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In a country that jails more people per capita than anywhere else in the world, the kids of incarcerated parents are a large yet powerless and marginalized group of people.
There are 2.7 million kids in America with an incarcerated parent, a scenario that has become so common that "Sesame Street" created a character named "Alex" whose dad is in jail. Many of these kids come from poor families and have endured abuse on top of the trauma of having a parent taken away in such a stigmatised fashion.
"You're dealing with poor African-Americans and Latinos, and their parents committed an infraction against society," Sharon Content, founder of the nonprofit Children of Promise, told me. "They really carry the burden of their parents' crime."
On a recent Tuesday afternoon, I visited the Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn headquarters of Children of Promise, a multi-faceted operation that gives kids one-on-one counseling with professionals, homework help, mentoring, a meal, and even individual music lessons.
Children of Promise is the only organisation of its kind in New York City, according to Content. Content says the 5-year-old organisation's goal is to make sure these kids don't "have any interaction with the criminal justice system."
Of course, she's referring to the organisation's goal of making sure these kids never get locked up themselves. As children with parents (or, in some cases, siblings) in jail, most of these kids have had plenty of experience with the criminal justice system. Kids often have to take long bus rides to visit their incarcerated parents, sometimes getting patted down and only getting to talk to their parents through plexiglass, one therapist at Children of Promise told me. A lot of them deal with intense anger and sadness.
When I visited Children of Promise's Bed-Stuy headquarters, one 11-year-old participant told me the hardest part about having his dad in jail was "trying not to cry."
Therapy can help them manage these strong feelings, as can building a relationship with the incarcerated parent through letter-writing and visits. These relationships can be fraught because, as Content says, "It's hard to love somebody that everybody says is bad."
One of those kids, a boy who's now 10, gradually got closer to his father after he got life in prison when he was just 5 years old. Initially, that boy, whom we'll call Joe to protect his privacy, was angry at his father and acted out by throwing "dangerous tantrums" that got him suspended from school, according to Children of Promise.
Joe enrolled at Children of Promise's after-school program right after it launched five years ago, and he started getting one-on-one counseling and tutoring. The little boy even did spoken-word poetry to address his fear that one day he'd get "locked up" like his dad.
He eventually started writing his dad, sending him gifts, and visiting him in prison. Joe, who will never get to see his dad on a daily basis, sleeps with his father's t-shirt every night. When I saw him at Children of Promise recently, I asked him to describe the after-school program there. Struggling to find the right words, he finally said, "It's like home."
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Fully automatic high-speed packaging carousel for up to 1200 bags per hour for prefabricated open-mouth bags
CIRCUPAC is a fully automatic high-speed packaging carousel for open-mouth bags to pack flour and powdered products. It is particularly distinguished by high speed as well as high reliability and has a modern design.
The Products
Wheat flour
Rye flour
Corn flour
Rice flour
Baking mixtures
Milk powder
Pet food
Animal food and
all kind of powdery products
The Bags
Open-mouth bag
Pillow bag
Gusset bag
Block bottom
Pinch bottom
Carrying handle
The Solution
Circupac with
fully automatic
-bag magazine
-bag separation
-bag opening
-filling carousel
-3 to 6 filling spouts
-bag closing

