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The success of this ceviche is predicated on the quality and freshness of the fish, as well as the specific olive oil you use. Beyond being mindful about these two factors, this is an exceedingly easy dish to dazzle your seafood loving guests with.
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons Liquid Gold Honey Ginger Vinegar or Jalapeno White Balsamic Vinegar
1/3 cup UP Hojiblanca you could also substitute Baklouti, Chipotle, or Cayenne Olive Oil here
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 finely diced seeded, jalapeno (optional)
2 medium firm ripe tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
1 large avocado, finely diced (optional)
1 pound raw, super fresh Rock Cod, Bay Shrimp, Scallops, Sea Bass, Striped Bass, Grouper, Lingcod, Snapper, etc. cut in to small uniform pieces
Sea salt to taste
Combine the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice and sea salt. Whisk to combine. Add in the other ingredients including the fish and stir to combine well. Marinate covered in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Serve. The longer you allow this to sit, the more the fish will begin to "cook" in the acid of the lime juice and fall apart. Ideally, you want to mix this and serve it straight away. However, if you do let it sit, it will still be edible but the fish will break up.
Serves 6 as an appetizer
Recipe by Chef Rachel Bradley
Recipe adapted from Weight Watchers
Slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and oven baked, not deep fried.
1 Pound uncooked butternut squash. (Approximately 16 pieces about 3/4in thick.)
2 T Liquid Gold Butternut Squash Seed Oil
Salt (Pepper)
1/2 t chili powder or to taste (I love all of the Epices de Cru chili spices for different taste options)
Preheat oven to 450deg F. Brush baking sheet with olive oil. Arrange fries on sheet, brush liberally with Butternut Squash seed oil, and sprinkle with salt and chili pepper.
Cook for approximately 14-17 minutes, or until crisp, turning once.
**LG Chipotle Olive Oil works well also.
1/2 pound smoked spicy sausage, such as Andouille sausage, cut into 1/2" slices
1/2 pound peeled, deveined shrimp
1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 large celery rib, finely diced
1 green pepper, finely diced
1 red pepper finely diced
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1 yellow onion, finely diced
2 green onions finely sliced
1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley
1 dried bay leaf
4 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 large tomato diced
2 cups sliced okra (optional)
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Baklouti Fused Chili Olive Oil
1/2 cup all purpose flour
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Rice to serve
In a large, heavy pot heat the Baklouti chili oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and brown on both sides. Set the chicken aside and add the sausage to the pot. Saute the sausage slices until browned, and set aside.
In the same pot, set over medium heat, add the flour to the oil and pan drippings stirring and scraping to incorporate. Cook the flour over medium heat, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes until it turns a deep rich brown. Be careful not to go overboard and cook it until it burns!
Add the remaining two tablespoons of Baklouti chili oil to the flour mixture along with the garlic, peppers, onion, celery, and okra. Saute over medium low heat until the vegetables start to become tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the stock, tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce to the pot and stir to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and continue to cook until until the gumbo thickens. Add the Chicken and sausage back to the pot. Lower the heat and simmer over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes. Add the shrimp during the last two minutes and cook through.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
To serve, ladle the gumbo over rice and top with the sliced green onion and chopped parsley.
Serves 6-8
Recipe by Chef Rachel Bradley
1 pound fresh wild salmon fillet(s)
1 bunch of thin, tender asparagus, woody stems discarded,
1 pound dried pappardelle pasta cooked al dente (or see my recipe for fresh dill pappardelle below)
1 thinly sliced shallot
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 cup crisp, dry white wine
2 cups heavy cream
5 tablespoons Wild Frenleaf Dill Olive Oil
3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh dill and/or flat leaf parsley to garnish
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Rub the salmon and toss the asparagus spears with a mixture of 2 tablespoon of dill olive oil whisked with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Season amply both the salmon and asparagus liberally with salt and fresh ground pepper. Grill or broil until just cooked, being careful to err on the side of under-cooking both the salmon and asparagus. The most important thing here is to sear the salmon and asparagus on the exterior. After grilling, cut the asparagus in to 2" pieces and break the salmon in to large meaty chunks and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the dried pasta based on the package directions. If using the fresh pasta recipe below, cook for two minutes and drain well.
In a saute pan, heat two tablespoon dill olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced shallots and cook until tender. Add the garlic and saute for another minute being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the wine and lemon juice. Continue cooking until the liquid is reduced by half. Add the cream and the remaining dill olive oil. Stir until the mixture simmers and thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
To serve, add the asparagus to the pan with the sauce and cook for an additional two minutes, being careful not to make mushy. Add the salmon chunks and cook to warm through, being careful not to break the chunks up. Ladle over drained pasta and serve garnished with dill and or flat leaf parsley.
Fresh Dill Infused Pappardelle Pasta
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup semolina flour
4 large eggs, whisked
2 tablespoons Wild Fernleaf Dill Olive Oil
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh dill (optional)
In a large bowl or the bowl of a food processor, mix together the flour. Make a well in the center of the flour if not using a food processor, and add the eggs, olive oil, and dill if using. Begin incorporating the flour into the eggs a little at a time, mixing until a very loose messy dough forms. If using a food processor, blend until a shaggy dough forms, and either case finish by kneading the dough by hand until a smooth dough forms. Wrap the dough and allow to rest at room temperature for 1 hour. Roll it out with a pasta machine, or by rolling pin, and then cut in to desired shapes.
Recipe by Chef Rachel Bradley
This recipe harnesses several delightful seasonal ingredients and weaves them in to a flavorful and eye-catching culinary tapestry.
As complicated as it may look at the outset, there are really just a handful of ingredients that come together to make this dish shine, and as you would expect, olive oil is a among them.
Ingredients For the Filling
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground fine black pepper (optional)
1 1/2 cups aged, shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese
1 cup garlic UP Garlic Infused Olive Oil (try experimenting with other infused olive oils)
Alternatively, For Cheesy White Truffle Crackers
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground fine black pepper (optional)
1 1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup UP Certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons White Truffle Oil
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to distribute. Add the cheeses and pulse again to finely chop the cheese into the dry ingredients. Add the oil(s) and continue to pules until the oil is incorporated thoroughly.
Gather and press the dough in to two flat discs. Wrap each disc and chill for an hour.
Preheat the oven to 425 F.
Line a baking sheet. Roll out one disk at a time to 1/4" thick. Cut in to squares, rounds - whatever floats your boat. The way you choose to cut the crackers will not affect their taste.
Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges become golden.
Recipe by Chef Rachel Bradley


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Controversial PH reproductive bill awaits president's signature
Manila, Philippines (4E) – Two houses of the Philippine Congress ironed out the kinks in the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill and ratified Wednesday night.
The measure now awaits Philippine President Benigno Aquino Jr.'s signature which is expected by the end of the year.
The proposed legislation seeks to improve public access to reproductive health services, including natural and artificial family planning options. It also promotes better maternal care, responsible parenthood, and youth education on sexual and reproductive health issues.
The influential Catholic Church has been opposing the bill.
In the bicameral committee, the lawmakers approved provisions that state that a requirement is needed of parental consent from minors who are not yet married or are with children; mandatory reproductive health education for those aged 10 to 19 years old; and the responsibility of the national government to assist local government units in the distribution of RH services.
The bicameral meeting was described as conciliatory
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Daily Archives: August 10, 2012
Juvenile Detention Center
Hola! This is Dot, Brian, and Elena reporting from San José, Costa Rica. This week we had the opportunity to take a tour of the largest juvenile detention center in Costa Rica and learn more about the Costa Rican justice … Continue reading
Posted in Latino Mental Health
Mental Health in Costa Rica: Week 2
This is Zac, Valerie, and Rebecca writing from San Jose, Costa Rica. This week we got to enjoy some amazing activities provided by Carla and the Unibe staff. This past Wednesday we were given an extensive dance lesson from some … Continue reading
Mental Health in Costa Rica: Week 3
Hola from Costa Rica! This is Becca W, Valerie, and Zach checking in. Growing knowledge of Costa Rican healthcare Last night, we attended a seminar led by Dr. Andrea Mesén-Fainardi, a local psychiatrist. He studied at NYU and UC Irvine, … Continue reading
Posted in Latino Mental Health 3 Comments


