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2010 Outreach to Teach: NEA Volunteers Give Louisiana High School Extreme Makeover
Photos: © 2010 Photos by Kevin Lock/NEA.
All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of the National Education Association
NEA members repair and beautify a school in Belle Chasse, LA
June 29, 2010
Outreach to Teach, NEA's annual school repair project, is always a meaningful affair. But there was something singularly special about this year's effort to repair and beautify Belle Chasse High School, in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, one of the many communities outside of New Orleans forever changed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
"It really hits home to bring this kind of support here," says Brandan Trahan, a junior at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, and student leader of the Louisiana Association of Educators.
Belle Chasse sits at the northernmost point of the long, narrow Plaquemines Parish, whose southern stretch caught the worst of Katrina. And then the levees failed. Amidst the civic breakdown that ensued, Belle Chasse High School opened its doors wide, housing the displaced in the immediate aftermath and eventually absorbing four other parish high schools lost to the storm.
"NEA has come together to do something truly big to help a community still in recovery," says Trahan.
In this case, something big was the sum total of hundreds of important tasks—a hard day's work by more than 400 NEA Student and Retired members, plus Belle Chasse faculty. It was scraping peeling paint from hundreds of surfaces. It was sanding rust spots on exposed metal pipes. It was painting (and painting and painting), and carefully taping windows and walls so trim could be touched up. It was replacing rickety courtyard benches with new, sturdy ones. It was using choice walls and every bulletin board as a chance to inspire students with the school emblem or a quotation like this one: Know your history; make your future.
Photos: © 2010 Photos by Kevin Lock/NEA.
All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of the National Education Association
With temperatures surging well into the 90's, it was the heartiest souls (or perhaps those who woke up late on job sign-up day) who took on the outdoor projects—like prepping the courtyards for sod by clearing out old vegetation and raking dirt.
"If we're going to be here, we might as well do some real work," said Ashley Salter of the University of Alabama. She was part of a small crew struggling with a stubborn root, and was duly impressed when Retired member John Frederick stepped in to hack it out by pounding a machete with a rubber mallet.
"Wherever you go, you have to improvise," said the Flint, Mich., resident who holds 32 years' experience teaching math and zero years' experience landscaping.
In a nearby hallway, a group of students was painting these words: Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.
"It's inspiring to see how the Students can pull the NEA family together for a major service project like this," says Colleen Heinz, an Active member and vice president of the Colorado Education Association who served as NEA Student Program chair from 1986-88.
Current Student Program Chair and future educator Jermaine Coleman says service projects are a key part of the next generation's idea of educating. "It's not enough for us to only be in the classrooms," he says. "We also want to be part of the community."
"They are our future leaders," says Heinz, gesturing toward the hundreds of students laboring around her. "If they can do this, just think what else they can do."
Even as she spoke, a student's careful brushstrokes filled in the letters that make up Gandhi's most famous words of wisdom: We must be the change we wish to see in the world.
For the first time in the history of Outreach to Teach, now in its 15th year, local design firms were engaged for special redesign efforts to create inviting, restful spaces for students and staff alike. HMS Architects designed the complete refurbishment of the school's two staff lounges, which now sport chic decor and modern amenities. The library makeover, planned by Sizeler, Thompson, Brown Architects, includes fresh paint, new tables, chairs, and rugs, plus a cozy lounge area.
Outside, new stadium seating will accommodate larger groups thanks to Green Parrot Nursery and Garden center, which also provided sod, rubber mulch, and ten citrus trees.
"Every day the students of this school will see these changes and know someone out there believes in them," says NEA Retired President Barbara Matteson.
The front office was the site of another important transformation. The walls went from cherry bomb red—it must have seemed like a good idea at the time, that being one of the school colors and all—to a soothing pale green, much more conducive to calm, productive encounters with Principal and NEA member Leeland Lee.
But also important was properly painting the spaces outside—the parking spaces, that is.
"You might think it's just lines in a parking lot—how will that make a difference?" says Ja'Quincey Ponder, who also participates in local
Outreach to Teach events back home in Alabama. "But words cannot explain how much it means to the educators and kids that someone came to fix up their school."
Does he expect to be out here as an NEA-Retired member someday? "That is the goal," says the 23-year-old Ponder. "Just let me get my career started first."
Video footage of the 2010 Outreach to Teach event at Belle Chasse High School, in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.
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Red Swagger
Reds and Jocketty should absolutely being him back for 1 more year. Rolen makes this team and our bench better, plain and simple. Leadership and intangibles are off the chart, if healthy, he would help this team. Frazier is the starting 3B, no question about it. Rolen would be perfect to fill the Cairo type role this year, late game defense replacement, pinch hitter, spot starts at 3B, maybe even 1B. The players LOVE Scotty and want him back. The issues are the money, the 40 man is full, the roster is tight, so it should be interesting here soon. Ideally, Rolen would accept a minor league deal and show the Reds he can still play in ST, while showing he is healthy. But no doubt Rolen makes the 2013 Reds a better team, hopefully he comes back for 1 more year. The other issue is, J Donald has no options left, and the Reds would likely lose him to another team if we placed him on waivers, so I am sure the Reds would phantom DL someone in order to put Rolen on the 40 man.

subset: commoncrawl


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A Caucasian Christian Evangelical Family
Theresa Weber was 74 when she died, almost nine years after first being diagnosed with cancer. A divorced mother of
modest means, Theresa desired her funeral to mirror her life-simple. She explained to her children, "After this much
time, I've had plenty of time to prepare and I know what I want." Only eight months before her death, she had met
with the funeral director to create her funeral plans.
A lifelong Southern Baptist, Theresa shared many beliefs and customs with other Christian Evangelicals. "Evangelical" is a term sociologists and historians generally apply to a wide range of Protestant churches, movements and denominations whose faith heritage grows out of the 18th century Great Awakening in Europe and North America. Generally, Evangelicals stress the necessity of a personal conversion experience and a high regard for the Bible as God's Word. While there are some Evangelicals in virtually every Christian denomination, the Brethren Church, Baptists, Church of the Nazarene, Evangelical Free Church, and most non-denominational Christian churches are Evangelical in their focus.
While not traditionally common among Christian evangelicals, Theresa had always wanted to be cremated when she died. However, she also understood her daughter's desire to say goodbye after her death. She had created a funeral plan including an evening visitation at the funeral home and a simple funeral in the funeral home chapel, with the plan that her body be cremated after the funeral.
Typical of Evangelical pastors, her clergyman had said he would support whatever she wanted to do and encouraged her desire to make plans in advance. Though individual congregations may be part of large denominations, Evangelicals generally do not have church-prescribed funeral rituals, unlike many faith communities.
Theresa even selected the songs she wanted sung and the scripture she wanted read at her funeral service. Theresa's daughter, Dorianne, quipped to her mother, "Well of course you'd want all that set; after all, you do have to always have the last word!"
Theresa was active in her church. Until her health deteriorated, she had served many years as a Sunday school teacher for children. A florist by trade, Theresa assured that her church was arrayed with fresh flowers every Sunday. The funeral director even remarked that in 30 years of funeral service, he had never seen so many flower arrangements at a funeral as people seemed intuitively to know that flowers would be the most fitting tribute.
The family received visitors at the funeral home on Thursday evening, two days after Theresa's death. Throughout the evening, people stopped by to express to Dorianne and her children how their mom and grandma had been special in their lives. Some even expressed surprise that Theresa had died since they had seen her at church or in the supermarket only weeks earlier.
The funeral service was held on Friday morning in the funeral home chapel. After Bertha Davis, a friend sang three of Theresa's favorite hymns, Theresa's oldest granddaughter, Meagan, read a poem she had written for the day. In his brief funeral sermon, Pastor Mike Smith reminded family and friends of Theresa's warm smile and her "can-do" attitude, especially throughout her cancer treatment.
In his sermon, the pastor reminded the people of a story they had heard from Theresa many times. "Attending youth camp when she was only 14," Pastor Smith told the gathered mourners, "Theresa prayed and asked Jesus to come into her life, forgive her of her sin, and declared her intention to follow him for the rest of her life. That decision," Pastor Smith concluded, "was the central act of her life that gives us hope today. We don't need to wonder where Theresa is spending eternity," he declared. The simple funeral service was finished in about 25 minutes. Theresa's family visited for a few minutes with friends in attendance before returning to her home for a luncheon together.
Theresa's daughter, grandchildren and other family members were present in the church's worship service on Sunday. Pastor Smith acknowledged their presence and pointed out that several of the flower arrangements from Theresa's funeral had been brought over by the funeral home and adorned the church that morning-a fitting memorial, he said, to the lady who always made sure to have beautiful flowers in the church. Pastor Smith called on the church members sitting near the Weber family to reach out and put a hand on their shoulder while he led the congregation in a prayer for continued comfort and healing. During his sermon that morning, Pastor Smith again acknowledged Theresa's active role in the church since his sermon was entitled, "Never Failing Faithfulness."
When the funeral home phoned a few days later to say Theresa's cremated remains were ready, her family was unsure what to do next. Pastor Smith was inexperienced with such matters; in fact, in almost 20 years of pastoral ministry, this was the first time he recalled having had a family choose cremation. When he telephoned the funeral director about advice on how to help the family, he even told his colleague, "We never talked about this in seminary."
After a great deal of discussion, Theresa's family decided that the best option was to place their mother's cremated remains in a columbarium niche at a nearby cemetery. Three weeks after her death, Theresa's family gathered with Pastor Smith again as he read a brief scripture, led them in a prayer, and together, they said their final farewell.
While the Weber family represents common themes among Christian Evangelicals, their story is by no means the only way death, grief and funerals are experienced. The following resources will be helpful in learning about these customs.
- Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals
- Moll, R. (2010). The Art of Dying: Living Fully into the Life to Come. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
- Packer, J.I. & Baxter, R. (2002). A Grief Sanctified: Through Sorrow to Eternal Hope. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
- Randall, I. (2010). Recovering Evangelical Spirituality. European Journal of Theology, 19 (1), 33-44.
- Sittser, J. (2004). A Grace Disguised (How the Soul Grows Through Loss). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.


