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More than half of Nairobi's population – some two million people – live in slums and informal settlements. Crammed into makeshift shacks on just one per cent of the city's usable land, people live without adequate access to water, hospitals, schools and other essential public services.
Up to a million people live in Kiberia, Nairobi's largest slum, crowded onto just 550 acres of sodden land that straddles the main railway line. Most earn barely enough to rent a mud-floored, tin-roofed wooden shack with no toilet or running water.
Slum Dwellers are under the constant threat of forced evictions, which are illegal under international human rights law. These evictions are often carried out with brutality and victims are not compensated despite losing their homes, businesses and possessions.
Sometimes private developers are behind forced evictions and sometimes it's the government. Residents of the Deep Sea settlement have suffered waves of forced eviction by government authorities. Other forced evictions have been carried out in preparation for government infrastructure projects such as the construction of roads.
The Kenyan government's slum upgrading programme, while a positive step, is doing little or nothing to address the immediate and desperate needs of slum dwellers in Nairobi.
Despite government promises to provide affordable housing outside the slums, its housing policies have not prioritized people living in slums and settlements, or others who may face the greatest difficulties in accessing their right to adequate housing.
During her June visit to Nairobi, Amnesty International's Secretary General, Irene Khan, urged the Kenyan authorities to immediately stop all forced evictions and to ensure that Kenya fulfils its obligations in relation to the right to adequate housing for the most vulnerable.
This work is part of Amnesty International's Demand Dignity campaign which aims to end the human rights violations that drive and deepen global poverty. The campaign will mobilise people all over the world to demand that governments, corporations and others who have power listen to the voices of those living in poverty and recognise and protect their rights. For more information visit Demand Dignity section.


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August 6, 2014
In Algeria and Tunisia, the law allows a rapist to walk free if he marries his young victim. Help repeal these harmful laws!
Take Action Now
July 11, 2014
Rasoul Holoumi is at risk of execution for allegedly causing fatal injuries to a boy in a fight when he was 17. His death sentence could be carried out at any time.
June 27, 2014
The sentencing of three prisoners of conscience originally scheduled for 1 July has been postponed with no further information. They are prisoners of conscience.
June 24, 2014
Lutfillah Tadjik, an asylum-seeker, died on 31 May following an alleged beating by a police officer. Other asylum-seekers who witnessed the assault are now at risk of being returned to Afghanistan....
June 19, 2014
Razieh Ebrahimi has been sentenced to death for the murder of her husband. Her death sentence has been sent to the Office of the Implementation of Sentences and could be carried out at any time....

subset: commoncrawl


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Do you need help understanding your Medicare benefits?
There is medicare help for Hispanics that is offered by the Alabama State Health Insurance Assistance Program, also know as SHIP.
People can learn about Medicare and low income resources. No appointment is necessary.
For more information call 1-866-570-2998.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>


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Credit: NICK ORABOVIC
The Willamalane Park District near Eugene, Ore., opened the Splash! At Lively Park waterpark in 1989.
While this recreation facility does pretty well, in many ways
it's the fitness programming that keeps the community
interested in aquatics, says Christine Crutcher, aquatic program
manager. Crutcher and her team offer a number of aquatic fitness
classes, most at the Willamalane Park Swim center, which has an
eight-lane, 25-yard lap pool and a warm-water play/exercise
Those classes generate a profit margin of about 50 percent, and
while the overall aquatic program is still subsidized, the deficit
would be much larger were it not for the fitness classes, Crutcher
To generate maximum attendance, she's modeled the program
after health clubs, with a drop-in class admission policy and
convenient hours. To encourage them to stick with it, patrons
receive a "punch card" good for one free class after
participating in 10 class sessions.
"You have to have that group of people that helps you sustain
in the times that are quieter," Crutcher notes.
Kendra Kozen
Straight out of the 2014 Lifeguard Challenge, try these exercises with your team.
Special Report
Here's what happened while you were busy managing your pool.
As the swim season comes to a close, some pool operators say cooler temperatures meant...
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2014 Hanley Wood Media, Inc. All rights reserved.