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Old Wine in New Bottles
AbstractThis paper examines the contents of the Economic Journal during its first century as a prelude to speculating about the likely development of economics during the next century. The conclusion is that the issues dealt with will remain much the same and so will many of the substantive conclusions. However, the techniques employed in analyzing them, and the language in which they are presented, will be very different. In addition, the range of subjects covered will broaden as specialization continues to increase and professionalization continues to deepen. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.
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Bibliographic InfoArticle provided by Royal Economic Society in its journal The Economic Journal.
Volume (Year): 101 (1991)
Issue (Month): 404 (January)
Pages: 33-40
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Cited by:
- Young Choi, 1999. "Conventions and Economic Change: A Contribution toward a Theory of Political Economy," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 245-264, October.
- Kenneth Button, 1998. "Where did the ?new urban economics? go?," ERSA conference papers ersa98p358, European Regional Science Association.
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I wanted to know if anyone wears actual chest binders, not ace bandages, but ones like t-kingdom, underworks or double-t? I've been wearing double-t for about three years now and although i can report no physical changes i do worry about the long term implications of wearing them. I wear mine all day, as in i put it on when i dress on a morning and take it off before bed. I'm not FTM so they're not going anywhere lol, i just feel more confident and comfotable without them on show :)
Please chip in with the comments folks! I'm not a binding expert, but one thing I can tell this anon is that many of our readers bind, whether they are FTM, genderqueer, or just don't like their boobs.
From my research and what I've heard, ace bandage binding is really dangerous and should be avoided all together. They are made to gradually get tighter every time they are stretched, which is what happens when you breath. Binding with ace bandage can hurt your ribs and lungs and weaken your chest muscles over time.
The general info I can find is that binding with the right kind of materials is fine as long as you take it off at night. http://transguys.com/features/chest-binding is my favorite resource on binders and health. Go Ask Alice has some great advice on what materials to use and health risks to look out for, though I disagree with them condoning ace bandage binding at all. Sadly, binding for several years at a time can lead to health risks, which is why you might want to become familiar with sports bras, save binding for days when you are wearing less layers and it's more obvious, or consider top surgery. Top surgery is not just for FTMs! Gender is complicated and we have to do the best with the resources we have.
I cannot recommend Autostraddle's article on breast binding because they recommend Ace Bandages and do not mention health risks. However, the comments offer some solid advice. The majority of readers speak the most highly of underworks as opposed to T-kingdom One reader wrote on their experience:
don't use ace bandages! it is uncomfortable and dangerous! i tried ace bandages at first because i was poor, but i quickly realized i needed something better. it was too frustrating having to rewrap many times throughout the day and it wasn't very comfortable. that's when a friend recommended t-kingdom binders to me. they are much more comfortable than ace bandages.
t-kingdom binders are ok. i've had the m690 and the m1700. it definitely does its job, but i have had people notice i was wearing "something that wasn't a bra or a shirt" when they hugged me. the material of the binding part is not very soft and the section where the velcro is can feel lumpy. it also does not breathe very well. after binding with these for the last 2 years, i am sick of the loud velcro rip when i have to adjust it or take it off. it was nice to have the velcro when i first started binding because it made it easy to put on and to adjust tightness while i was getting used to binding."
http://chestbinders.wordpress.com also has pages of comprehensive binder reviews.
If you live in an area where you can find a trans friendly health care provider, you should find one who you feel comfortable talking to about binding. The one resource I can find that claims to have a database - The World Professional Association for Transgender Health - is not working for me when I enter Boston, and I know that the Boston area has many good providers, so your best bet might be to google the name of your city + trans friendly health care provider. Please comment if you have any more info.


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To get a crack addict to willingly submit to treatment is nearly an impossible task. The reason this is such an impossible task is because according to the crack addict, he or she doesn't have a drug problem. Crack addicts live in a state of denial, which is basically a crutch for the crack addict. Denial is actually a psychological defense that helps the addict handle the anxiety and stress that they could not deal with otherwise. Through the use of denial, he or she doesn't have a drug problem, and so they don't have the anxiety and stress that would go along with a drug problem. Denial is an extremely ironic state as it was put to work so the addict can handle their high level of anxiety and stress. The irony of this is that their anxiety and stress levels are so unbearably high because they are addicted to crack.
It won't do any good to talk to the crack addict about going to rehab or any other type of drug abuse program until you get them past the denial stage. Denial is a normal process that the crack addict will have to go through before they will finally admit that they have a crack problem.
In the first stage of denial, the addict minimizes the amount of crack they are using, especially to people who know how it is measured and the usage of it. For example, if they are using one gram per day, he or she will only admit to one half gram. If they are using over a gram of crack daily, they will very probably still just admit to using a half.
The next step he or she will go through is when they begin to justify their crack use. The addict will make up excuses like,"you'd use drugs too if you had my life, kids, job…whatever." In this stage, he or she is trying to establish that there is nothing wrong with using a little crack; anyone with his or her problems would do the same thing.
Finally, when and addicts friends and family are getting fed up with their excuses the addict becomes defensive and blames anyone and anything other than themselves. Any problems that have to do with their addiction are twisted in their mind until they believe that it's someone else's fault their life is falling apart. A common scenario for this stage is if the marriage is literally falling apart because of their addiction and refusal of help is destroying the marriage.


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PR 2737 04 March 2011 For Immediate Release
Closures and speed limit change for safety improvements on B3157 coast road
Three sections of the B3157 coast road will be closed during March and April to enable Dorset County Council to carry out safety enhancement and resurfacing work:
• Between Wednesday, 16 March and Friday, 25 March, West Street in Abbotsbury will be closed for 850 metres between the junction with Back Street and the bottom of Abbotsbury Hill.
• Then, between Monday, 28 March and Friday, 1 April, the B3157 will be closed west of Portesham at the junction to West Elworth Farm for a distance of approximately 250 metres.
• Finally, between Monday, 4 April and Friday, 8 April, High Street, Burton Bradstock will be closed from its junction with Mill Street southward to the bend by the petrol station.
These closures will be in place week days only between 8.45am and 3.30pm.
Work has been timed around bus timetables and to avoid school holidays. Local businesses will remain open as usual.
An alternative route to avoid the complete area of works will be signposted using the A35 between Bridport and Dorchester, the A354 towards Weymouth and the Chickerell Link Road to the junction with the B3157.
The enhancements are being made as part of the B3157 Road Safety Partnership Project. They include gateway features and coloured surfacing at entrances to villages, improvements to pedestrian safety and improving sight lines and adding anti-skid surfacing at bends.
The county council is also taking the opportunity of these works to carry out much needed resurfacing.
Also as part of the project, on Friday, 11 March a new 50mph speed limit will come into force on the B3157 between Chickerell and Portesham.
Notes for editors
1. The B3157 Road Safety Partnership includes Dorset County Council, Dorset Police, the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and representatives of local district, town and parish councils. The project has a budget of £1 million, including a £500,000 grant from the Department for Transport, to find innovative ways to reduce casualties along the B3157. For more information, visit: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/b3157coastroad
2. The project is guided by the Dorset Rural Roads Protocol, the county council's adopted policy on managing its rural highways in the context of the local environment. For more information, visit: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/ruralroads
Issued By:
Michael Carhart-Harris, Public Relations Officer
Tel: 01305 225065
Email: email@example.com


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Was £22.00
Now £19.80
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£66.00 per 10g
Standard Delivery
Click & Collect
L'Absolu Nu Lip Stick
Item No.1230539001
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Light-to-the-touch caring texture, bare lip sensation, easy-to-wear-shades.
- Free gifts are while stocks last. Gift is out of stock if not added to bag & NOT valid if used with a discount promo code
Deliveries are between 8am - 6pm, Mon - Sat.
FREE if you pay with your Debenhams card
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Deliver to store for collection ( 160 participating stores ) FREE
Debenhams is happy to exchange or refund your purchase within 28 days providing the goods are in a fully resaleable condition (including tags) and not within the exclusion policy*. This policy does not affect your statutory rights. You can return unwanted items either by visiting your local store (the fastest way to get a refund), by arranging a courier collection or returning by post. Exclusions apply to selected products. For instructions on how to return products and information on Debenhams refund policy visit the returns and refunds section of the website.


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Applebee's is in the process of a major makeover to attract more younger millennial customers while not losing its base of baby boomers.» Read More
Expect a shakeup in the restaurant rankings if Janney's predictions for America's top 10 restaurant chains in 2020 are correct.
In a dining environment where cellphones have become as ubiquitous as breadbaskets, one recent trademark filing stands out.
Noodles' Kevin Reddy weighs in about possible increases in the minimum wage and why his restaurant chain has a no-tip policy.
IHOP is in the early stages of designing a fast-casual concept that would launch within existing stores, said the CEO of its parent company.
"It was said the recession was officially over in 2009, but consumers aren't behaving that way," one analyst said.
Beginning with Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings, many restaurants are looking to tablets as a way to boost sales and reduce wait times.
National restaurant chain Applebee's plans on transforming its table service with high-tech tablets, its CEO told CNBC on Tuesday.
Applebee's is placing a tablet on every table so customers can order, pay the bill or play games. Julia Stewart, DineEquity chairman and CEO, discusses the company's decision to opt for Intel tablets rather than iPads.
As restaurants battle to lure diners, Olive Garden on Monday introduced its version of an American classic: the Italiano Burger.
Cramer says Street snobs are missing a major opportunity.
Take a look at some of Tuesday's midday movers:
Forget Bloomin' Onions or boneless wings, for many consumers, the choice of where to dine often comes down to a different factor.
Scout Capital Management, a U.S. hedge fund, is urging Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons to increase its debt levels in order to fund a share buyback.
Check out which companies are making headlines after the bell Monday:
The menus offered to children by most U.S. restaurant chains have too many calories, too much salt or fat, and often not a hint of vegetables or fruit, according to a new study.
Most big chain restaurants now put nutrition information on their menus. How accurate are these numbers? NBC News takes a closer look.
For many Americans, the improving economy has yet to take hold even as they hear about a stronger stock market and better jobs data.
If your portfolio is awash in red marks and minus signs, perhaps you're making this mistake.
Take a look at some of Tuesday's midday movers:
Oct 30- DineEquity Inc, the owner of Applebee's and IHOP restaurant brands, on Tuesday reported third-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, helped by a gain on the sale of restaurants to franchisees. In recent weeks, chains such as McDonald's Corp, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc and Buffalo Wild Wings Inc have posted disappointing results.