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you have the twin's and then the triplets what happens...
- by ѕιѕowхтн & Erin Marie
- Rating:
- Published: 21 Jun 2013
- Updated: 27 Jan 2014
- Status: In Progress
HI MY NAMES LUX MY MOM AND DAD DIED ABOUT A YEAR AGO IM 12 ABOUT TO BE 13 TOMORROW I OVER HEARED MS.CLAY SAY THAT I GOT ADOPTED ! I CANT WAIT IVE ALWAYS WANTED A FAMILY BUT I WONDER WHO THEY ARE. (ONE DIRECTION) foul ass language
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Oh my goodness. I am still smiling; the busy London kitchen got hot and steamy. Puffs of clouds lifted and carries the aroma of spices. Banter and laughter mixed with the sounds of sizzling pakora, bubbling curries and tinkles of pots and pans.
A fabulous bunch of people joined us for a cookery class that fused the world together on one vegetarian plate. Each of the recipes was introduced by a demonstration and people worked together to cook up dishes like kale, red onion and banana pakora. We even made cashew cream in the class to use in a curry.
Some people came in pairs and some came alone. Either way, as the exotic drinks flowed, the group bonded and friendships grew.
We ate a lot too. Attendees ate their own cooking, they ate each other's cooking and of course I had to taste-test too!
This class was heaving with spice. We sniffed them, tasted them, broke them and ground them. We talked about the health impacts of each of the spices and I shared some personal experiences such as dill water to increase breast milk supply! On the less shocking side we talked about fennel and it helping to clear the tummy, cloves to soothe toothaches and turmeric to fight a cold. All of the spices were fresh and those who came along were able to take some gram flour or spices away with them thanks to our sponsors, Natco.
My favorite bits of every class? Has to be the pride when attendees cook a dish that works, to their own surprise. I enjoy seeing people overcoming fears, such as frying. I delight in the camaraderie that spreads through the room and especially so when people walk out in groups exchanging contact details. I revel in the comments like, 'I am definitely going to cook this at home', 'I am going to treat my friends to this recipe when I host the next dinner party' and even, 'I could use this method with other ingredients that I like'.
If you would like to join us for a, hands on, fun and valuable vegetarian cookery class in London then please look out for the next dates on the site or click here
You will walk away with recipes, containers full of food and some experience that you can use in different ways. I am really looking forward to seeing you at a future class. x
Book onto my next class by clicking here


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Laura Taylor
Associate Professor of Theology
Office: Richarda P3, CSB
Phone: 320-363-5251
Email [email protected]
Academic Degrees
Ph.D. Vanderbilt University
M.T.S. Harvard Divinity School
B.A. Fairfield University
Areas of Teaching and Research
Biblical theology
Catholic systematic theology
Feminist and liberation theologies
Courses Recently Taught
THEO 111, Theological Explorations
THEO 265, Readings in Theology
THEO 329, Theologies of Liberation
THEO 329, Women's Theological Perspectives


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This was published 7 years ago
Double trouble as twins tackle health research
ANGELA King is counting down the days until her identical twin sister Elena Gatt has a knee operation because she knows it will mean an end to the constant pain she feels in her knee.
At the exact moment Elena hurt her knee while on holidays in London last April, Angela experienced excruciating pain and was stopped in her tracks as she and her husband walked along a Melbourne street.
''I knew to contact my sister because it could have been the only explanation,'' Angela said.
''Now I can't wait for her to have the surgery because I know that my pain will not go away until that happens.''
But the 57-year-old Melburnians are used to experiencing the other's pain and suffering.
When Elena was pregnant, for instance, it was her twin sister - who was not pregnant - who experienced shocking morning sickness.
And when Angela had her tonsils out when they were young, Elena screamed at the exact moment they were removed. While Angela recovered from the operation immediately, Elena took days to get over a sore throat - despite being almost 300 kilometres away and not being told that her sister had just had a throat operation.
The sisters are among about 40,000 voluntarily registered twins with the Australian Twins Registry - the largest of its kind in the world - who are helping medical researchers better understand the impact of nature and nurture.
Statistics show about 2 per cent of the Australian population are twins, around one-third of whom are identical and the other two-thirds non-identical, or fraternal.
Dr Jeff Craig, who leads the Early Life Epigenetics Group at Melbourne University's paediatrics department, said studies of twins enabled researchers to determine to what extent medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and epilepsy were influenced by genetics or environmental factors. ''I believe that studies of human health should always start with twins before we then work out what applies to the rest of the population,'' he said.
Registry participants have taken part in more than 450 research studies into a wide range of medical conditions, including foot bunions, which have long been thought to have been genetic. But Elena and Angela are proof that this might not be the case, as only one of them has bunions.
On Wednesday, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark - mother of two-year-old twins Vincent and Josephine - became joint patron of the Australian and Danish twins registries.
Among the many twins at the announcement were identical twins Grace and Amber Harli, 18, from Belgrave, who said they were often asked what it was like being a twin.
''It's good in some respects, such as the wardrobe sharing and the fact you always have a wing-man, but bad in others because we're constantly compared to one another in terms of who's taller, who's better at sport, who's smarter and things like that,'' Grace said.


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Outspoken political rapper Lupe Fiasco was booted off stage at the StartUp RockOn event Inauguration Celebration at the Hamilton Live in Washington on Sunday night.
During the private party, Lupe Fiasco performed "Words I Never Said", which features the lyrics "Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist, Gaza Strip was getting bombed, Obama didn't say (expletive). That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either I'm a part of the problem, my problem is I'm peaceful."
Shortly after that song, two men in suits came on stage and Lupe Fiasco's set was done. StartUp Rock on issued this statement denying he was kicked off for his anti-Obama lyrics.
"Lupe Fiasco performed at this private event, and as you may have read, he left the stage earlier than we had planned. But Lupe Fiasco was not "kicked off stage" for an "anti-Obama rant." We are staunch supporters of free speech, and free political speech. This was not about his opinions. Instead, after a bizarrely repetitive, jarring performance that left the crowd vocally dissatisfied, organizers decided to move on to the next act."
Here is the video below to see for yourself.
(Warning: Expletive lyrics) :


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suspect(redirected from perpetrators)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
A person identified as possibly having an interest in buying, but who has not yet been contacted or has not yet given any evidence of interest. Contrast with a prospect, who has indicated some interest in buying and who appears to have the desire and the ability to purchase.