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COLDWATER MI (WTVB) - If you've been following the saga of the budget problems for Branch County and the impending layoff of deputies at the Sheriff's Department, you'll want to know that the date of the next Board of Commissioner's finance committee meeting has been changed from Friday of this week to tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. at the courthouse.
The committee meetings are open to the public. And speaking of public, the county government's spending plan for 2013 will be the subject of a public hearing during the full board of commissioner's regular meeting next Tuesday.
Next year's budget is scheduled to be finalized and adopted at the Commission's last meeting of the year, which is set for Thursday, December 20th.
The final finance committee session will be two days earlier, on Tuesday, December 18th. At this point, plans call for 7 road patrol deputies to be laid off at the end of this month. A new proposal unveiled last Friday by Sheriff-elect John Pollack and retiring Sheriff Warren Cannon would allow 7 other deputies to stay on the job that were expected to be let go because of the November Sixth defeat of a millage to fund the road patrol.


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Amy Poehler Gallery
Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler added a little edge to her look, showing up at the 2013 West Coast Writers Guild Awards on Feb. 17, 2013 with a darker 'do and some bangs. Which look do you prefer on the Parks and Recreation star?
' More Sad Details Revealed About Robin Williams' Final Resting Place'(Fox News)
' WOW: 'Dating Naked' Is In Big Trouble'(Fox News)
' Katie Holmes Talks More About Tom Cruise'(Celeb Dirty Laundry)
' Are Taylor Swift and John Mayer Back Together?'(Celeb Dirty Laundry)
' What Is Really Going On With Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey?'(Hollywood Hiccups)


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Oceaneering International (OII) Is Water-Logged And Getting Wetter Today
- OII has an average dollar-volume (as measured by average daily share volume multiplied by share price) of $82.2 million.
- OII has traded 456,580 shares today.
- OII traded in a range 341.8% of the normal price range with a price range of $5.20.
- OII traded below its daily resistance level (quality: 4 days, meaning that the stock is crossing a resistance level set by the last 4 calendar days. The resistance price is defined by the Price - $0.01 at the time of the signal).
Stocks matching the 'Water-Logged and Getting Wetter' criteria are worthwhile stocks to watch for a variety of factors including historical back testing and volatility. Trade-Ideas targets these opportunities because the stock is exhibiting an unusual behavior while displaying negative price action. In this case, the stock crossed an important inflection point; namely, "support" while at the same time the range of the stock's movement in price is twice its normal size. This large range foreshadows a possible continuation as the stock moves lower. EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get the inside scoop on opportunities in OII with the Ticky from Trade-Ideas. See the FREE profile for OII NOW at Trade-Ideas More details on OII: Oceaneering International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered services and products primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry with a focus on deepwater applications worldwide. The stock currently has a dividend yield of 1.2%. OII has a PE ratio of 21.6. Currently there are 9 analysts that rate Oceaneering International a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold. The average volume for Oceaneering International has been 954,200 shares per day over the past 30 days. Oceaneering International has a market cap of $7.7 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and energy industry. The stock has a beta of 1.58 and a short float of 1.8% with 1.66 days to cover. Shares are down 9.6% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more. TheStreetRatings.com Analysis: TheStreet Quant Ratings rates Oceaneering International as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. Highlights from the ratings report include:
- OII's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 8.2%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 16.2%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
- OII's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.02 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.21, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
- OCEANEERING INTERNATIONAL has improved earnings per share by 23.1% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past two years. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, OCEANEERING INTERNATIONAL increased its bottom line by earning $2.66 versus $2.17 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($3.40 versus $2.66).
- The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Energy Equipment & Services industry average. The net income increased by 23.7% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, going from $84.41 million to $104.41 million.
- Net operating cash flow has increased to $134.49 million or 29.22% when compared to the same quarter last year. The firm also exceeded the industry average cash flow growth rate of 14.84%.
- You can view the full Oceaneering International Ratings Report.
STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.
Oceaneering International Stock Price
Oceaneering International Analyst Ratings
Oceaneering International Key Stats & Profile
Oceaneering International Earnings
Oceaneering International Ratio Comparison
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Still Looking for New Web Host
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LIVE broadcasts from Minnesota Republican Convention in Minneapolis
Open this link below to see LIVE coverage of the Minnesota DFL Convention in Minneapolis. This Web broadcast is provide from The Uptake.
Minnesota Republicans will endorse their candidate for governor on Friday, after months of campaigning.
The closely matched contest comes down to two state representatives, Tom Emmer and Marty Seifert. Five others whose campaigns haven't caught on are also putting their names in nomination.
Are you a newspaper subscriber but you don't have a Digital Access account yet? https://secure.forumcomm.com/?publisher_ID=40&event=subscriber/lookup.
You will need your subscription account number and phone number. Not sure if you have an account? Email us at email@example.com and we can help you.


