. The two men could not remember the exact date, Hamlin said, although the warrants list Oct. 3 as the date of offense.
She did not force the two boys to have sex, but sexual contact between a school employee and a student remains against the law, Hamlin said.
The two students broke the law when they tried to force Carpenter to pay hush money.
�They�ve both been charged with blackmail,� Hamlin said.
Carpenter reported the Facebook threat to the school resource officer on Jan. 11, at which time she was suspended with pay.
The threat came to Carpenter sometime in early January, Hamlin said.
Carpenter only drove a school bus for Bessemer City High School and has held that position since October 2010. She earned $12.91 an hour, according to school officials.
You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or @TheGazetteKevin on Twitter.


text:
Welcome to AVLI
A person's character is influenced by their childhood experiences.
My own childhood summers rolled seamlessly into a courtyard full of voices, laughter, games and life experiences; a large loving family of uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and visitors, sharing feelings, flavors, fragrances and dinners, under the watchful but so loving gaze of my grandmother Penelope.
We want to share with you these feelings of love, care, participation and creativity that define us, in another courtyard; Our Avli.
Katerina Xekalou
Creator of AVLI and CEO
Sign up to AVLI's monthly newsletter.
Receive news about special offers, upcoming events and more...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sedan for sale.
It's 2.4l, 4cyl gas engine with 6-speed automatic transmission.
Has power windows(tinted) and door locks, power mirrors, power/tilt/telescopic steering, A/C and cruise control. Push start ignition. Comes with factory CD/MP3 Player, USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity. Tan cloth interior with electrically adjustable front driver's seat. ABS and Traction control equipped. Alloy rims and good tires. Fresh oil change. Clean inside and out.
Has only 101,498 actual miles and Washington Clean title. VIN: KMHEC4A4XCA031398.
Priced at $7,500. Please call or text whenever, (253) 709-3138. Thank you.
|Front head room
|40 "
|Rear head room
|38 "
|Front shoulder room
|58 "
|Rear shoulder room
|57 "
|Front hip room
|55 "
|Rear hip room
|55 "
|Front leg room
|45.5 "
|Rear leg room
|34.6 "
|Luggage capacity
|10.7 Cu.Ft.
|Maximum cargo capacity
|10.7 Cu.Ft.
|Standard seating
|189.8 "
|Body width
|72.2 "
|Body height
|57.7 "
|110.0 "
|Ground clearance
|5.1 "
|3,457 Lbs.
|Gross weight
|4,586 Lbs.
|Fuel tank capacity
|17.2 Gal.
|EPA mileage estimates
|34 City / 39 Hwy
|Base engine size
|2.4 Liters
|Base engine type
|166 Hp
|Horsepower rpm
|154 Lb-Ft.
|Torque rpm
|Drive type
|Turning radius
|17.9 ''
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is an all-new midsize sedan, completely redesigned and re-engineered. The 2011 Sonata comes a wide range of models, including a hybrid that can be driven at highway speeds in fully electric mode, and a turbo designed to deliver fuel-efficient acceleration performance.
The new Sonata Hybrid features a full parallel hybrid system allowing the car to be driven in zero emissions, fully electric drive mode at speeds up to 62 miles per hour or in blended gas-electric mode at any speed. The new Sonata 2.0T, meanwhile, uses a four-cylinder turbocharged engine that gets an EPA-estimated 33 mpg Highway rating while boasting 274 horsepower and on Regular gas. The 2011 Sonata lineup starts with the Sonata GLS, which retails for less than $20,000 and delivers more power than other cars in its class. No V6 is offered, as Hyundai is using turbocharged four-cylinders and battery assist motors to increase power.
A four door, midsize sedan that accommodates five passengers, the Sonata competes with Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, and Nissan Altima, to name a few.
In a head to head match-up with direct comparables of those five brands, the Hyundai Sonata models are more powerful, while hanging right in there with the other brands on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's fuel economy ratings. The base 2.4 liter engine delivers 198 horsepower (190 hp in states using California emissions regulations) or 200 hp with a dual exhaust system, which is substantially more power than what's found in the base models of the other midsize sedans. The 2.0T model's fuel economy on the highway is better than all but the Fusion. The Hybrid tops the Honda and Camry hybrids in EPA City and Highway fuel economy ratings and bests the Fusion's Highway rating.
That 2.0T turbocharged engine is Hyundai's more economical and more affordable answer to Americans' perceived need for speed. It's not only more powerful than the V6 that powered the 2010 Sonata and the competition's V6s, but also generally less thirsty, by almost eight mpg over the Malibu in EPA's Highway rating, to pick the best example. An extra bonus is that Hyundai went against the grain in its selection of transmission for the 2011 Hybrid. While the Fusion, Altima and Camry hybrids all have a gearless, continuously variable transmission, the Sonata gets a full-on, 6-speed automatic that drives and sounds like a car should, with actual upshifts and downshifts instead of virtual gear changes artificially created by computer software.
We're not sure the new Sonata is the sharpest looker in the class, but at least it's not a copycat of any of the other midsize sedans, a couple of which could leave a buyer confused were it not for the oversized, trademark logo in the grille or on the trunk lid. Inside, features, materials and fit and finish are as good as the best of those, and better than a couple, especially in quality and tolerances.
Buyers need not be limited to those seeking a daily commuter, either. The Hybrid covers the need for green-ness and the Sonata SE actually is fun to drive, especially the 2.0T, while the GLS handles interstates with ease and the Limited brings luxury. Hyundai has tuned the suspension calibrations differently for the different models, so each has its own character.
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata comes in GLS, SE, and Limited trim. (All New Car Test Drive prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices, which do not include destination charge and may change at any time without notice.)
Sonata GLS ($19,195) comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, Bluetooth, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 system (with three-month subscription to XM) with six speakers and iPod/USB and auxiliary input jacks, tilt/telescope steering wheel, steering wheel audio controls, trip computer, power door locks, power mirrors, power windows, cruise control, remote keyless entry fob, 60/40 split folding rear seat, P205/65R16 tires on steel wheels. The GLS comes with a 6-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic ($20,195). The Popular Equipment Package ($750) upgrades with 16 inch alloy wheels, power driver seat and manual lumbar adjustment, chrome interior handles, faux leather interior panels (in place of the base molded, hard plastic), and automatic light control. The navigation package ($1,700) adds a touch screen navigation system and premium speakers pumped up with a subwoofer and an external amplifier along with everything from the Popular Equipment Package.
Sonata SE ($22,595) and Sonata 2.0T SE ($24,145) comes standard with the 6 speed Shiftronic automatic, steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, leather trimmed steering wheel, shift knob and seat bolsters with cloth inserts, eight way power driver's seat, automatic light control, faux leather door panels, front fog lights, P225/45R18 Hankook tires on silver alloy wheels, chrome tipped dual exhaust, proximity entry, push button start/stop, dark chrome grille with body color hood trim. The SE rear suspension gets beefier springs and a larger stabilizer bar. Options for the SE: a Navigation and Sunroof Package ($2600) that includes the touch screen navigation system, a power tilt and slide sunroof, and the speaker and amplifier upgrade.
Sonata Limited ($25,295) and 2.0T Limited ($27,045) upgrade with full leather seating surfaces, dual zone automatic climate control with outside temperature display and floor console mounted rear vents, Infinity audio system with in dash, 6CD changer, heated front and rear seats, turn signal indicators in the outside mirrors, dark chrome grille and hood trim, Piano Black or Woodgrain interior trim accents, powered tilt and slide sunroof, auto dimming rearview mirror with compass, and P215/55R17 Kumho tires on aluminum alloy wheels. The 2.0T Limited also has paddle shifters and an outside temperature display. Options are limited to the Navigation Package ($2,100) comprising the touch screen navigation system (which displaces the CD changer), an integrated rear backup video camera and top level Infinity speakers. HD radio technology is included in the 2.0T Limited's premium sound system.
Sonata Hybrid features and option list essentially mirrors that of the SE models, including the outside temperature display but excluding the paddle shifters.
Safety features standard on Sonata include front airbags; driver and front passenger side impact airbags; front and rear seat side air curtains; anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and brake assist; electronic stability control with traction control; active front-seat head restraints; rear-seat child safety seat anchors; and tire-pressure monitors. The rearview camera that comes in the Limited Navigation Package can reduce the chance of running over someone when backing up.
The all-new, 2011 Hyundai Sonata is classed as a midsize sedan but it's large by those standards. Measured by total enclosed space, it just sneaks in at the bottom of the large sedan class.
Hyundai's designers throw around phrases like fluidic sculpture design language and monoform side profile in describing the new styling. They say their goal was to design a car that no one could say, looks like brand X. As to the former, the word busy seems apt in describing the Sonata's styling cues. And as to the latter, observers should be forgiven if on catching sight of the new Sonata their first thought is of one of those cars that wear the three pointed star emblem. This isn't to say the Sonata's looks aren't striking or pleasant, because neither is true. It's just that neither are they necessarily unique.
The front end on all but the Hybrid stays with a pinched nose look echoing that of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Sculpted creases flowing forward and inward from the A-pillars (the windshield's side frames) draw the eye to the grin like grille and the outsized Hyundai logo. Headlight housings start at the outer edges of the grille and wrap around the front fenders beyond the leading arch of the wheelwell, visually lessening the front overhang. The lower fascia sports a wide mouth air intake flanked by squinting recesses for the uplevel fog lights.
The Hybrid's forward territory shows much of the same shapes and sculpting but gets an entirely different and quite striking grille treatment, an oversized, hexagonal opening split by an oversized horizontal bar. Hyundai wants no one to miss that this Sonata is something special. The Hybrid's headlights make a similar statement, highlighted with a string of LED running lights laced around the projector beam lenses.