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Next Friday. The Smurfs will make their triumphant return in the form of their first big screen adventure. Before theaters nationwide start working blue, PopcornBiz got a chance to go behind the scenes to see how, exactly, one goes from Smurf Village to Manhattan.
During our visit to the Sony Pictures Animation offices, director Raja Gosnell ("Scooby-Doo") and his production team showed off the fruits of their painstaking labors to breathe cinematic CGI life into Belgian cartoonist Peyo's little blue creations, which first rose to fame in European comic books in 1958 and became beloved in America during their run in NBC's cartoon series from 1981 to 1989. The filmmakers, acutely aware of the Smurfs iconic, nostalgic place in pop culture, unveiled a series of clips – both in meticulous 3D and standard 2D – that showed off just how seriously they were taking the Smurfy silliness - they even studied the techniques used to give the much larger blue creatures of "Avatar" three glorious dimensions.
The result both lavishly recreates the magical Smurf Village hidden in the Medieval forest and renders familiar faces like Smurfette's down to each individual strand of luxurious blonde hair, but also thrusts six time-and-space-lost Smurfs into modern-day Manhattan, where they're pursued by their old enemy Gargamel (Hank Azaria, transformed into a spot-on living incarnation of evil cartoon wizard) while helping a young couple (Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays) preparing for parenthood.
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
"I think to present day generations, just the fun of seeing a Smurf run across the street in their world, in their neighborhood, that you could hold in your hand had a very strong appeal," says Gosnell of the plan to bring the blue band into a contemporary setting for the first time and play the animated characters off of real-life actors.
"I think the challenge – and also the thrill – for me in making a hybrid film was that we get to open in Smurf Village: everyone is going to want to be in Smurf Village and so we get to see that," says Gosnell, "but they also get to come to our world and we get to see a living, breathing Smurf in a kitchen, which is an environment that we all know, or riding on a cab in New York City or running through FAO Schwartz. That's something that we can all relate to as part of the real world. I think that set the bar that much higher, that they had to be absolutely real, living, breathing creatures because they have to exist in the world that we know very, very well."
The sneak peek footage revealed that while longtime fans will get at least a glimpse of just about every major Smurf they remember, the story centers on the six standouts waylaid to NYC: Papa Smurf (voiced by Jonathan Winters), Smurfette (Katy Perry), Grouchy (George Lopez), Brainy (Fred Armisen), Clumsy (Anton Yelchin) and the never-before-seen Gutsy (Alan Cumming).
Narrowing down the central Smurf cast was "a big decision," says Gosnell. "In the early scripts there was 45 to 100 Smurfs. They were all going to come through, and the budget axe slowly dropped on that idea, unfortunately, because it would've been unwieldy. But honestly, about the second or third week of shooting I was like, 'Thank God we don't have a hundred Smurfs here,' because I was busy trying to stage six on a tabletop or on a sofa or something. If I had another 50 to worry about I don't know what I would've done!"
To settle on the final roster, the director says, "the decision was made like any ensemble movie – you want specific voices for specific situations. We needed Papa because he's the leader of the family, he's the wise one, he's the one that's going to get them home. We needed Smurfette because she's the only girl – and she's the most popular Smurf that there is. We needed Brainy because he can come up with ideas, even though a lot of times they're wrong. With Grouchy Smurf. There's always a moment in any foxhole movie where all the guys are saying, 'Yeah, we're going to do it,' and the other guy is going, 'No, it'll never work,' so you just need that voice. Clumsy Smurf is just a sweet guy: all he wants to do is do well, and he just keeps messing up and messing up and messing up, so it gave him a nice arc to sort of express that and to eventually rise at the end of the movie."
And then there's newbie Gutsy – all Scots brogue, tartan plaids and "Braveheart" bravado – who beat out mainstays like Jokey, Handy, Hefty and Vanity for the sixth slot. "We wanted an action guy," says Gosnell. "The Smurf universe as it existed didn't necessarily have that straight-up, first-through-the-breach type of guy. So Gutsy Smurf was introduced to the world for this. It felt like those six Smurfs gave us a lot of good voices to work with, a lot of great interaction to work with and some good story arcs along the way."
"I feel like we never set out to reinvent 'The Smurfs,'" say Gosnell. "We just started out to bring them to life, to bring them to the three 3-D world, and the story – It's Smurf's 'E. T.': They want to go home. The chance for their wholesomeness and their Smurf-ness to drop in the middle of the least Smurfy, least wholesome place in the world and see how these two worlds affect each other positively was just a great storytelling setup."
"The Smurfs" Opens everywhere July 29th


text: Friend got a new Droid x2. Path that got us here: 1. rooted using Gingerbreak 2. installed Titanium Backup, and removed "unused" programs 3. contacts now force closes 4. titanium backup won't restore missing system apps 5a. get copy of x2 /app/ directory from here: Droid X2 system dump, wallpapers, ringtones - Android Forums 5b. copied all files from .zip above into a new directory 5c. copied all files from my droid x2s /app/ directory into directory from above, overwriting any that already exist 5d. copy the combined files back to my x2's /app/ directory 6. reboot... again and again and again <edit> 7. tried a hard reset with no change </edit> I'm guessing it's a permissions issue... but is there any way out of it? other than waiting for a .sbf?


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Pre-Advising Program
This program allows incoming students to prepare early for registration. If you are interested in putting together a tentative class schedule before you arrive at Western for your Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) date, the following information will aid you in that process. (Students who have declared a major may have to take specified courses in the General Education curriculum).
- Read the course descriptions in the University Catalog or on STARS. This will help you in determining which courses interest you the most.
- Select 2-3 courses from each of the General Education categories. You will only register for 5 or 6 classes averaging a total of 15-17 hours for your first semester, but it is important to have several choices from each category in case some classes are closed.
- When you arrive at Western for SOAR you will review the different courses you have chosen with your advisor and arrange your actual schedule for the fall. Having an idea of the classes you would like to take will aid you in that process.
- Use this handout to help you map out your course schedule:
- You will learn your math placement at SOAR. This is an example placement letter (PDF) sent to freshmen who plan to attend Western.
- Make sure to complete the math and foreign language placement form at least a week before your SOAR program.
Colleges and Academic Departments:
College of Business and Technology - Accounting and Finance, Agriculture, Computer Sciences, Economics and Decision Sciences, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Management and Marketing.
College of Arts and Sciences - African American Studies, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, English & Journalism, Foreign Languages & Literatures, Geography, Geology, History, Institute for Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Nursing, Philosophy & Religious Studies, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology, Western Survey Research Center, and Women's Studies.
College of Education and Human Services - Counselor Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality, Educational Leadership, Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies, Health Sciences, Instructional Design and Technology, Kinesiology, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Military Science, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, Social Work and Special Education.
College of Fine Arts and Communication - Art, Broadcasting, Communication, Communication Sciences & Disorders, School of Music, and Theatre & Dance.
First Year Experience (FYE)
We want your experience at Western Illinois University to be very successful as you embark on your college career. The First Year Experience (FYE) program is intended to help you in your transition to college life and aid you in achieving that success. The program is comprised of two components: an FYE class and residence life experiences.
You must take and pass one FYE class during the first semester of your freshmen year. This is a graduation requirement. However, most FYE classes count in the General Education curriculum so you will be able to fulfill a requirement with just one class. These classes are also a great way for you to connect with other students (class size is limited), and get to know your professors a little better.


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Car Accidents
Car accidents are a frequent occurrence on today's busy roads. Accidents of this type can both stressful and time consuming to sort out so it's important to appoint the right legal representive. We operate a No Win No Fee service and can arrange everything from replacement vehicle to compensation and rehabilitation.
Our job as your conveyancing solicitor is to oversee the legal process in either the sale or purchase of your property. Our experienced team of property solicitors will take the stress out of the transaction allowing you to concentrate on the more important things in like moving home.
Work Accidents
Do you know where to turn in the event of accident at work? Your employer has a duty of care to provide you with a safe environment to work in. If you have been involved in an accident at work through no fault of your own, then our legal team are here to help. We can assess your work accident and advise you of both your rights as an employee and any compensation that you may be entitled to.
Medical Negligence
Being the victim of a failed medical or beauty procedure can leave you feeling alone. We are here to listen to your complaint and advise you of your rights as a consumer. Our first class medical negligence department will provide you with all the answers you need to determine your prospects of success
Housing Disrepair
Has the property you occupy made you or someone in your household unwell? Damp properties can cause damage to your belongings but most off all can lead to serious health problems. Don't delay contact our housing disrepair department today.
Have you been sold insurance alongside your credit card, accounts or mortgage? We can help you claim back your miss sold payment protect insurance, don't delay contact our payment protection department today.
Industrial Disease
If you have been diagnosed with an industrial disease, or suffer with a condition that has been caused by your work, you may be eligible to claim compensation. Contact our Industrial Disease Department today.
Slips, Trips & Falls
What starts out as a simple shopping trip can sometimes end up in a local accident and emergency department. Slip trip or fall accidents are one of the most common types of accidents and can lead to serious injuries such as back problems, paralysis, broken bones and head injuries. If you have slipped or tripped through no fault of your own, then contact us today to find our if you have a claim for compensation.
Family Law
Are you looking for help and advice in relation to family law? We understand family law can be a sensitive and difficult area to negotiate. We have a wealth of experience in this area and in most cases will offer a free no obligation phone call.
Breach Of Contract Claims Newcastle
- A breach of contract is when you or your employer breaks the terms of agreement written in a contract or a verbal agreement. If an employee breaks a term of contract which has created financial losses to the employer then the employer can claim damages against the employee. Damages can only be rewarded if there is proof of financial loss. Another common breach of contract occurs when an employee leaves their place of work without working the notice period or leaves to work for a competitor when their contract doesn't allow it.
- Additionally if you have been unfairly dismissed without being given proper notice or your employer has not followed the procedures as outlined in your contract you will have grounds to make a breach of contract claim.
- We offer extensive help and advice with regards to Breach of Contract cases so please contact our expert team of advisors and solicitors to help you with your case.
No Win No Fee
No Win No Fee arrangements (or Conditional Fee Arrangements; CFAs) ensure that if you do not win your accident claim, you do not have to pay your solicitor a fee. Insurance will cover you against the other side's costs and expenses. If you win your no win no fee claim, you should receive your compensation free of any deductions, as your solicitor's costs should be paid by the other side.
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Housing disrepair can often cause health issues, stress or damage to your belongings.
Medical Negligence
Have you been the victim of medical negligence? Then you may be entitled to compensation.
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Have you been involved in a Road traffic accident that wasn't your fault, find out more about how we can help.
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The words you are likely to hear after an accident involving a motorcycle.
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Have you been the victim of medical negligence? If you have, then we may be able to help you with a claim for compensation.
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Do you have problems at work, need help with a work related issue? We can assist you with all your employment problems.
Industrial Disease Claim
Have you been diagnosed with an industrial disease? Do you suffer from a condition that has been caused by work? We can help, get in touch today!