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Academy's Ethos
|As an Academy we emphasise to our girls their personal responsibility for what they say, think and do. Our girls are encouraged to value hard work, to try things out and to learn and grow from any mistakes they may make along the way.
They are taught to appreciate the difference they can make by entering the room, not standing in the doorway.
Our girls are encouraged to do their personal best. They have their aspirations challenged and raised through repeated opportunities to hear from, and work with, role models from a range of professional and business backgrounds. We have strong links with Brunel University and Highgate School, both of whom work with us to support the development of our girls.
|During their secondary years, our girls are supported in developing their mentoring and leadership skills. They are encouraged to look for opportunities to become informed citizens both in and out of the Academy. By involving and challenging our girls in this way we aim to help them grow into active members of their communities, who know they have the power to influence the world around them and to inspire others.


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If you like the itinerary below please quote REF 6 when enquiring for further details.
Alternatively you may like modify this trip with your own Holiday Wish List
Good morning Vietnam! Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport you will be met and transferred to your city centre hotel. Known as the 'Paris of the Orient', Hanoi is the charming capital and cultural heart of Vietnam. Spend the remains of the day at leisure.
We will visit Hoa Lu, once the capital of the Dinh and early Le dynasties n the 10th and 11th century. The sanctuaries were built in the 17th century. Come to see the stone pedestal of the royal throne, the bronze bells and the statues of the Emperors. Leaving Hoa Lu, we will head to Tam Coc which is known as Ha Long Bay on the rice fields. Upon arrival, we will take a sampan ride through a karts landscape to visit Tam Coc grottos. The sampan rower will drive the boat through shallow rice paddies and three splendid long grottos. Leave the sampans and visit a small temple, built in 13th century, called Thai Vy. Enjoy the lunch at the local restaurant before the drive back to Hanoi. Upon arrival, check in hotel and stay at leisure
In the morning, we drive to the Ho Chi Minh Complex; containing the mausoleum of the nations founder Ho Chi Minh. Here, large crowds gather to pay their respects to the man they call 'Uncle Ho' as they silently file past his glass sarcophagus. The complex also contains the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the founding of the city in the 11th century. The pagoda, supported by a single stone pillar, is said to resemble a lotus blossom. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's house on stilts can also be seen here. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple. Enjoy 1-hour cyclo tour around the Old Quarter. This evening, board an overnight Livitran Express sleeper train from Hanoi to the border town of Lao Cai.
The train pulls into Lao Cai at approximately 06:00am this morning, transfer to Sapa for breakfast. Located 1500m above sea level, Sapa is a former French hill station, nestled in the rugged Tonkinese Alps and surrounded by lush valleys and verdant rice paddy fields. This morning take a light trek to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, Ta Van and Cau May. Walking to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you meet some of the local ethnic minority people on their way to and from Sapa. These minority people, including the Red Zao, Hmong and Tay people, walk to Sapa to trade at the markets. Tonight you spend the night at the hotel in Sapa town.
Start your morning with a hike to a beautiful waterfall before continuing on to a picturesque Red Dao village. Red Dao women wear giant red scarves around their heads and their clothing is embellished with colourful red embroidery and coins. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Sapa before returning to Lao Cai to board the overnight train back to Hanoi.
Upon arrival in Hanoi, freshen up before driving to Halong City (approx 4 hours), stopping for refreshments en route. At UNESCO Listed Halong Bay limestone peaks and forest clad islets, hidden coves and beautiful beaches await discovery! Board your Junk boat and cruise to the famous islands of Halong Bay and onto Bai Tu Long Bay, stopping to visit a cave and swim in the warm waters. There is a chance to explore more this stunning area by sea kayak. Return to the Junk boat for a tasty dinner and a memorable night in beautiful surrounds.
Wake up to see a spectacular sunrise over the bay! This morning cruise through Bai Tu Long and visit the floating fishing village of Vong Vieng - where you'll gain a fascinating insight into local life. Cruising back to the dock arrive into Halong City around noon then transfer back to Hanoi to enjoy a one hour cyclo tour exploring the charming Old Quarter, visiting Hoan Kiem. . Afterwards, we enjoy the walking tour of the 36 streets in the Old Quarter before boarding your overnight train to Hue.
Arrive Hue this morning and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Hue was the Vietnamese capital during the Nguyen Dynasty 1802-1945 and ruins of the city's regal past can still be seen inside the Citadel and the Imperial City. Created in the 19th century, the Imperial City was modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and holds many palaces and temples inside its giant walls. Many of the buildings were damaged by French aerial bombing and the Tet Offensive in 1968. Now it is slowly being restored thanks to generous funding by UNESCO.
Today, we embark on a sightseeing tour of the 19th-century Nguyen empire capital. Your tour begins after breakfast with the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. Spend the morning wandering through the enclosure before lunch and a trip into the surrounding countryside to see the final resting place of the Emperors at two of the most impressive Royal Tombs. This evening, take a scenic boat cruise along the Perfume River.