Side aspect shows three, sharply defined character lines below a roofline with a severely raked windshield and rear window, which combines with a short trunk lid to minimize the car's mass. The highlight is a chrome strip that starts at the headlight housing and runs along the car's beltline (where the side windows meet the door panels) all the way to the rearmost tip of the rear quarter glass. Below this is a knife edge crease sweeping up from the front quarter panel through the door handles and finishing as an eyebrow for the taillight housings. Another knife edge crease cuts across the bottom of the doors just above the rocker panels before leapfrogging the rear wheelwells to melt into the rear bumper. On the Hybrid, a chrome strip accents this crease. All three tire sizes fill perfectly circular wheelwells, giving the car a balanced, front to rear proportion.
From the rear, quite frankly, the Sonata could be a top of the line Lexus or Mercedes Benz, save, of course, for the Hyundai flying H logo. It's an elegant look, with understated taillights, minimalist chrome bar topping the license plate indent and a lower bumper element that mirrors the lower front fascia, even to the reflectors framed to match the front fog lights. Distinguishing the Hybrid are intricately designed taillights, with what looks somewhat like electrons looping around an atom's nucleus.
Our first impression of the interior in the new Sonata is much like that of the exterior: busy. But then the swoops and angles and different textures begin to come together, actually more successfully than the sculptured and borderline over stylized exterior. The general impression is more toward a luxury look and feel than the anticipated cost consciousness.
Metal trim bits are muted. The understated textured dash material kills daytime glare but still gives the surface some depth. Wood grain accents are glossy but positioned where and in ways that ensure minimal distraction. Instruments are tastefully done and easy to read with a glance, save for bright sunny days when the hood fails to shield the bottom half of the tachometer and speedometer housings.
Seats are comfortable with adequate bolsters, especially given the Sonata doesn't invite rambunctious motoring. One noteworthy change is the replacement of the previous Sonata's lever-actuated, mechanical lumbar for the driver's seat with an electric air bladder for the 2011 Sonata; the bladder spreads the added lumbar over a wider area, adding immeasurably to the comfort level. The cloth seat coverings feel and look durable. The optional leather is neither too slippery nor too supple but still feels as if it would be cold in winter and clammy in summer. In a Goldilocks sort of way, the leather/cloth combo combines the best of both.
The buttons and knobs populating the center stack of all three trim levels clearly communicate their function and are spaced properly for ease of use. The optional rearview camera's guidelines bend as the steering wheel turns, a tweak of this increasingly popular visual aid that some high end sedans wearing domestic and import labels haven't managed to code into their cars' firmware.
The steering wheel has the right heft, as does the shift knob. The Shiftronic function is properly located on the driver's side of the shift gate. Oddly, the ignition key slot on the Sonata GLS is in the steering column, while the Start/Stop button on the Sonata SE and Limited is in the traditional place, on the lower dash to the right of the steering column. We think the ideal arrangement would be an ignition key on the dash.
Hyundai offers three sound systems on the 2011 Sonata. The base system has the usual multi media capabilities and speakers and pumps out respectable sounds. The premium system wears the Infinity brand, also has the usual multi media capabilities but adds a six disc changer and transmits its entertainment through an Infinity speaker array with subwoofer and external amplifier. The sounds reflect the premium label, with crisp highs and lows and mellow intermediates. Where the Sonata breaks new ground is with its mid grade system adding a 6CD changer and an off-brand subwoofer and external amplifier to the basic audio system and its six speakers. The clarity of its sounds are not quite the equal the Infinity's, but probably only to an unrepentant audiophile's ears; as for volume, it's easily a match with the Infinity. So if you don't want to spring for the Infinity system, the mid-grade is a good compromise.
There's ample storage for carpooling or for long vacation drives. Every door has a map pocket with a molded in cup/bottle holder, even the bottom of the line GLS with its hard plastic interior door panels. The center console boasts two receptacles, as does the rear seats' fold down center armrest. That front center console is a bi level unit, with a shallow bin directly under the pad and a deeper bin below that. There's a drop down bin in the base of the center stack for odds and ends, and the glove box, while not notably spacious, will hold a few maps along with the owner's manual. The Sonata trunk, at 16.4 cubic feet (10.7 cu. ft. on the Sonata Hybrid), is the largest in the class save for the Ford Fusion's, at 16.5 cu. (11.8 cu. ft on the Fusion Hybrid). The trunk opening, however, is a mite cramped, due to the abbreviated trunk lid dimensions necessitated by the stylists' craving for that sporty, long hood/short boot proportion.
Compared against the other sedans in this class, only the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima have more headroom, and the Sonata beats the Altima in rear-seat headroom. The Sonata's front-seat legroom bests all in the class, but pays with the poorest rear-seat legroom, where the Sonata comes in last, by almost four inches against the Toyota Camry, three inches against the Chevrolet Malibu and more than two inches against the Ford Fusion. The concaved backs of the front seats help some in providing vital knee room, but people long of leg will notice. In hiproom the Sonata effectively splits the difference with the others, trailing the Accord and the Altima and coming in ahead of the Camry, the Fusion and the Malibu. In short, the Sonata is great for long-legged drivers, but it's not so good for long-legged back-seat riders.
With the slightest tweaks of suspension elements and the different tire/wheel sizes, Hyundai has managed to deliver a different ride in each of the Sonata's three trim levels, each well fitted to its target buyer.
The Sonata GLS delivers a smooth ride but with some road noise and not the crispest turn in at modest speeds. The GLS steering feels light, needing corrections in gusty crosswinds. Ride quality in the Sonata SE models is firmer, the steering slightly heavier, the combined effect of different tuning of the power steering pump and shorter, stiffer tire sidewalls. The latter sharpens the steering response. The SE models' thicker rear stabilizer bar keeps the car on a more even keel when it's gingerly pushed along winding, two lane mountain roads. The ride is not as wallow free as that of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe but impressive nevertheless for a sedan of this heft and price. Ride quality in the Sonata Limited is more supple than gentle but clearly not firm; again, it's the Goldilocks syndrome. To the naked ear, the Limited seems quieter, too, although that may be due to a higher grade of interior trim and materials. Fusion buyers likely are the only ones who will get a more comfortable and a quieter ride or, if they pick the right model, a better handling sedan.
The non-turbocharged SE's two additional horsepower and pound feet of torque aren't enough to be detected by an uncalibrated posterior, but the car does feel sprightlier; perchance it's the power of suggestion, eh? That added power, by the way, wasn't a design target but merely the unexpected benefit from bolting on honest to goodness dual exhausts and the lower backpressure that came with the freer breathing. What is noticeable in the non-turbocharged and non-hybrid Sonatas is a curious, free wheeling like sensation that sometimes follows lifting off the throttle after a brief acceleration, like on a mild grade, when a slowing of the car would be expected but doesn't happen quite as and when expected. It was nothing that unnerved or lingered beyond the briefest of moments, but it still was there.
Gear changes in the automatic happened smoothly, being tangible, but subdued, in full auto or driver-selected via the Shiftronic. Response to throttle pressure was prompt across the full line of Sonata models with shifts necessitated by changes in load effected almost invisibly, dropping down a gear or two without the driver not noticing until seeing that the tachometer needle had jumped a couple thousand rpm. Kudos to Hyundai, too, for sticking with the same automatic for the Hybrid, in lieu of the gearless, continuously variable transmission the competition bolts to their hybrid powerplants. A hybrid with a transmission that shifts gears just like in a real car adds immeasurably to the driving experience.
The 2.0T, no surprise, was the most energetic, yet without fussy power surges. Those 74 additional horses and 85 pound-feet of torque over the base four-cylinder will push the 2.0T's speedometer needle well into the three digits. The 2.0T does not, however, deliver Germanic, autobahn-competent sureness; at 130 mph on Hyundai's high-speed track in Korea, the 2.0T evidenced some twitchiness and vulnerability to cross breezes.
At the opposite end of the eco-scale lies the Hybrid. Hyundai states that the Hybrid can reach 62 miles per hour in pure electric mode before the engine lights off and takes over; this is optimal, though, requiring all accessories to be turned off, pavement as flat as an Interstate in Kansas and the most gentle pressure on the throttle. In normal driving, with only minimal, but necessarily conscious attention to throttle pressure, 30 mph on the motor alone can be achieved. Transitions between motor alone and motor/engine combined were nigh impossible to discern. A thoughtful, fuel-saving touch is a coasting function that shuts down the engine when there's no pressure on the throttle, even at highway speeds.
Braking response was strong and linear on all trim levels and powertrains. The ample dead pedal gave good bracing for the left foot on twisty mountain roads and during long, high speed runs on the interstates. Speaking of which, during one leg of the test drive in Southern California east of San Diego that covered about 90 miles split about evenly between both types of roads, a Sonata GLS returned 31 miles per gallon while averaging 65 miles per hour, including several extended runs at 75 and 80. The Hybrid managed a very respectable 47 mpg over a similar but shorter route, about 50 miles, and driven much the same way.
With the 2011 Sonata, Hyundai takes another major step along the path it has laid out for itself in the U.S. market. This is a high quality sedan, in all of its iterations, with remarkably good manners and markedly improved quality and efficiency, all at an impressively competitive price.
|Sonata Hybrid
|Body Style:
|6-Speed Automatic
|2.4L, 4cyl
|Exterior Color:
|Interior Color:
|34 City / 39 Highway
|Stock Number:
|VIN Number:
Browse through the vast selection of vehicles that have recently been added to our inventory.