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"Every field in Ireland contains a tale; there's a myth on every mountain. For legends, follow the stream of any river – and soon you'll understand why Ireland's national art form is the story..."
So says novelist, broadcaster and journalist Frank Delaney. And he would know. Once called "the most eloquent man in the world" by the National Public Radio in the US, Delaney is also the author of The Last Storyteller and has lived a life immersed in literature.
He's not alone. Ireland has more than a few storytellers up its sleeve: James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, CS Lewis, Joseph O'Connor, Maeve Binchy, Seamus Heaney and Bernard McLaverty are just some of the greats in recent memory. But you have to go a lot further back to look at how our myths and legends have been chronicled.
Thankfully, these amazing tales weren't only passed on by the spoken word, they were written down for all to see for centuries to come. In fact, ancient tomes such as the Book of Ballymote held by the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, and the Book of Leinster, which you can see at Dublin's Trinity College library, contain some of the first recorded versions of Ireland's myths.
Here are just a few of our more enduring tales…
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Where better to start on a journey into mythical Ireland than with leprechauns. Those tiny, mischievous men who are fond of hiding gold at the end of rainbows and wearing dapper green hats. Curator of the Dublin Leprechaun Museum, Tom O'Rahilly, fills us in on one or two "small" secrets.
"Leprechauns have been in Ireland for thousands of years, indeed the first recorded sighting dates back to the 8th century. What might surprise many people is that there are female leprechauns, too. As shoemakers to the fairies, leprechauns have amassed great amounts of money."
On a grassy patch of Antrim's Ballycastle seafront, four swans hang in the air, mid-flight. This bright white statue doesn't depict just any swans. These are the Children of Lir – four children turned to birds by a jealous stepmother. The tale tells us that the siblings spent 300 years on Lough Derravaragh in Westmeath and the island of Inishglora off Mayo's coast.
They also found sanctuary across from where their statue sits today: Antrim's gorgeous Rathlin Island. Endings to the tale vary, but all agree that it was Rathlin Island where the swans returned to their human forms and breathed their last breaths.
What's in a name? In the case of Ardee in County Louth – there's plenty. Roughly translated as "Ferdia's ford", this town and the River Dee were the stage for the greatest ever battle in Irish folklore. Ferdia is a Connacht warrior sent by his king and queen to the river to fight the mighty Cú Chulainn.
Here's the twist – Ferdia and Cú Chulainn are foster brothers. Best friends. For three days they fight and by night they mend each others' wounds. At a bridge over the River Dee, a statue hints at the story's end. Ferdia lies dead in Cú Chulainn's arms. Mythology it may be, but that doesn't mean the power of the story doesn't live on.
There's a lesson to be learned there. Ireland's mythology doesn't hide from sadness. It doesn't shirk tragedy.
As much as the legends are in fantasy, the feelings are real. The places are, too. And maybe that's what makes the stories so exciting. And, as you'll probably already realise, these three tales are just the very tip of the mythological and legendary iceberg of stories…
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Cell Biology of RNA
RNA molecules play critical and diverse roles in a staggering number of cellular processes. Processes of particular interest in the department include determining how cells recognize and handle defective RNAs, how RNA-binding proteins recognize their RNA targets, how mRNAs are localized to discrete regions of cells and how small noncoding RNAs influence gene expression, cell function, and stem cell biology.
Many RNAs must fold into complex structures and assemble with proteins in order to function. Yet, little is known as to how RNA folding is accomplished in vivo or how cells recognize and handle misfolded RNAs. The identification of proteins that act as molecular chaperones to assist RNA folding is underway, as is the study of a newly discovered quality control pathway for noncoding RNAs. Interestingly, recent results suggest links between the failure of RNA quality control mechanisms and the development of autoimmune disease.
Just as RNAs come in all shapes and sizes, the proteins that recognize them use a diversity of motifs to distinguish one RNA from another. Structural studies underway address how RNA-binding proteins stabilize newly synthesized RNAs and assist their folding, and how proteins distinguish correctly folded RNAs from misfolded species.
Small noncoding RNAs influence many cellular processes, from transcription and chromosome replication to RNA processing and protein secretion. Most recently, very short (~20-30 nt) noncoding RNAs have been found to silence gene expression in a large number of eukaryotic organisms. This discovery has stimulated an incredible wave of interest in RNA-mediated gene silencing. The goals are to investigate the mechanism and components of the pathway and to understand how the specific interactions between short noncoding RNAs and their target mRNAs are brought about. Another area of research is focused on understanding the roles of a newly discovered class of noncoding RNAs, called piRNAs, in stem cell self-renewal.
mRNA localization plays a key role in cell differentiation and in the regulation of synaptic connections between neurons. Cells often use molecular motors to transport mRNAs along cytoskeletal filaments. Experiments are underway to determine the molecular mechanisms by which mRNAs and motor proteins interact.


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Madeleine L'Engle, an author whose childhood fables, religious meditations and fanciful science fiction transcended both genre and generation, most memorably in her children's classic "A Wrinkle in Time," died on Thursday in Litchfield, Conn. She was 88.
Her death was announced yesterday by her publisher, Farrar, Straus & Giroux. A spokeswoman said Ms. L'Engle (pronounced LENG-el) had died of natural causes at a nursing home, which she entered three years ago. Before then the author had maintained homes in Manhattan and Goshen, Conn.
"A Wrinkle in Time" was rejected by 26 publishers before editors at Farrar, Straus & Giroux read it and enthusiastically accepted it. It proved to be her masterpiece, winning the John Newbery Medal as the best children's book of 1963 and selling, so far, eight million copies. It is now in its 69th printing.
In the Dictionary of Literary Biography, Marygail G. Parker notes "a peculiar splendor" in Ms. L'Engle's oeuvre, and some of that splendor is owed to sheer literary range. Her works included poetry, plays, autobiography and books on prayer, and almost all were deeply, quixotically personal.
But it was in her vivid children's characters that readers most clearly glimpsed her passionate search for answers to the questions that mattered most. She sometimes spoke of her writing as if she were taking dictation from her subconscious.
"Of course I'm Meg," Ms. L'Engle said about the beloved protagonist of "A Wrinkle in Time."
The St. James Guide to Children's Writers called Ms. L'Engle "one of the truly important writers of juvenile fiction in recent decades." Such accolades did not come from pulling punches. "Wrinkle" has been one of the most banned books in the United States, accused by religious conservatives of offering an inaccurate portrayal of God and nurturing in the young an unholy belief in myth and fantasy.
Ms. L'Engle, who often wrote about her Christian faith, was taken aback by the attacks. "It seems people are willing to damn the book without reading it," Ms. L'Engle said in an interview with The New York Times in 2001. "Nonsense about witchcraft and fantasy. First I felt horror, then anger, and finally I said, 'Ah, the hell with it.' It's great publicity, really."
The book begins, "It was a dark and stormy night," repeating the line of a 19th-century novelist, Edward George Bulwer-Lytton. "Wrinkle" then takes off. Meg Murry, with help from her psychic baby brother, uses time travel and extrasensory perception to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from a planet controlled by the Dark Thing. She does so through the power of love.
The book uses concepts that Ms. L'Engle said she had plucked from Einstein's theory of relativity and Planck's quantum theory, almost flaunting her frequent assertion that children's literature is literature too difficult for adults to understand.
"Wrinkle" is part of Ms. L'Engle's Time series of children's books, which includes "A Wind in the Door," "A Swiftly Tilting Planet," "Many Waters" and "An Acceptable Time." The series combines elements of science fiction with insights into love and moral purpose.
Ms. L'Engle's other famous series of books concerned another family. The first installment, "Meet the Austins," which appeared in 1960, depicted an affectionate family whose members displayed enough warts to make them interesting. (Perhaps not enough for The Times Literary Supplement in London, though; it called the Austins "too good to be real.")
By the fourth of the five Austin books, "A Ring of Endless Light," any hint of Pollyanna was gone. It told of a 16-year-old girl's first experience with death. Telepathic communication with dolphins eventually helps the girl, Vicky, acquire a new understanding of things.
"The cosmic battle between light and darkness, good and evil, love and indifference, personified in the mythic fantasies of the 'Wrinkle in Time' series, here is waged compellingly in its rightful place: within ourselves," Carol Van Strum wrote in The Washington Post in 1980.
Madeleine L'Engle Camp was born in Manhattan on the snowy night of Nov. 29, 1918. The only child of Madeleine Hall Barnett and Charles Wadsworth Camp, she was named for her great-grandmother, who was also named Madeleine L'Engle.
Her mother came from Jacksonville, Fla., society and was a fine pianist; her father was a World War I veteran who worked as a foreign correspondent and later as drama and music critic for The New York Sun. He also knocked out potboiler novels.
The family lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Her parents had artistic friends, and Madeleine an English nanny. She felt unpopular at school. She said that an elementary school teacher — Miss Pepper or Miss Salt, she couldn't remember which — regarded her as stupid.
Madeleine had written her first story at 5 and retreated into writing. When she won a poetry contest in the fifth grade, her teacher accused her of plagiarizing. Her mother intervened to prove her innocence, lugging a stack of her stories from home.
When she was 12, Madeleine was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland, Chatelard, and at 15 to Ashley Hall, a boarding school in Charleston, S.C. Later she graduated from Smith College with honors in English. (She did not take science classes, which was often a surprise to readers impressed with her science fiction.)
Returning to New York, Ms. L'Engle began to get small acting parts. Several plays she had written were produced. She published her first novel, "The Small Rain," in 1945. And she met the actor Hugh Franklin while they were touring in a production of Chekhov's "Cherry Orchard." They married in 1946, and their daughter Josephine was born the next year.
In 1951, when Ms. L'Engle became pregnant again, the family moved to the small town of Goshen, where they lived in a 200-year-old country house called Crosswicks, and bought and ran a general store. Their son, Bion, was born in 1952. In 1956, they adopted another daughter, Maria.
Mr. Franklin died in 1986 and Bion in 1999. Ms. L'Engle is survived by her daughters, Josephine F. Jones and Maria Rooney, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Ms. L'Engle's writing career was going so badly in her 30s that she claimed she almost quit writing at 40. But then "Meet the Austins" was published in 1960, and she was already deeply into "Wrinkle." The inspiration came to her during a 10-week family camping trip.
That was just the start. She once described herself as a French peasant cook who drops a carrot in one pot, a piece of potato in another and an onion and a piece of meat in another.
"At dinnertime, you look and see which pot smells best and pull it forward," she was quoted as saying in a 2001 book, "Madeleine L'Engle (Herself): Reflections on a Writing Life," compiled by Carole F. Chase.
"The same is true with writing," she continued. "There are several pots on my backburners."
Her deeper thoughts on writing were deliciously mysterious. She believed that experience and knowledge were subservient to the subconscious and perhaps larger, spiritual influences.
"I think that fantasy must possess the author and simply use him," she said in an interview with Horn Book magazine in 1983. "I know that is true of 'A Wrinkle in Time.' I cannot possibly tell you how I came to write it. It was simply a book I had to write. I had no choice.
"It was only after it was written that I realized what some of it meant."
The family moved back to New York, where Hugh Franklin won fame as Dr. Charles Tyler on the popular soap opera "All My Children." For more than three decades, starting in 1966, Ms. L'Engle served as librarian and writer in residence at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. One or two of her dogs often accompanied her to the cathedral library.
Much of her later work was autobiographical, although sometimes a bit idealized. Some books, like "A Stone for a Pillow: Journeys With Jacob" (1986) and "The Genesis Trilogy" (2001), combined autobiography and biblical themes. But she often said that her real truths were in her fiction.
"Why does anybody tell a story?" she once asked, even though she knew the answer.
"It does indeed have something to do with faith," she said, "faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically."