This morning, continue south to the riverside town of Hoi An. The five hour trip hugs the coastline along the South China Sea with breathtaking views particularly as the road winds its way up Hai Van Pass ("Pass of the Clouds"). We make a few stops along the way including China Beach for a lazy stroll and Marble Mountain. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
We start to ride a bicycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. Introduction to the history of the village, the cultivation of the vegetables as well as discovering about the use of vegetables in traditional Vietnamese medicine. You will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. Then spend the rest of the morning working the land in the time honoured way, before breaking to prepare lunch with a local family. After your lunch and the exertions of the morning, take an even more traditional Vietnamese post-prandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Around 15.00, bid farewell to your host family before riding back to Hoi An, on the way back stop at Nhat tomb and Ba Le well.
Free day in Hoi An. Option activities offered to book and pay locally: - Half day cooking course (visit to market + cooking) - Day trip to My Lai - Day at the beach
Free day in Hoi An. Option activities offered to book and pay locally: - Half day cooking course (visit to market + cooking) - Day trip to My Lai - Day at the beach
Transfer to Da Nang airport for departure flight to Nha Trang. Up on arrival, transfer to hotel.
Free day in Nha Trang.
Free day in Nha Trang.
Transfer to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight Ho Chi Minh City - Ramana Hotel 4 star (Superior Room)
Today enjoy a full day cruise excursion on the beautiful Mekong Delta, one of the world's greatest river systems. Early morning transfer to Cai Be - Phu An where you board the Cai Be Princess. First stop is the colourful floating market at Cai Be. Then visit some local home factories to discover traditional rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and longans drying processing. The cruise continues along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island where you can observe the typical Mekong delta rural life. Disembarking mid-afternoon to Can Tho. Overnight Ho Chi Minh City - Ramana Hotel 4 star (Superior Room)
In the morning, we will visit Cai Rang floating market then travel back to Ho Chi Minh City for a guided tour including the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office and Dong Khoi Street, the Opera House and the Peoples' Committee Building. Overnight Ho Chi Minh City - Ramana Hotel 4 star (Superior Room)
Take a morning excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels, north west of the city. This immense network of connecting underground tunnels, were used by the Viet Cong and one of the famous battle grounds in the Vietnam War. Watch a short introductory video on the construction of the tunnels before exploring the maze of tunnels, accompanied by the guide. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs from B52 bombers. Returning to Saigon later in the afternoon for free time. Overnight Ho Chi Minh City - Ramana Hotel 4 star (Superior Room)
Departure transfer to the airport for flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a fascinating capital, with a fusion of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. This charming and easygoing city will provide a smooth introduction to Laos. After a short rest, an orientation walk of Lao Capital is a pleasant way to spend the day, strolling around some of the city's most historical sites and seeing some of the French colonial architecture. We observe the sunset by the Mekong Riverside until the late evening and experience the city lifestyle of the local Lao people.
After breakfast, we see the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We then continue to visit the COPE centre. After that on the way to Lao's national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. In the afternoon we transfer out to see the Buddha Park, a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. A spectacular view of over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.
Journeying northbound; we visit the busy and colorful market of Thalat where various hill tribes come to trade goods and buy previsions. A next stop of our trip is Vang Xang, famous for the archeological site dating back 11th century. We reach our final destination, the small and tranquil village of Vang Vieng, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Its stunning scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops remains unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. After checking into your hotel we take a wander to catch our first glimpse of this peaceful hill town. OPTIONAL (book and pay locally): explore caves, go tubing or bike riding
Heading 2km out of Vang Vieng town we explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which was once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. We also cross the river to Ban Huai Ngai, a very pleasant village where we can explore the different lifestyles of the locals. Leaving Vang Vieng, we wind our way through Kasi and Phoukhoune to Luang Prabang (roads are not so great but worth the trip). This town with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop has been claimed by UNESCO to be "the best preserved traditional city in South East Asia". There is little traffic on Luang Prabang roads and monks in orange robes scurry in all directions carrying umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun.
AM: We explore, Wat Visoun, Wat Aham and Ock Pop Tock (Weaving centre). Later, visit the former Royal Palace, now a National Museum (close Tuesday). At sunset we climb the nearby temple-topped hill of Mount Phousi where you'll catch a lovely view over the town and the Mekong River. PM: We continue our excursion toward Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon. OPTIONAL (book and pay locally): Cooking Class at Tamarind Restaurant.
Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving.
Free time in in Luang Prabang. OPTIONAL (book and pay locally): Elephant ride, Cycling, Kayaking.
Departure transfer to the airport.


