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Posts by Kasey
Jdate Scam – Another Dating Site that is Full of It
Dec 14th
I have joined the matchmaking website Jdate.com with lot of expectations. I know a lot of other people online might be joining with the same type of expectations. So I want to share my thoughts with others, so that others will be careful when joining JDate.
As per my experience, I would say this site is not up to standard. I haven't found any good match from this site. I tried continuously for three months, but I got very few matches for this site. Even my friend had the same type of concerns about JDate. According to him this website is simply a JDate Scam. I think that there are actually no active members on this site. Whenever I came across someone I thought would be good for me, I tried contacting them by sending an email, but I got no replies or response.
The website owners are claiming that millions of profiles are registered with them and people are seeking relationships. But I think that most of the 'real' profiles are scammers. Scammers are registering as both male and female profiles. Scammers are also using good looking photos for their profiles to trap people like me.
Apart from these scammers, I find so many profiles with no proper information. And there is no good tool to search for a matching partner's profile to find a good match. And I think this website is bit expensive too. I found many other comparable websites that are cheaper than this. I would say the website owners have to take some action to get good profiles to be registered. They could even do something simple like implement a new search tool so registered members' profiles can be shared easier with other registered members. Above all, they need to get rid of the jDate scam artists.
Hot Or Not Scam or is This Rating Site Worth Your Time?
Dec 13th
Posted by Kasey in HotOrNot.com
Hot or Not was one of the first sites out that let you rank men and women, then compare them. Great simple, mindless concept. The problem with the site is, why would you bother paying? I mean, do you really think the profiles are for real? See, I think this is where the real Hot or Not scam is.
In the beginning, it use to be real people putting their pics up. Then daily, you would log on to see where you ranked. Then of course you'd gloat about it. Now with Facebook taking over the world, this service of Hot or Not just isn't relevant. Save your money, or better yet, wait until they do something modern to the site to make is more 2015ish!
Then to go deeper into my Hot or Not review. I sent an email to the HotOrNot.com Support team. The answer that I got was simple and lame, in my opinion, as they said is not their problem if those numbers were no good and they are not responsible for the information on every person's profile. So yea, Hot or Not scam
Is Friend Finder Worth Your Time ?
Dec 9th
Posted by Kasey in FriendFinder.com
Here we have another dating site trying to capitalize on the popularity of Facebook with their own Friend Finder app. Friend Finder is a great site if you're looking to test out your patience. It tries to be a cross over between being a place for friends and a place for personals. Come on, we all know Facebook is the king of "friends". Friend Finder should just remove this site entirely and leave it with their sister site, Adult Friend Finder. Don't You agree?
FarmersOnly Dating – Who Does this Site Cater To ?
Dec 8th
Posted by Kasey in FarmersOnly.com
You know with a name like FarmersOnly, you wonder what in the world this site could be about. I'll give the site this, it definitely caters to a non mainstream niche that is the pillar of our society. The site caters to Farmers, Ranchers, Ag Students & all of Agriculture, Horse, Livestock Owners & all Animal Lovers, Cowboys, Cowgirls, Rodeo Fans and Country Wannabes. So this is a farmersonly dating site? You know, how could I not give it a shot right?
So you have types here. People that match the above professions / descriptions, or have a desire to be with one of these. Black men with a cow girl fetish? How about a short little blond girl wanting a tall strong cowboy? Oddly enough, this site is a top matchmaking site given it's unique members. I have to admit, I like the site. I mean, it's hard to consider this a Farmers Only scam when you dealing with folks that are as real as they come.
Amateur Match Scam to Avoid
Dec 8th
Posted by Kasey in AmateurMatch.com
There seems to be this theme of promising casual sex, getting your to join, then never delivery. This is the Amateur Match scam to avoid. Truth be told, I was just really lonely, bored, and fed up with real-life dating. All the mixed signals you get on real dates are confusing and annoying anyways right. At least if you started with virtual dating both you and the person you are talking to can set things straight right away. You can tell the other person early on that what you fancy is a romantic relationship, casual dating or a one-night stand.
It is not only an Amateur Match scam, but it should also be very obvious that the members are not real members but instead "professionals" who make a living in the adult industry. Common sense would indicate that a real woman who has a real interest in meeting other people in her area would not post such revealing pictures, leaving nothing to the imagination, and she would not also take such trouble to make her photographs look very professional, flawless and colorful. You notice there everywhere it seems, but a lot on Amateur Match.
PissedConsumer.com Wrote:
this site should be called Scamateurmatch. Every woman I chatted with is either a cam girl, bot, or a money scammer.
Sep 27th
Posted by Kasey in AshleyMadison.com
AshleyMadison site is totally fake, well 90%, all the girls do is try to get you to send a message, that's where it ends, you will be hearing more from me, do not sign up for this site, it is a total rip off, trust me, don't see for your self.
I just read an interesting report about the AshleyMadison Hack a few months ago. Jesus, I totally missed it. An affair website should be safe. You are dealing with sensitive information! I am still a member of AshleyMadson but have not logged in for a long time. Just now I realize how dangerous it is to use this website.…
Jump4Love, No Scams, No Fakes, Only Real Girls. Really?
Aug 15th
I want to take issue with Jump4Love.
Since the launch of this blog outlining my personal experience, Jump4Love have attempted to counter my real life experience with at least 10, and probably many more sites making the claims which they know to be untrue. These rebuttal sites typically state that the site contains "no scams, no fakes and only real girls". Firstly, the can never guarantee this and second it is patently untrue.
To reassure unsuspecting men, they state that all profiles and photos are verified and this is "guaranteed". What they fail to make clear, is that any verification is completed by the local agents they use as they confirmed to me in writing. But herein lies the problem, most of the fake profiles are actually added to, or managed by the local agents, who typically receive some 50% of the revenues generated.
Let me provide a typical example.
Girl A decides she wants to find a husband from outside Ukraine. She visits a local 'marriage agancy' and they provide her with a free photoshoot. After all, they want to ensure that the girl looks her best, because she is their 'product'. After a few weeks, the girl becomes dissolutioned and tells the agency she wants to leave and asks them to remove her profile. However, the local agency doesn't want to lose their 'investment', so they either refuse, tell her they will remove it in due course, or just remove it from one of the dating sites. What men need to realise is most local agencies have contracts with a number of different international dating sites, so Girl A's profile could be on several sites, with or without her knowledge. There have, for example, been claims by men that they have had letters from the "same girl" on different sites and girl doesn't remember them. It doesn't take a genius to work out why!