text:
Join us at 7 p.m. as we open with elevator speeches. In 30 seconds share with us who you are, where you're headquartered, what you're working on and what you're needs are.
The Oklahoma Inventors Congress (OIC) is designed to bring together members of the inventive community and unite them in the common causes of: mutual assistance, problem sharing and solving; learning the invention process; the study of Patent Law and Patent Office requirements and procedures; assisting in prototyping, testing, and evaluating new and useful inventions; and promoting the creation, development, licensing, marketing, and commercialization of worthy inventions of the membership.
Contact: Leo Byford - firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Lynnwood police on Thursday were investigating a suspicious death reported about 6 a.m. at the Extended Stay America hotel at 3021 196th Street SW.
A woman's body was found after she fell four stories from a window, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. The woman was 43, from Brier. Her name was not released.
The woman had "significant signs of trauma," but there were no obvious injuries other than from the fall, Sessions said.
"The nature of why or how she went out the window is still under investigation," Sessions said.
The body was found by another guest at the hotel who had gone out for a jog. The death initially was reported as a shooting, but police did not find any evidence indicating shots were fired.
A search warrant was served at the woman's hotel room. The body was transferred to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office.
This post has been updated from an earlier version. No additional details are expected to be released Thursday.


text:
People who love this item are also interested in
Maroon Bedding with Red Decorations, Maroon with Red Tie Bedding
Regular Price: $69.00
Special Price $44.00
Math Bedding with Mathematics Print on Bedding Cover
Regular Price: $75.00
Special Price $62.00
Lavender Bedding with Floral Decorations and Purple Color
Regular Price: $65.00
Special Price $43.00
Red Rose Bedding Sets, 3D Rose Bedding Sets
Regular Price: $70.00
Special Price $59.00
Beautiful Girl Realistic 3D Printed | 4 Pieces Bedding Sets
Regular Price: $75.00
Special Price $59.00
Galaxy Bedding Sets, 3D Galaxy Bedding Covers
Regular Price: $59.00
Special Price $47.00
Galaxy Duvet Cover, Cheap Galaxy Bedding Sets
Regular Price: $59.00
Special Price $47.00
Deep Blue 3D Bedding, Floral Bedding with Plum Feature
Regular Price: $53.00
Special Price $37.00
3D Floral Bedding Sets, 3D Pink Bedding Sites
Regular Price: $85.00
Special Price $73.00
Number of Pieces : Four-Piece Set
Set Includes : 2 Pillowcases, Flat Sheet, Duvet Cover
Material : Cotton
Technics : Reactive Printing
Gross Weight/Package: 3.00 ( kg )
Thread Count : 400
Suitable Season: All the Seasons
Wash Method: Machine Washable & Hand Wash
Size Chart
Shipping Methods
- Receiving Time = Processing Time+Shipping Time
- Processing Time is from when you submit your order to when the item leaves the warehouse
- Shipping Time is when the item leaves the warehouse to when it arrives your door.
- You can find the estimated Processing Time and Shipping Time in each product page, it's under Add to Shopping Cart button
- We ship to over 200 countries worldwide.
- If you have further question, please check https://www.sctrending.com/shipping-methods/
Return Policy
Return Policy & Replacement and Refund
You can reserve the packaging and order information notes when you get the parcel for the service after the sales.
Your contentment is our main objective and utmost concern. We motivate you to open and check in order to ensure that the products that we manufacture suit your needs.
In case you are not 100 percent contented with the buying quality from SCTrending.com, you may exchange or return your products in just 7 days' time from the date of delivery.
Find more details, please visit https://www.sctrending.com/return-policy/


text:
The UK's four children's commissioners have written to the Government to tell of their "deep concern" at the decision to end a scheme to bring lone child refugees to Britain.
The Government last week unexpectedly announced that just 350 children will be given a home in the UK under the so-called Dubs amendment - far lower than the 3,000 campaigners had hoped for.
The move has sparked widespread outcry and the children's commissioners of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd urging her to rethink the plan.
They tell of their "deep concern" at the decision and urge Ms Rudd to "consider carefully the plight of the many thousands of lone child refugees in Europe who are currently at risk of exploitation and trafficking".
They add: "The Government made a welcome commitment through the scheme to taking some of the most vulnerable lone child refugees who are rootless in Europe.
"The number that have been brought to the UK under the scheme thus far falls significantly short of expectations and we consider that, as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, the UK should play a far greater role in both offering protection and security to lone child refugees in Europe and in resolving the crisis that children are facing in Europe, especially in Greece and Italy.
"We urge the Government to act humanely and responsibly, and to maintain a positive commitment to the Dubs scheme within a comprehensive strategy to safeguard unaccompanied child refugees within Europe."
The letter is signed by Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England, and Tam Baillie, Sally Holland and Koulla Yiasouma - her counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.
Yvette Cooper, Labour MP and chairwoman of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee, welcomed the intervention.
She said: "This is a very serious response from the children's commissioners. They make clear that far from avoiding traffickers, by ditching the Dubs scheme, the Government risks pushing more children back into the arms of smuggler gangs.
"The Government should listen to this call from the commissioners whose very purpose is to protect the welfare of vulnerable children and reopen the Dubs scheme now."
Ms Rudd has said the scheme is closing amid fears it is backfiring and encouraging child refugees to put their lives in the hands of people traffickers and make the perilous journey to Europe.
But critics say the opposite is true and ministers are leaving vulnerable children languishing in refugee camps at the mercy of traffickers.
The letter, which comes after interventions from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, and the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, piles further pressure on the Government to reverse its decision.
A legal challenge against ending the scheme is expected to reach the High Court in May.
A Government spokeswoman said: "Our commitment to resettle 350 unaccompanied children from Europe is just one way we are helping.
"We have also committed to resettle up to 3,000 vulnerable children and family members from the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and 20,000 Syrians by the end of this Parliament.
"We have a proud history of offering protection to those who need it and children will continue to arrive in the UK from around the world through our other resettlement schemes and asylum system.
"The Government has significantly increased the funding it provides to local authorities who look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
"It's vital that we get the balance right between enabling eligible children to come to the UK as quickly as possible and ensuring local authorities have capacity to host them and provide them with the support they will need."


text:
follow us on Facebook
Read New Articles about us...
Site by
3hats Internet
"The other good news is your sails were fabulous. I don't recall every having seen better and I have see a lot, really a lot. The genny broke perfectly and held its shape spot on through the conditions. We pushed the boat very hard and were rail down much of the time going to weather. I know,,,but the boat seemed to like it. The loose footed main was a peach. We bladed it out with lots of outhaul and vang and really made no attempt at all to depower it when it blew. Racing the boat hard, the sails were never an issue. I think you did a great job with those sails."
Bob Perry
Robert H. Perry Yacht Designer LLC."
Visit Perry Yacht Design website


text:
I've been using my slow cookers (yes, plural) like crazy this summer, and I love it! Last night, I took a classic Italian dish and made it in the slow cooker. I decided on Parmesan chicken, but didn't have any bread crumbs on hand. I love using Panko, which are crispy crumbs you can find in the Asian food section. We were also running low on bread, so rather than use all we had left to make crumbs, I made do with what I had and used pretzels! You could "crumb" them in the food processor, but I have three small boys, so I just put the pretzels in a plastic bag and turned the kids loose with a rolling pin. Instant crumbs. Cracker crumbs would also work. Just use whatever you have in your pantry!
The grown-ups and thekids loved this dish. The kids weren't so sure about chicken in spaghetti sauce at first, but they were soon asking for seconds. The only thing I may try differently next time is to brown the crumb-covered chicken in a little olive oil before putting it into the slow cooker. This may help crisp it up a bit. The crust was very good, though, and I actually really liked it with pretzels. The best thing about it, though, is that it cooked away all day while I drove the boys to swimming lessons and to my parents' house in town for a little visit. There's nothing like coming home and walking into an amazing-smelling kitchen with dinner ready!
Slow cooker Parmesan chicken with pretzel crust
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (you can use breasts if you prefer)
1 egg
1 1/2 cups pretzel crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 cups shredded Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese (or use an Italian or pizza blend)
4 cups marinara sauce (canned is fine!)
Pour olive oil into your slow cooker crock. Spread around to grease well. In a medium-sized bowl, combine crumbs, grated Parmesan, herbs and spices. In a small bowl, beat egg.
Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten egg, then dip into the crumb mixture to coat all sides well. Arrange on the bottom of the slow cooker crock. Spread any remaining crumb mixture over the top of the chicken pieces. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese on top. Reserve the other cup of cheese.
Pour marinara sauce over the top. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, or until chicken is completely cooked through. Turn slow cooker to warm setting. Sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese on top, replace lid, and let warm until cheese melts. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta.