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Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > You Stole My Heart Gerard Way
Bundle of Joy..?0 Reviews
Sara finds out that she has a little something extra to carry around.
I flushed the toilet for the 5th time that hour, wiping the tears off my face. I could feel my stomach churning, trying to find other contents to spill back out. I felt gross, and I took a seat on the edge of the bath tub as Tim entered.
"Sara, are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" I nodded, not wanting to open my mouth just in case. He grabbed the hand towel off the hanger and handed it to me.
"I should be back later today. I'll my parents you say hi." I nodded again and he kissed the top of my head. "I love you" he told me before leaving.
As soon as I heard Tim shut the front door, I managed to wobble down the stairs and take a seat on the couch. My head was pounding, and there were beads of swear forming at the end of my nose. I grabbed the blanket folded at the end of the couch, and threw it over my shivering body. I picked up the remote control and started flipping through the channels. My mind wandered to anything but reason why I thought I was sick. This hadn't been the first it had happening this week, but no one had seemed to notice before.
There was a knock at the front door, and I dragged myself off the couch to answer it, my blanket draped over my shoulders. Once I had opened the door, I had to shield my eyes from the sunlight. When my eyes adjusted, I saw Gerard standing on my porch.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice shaking.
He shifted his weight uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Your mom called. She said she had something to give my mom, but she couldn't get it so I came for her."
"She's not here right now. But feel free to come in and look for it." Gerard walked by me, and I made my way back to the couch. But before I sat down, I felt my stomach gurgling again. I climbed the stairs two at a time and barely made it to the washroom in time. My throat burned as the remaining contents of my stomach spilled into the toilet bowl. I shut the lid and rested my head on my hands, more tears falling from my eyes. Just as I started to get sick again, Gerard walked in.
"I can't find any-" He finally realized what was happening, and rushed over to my side. "Sara, are you okay?" I collapsed on the ground, out of breath. "Sara. Are you okay?" he asked again.
Wiping my tears away, I nodded slowly. Gerard stood up, picked up a face cloth and wet it with cold water. He walked back over to me and started to gently wipe my face with it. I was to tired, that I didn't bother pushing him away. When he was finished, he placed the cloth on the counter and helped me up, and took me to my room.
I layed down on my bed and stared at the ceiling, not noticing that Gerard was still standing in my room looking at me. He stood in the doorway, not knowing what to do, so he decided to take a seat at the end of the bed. I felt his weight sit down, but I didn't look.
"Is everything okay?" he asked softly.
"Why are you sick?"
I craned my neck to look at him. "I think I'm pregnant." Whoa, did I just tell him? I hadn't told anyone else. Not even Tim. But I wasn't even sure myself.
He looked at me thoughtfully for a minute before he spoke. "Wow. That's big. Can I do anything for you?"
"Yeah actually. If you could run to the store and get me a pregnancy test, that would be great." I put my head back down on the pillow.
"Okay." He got up from the bed and left the room. I sighed, still not believing that I had just told Gerard my secret. I drifted off to sleep but was awoken a short while later when Gerard lightly shook me.
"I got it" he said, placing the pink box on the bedside table.
"Thanks" I mumbled into the pillow. I pushed myself up, picked up the box, and walked to the washroom. Gerard sat patiently as I took the test. I came out a few minutes later, shock still visible on my face. I had suspected it, so why was I so shocked?
"So, what's it's say?" Gerard asked when I walked back into the room. I had forgotten he was there, and he startled me when he spoke.
"Oh. Well, It looks like Tim and I are going to have to buy a bigger apartment place."
"Congratulations" he said, getting up from his place.
"Thanks." I went back downstairs and Gerard followed close behind me. I resumed my spot on the couch, and Gerard took a seat in the chair my father had had since the year I had been born. "So how is everything with you?" he asked after a few minutes.
"Not bad. Actually it's going really well. I just got a job directing a music video for an indie band."
"Hey, that sounds cool."
"Yeah, it is. And how about you? Your life any more hectic than last I saw you?"
"Yeah, well. We've booked more tour dates. And I don't get to see my family a lot. But I'm still really enjoying everything."
"That's good to hear." I smiled at him. This time not a fake one, but genuine.
"Sara," he paused, and looked like he was rethinking his decision to speak, but then continued on. "About what happened three months ago, I'm really sorry. I had no right to do it."
"Gerard, it's okay. I could have refused you, but I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"Okay, but If I really didn't want you to, then I would have pushed you away harder."
"I guess so. But that's not the point. I just want you to know that I am truly sorry. And I'm happy for you and Tim."
"I really appreciate that. And I'm happy for you too."
"Well, your career for one. And you're girlfriend, Vanessa is it? I'm glad to see your happy."
He smiled almost with sorrow, and then looked at his watch. "Crap. I should get going. I'll see you tomorrow I assume?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Good." He walked to the door.
"Wait Gee?" He smiled even wider when I called him Gee. I hadn't called him that in a long time.
"Thanks. For everything."
"No problem."