Once Girl A has gone on her way, Girl B takes over the profile. Girl B will continue to write letters and have chat sessions without video for as long as she can get away with it. Whatever Jump4Love state in their rebuttal blogs, they have NO way of knowing how many of these profiles have been taken over by another 'employee' of the local agent. However, whilst Jump4Love may not know which of these profiles are no longer managed by the original girl, they most certainly know it happens and they have admitted this to me. Interestingly, unless things have changed more recently, Jump4Love conduct no local audits of girls profiles…and if they were doing this, then you can be sure they would tell you about it.
Another way a local agent can drum up business is by hijacking the identity if unsuspecting girls. Images can be stolen from local social media sites or even modelling sites. In fact, some images are not even drawn from Eastern European sites. So how is this possible. Well, at least with Jump4Love, the local agent is responsible for verifying identities…so it is simple and, of course, this is precisely how I was scammed.
I made some suggestions to Jump4Love to avoid rogue agencies and fake profiles, which included, for example, unannounced local audits, and prevented the local agencies from replacing all of the images on a particular profile. From what I can see, they have not implemented any of my suggestions and the reason is almost certainly profit. These sites are a business, if they lose profiles, whether they are real or fake, then they lose income.
Now, unlike some others, I do not claim that Jump4Love are complicit in any fraud. For what it is worth, I think these are a local issue. However, I do make clear that I believe they could do more to prevent fake profiles appearing on their site. The decision not to is their, but what really irks me, is that they continue to mislead men by making claims that are patently untrue. No site can claim that they only have real girls, no site can claim that they have no fakes…and most certainly not Jump4Love.
My advice to anyone considering spending their mony on the Jump4Love site is don't. If you want to meet Eastern European girls then go to one of the social media sites (Classmates or VK.com), you can set up a profile and contact girls directly. Or, use a free site such as fdating.com.
Of course, you can still be scammed by a girl asking you directly for money, but there are many sites on the internet that cover this particular aspect. In fact, many dating sites will have information on these types of scams. However, this is, in my opinion, just a smokescreen to hide the fact that the most profitable scams take place at the behest of the local agents. And, whilsy the dating sites may not have specific information on each fake profile, they certainly know that it happens. Any claim otherwise is at best disingenuous and at worst, a blatant lie.
Jump4Love issues balance of refund after 15 months
Apr 12th
I am pleased to confirm, that in spite of the fact that it has taken some 15 months, Jump4Love has finally repaid me for the credits I purchased to communicate with a girl who subsequently turned out to be operating under a false identity. A fraud, a scam, deception, call it what you will. In my particular case, this girl conspired with the director of a Nikolaev based Marriage Agency to complete the deception. However, whilst Jump4Love may also have been duped in this particular case, the fact is, Jump4Love failed, at that time, to demonstrate reasonable care to limit the possibility of fraud or deception. I don't know if their systems, procedures or processes have improve in the interim, but hopefully, having had to refund in excess of $17,000 (over a period of 15 months), I hope they will have learned their lesson.
If anyone else suspects or knows that they have been the victim of a deception, where a girl, for example, has used a fake identity, I would urge and actively encourage them to pursue the website owners. It may require patience and persistence, but the only way website owners will improve their systems and processes is when they are hit in the pocket. Too often the owners of these dating sites think (and they may be correct) that victims will not want the hassle or will be too embarrassed to pursue a claim. Don't give up and consider writing about your experience to aid others.
Am I still out of pocket? Yes, Jump4Love only refunded the money I paid using my main account, not the expenses I incurred when my suspicions were raised and I started investigating the suspected deception. In addition, the 15 month delays has meant that I have had to accept a lower amount than I initially paid because the refunds were made in USD and the Dollar has been relatively strong. In addition, I have had to accept poor exchange rates and bank fees for each credit. However, was it worth it? Yes, it was and I have to respect Jump4Love for accepting responsibility very early on, even if they have been incredibly slow in passing the credits. As for me, I now consider the matter closed…and I have learned some valuable lessons.
Eastern European Dating sites, tips, advice and precautions
Mar 31st
When you are using a dating or marriage website, the following could be potential red flags and I would urge you to proceed with caution and a firm hand on your wallet. The latter is not necessarily because the girl may ask you for money, but because you could end up spending a lot of money sending letters or using chat services to converse with a girl that is not serious. Remember, these sites always focus on "scammers" that ask for money, but the reality is, men waste considerably more money on communicating with girls and paying for website services such as translation, letters, chat and webcam. None of these pointers are definitive, but based on personal experience and the feedback I have received via this blog; they are an excellent indication of a red flag.
1. Check the profile pictures. Does it consist entirely of professional photographs? If the answer to this is yes, it is possible that these photos have been lifted from one of the many modelling sites on the internet and the individual behind the computer is someone completely different…and yes, it could also be a man. If you are suspicious and can't see the girl on a webcam, ask for some 'natural' everyday photos.
2. Check the photos carefully. The use of "Photoshop" or its equivalents in Eastern Europe is commonplace. Contrary to popular myth, women in Eastern Europe age exactly the same as women in the rest of the world, but the use of photo enhancing software is commonly used to remove lines, blemishes and anything else that is considered unattractive. This does not mean the girl or the woman is a scammer, but it is a form of deception and, from a potential partner's perspective, you want to see the real person, not an enhanced version. Once again, if in doubt and if you are interested in the girl, ask for a natural photo, preferable posed with friends or family.
3. Are the majority of the photos of the girl in scantily clad or in suggestive poses? If the answer is yes, you can be fairly certain that no self-respecting girl from Eastern Europe would sell herself this way. At least not if she was serious about looking for a future partner. These photos are designed to catch the eye and reel in naive men…and yes, it works. But these girls know that. Again, this is not a definitive indication of someone that is not serious, but it is certainly a red flag.
4. It is not uncommon to find that girls who are working for the local agencies are actually being paid a commission on income generated from men. As a consequence, some will set up fake profiles, especially if the website employs poor or non-existent identity checks or if they leave this aspect to the local agencies. Often, these identities are lifted from social networking sites such as VKontakte.com and Odnoklassniki.ru. Unless the website offers a webcam service, it is difficult to determine a fake profile from a genuine one. If you are suspicious it is worth asking the girl to send you a photo with something specific contained in it, perhaps a particular colour dress or with something (or someone) in the background or foreground that you determine.
If they have been lifting photos from a social networking site, this could prove difficult, though not impossible. Don't accept excuses such as they don't have a camera, girls in Eastern Europe love taking photos and you can be assured that they will have either their own camera, or access to one. In fact, the vast majority of girls have mobile phones with inbuilt cameras and, or a webcam that can take photos. The best advice I can give is of the girl resists or gets angry (a very common form of defence by Eastern European girls), is to save your money and walk away.