text:
Within just a few days, the two highest profile social media companies put out earnings reports that couldn't have been more different.
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, Facebook FB, -0.35% said fourth-quarter revenue and earnings easily beat analysts' estimates. For all of 2013, sales were nearly $8 billion, a 55% increase from 2012, while operating income hit $2.8 billion, five times more than a year earlier.
The explosive growth was powered by a surge in mobile ads, a big question mark for Facebook during its May 2012 initial public offering.
Investors were ecstatic. As of Wednesday's close, the shares were 20% higher than they were before the earnings report.
One week later, Twitter TWTR, -0.78% issued its first quarterly report as a public company and announced sales and earnings that beat Wall Street's estimates. But investors focused on slowing user growth and engagement. The stock lost 24% in a single day, although it has recovered a bit since.
During Twitter's first conference call, Chief Executive Dick Costolo faced the wolves of Wall Street and threw them plenty of red meat. Analyst Eric J. Sheridan of UBS said that although Twitter's sales and earnings were "fantastic," participants in the conference call "became preoccupied with 'how can you fix user engagement?'"
Costolo had lost control of his message. Sheridan was one of several analysts who downgraded the stock.
Twitter, which has led a charmed life, is now facing a crisis of confidence similar to Facebook's after its messy IPO. User engagement is as crucial to Twitter's success as mobile was to Facebook's. Now Twitter's management needs to learn some key lessons from Facebook's wildly successful turnaround.
Remember, when Facebook went public, it had no real mobile advertising platform to speak of, even though around half of its 845 million+ active users then accessed the service through mobile devices.
That's why it was among the top risk factors named by Facebook itself. "We do not currently directly generate any meaningful revenue from the use of Facebook mobile products, and our ability to do so successfully is unproven," its offering prospectus stated. "If our users choose not to access or use Facebook on their mobile devices…, our user growth and user engagement could be harmed."
That, along with the poorly executed IPO and the huge supply of shares coming on the market as insiders cashed out, threw Facebook stock into a tailspin. From its first-day closing price of $38, it lost more than half its value, hitting an all-time low under $18 in September 2012.
But Facebook was quietly getting its act together in mobile. "Facebook went public with a lot of engagement, a lot of usage, but there were a lot of open questions about their ability to monetize the shift from desktop to mobile," UBS's Sheridan told me in an interview.
"It was management's decision from the top down to recognize the problem and re-pivot the company to being a mobile company" (italics added).


text:
The senior class gift
A scholarship in memory of Andrea Morton '10.
Support from the class of 2010, an inspired record participation rate of 32 percent, totaling $51,656, was augmented by matching funds from board member Caroleen Feeney '86 and a gift from the family of a graduating senior, making a total contribution of $78,414.
A clinical health studies major with a minor in music, Morton passed away in April 2009 from a brief and sudden illness. She was a resident assistant and water safety instructor as well as a member of the PT Club, Women's Chorale, and the indoor soccer team. She made dean's list every semester and received numerous honors, including a Campus Life Award and the Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership.
In presenting the gift to President Thomas Rochon and alumni trustee Amy Doonan Cronin '82, senior class director of internal communications David Seidorf called his deceased classmate "a remarkably active, accomplished, and compassionate young woman." In addition to the scholarship, the class of 2010 raised $26,758 for other allocations.
Visit ithaca.edu/commencement/gallery for extended coverage of Commencement 2010.


text:
Reach your customers with the world's #1 email marketing platform. Use data from every department to build smarter email — from basic marketing campaigns to sophisticated 1-to-1 messages.
Learn why top brands trust Salesforce to help them drive success with email — and how you can manage customer journeys at scale using data from any source.
Use drag-and-drop segmentation tools to hone your subscriber list, so your messaging is always relevant. Filter millions of profiles in seconds, and get instant counts for sending.
Schedule messages, distribution of custom reports, and imports of data from any source — so you can focus on creating great campaigns.
With Einstein, recommend great content that resonates. Identify highly engaged subscribers and increase conversions.
Push segments to your DMP to leverage your profile data from landing pages and user behaviour, targeting engaged — and unengaged — subscribers across digital channels.
Quickly and effortlessly optimise for mobile so your emails always appear exactly as you intended — wherever they're opened.
Use content blocks to populate email designs quickly, with best-in-class templates designed by industry experts.
Whether taking advantage of drag-and-drop functions, or employing HTML code and personalised scripting language, surprise and delight with tailored, real-time content.
Strengthen your customer relationships with email conversations that drive every stage of the customer lifecycle.
Get your message to the top of the inbox — at the time your customer is most likely to see it — and establish guardrails to prevent accidental delivery of test messages.
Increase your team's efficiency. Set up a delivery schedule so customers experience your brand the way you want — without a heavy manual workload.
Unmatched flexibility and scalability empower you to maintain 1-to-1 relationships — even with enterprise audiences of millions.
Set A/B tests and run sophisticated performance reports to determine what's working, what isn't, and how to perfect each campaign.
Ask about Salesforce products, pricing, implementation, or anything else. Our highly trained reps are standing by, ready to help.


text:
How To Make Candied Yams With Marshmallows Recipes
Candied Yams with Marshmallows
I experienced my first real Thanksgiving after Lulu and I got married. I say real because I had my very first Thanksgiving meal in July 1998. I know it sounds weird... As a child, I used to go to the US for the summer. Every summer, I'd be hosted by an American family through an agency. It was always a very neat experience. It offered me the opportunity to experience the culture and customs of America while sharing my own culture and customs with the host family.
When I met Reneé and Steve in the summer of 1998, they asked me to cook a typical French meal for them. I made a roasted leg of lamb and crunchy oven roasted potatoes. The next day, Reneé surprised me with a full Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings. I have very fond memories of my time at Reneé and Steve's in Williamsburg, Virginia. They even attended our wedding.
One of the dishes that really stood out was the candied yams. I had not eaten yams (or sweet potatoes, to be more accurate) in France, and this was my first experience with them. The yams were sweet and creamy, and the marshmallow topping was a nice touch.
I now make candied yams with my little sisters-in-law each Thanksgiving. It's a fun recipe for them to make because it's easy and also because they love to eat it. I get added pleasure out of passing on traditions that were taught to me in the past by my former host family. Thanks Reneé and Steve!
The marshmallows before melting in the oven.
Full Recipe...


text:
A radioactive gas found in some homes that in sufficient concentrations can cause health problems.
Home | Featured Listings | Open Houses | Sold Listings | Lots & Land | New Construction | Active Listings | Search for Homes | Advanced Search | Map Search | Foreclosures | Mortgage Rates | Buyer/Seller Info | Testimonials | About Me | My Blog | Contact Me | Real Estate News
Privacy Policy |
© 2019 Knoxville Area Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Association. All rights reserved.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part
from the IDX program of the Multiple Listing Service of the Knoxville Area
Association of RealtorsR. IDX information is provided exclusively for
personal non-commercial use and it may not be used for any purpose other
than to identify prospective properties to purchase. All information
provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be
independently verified. Some properties which appear for sale on this web
site may subsequently have sold or may no longer be available.
Information last updated on 2019-09-16.


text:
Cat Language
Formal name: Meow tongue Colloquial name: The Cat Language
|Dialects: 3
|Created: 800,000,000,000 B.C
|most commonly used
|Cat Nation (and random areas in the world. only cats can speak it.)
|Catrock (Capital city of cat nation)
|Official users
|all cats
The Cat Language (Cat tongue) was created exclusively by cats. many people think its the best language in the whole world. "The cat language is very complicated", says a cat named Babo Meowzers,"No human could ever learn it because they are stupid monkey faces." Meow Tongue has 3 different dialects: Meow, Tse,and Tung. King George Bush the Dicktator of Texas has recently decided that this language is real sinse we hear this meowing all the time from cats. Meow Tongue apparently only took 3 minutes to create but is also claimed to be the hardest language to learn.
Quotes By Cats:
Dummy Humans can't learn Cat Tongue! They dummys!
some old lady cat.
I say You dum dum to human so funny haha!
cat CEO of the catmade company Meow Mix.
There are three specific dialects: Meow, Tse, and Tung. The Meow dialect consists of--as well as can be written--"meows" and "miaows." This is the most common spoken dialect. The Tse dialect is communicated through a series of vibrations that can sometimes be interpreted as "purrs." The Tung dialect is unpopular in cat circles. Felines who use this unfortunate dialect are often picked on, since the Tung dialect is essentially comprised of what is colloquially called "squeaks." In an inexplicable coincidence, the dialects can be arranged in a certain order to spell "Meow Tse-Tung," which happens to be the name of the second Great Emperor of the Cats (the first ruler was excommunicated after delivering a speech in the Tung dialect).
Native extinct dialects[edit]
There used to be about 900,000,000,000,000 different dialects of the native cats called "dirty whiskaz" in the history books in the cat nation. But they were all killled and destroyed along with the natives. You see, Meow Tse-Tung at that time was trying to find new territory for cats (the old territory was invaded by dogs). When Meow Tse-Tung discovered a land full of "evil monster kitties", he had his army ransack and burn down every single native village and all the language books and culture books. Meow Tse-Tung quoted, "I killed all the savages because they were indecent inbred atrocious horrific uncivilized beastly creatures." Nobody knows anyof the different native dialects because well, of course, it was all burned but experts beleive, even though of how Meow Tse-Tung talks of their languages, that Meow Tse-Tung incorporated some of these dialects into Meow Tongue because their languages were much more advanced than Meow Tongue, even though Meow Tse-Tung starts cussing you out if you ask him.
The cats say that the origin of the Meow Tongue is that it was created in the capital city, Catrock. They say that everyone got together and brainstormed for a couple of minutes, sending psychic messages to each others' brains because they are so genius. And then they had the whole language planed out so they made a dictionary and language books. Then, a cat named Hiss Meowmix Fleabag, hired a local cat wizard named Scratchy Gato Chikin-Turkey Meowmeow to enchant all cats so that the second they are born, they know every single word.
About three years later from when he did that, Scratchy Gato Chikin-Turkey Meowmeow was awarded and promoted to King of all wizard kitties and still lives today. You can see him and his big statue if you travel to the cat Nation, go to Catrock, and visit the cat temple, but you will
probably definitely get shot or something. (DURR DA DURR!! haven't you read this article? of course they'll shoot you, hang your dead body from a giant pole, burn your dead body and video tape it, then send the video as a threat to the U.S.)
Useful phrases[edit]
We have managed to gather up some useful phrases in The Cat Language. It is very hard to translate Meow Tongue into english so this might not be 100% accurate. only a couple of cats have ever taught us about Meow Tongue, but that is because Opra Winfrey hypnotised them by with her evil stareing rays she uses on television. (note: the Meow Tongue is very odd language that doesn't make much sense to anyone else besides cats.
meowu'_meow'is_"meowso +:(_m,eowstu_-=:)meow{pid. = hello, how are you?
meowfu>_;(meowk =)meowu_<'meow^bih>_< meow*ich! = where's the toilet?
meo'wu_meow-as/_$meow.ho_!meow+ol!!!!! = bye.
[please note that this is just romanized cat language (sounds written with english letters and symbols)]
That's all the phrases we managed to get. we had to get the cats we had hypnotised drugged up on Catnip once they woke up so that we could return them to the Cat Nation without them conciencely knowing they ever left. (Opra's hypnotize stare only works once every 24 hours.)