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|Reviewed By
|Room Note
|Briar and Ice (4)
|Medium to Strong
|None Detected
|Tolerable to Strong
Contrary to unsubstantiated popular belief, this is not an English blend.... now, with that out of the way:
This is a wonderful smoke. The pungency and freshness of the tobacco is ebullient from even before the tin has been lovingly cracked open. With the tin finally, rather ceremoniously cracked the first scent is of the spicy and somewhat acrid (if you've smoked Perique you'll know what I mean) Perique underlaying the relatively mild and sweet Virginias. You will then most likely, glance into the tin to find a light colored blend, with the sparsely populated stoved Virginias littered throughout, as well as the darker brown Perique.
Now, into the bowl....
I must say, from first puff to ash cake this blend changes its flavor slightly. Normally I would conclude that this is a flaw, either in the packing, or the blending, but just to be clear, in this blend I find this characteristic to be the most attractive part of it.
It starts out like any other typical Virginia red, not ultimately very intense, yet satisfying nonetheless. As it begins to develop heat and a crisp topping to the pack, this bowl comes alive about 2 minutes in, where it goes from being an average Virginia blend to a delicately flavorful mouthful, filling a niché that I don't have a specific name for. The bowl continues this way, at its zenith, for the middle 15 minutes of the bowl, where at the bottom it becomes decidedly more intense, with the Perique resin building the crisp, the spicy tang improves, and phase 3 concludes with a satisfying surrender of eloquently sweet and tart virginias, not unlike the tobacco equivalent of candy.
What is brilliant about this tobacco, is that it will not blow you away the first time you smoke it, nor perhaps, even the second, but when the timing is right, you will sit down to pack your bowl after a long day, just like most other times, but for some reason this time, it will work together, the pipe will fill with the moist and dense tobacco, and for some reason, this time, it will be the best damn baccy you ever tasted. Tell me I'm wrong gentleman, but if you enjoy a good Virginia, this here is Lip-Smackin Tasty As All Hell.
Pipe Used: Chacom Jazz Bent Egg
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com/pipe-tobacco/
Similar Blends: McClelland - Bulk No.2015 Virginia Perique Flake, Kind've but not really......
1 person found this review helpful.