5. Another indication of a site filled with scammers and/or girls that are being paid a commission to communicate is the number of unsolicited letters or messages you receive, not just in the first few days of your membership, but also on a daily basis, especially when you are online. When you are on the site, the chances are you will go through the profiles and then contact a few girls you are interested in; this is a 'normal' approach.
Now read the unsolicited letters you have received. There is a very high possibility that these are generic in content, for example, they may not refer to you by name, they will most likely not relate to any personal information given in your own profile (hobbies, common interests, status etc), these letters will often include questions that you have already provided answers to in your own profile, they may be short, perhaps a question such as "Do you prefer girls that are blonde or brunette?" and if the website offers chat services, you can be fairly certain you will receive an invitation, because this generates income very quickly for the site, agency and more often than not, the girls. Let me make something quite clear, whilst some girls from Eastern Europe will be forward enough to make the first move they truly are a tiny minority, the vast majority, and I cannot stress this too highly, will expect and indeed demand that they are wooed and pursued.
Some girls will send out hundreds of letters as bait in the hope that a few naive men will respond and the reality is, this approach works. The best approach to use when communicating with these girls is to be a complete sceptic, these girls rely on the fact that men can be incredibly naive when contacted by an attractive girl and/or would not want to offend. Many of the girls that are on these sites just to earn a living are carefully coached and they know exactly how to exploit our weaknesses. I have spoken to two girls that were being paid a commission and they both told me that if they are willing to work at it, especially if they are using more than one profile, they could earn excellent commission through letters, without ever having to use chat or a webcam.
It is also worth remembering that many of these girls are incredibly lazy (or busy), therefore it is not uncommon for them to send very short letters which include questions and therefore require a response from the man. This can be very lucrative for the girls, especially if they start to use the letters as a form of chat message. Also, because the scammers are likely to be communicating with other men, they often get confused, 'forgetting' things you have previously told them. Beware, unsolicited letters, generic letters and short letters are a good indication that the girl is either not serious, or she is writing to many other men.
I can recall that on one occasion, two different girls, from different cites (3 months apart) described an identical car accident they had "witnessed". On the first occasion, this traumatic event demanded a sympathetic response from me and we exchanged several letters. Obviously on the second occasion, I realised that it was a 'war story' shared between the girls. It doesn't matter how streetwise we think we are, we are all capable of being gullible and guilty of being too trusting. Girls earning commission know this only too well and they exploit these weaknesses with no sense of remorse, we are just "rich Westerners".
I can name one very well known website that runs regular competitions, with great prizes, for girls who generate the most letters or chat minutes. So, for the most part, you can ignore all the assurances given by website owners, this is just a lucrative business enterprise and as long as they don't get too much negative publicity, they will encourage girls to engage men in conversation, not to find a partner, but to fill their coffers. Website owners can honestly state that they don't pay the girls any form of commission, I am sure that this is true, however, they know that their local agencies can or do…and they simply turn a blind eye to it, only reacting if someone complains and there is irrefutable proof. You have been warned.
6. It is also worth looking at profile numbers to try and work out how long a girl has been on a particular dating site. On Jump4Love for example, there are girls that have been active on this site for 2 years or more. I ask you, is it really possible that an attractive girl can't find a partner in 2 years? Of course, some of these accounts may have been reactivated, as is possible with some dating sites, but this is an open door for local agencies to deceive because additional checks by the websites are rarely, if ever made. Local agents can choose to reactivate an account and allow a different girl to sit behind the computer, yes it happens…and a lot more often than you would expect. This active account can then be used with virtual impunity for chat (without webcam) and letters.
7. Many girls will have you believe that they can only communicate with you via the marriage agency's computers or in a cybercafé. Perhaps this is so, but the vast majority of these facilities include web cameras, so if the dating site offers a webcam facility, don't be suckered into believing that the girl "doesn't have a webcam". Not having access to a webcam can normally be considered a very strong indicator that the girl has something to hide and it may be, for example, that the person you are communicating with is not the same as the one depicted in the profile. It is worth noting that the majority of local agencies use laptops with built in webcams. I know, for example, that many girls ask their friends at the agency to cover for them, so one girl may be responding to letters and chat messages for several other girls.
Even if you chat to a girl using a webcam, it is worth noting that some girls will go to great lengths to disguise their identity. This could be because they only have similar characteristics to the girl on the profile and/or because the photos have been so heavily doctored, that they no longer look the same. I have read several posts from men who have complained that the girl they have seen on a webcam barely resembles the one depicted in their profile photos. I also recall one girl telling me how she was "embarrassed" by the portfolio photos provided by her agency photographer, because they has been so heavily doctored, that everyone though she was or Oriental extraction. I kid you not!
For anyone that doubts it is possible to disguise their true identities I can reveal that tricks used to do this include adding transparent tape to the camera lens to distort the image. This clever trick gives the impression that the camera is of poor quality. Another common trick is to use poor lighting, or perhaps a combination of the two. Girls will go to great lengths to look to disguise themselves and this can include using a wig, or even wearing something a little risky to distract your attention. This is not Hollywood, it is happening and I have personally experienced these examples. These 'tricks' are typically used when the girl is communicating from home.
Disreputable local agencies that employ girls on a commission will often supply them with the loan of a free laptop for use at home. In return, the girl must spend a minimum amount of time online and will often have targets to achieve in respect of letters, chat minutes and so on. For local agencies this is a business and for many girls it is just a job. Elsewhere on this blog you will find examples of adverts that have been placed online and in newspapers targeting girls (often students) to work on these sites offering lucrative commissions, a free photography session and "flexible hours". The girls will then be constantly monitored to ensure that the agencies can get a return on their investment.
8. Another useful clue that a girl may not be serious and/or the profile is fake is the amount of time they spend online or the hours they work. For example, it is not uncommon to find the same girls working identical hours each day. As with many businesses, these girls will often work 'shifts'. Mornings, afternoons or, for the more determined, days, nights and/or weekends. It is not unusual to see a girls profile continuously active for 8, 10 hours or even more. Does anyone truly believe that any girl, especially an attractive one, would need, or indeed want to spend so much time on a dating site looking for a husband? Apply some objectivity here and you can quickly see a pattern emerging. Human nature tends to persuade us to give the benefit of the doubt, to trust or to be optimists…but I would urge anyone using these sites to retain a high degree of objectivity and yes, scepticism. Even the streetwise, intelligent and the wise amongst us have been successfully scammed or deceived.
If the girl tells you she is going to university or working, then ask yourself if this is compatible with the amount of time and the hours she is spending online?