subset: commoncrawl


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The visa fraud case against Infosys Technologies brought by Infosys employee and whistleblower Jay Palmer has captured Washington's attention, and has raised the question of whether the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security will cease approval of H-1B and B-1 visas for Infosys until the case is resolved.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) today wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, in which he cited Palmer's lawsuit against Infosys. Here's an excerpt:
I'm very concerned about fraudulent actions that at least one foreign-based company has allegedly been taking in order to get around the requirements and U.S. worker protections of the H-1B visa program, and more generally, about provisions in current guidance to visa adjudicators that actually authorize such evasion of Congressional intent.
On February 23, 2010, a U.S. employee of Infosys Technologies Limited, Inc. ("Infosys") filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Lowndes County, Alabama, alleging that his employer was "sending lower level and unskilled foreigners to the United States to work in full-time positions at Infosys' customer sites in direct violation of immigration laws." The plaintiff described ways that Infosys, one of the top ten H-1B petitioning companies, had worked to "creatively" get around the H-1B visa program in order to bring in low-skilled and low-wage workers, resulting in visa fraud against the U.S. Government. The formal complaint against Infosys details how Infosys management in India decided to use the B-1 business visitor visa program to get around H-1B program restrictions. The plaintiff alleges that Infosys was importing foreign workers as B-1 business visitors under the guise of attending meetings rather than working for a wage as an employee of a U.S. company, which is forbidden under the statute and regulations governing the B-1 visa program.
Grassley posed a range of questions to Clinton and Napolitano, and requested that they respond no later than April 28. Those questions included:
What actions, if any, are being taken against employers who abuse the B-1 visa program? Will the Departments consider barring such employers from any visa program if found guilty of misusing the visa system? Will the Departments cease to approve visas for Infosys until the lawsuit in Alabama is settled? If not, what additional oversight and/or actions will be taken until the Infosys lawsuit is finalized?
Grassley isn't the only senator who's looking into the Infosys case. Earlier this month, representatives from the offices of Grassley and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) contacted Palmer and his attorney, Kenny Mendelsohn, to get more information about the case. I spoke with Mendelsohn last night, and he told me about the conversation:
They mainly wanted Jay's insight into the issues, and he's been preparing more information to give them, from an insider's perspective, of how companies, and in particular Infosys, are getting around both H-1 and B-1 restrictions. They discussed ways the country may be able to better enforce the laws we have, and if there are any loopholes, ways to close those loopholes through legislation. A lot of it related to the stuff that isn't loopholes, but are direct violations. So the question becomes, how can we as a country better enforce the laws that we have, and how can we legislate improvements? Jay has provided them with some information; where it goes from here, I don't know. I don't know whether they'll want him to come to Washington to testify or anything like that yet. We'll find that out later on. But he's fully cooperating, and if they need him to come up there, he'll go; if they need him to testify, he'll do that.
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Nothing is going to change.
This stuff has been going on for decades and the people with the money like the fact that we can bring in low cost foreign imported IT help.
You will have for a couple of days or a week or two some press but then it will be back to normal.
We all remember the YouTube video showing the immigration lawyers running ads to exclude Americans and nothing changed.Reply
Yeah - after the Cohen & Grigsby video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU ) became public, one would have thought that would change things. But nothing has changed. There's just way too much money and power in support of this injustice. Infosys will simply be barred from the use of H-1B visas for a certain period of time and perhaps be fined. When they'll be allowed H-1B visas again, they'll shrug off the bad publicity and continue business as usual.Reply
>> That is one thing we have going for us.
I don't think so.
What you might have going is that American IT workers are going to have wages so low that no Indian or Chinese will want to take the job.
After all, Americans are working for minimum wage or even free in IT and it is unlikely that Indians or Chinese will want to come to the US to live 12+ in a 1BR apartment.Reply
But guys, don't forget: the REASON they haven't done anything about it for the last 12 years is because of the nasty comments you all post on Don's blog |-DReply
No question that powerful forces are at work to hush this matter. But one thing is different now. When it was manufacturing jobs leaving, everybody just said 'go to college." When it was only the tech jobs getting hit, it was, 'those overpaid nerds - better change your major to business.' But now there is a national understanding - and panic - that jobs are a problem for everybody and that globalism has harmed the American middle class. Too bad it had to come to this, but way more people see the danger of the "flat" world now than before. That is one thing we have going for us.Reply
Infosys Visa Fraud Case Grabs Washington's Attention. So what !!!Reply
Then what about the help we indians are rendering to you.Reply
It will be hard to prove the fraud because there is loophole in B1 visa. Here is details from US state department. Since person is not paid in US, it is not possible to pay taxes in US. Infosys technically didn't do anything wrong.
B1 in lieu of H
Individuals may apply for a B1 or B1/B2 visa to perform H-1B work in the United States as long as they fulfill the following criteria:
Hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree
Plan to perform H-1B-caliber work or training
Will be paid only by their foreign employer, except reimbursement of incidental travel costs such as housing and per diem. The employee must not receive any salary from a U.S. source.
The task can be accomplished in a short period of time.Reply
thats the case then it is doing right thing. This is a world one should help every body in this case. Then only we can develop economy and other countries development also. This is better solution.Reply
>> Then what about the help we Indians are rendering to you.
Maybe we don't want the help.Reply
There are so many loop holes in these corrupt visa programs. There is, literally, an unlimited number of outsourcing visas when you count the B1, L1, H1b, and whatever else is in the alphabet soup of outsourcing visas the US government hands out daily. No wonder the US has a massive jobs crisis.Reply
There are strict limits on what sort of work a B1 can do. If they are doing ordinary work, they are in violation no matter where the paycheck is issued.
The past decade has demonstrated how harmful India's "help" has been to our people.Reply
This is not the help rendering. This is a kind of two countries which will benefit the two of our countries.Reply
Dont forget the relationship between the two countries. Think before commenting
>>Then what about the help we Indians are rendering to you.
Maybe we don't want the helpReply
Number of jobs lost due B1/H1 Visa is very very less compared to jobs lost due to cheap Chinese goods sold in USA. In fact, there are lots of jobs available for good computer engineers. World is becoming flat in internet age so USA need to compete with other countries - whether it is labor cost or technology.
I am not supporting any visa misuse. Guilty should be punished, however, fighting for few ordinary jobs done by B1 visa holders will not solve the current economic problem.Reply
The results of all this "help" are clear. No thank you. Take your marbles and play elsewhere, by all means. Enough time has now lapsed that we can see clearly that we were far better off before all your "help" began.Reply
Ok thank you. No need to mention these words no. By this there in no humanity exists in the world for human beings why then the countries.Reply
Thanks for your comments that you have made. and good bye. If people like only criticism Then How would development be made. Before commenting think and commentReply
Thnx for help. I praise your comments. I uphold your voice aganist these illegal programsReply
Infosys slid 10%, for whatever reason. In India, the resignation of the CFO is big news.
Post a comment