text:
Got it fixed
cookshow has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.
Kevin, you are not receiving messages because your mailbox is overstuffed!
Kevin I hope everything is going well with you and your farm. Jesse and I were thinking of visiting Corn Island sometime soon and I thought you could give me some pointers on where we might stay and about how the flights are from Managua.
I hope you are still winning your war with the Rockmen.
Have you heard anything about Jason? I do miss busting that Leftys ass. Howard.
Thanks for adding your humor here...I like the way you think and jeez you make jelly too!
Oh I forgot to ask when you will be there for seed delivery. Ed said you are leaving about the time I am coming. I will get there the afternoon of the 6th. Are you gone by then?
Ed called last night and told me what happened on Christmas with that strange guy. He's so embarrassed. He said he just couldn't get rid of the guy. We met him at the Crab Soup festival. He was sitting with our lawyer. Then we saw him fixing a fence in Salley Peachie but that was it, never really friendly or anything. I can't believe the guy just wouldn't leave. Do you or Wanda know anything about this guy? Just want to tell you that Ed is realoy sorry that he couldn't get rid of him.
kevin, was treat to visit your garden, even in the rain. best wishes for the holidays to you and yours (if not to the pig).
ann (falsebluff)
Well, New Orleans also had George Alec Effinger -- on line friend brought him up recently. Either of them would be good (I haven't read Asprin; my more recent tastes have been more outre like Samuel R. Delany).
I tried to send you a message -- if it didn't get through, the short version was that I enjoy reading about your gardening efforts. I used to have gardens in Virginia and Philadelphia.
I do find people who want to be paid to help the Nicaraguan people (or the mountain people) operating under the assumption that you can break a horse to a book (or garden in Nicaragua using a book written by someone in New England) rather tedious. Knowing how to do three wire grounded outlets and plumbing seem rather useful here given that my house is wired with lamp cord.
I was getting the same message, click on your or my avatar then click on find latest posts, it will take you there, not sure what is messed up.
Active TRN Member
Originally Posted by KeyWestPirate
The $200 million is designated for road projects,, on the Caribbean side, where the oversight will be more difficult
Business as usual
Difficult for who? King's son has the contract....
Originally Posted by bill_bly_ca
Just googled Wawashang
Seen Wappy close by - Wonder if anyone worries in Wappy?
Nothing to worry about up there, no where to go. C330 Panga ride to Bluefields is out of reach for most, they will be lucky to see Pueblo Nuevo, I been there, Barbed Wire and Bullets is about all you can buy there.
Nice up there. But it is end of the road. Some Cell coverage, not much though, you will see people standing in an area, that is where you can signal. I could not get
Read More
Originally Posted by Jonh
LOL. Kevin's alter ego would elaborate. No one would know...
The tanker was at Bluff yesterday. Comes every few weeks.
Originally Posted by El Greco
So that's what they say if you're packing(plenty of mango) that's a good one...
This whole Mango thing is getting out of hand, a woman I see daily just confronted me about my mangoes. I think I will take her home with me. Fu----- Mangoes.


text:
The Colburn Orchestra
The Colburn School
Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM (PST)
Event Details
Yehuda Gilad, Music Director
Austin Huntington, cello
SMETANA: The Moldau
BLOCH: Schelomo: Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra
(Austin Huntington, cello)
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3 "Scottish"
This concert is generously supported by the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts
Ticketing Options:
Premium Seating: Offers priority entrance and exclusive access to the best seats in the house.
General Admission: Offers priority entrance and guaranteed entry into the hall. You may sit in any unreserved section.
Free Tickets: Seating is limited and not guaranteed, available only on a first-come, first-served basis. You must reserve a ticket in advance for free admission.
METRO Riders: Show your Metro pass or TAP card and receive a $5 rebate on the price of admission.Visit Metro Trip Planner to find out how you can use public transportation to get to this event: http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_start.php
Performance Policies:
Seating begins approximately 60 minutes prior to the concert. In consideration of our artists and patrons in the hall, late seating will take place at the discretion of management. Certain programs are performed without intermission; therefore, no late seating can be offered at those concerts.
As a courtesy to the musicians and your fellow patrons, please turn off all pagers, mobile phones, watch alarms, or other electronic devices prior to the concert, and refrain from making noise (talking, coughing, unwrapping candy) during the performance. Everyone in your party, regardless of age, must be able to sit quietly through a 2 hour concert without disturbing other patrons or the artists. Ushers will ask parents whose children are noisy or uncomfortable to take them outside of the hall. If there is repeated disruption, The Colburn School reserves the right to revoke admission and refund your ticket price.
All patrons must have a ticket to enter the hall. Information about accessibility is available by calling 213-621-1050.
When & Where
Ambassador Auditorium
131 S. St. John Avenue
Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM (PST)
Add to my calendar
The Colburn School
The Colburn School is a world-class performing arts school committed to offering the highest level of instruction to students from across the globe.
Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the Community School for Performing Arts (CSPA), provides outstanding faculty and facilities to create an optimal environment where nearly 2,000 students of all ages and backgrounds can excel to their highest potential.
The school presents its students, faculty and guest artists in more than 300 performances each year, many of which are free.
For a full list of events, visit our calendar at http://www.colburnschool.edu/events.


text:
The Guardian: Songs of the Metropolis – review
You might be fooled, by the playful waltz that opens this set's portrayal of Vienna, or by the solemnly marching chords introducing Moscow, into thinking that volatile reeds virtuoso Gilad Atzmon has grown tired of fighting battles and finally opted for the expected. But it's Atzmon, and he doesn't do expected – tensions, surprises, shocks and ambiguities are a lot more interesting. Concentrating on clarinet and soprano sax, and inviting equal participation from his three Orient House Ensemble partners, Atzmon draws the Paris romance toward more dangerous emotions in a tumult of rising glissandos against Eddie Hick's fierce drumming, and takes the initially vivacious dance of Tel Aviv into mysterious spaces more reminiscent of Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter's In a Silent Way. Buenos Aires expresses a pulsating heat in which motifs wander as if in a haze, Scarborough Fair arrives late in the song devoted to the town, before the track unexpectedly turns into a Coltrane-quartet modal storm for the excellent Frank Harrison's McCoy Tyner-inspired piano. The playing is generally stronger than the writing – but since it's such high-class playing, that hardly matters.


text:
Disney Driven Week In Review 4-12-15
Maria H. (ndm#130) 0 Comments 1975, 2015, 2017, a new hope, ABC, ahsoka tano, Alan Bersten, amy allen, Animal Kingdom, animals, Animation, announcement, annual, ant-man, apps, Argentine Tango, artem chigvintsev, ashley eckstein, attack of the clones, attractions, austin & ally, Avengers, aza, barber shop, beginnings, behind the scenes, bella thorne, black widow, boardwalk, Boba Fett, books, boxed set, Brad Bird, breakfast, Brittany Cherry, bruno tonioli, calf, California, carrie ann inaba, cd, cha cha, characters, Chewbacca, chidren, childhood, Children, chris soules, clone wars, cocktails, comedy, contemporary, contributors, countries, Daisy Duck, dak, Dancing with the stars, daniel logan, darth maul, darth's mall, data, day trip, DCL, Death Star, DHS, digital backup, digital hd, Dinner, Disney, disney books, Disney channel, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Driven Life, disney fashion, Disney Junior, Disney magic, disney parks. walt disney world, Disney recipes, Disney Springs, disney week, Disney XD, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, dog with a blog, Donald Duck, Downtown Disney, drinks, duos & deception, dwts, ebook, Elementary School, emma slater, emperor, empire, empire strikes back, Entertainment, entrance, EPCOT, episdoe vi, ESPN, ewok, exotic driving experience, ezra bridger, Falcon, family, fat cat software, Florida, Flynn Rider, food, foodies, force, frank oz, Fulton's Crab House, Future World, george clooney, George Lucas, girl meets world, golf, Goofy, Grand Floridian, graphic novel, grass, Great Movie Ride, grown ups, Hawkeye, help wanted, History, hollywood studio, Hollywood Studios, hot dog hills, Hulk, I didn't do it, ian mcdiarmid, iphoto, Iron Man, james arnold taylor, jedi, jedi training, Jenna Johnson, jeremy bulloch, Jessie, jordan fisher, julianne hough, k.c. undercover, kendi, Kids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, la cava, latin night, legacy content, len goodman, library, lifestyle, literature, liv and maddie, live, loss, lpga, Luke Skywalker, Lunch, mac, Magic Kingdom, magnolia, marriage, Mary Poppins, Meet and Greet, meet the marvel super heroes 2nd edition, Melissa Rycroft, merchandise, michael sam, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, mk, Moms, Monorail, most memorable year, mother gothel, Movie, musical, nastia liukin, ndk review, NDP, neurotic, new show, new writers, noah galloway, non-disney, off property, padawan mind challenge, palpatine, Park Photos, parties, Paso Doblé, patti labelle, perfect ten tour, performance, performers, peta murgatroyd, peter mayhew, phantom menace, Photography, Photos, Pluto, preschool, preview, prom-a-rooney, Rapunzel, ray park, read along storybook, Relationships, Resort, Resorts, restaurant, return of the jedi, revenge of the sith, Richard Petty, riker lynch, riverboat, roadster racers, robert herjavec, rumba, rumer willis, safari, Salsa, samba, Saratoga, Sasha Farber, savanna, senator, sensational six, Seven Seas Lagoon, shopping, shows, sightsee, silas carson, snacks, sneak peek, social media, solitude, solo, spa, speedway, spy-anoia will destroy ya, staff, stan gets married, Star Tours, Star Wars, STAR WARS REBELS, Star Wars Weekends, staycation, steve blum, steve likes lindy, storytime, summer, suzanne somers, sww, symphony in the stars, Tangled, tangled: the musical, taylor gray, tbt, teens, Television, the avengers, the prequels, throwback thursday, tiya sircar, toddlers, Tomorrowland, topiary, trails, travels, Tweens, Vacation, vacation homes, vacations, valentin chmerkovskiy, vanessa marshall, video games, vintage, Walt Disney Resort, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney World, warwick davis, WDW, weddings, what the what?, wicket w. warrick, willow shields, Witney Carson, Wordless Wednesday, world of reading, World Showcase, Yoda, young children, zeb orrelios
It's the Disney Driven Week In Review! We understand that life keeps you busy, so here is a listRead more