9. Girls using webcams will often choose, or are required to use the facilities of their local marriage agency. This can often be confirmed by the fact that they look like as if they are in an office. In my experience these are typically the girls that work (yes, this was a deliberate use of the word) regular shifts. Worth noting however, is the fact that some of these girls will be operating several profiles and/or their own profiles on different sites simultaneously. Therefore, you should be wary of any girl that is often distracted and/or constantly asks to be excused whilst she has a drink or goes outside for a smoke (although most girls deny they smoke!). Sometimes, they may be distracted or amused as another girl in the office completes a "dance" for some pervert…yes this happens too! If the girl appears to be typing all the time, yet you receive very few messages, you need to consider the possibility that they are holding several simultaneous conversations either on the same site, or even a different one. Some sites, such as Jump4Love allow an unlimited number of men to communicate with a girl at the same time and view her webcam. Hardly romantic or conducive for an intimate exchange.
Regular users of chat will also be familiar with the some girls taking an incredible amount of time to respond to chat messages. This is can be as a consequence of the girl conducting a number of concurrent conversations or, because they are fully aware that the longer you chat, the more commission they will earn. So again, if you experience this type of behaviour, consider it another red flag.
10. Always remember that letters and chats on these websites should invariable mimic life. We all love to speak about ourselves and to exchange information about our past, present and future, often referring to the day's events and people involved in our everyday lives such as family and friends. Whilst the 'professional' girls working on these sites will be experienced at inventing a character, it is unlikely they will want to write long letters, because they get paid the same amount of money, irrespective of the number or words written and let's face it, many of these girls have very busy schedules! Similarly, it is unlikely that a girl you have never met will express her undying love after a few exchanges or be willing to discuss her dire financial situation. Too many men leave commonsense and logic at the door of the login page and it those that are susceptible to being scammed or deceived. I have to say I was also guilty of this, but based on feedback I have received and other posts on the internet, I was in the company of many, many others.
Finally, remember one very important point. The owners of these websites will constantly reassure you by telling you how they always attempt to minimise the risks of fraud. Always they will refer to girls that attempt to scam money directly from men, but they will never tell you about the most obvious and lucrative form of fraud and deception which benefits the websites, local agencies and the girls…and that is the money generated by girls that are paid a commission for communicating with you. By far and away, men will spend more money communicating with these girls than they ever will by sending money via Western Union.
Also be conscious of one other thing, if a girl is serious about you, then she will not want you to spend vast sums communicating via the website. Some sites will allow the exchange of personal information and some will force you to pay for it…but one thing is for certain, if the girl wants you to communicate directly with her, she will know exactly how to do this. Websites are keen to tell you how using the site allows them to monitor what is going on and protect you from the risks of fraud or deception. Whilst this may be true to a small extent, one thing is absolutely guaranteed, this 'protection' is limited at best and non-existent at worse. The bottom line is, if a website genuinely wants to protect you, they would employ more checks on their local agents, they will complete thorough initial and ongoing checks on the identity of the girls and they will monitor things like the amount of time a girl spends online each day, the number of letters she sends each day and the length of time she has been on the site. They won't because they know what they don't want you to know; these are the girls that generate the biggest returns.
If you are reading this article, the chances are you have already had your suspicions raised, or you want to use one of these dating sites for the first time. My advice is to approach with caution, or better still, try using a free Eastern European social networking site. Unless or until these marriage and dating websites clean up their act, they don't deserve another cent!
Free or Paid Russian Dating Sites
Jan 21st
I was recently asked if there were "free" alternatives to the expensive marriage and dating sites such as Jump4Love and, of course, there are. Admittedly, it is quite possible that many of these free sites will also include a percentage of traditional scammers, therefore it is still important to keep your wits about you.
In my experience, traditional 'pay sites' do very little to screen out scammers or remove fake profiles, choosing rhetoric in place of action. In addition, because pay sites are money centric, they also attract local agencies and girls (or women) who see it as a way of earning easy money therefore, arguably, the number of women that are not serious about relationships is likely to be far more prevelant on the pay sites.
As mentioned in some of my previous posts, for the most part, the pay sites use local 'marriage agencies' who are paid a percentage of the revenues generated from men willing to pay to meet prospective partners. These local marriage agencies will often receive between 35% and 50% of the revenues generated from the main site. In turn, most agencies (it is a competitive market finding attractive girls), will pass on as much as 60% of the revenues generated to the girls. Local marriage agencies may operate from offices, or they could offer to provide the girls with a laptop. However, whatever the method of communication, girls being paid will be expected to spend a minimum number of hours each week "online" and must hit targets for letters and/or chat, especially if the local marriage agency has paid for their photo portfolio and/or supplied a laptop. Not all girls on the pay sites are receiving commissions, some may be genuine and seeking a real relationship, but with so many being paid, it could cost you thousands to find a sincere girl and, more likely, you efforts will be futile. So why pay?
The downside of free sites is that you will have to work a little harder. Don't expect 100's of letters in your 'inbox' every day! However, because the girls on the free sites are not paid to communicate, at least you will know that their motives are not financial.Therefore, if you follow some basic rules about not sending money to anyone you communicate with, you have a real opportunity to meet new friends or find a partner without having your bank balance decimated.
Although I have experience of some of the free sites listed here, I am not going to make any recommendations, you must complete your own research and come to your own decision.
A completely free dating site where you can view profiles and send messages. The has English, German and Russian language options.
Free offered by Rambler, a Russian search engine and one of the biggest Russian web portals. The site claims to have more than 11m users, this site caters for those looking for friendship, love, marriage and casual sex. Search function, view profiles and send messages. There are also a few clones of this site such as love.ru.
Free Russian dating and personals site where you can view profiles and send messages.Claims to have 15.5m girls listed.
Free dating site (and portal) focusing on Ukraine.
Free community and dating site. View profiles and send messages.
Part of the Russian portal mail.ru this site has its own dating and personals section where you can view profiles, chat (including video chat) and send messages.
Russian social networking site which with features and functionality that are strikingly similar to Facebook and free to use.With more than 100m registered users, if you know someone in Eastern Europe, the chances are they have a profile on this site.Available in 70 languages.
odnoklassniki.ru (Classmates)
This is another site popular with Russians and for Soviet Republics. Whilst it is primary intention is to reunite old friends and former classmates, it is also a very popular form of communications between Eastern Europeans. They have more than 45m registered users, but the users are predominantly under 35 years old.
If you know of any more free dating or social networking sites (focused on Eastern Europe, not International) that are not listed here, I would be pleased to include them. However, it must not simply be a "free trial" of a paid site, nor can they charge a subscription, for letters or any other forms of communication such as chat.