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Patti Blogs is Clicking Away In Style!
Patti blogs wrote a really wonderful review of our Camera Straps, and we thought we would just share with you... how much we appreciate our loyal fans!!!
"I do not feel passionate about many belongings, but my camera makes the short list. My passion and the enjoyment I get from photography far outways any skill or talent but I don't care! It's not often I get the opportunity to review an item that links to my favourite hobby but last month I was a very lucky shutter bug and received a new strap from Capturing Couture.
For those of you who don't spend a lot of time with a camera around your neck, this might not seem like a big deal, but to me, someone who can spend the best part of the day some days, with a camera around her neck, this was awesome!
It was very easy to attach and was readily adjustable ( it goes from 38′ to 54′), I was comfy and ready to go in less than 2 minutes. Not once in over 6 hours did the strap feel uncomfortable. The soft inner surface – made from velvet cushioned neoprene- makes you forget you are wearing a strap at all – it didn't rub or make my neck warm – it was fantastic. My only problem is that now I want to buy the matching camera bag, a lens saver, maybe a couple of their new scarf straps – I may go bankrupt and it will all be Capturing Couture's fault.
Review Update…
I always like to give you an update on how my most used items get on. So here we are, 4 months after my initial review and my strap is just as good as the day I took it out of the package. It has stayed as comfortable as it was on day one and has made it through wind & rain & snow emerging with me into the spring sunshine as good as new. Go buy one, you'll look great (not that you don't now of course!)."


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Friday 23rd of October 2015
We will be back at our favourite London Jazz venue on Friday 23rd of October, feat. fantastically soulful vocalist Lily Dior for the first time! Come down and boogie and enjoy some food at drink at the 606 Jazz Club in Chelsea, London.
Doors – 8:00, first set – 9:30.
Your Funkestra for the evening will be:
- Mike Sturgis – drums
- Eran Kendler – guitar
- Stefan Redtenbacher – bass
- Paul Jordaneous – trumpet
- Richard Beesley – tenor saxophone
- Steve Pringle – vintage keysand special guests!
[image courtesy of Richard Braine]
Naturally we a very exciting to feature for the first time the wonderful and fabulously soulful vocalist Lily Dior, all the way from Sydney, Australia.
Her latest record 'Let's talk about it' is a powerful collection of songs sitting comfortably between Soul/Blues/Jazz and, of course, Funk. We are looking forward to performing some of these and some our Funkestra vocal standards.
Watch her performance of 'Don't Say A Thing' here.
At the 606 Club, 90 Lots Road, London SW10 0QD


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Hi neighbor, Beth Charger at your service. I just love Indie games, you know the old one like Pitfall and Pacman. Well, I decided to start a blog about it and many other things too as you will see. If you could, please let you friends know about me. Also, if you need to contact me for any reason you can do so here.
Thanks for stopping by,


text:
Hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and amazing Black Friday deals. But wait, the fun is not over yet!
The Black Friday Deals page is now Cyber Monday Deals! The links remain the same:
New deals and promotions from Amazon and Endless.com have been posted here. Check it out.
Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook to stay connected!