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It sounds as if the divorce between Peter Brant and former supermodel Stephanie Seymour is getting really nasty! Peter Brant says Seymour's spending is just outrageous and that she's been taking expensive art from the home. Read more on this story below.
Peter Brant has said that his estranged wife Stephanie Seymour spends $257,000 per month, including $50,000 on new clothes alone.
That shouldn't bother Brant as he is worth an estimated $489 million. But Brant also says his estranged wife is going into their Connecticut mansion and stealing art.
Brant even said that Stephanie cut a hole into the fence so she could get items out. And he says Stephanie also destroyed some of his most prized possessions. "In the past the plaintiff destroyed a valuable piece of art in anger, and recently destroyed the defendant's Kentucky Derby trophy," Brant claims.
Brant is a polo player who bred the 1995 Kentucky Derby winner, Thunder Gulch. Brant married Stephanie Seymour, the Victoria's Secret model that same year. They have three sons, ages 15, 13 and 4.
Brant's legal team also says that Stephanie Seymour has been dragging her feet on getting drug and alcohol tests. These were ordered as part of their child custody dispute.
Brant says that Seymour has "abused controlled substances in the past," including an addiction to Vicodin, for which she was hospitalized in 2000. He also said she's been to rehab twice in the past nine years.
Peter Brant has also demanded that Seymour keep her businessman boyfriend, Lance Maerov, out of their family home and away from their children.
Seymour's lawyer, Mark Sherman, said he had no immediate comment.
Click Thumbnails for Larger Pictures
Images: Wenn.com
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Cher is sorry about comments she made this week regarding Miley Cyrus.
Well... not so much sorry. But the veteran artist does wish she had chosen her words more carefully.
After slamming Cyrus' poor dancing and terrible body, Cher took to Twitter and backtracked a bit yesterday, writing:
"I'm a little ashamed didn't keep my big Opinionated mouth shut.... What I should have said (is) 'I didn't like (the performance) that much, but she's Pushing The Envelope,being an ARTIST. She's talented,& DIDNT COMMIT A FELONY. But somehow my ego had 2 get ITS 2 CENTS IN!"


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It may be mid winter, but there is already concern about the lack of any federal funds for sand replenishment at Presque Isle.
There was little erosion last year. So about $1.3 million is leftover for sand this year. But that is far less than is needed in a normal year.
Park Manager Harry Leslie said, "If everything this year is the same as last year, we will be fine. But that is not the way Lake Erie works."
Local tourism officials are worried that if new funding is not found, the beaches might not be in to shape at Erie's top tourist attraction.
John Oliver of VisitErie said, "Getting that sand and having enough sand to keep the beaches to what visitors expect is critical. It is a major economic driver for our tourism industry here."
Both of Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators, Bob Casey and Pat Toomey as well as Congressman Mike Kelly are now pushing for new sand funding for the park.


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I just want pin-up lingerie to wear for the hell of it. Why must I be broke?
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I bet it does! lol. I wish I owned some! When I actually find a job, I'll probably spend my first pay check on some....
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I don't own lingerie! D:
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- avantasia09 said: do I ever know that feeling. Bra's in my size are so expensive as is, can't imagine how much a sexy set would put me back. :(
- alittleblackmagic said: I was just looking at la perla and crying because I don't have 400 to drop on a garter set


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Theme based on Catching Elephant by Andy Taylor
Fatshionista on being a fat kid and 'childhood obesity':
Nothing that happened to me as a kid, none of the changes I went through, none of the self-loathing I absorbed, none of the teasing I tolerated, none of it would have taken place if I were fat in a vacuum. None of it happened exclusively as a result of my fatness. It happened because of the culture in which I was living, a culture we all share to one degree or another. It happened because I received, processed, assimilated and internalized the negative messages about what fat people can and cannot do, and what fat people are and cannot be. It happened because my peers did the same and acted out those cultural expectations upon me; because my pediatrician believed that putting a nine-year-old child only slightly bigger than average on a diet was a smart and responsible choice; because my parents, trying only to raise me as a happy and healthy kid, thought that I needed help in order to be normal. My fat was never the problem; the problem was living in a world that targeted fat people as defective, unintelligent, ill, repulsive. [My emphasis] If I hadn't felt singled out, if I hadn't been utterly convinced that no one in the world aside from my parents would like me, let alone love me, until I stopped being fat… my childhood and teenage years probably would have been very different. Indeed, if I hadn't beaten my metabolism to a pulp through compulsive dieting during my formative years, I may even not be as fat as I am today. I'll never know.
This is why when I hear or see anything on the subject of Michelle Obama's new campaign against "childhood obesity", I feel a terrible knot in my stomach, because I know this sort of approach will always, inevitably, turn into a campaign against obese children. And fat kids have enough to worry about, frankly. They have to fight hard already to resist this culture that tells them their size will always hold them back; they do not need to be further singled out by a crusade mounted by this nation's (in all other respects, rightfully so) beloved First Lady. I was damaged as a result of being a fat kid, certainly; however, what damaged me was not my fat, but the messages I received about fatness. I was damaged by both perceiving myself and being treated by others as inferior, an object, something in need of repair, and not a person worthy of basic respect. I was seriously damaged by the endless dieting, such that I grew into adulthood with absolutely no idea of how to eat in a healthful and self-aware way. I was damaged by the idea that so long as I was fat, my life would be forever on hold, as only thin people get to be smart or successful in life.
Call it a campaign against childhood couch-sitting. Call it a drive to get kids to go outside and play, in the grand tradition of the many hours I spent doing the same as a (fat) kid. Call it a movement to educate children on basic nutrition and how their amazing growing bodies work for them. But don't single out the fat kids. Their burden is already heavy enough. And if I am any indication, doing this will only ensure that this generation will be fatter than ever, dragging behind them huge heaps of food issues and low self-esteem as a bonus. Not all of them will be as strong-willed, independently-thinking, and plain old determined as I have been, and as many of you have been, who were able to shed the fat-based self-loathing and begin that crazy adventure towards self-acceptance. Many of them will struggle with body hatred for the rest of their lives.