text:
{I wanted to post this because sweet Sookie is 8 months old today! A little background information; I was 15 months when I was diagnosed with Cystinosis. I was 11 years old when I had my kidney transplant, my amazing mother was the donor. I am 27 now, was 26 when I gave birth. The following appeared in the Spring/Summer 2010 Cystinosis Research Network newsletter. After a lot of thought, I left out everything about her heart. I felt it would have made the piece triple the length, I wasnt ready to revisit that situation again emotionaly, as I wrote this in April, and honestly, I didn't want anyone to think Cystinosis affected her heart in any way or form, because it didn't. )
Some of the most profound lessons I have learned in life came from little friends younger than 6 years old. But, I always pictured my future involving an adoption.
On a magical evening last June, one of my lifelong dreams started to come to fruition; and then I panicked. I needed to find a perinatologist (an obstetrician who has received further specialized training in high risk pregnancies) whom I trusted with not only my life, but the life of my unborn child as well. I would love to say I was a bouncing ball of sunshine and positivity through the entire pregnancy, but in truth I wasn't. There were many unknowns. It was complicated, thorny, uncharted territory. I would be walking a path that very few have conquered. I knew the risks. I knew the reality of one of us not surviving, or losing my transplanted kidney. It was by far the most difficult journey of my life, and not to play the victim card, but there have been some jagged ones. With all of that being said, I would do it all again in a heartbeat; with a little bit more optimism sprinkled throughout.
At my first appointment, they said I was barely five weeks along. I felt it was imperative to be followed closely from the very beginning. Synthroid was the only medication I took during the pregnancy, however I was only taking that and Cystagon before. Synthroid is considered safe during pregnancy. I had my kidney transplant in October of 1994, but I am no longer on any anti-rejection drugs. I followed Dr. Gahl's recommendation to stop taking Cystagon for the duration of the pregnancy, but I did continue to use the cysteamine eye drops as he assured me that not enough of the cysteamine would reach the blood to be of concern.
It's strange how quickly your life is divided up into a week at a time. It is eerie how just one tiny week can feel like a marathon; emotionally, physically, and mentally. Each and every Thursday I would wake up, basking in the notion she grew one more week safely inside of my womb. At the beginning of it all, I made a goal to make it to thirty two weeks. It wasn't ideal, but considering my kidney and being at risk for preeclampsia, among other things; I felt it was even a little too optimistic. The ironic thing is, a day after that crucial 32 weeks I spent the night in labor and delivery because it appeared for a little while that I was going into labor. It turned out to be a false alarm, but things were definitely interesting from there on out.
One of the most pivotal moments of my pregnancy was an afternoon when I first started to agonize over the decision to get the H1N1 vaccine. I was smack in the midst of one of my biweekly meltdowns, knowing that no matter what decision we made, it would be the wrong one. I can't pinpoint exactly what week of the pregnancy I was in, but I knew Sookie was just barely past that viable week 24. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that she had made it this far, but the threat of losing her to H1N1 was a concrete one. That was when Rory held me close and said to me, "She's going to make it all the way to our arms." I can't explain it but that simple statement made it real and possible and it made Sookie unstoppable.
Early on in the pregnancy, I decided to donate the placenta for research purposes. Funny thing is, it actually ended up causing us to have to delay the birth by a few days because of the logistics of getting it in the mail and to San Diego in a timely manner. Being a trailblazer is not always fun!
Even though everything worked out in the end, it was not easy. I had extra doctor appointments, multiple ultrasounds, and non stress tests twice a week starting at 32 weeks. The non stress tests were simply precautionary, and were to make sure she was not in distress. Because of my health history I was at risk for many things, including premature labor, stillbirth, and preeclampsia, just to name a few. There were no major complications, but it did take a remarkable toll on my body. My thyroid levels didn't want to balance. My dose of Synthroid had to be adjusted constantly. I was exhausted what felt like the entire pregnancy, but all things considered I know I am blessed. Despite the extreme fatigue, I was able to work part time as a nanny right up until 32 weeks when I was put on bed rest.
As the third trimester went on, my doctor explained to me that he was more worried about my health than Sookie's. I had a tough time with the whole idea of being induced and would never have agreed to it if it wasn't medically necessary. I am like many people with a chronic disease who feel the need to be in control of every little thing. Even though I have had to rely on modern medicine for many things in my life, I also feel that sometimes letting nature do its thing is the best way to go. It was as if my head knew it was indeed a medical necessity not to push the pregnancy any further, but my heart was best friends with my inner hippie who just kept insisting things could happen on their own. I was most apprehensive about the birth, the side effects and risks of the induction drugs and just never feeling completely comfortable with the notion of forcing my body and the baby to both do something neither of us was ready for.
I felt like I was given miracles on top of miracles throughout this adventure. First, there is the fact that we were able to conceive at all. Then, that we made it to 12 weeks and after that the viable 24 weeks. And then to make it to 37 weeks, which is considered full term, I was in complete shock! In addition, avoiding pre-eclampsia, and my kidney escaped unscathed? Well, that was just icing on the cake!
Induction is a long process. I was prepared for it to take 24 hours. We went to the hospital at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. At 1:53 on a beautiful Monday afternoon of February's first day in 2010, Sookie came into this world. I held her hand while she was placed on my tummy and Rory cut the cord. Her cries were so loud and full of life; the most precious sound I've ever heard or will ever hear.
It has been tricky to put this experience into a neat little package of words. I wanted this overall chapter of our story to convey the hope that is so tangible, but also the reality that none of it was easy or without risk. I was tremendously lucky, but I also had superb kidney function before the pregnancy. I truly believe that fact was a colossal blessing and key to this whole voyage working out the way it did. I wake up every day and continuously marvel in the beauty and sheer phenomenon that is Sookie.
01 October 2010
4 comments:
I am pretty sure I cired through this entire post! Beautiful story, and I am so happy you shared it!ReplyDelete
Such a beautiful story, thanks for sharing it with us.ReplyDelete
xoxo, misty
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Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Arts and Sciences
Drugs in Our Society
Three semester hours. (FL)
Provides students with a realistic perspective of the drug problem. Areas of concentration includes (1) history of drug abuse public policy; (2) nature of common drugs; and (3) legislative and enforcement issues including the legalization debate, organized crime, and political dimensions.
Home - General Information - Student Services -
Academic Undergraduate Regulations -
Undergraduate Degrees - Academic Graduate Regulations -
Graduate Degrees - Course Descriptions - Faculty -
Appendix A - Appendix B - Appendix C - Appendix D


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Houston's Best Kids Haircuts
Kids Kuts and Teens Kuts is the best children's haircut location in the city of Houston. We're conveniently located on Bellaire Blvd near Weslayan St. Stop by today to see why parents love bringing their kids to get their haircut here and why kids love to be here.