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Speaking to God through A Guidebook to Prayer
- MaryKate Morse
- 2013 19 Nov
*Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from A Guidebook to Prayer by MaryKate Morse.
Community Prayer
The God revealed in the Christian Scripture is,
in essence, plurality in oneness: three persons in one being,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all eternally bonded together in
the original community of oneness, in the embrace of the
interpersonal dynamics that the Bible describes best when it
summarily affirms that "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16).
Gilbert Bilezikian
Insects crawl
Fish swim
Birds fly
Humans pray.
Leonard Sweet
God as One in Community
When you meet people for the very first time, you immediately begin gathering impressions about them. Are they quiet? Outgoing? Content? Sad? If you were to open the Bible for the very first time and you knew nothing about God, you would meet the God of Genesis 1 and 2. In the beginning of Scripture, God is known as the Creator in Community. God creates out of nothing and makes it good. And God creates in community and for community. The very first way that we know God is that God made us and made us for connection.
Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Gen 1:26-27)
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." (Gen 2:18)
Being made in the image of God, we are designed for relationship with our Maker and with each other. It is not good for us to be alone. God desires connection with us, and we desire connection with God and others. Prayer is the simplest and most intimate way in which we can connect to God. Because we are made in God's image and God is manifested in the Trinity as God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, one in three Persons, we too are most alive and most true to ourselves when we are in community. C. Baxter Kruger, trinitarian theologian (and fishing lure designer) wrote this:
"God is not some faceless, all-powerful abstraction. God is Father, Son and Spirit, existing in a passionate and joyous fellowship. . . . The Trinity is a circle of shared life, and the life shared is full, not empty, abounding and rich and beautiful, not lonely and sad and boring. The river begins right there, in the fellowship of the Trinity.1"
Psychologists and social scientists have conclusively observed that the emotional attachment of a healthy, loving parent with his or her child results in a healthy, loving child. When we are unable to attach for whatever reason, our mental health is unstable and our outlook on the world and on ourselves is skewed. God is perfectly whole and loving, and when we relate to God our lives begin to resonate with God's character and nature. When we pray with others, we become in tune to each other. In the Garden of Eden, God would walk and talk with Adam and Eve. They would visit each day. It was a completely natural and even ordinary relationship.
We are created to be in relationship with God and others, so we are always seeking stabilization with others. Our humanity is precisely this—that we are most human when we connect. God as our Creator is most able to provide a foundation of love and worth in the midst of life's challenges when we connect regularly to God. In the same way that we greet our loved ones each day, we greet God. In the same way we call and check in, we connect to God. With prayer we are bonded to our Maker and Sustainer.
Before the fall, prayer was not called "prayer." Adam and Eve walked and talked with God. They had conversation and time together. After the fall when our natural connection was broken, prayer became more occasional. The first mention of prayer after the fall is found in Genesis 4:26: "At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord." People in the Old Testament began to pray after the fall. Throughout the Old Testament there are many forms of prayer—daily routine prayers, desperation prayers, guidance prayers, celebration prayers and petition prayers. The most basic of prayers are the prayers done together in community, often called "liturgical" or written prayers.
Community Prayer
Worship in the Old Testament tradition involved saying prayers aloud in community, especially using the Psalms. Deuteronomy 11:13 describes the nature of prayer for the Jewish people: "If you will only heed his every commandment that I am commanding you today—loving the Lord your God, and serving him with all your heart and with all your soul." To love and serve God with all your heart and soul meant to pray. It was called the avodah sheba-lev, service from the heart. The structure for prayer is called the Shemoneh Esrie, which consists of eighteen (later nineteen) blessings. The prayer structure contains the basics of prayer: praise, petition and thanksgiving.2
Prayer was a part of life experienced in worship and by praying three times a day. The prayers were a combination of written words that included Scripture verses and words that brought to remembrance God's character and promises and the people's covenantal response. Always there was a place for people to pray their own personal prayers during the recitation of the Shemoneh Esrie. Three times a day, morning, afternoon, and evening, Jewish people would stop to pray, men and women. There were extensive prayer versions and shorter ones to accommodate individuals' prayer time frames.
The purposefulness of saying each word aloud, to God, stirred something I don't know how to describe. I love listening to God, but speaking to him doesn't come easily, and I don't know why. Praying a liturgy of psalms aloud makes a difference for me. I feel more connected in my prayer time. The repetition allows the meaning of the words to soak in. I stay focused rather than let my thoughts stray. I want to keep praying like this and see how my relationship with God grows through it. —Cheryl Flaim
It is not clear where the habit of praying three times a day originated. However, it probably corresponded with the temple sacrifices, which were offered three times a day, and it recognized the three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We also know that David and Daniel prayed three times a day. For us, it is clear that prayer is a regular way to connect with God and be reminded of God's grace and goodness. It is a time to adore God and bring our concerns to God, and also for God to love us and respond to us.
Prayers were said standing, kneeling, lying flat on the ground, sitting or raising hands. Prayers were said in the temple or in one's bedroom or by the roadside. Not many contemporary Christians have a habit of praying three times a day, but we can choose to have regular times to connect with God and others. Time, place and manner help create space for prayer. Another necessary element is attentiveness to God.
Attentiveness is an awareness that we are in God's presence, and God is in ours. The Jewish people call it kavanah, a proper concentration or focus. Simply put, it is a sincere desire to enter God's presence. We give our attention to someone with whom we are talking. We focus on the person. In the same way, we focus on God.
In the Jewish tradition, psalms are prayed aloud. The faithful stand as individuals together in worship and surrounded by all the faithful throughout time. There is a very present nature to prayer and also a timeless aspect. Those from the beginning and millions since David have prayed the psalms. And into the future, people will pray these prayers. Saying written prayers such as the psalms or prayers written by faithful men and women in the past has several advantages.
First, we become part of the great community of faithful from the Old Testament people to Jesus to today. We are not alone or isolated. We also become part of the community of faithful all around the world in every country and tongue. We might not understand their words, but when we say psalms together we are saying the same words for that day. Second, we are challenged to pray things we might not normally pray.
The psalms cover the full gamut of human experiences. Some we would rather avoid. Some psalms we love and others cause discomfort. By praying all the psalms we are stretched by God's Word and we allow God to teach us and shape us. Many of the psalms shift from lament to praise. We are invited to experience all the emotions and challenges of our humanity such as betrayal, illness, confession, anger, pleading and thanksgiving. Praying prayers written by the faithful connects us to God and each other.
Community Prayer Guidelines
- The term community prayer is also referred to as "liturgical" prayer. Liturgical prayers are written prayers used by a community of believers to connect together to God.
- The phrase liturgical prayers can suggest to people staleness and ritualism without faith. However, praying authentically in this manner is personal and full of meaning. These prayers require a sincere desire to enter into God's presence together.
- The psalms, prayers written by saints or prayers written for special occasions by participants are all possible forms of liturgical prayers. They invite us into common human experiences.
- Liturgical prayers are often assigned to specific days of the year with Scripture verses and sometimes meditations.
- These prayers can be said privately, but the backdrop is people everywhere using the same prayers to come together with God. The point is to experience God together. The purpose is to remember God throughout our days.
- All aspects of our life are brought to God, and the prayers remind us of God's sovereignty and goodness. The psalms and written prayers protect us from hyperindividualism, which can create God in our own image.
- Community prayers are prayers of trust that God is good, present and yearns to be with us.
- Community prayers are especially helpful when one is struggling with despair, ill health or difficult circumstances. The community of the faithful surrounds us.
Community Prayer Experience
Group Experience
- In the Talmud it reads, "Whoever recites Psalm 145 three times a day is assured of a place in the time to come." This doesn't mean that saying the psalm saves us, but that the words are so powerful they remind us over and over about the true character of God, and thus we are changed.
- Instructions: The group leader prepares a handout with the Shema and Psalm 145 printed out so everyone has a copy. Explain the prayer before experiencing it.
- Everyone stands with feet together facing in the same direction. (If you desire, you can face toward Jerusalem to remember the land and place where God led the chosen and where Jesus came in the flesh.)
- Begin by reciting together the Shema (a central prayer for the Jews and a declaration of faith in one God). A partial version is below (Deut 6:4-9).
Sh'ma Yisrael - Hear, O, Israel
Adonai Elohaynu - Adonai is our God
Adonai Echad - Adonai is one
Baruch Shem - Holy One of Blessing
Kavod malchuto - Your Presence radiates glory
l'olam va-ed - now and forever
- Move to the Amidah—the experience of standing and praying together in community when we are seeking God. We each seek a special place to experience our own "burning bush." During this part of the prayer, speak the psalm out loud but to yourself. We each audibly say the psalm at our own pace. We enter into the experience as individuals but with others saying the same verses at their own pace. The pray-er can take three steps forward and bow, signifying respect for Almighty God. Upon conclusion of each reading of Psalm 145, the pray-er takes three steps back. When ready, move forward again three steps and repeat the process until you have said Psalm 145 three times. The experience is over when everyone has finished and a designated leader says, "Amen."
- After the prayer discuss in small groups about the prayer time. What was meaningful? What was difficult? How did you experience God and the others who were praying? What aspects of community prayer might enhance your personal prayer life?
Partner Experience
- For Jewish people each day of the week has a particular psalm: Sunday is Psalm 24, Monday Psalm 48, Tuesday Psalm 82, Wednesday Psalm 94, Thursday Psalm 81, Friday Psalm 93 and Saturday Psalm 92. Start by using these psalms. If you want to continue for subsequent weeks you can choose your own psalms to pray, or you may begin with Psalm 1 and complete one each day, or follow the psalms in the daily lectionary.
- Stand and say the psalm aloud three times (unless you have chosen one of the longer psalms, then adjust which sections you plan to read aloud). If you would like, take three steps forward at the beginning of the psalm, and three steps back at the end of each psalm as preparation for entering God's presence.
- Plan to meet with your prayer partner as many days of the week as you can to pray the psalm for the day together. If you cannot meet physically, pray the psalm together on the phone or Skype or with an electronic device that allows for a face-to-face encounter.
- Remember these psalms were prayed by Jesus and in worship together with his disciples. Discuss your experience together. Did any words or phrases resonate with you? Did anything cause you confusion? Sometimes God speaks to us in the quiet and sometimes in the questions.
Individual Experience
- Pray the psalm for the day by yourself and aloud following the same pattern of standing, taking three steps forward and then back at the end of the psalms as explained in the group experience above. Journal about your experience. What drew you to God today or helped you with your spiritual walk?
- You may also use the Book of Common Prayer and follow the prayers for the day. There are many wonderful books with daily prayers and Scripture, such as Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals and Celtic Daily Prayer. A suggested list is found at the end of the chapter.
- If you like the idea of praying with others but are unable to, you may find a prayer place online, such as missionstclare.com, which has a recorded choir and music for hymns. Sacredspace.ie is an online site that guides you through small prayers, questions and meditations. Many others such as Christianprayers. com and prayergroup.org respond to your prayer requests and allow you to pray with persons around the world. Pray-as-you-go.org allows you to download daily prayers.
The Prayer Journey
Mark Franklin
When you pray, you are never alone. These simple words at the end of the daily prayers on sacredspace.ie launched me on a new perspective on prayer. The totally obvious yet mind-shattering revelation that other people, perhaps a great number of people, were concurrently participating in prayer with me shook me out of my fixed view of prayer. It is not, after all, between me and God— it is between me and God and everyone else in the world who is praying. I am humbled because I am now unable to pray without remembering I am but one of a vast multitude before the throne of God.
I am encouraged for exactly the same reason. Experiencing prayer in this way made my daily experiences less frustrating; it mattered less if I felt the presence of God in the way I thought I "should" during prayer. Instead, I felt the power of the community of believers. As time went on God used conversation with others to teach me that I truly participate in the communion of all the saints when I pray. God has been teaching me that when I am speaking to him, I am speaking in concert with everyone who ever cried out to God throughout history.
I was experiencing God in a new and bigger way. As I prayed in the shadow of all the saints, I began to experience what I will call unintentional prayer. Whenever I gathered with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I found myself praying. Not aloud, not as some kind of ritual, but as an internal reflex. My thoughts took on a quality of speaking to God, rather than to myself.
The most shocking change was that I listened for a response from God in the voices of my brothers and sisters—and found it. God really was speaking through his people, and he had given me eyes to see it. I was again forced to reevaluate what prayer was. I had already discarded the idea that prayer was just between me and God. Now I found myself questioning if prayer is communication in the way I thought of it. If my internal voice is becoming prayerful by God's grace, is prayer communication—or transformation?
The frustrations of my prayer life faded in the wonder at God's transformational ability. He had made prayer an experience of community beyond any I had before and transformed an internal part of me where I hid sinful attitudes like envy and anger—using one line on a prayer website from Ireland.
Rick Adams
One August I heard a rabbi teaching that if we would promise God that we would do something at the same time every day for the rest of our life, it would change us. I once more began a process I hoped would bring about a change in me for the better. I read that a pious Jew would read Psalms 145–150 every day before prayer, just to get into the right attitude. I promised the Lord that this is what I would do every day at 5:00 a.m. for the rest of my life. Of course I have started these kinds of projects before only to find that I couldn't fast one day, certainly not forty days.
The first three weeks were difficult. I started writing down prayers for people and reading these after I finished my psalm ritual. This was great because it kept me from praying for the things I wanted. As my list grew longer I found more and more people and their situations coming to my mind instead of my usual financial fears about the future. After a couple of months I noticed a kind of satisfaction developing in me.
I eventually recognized this as pride that I was following through with my promise. One morning I felt like God just wanted me to be still. This was a real issue because I had my routine and I kept track of my consecutive mornings, and I was now in the seventies. I felt like God was asking me if my routine was the main reason why I was getting up or if it was just to be with God. Sheepishly and reluctantly, I did not turn on my laptop.
I sat still for about ninety minutes. I had no revelation and I did not hear God say anything, but I felt like I had a personal breakthrough. My mornings have become precious to me, despite no breakthroughs and some prayers not answered. Mostly I do my routine, but every now and then I will feel like I am just supposed to be still or read Scripture. I wait expectantly, not knowing exactly what I am waiting or hoping for, but nonetheless happy that I am waiting.
I have learned that it is quite all right to use my lists, read, pace or lie across the ottoman downstairs, as long as I don't come to believe that any one or combination of these things is somehow necessary. I don't see any changes in myself, but my wife says I have changed dramatically. She says I am more relaxed, easygoing and attentive. All I know for sure is that when the alarm goes off at five I get up with expectancy, as though a friend is waiting for me. Speaking of a friend, my everyday prayer used to be for godly wisdom, discernment and understanding.
I would finish my praying by telling God when I die it would be great to hear God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Now the desire of my heart is that when I breathe my last, I so much want to hear God say, "Welcome home, old friend."
Further Reading
Claiborne, Shane, Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove and Enuma Okoro. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.
Peterson, Eugene. Praying with the Psalms: A Year of Daily Reflections and Prayers on the Words of David. New York: HarperCollins, 1993.
The Northumbria Community. Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2002.
Tickle, Phyllis, compiler. The Divine Hours, pocket edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
*Taken from A Guidebook to Prayer by MaryKate Morse. Copyright (c) 2103 by MaryKate Morse. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove IL 60515-1426. www.ivpress.com
**This preview published Nov.18, 2013