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Ashburn, VA
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Lorcan Driftwood Bookcase
Ships direct from vendor, usually within 7 to 10 business days.. Customer assembly required. 26064256
If you need a little more organization in your life, the Lorcan driftwood bookcase is the perfect piece. This 64" bookcase with 4 large shelves has ample storage space for all of the books and knick knacks you want showcased or need out of the way. Its unique industrial style is a stylish addition to any home office, hallway, living room, or bedroom. Durably constructed of metal and wood with a trendy urban design, this piece is sure to be a favorite in your home.
Customer assembly required.
Lorcan Driftwood Bookcase Dimensions
30"W x 14"D x 64"H


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Latest News
LONDON — A Laurel County man illegally gave pain pills to young women in return for sex, a federal jury ruled Friday.
The jury convicted Roy Lacy Cobb, 55, on all 10 charges he faced. U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove scheduled Cobb's sentencing for June 24.
The indictment against Cobb said he faces up to 40 years in prison on charges that he gave drugs to women under age 21, but his sentence will probably be less than that under sentencing guidelines.
Cobb's attorney, Derek G. Gordon of Lexington, said he had not calculated the potential sentence because Cobb had not considered pleading guilty.
Cobb will appeal the conviction, Gordon said.
The allegations against Cobb pointed up a grim side of drug addiction that some observers said has become increasingly common as the abuse of prescription drugs, particularly among younger women, has grown over the last decade.
"Unfortunately, the prostituting for pills is way, way too common," said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for Operation UNITE, which investigates drug crimes in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. "It's a shame, but it's out there."
Cobb allegedly gave OxyContin pills to female addicts in exchange for sexual favors hundreds of times between mid-2005 and September 2008, when he was arrested.
Cobb was disabled as a result of a car wreck and had a prescription to get OxyContin, a powerful painkiller that is a favorite of addicts.
When police searched his home at Keavy last year, they found more than 30 empty pill bottles, but no pills, according to court documents.
Cobb sometimes had women expose their breasts to him to earn their first pills, but then had them perform oral sex on him or have intercourse with him to keep getting pills, the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason D. Parman, told jurors.
Two of the women involved in the case were under 21 when Cobb started giving them OxyContin, the indictment said.
Cobb was charged with distributing pills that contained oxycodone — the drug in OxyContin and some other pills — to 10 women. Several testified against him.
Gordon argued that the witnesses were untrustworthy drug addicts with criminal records, and lied about their relationship with Cobb in order to get out of trouble.
One woman has a child by Cobb, who is married, and had fought with him over custody, Gordon said.
"These people cannot be believed," Gordon said.
The women told very similar stories about Cobb. Gordon suggested investigators coached them.
Parman, however, said it was clear the women told the truth about very embarrassing things.
Photos that police found on Cobb's cell phone of women exposing themselves or performing oral sex on a man corroborated the witnesses' testimony, Parman said.
It's true the women were addicts, but Cobb had a big hand in that, Parman told jurors.
"He uses his oxycodone as a weapon for his own sexual benefit," Parman said.


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Raw sunshine juice for the summer!
A naturally sweet, raw, veggie juice that's packed with ingredients to boost your mood, heart health, improve your blood pressure, and ensure optimal digestion of nutrients!
Time to change your skin care routine for the summer!
- 1 head of organic romaine lettuce, washed or 1 bunch of organic kale
- 1 organic lemon
- 1 large organic carrot, peeled
- 2 stalks of organic celery
- 1 one-inch knob of ginger root
- 1/2 an organic cucumber (or zucchini)
- (optional): 1/4-1/2 a green apple (or a leftover apple core)
- Add all the ingredients to the juicer in the order listed and juice.
- Pour the juice over a glass of ice for a nice and chilled juice, and enjoy!
- Clean the juicer immediately after (this is much easier to do right now than later). Let the juicer parts dry well and put away for tomorrow.