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Carry less while you do more. A versatile 10.6-inch tablet with 10-hour battery.
Shop now >
The new 12-inch Surface Pro 3 is the best of a laptop, best of a tablet.
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Get even more from your Surface with powerful accessories.
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If you're looking for
Size and Weight
Operating system and software
Battery life
A fast and productive tablet that runs Office
NVIDIA Tegra 4
Windows RT 8.1
Microsoft Office 2013 RT1
Up to 10 hours2
Full-size USB 3.0
microSD card reader
Headphone jack
HD video out
Cover port
An innovative an powerful laptop replacement
4th generation Intel Core i3, i5, or i7
Windows 8.1 Pro
Up to 9 hours2
Full-size USB 3.0
microSD card reader
Headset jack
Mini display port
Cover port
Exclusive to Microsoft Store
Transform your Surface Pro 3 into a desktop
[1] Surface 2 comes with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT. Some functionality may be limited. See http://office.com/officeRT for more details.
[2] Surface 2 has up to 10 hours of battery life for video playback. Surface Pro 3 has up to 9 hours of battery life for web browsing. Battery life for other uses will vary.
Offer valid from NZST 12:00am on 27 August 2014 until 11:59pm on 24 September 2014, while supplies last. Available in Microsoft online store in New Zealand only. Valid for purchase of Surface 2. Not valid on prior orders or purchases; cannot be transferred or otherwise redeemed for cash or coupon code(s). Not combinable with other offers. Refunds will take into account the discount. Price discount does not include taxes, shipping or other fees. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Microsoft reserves the right to modify or discontinue offers at any time.


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148Apps Review SummaryOur Rating: :: FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES :: Read Our Full Review >>
Air Mail is a colorful flying game where players must complete missions while flying around gorgeous environments.
App Description★★★★★ App Store Best of 2012 ★★★★★
Included in the 'Showpiece Games' category
★★★★★ Featured as an iPad Editor's Choice game on the App Store! ★★★★★
"...Air Mail is packed with moments that will put a smile on your face." — Slide To Play, 4/4
"This is one of my favorite high-flying games on iOS." — TouchGen, 4.5/5
"...we're proud to call Air Mail one of the tablet's most visually-arresting titles." — Modojo, 4/5 Stars
"I can not stress how amazing this flying game is." — App-Score, 10/10
"...anyone with a Retina iOS device should have a copy of Air Mail, one of the best games I've played so far this year." — AppTudes, 4.5/5
"Air Mail is a top notch iOS experience that really delivers on all levels making it a must buy." — AppleNApps, 4.5/5
The sky's the limit...
Welcome to the beautiful world of Air Mail, where you take to the skies as a fearless letter-carrying, disaster-averting pilot. Simply stunning in its presentation, with incredibly deep gameplay, this is one flight you can't afford to miss.
• MIND-BLOWING VISUALS
One of the most stylish and best looking games on the App Store. Air Mail draws you into it's gorgeous world from take off to landing, with full Retina support for the new iPad.
• LET'S FLY
Choose one of three control schemes depending on your style. Each has been expertly designed to feel intuitive and natural.
• WHAT AN ADVENTURE
Choose one of three game modes to play through. Mission Mode is an epic story spread over seven chapters, Express Delivery is a score-attack mode, and Explore Mode lets you do just that—explore the islands collecting hidden items.
For more information or support, please visit www.chillingo.com
App Changes
September 07, 2012 Price Decrease: $1.99 -> $0.99
August 22, 2012 Price Decrease: $2.99 -> $0.99
May 24, 2012 Initial Release


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MOLINE — A request from Rock Island County school districts for a local option sales tax will appear on the March ballot.
Should voters approve the 1 percent tax, it would take effect July 1, 2014. Schools could start seeing revenue from it by October of that year. Schools would receive a percentage of the sales tax revenue based on enrollment. The money only could be used for facilities maintenance and could not be spent on salaries, textbooks or other supplies.
The school boards of the various districts have been voting on the measure in recent weeks, and school districts representing 51 percent of Rock Island County students had to vote in support of the measure for it to appear on the ballot.
With the East Moline district board's supporting vote this week, there are enough districts approving of the idea for the Regional Office of Education to submit the necessary documents to the county clerk, Rock Island Regional Superintendent Tammy Muerhoff said on Wednesday.
Ms. Muerhoff said she will submit the request to the county when the paperwork from the East Moline school district arrives.
The ROE already has the needed paperwork from the Hampton, Silvis, Moline, Rock Ridge, Sherrard and Carbon Cliff-Barstow districts, she said.
East Moline superintendent Kristin Humphries said his district could expect $1.3 million in revenue, based on the tax average from the previous three years.
The Silvis district could expect about $310,000 per year, superintendent Ray Bergles said earlier this month.
Henry and Mercer counties already have a similar tax.
Rock island, IL Details
Simply Delicious Holiday Turkey
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One of the world's leading galleries, the Haus der Kunst in the English Garden in Munich mounts retrospectives on contemporary artists as well as special themed exhibitions.
There's plenty to keep younger art enthusiasts entertained too. Art teachers and artists lead various workshops and fun interactive tours, which allow children to show their creative side.
Opening times:
Monday-Sunday 10am-8pm,Thursday 10am-10pm
Legg til favorittene dine her. Lagre, sorter, del og skriv ut valget ditt og planlegg hele tysklandsreisen din.
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Josh Oakes
constructive cynicism in moderate doses
I would rather deal with a tyrant any day than with a committee. Committees as a general rule aren't willing to take chances, which is why you have a committee in the first place: so you can share the blame.
Hal Riney formerly of Publicis & Hal Riney in the documentary Art & Copy
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Slave patrol
Slave patrols (called patrollers, pattyrollers or paddy rollers by the slaves) were organized groups of three to six[citation needed] white men who enforced discipline upon black slaves in the antebellum U.S. southern states. They policed the slaves on plantations and hunted down fugitive slaves. Patrols used summary punishment against escapees, maiming or killing them. Slave patrols were first established in South Carolina in 1704, and the idea spread throughout the southern states.
Slave patrols began with colonial attempts to regulate slavery through laws that limited enslaved people's abilities and required all settlers to assist in enforcing the slave codes. As the population of black slaves increased, so did the fear and threat of foreign invasion which further increased the institution of slave patrols. Encountered slaves without passes were expected to be returned to their owners, and sometimes punished. As this approach became more ineffective, slave patrols were formally established. Slave patrols consisted of white men from all social classes. This caused trouble for both enslaved and free black people as it restricted their movement. Black people were subjected to question, searches, and other forms of harassment, often leading to whippings and beatings for people who may not have broken any law.
Slave patrols "apprehended runaways, monitored the rigid pass requirements for blacks traversing the countryside, broke up large gatherings and assemblies of blacks, visited and searched slave quarters randomly, inflicted impromptu punishments, and as occasion arose, suppressed insurrections."[1] During these times, slaves were often neglected and mistreated despite having permission to travel.
Slave owners feared slave gatherings would allow them to trade or steal goods and the potential for a rebellion. South Carolina and Virginia selected patrols from state militias. Slave patrols were often equipped with guns and whips and would exert brutal and racially motivated control. At times Blacks developed many methods of challenging slave patrolling, occasionally fighting back violently. The American Civil War developed more opportunities for resistance against slave patrols and made it easier for enslaved people to escape.
Fugitive Slave Laws[edit]
The Fugitive Slave Laws helped enforce the necessity for slave patrols in order to abide by the law. Although initially these laws were created to keep tensions low between the north and the south, it caused the physical formation of slave patrols.[2] During the Civil War, the theory of Contraband prevented the return of Southern slaves who reached Union-held territory. This helped limit the role of slave patrols/catchers and changed the war. Another form of help for slaves was the Underground Railroad which aided slaves in their escape to northern states. The use and physical formation of slave patrols came to its end in 1865 when the Civil War ended. This end however is linked to post civil war groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, which continued to terrorize and threaten the black community.[1]
External links[edit]
- Hummel, Jeffrey Rogers (July 2002). "Review of Sally E. Hadden – Slave Patrols: Law and Violence in Virginia and the Carolinas." Economic History Services [dead link, checked 1/19/2013]
- Time Warner Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives