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Hump day..
The day you realize you still have 2 more work days to go.
Blah. For me, I had a hard time waking up today.
I wanted to stay in my warm comfy bed and not do anything.
But I dragged my lazy butt out of bed, and got dressed(which was not pretty by the way, I have no idea what I was thinking). lol
Went to my place of employment at the internship.
How I got through my Hump Day:
My manager told me "She appreciates everything I do."
Fiance took me out for lunch! :)
Came home to a home cooked dinner as well, how freaking lucky am I?!?!
This wasn't my dinner, I promise.
I made this homemade Keeblers pumpkin pie the night before and was looking forward to coming home to it all day. :)
This recipe was real simple and easy to follow and took me about 15 minutes to make.
The fiance loves it, there's only one piece left. lol. He says I need to make another one.
It's actually a double layer pumpkin pie too.
I wanted to get a photo of the inside of the pumpkin pie but couldn't because it's practically gone.
I relaxed by the tv.
Fiance and I went to Big Lots over the weekend for random things, but wanted to share these two items.
I finally put them away today.
Put a smile on my face knowing I will be decorating our Christmas tree a few days away.
We have a white Christmas tree and I add red ornaments.
I decided to pick up this silver glitter garland to change it up a bit. $2.50!
How cute is this?!?!
Cast Iron Skillet with a chocolate chip cookie mix to put in it.
Fiance loves it because of the skillet, and has intentions of making his famous pancakes in it.
I'd like to tell you the story behind this, but it's just too ridiculous to tell you.
I came home to a brand new Keurig though.
I don't even drink coffee, but Fiance wanted it, so here it is. lol.
I am kind of excited for it, I want to try making ice tea and hot chocolate in it.
Tomorrow we're going to Wal-Mart to pick up hot chocolate mixes to try it out.
Does anyone have a Keurig, if so, what do you drink it besides coffee?