text:
There comes a time when personal beliefs need to be set aside in favor of sound governing principles. On the eve of deliberately causing potential economic calamity, the U.S. Congress finally decided to raise the nation's debt limit and fully reopen the federal government.
We can't help but wonder if the so-called tea party bloc realizes how much damage it caused by staging an unwinnable battle to undo the Affordable Care Act. We doubt it.
Fortunately for our country's sake, there is a solid majority of thoughtful politicians who understood the stakes. In the Senate, there were 81 votes in favor of ending the manufactured crisis that took an estimated $24 billion out of the national economy. On the House side, there were 285 legislators unwilling to see how badly people throughout the country would be hurt if the U.S. refused to pay its debts for the first time in history.
The all-Republican Kansas delegation showed its true colors in the rollcall tallies. Only Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Jill Jenkins supported the necessary measure. That left Sen. Pat Roberts and Reps. Tim Huelskamp, Mike Pompeo and Kevin Yoder voting against the best interests of this great nation.
The contrast in governing styles is best displayed by the current and former standard-bearers for the Big First House district.
Huelskamp, who has staked out a position as a reliable partner of political and religious extremists, said: "It is easy to sum up this deal -- the political Establishment in Washington wins, and real Americans lose. Big businesses keep their ObamaCare exemption, special interests win, members of Congress retain their gold-plated health care -- while ordinary Americans continue to struggle unfairly under the devastating effects of ObamaCare."
Great rhetorical commentary, but it is divorced from reality. Real Americans aren't suffering from ObamaCare -- it doesn't even go live until the beginning of the year. Real Americans still are suffering from the Great Recession and its lingering effects, whether they're unemployed, having necessary benefits stripped away, or left with only a memory of what their retirement nest egg used to be because of Congress' inability to take care of the nation's business. Had the country gone into default, as Huelskamp voted to ensure, the fallout likely would have been worse than the Great Depression.
And all because the current First District representative doesn't want all Americans to have access to quality and affordable health care, or possibly be insured so the rest of us aren't continuously picking up the tab of their emergency room visits.
Sen. Moran, who used to represent the Big First, isn't necessarily a big fan of ObamaCare either. But he understands the big picture and voted accordingly.
"The American government should never default on its debt obligations," Moran said. "This good-faith deal calms fear of default for now, but we must take advantage of the next 90 days to finally work together and get our spending under control."
We agree current spending habits are not sustainable. And there are any number of large-ticket items that need to be addressed quickly. But we need to make sure we use logic and common sense in the process.
Judging by the number of Romney-Ryan bumper stickers still attached to vehicles throughout northwest Kansas, we know who Rep. Paul Ryan is -- and shouldn't be surprised to note that he voted against raising the debt ceiling and reopening the government.
But even this Wisconsin congressman, the much-heralded conservative wunderkind with a knack for financial know-how, knows the country's financial situation will take a long time to fix. Recall his budget that was offered as a sensible alternative to President Barack Obama's? The one that ultimately was rejected by the majority of Americans but still held up by conservatives as a goal? Even it only slowed the growth rate of public spending, from 5.0 percent annually to 3.4 percent. Ryan's budget had the federal government spending $41 trillion during the next 10 years, as opposed to the $46 trillion proposed by Obama. Deficit spending wouldn't disappear until year 10, which by definition demands the debt ceiling being raised repeatedly for the next nine years.
What is so difficult to understand about that? Apparently a lot for the tea party crowd.
And why Huelskamp and others believed they could undo the president's signature domestic legislation with Obama still in the Oval Office and Democrats controlling the Senate defies even rudimentary logic.
We are grateful common sense prevailed before an unprecedented meltown took place in the national and global economies.
Editorial by Patrick Lowry