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A Van Buren County Circuit Court judge is asking that the county's law library be named after retired Judge William C. Buhl. Judge Kathleen Brickley on June 25 advocated that the county Board of Commissioners pass a resolution to keep ...Read More »
Yearly Archives: 2013
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Former Marquette County Circuit Court Judge Edward A. Quinnell, who served four six-year terms as a county jurist, died June 23 at age 80. Elected in 1974, Mr. Quinnell had the longest tenure of the 17 circuit court judges in ...Read More »
Fired hospital worker awarded $423,500 in FMLA claim
A hospital technician who was fired after taking a day off to deal with pancreatitis has recovered $423,480 in federal court under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Issues in the case included questions about the severity of her condition, ...
Tagged with: Family and Medical Leave Act U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of MichiganRead More »
Expanded DNA collection bills advance
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Plaintiff must get same exam for second suit
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Court strikes down DOMA, nixes Prop 8 appeal
WASHINGTON – In a ruling that will have an immediate effect on more than 1,000 federal laws and programs, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, holding that the law prohibiting recognition of state-sanctioned same-sex ...
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Michigan high court rules in 'Miranda' and Fifth Amendment cases
In a pair of cases, the Michigan Supreme Court reversed a Miranda ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals, and has made clear that when defendants testify at trial, prosecutors can impeach them with the fact that they remained silent ...Read More »
Notice Of Suspension With Condition (By Consent)
Case No. 12-34-GA Notice Issued: June 25, 2013 Thomas E. Marshall, P 30633, Rochester, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #56. 1. Suspension – 30 Days 2. Effective June 25, 2013 The hearing panel found that respondent failed ...Read More »
Notice Of Reprimand (By Consent)
Case No. 13-13-GA Notice Issued: June 25, 2013 Lisa A. Godfrey, P 38385, Kalamazoo, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Kalamazoo Hearing Panel #1. 1. Reprimand 2. Effective June 25, 2013 The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation ...Read More »
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By Robert Jackson: Re-watching the replay of the Pacquiao/Hatton fight this past Saturday night I began to wonder what went wrong for 'The Hitman' from Manchester, England. If I was Billy Graham I probably would, no I definitely would blame my replacement for the outcome of the fight. Having previously worked with Hatton for close to 20 years, Could Graham have done a better job preparing Hatton for his fight against Pacquiao? Was Mayweather's old-school, fundamental boxing training not suited for Hatton abilities or makeup?
To get a better indication of Mayweather's effectiveness as a trainer for Hatton during this fight I paid close attention to the basic boxing technique that Hatton employed during the fight, head movement, footwork and positioning..
Things that Hatton did wrong:
- Hatton tried to enforce his will on Pacquiao and attacked with a face-first, head straight up in the air, frontal assault, also setting the fight to a very high pace.
- Hatton didn't jab his way into the fight.
- Didn't move his head but instead held his head stationary.
- Hatton abandoned his training and resorted to his 'brawling' style.
- Hatton threw punches 'out of position' or 'out of range'.
- Hatton used bullying tactics and then clinched trying to keep Pacquiao tied up so he couldn't punch back.
In between the first round and 2nd round after 2 knockdowns Mayweather Sr. admonished Hatton telling him to move his head and do the things they worked on in the gym, Hatton thoroughly confused and overwhelmed by then probably needed more specific instructions on how to work his way out of his deficit.
Things that Mayweather did wrong:
- Tried to remake Hatton's fighting style.
- Hearsay was that Mayweather Sr. was inconsistent as a trainer not showing up on time for scheduled training sessions.
- Allowed disagreements in the Hatton camp to become distractions.
- Offered only better basic boxing fundamentals to Hatton instead of a more solid gameplan.
- Publicly berated his fighters skills and former trainer, while also bragging about his own credentials.
These events alone may not point the finger of blame at Floyd 'Joy' Mayweather , but the moments after the KO are moments of shame for the self proclaimed 'greatest trainer of not this time, or that time, but of ALL TIME'; Where was Floyd Mayweather Sr? Why was he not there attending to his charge?
Overall a combination of factors led to Hatton's devastating loss to Manny Pacquiao, one major factor was that while Team Hatton was in turmoil, Team Pacquiao was a well oiled machine firing on all cylinders. The inclusion of Former Heavyweight Champion Michael Moorer to Team Pacquiao paid dividends. Another factor is that Pacquiao just has superior skills to those possessed by Ricky Hatton.
I would also question Hatton's mental preparation. The last thing that should be considered is that you 'can't teach an old dog new tricks', and Mayweather Sr, being the great trainer he claims to be should've known this. Mayweather Sr, could have just opted to improve the things that Hatton already does that is make Hatton into a better brawler. Is Floyd Mayweather Sr. the blame, NO? He IS part of the problem, but Ricky Hatton's main problem is that he never developed
the fighting skills to compete at the highest level of the sweet science and came to that realization late in the game. This revelation is crystal clear if you look back at the Luis Collazo and Juan Urango fights. Could Billy Graham have done a better job? Probably not in the skills department, but mentally yes. Graham would have totally controlled the training environment.
Fans shouldn't be surprised if Ricky Hatton continues to fight under new trainer Freddie 'The Joke Coach' Roach. I'm sure that as far as Freddie Roach is concerned the joke is on Floyd 'Joy' Mayweather.
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Out on a Limb
I am about to make all of you jealous. Are you ready? I just had the wonderful experience of reading Out on a Limb for the first time! Do you all remember how that felt for you?
Believe it or not, it took me 38 years on this earth to find my way to and to read Out on a Limb. (Of course, once I started, I could not put it down.) I do have the distinct memory of seeing this book in hardcover on my mother's bookshelves when I was young, but then my mother went through a "religious" experience of some sort when I was about 14 and all such books--including Out on a Limb--disappeared from our house.
Fast forward 30 years or so, and I found my way back to the book. But Out on a Limb was not my introduction to Shirley MacLaine, rather--in a long line of synchronistic events that involved my best friend dying suddenly and my trip to Santa Fe for yoga teacher training (I had no idea at the time that Santa Fe was Ms. MacLaine's home)--the audio version of Saging While Aging.
So . . . Here I am having just read Out on a Limb for the first time. Would anyone like to discuss? I'll start with the first sentence or two that I underlined in the book:
" . . . tropical plants and flowers. They were cared for by a Japanese gardener who loved them like children and believed that Peter Tomkins was correct, that plants had emotions. I remembered how silly Gerry thought I was when I first mentioned the concept to him.
'Plants can feel?' he laughed. 'Well, I'm just glad they can't talk back.' I had wanted to pursue the conversation, but his sardonic laughter nipped it in the bud, so to speak.' . . . "
Well, everyone . . . let's not allow that conversation to wane any longer, eh? Anyone want to talk about the spiritual lives of plants? I have one crazy cactus that I'd love to discuss with you!
Namaste _/|\_
Okay, gosh dang it, you are right, Steph .... I am jealous!! Having read OAL for the first time decades ago (same year as your mom, probably!), I can still recall the astonishment of one "AHA!" moment after another as I rapidly devoured the pages. :eek:
I have loved Shirley MacLaine and her (at the time) "radical, woo-woo" opinions ever since; she feels like a kindred spirit, and I believe that all of us here, who landed at - and stay at - this site are probably in the same soul group. Hence, that makes us family! :D
Plants have emotions? Well, DUH!! Yes, of course plants can feel!! :rolleyes: I heard a fascinating report a number of years ago on PBS -- someone did a study on three different fields of hops in England. In one field, they played rock 'n roll music continuously; in another, a talk show; and in the last, relaxing classical or chamber music. I can't remember the exact degrees of difference, but I do recall that the hops 'nurtured' by the soft, non-verbal music grew faster and straighter and healthier than the other two fields. The talk show hops finished a pathetic third -- in fact, many of the plants shriveled up and died.
Oh, and for years and years and years I had a crazy snake plant named Fred, which I'd bought at a church fair for probably 25 cents when he was just a teeny little snip of a thing in a palm-size flower pot. However, Fred was like the plant in "Little Shop of Horrors" --- he grew and grew and grew CONSTANTLY; God alone knows why. I kept enlarging Fred's pots, until finally I had to have them custom made. By the time I moved to the convent, I'd had Fred for about 25 - 30 years, he'd adjusted to six major physical moves and he was still healthy as a horse. He now has a room of his own in a former neighbor's home on Peaks Island, where I hear he continues to flourish.
Oh! And it anyone has a plant that is a tad droopy? If possible, put it near - preferably on top of, your tv set or radio. Plants DEFINITELY pick up outside energy and respond to it!! Guaranteed - your plant will perk up in no time (providing you are tuned into a favorable channel!)
Lura :)
Of course plants can feel and i'm looking forward to reading about your crazy cactus :cool: :D
I too enjoyed Out On A Limb, very well written and engrossing.
Did you know that prince Charles talks to his plants at his Highgrove home and he's not embarrassed to say that.
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Hello! So glad I got some company here!
Thank you so much for posting that story about the hopfields, Lura. Now, did the story tell you which hops made the best beer? You'd think the rock-n-roll field would hold claim to that, but perhaps not. And that is hilarious that the talk show field hops shriveled up and died. They must have not been playing Shirley MacLaine interviews! :-) I'm going to have to do some research and try to find that story. I'd love to listen to/read/watch it.
And I may have a cousin of Fred's . . . let me tell you the story of this yet unnamed cactus . . . my dear friend Anita died suddenly at the age of 37 a few years ago (fell off a golf cart, of all things!) . . . in addition to me, Anita had two other very close friends, and we were all friends in graduate school. The trio of us each now protect 1/3 of Anita's music, books, and plants--one was this crazy cactus from which each of us took one tiny cutting (one is in Florida, one in TN, and mine in Chicago). I'm attaching a photo here of the current status of this thing. I'm not sure what the heck it thinks it is doing, but it seems to be having some fun. Anyway, each cutting has grown into a completely different looking creature. Mine is in my basement yoga room and is surrounded by Anita's books and music. It gets a healthy dose of regular incense, morning meditation, jazz music, Shirley interviews, and gets to watch me routinely practice yoga. Perhaps all those different stimulations has given this plant the courage to follow its own true bliss--which is a bit nutty. I am inspired each time I breathe and sit with it.
I've got other spiritual plant questions, but will save them for later.
Oh, I love your plant, Steph!! S/He definitely looks like a free spirit, lol, that will not play by any "normal" plant rules! What a cutie! His/her name will appear to you in due time...
If I get a chance, I too will try to locate the hops story.
Lura :D
Just wanted to say, I definitely remember reading OOAL for the first time. I realized then that there were other people who had the same "crazy" ideas that I have. I have loved Shirley ever since. With each new book, I always feel a little thrill of anticipation when I start reading.
As far as plants--I tend to become attached to them and cannot let them go unless they are just too far gone. I have a small bamboo plant that might or might not make it. Was thinking about putting it outside in the summer to see if it perks up. Does anyone know anything about bamboo and how to make it thrive?
Hello Joanne, I don't know anything horticulturally speaking about bamboo, but emotionally/spiritually, you may want to try reading some Rumi and W.B. Yeats to (or at least in the presence of) your little bamboo plant. In particular, poems with the reed flute image--it abounds in Rumi's poetry and may inspire the little fella to achieve its true poetic potentiality, as Deepak Chopra might say. W.B. Yeats had that durn reed flute imagery running around in many of his poems, too--I argued in graduate school that Yeats was quite influenced by the mysticism of Sufism, etc. (not really a controversial thesis). If the poetry does not lift your bamboo's spirits, it will certainly enrich yours and maybe conjure up a dead poet or two in your midst during the reading! "Not a bad way to spend a Friday night, eh?"
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Namaste and two hands together from the melting Midwest,
harvesting wildflowers?!
Alright . . . before I get wrapped up in my storyline of a work life here, I have to say that on the (long!) commute into the office, I was listening to an archived Independent Expression Radio show where Shirley was talking to Rebecca Skeele about co-creation. She--Skeele--was giving advice about using the essence of flowers as a way of opening the heart, the chakras, and moving from the "story" life to an "intentional" life. I like the sound of that, but when Shirley started asking her the practical questions for an individual, for example, living in the city--what's a city gal to do? Go to the local florist and choose the flower that resonates most vibrantly to her? No, said Skeele, ideally go out into the wilderness and choose flowers from there.
Excuse me? Harvest wildflowers?! This is where I put the brakes on in the conversation. While they did not address this fundamental problem in the conversation, I think we could talk about it here. Harvesting wildflowers? As a lover of nature, the wilderness, our national parks--especially the Smoky Mountains which have the most variety of species of wildflowers in North America--I am pretty shocked at the idea of stripping wildflowers from their home so that I can soak up their essence for my own personal use. It kind of sends shivers up my spine even typing that.
So . . . if you cannot go to a florist (and I understand the complicated ethics of flowers in a flower shop--have you seen the documentary Love, Women, and Flowers?! Most flower shop flowers/plants have had such a tragic life imbued with violence imposed upon them and the women in the factories!) and you cannot harvest wildflowers (thank goodness!), where do you get your flower essence from? . . .
I suppose one obvious answer is that we must grow our own flowers--as we should our food we consume as well, eh?
Any thoughts out there on, to coin a phrase from Shirley this morning, our petal people?
Alright...into the story work day I go!
Hi Norma, I loved your advice about reading Rumi and Yeats to my little plant. Since I love reading poetry anyway, this is right up my alley. I will let you know the results.
I know of the IE interview that you speak of. I have to say that I , also, would have an extremely hard time plucking wildlife flowers. Years ago, my husband and I were hiking on Mt. Rainer and came across a meadow of exquisite flowers. All kinds and colors--it was breathtaking! Well, there were two woman ahead of us that felt the need to gather some for themselves. For what purpose, I'm not sure. They were probably wilted by the time they reached the bottom of the mountain. That has always stayed with me because it bothered me so much. Sometimes beauty is just meant to be enjoyed and not owned.
Nice to meet you here, by the way!
Nice meeting you, too! And call me steph. "Norma Rae" is just a pet pseudonym I use on occasion.
Wow, that's a shocking story about the wildflower poachers at Mt. Rainer. I've seen similar disregard on occasion in the Smokies--usually young adults who have forgotten how to respect nature (and have not yet rediscovered that lost compassion). And let's not even get started on corporations wrecking havock on the natural resources and pure essence of this Earth (said the woman who just drove 2 hours to get to work! *sigh*). Or maybe we should? . . .
Yesterday and this morning during my horrid commute to the office, I listened to two really inspirational conversations on the environment between Shirley and Forest Guardians Executive Director Susan Trixier and the other between Shirley and Kuki Gallmann. Both were just wonderful and are certainly a continuing conversation of Shirley's initial question in Out on a Limb: "Do plants have emotions?" Traffic was so brutal today, that I was able to write down a few thoughts from Kuki related to this topic:
"Listen to the voice of the Earth, the plants, the trees."
"Plants have many secrets."
The ancients certainly knew this; poets and artists know this; beings from other planets and solar systems--I am certain--know this; people from less industrialized countries than ours must know this; the shaman knows this. We've forgotten, but at least it seems that some of us are trying desperately to remember the thing(s) we've forgotten. What is it that we've forgotten? The feminine? The yin? That we are all energy and all connected?
Should we continue this conversation or switch gears to another line or two from Out on a Limb?
namaste from the soggy midwest!
The Secret Lives of Plants and . . . a new topic to discuss
Well . . . this thread may be ready to move on to a new topic from Out on a Limb, but apparently the universe has decided that I am not. Today on the commute into the office, I "randomly" (yeah, right!) selected an Independent Expression Radio interview between Shirley and Cleve Backster. Whoa! Biocommunications of plants, plants being able to clearly sense *thoughts* of others, plants being able to distinguish between intention and pretense (I could really use that in my line of work! Perhaps I'll bring a plant to my next hearing!), and . . . Peter Tomkins' The Secret Life of Plants (referenced above in the original passage from Out on a Limb that I first underlined)! Okay, okay! I hear you, universe! I suppose the next step in following this journey is for me to rustle up a copy of Tomkins' book, eh?
Well . . . how 'bout we tackle another sentence that I underlined in Out on a Limb . . . much later in the book:
"Well, life is like hot sauce. As soon as you start enjoying it, it makes you cry."
Any thoughts/experiences you want to share on that little gem of wisdom?
namaste from the slowly drying yet still soggy Midwest,
Hi Steph,
I love how you are taking sentences from the book and using them as a starting point for discussion. As far as the "hot sauce" reference---I take that to mean that life is kind of a roller coaster. It does seem sometimes that everything is wonderful and we go along happily and then something kicks us in the butt. But that just seems to be life. We learn from both types of experiences. Sometimes more from the butt kickers. I'm sure I am not saying anything that all of us here don't already know.
But, I guess we just have to remember to be grateful for ALL of life's experiences--it all helps us to evolve. And we all have different lessons to learn. Some people may seem to have everything, but scratch the surface, and they are miserable and vice versa.
Thanks for provoking some thought!
Hi Joanne (and others)!
I believe that at the time the comment was made in the book (David says it to Shirley), that she had just experienced a moment of true enlightenment, epiphany, euphoria, and at that moment of enJOYment, she began crying. Unfortunately, I do not have the book with me to reference right now to be sure. I believe Shirley asks the question of why she was crying in such a moment, and David responded with the hot sauce analogy.
In my yoga teacher training (in Santa Fe, thank you!), we studied the "subtle body" during the last week of intensives, and one exercise we did was to partner will another yogi and meditate on where in our body we felt any discomfort and to follow it. Many people--as did I and my partner--experience an energy moving throughout our body as if it were stuck. Upon further meditation and dropping into the moment and observing our stuckness without judgment, the energy would often release. What your partner would do is watch and observe your body while asking simple questions of "where it is now?" and "how does it feel now." Often, what you would find is that the energy would start to release itself through involuntary movements like eye twitching, but upon ultimate release of the stuckness, tears would spontaneously flow.
Viola--Hot sauce!
Your take on this is SO much better than mine:) Thanks Steph!
souls that bind
Here's a selection of Out on a Limb that should stir up a good discussion:
"They say there's an energy that fills interatomic space, but they don't know what it is. Even they call it the cohesive element of the atom, which they term as 'gluon.' They know it is not matter, but rather units of energy. . . . Mayan says it is this subatomic energy that makes up the Source. Therefore the Source, that form of energy, is not molecular. . . . This energy is the energy that makes up the soul. Our bodies are made out of atoms; our souls are made out of this Source energy."
What do you think about that?!
Namaste from the midwest,
Steph, this is a good one. I have to say that if even "they" don't know what it is, then I sure don't either. I do know instinctively that the soul is made up of energy. But from where this energy comes from, who can say? I often wonder if we will have access to all the answers when we pass over or if it will still be a mystery. Maybe things are revealed in stages as we pass from one life to the next. And when we do ultimately reach the final destination, what then? Do we cease to have any individuality? If so, are we even aware? I cannot even comprehend this with my earth bound mind. I guess we will all discover the big truth when it is time.
I love the thought provoking ideas you are throwing out with Out on a Limb!
Joanne (and all!) . . . your comments remind me of Shirley's initial reaction to David's revelation in the book (if you have the paperback, we're on pp. 324-25, btw). Shirley says to David, "Why? . . . It could be anything . . . And it seems to me to make damn little difference at this point, whether we know for a fact, or don't know, what the soul is made of. . . . what's the point of breaking down its components . . ."
Well, I suppose that is an entirely different conversation we can have, isn't it? Perhaps the point of questioning and exploring is just that--to learn. It is the best our little human brain can do (with the help of opening our chakras, subtle body, and intuition to the inexplicable) to try to reconnect with what we have forgotten (the Source?) in this human form. Interesting, I'm looking at a few paragraphs after the above selection (on p. 326), and Shirley says "I felt I was remembering something somewhere way underneath my mind in a place I had never touched. . . ." Hmmm?
Well, before I get too much off on that tangent (unless others want to follow it?!?!?!), I want to go back a little in the book on p. 324 before David makes the statement . . . Shirley says "Well, . . . You mean it is a kind of ocean in which everything floats? . . ."
Okay, the reference to the phrase "cosmic ocean" and the name of David's unearthly companion Mayan reminds me of the Story of Markandeya: Waters of Non-Existence, which can be found in Heinrich Zimmer's Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization, which I read during yoga training. Shoot . . . I'm going to have to return to this later because I've got to head into a long commute into work now . . . But Markandeya touches on the existence of "maya," what is "reality," and that durn cosmic ocean . . . the Source? the interconnectedness of our soul energies? . . .
Two hands together from the peaceful Midwest . . .
I love that you are using these quotes from Out on A Limb! It has really gotten me thinking and focusing on certain concepts.
I love that you quoted "I felt I was remembering something somewhere way underneath my mind in a place I had never touched."
I have felt this on occasion with certain people and very strongly in places I have visited.
But here is my question. Certain people and places may nudge us to remember something in a past life. But why? What good is it doing us in this incarnation? I know that I have been certain places before. But, what does that really tell me that I can practically work with in this lifetime?
Do you (or anyone here) have thoughts about what we can do with the bits of information that we may remember from past lives? Can we learn from this?
Thanks for your postings, Steph!
lessons from those we've known (or have not known) before?
Joanne (and all!),
That is a huge question! I think you have to go on an individualized case-by-case basis. I've listened to some of the archived Independent Expression Radio shows where members sent in questions for Shirley to answer, and often this is one of the questions. And even Shirley--someone so in touch with her past lives--has difficulty answering the question without really narrowing it down. I think it is something you have to sit with and meditate with for a very long time--a lifetime? Lifetimes, even?! Anyone want to share some specific lessons learned from past lives? I am not yet in touch with my past lives well enough to even begin to articulate lessons I may be in the process of learning right now. However, that's part of the reason I am here (in the cherry bowl...or am I in the cherry pit bowl?)--to learn to connect with that "subtle" part of my body or being in this incarnation.
Thoughts anyone?
Here is the flip of that question that I have been noodling over for a while: What do we learn from those whom we absolutely know we have never before encountered in a past life--especially when that person is in a significant role in this life? Why would we choose that? Interesting.
(By the way, I am now reading The Camino, and (oh boy!) do I have lots underlined in that book already! We'll have to start a Camino thread!)
Namaste from the sunny Midwest!
lessons from the past
Friends, Joanne asked "Do you (or anyone here) have thoughts about what we can do with the bits of information that we may remember from past lives? Can we learn from this?" . . . I just finished reading The Camino, and what a great question to transition from a discussion about Out on a Limb to The Camino, but let's not stop this thread just yet. I underlined many thoughts in The Camino on what one might do with past life information:
"Did imagination begin at the moment of creativity, or was it based on previous experiences and some kind of forgotten knowledge that my soul was communicating to my mind?" (p. 217).
"Everything each of our souls had experienced through millions of years was still a part of our genetic memory. We had been both male and female, because in the beginning we were a reflection of the soul that was divinely both." (pp. 244-45).
"Was what we called imagination truly based on soul memory? Would we ever know the truth of our soul's past and therefore dream a more magnificent future? Would we learn to trust that once, billions of years ago, the Divine Spirit had been lonely and created us into being, to live as a family of children who loved the Deity with all our hearts and all our souls and our neighbor as ourselves? I pulled out my gold cross and held it tightly. Yes, I could imagine such a thing." (p. 302).
Is this too much to start with? Perhaps, but let's keep this thread going here with a discussion on what do we learn from our past lives and why learn it at all?
Namaste from the deserts of Las Vegas,
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A few weeks ago I eavesdropped on a Twitter conversation between Nymeth (@Nymeth) and Aarti (@aartichapati) where both were concerned about how they'd fit blogging into their schedules after they start grad school in the fall.
I started my blog just after I graduated from college and immediately started grad school in the fall, so in the almost two years I've been blogging I've been a student pretty much the whole time. Here are a few tips about how to make it work.
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Scarlett 2i4 is the latest in Focusrite's new generation of USB interfaces alongside the popular 2i2 and other products in the series. This 2-in, 4-out USB audio interface combines affordability, cross-platform operation, a comprehensive feature set and the best audio performance in its class. It's a perfect match for both the musician and the digital DJ - and it comes in an elegant, road-ready anodised aluminium unibody case.
Scarlett 2i4 is a great tool for the musician, with its two award-winning Focusrite microphone/line/instrument preamps accessed via universal front-panel XLR/TRS sockets, combined with professional 24-bit, 96 kHz conversion, plus class-leading analogue and digital design from input to output to ensure pristine audio quality throughout the signal path.
With its 48V phantom power capability, Scarlett 2i4 is perfect for recording guitar and vocal, or stereo piano for example, with high-quality condenser mics. Musicians will also love the direct monitoring mode, which removes the latencies associated with listening back to the input signal through the DAW. Artists can record into the DAW in real time, whilst hearing a zero latency monitor feed from their input sources, controlled by a single knob for easy blending between direct monitoring and DAW playback. In common with other interfaces in the Scarlett series, input level controls feature a novel LED "signal halo" around the knob that indicates signal presence (green) and input overload (red), while a large-diameter silver volume knob gives you full and accurate control over monitor levels at all times, so whether you are mixing your music, or listening back to the track, the levels will always be in your control.
Alongside the two Focusrite preamps are four RCA phono outputs, two of which are also available on balanced TRS sockets. These, coupled with the high-level headphone output and flexible monitoring capability make Scarlett 2i4 ideal for digital DJs. Send outputs 1 & 2 to the main PA and use 3 & 4 for cueing, or send all four to a mixer. The converter performance ensures that the quality of the audio streamed from the computer is sonically superb. An A/B source switch for monitoring either of two stereo output pairs via the high-level headphone output provide everything that's required from a DJ interface.
MIDI input and output are included in Scarlett 2i4, allowing capture of performances with MIDI keyboards and controllers and the ability to play parts out to instruments and sound modules, recording their audio via Scarlett 2i4's TRS inputs.
Scarlett 2i4 comes complete with an excellent package of software tools to help you get your music down straight away. The latest version of the Focusrite Scarlett Plug-in Suite includes Compressor, Reverb, Gate and EQ in the form of VST/AU/RTAS plug-ins. Focusrite's established Xcite+ bundle is also included, which features Ableton Live Lite (for all your production, performance and compositional needs), Novation's Bass Station soft synth and over 1GB of royalty-free samples from Loopmasters.
Scarlett 2i4 delivers high quality, 24-bit 96kHz audio to and from both Macintosh and Windows computers with USB 2.0 capability - and it's bus powered so you only need to plug in the included USB cable to start making music.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 main features include:
Two high-quality award-winning Focusrite preamps
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Rear panel balanced TRS outputs (1 & 2) and phono (1-4)
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Headphone amplifier with separate level control
Headphone monitor switch to hear either set of outputs
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Switchable 10dB pad on all inputs
Large monitor level control
Includes Xcite+ Pack, Ableton Live Lite and Scarlett VST/AU/RTAS Plug-in Suite
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Our Clients
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IW Group is one of the leading advertising, marketing and public relations agencies in North America, specializing in the growing Asian and Pacific Islander markets. With more than 20 years of experience in brand marketing, ethnic advertising, corporate and community relations, public affairs, events marketing, interactive marketing and cross-cultural training, IW Group represents some of the most prominent corporations, foundations and nonprofit organizations. The agency's staff of 65 professionals have language capabilities in more than a dozen languages and dialects. IW Group currently has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
Client Successes
Multicultural marketing experts deliver ROI
Interested in achieving sales and market growth rates that exceed 50%? Then consider targeting the fastest growing segment of the U.S. market: Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. While most segments of the U.S. market have matured, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are consumers that strongly appreciate targeted marketing and public relations campaigns that address their unique needs, interests and aspirations.
Industry Expertise
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With more than 18 million people, the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander American markets is are the fastest growing consumer segments in the U.S. Collectively, this group of diverse consumers boasts more than $544 billion in spending power per annum. And, by 2014, the annual spending power of APIA consumers will grow to more than $700 billion. Traditional and non-traditional Asian/Pacific Islander American media grew by an astounding 300 percent from 1990 to 2008. Today, there are more than 1,200 Asian media organizations throughout the Americas.
Many of the leading global brands continue to embrace the growing ethnic markets in the Americas.