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The Decline of Violence
Be skeptical of claims that we live in an ever more dangerous world
ON JULY 22, 2011, a 32-year old Norwegian named Anders Behring Breivik opened fire on participants in a Labour Party youth camp on the island of Utoya after exploding a bomb in Oslo, resulting in 77 dead, the worst tragedy in Norway since World War II.
English philosopher Thomas Hobbes famously argued in his 1651 book, Leviathan, that such acts of violence would be commonplace without a strong state to enforce the rule of law. But aren't they? What about 9/11 and 7/7, Auschwitz and Rwanda, Columbine and Fort Hood? What about all the murders, rapes and child molestation cases we hear about so often? Can anyone seriously argue that violence is in decline? They can, and they do—and they have data, compellingly compiled in a massive 832-page tome by Harvard University social scientist Steven Pinker entitled The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined (Viking, 2011). The problem with anecdotes about single events is that they obscure long-term trends. Breivik and his ilk make front-page news for the very reason that they are now unusual. It was not always so. (continue reading…)


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Posts Tagged 'Respect'
It is the function of evil to divide, to alienate people from each other and divide one country from another. The universe, this world and our own lives, are the stage for a ceaseless struggle between hatred and compassion, the destructive and constructive aspects of life. In the end, the evil over which we must […]
Filed under: PEACE, WORLD | 1 Comment
Tags: DAISAKU IKEDA, el mal, evil, foto, good, héroes, heros, lucifer effect, PEACE, Philip Zimbardo, PHOTO, QUOTES, Respect, ted talk, video


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Reporting on Suicide
Article from the Poynter Institute with best practices and resources for journalists covering suicide.
Article from the Poynter Institute with best practices and resources for journalists covering suicide.
The results from the Department of Veterans Affairs' latest study of suicide among veterans were released this week.
The U.S. military is sending troops with serious psychological problems into Iraq and is keeping soldiers in combat even after superiors have been alerted to suicide warnings and other signs of mental illness, a Courant investigation has found. Originally published in the Hartford Courant, May 2006.
Each teen suicide is a puzzle with pieces missing. Gone is the only person who might know the exact reasons. But taken together, these deaths reveal much about the social forces contributing to teen suicide. Originally published in the Omaha World-Herald in May, 2005.
A national panel of experts in suicide, behavioral science and the media cautions and advises journalists on how to report this sensitive subject.