text:
Need a tool you don't have, and need it now? Chances are it's available at a nearby rental center. The rental industry in the United States has experienced remarkable growth in the past decade, and a study conducted for the American Rental Association (ARA) published earlier in the year reported that the market's construction and equipment segment is its largest category, accounting for 68.6 percent of revenue. Within that segment, tool rentals represent the fastest-growing subcategory.
Most basic power hand tools used by electricians are available at general rental centers. Specialist rental businesses carry sophisticated electrical and datacom test meters and other tools needed for electrical and low-voltage projects.
Perhaps the largest number of rentals by electrical contractors falls in the equipment category, although the line between "tools" and "equipment" isn't always clear. For example, a basic hand conduit bender obviously is a tool, but the popular Greenlee quad bender can be more accurately described as equipment. Many of the items most often rented by electrical contractors—generators, work platforms, trenchers and loader-backhoes—clearly are equipment.
Whether it is a tool or equipment, customers can rent by the day, week, month or longer, and many rental outlets offer rent-to-buy deals and leasing options. Rental centers also are a good source for buying well-maintained used equipment, and because most turn inventories frequently, for-sale products usually are relatively recent models.
With 450 locations nationwide, Sunbelt Rentals (www.sunbeltrentals.com) is the second-largest rental company in the United States. Sunbelt promotes itself as having the widest variety of specialized equipment in the rental industry.
"We understand the importance of serving specialized trades, and electricians are an important market," said Nat Brookhouse, Sunbelt director of marketing and communications.
Brookhouse said items most frequently rented by electricians include cable benders, cable cutters, cable pullers and feeders, cable reel rollers and reel stands, wire dispensers, circuit tracers, conduit benders, conduit racks, crimping tools, hydraulic punch drivers, pipe cutters, and pipe threaders.
Rentals vary by project needs, and both individual electricians and rental contracting companies rent tools with the size and scope of a project also a factor.
"Electricians tell us they rent for many reasons," Brookhouse said. "It may be taking on a project that requires more tools and equipment than is owned or available, or a project that needs more or larger equipment to complete the job. For many electrical contractors, the cost of ownership of larger equipment is not considered an efficient use of funds."
The ARA study and other research clearly document that renting of tools and equipment is a trend that continues to grow.
"At Sunbelt, we always have offered a broad range of tools, and they have been a part of our product mix," Brookhouse said. "There is a trend toward renting rather than purchasing, so we think tool rentals will continue to grow."
Brookhouse added that he believes the benefits of renting tools are recognized, but Sunbelt continues to educate the marketplace by exhibiting at trade shows, participating in opportunities to contribute information to articles such as this one, and working with strategic partners to provide information and rental options to customers.
Two specialist rental companies with a narrower focus are Electro Rent (www.electrorent.com), based in Van Nuys, Calif., and TRS RenTelco (www.trs-rentelco.com), located near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Electro Rent is one of the world's largest sources of test and measurement equipment for renting, rent-to-own and leasing options. TRS RenTelco operates nationally, renting and leasing general-purpose and communications test equipment.
Patrick Chu, director of marketing for Electro Rent, said the most frequently rented items by electrician customers are power analyzers, relay and transformer testers, cable fault locators, bore scopes for inspecting hard-to-access spots, hipots for testing electrical insulation, and megaohmeters.
Chu said electrical customers typically rent when peak demands require additional tools, for short-term use of tools only needed occasionally, and at times when capital is in short supply.
"Tools are being rented more often," he said, "because users realize the true cost of ownership is not only the one-time purchase cost, but there are added costs for maintenance and calibration of testing equipment, as well as lost-opportunity costs associated with idle tools and improved efficiency to be gained by using newer tools available for rent. In addition, rentals can be used not only to expand a contractor's current business and as an inexpensive way to test new business opportunities."
At TRS RenTelco, marketing manager Greg Barkemeyer said the greatest rental and leasing demand is for power quality analyzers, ground testers, resistance test sets, protective relay test sets, circuit breaker tests sets and chart recorders.
"The electrical market industry is very project-oriented, so the need for a particular piece of equipment is often short-term, making the cost of purchasing the equipment prohibitive," Barkemeyer said. "Rentals and leases are taken out by contractors, individual electricians or their end-user customers or clients; it depends on how the job has been structured. The contractor may be responsible for supplying all tools, or the client may agree to provide them."
Controlling operating expenses is essential in today's competitive marketplace."Renting and leasing is a way to keep tight control on costs while having the breadth of equipment necessary to meet changing job requirements," Barkemeyer said. "Rental in the electrical industry continues to grow because it is an increasingly important option that allows contractors to manage cash flows and peak demand periods without having to invest in equipment that might not be fully utilized throughout the year. It also allows contractors to bid on jobs that they may have previously passed on, due to test equipment requirements they could not supply."
The costs of ownership become an increasingly important factor with more expensive tools or machines.
Sunbelt's Brookhouse said equipment most often rented to customers in the electrical market is aerial work platforms, generators and accessories, trenchers and trench shoring.
Compact trenchers have been a staple in rental stores for nearly 50 years, with most general rental centers having one or more walk-along machines, which are popular with small electrical contracting companies for installing curb-to-house services. Equipment rental specialists inventory larger riding models, which accept a variety of attachments.
Skid-steer loaders with trencher and auger attachments and compact excavators also are found in most general rental stores, even small, neighborhood stores.
Other high-end tool and general equipment items used by electricians include concrete saws, pavement breakers, electronic pipe and cable locators, air compressors, hydraulic power units, pumps, and hydraulic and air hammers.
Much of the equipment rented by electrical contractors is for both aerial and underground utility construction and is offered by many different companies. For instance, NES Rentals (www.nesrentals.com) in Chicago specializes in work platforms, cable cutters, cable pullers, fish tape, generators and compressors, compaction equipment, and concrete saws. Also, the Georgia Underground Superstore (www.georgiaunderground.com), located near the Atlanta airport, specializes in serving utility contractors throughout the Southeast.
President David Bartosh said electrical contractors who perform both power and telecommunications work are among the company's regular clients.
Bartosh said items frequently rented include cable reels and trailers, fusion equipment for connecting segments of HDPE conduit, pneumatic piercing tools for making short bores under drives and sidewalks to install cable and duct, and both fiber optic and heavy-duty electrical cable pullers.
"While we write short-term rentals," Bartosh said, "many rentals frequently [turn] into purchases."
Rental history: from independent to consolidated
Rental stores first appeared in the United States in the 1950s and grew on the strength of individually owned neighborhood stores. As the benefits of renting caught on with homeowners and businesses, renting as an industry began to evolve and in 2006 generated revenues of just under $33 billion, based on information gathered for the recent ARA report.
By the last half of the 1990s, big business had taken notice of the rental industry, and it went through a period of consolidation. Rental chains were not new. Many independents had developed into small chains, but a wave of consolidations resulted in fast growth of several rental giants whose ranking and size changed quickly with acquisitions and buyouts.
Today, United Rentals (www.ur.com), with about 700 locations, is the largest, and Sunbelt Rentals recently moved to the number two spot. Add to the mix equipment dealerships, which rent equipment such as directional drilling units, vibratory plows, vacuum excavators, skid-steer loaders, compact excavators and trenchers.
In what has come as a surprise to many in the industry, big chains and independents coexist in the marketplace. Some expected the powerful chains to force independents out of business, while independents did not believe the chains could provide the level of service rental customers had come to expect. Equipment rental is a service business, and family-owned independents have built success on excellent customer service. Many independents have long-time electrical contractor and small electrician customers.
Barry Sawyer, second-generation owner of A&B Rent-All (www.abrentall.com) in Oklahoma City, has electrical contractor customers who have been clients for more than 20 years.
"Most rent for utility or utility-related jobs," Sawyer said. "They need trenchers to bury electrical service lines, hammers for breaking concrete to run cable under floors, and concrete saws. Cable locators often are rented by electricians doing maintenance work on lighting at service stations. They also often rent power hammers to drive ground rods."
Jeff Wearing operates four Ready Rent-All centers (www.readyrentall.com) in the metropolitan Atlanta area. He, too, has long-time electrical contractor customers and estimates his electrical market to be about 15 percent of business.
"We occasionally rent hand tools if the contractor has a job in the area and has an immediate need for a particular tool or tools," Wearing said. "Most of our electrical rentals are trenchers, cable pullers, conduit benders, and small portable lifting tools powered by separate power sources. Many of our electrician customers are repeat customers."
Tool and equipment rental is an important and growing business that can help keep electrical contractors stocked with the items needed to succeed. EC
GRIFFIN, a construction and tools writer from Oklahoma City, can be reached at 405.748.5256 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Mode of travel: health considerations
Travel by air and by sea exposes passengers to a number of factors that may have an impact on health. In this chapter, technical terms have been used sparingly in order to facilitate use by a wide readership. Medical professionals needing more detailed information are referred to the web site of the Aerospace Medical Association and the web site of the International Maritime Health Association
- Air travel
- Aircraft disinsection
- Cabin air pressure
- Cabin humidity and dehydration
- Contraindications to air travel
- Cosmic radiation
- Diving
- Immobility, circulatory problems and deep vein thrombosis
- Jet lag
- Medical assistance on board
- Motion sickness
- Ozone
- Psychological aspects
- Travellers with medical conditions or special needs
- Transmission of communicable diseases on aircrafts
- Travel by sea
- Communicable diseases
- Noncommunicable diseases
- Precautions
Other related links
- The International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM)
- Regional and National Societies of Travel Medicine
- WHO Collaborating Centres on Travel and Health
Consultation on International Travel and Health, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam, May 2014
pdf, 141kb
Consultation on strategies for International Travel and Health, Maastricht, Netherlands, May 2013
pdf, 134kb
Consultation on International Travel and Health in Asia, Singapore, May 2012
pdf, 318kb


text:
The May Issue of OTAN's Administrators' Digests is AvailablePosted on 05/30/2017
The May issue of OTAN's Administrator's digest is available on the home page of the OTAN Web site. You may also access it directly using the link on this page:
The Administrators' Digest is a monthly online publication containing brief articles of interest to California adult education administrators, and links to more information.
This publication features links to articles on the OTAN Web site, as well as links to interesting articles and information featured on other Web sites. Information about professional development opportunities offered by OTAN is also featured.
If you would like to receive an e-mail letting you know when the new Administrators' digest is posted simply logon to the OTAN Web site and select "Preferences" at the top of the page. If you are not already logged on you will be asked to do so, or to register. OTAN registration is free. Once you are logged on, scroll to "Send me these OTAN publications" and select the publications you wish to receive.


text:
DETROIT >> The youth got the Detroit Red Wings to a 23rd consecutive trip the NHL postseason.
That success did not translate over to the playoffs and it helped lead the Wings' ouster in five games in the first round of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference opening round series with the Boston Bruins.
Gustav Nyquist led the team during the regular season with 28 goals and was tied for third with 48 points. He had no goals and no assists and was a minus-1 in the five games.
Tomas Tatar was second on the team during the regular season with 19 goals and ranked sixth with 39 points. He had no goals and no assists and was a minus-3 in the five games.
Riley Sheahan had nine goals and 15 assists in 42 games during the regular season. He had no goals and no assists and was a minus-1 in the five games.
Tomas Jurco had eight goals and seven assists in 36 regular season games. He had no goals and no assists and was a minus-1. He found himself out as a healthy scratch in the final two games of the series.
"I just think kids in general aren't very successful at playoff time unless they're one of three on a line or they're the sixth D man," said Wings coach Mike Babcock, who was banking on the team speed to help beat the bruising Bruins. "When you're counting on them I think it's hard for them. When you can surround them with a bunch of veterans to look after them it's a totally different thing."
Tatar did lead the team with 19 shots in the playoffs, but also finished tied for the team lead in penalty minutes with eight.
Sheahan and Luke Glendening struggled mightily on faceoffs as well, both finishing under 45 percent. Glendening had the worst percentage at 32.6, while Sheahan finished at 43.3.
"When you're counting them they get here and they find out there's no space and they wonder what's going on," Babcock said. "Instead of just fighting through it they start thinking too much and now they're slow and now they don't do what they normally do. I thought that was for sure for our guys."
Both Sheahan and Jurco were assigned back to Grand Rapids as the Griffins battle to repeat as Calder Cup champs.
As poorly as the youngsters played, the Wings' veteran shined.
Pavel Datsyuk, who Babcock said on numerous occasions played on one leg, led the team with three goals and five points.
Henrik Zetterberg was only able to play in two games after returning from successful surgery on Feb. 21 to remove part of a disc which was rubbing against a nerve. He had a goal and an assist.
"We're not there," Babcock said. "This team that we played is like we used to be in '08 and '09 and '07. They're a legit contender with good depth and god experience. I think the last two years we battled to get in the playoffs. To me that's the measure of where we are.
"We're a team that used to battle to win the Cup," Babcock continued. "We're battling to get in the playoffs. But what we have done if you look at our lineup, it's a ton of kids so our veteran guys who are back for sure will Pav, Z, (Niklas) Kronwall and (Johan) Franzen. They're all under contract. Everyone else is kids. That's kind of where we are. We'd like not to shut it down for 10 years and miss the playoffs for 10 years and get a whole bunch of first to fifth overall picks and do it that we. We'd like to do it on the fly."
Hit heavy with a rash of injuries during the regular season made the Wings' youngsters grow up quick.
"We've got to improve our team," Babcock said. "Part of that is going to be from just the growth of our individual players obviously health. If we get Datsyuk and Zetterberg healthy that makes a huge difference and Darren Helm in that matter.
"Our back end has got to be better and we've got to be able to score better up front," Babcock continued. "That means the kids that scored during the regular season have got to find a way to do it in playoffs. But it doesn't happen the first time. For Pavel it didn't happen the second time. You get some bitter disappointments. You think you're going to be good in the playoffs, you played hard, you battled hard, you fought your way into it. You're organized. Detail orientated. But at playoff time, Game 1 we were and stretches of the other games. Good teams don't deviate. If it takes 60 they do it for 60, if it takes 80 they do it for 80. I thought we did it at time but we weren't consistent."
Send comments to firstname.lastname@example.com and visit his blog at redwingsfront.wordpress.com