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Above: Adding incense-ingots.
Below: Adding incense sticks.
Below: Adding more ingots and sticks with gold-color glitters; incense paper printed on one side with Usnisa Vijaya Mandala and other side with the 6 realms vajra mantra.
Below: Adding a 5-color petals lotus to top it all.
Below: The base of the stupa, showing the Usnisa Vijaya mandala.
Above: Stupa filled with variant of incense and a piece of Sandalwood.
Above: Stupa almost complete.
Below: The completed stupa filled with goodies and a piece of cardboard printed with Usnisa Vijaya mantra use to fill the bottom of the stupa.
Stupas available for offering:
SGD 6 each for those that has sponsored a minimum of SGD 28 for the event.
SGD 10 for non sponsors.
Registration & Purchase from: email@example.com
While stock last!
Cheers all
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef


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Products and solutions, 2001-09-11, 02:00 AM
ThyssenKrupp Automotive Mechatronics books first production orders
In the eleven months since it was founded in October 2000, ThyssenKrupp Automotive Mechatronics GmbH - part of ThyssenKrupp Automotive`s Systems/Suspensions business unit - has already received significant production orders from German automobile manufacturers. These include orders for an electronically controlled anti-roll stabilizer and an active damping system, which the company will produce in collaboration with Krupp Bilstein GmbH.
With ThyssenKrupp Automotive Mechatronics, ThyssenKrupp Automotive AG has significantly expanded its electronics capabilities and opened the door to a lucrative market segment. Majority-owned by Krupp Automotive Systems GmbH, which is responsible for TKA`s systems business, the new company develops and manufactures mechatronic assemblies in particular for suspension and steering applications.
The term mechatronics stands for products which integrate mechanical, electronic and IT components into a single functional unit. For example, mechatronics is the key to the fly-by-wire technology used in modern aircraft, while automotive applications include ABS and ESP systems. Its potential in automobile manufacture is immense, with experts predicting annual growth rates of 10 to 15 percent.
Current mechatronics developments are focused on brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire solutions, i.e. replacing the mechanics or hydraulics used in conventional car braking and steering systems by electronics. The long-term objective is Integrated Vehicle Control - a network of mechatronic systems to monitor and control all aspects of driving and vehicle status.
One reason why ThyssenKrupp Automotive Mechatronics GmbH has been able to establish itself so quickly and successfully on this future market is that it was already addressing mechatronics when the technology was still relatively unknown. The company originated from the resources of Thyssen Transrapid Systems GmbH, which developed the Transrapid high-speed maglev train to application readiness. Work on the Transrapid, where not just brakes and steering but virtually all functions are electronically controlled `by-wire`, provided a fund of 20 years` experience in mechatronics applications. The company possesses particular strengths in the development of stable power supply systems for vehicle electronic components and technologies for high-speed data and signal transmission.
The interdisciplinary nature of mechatronics is reflected in the composition of the team at ThyssenKrupp Automotive Mechatronics GmbH. The 60-strong workforce is made up of electrical, electronics, control and mechanical engineers and mathematicians. The company has its own production shop for electronics components and extensive testing facilities, e.g. for mechanics, electronics, drive dynamics and electromagnetic compatibility.
A further factor in the success of ThyssenKrupp Automotive Mechatronics is its integration in ThyssenKrupp Automotive AG. The company is one of the few mechatronics suppliers providing systems solutions, thanks to close cooperation with Krupp Automotive Systems and with other TKS subsidiaries such as steering system manufacturer Krupp Presta and shock absorber producer Krupp Bilstein. This constellation ensures an holistic approach to mechatronics developments at ThyssenKrupp Automotive. Mechanical, electronic and IT components are ideally matched and integrated from the outset. This results in products which make driving safer and more comfortable.
For further information contact:
ThyssenKrupp AG
Trade Press
Bernd Overmaat
Telephon: +49 (0)211 824-36012
e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com