"Our qualified staff loves what they do and are excited to have your family come experience why we're the best hair salon in Houston for Kids and Teens."


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These are the results for Southington High School's varsity contests for Tuesday, April 11. For more in-depth coverage, read next week's Southington Observer.
Boys Lacrosse: After opening their season with back-to-back, blowout losses, the Blue Knights earned their first win of the season with a 20-5 victory over Newington (0-2) at home. The Knights led the Indians, 10-2, at halftime. Southington took 48 shots on goal and committed nine penalties. Jake Walczak paced the offense with five goals on eight shots. Liam Guthrie (3 goals, 1 assist), Evan Johanns (3 goals), Ryan Mailhot (2 goals, 3 assists), Seth Bogoslofski (2 goals), Matt Gunderson (1 goal, 2 assists), Matt Thompson (1 goal), Brandon Slade (1 goal), Jared Vath (1 goal), and Justin Nogueira (1 goal) each contributed as well. Hunter Forrest recovered five ground balls. Evan Bumbera (5) and Garrett Brown (3) combined for eight saves in the cage. The Knights will wrap up the week when they host nonconference Trumbull (2-2) on Thursday and nonconference Pomperaug (2-2) on Saturday.
For more in depth coverage, see our weekly print edition. To contact sports writer Brian Jennings, email him at email@example.com.


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Thanks to very cheap airfare out of LAX, we have had many visitors these past few months. Actually since the beginning of June we haven't gone longer than two weeks without someone either living with us or visiting us. I can honestly say that it has been a blast and lifted our spirits in huge ways. We have been able to experience so much community in the past few months and it has really filled our hearts. We're very thankful.
I mentioned in this post that our friend Jenna visited for three weeks. She jumped right in and helped a ton with Krochet Kids and loved on our kids (which is a huge gift to us). We definitely got used to having her around and tried to convince her to stay.
On her last morning with us, Jenna organized a pancake breakfast with our interns for the kids. And then everyone piled in for school drop offs and a day at Krochet Kids.
We also had five staff from Krochet Kids come for a week, along with the couple who donated to our Kick Starter campaign and got a trip to Peru. They were here for Riley's birthday which was so special for her. The staff stayed with us which made for a very fun week! There were lots of night sessions on the trampoline with four little kids and five big kids. The KKi staff love on our kids so much and there were many tears when they left. Our boys definitely look up to all of the guys and we're thankful to have such great role models in our kids' lives.
The guys helped us blow up a gazillion ballons to put in Riley's room for her birthday while she slept.
We had one of our more "interesting" experiences since moving to Peru while the staff was here. All 11 of us were crammed in our Volkswagon bus returning from the KKp anniversary celebration when Brady had an iPhone stolen out of his hands while sitting in the back of the car (through an open window). I have never seen Brady so terrified and our kids definitely had their eyes opened a bit by the experience. We have dealt with some fear since that was made worse when our car battery was stolen out of our car while in front of our house. We're praying for Brady especially to not have any more fear and be able to sleep at night.
Next, my friend Melissa, her son Noah, and her friend Erika came for a week. Again, the kids had so much fun, especially with Noah. It was sweet for me to have a dear friend to hang out with and to have her see our life here. Plus the kids had another great role model in Noah to observe.
Melissa joining in on our family game of charades.
And last, but not least, we had two more staff from Krochet Kids come down. Everything that I said about the KKi staff above applies to them too. Adam brainwashed our kids while he was here into being Liverpool fans.
All of these people feel like family now. Our kids are attached to each and every one of them. They encouraged us with their willingness to walk alongside us in our crazy Peruvian life. And thankfully we still have more visitors to come!


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Product Code: TORCHOLIGHTS1R
Availability: In Stock
The S1R baton (S1R) is a side-switch, rechargeable EDC flashlight, powered by one RCR123 rechargeable lithium battery of high discharging rate, giving a maximum output of 900 lumens. The TURBO S model includes a 600 lumen mode and improved user interface. It utilizes a Cree XM-L2 LED. Coupled with TIR optic lens of high light transmission rate, it can deliver a balanced beam. S1R has five brightness levels and a strobe mode, covering an output range of 0.5 to 900 lumens. The outer appearance of the S1R follows the style of BATON Series. It comes with a magnetic charging cable. You may use a desktop micro-dok as an optional charger, which makes it easier to acquire the power source whether at home or outdoors, and make sure the flashlight is always ready to bring brightness to your life at any time.


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Contact: Denise Germann, 406 888 5838
Many of the Glacier National Park's campgrounds will be opening for the summer season in upcoming weeks. Currently, Apgar Campground, located on the west side of the park, is open with services available.
The Apgar Campground is the largest campground in the park and hosts almost 200 camping sites for tents and RV campers. Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water. All Apgar Campground sites are first-come first-serve, with a summer overnight fee of $20.
Most campgrounds in Glacier are on a first-come first-serve basis. Reservations are available at Fish Creek and St. Mary Campgrounds beginning June 1, and may be made up to six months in advance through the National Recreation Reservation Service at https://www.recreation.gov/ or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Campers without prior reservations are also welcome at these campgrounds, as space is available.
Water is available at most campgrounds, but there are no electrical or water hookups at any campground in the park. Dump and water fill stations are available at most campgrounds. Water is not available when a campground is in primitive status. Many campgrounds can accommodate campers and trailers, with some size restrictions.
Specific information about each campground, including a map of the sites, operating dates, available services, current and historic fill times, and more is available by visiting https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm.
Campgrounds in primitive status cost $10/night. When campgrounds are in primitive status no water is provided. Any water taken from streams or lakes requires treatment before use. Primitive and winter front-country campgrounds include pit toilets, no running water and only a limited number of sites.
Hiker/bicyclist sites are available at Apgar, Avalanche, Many Glacier, Rising Sun, Sprague Creek, and Two Medicine Campgrounds for $5 per person per night, and at Fish Creek and St. Mary for $8 per person per night.
Group sites are available by reservation for groups of 9 to 24 campers. These sites are located in the Apgar and St. Mary Campgrounds. These sites can be reserved up to one year in advance through the National Recreation Reservation Service at https://www.recreation.gov/ or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Many Glacier and Two Medicine Campgrounds have one group site at each campground, and both are on a first-come first-serve basis.
Campers are reminded to keep a clean camp and obey food storage regulations. Animals are attracted to food and food odors. All food, garbage, and equipment used to cook, serve or store food must be kept sealed in a vehicle or in an approved bear-resistant container. For more information about food storage regulations, please visit the park's website at https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm or contact the park at 406-888-7800.