text:
Reddit Libertarians Accuse Obama Administration of 'Planting' Questions in AMA
President Barack Obama did a Reddit "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) this week, answering ten questions over about 30 minutes and causing the site to crash repeatedly. But it wouldn't be a real Reddit experience without mob paranoia — and, right on cue, a bunch of libertarian Reddit detectives have assembled a case that the White House "planted" one of the few questions the president answered. An unconvincing case, to say the least.
Here's the original question, where suspicious replies have already been voted above Obama's response:
The accusations began fairly quickly after the (admittedly softball) question was asked, based largely on the fact that the account was only a few hours old. But they didn't gain steam until a Redditor posted a link to the question in r/libertarian, Reddit's largest, and most vocal, partisan political community: "Obama answers a planted question in his AMA by a user account 4 hours old. Nobody notices/cares."
In the comments of that post, a user named "londubhawc" assembled the evidence; soon, his post was the subject of its own thread, which quickly shot to the front page:
So is there anything to this? As with so many things on Reddit: no. As Redditors themselves point out on all of these threads, the AMA had been announced half an hour before the president started answering questions. It's not really that unusual for someone to compose their question offline before signing up for an account and asking it. (Also? "Posted a blog entry supporting Obama"? C'mon, guys.)
Not to mention the fact that someone actually asked the user herself:
And anyway, why would the Obama administration plant questions when Redditors themselves were asking questions like:


text:
HEBRON — A Maine forester has measured what is believed to be the tallest American chestnut tree in its native range.
The 95-foot tree is in some woodlands in this small town in southwestern Maine. There is no official record keeping, but officials with The American Chestnut Foundation say the Maine tree is thought to be the tallest from Maine to Mississippi.
Ann Siekman said she and her husband knew they had a tall chestnut on their property, but they had no idea it would be the tallest in the East.
"I personally am a tree lover, so it's very important to me that all of us be aware of our tree heritage," she said. "For that reason, I'm delighted it's getting some attention."
Once known as the redwood of the East, the American chestnut was one of the most dominant trees in the eastern United States, routinely growing as tall as 100 feet and measuring 5 feet across at the base. But a blight overtook the trees during the first half of the 1900s, wiping out the population by the 1950s.
The American Chestnut Foundation, an Asheville, N.C.-based conservation organization devoted to restoring chestnuts to eastern woodlands, has regional offices that keep unofficial tabs on the trees. The Maine chestnut is the tallest that anybody with the foundation is aware of.
"Most of the bigger chestnuts we come across tend to top out around 70, 75 and maybe 80 feet," said Kendra Gurney, the foundation's regional science coordinator in Burlington, Vt.
Chestnuts tend to grow tallest when they're crowded among other large trees and need to grow straight up in search of sun. Maine, the nation's most heavily forested state, has plenty of oaks that grow higher than 100 feet and pines that can reach 150 feet.
The chestnut in Hebron is hidden from public view in some back woods among oaks, beeches and maples. Although people have known about it for years, it wasn't officially measured until this fall when Maine Forest Service forester Merle Ring took its dimensions as part of a countywide big tree contest sponsored by the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Ring and Michele Windsor, from the conservation district, re-measured the tree Wednesday to confirm the earlier measurement.
Such measurements are done using the principles of trigonometry and a simple, handheld instrument called a clinometer. Standing 100 feet from the tree, Ring used the clinometer to measure the angles to the top and bottom of the tree before calculating the height using the angle measurements.
There are large American chestnut trees in the West, but those were planted by settlers and are outside both the tree's native range and the blight that wiped out the trees last century.
Facebook comments
Send questions/comments to the editors.
View from Away: Trump stands up for the real victims of homelessness — rich, foreign real estate investors
Maine Compass: One person can make a difference, even in today's world
Walter Shapiro: 2020 Democrats may dream big now, but reality will bite them later
Today's editorial cartoon
Local & State
Before Farmington's deadly explosion, hints of propane problems


text:
Sacrifices of Military Children Aren't Forgotten, Pace Says
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2006 - Children in military families make sacrifices and serve their country as much as anyone in uniform does, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
"In so many loving ways, our children quietly shoulder part of the burden, making their mom or dad understand that what they are doing is important," Marine Gen. Peter Pace said in an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.
Military parents often have to miss holidays and special occasions, and children are left home to worry while parents go on difficult missions, Pace said. Military families also have to move every two or three years, making the children uproot, change schools and say goodbye to friends, he said.
"There's no way, in my mind, that you can be successful in the military and have a family unless that family does, in fact, appreciate your service to the country," he said.
Because military children have to transition and adapt a lot, they gain great life experience and maturity, Pace said. He recognized that, as teenagers, his own children were much more worldly than he was at that age, because he spent his entire childhood in his hometown.
"I think that, in the main, growing up in a military family strengthens the individual," he said.
In honor of April's observance of the Month of the Military Child, Pace recently wrote a letter to military children, thanking them for their patience, understanding, courage and support.
In the letter, Pace thanked the children for their unconditional love and support of their parents, even through difficult separations. Military children's resilience and self confidence throughout frequent moves are strengths that others, including their parents, admire, he went on to say.
"You can be proud of your mom and dad for their brave defense of this great country," Pace said in the letter. "Your love and support sustains them. So thank you for being there for mom and dad. You are American patriots and role models for us all."
Gen. Peter Pace, USMC [http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/pace_bio.html]
Related Article:
A Letter to Military Children From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2006/20060417_4841.html]
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at


text:
Mushrooms have always intrigued me. They seem magical and hold many beneficial healing properties. Heck, you can even eat certain types of mushrooms such as the psilocybe species and hallucinate! So, be aware when mushroom hunting and experimenting with them!
Tis' the season for the great Shaggy Mane (late fall & spring) – I recently picked three beautiful specimens out of my backyard. Otherwise scientifically known as Corprinus Comatus, this mushroom resembles a white, closed umbrella, which spreads with age. Yes, it's that time of year and if you keep your eyes peeled you may be lucky enough to find some Shaggy Mane's kickin' around. It's quite fascinating to watch the shaggy mane as it rolls up its gills and become black and inky. This process happens fast, and if you come across a patch of these scrumptious delicacies, enjoy the magical stages as they grow and turn to ink.
With research on the rise and the re-discovery of ancient methods of healing, it doesn't cease to amaze me, on the subject of mushrooms, and what they can do to you and for you if taken properly. Watch out though for the extremely deadly 'shrooms' or you could be sorry!
The shaggy mane mushroom is completely edible and quite tasty, I might add! It has shingle like white or brown scales and contains self digestive enzymes to render older specimens to the black fluid. Also called the "Inky Mushroom," this mushroom is a delicacy to any palate and is found on roadsides, lawns, in wood chips and hard packed soil. It is said the black fluid can be diluted with water and used as ink.
The mineral content available in mushrooms varies – depending on the soil which the mushroom grows. They are a great source of B vitamins, protein, vitamin D, magnesium and selenium – to name a few. Healthy growing conditions are critical though so be weary of eating mushrooms growing in ditches along busy road sides where pollutants are easily transferred to the shroom.
Although among the safest mushrooms, the shaggy mane may react with your body when consumed with alcohol. Symptoms include red nose, metallic tastes, numb feet and hands, rapid heart rate and nausea. These are the same symptoms of the prescription drugs Antabuse or Disulfiram (the drugs given to alcoholics for an unpleasant experience when combined with alcohol). Word of advice: Don't consume alcohol within two days after eating shaggy manes.
Impressed yet? If not, watch this cool video of a Shaggy Mane mushroom going to ink. To watch the video, click the following link ~ Shaggy Mane Inky Cap Video.
Contact ~ Melanie Vollick, Freelance Writer


text:
A birch and a beech tree grow up side by side in the forest. One day, a sapling grows between them, and each swears that it's not their son. The beech thinks it's a son-of-a-birch, and the birch thinks it's a son-of-a-beech. To settle it, they enlist the help of a woodpecker, who checks it out.
"You are both wrong," he says when he comes back up. "That's the best piece of ash I've ever had my pecker in."


text:
All monthly payments are estimates. Actual payment will depend on vehicle year make, model, and are subject to bank approval. Plus tax, title and license. Based on Credit. Customers must qualify.
White Diamond Pearl 2019 Honda Odyssey EX-L FWD 9-Speed Automatic 3.5L V6 SOHC i-VTEC 24V19/28 City/Highway MPG
"I've been dealing with HONDA OF LAKE JACKSON since 2005. GREAT in all departments."
MSRP does not include tax, title, license and dealer added options. MSRP DOES include Destination & Handling


text:
CFP Board publishes regular updates to inform CFP® professionals and our other stakeholders of CFP Board activities, policies, and initiatives. View past editions of the newsletter from the index below, or subscribe to the monthly CFP Board Report newsletter.
More Events
© 2012 Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
1425 K Street NW #800, Washington, DC 20005
phone: 800-487-1497 (Toll-Free) / 202-379-2200 | fax: 202-379-2299 | firstname.lastname@example.com
We welcome your feedback and invite you to complete a brief 5-question survey to help us improve your experience on CFP.net.
It's easy to participate and will take less than 2 minutes:
Click the "Yes" button below to continue your visit on CFP.net as intended. When finished, simply retrieve and complete the questionnaire that will appear in a new browser window.
Quick Links
Find a CFP® Professional
Verify Certification
Get Certified
Create an Account | Log In
Apply for the CFP® Exam
Center for Financial Planning
Career Center
Find CE Programs
Brochures & Publications


text:
Just started watching DDT4, one match in. Had to stop to catch my breath and wipe my eyes.
Holy shit was that opening match nuts. Goodtime and LTP cemented their spots to say the least. Bucks made them look like a zillion bucks (ha).
Even though I already knew the results, they made me seriously believe the Bucks were going down.
Crazy crazy match, especially for an opener! Hope the rest can live up to that!
Seriously folks, so far, price of DVD worth just the 1st match alone! Haven't been that enetertained by a wrestling match in a while.