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In our experience most of our guests, once settled into their residence, are not initially anxious to venture out at the first opportunity. But gradually curiosity for the region takes hold. This is a short list of what you will find very close to home:
Visit the Halls Gap Zoo and see the koalas and dingoes.
Taste a fabulous range of wines at The Gap Vineyard just five minutes away. All together 20 vineyards in the Grampians and Pyrenees wine districts are within easy driving distance.
Visit Brambuk the National Park and Aboriginal Cultural Centre for a greater understanding of aboriginal history in the Grampians region.
Take any of the numerous walks in the Grampians National Park rated from easy to strenuous with walking and touring maps provided in each residence.
Take home a lasting memory of the Grampians from Rocket Nursery or the Native Plant Nursery at Pomonal.
Add some spice to your salads with a peppery olive oil from Red Rock Olives, just five minutes away.
Take a guided night time tour of the National Park consisting of chance encounters with such locals as koalas, owls, bats, gliders and many others.


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One demographic Bing has been lacking in is getting more women to use its service. The company is trying to change and has put together a new ad about 'heroic women' and their contributions in 2013. The ad is airing on tv in many markets over new years eve. The ad features the Sara Bareilles' song "Brave" seen in many Windows marketing "honestly" campaigns. Now we have seen feminists get angry when Microsoft makes Xbox ads that appeal to men. However, as a man I am in no way offended by this ad that appeals to women and hope to see the company do more in the future. The ad features a number of women including: Malala Yousafzai Who stood up to educate us all. After surviving an assassination attempt, she arose stronger than ever. In 2013 she addressed the UN, was named one of Time's "100 Most Influential People" and, at ...Read More →
Dec 31, 2013 Posted Microsoft Tagged ad, bing, feminsts, heroic women Comments 5