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Feezy Fee - Money Money Money (Chambers Brothers) [Detroit Indie Artist Submitted]
" Feezy Fee is an indie artist. This is the lead song
off 'The Workaholic Mixtape'. This video shows HOW he's
coming up. Twitter: @Feezy_fee.
Mixtape: http://www.datpiff.com/mixtapes-detail.php?id=416890 "
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Jaguar XF Saloon | 2.0i [300] R-Sport 4dr Auto AWD
Jaguar XF Saloon Overview
I would like all maintenance and service costs included
Initial Rental (Personal)
£4,349.27 inc VAT
Initial Rental (Business)
£3,624.39 ex VAT
Contract Length
48 Months
Processing fee
£199.99 ex VAT
Standard Options
- Acoustic windscreen
- Blue tinted glass
- Electric front/rear windows with one touch/anti pinch
- Heat insulated glass
- Heated rear window
- Rain sensor windscreen wipers
- 350mm front brakes
- Brake pad warning light
- DSC - Dynamic Stability Control
- Electronic parking brake
- Emergency brake assist
- Hill start assist
- Torque vectoring brake
- Traction control
- Premium carpet mats
- Android Auto
- Apple car play
- Bluetooth telephone connectivity
- InControl remote premium
- Cruise control speed limiter
- Electric power steering
- Forward facing stereoscopic camera
- Front Parking Aid
- Lane departure warning system
- Rear parking aid
- Traffic sign recognition with adaptive speed limiter
- 10" touch screen pro
- Analogue dials with central TFT display
- InControl touch pro satellite navigation system
- Instrument cluster with 5 TFT display
- Jaguar Voice front
- Outside temperature gauge
- Pro services and wifi hotspot
- Service interval indicator
- Trip computer
- Auto dimming eletrochromatic rear view mirror
- Body colour door mirrors
- Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
- Frameless auto dimming rear view mirror
- Dark morse code aluminium instrument panel finisher
- Gloss black trim finisher
- Bluetooth audio streaming
- DAB Radio (Digital Audio Broadcasting)
- InControl app
- InControl protect
- InControl Wi-fi
- Jaguar 180W sound system with 8 speakers
- USB and auxiliary socket
- 30t AWD badge
- Body coloured extended side sills
- Gloss black side window surrounds
- Grained black grille with satin chrome surround
- Illuminated metal tread plates with Jaguar script
- R-sport body kit
- R-Sport front bumper
- Satin chrome side vents with R sport badge
- Satin chrome tailgate/boot lid finisher
- Solid paint
- Tailgate/boot lid spoiler
- Approach Illumination
- Automatic headlights
- Headlight power wash
- LED daytime running lights
- LED tail lights
- Xenon headlamps With LED signature
- 2nd row air vents
- Dual zone climate control
- 12V accessory sockets - front and rear
- Auxilliary 12V power socket
- Bright metal foot pedals
- Chrome seat switches
- Front armrest
- Front centre console storage box
- Jaguar sense
- JaguarDrive selector
- Lockable glovebox
- Luxtec wrapped instrument panel topper
- Multifunction R-sport steering wheel
- Overhead console with sunglasses holder
- Perforated grained leather upholstery with contrast stitching
- R-Sport branded soft grain leather steering wheel
- Rear armrest with twin cupholders
- Rear storage compartment
- Satin chrome trunk finish
- Suedecloth headlining - Ebony
- Tie down hooks in luggage area
- Twin front cupholders
- Ambient interior lighting
- Anti-whiplash front headrests
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Driver/Front Passenger airbags
- Front and rear curtain airbags
- Front/rear seatbelt pre-tensioners
- Pedestrian contact sensing
- Power child locks
- Seatbelt warning
- Side airbags
- Three 3 point rear seatbelts
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- 3 rear seat head restraints
- 8 way manual adjustable front seats with electric recline
- Fixed rear bench seat
- Heated front seats
- Isofix child seat preparation
- Sports seats
- Deadlocks
- Drive away door locking
- Immobiliser
- Keyless Start
- Locking wheel nuts
- Perimeter alarm
- Remote central locking
- Trailer stability assist
- 8 speed automatic transmission
- Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
- 18" 5 split spoke gloss sparkle silver alloy wheels - style 5033
- Tyre repair kit
Technical Options
- HC+NOx: N
- Particles: N
- Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6
- Bore: 83
- Catalytic Convertor: True
- Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
- Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE
- Cylinders: 4
- Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH
- Fuel Type: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION
- Gears: 8 SPEED
- Number of Valves: 16
- Stroke: 92.3
- Valve gear: DOHC
- EC: True
- EC Combined: 37.7
- EC Extra Urban: 46.3
- EC Urban: 31.7
- WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 12.2
- WLTP - MPG - Extra High - Max: 12.9
- WLTP - MPG - Extra High - Min: 8.8
- WLTP - MPG - High: 9.4
- WLTP - MPG - High - Max: 7.4
- WLTP - MPG - High - Min: 8.1
- WLTP - MPG - Low: 8.3
- WLTP - MPG - Low - Max: 9.4
- WLTP - MPG - Low - Min: 8.7
- WLTP - MPG - Medium: 9.5
- Any aspect of the vehicles safety cause concern?: Data Not Available
- Based On ID: N
- Coin Description: i [300] AWD
- Coin Series: R-Sport
- NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 83
- NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 5
- NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 300
- NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 2.0
- NCAP Safety Assist %: M1
- Service Interval Frequency - Months: 92
- Special Edition: Data Not Available
- Special Order: Data Not Available
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3
- This vehicle is classed as a car for VED purposes: 24
- Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: 80
- Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 84
- 0 to 60: Data Not Available
- 0 to 62: 5.9
- Engine Power KW: 221
- Engine Power RPM: 5500
- Engine Torque LBS.FT: 295
- Engine Torque MKG: 40.8
- Engine Torque NM: 400
- Engine Torque RPM: 1500
- PS: True
- Top Speed: 155
- Alloys?: True
- Space Saver?: Data Not Available
- Tyre Size Front: 245/45 R18
- Tyre Size Rear: 245/45 R18
- Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
- Wheel Style: STYLE 5033
- Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY
- Height: 1457
- Height (including roof rails): N
- Length: 4954
- Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11.6
- Wheelbase: 2960
- Width (excluding mirrors): 1880
- Width (including mirrors): 2088
- Boot Capacity Saloons: 540
- Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 74
- Gross Vehicle Weight: 2330
- Max. Roof Load: N
- Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1900
- Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: N
- Minimum Kerbweight: 1711
- No. of Seats: 5
- Payload: 619
Jaguar Xf Saloon X MARKS THE SPOT (82/100)
The Jaguar XF has evolved and improved, now offering a class-leading package that includes the brand's Ingenium diesel engines and AWD. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at the latest version.
Ten Second Review
If you think the big three prestigious German brands have the Executive car segment sewn- up, a drive in Jaguar's second generation XF may be enough to make you reconsider. Even in the face of tough competition from rivals like the BMW 5 Series, the Mercedes E-Class and the Audi A6, this car offers a compelling range of virtues.
This MK2 Jaguar XF model is lighter, more efficient and packed with technology, an improvement on its predecessor in every possible respect. Slightly more compact dimensions disguise a longer wheelbase that's allowed the hi-tech aluminium-intensive architecture to clothe a much more spacious cabin, especially for rear seat folk. What hasn't changed is the XF's remit as a more sporting, dynamic choice in the full-sized Executive segment. To put that in competitive context, it's more BMW 5 Series than Audi A6 or Mercedes E-Class, though buyers of all three of these cars should be tempted by this model's cutting-edge cabin technology and class-leading efficiency figures. In the last decade, German rivals like these have dominated this market sector as Jaguar re-built its reputation amongst business buyers. Having done that and rejuvenated the car that re-established it as a desirable brand, the company's ready to take on this segment in earnest with what looks to be an elegant, progressive display of British engineering and craftsmanship. How will it fare? Let's find out.
Driving Experience
Stay with us here. The XF range hinges around 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder engines and while that doesn't sound too exciting, it's where the big sales are. Most buyers opt for this unit in either 163 or 180PS guises, but the brand also offers a twin-turbo 240PS version of this engine. The two more powerful variants are offered with the option of AWD. There are now some decent petrol options further down the range, also using the brand's efficient 'Ingenium' technology and exclusively available with automatic transmission. A 2.0-litre four cylinder unit comes with either 200, 250 or 300PSPS, the pokier powerplants available with an AWD option. As before, two V6 engines sit at the top of the range, a 300PS twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel and a 380PS supercharged 3.0-litre petrol unit. The top diesel cranks out 700Nm and can rocket to 62mph in just 5.8 seconds. The petrol engine has been purloined from the F-TYPE sportster and is reserved exclusively for the racy XF S. Matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, this model is capable of covering the 0-62mph sprint in 5.1 seconds on its way to an electronically-limited maximum speed of 155mph. Across the XF range, driving dynamics suit a relaxed but purposeful style. The chassis delivers near perfect 50:50 weight distribution and huge strides have been made to perfect refinement. The XF shares its suspension set-up with the smaller XE model, which means struts with double wishbones at the front and an 'integral link' independent set-up at the rear. The steering uses the same electric power-assisted set-up as the Jaguar F-Type and XE, while active dampers are on the options list.
Design and Build
From almost any angle, you'd know this was a Jaguar. You'd know this was an XF. It's a very different one though, in ways you simply won't appreciate if all you offer this car is a cursory glance. The sweeping coupe-like profile that defined the original model has evolved, the roofline lower, the rear deck longer and higher. There's a choice of saloon or Sportbrake bodystyles. And inside? Well a seat in the front of an XF has always been a special experience and it still is. The rising circular gear selector on automatic models remains a highlight, as are the cartwheeling airvents that turn into place as you start up. Those vents have been reduced in number and thrown to the edges of the cabin with this MK2 model, with the centre of the fascia freed up for a sophisticated 8-inch 'InControl Touch' infotainment system. This set-up's certainly a vast improvement on the low-tech display of the previous model in both form and function, but we are a little surprised that Jaguar has chosen not to provide the kind of 'i-Drive'-style rotary infotainment controller that direct Executive segment rivals offer, perhaps because of the possible confusion this might have created with the similar-looking rotary gear selector I mentioned earlier. You can now order it wih dual-screen technology which will enable the driver to look at one thing (say the sat nav) while the front passenger looks at another (say a DVD). At 4,954mm long, the XF remains a big car, so there's lots of room in the back. The doors offer an optional soft-close function, and there's plenty of natural light flooding the cabin. If you want more, you can specify a panoramic sunroof. The rear bench also features a more practical 40:20:40 split, making it easier to through-load bulky items such as skis. The 540-litre boot has the option of a power close function which can work with one of those 'gesture control' systems if you approach the car laden down with baggage.
Market and Model
The XF comes in either saloon or Sportbrake estate guises. Prices start at around £32,500 for a 2.0d variant with 163bhp, but another £500 gets you the 180PS version of this engine. Almost all buyers pay the £1,750 premium to get auto transmission, a standard feature on the pokiest diesel and all petrol variants. Trim-wise, the mainstream range steps up through Prestige, R-Sport and Portfolio trims. At the top of the range are the 300PS diesel and 380PS petrol XF S models, both priced at around £50,000. The InControl Touch infotainment system is based around an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen and supports gestures familiar from smartphones and tablets such as 'swipe' to perform actions such as moving from one page to the next or to change tracks, and 'drag' to scroll across maps. The InControl Touch Pro upgrade offers a 10.2-inch touchscreen and Dual View technology which simultaneously allows the driver to see information such as navigation, while the front seat passenger watches TV or a DVD. Audio systems include the exceptional 17-speaker, 825W Meridian digital surround sound system. Added safety technology bult into the optional surround camra system includes 'Forward Traffic Detection' which alerts you at times of reduced visbility when something is crossing your path up-front. And 'Forward Vehicle Guidance' which helps you place the car in low speed parking manoevres.
Cost of Ownership
Running costs of course will be crucial for both private and business buyers. They won't be disappointed here. It seems almost unbelievable that the 2.0d 163PS engine opens with a supermini-style 104g/km emissions figure and 70.6mpg on the combined cycle. Step up to the 180PS version and you'll still see 114g/km and 65.7mpg - leading to an identical taxation banding. The AWD 180PS variant suffers in efficiency terms, the figures falling to 57.7mpg and 129g/km. The 240PS diesel manages 53.3mpg and 139g/km in RWD form, with only a fractional reduction on that if you go for AWD. As for the four cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine, well expect 41.5mpg and 154g/km from the 200PS variant. Opt for the powerful V6 diesel and that'll see 51.4mpg with emissions of 144g/km. The supercharged 380PS petrol engine takes the wooden spoon in the efficiency stakes, as you'd probably guess, but 34mpg is far from disastrous when you pause to consider that a Porsche Cayman GT4, with similar power and a far smaller body, struggles to better 27mpg.
Light, spacious, good looking and efficient, this car will worry rival German makers more than any model Jaguar has brought us so far. Are there issues? A few. The range of variants on offer still isn't as wide as you'll find elsewhere. And we wonder what effect this car will have on sales of its smaller XE stablemate, given that volume versions of the two models are so similarly priced. Ultimately though, what's so masterful about this second generation XF is how cleverly Jaguar has kept and built upon what was good about the original model, while being realistic about where the old car's weaknesses were. As a result, you now really can have a beautiful Executive class car that offers cutting-edge technology and a dynamic driving experience but which is also built in Britain and sips fuel like a supermini. These truly are amazing times.
Why use All Car Leasing?
Browse alternate Jaguar XF Saloon models
See other trim levels:


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MTV is apologizing to a gay rights group for bad behavior by the cast of its cash cow TV series "Jersey Shore."
The offending bit came during last week's "Jersey Shore" reunion special, when Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino flirts with an unidentified nightclub patron described by his friends as a "tranny."
GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) cried foul over the politically incorrect characterization.
U.S. & World
"This was one of the most blatantly transphobic scenes aired anywhere on television in the last few years," the group said in a statement.
MTV will pull the segment after the current rotation cycle.
"We appreciate GLAAD voicing concern about the 'Jersey Shore' reunion special," the network said. "The segment in question was certainly not meant to be insensitive, but in retrospect we realize that it was offensive to some viewers. We sincerely apologize."


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1 's
Check out now. Fast, Easy, Secure Checkout.
Primary Material: Stainless steel
Color: Silver
All jewelry and accessories are handmade in my workshop, either hand stamped or engraved. ALL orders are produced AND shipped within 1-2 working days.
After 2 weeks your items will automatically renewed for another 60 days and $0.23 per item will be added to your billing ledger.
While you were away our TOU was updated,
read the terms of use here.
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About A-Z
This program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
This program will cost $3,742 (in-state tuition and books/supplies) if completed within normal time. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed. Click here for more program cost information.
Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $N/A of debt.
Licensure Requirements
The following States do not have licensure requirements for this profession:
For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/


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Rose Mary Toebbe and her husband Lawrence hosted the Louisville American Association of University Women (AAUW) Christmas Party Dec. 1 inside their lovely home.
AAUW is a community working to break through educational and economic barriers so that all women have a fair chance to suceed.
Photos by BILL WINE | Contributing Photographer


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Joe Witte filed this report from the media viewing site at Vandenberg Air Force Base shortly before the Aquarius satellite blasted successfully into space.
More than a dozen reporters from Argentina are either standing or slowly moving about trying to stay warm while waiting for the launch of the Aquarius satellite. The low cloud deck over Vandenberg Air Force Base in California puts a damper on their spirits after traveling all the way from South America to see a Delta II rocket quickly disappear on it's way to an orbit 400 miles above the earth.
If all goes well after about 30 days of testing and calibrating, the satellite will be sending down valuable data on the salinity of the oceans.
Top image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls. Lower image credit: NASA/Joe Witte. Text by Joe Witte.


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