Glacier National Park
2014 Campground Opening and Closing Dates
Last updated: February 24, 2015


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Developer Appreciation Week is here! For the uninitiated the concept of Developer Appreciation week dates back to 2010 and was started by Couture Gaming the Blogger formerly known as Scarybooster. The idea was simple, spend a week talking about all of the things you love about various game development companies and studios. As a blogger we spend plenty of time pointing out what is wrong in the games we love, and talking about ways that they could be better. That said it is important to understand that for most of us this critique comes from being a huge fan of the games and genres as a whole. So during this week we point out the things that are going right and make a point of mentioning all the things we really appreciate out there. If you too are a blogger please feel free to join in by posting your own Developer Appreciation Week ideas.
I was first aware of the existence of Undead Labs back in November of 2009 when articles started filtering onto the various MMO news sites that this company had spun off of ArenaNet to create a zombie themed MMO. Firstly I am a huge fan of all things Undead, and I started watching any news about this upstart company to try and glean bits of information about the upcoming game. Few things make me happier than slashing my way through hordes of the walking dead, and I'm enough of a fan of the George Romero movies that I have a vial of dirt from the graveyard that the original Night of the Living Dead was filmed in. With time it was announced that they had set their sights on creating a really solid single player experience instead of an MMO, which honestly was probably a really solid move given that by the time the game would have released… the MMO market was looking a little shaky. On June 5th of 2013 the resulting game, State of Decay was released exclusively on the Xbox Live Arcade, and I bought it the moment it was available for purchase. If you were to craft a perfect Zombie game… you'd have State of Decay. I loved everything about it… minus one little detail. The game felt like it was originally designed to have co-op support if not a fully fleshed out MMO experience. However as excited as I was about the game I took to my blog and made a post talking about my day one impressions.
Shortly after making the post I had Annie Strain the wife of Undead Labs founder Jeff Strain interacting with me on twitter. This really told me that this game studio was a little different than the big polished institutions I was used to interacting with. Everything about Undead Labs seemed like a big family, rather than a business. I had the fortune to interact with a handful of them at Pax South 2015, as they were ramping up to launch both their pokemon-esc mobile MMO Moonrise and the State of Decay: Year One Survivor Edition. Just talking with them really brings home this feeling of them all being in this together. The best part however is that they really do make amazing games, and over the years since State of Decay has launched I have purchased it for so many of my friends. I even purchased the disc copy of YOSE for my boss, when I found out he had just purchased a Xbox One. While he is not a big gamer, he was a huge fan of The Walking Dead… and as a result is now also a huge fan of State of Decay. Once again… the only problem with the game is that it begs to be a multiplayer experience. We've talked about this before on our podcast, but if we could explore that game world with friends it would truly be one of the best games released on any platform.
Another huge boon about Undead Labs is the insanely hard working Sanya Weathers. If you have been around the MMO industry since the early days, there is a large chance you know that name. I became aware of her during my time playing Dark Age of Camelot, and always appreciated the job she did trying to wrangle the crazies and help out the folks who really needed assistance. Within the community management circles she is a bit "infamous" for her blogging days. Regardless of how you might remember her, she is one of those forces that it wouldn't matter what company she was working with… I would pay attention to them from that point on. I am hugely thankful of my own interactions with her during the lead up to, and after Pax South 2015. I would not have actually had the interview with Undead Labs were it not for her reaching out to me on twitter, and that sort of proactive nature is just awesome. It was heartbreaking when the Studio announced that they would be cancelling Moonrise because I was right there with them pulling for it to be the next big breakout hit.
One of the folks that I met with during Pax South was Geoffrey Card the Lead Designer for State of Decay. Since the convention I've followed his movement a little more closely and found that he does this amazing series of live streams. What is awesome about these streams is that he tends to grab various folks from Undead Labs and streams over the pacific timezone lunchtime. The thing that I find valuable about them is the way that the various folks end up breaking down the games as they are playing them, and deconstruct what elements are really well done and what elements could use improvement. A lot of the games that I have seen him play are other zombie genre titles, and it feels like he is trying to grok everything that is going on in the title so that he can absorb it like a sponge and burn it down to the purist element to use for inspiration on State of Decay. As someone who has always been a bit of an armchair designer myself, I find the process valuable and it also serves to give the watchers a bit of a glimpse into the inner workings of the game studio itself at times. If you are into that sort of thing, I highly suggest you check the stream out sometime.
The best thing about the Developer Appreciation Week construct, is it gives me open season to write love letters to the various companies that I really respect and appreciate. Undead Labs is one that I knew without a doubt that I would be touching on during this week, and I am really excited to see whatever the next thing is that they are working on. Part of me is crossing my fingers hoping that we finally get either a co-op experience or a full fledged MMOized State of Decay. Regardless I will be watching any news about this great studio with interest.


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Investments and advisory services offered through representatives of Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, Member FINRA, SIPC, Investments offered to residents of GA, NC, NJ, SC, VA & WA. Advisory services offered to residents of NC. Branch Office: 4000 Weschase Blvd, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Lincoln Financial Securities and Freedom Wealth Management are not affiliated. Lincoln Financial Securities and its representatives do not offer tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax or legal professionals regarding their specific circumstances.
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The winning piece of the ArtPrize 2012 was breathtakingly massive and titled the 'Elephants' Mural by Adonna Khare.
Artist Khare is an elementary school teacher with a talent for drawing. The mural depicts a safari scene of animals with majestic elephants taking center stage. 'Elephants' was made entirely by hand with pencil and boasts whopping measurements of 8-feet tall by 35-feet wide. This artistic marvel is featured a the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
"It's kind of a biography of my life transplanted into animals, sad things like loss and sickness, and happy things like the birth of my daughter," says Khare of her award-winning piece. With such sentimental value and sheer talent the Elephants' Mural by Adonna Khare is truly deserving of all its merits.
Giant Pencil-Sketched Posters
More Stats +/-
Cleverly Captioned Creatures
Disintegrating Animal Advertising
Animal Sculpture Speakers
Delicate Elephant Artworks
Debonair Wildlife Portraits
Free 2019 Report & eBook
Get the top 100 trends happening right NOW -- plus a FREE copy of our award-winning book.
Our Research Methodology
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The 'Elephants' Mural by Adonna Khare is Astounding in Its Intricacy
- By: Alexandra SerranoOct 11, 2012
References: adonnak & mymodernmet
References: adonnak & mymodernmet


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Anarchist extremists believe that society should exist absent of "oppressive" governments, laws, police, or any other authority and they advocate violence in furtherance of submovements such as anti-racism, anti-capitalism, anti-globalism, and environmental extremism.