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Like most newlyweds, Josh and Lauren had anticipated the unity and ecstasy of married sexuality. Even though their honeymoon wasn't perfect, they still hoped that they would "click" and discover the ultimate beauty of sexual oneness. After two years of frustration, their optimism began to wane.
Sexual issues topped the list of their arguments. He complained that she was never interested. She responded by pointing out his obvious lack of romantic overtures. How could something designed to create unity have become so divisive in their young marriage?
Marital intimacy is fraught with hindrances such as poor communication, unmet expectations and resentment, primarily stemming from the vast differences between male and female sexuality. Perhaps you and your spouse have found yourselves frustrated in the bedroom, in which case it's probably time for some continuing education.
Become a student of your spouse. It took me 10 years of school to become a psychologist. Throughout that time, I was exposed to a fair amount of information on human sexuality. Needless to say, I felt more equipped than the average wife to understand a husband's needs. Boy, did I overestimate my sex education!
Regardless of your background, you have a lot to learn about your spouse's sexuality. In fact, much of what you assume may actually be wrong. If you want a deeply satisfying sex life, you must go back to being a student. In the following series, we'll look at how God made men and women different sexually, and how creating genuine intimacy requires vulnerability, effort and creativity.
Next article in series:
Intimacy and Sex: How Men and Women are Different — and Why
What are the keys to a strong, lifetime marriage? Thousands of couples asked the same question and Focus on the Family's trusted...
When a man follows the principles of biblical manhood, those around him benefit from his leadership and care. In this newest Focus...
Become the man God wants you to be, exercising dominion and taking responsibility over all areas of your life! In this 90-day...
Ten Ways to Help a Friend's Struggling Marriage Often we know someone who's struggling, but we don't know how to help. Here are 10 practical ways you can make a difference.
Would you like a stronger, happier relationship with your spouse? Are you ready to revitalize your marriage?
Take our Online Marriage Assessment.


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These Retailers Can Bring Your Portfolio a Lot of Green
Justin is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Consumer spending, one of the backbones of the American economy, has been on the rise throughout the economic recovery. These three retailers stand above the rest, and provide great returns to shareholders.
We will examine these companies based on a few factors, including valuation, dividend analysis, financial health, and growth prospects moving forward.
Mass appeal
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is currently trading at a discount to the S&P 500:
- Price-to-earnings ratio (trailing-12 months): 15.2X (18.1X)
- Price-to-earnings growth (PEG): 1.7 (3.0)
This is combined with a five-year sales growth rate of approximately 4.5%, and trailing-12 month earnings-per-share growth of 8.8%.
Wal-Mart is a dividend stud that currently yields 2.4%. It has raised this dividend annually for the last 39 years. This dividend consumes approximately 37.1% of its earnings per share, indicating room for future growth. Its dividend growth has slowed some over the last 10 years, falling from a 10-year dividend growth rate (DGR) of 18% to a one-year DGR of 11%. This is not a cause for concern, as the recession can be partially blamed for the slowdown of growth and the rate is still significantly higher than inflation.
Wal-Mart is also financially fit. Its total debt-to-equity ratio is below 1.0, currently sitting at 0.8. Wal-Mart has a low net profit margin of only about 3.8%, but this is due to the way Wal-Mart conducts business. Wal-Mart (and discount retailers in general) cannot put large mark-ups on its products in order to offer them at such competitive prices. Actually, Wal-Mart does a good job of being efficient, with a return on equity of approximately 24.5%.
A company as big as Wal-Mart can face some troubles when it comes to future growth. However, Wal-Mart looks to continue adding stores, both domestically and internationally. Wal-Mart will look to ramp up its store count further through smaller "express" stores. The big-box retailer is also making a more concentrated push into online sales to compete with Amazon.
A store for the "trendy" crowd
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Target (NYSE: TGT) is currently trading at discount to the S&P 500:
- Price-to-earnings ratio (trailing-12 months): 16.8X (18.1X)
- Price-to-earnings growth (PEG): 1.6 (3.0)
This is combined with a five-year sales growth rate of nearly 3.0%, and trailing-12 month earnings-per-share growth of -1.5%.
Like Wal-Mart, Target has a great dividend track record--Target has raised its dividend for 46 years and counting. The yield on current pricing is 2.4%, and the dividend has room for future growth, as it only consumes about 40.4% of earnings per share. Target also offers one of the fastest-growing dividends out there. Its 10- year DGR is 18.6%, and has stayed at that pace with a one-year DGR of 20.0%.
Target sits just below par with a 0.9 debt-to-equity ratio. Target has had to take on some debt, as it is deep into its expansion into Canada and addition of fresh groceries to its stores. The discount-retail business takes its toll on Target's profit margins as well, with a net margin of 3.8%. Target makes up for this on its return on equity, achieving a 17.3% return. While good, Wal-Mart is still able to do just a bit better.
Target is a retail blue chipper, but it still has some room to expand. As mentioned, Target is concentrating on growing through a Canadian expansion, and the addition of fresh groceries to its stores known as "P Fresh." Target is also gunning to take market share from Wal-Mart; its focus on the "shopping experience" and trendy products help differentiate it from its bitter rival.
This store is growing fast
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) is currently trading at a premium to the S&P 500:
- Price-to-earnings ratio (trailing-12 months): 25.81X (18.1X)
- Price-to-earnings growth (PEG): 2.0 (3.0)
This is combined with a five-year sales growth rate of 9.0%, and trailing-12 month earnings-per-share growth of approximately 26.8%.
Costco is well on its way to being a great dividend growth stock, if it isn't already. It has raised its dividend annually for the last 10 years. It currently yields 1.0%. It is currently paying out only 27.3% of its earnings, which signals high dividend growth ahead. Its dividend-growth rate has risen from 13.5% seven years ago to a one- year growth rate of 15.1%. With Costco in a state of such high growth, the dividend may be tempered a bit over the immediate future to leave capital for expansion.
Costco has surprisingly little debt considering its growth. Its total debt-to-equity ratio is only 0.5. Costco is however, not quite as efficient as incumbents Target and Wal-Mart. Costco's net profit margin is currently 1.9%, and its return on equity is 17.3%.
Costco's high rate of earnings growth should make you excited about the future. Costco is expected to grow its earnings 13.2% annually over the next five years, the highest growth rate of our three companies. It places an emphasis on quality and pays its employees above-average wages having the satisfaction flow down from the employee to the customer. Costco offers differentiation from the traditional retail chain, and looks to have a bright future as it expands further throughout the United States.
The bottom line
With consumer spending rising, there are a handful of retailers raking in the dough. Whether you want proven results and dividend growth with Wal-Mart, an up and comer changing it up such as Costco, or a little of both with Target - each has beaten the market over the long term.
The retail space is in the midst of the biggest paradigm shift since mail order took off at the turn of last century. Only those most forward-looking and capable companies will survive, and they'll handsomely reward those investors who understand the landscape. You can read about the 3 Companies Ready to Rule Retail in The Motley Fool's special report. Uncovering these top picks is free today; just click here to read more.
Justin Pope has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool owns shares of Costco Wholesale. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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#TechTipTuesday: Bloggers, Responsive Themes are your Friend!
For years I was hesitant to start a blog, even with friends like Jaye from Curvatude pushing me, because as a person who can design and someone who works in IT I just knew it had to look a certain way. I often rant on twitter about how I visit sites and get mad with people who do not consider that the design aspect is important when creating blogs. Now with internet browsing from mobile and smartphones being at an all time, the importance of having theme that can "go mobile" is a must. That's why responsive themes are your new BFFs.
At BWB, if you haven't seen the storify, make sure you check it out, one of the topics covered was getting your blog "mobile ready". What I realized after that session is most bloggers are not tech savvy, which means they are reaching out to web designers and relying solely on their opinion. You just have to know what to ask for! I mean you could ask for a specific mobile design or a mobile app, but then you'd spend "goo-goobs" of money and who wants to do that?!?!
What are Responsive Themes?
In simple terms, a responsive web design uses "media queries" to figure out what resolution of device it's being served on.Flexible images and fluid grids then size correctly to fit the screen. For example, if you are reading this post from you desktop, resize your browser. You will notice the site resizes with you. In this "Post PC" era where people are connecting to websites from tablets and phones its incredibly important to make sure your readers are getting the same experience they would from the desktop. In 2013 responsive themes have gained a lot of traction with mega sites like Mashable, Sony, and even Microsoft all switched to this design, with many more following suit.
How Responsive Themes Look?
You are here, so you are looking at a responsive theme. But, since I'm nice like that:-D, I have taken screen shots of my site of 3 different platforms (tablet, smartphone, and desktop) You can see the difference in how the site renders, but the site theme stays the same. Why lose your identity and have that boring "wp-touch" mobile page!!! No shade, I promise! lol
For your information, I do not recommend Mobile Conduit to build your mobile site. They can get expensive and you will be capped at the number of people that can visit your site. When you start growing and traffic gets bigger, this will be a costly expense and Jesus said it ain't worth it!
So the next time you are up for a blog redesign, make sure you ask your designer for a responsive theme. If they don't know what a responsive theme is, run! LOL No really don't run, just tell them you want your site responsive! HAHA