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Anne Hathaway's Two Dresses At 'One Day' Premiere: Which Look Did You Like Best?
The star looked stylish & chic in not one but two gorgeous get-ups — but which look did you really love? VOTE!
Anne Hathaway was in NYC on Aug. 8 for the One Day premiere, where she showed up looking stunning in a resort dress by Alexander McQueen, making her the first star to show off a look from the collection.
The dress, which hit right around the knee, contained a boned bodice, complete with gold embroidery. The detailing narrowed out the waist before expanding into a full skirt. Gold encrusted Christian Louboutin pumps and Tiffany & Co. jewelry completed the look. I can't get over how gorgeous this get-up was on the star, and I love the longer length — get ready to see frocks with longer hemlines on numerous red carpets come fall!
For the after party at the Russian Tea Room, the 28-year-old actress swapped her elaborate McQueen frock for a more appropriate yet still oh-so-chic Carven dress and a pair of Roger Vivier shoes.
Which look did you really love?
Katrina Mitzeliotis
Get More From Our BFF's At Glamour.com!


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Just had an incredibly frustrating landscaper situation, bringing back very bad memories of my pest control situation ( see post # 47). As we are renting our home in CA we are using the same landscapers that the owners have used for years prior. Wen we first moved in I met with the head guy to go over what he uses on the lawns and the watering schedule. He told me they do not put anything on the lawn, definitely no chemicals. I should have known better but I trusted what he said. it was California after all–the most organic state in the nation.
Today as I brought our new puppy (sooo cute)outside to play, the boss landscaper stopped me to stay that I shouldn't let my pets or people on lawn for 2 hours b/c they had just put weed killer down. My mouth dropped open. You did what? I told you no chemicals, blah, blah, blah i ranted on and on…..he told me he was so sorry, there were so many weeds, he must have forgotten. he told me he would tell his guys right now to stop and no more ever again. OK, maybe this was a needed reminder. A few minuted later I peeked outside. Boss was no where in site and his guys were sprinkling something on the lawn. i ran out side to see what it was. A miracle grow weed killer and fertilizer. i can't write what came out of my mouth next.
i grabbed the bag he was getting his product out of (with his gloved hands and masked mouth mind you) and read the back. Here is what it said: "toxic to marine life. Hazardous to humans and domestic animals. If ingested call poison control, flush with water immediately if contact with skin….etc……the warnings went on and on.
I had the guy call his boss to come back, he never did. I called him myself and asked how could this happen after we had just had this conversation. He said its just fertilizer, its fine. And that's when he lost his job.
on to my organic landscaper hunt…..in the meantime, never trust people who tell you it is natural. Your health and the health of your pets and children depends on it. I just don't think that word holds much meaning to people yet.


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I also expressed my belief in both the limits and the reliability of the Nicene Creed:
The mysteries of God cannot be contained by rational explanations. But like a compass that always points north, the Nicene Creed points us in the right direction. The compass is not the destination just as the Creed is not God. But it would be much easier to get lost as to what is truly essential for reaching the goal of the Christian journey without it.
As Bishop Frank E. Wilson puts it, "The Creed is not your faith - it is an expression of your faith. Your faith is in God, not in any combination of words, however venerable they may be."
The bishop is right: the ultimate object of our faith is God, not the Creed. It follows that the truth of orthodox doctrine is not an end in itself. Rather, true doctrine is a means to the end of putting us in right relation to the Truth, which is the triune God. Central to this Truth, and at the core of the mystery of God's being, is love. And that love is not a mere idea, but an activity of selfless concern for the good of others that reflects the life of the three Persons of the Trinity. St. John the Apostle says it beautifully: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). It would be difficult to sum up the purpose of true doctrine better than that!
Writing from an Eastern Orthodox perspective, Fr. Stephen Freeman amplifies these points by noting that the final goal of the Christian life is not merely the knowledge obtained from true doctrine, but the instilling of God's love in our hearts that overflows in our actions. He writes:
True doctrine is of great importance because it reveals the nature and truth of God and the world to us. But such knowledge is not the final goal of the Christian life. Our final goal is indeed the true faith – that is – the love of God towards all the world dwelling within our hearts. ...
There is no opposition to rationality in any of this and certainly no opposition to true doctrine. But there is a recognition that the very simplist of all things – available to children and the weak minded (perhaps more truly available to them than the rest of us) – is the love of God dwelling in our hearts. Without this there is no true faith, no true salvation, no theosis, no true conformity to the image of God. ...
The words spoken by the Deacon at every liturgy when he summons us to repeat the Nicene Creed say everything: 'Let us love one another that with one mind we may confess: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in essence and undivided.' We may say the words for the rest of eternity – but unless and until we love one another we will not truly know or believe a word of it.
Fr. Stephen's words are critically important for all who take true doctrine seriously lest, lacking the love of God, our talk of orthodoxy become nothing more than "a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1).