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Terry McAuliffe to Run for Governor of Virginia
McAuliffe — a veteran political adviser and former chair of the Democratic National Committee — has long been mulling a run for governor, but said he would only enter the race if Senator Mark Warner decided not to run.
McAuliffe's decision, however, doesn't necessarily mean that Warner won't run. If fact, since Election Day, rumors have only heightened about Warner — a former Virginia governor and current U.S. senator — entering the race.
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It seems that everyone I speak with lately has been sick. The flu, the stomach virus, a cold, cough, sore throat. And, as if that isn't bad enough, there's news of a "supervirus" coming over from Australia and expected to hit the area within the next few weeks. For someone like me, who already has germaphobe tendencies, it's enough to make me want to strap on a surgical mask and a space suit before I leave the house every morning (And if they were a little easier to accessorize, I just might!!). Instead, I'm doing everything in my power to boost my immune system: getting enough rest, taking vitamins, washing my hands frequently and increasing my fluid intake.
By taking in more fluids - water, caffeine-free herbal teas and soups - the body is better able to flush out toxins. That's why soup is the perfect remedy for colds and other illnesses. Our bodies actually crave it when we're sick because of its restorative properties.
Soup fills us up, is easy to digest, floods the body with nutrients (the more veggies, the better), and it's a natural and efficient way to flush germs and toxins out of the system. I plan on making a lot of it in the coming weeks.
This Butternut Squash and Apple Soup is one that I've made as an opening act for Thanksgiving dinner. Last week, I bought a beautiful butternut squash and decided to make it again. The apple makes it sweet enough to be kid friendly, yet it's loaded with veggies. I, especially, love puréed soups like this because the creamy consistency makes it very hearty...perfect comfort food. Perfect immune booster. Supervirus, beware!
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed and cubed (about 1lb.)
1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
Pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper
In a medium saucepan, over medium high heat, combine olive oil, onion, celery and carrot. Saute for 5 minutes. Add squash, apple, and vegetable broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until squash is soft. Allow to cool slightly and then puree (using either an immersion blender or a traditional blender). Add spices to taste.
Serves 4-6.
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NFL injury report, Week 1: Darrelle Revis, Victor Cruz probable
The New York Jets are going to have their hands full with their former star cornerback Darrelle Revis. Coming off a torn ACL, Revis, whom the Jets traded to the Buccaneers this offseason, is listed as probable for the Week 1 matchup between the two teams.
Revis may not be back up to full speed, but he's been practicing all week and will suit up on Sunday, provided he doesn't suffer a setback.
Here are the other big injury updates of note for Week 1. Find the entire NFL injury report here.
Victor Cruz probable for Sunday
Rob Gronkowski doubtful against the Bills
Rob Gronkowski has dealt with a laundry list of surgeries this offseason on both his back and forearm. The news surrounding Gronkowski has been positive in recent weeks, but he is still doubtful for the Patriots' first game of the season.
Barkevious Mingo out for Sunday's game
It didn't take long for Cleveland Browns rookie Barkevious Mingo to burst onto the scene in the preseason. But after a strong showing, Mingo was injured in the Aug. 15 game against Detroit and will miss Week 1 of the regular season. He is officially listed as out.
Roddy White listed as questionable
The Atlanta Falcons have one of the most dynamic wide receiver duos in the NFL, but one part of that duo is in danger of missing the first game of his career. Roddy White is listed as questionable for Sunday's game with an ankle injury but is expected to play.
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• Peyton's 7 touchdowns lead Broncos over Ravens
• Check out SB Nation's massive new NFL preview
• The easiest players to root for
• Elite, or elitist? Eli the art collector
• Uffsides: This week's 5 must-see games
This article originally appeared on SBNation.Click here for the full article »