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TNA Impact Wrestling had some good news this week when it comes to television, as the company signed a new deal with Challenge TV in Great Britain to air their show in a multi-year deal. According to PWInsider.com on Jan. 8, TNA will be able to keep their show on free television in both the UK and Ireland thanks to the deal.
TNA Impact Wrestling have always prided themselves on having a strong, loyal, and quite large following overseas, but they still struggle in the United States, thanks to fans having a strong loyalty to the WWE.
Now, TNA Impact Wrestling will start to work on their U.S. television contracts, as they head into negotiations with Spike TV.
The current contract with Spike TV expires in October 2014 and the two sides will sit down to start negotiating in the first quarter of the year. However, there are two problems that TNA faces in this new deal.
The first is that the original deal had the goal of raising the viewership to the two million mark, something that has not happened. As a matter of fact, since the two sides signed the last contract, TNA Impact Wrestling has lost viewers over the years. It doesn't help that not all cable networks offers Spike TV, but TNA has done little to retain loyal fans lately.
The second problem is that the WWE is putting their shows up for bids in 2014, and they are seeking monster deals for their programs, promising any network that signs with them will be a Top 5 network regardless of where they sit now. There are strong rumors that Spike TV will bid on "WWE Smackdown," believing it will help Bellator more than the TNA Impact Wrestling lead-in would.
If that happens, that will leave TNA Impact Wrestling scrambling to find a new home, not an easy task with their ratings rarely rising above the 1.0 mark during prime time hours,


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Construction employment declined by 16,000 in December but the industry unemployment rate fell to 11.4 percent, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the new employment data was likely impacted by cold weather, but also reflects underlying weakness in the construction sector.
Construction employment totaled 5,833,000 in December, an increase of 122,000 from a year earlier, noted Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. But while employment grew by 2.1 percent during the past year, construction employment remains nearly 1.9 million below the sector's April 2006 peak. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for workers actively looking for jobs and last employed in construction declined from 13.5 percent in December 2012 to 11.4 percent last month.
Nonresidential construction firms lost 22,900 new jobs in December while residential firms added 6,200 jobs. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors lost 12,900 jobs for the month, the most of any segment, while heavy and civil engineering firms – which are most likely to perform federal construction work – lost 8,800 jobs, the second most. Meanwhile residential building contractors added the most new jobs during the past month, 4,800 jobs.
The number of unemployed construction workers dropped from 1,105,000 in December 2012 to 958,000 in December 2013, a decline of 147,000. Yet the industry added only 122,000 new jobs during the same timeframe. The shrinking pool of available construction workers may be one reason so many firms reporthaving a hard time finding qualified workers, Simonson noted.
Association officials said the outlook for construction could be helped by new investments in infrastructure and other construction programs. They urged Congress to finalize Water Resources Development Act legislation to invest in ports and other waterways. They also said Congress and the administration should work together to find a way to pay for needed repairs to aging roads and bridges before the current transportation legislation expires at the end of September.


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From A to B and Back Again | The Photography Blog
© Rodrigo Abd, Nov. 26, 2011, Retalhuleu / Guatemala
A sugarcane worker's hand is stained with ash from burning cane in. Before harvesting the plant, workers burn off leaves, straw and other debris from the stalks, leaving behind the precious cane. Guatemalans migrate from all over the country to growing regions to earn $8 a day during harvest season.
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Yesterday's big thingers
Remember the video of a boy & her sister tripping balls on their way home from dental surgery?
Good times - I doubt they'd remember it though.
Remember Ken Blocks Gymkhana video at the L'Autodrome in Linus, France?
How about Stephen Colbert's Address to Congress on the plight of migrant workers?
done & done.


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"I like a look of agony, because I know it's true."
-Emily Dickinson
Yeah, that was indeed me But don't feel bad, Diamond. I looove your maps and it is always a pleasure to look at them...so if you have to chose between making new maps and doing brushes for random guild-members ( ) i totally understand (AND vote for) you deciding for working on more maps
But if you have some spare time, I (and i am sure a lot of other members) would totally appreciate brushes for your moutains.
I'm trapped in Darkness,
Still I reach out for the Stars
Color? Bah! Next you'll be making it scratch-and-sniff!
Wow that's a beautiful map, definitely deserves an award!
Minor crit, I'm not so keen on the coloured outline around the labels, eg Montalva. I can see why you've done it to make them clear, but it would look better if the "stroke" effect had the same colour as the background. I've had a similar problem in my maps, it's fiddly because each label has a different background colour.
Anyway, very well done.
Beautiful and classy!
Well done.
Fantastic as per usual Diamond!
Thank you, guys. Always appreciated.
"I like a look of agony, because I know it's true."
-Emily Dickinson


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The Saab 9-5 comes as a sedan and station wagon. It was revised for 2002 and offers plenty of utility, safety and comfortably fast driving over all sorts of roads. However, the 9-5 has Saab's oldest design and is not as refined as some competitors. On the other hand, it doesn't feel especially dated. It looks sleek and is very fast.
The all-new Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon goes one step further with the functional back end as well as a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch light alloy wheels, an Aero-specific styling package and more. Its performance character is complemented by sporty exterior and interior styling changes, including flared rocker panels, a front chin spoiler, a rear valance and a sport steering wheel.
The Saab 9-5 Wagon accommodates both needs by providing performance, exceptional safety, and flexible cargo capacity. An aircraft-inspired CargoTracks(TM) metal load rail system allows owners to transport everything from pets to heavy, oversized packages - all securable with one-grip locks and special belts. A broad range of accessories, like cages, dividers, nets, cargo guards and other securing mechanisms, make the CargoTrack system an extremely flexible transport feature. An optional sliding load floor, able to accommodate up to 440 pounds and extendable to almost 20 inches, makes the loading of very heavy objects easy.
The Saab Aero Wagon handled the trip to Minnesota with aplomb, and with the largest contingent of Swedes in the country living there, it seemed right at home. It almost seemed to be longing for a little snow and ice to challenge it, but we'll leave that for others to test. With the tight cabin and seats that both heat and cool, the Aero wagon is ready for anything this country can throw at it.