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The Green Investment Bank is vital because it funds innovative but high-risk low-carbon projects. This is crucial in Scotland where we have a huge amount of green energy potential. But in order for low carbon energy to become a low cost energy option we need investment in research and development.
I am extremely concerned about the privatisation of this important institution. Even more so since the reports that the privatisation may result in an asset stripping exercise. This goes against previous commitments made to the Scottish Government.


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09/24 2017 SAPA Fall Meeting - Digital Attendance & Online Presentation Information
Posted 09/24 by Tita Lovell
To sign into meeting:
To view presentation at meeting:
google.com/presentation/d/ 15wHPNOrorKXo-dzLbcHAr2RubQm_ L8OSNe5UZzdEkcE/edit?usp= sharing
To join meeting digitally:
Use the following link to join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3112
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Colorful Layering for Spring: How to Wear a Floral Top
Today is officially the last Monday of the school year and I couldn't be more psyched! Sometimes, an outfit can put you in the right frame of mind to face your day–even when you may not be feelin' it. In my case, in order to avoid my "case of the Mondays", I wanted to spruce up my digs a bit with some punchy pastels at just the right price.
This duster vest was a winter buy for me at around $20. I now have about 5 of these babies in different shades because they wear so well for literally any season. I throw them on over pretty much everything to add a bit of polish.
Blouses like this one are a must for me (especially when I can score a bunch from H&M at $14.99 a piece) because they are light, airy, flatter my bottom-heavy figure, and can be dressed up or down. This one immediately drew my attention at the store with its wispy floral print and myriad of spring-appropriate colors. I also have the same top in stripes, leopard print, polka dots, solid navy, and solid black! What can I say? When it's right, it's right!
Colorful extras are a necessity for me when completing an outfit. I love to layer on different hues that complement the main piece I'm wearing. Lately, I've been really into mint and mustard.
Outfit: Duster vest c/o Amazon | Floral blouse via H&M | Abercrombie & Fitch jeans | Kate Spade handbag | Michael Kors watch | Similar tassel necklace | Monogram necklace | Similar sunnies | Mustard suede espadrilles via Nordstrom Rack [similar here]
Hope you all are having a great start to your week. Remember to keep your head up and at 'em–it can only get better from here 🙂 And to all my teachers out there–keep fightin' the good fight, because the end is very near and so is our well-deserved rest and relaxation 🙂


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Phileshia Oliver
LaTrice McRae
Odenya Kennedy
Karen McCoy
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How have you been? Things here are going pretty good! Just cleaning and such. I should be cleaning right now, but hey, i can take a break right?
Do you ever feel like your house is never clean enough? I think that it may be because I am just dissatisfied with my things. Like I am trying to get it clean thinking it will make my place look better when in reality, I would love the money to be able to buy a few things for my home. I would like some lamps and some things for the walls, some shelves and a book shelf... those are just to start, i want an area rug for my living room! And i could go on and on and on, but I wont, lol.
I get to go shopping today to get myself a few shirts. I have been feeling like crap lately because I dont like any of my clothes. Plus a little extra poundage helps with that. I am going to try to loose some weight for Cancun! I am going to hit up a few stores near my house to see if I can put together a few outfits for cheap. That would make me feel so much better!
Well, I better get back to my chores, lol. Hope you have a fantastic day!
Come on, walk with me...
Monday, January 19, 2009
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Why Modern Entrepreneurs need the 64 Years old Deming Feedback Wheel
I wrote in my article "Start Ups 2014: Generation of Entrepreneurs Without a Business Plan?" about the importance of a business plan.
In this article I want to outline the importance of checking of & feedback on business/product planson regular basis because plans are never set in stone.
I met a lot of entrepreneurs. In general they have a clear vision of the future and a good sense for possibilities and opportunities (that's why they started their own business). Entrepreneurs are often change makers in a traditional set world.
Modern entrepreneurs need to revitalize their entrepreneurship on regular basis and add tools like PDCA (or Deming wheel*) to their toolkit if they want to keep ahead of competitors.
Testing (checking – feedback) is not a one-off. Once you've started this cycle pattern, it continuous in spirals. This is the power of PDCA. Using knowledge based on real feedback to improve your product/concept and start a new cycle for new products/ideas.
Why entrepreneurs don't take the benefit of PDCA
In my opinion:
1) Most entrepreneurs don't take enough time to check or the results after the launch (or test) of a new product/idea
2) Selective hearing
3) They choose the most obvious explanation why a launch succeeded or failed
4) In this stage entrepreneurs actually never learn.
When I ask entrepreneurs why they don't do a proper check, I often hear:
1) I am facing to many day-to-day affairs so I don't give myself sufficient time to do a better check for good feedback
2) I jump often to a conclusion because I think that making decisions "on the fly" is the best way to solve problems
3) Every minute counts and only large companies have the resources and time to do proper research.
But this is wrong! A proven method doesn't cost more time than "jumping to a conclusion". Actually a proven method saves time because it enables entrepreneurs to implement new products/ideas through focused processes. It enables entrepreneurs to make way for better improvements & innovations.
W. Edwards Deming already stated: "it's not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best."
In my opinion entrepreneurs should:
– Step 1: Write a short business/product plan so others know their vision, mission and strategy
– Step 2: Implement this business/product plan to keep focus while executing implementation
– Step 3: Check & ask for feedback from customers
– Step 4: Refine business/product plan to improve results, innovate and keep ahead of competitors.
The PDCA cycle is a good start for entrepreneurs of reinventing & testing their ideas in a very simple and proven way.
I wish all entrepreneurs a lot of feedback & improvements!
If you want more information:
– PDCA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDCA
– The W. Edwards Deming Institute: https://www.deming.org/theman/theories/pdsacycle
– PDSA worksheet: http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/PlanDoStudyActWorksheet.aspx
– Six Sigma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigma
– Kaizen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen
Note*: it's a myth that Deming introduced the PDCA cycle. Actually Shewhart introduced the PDCA cycle and Deming used this cycle as a base for his own PDSA cycle: Plan – Do – Study – Act.


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Then in going through her knick knacks, many of which were packed away and hidden in drawers and cupboards I found this rooster figurine. I snatched that up, too. This sits on my desk (where I'm sitting right now) in the corner of my kitchen. He looks right at home beside my fruit lamp, doesn't he?
In Grandma's kitchen drawer we found these cork hot pads. They look to be very 1950-ish. They now have a home in my towel and hot pad drawer. And I do use them.
Then I found pot holders and dish towels at Wal-Mart.
I love my roosters, old and new. The old especially hold so many memories for me and that feeling is just like a warm hug from Grandma. So I will continue with my rooster collection, but it always has to "feel" right. Not just any old rooster will do.


text: Mon 4 Nov 2013 | A P | Leave a comment Some might have seen this site already, but I urge you to take a look at the site for Obama's Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pcast/meetings/webcasts This has some posts on analytics and healthcare, a subject that is the focus for today's Analytics Forum meeting in Auckland. I also enjoyed the thought provoking ideas in the July 18 post on how to make cities smarter. http://www.tvworldwide.com/events/pcast/130718/default.cfm Food for thought, as Christchurch is rebuilt and Auckland addresses its transport problems. Andy Philpott.


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Dr. Saïla Ouald Chaib
Dr. Saïla Ouald Chaib is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Human Rights Centre of Ghent University. In 2015, she obtained her doctoral degree at Ghent University with the doctoral thesis "Belief in Justice. Towards More Inclusivity in and through the Freedom of Religion Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights". In 2016 Saïla conducted a study on national action plans against racism (NAPR) and racism and racial discrimination in Belgium.
Saïla is one of the co-founders and contributor to the blog Strasbourg Observers. Her research interests include Human Rights Law, Freedom of Religion, Procedural Justice, Inclusivity, Equality and Non-Discrimination, Refugee Law and research methodology.
Since October 2016 she is project manager of the IAP "The Global Challenge of Human Rights Integration: Towards a Users' Perspective".
Dr. Saïla Ouald Chaib
Human Rights Centre Ugent
Campus Aula, Universiteitstraat 4
9000 Gent, Belgium