Over the past year, anarchists have carried out attacks against white supremacists during counter protests, have caused millions of dollars in damage to private and public property during riots, and have latched onto otherwise legal protests nationwide. In New Jersey, they have been largely nonviolent and focused on anti-racist action.
Director of Intelligence Rosemary Martorana and Intelligence Analyst Kristin McCormick sit down to explore what implications these recent events may have for the State of New Jersey.


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Blossa glögg is the most popular ready made mulled wine in the whole of Sweden. Brewed with traditional spices such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger and orange it is the taste of Christmas for many – and a pot of this heating on the stove will make your house smell like Santa's Kitchen. To serve: Gently heat the mulled wine in a saucepan – take care not to heat it too much or the alcohol will evaporate (80 degrees celcius is about right). Serve in little cups with raisins and flaked almonds.
Please note this product can only be purchased by people 18 and over.


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When designing their flags, countries need to decide on a color scheme and style that accurately reflect their nation's history, people, and prosperity. But if you look a little deeper into the stories of some of these unique flags, you'll discover hidden symbolism and obscure facts that might cause you to do a double take next time you see them waving in the wind.
For instance, the U.S. flag featuring 50 stars, arguably the most famous world flag, was first dreamed up in 1958 by an Ohio high-school student for a class project. Robert Heft figured that Hawaii and Alaska would soon become states, so he borrowed his mother's sewing machine and added two more stars to the existing design. Heft's teacher awarded him a "B-" for his efforts, but assured him that if Congress accepted Heft's submission, he would have his grade changed to an A. Sure enough, in 1959, Heft earned his higher grade, winning him spots both at the head of the class and in American history.
How did other nations arrive at their modern flags? Some have, in their designs, gone beyond basic colors and patterns and thought more globally. Here's a look at five countries and their flags – how they've designed their banners to be artistically unique and, as a result, full of life and tradition:
Brazil Brazil flag by SmileStudio
The Brazilian flag's stars represent the country's 26 states and its Federal District, but the key difference from the U.S.' use of stars is in their design and placement. In fact, they represent actual stars in the sky as they would have been positioned on November 15, 1889 at 8:30pm over Rio de Janeiro — forever commemorating the moment when several well known constellations (such as the Southern Cross and Scorpio) could be seen. Whenever more states are added — there were 21 at the flag's inception in 1889 — more stars are included to expand the showcase of that historic evening's sky. (Nerdy Bonus Fact: The stars are intentionally reversed from the way someone in Rio might see them, as the designers wanted the flag to represent the view of Rio from someone far away in space.)
Australia Australian Flag by jannoon028
In 1901, Australia held an open competition, recruiting citizens to design a new flag in exchange for a cash prize. It drew over 30,000 entries. Submitters were required to consider these criteria: loyalty to the Empire, Federation, history, heraldry, distinctiveness, utility, and cost of manufacture. Many people favored designs that drew inspiration from Britain's flag, complete with the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star. Ultimately, that's the direction the government went, and five people had to share the prize money, as they turned in similar designs. Everyone submitted red and blue concepts: the nation implemented both versions into its mercantile economy and culture, with red ones used for private vessels and blue ones for government ships.
Turkey Turkey flag by erdem
How Turkey wound up with a star and crescent insignia on its flag is anyone's guess — the origins remain a mystery. The crescent and star are widely understood to be a traditional Islamic symbol, fitting for a country that is almost entirely inhabited by Muslims, but scholars have ruled that belief to be a myth over time. There is, in fact, no evidence of any Islamic significance to the emblems on the flag. What we do know is that today's flag dates back to 1793 under Ottoman Sultan Selim III, who changed the crescent flag from green to red. The five-pointed star aspect originated in 1844. Despite no real understanding of where these symbols developed, other former states of the Ottoman empire have adopted them as well.
Belize Flag of Belize by Atlaspix
Belize's flag stands out from the rest for its many colors (twelve!) and its depiction of human beings. After becoming its own nation in 1981, Belize wanted to illustrate its autonomy, choosing the red, white, and blue motif that is frequently associated with freedom. Sitting in the middle of the flag is "The Coat of Arms," which consists of a ship (for trading) and tools (for labor). The two woodcutters beside the insignia reinforce the message, wielding an axe and an oar, respectively. Belize is the only country with people featured this prominently in the design of its flag. As a whole, it demonstrates the unity of the nation's people and their struggle to achieve independence.
Israel Israel flag by Globe Turner
The basic design for the Israeli flag was modeled on the Tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl, which is traditionally white with blue stripes. When the time came to develop a flag, early Zionists preferred to show off their existing symbol of nationhood, instead of having to design a new concept. As such, the Star of David sits squarely in the middle. The idea for the flag actually predates the state of Israel, and was first introduced in 1885. Because of its tradition, and significance, this design was selected for the official flag of Israel when it became a state in 1948.
Have a favorite unique flag or flag story of your own? Tell us in the comments below, and check out more flag imagery on Shutterstock! Also check our the different meanings of colors around the globe!


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The Library's Park and Museum Pass Program lets you check out a pass for free or discounted admission to the following institutions:
–The Brattleboro Art Museum
-Vermont State Parks
-Vermont State Historic Sites
-The Fort at Number 4
-The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
-Billings Farm and Museum
-The Montshire Museum
-Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Garden
-The Retreat Farm
Passes check out for two days and are circulated on a first come, first served basis. Many passes are for free admission for one family, but please call the library or ask at the front desk for details on each pass. This new program is made possible by the Library Board's Book Sale fundraiser. Please call, email, or visit for details: 802-387-4407 or email@example.com .


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Academic & Event Calendar
Academic Calendars by Semester: Spring | Summer | Fall
Trouble Viewing the Calendar? (Direct Link)
Questions or Comments about the above Calendars?
Tara Winters
Administrative Secretary for Academic Affairs
(580) 477-7702
|Student Activities Calendar
Maegan Martin
College & High School Relations
(580) 477-7875
|Alumni Association Calendar
Whitney Graham
P/T Development & Alumni Relations
(580) 477-7789
|Pioneer Sports Calendar
Annette Roman
Secretary for Athletics
(580) 477-7799


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Who, you ask?!
Check out the following links and get acquainted with this wonderful multi-talented writer:
(-The Alliterative Allomorph blog)
(- Jessica's personal website)
(-Jessica's music)
So lets get started with one of Jessica's favorite songs from her repertoire:
[All the pictures over the music are embedded into the interview below, so I recommend just launching the music and scrolling on down]
01 Meet the Alliterative AllomorphAW: Aloha Jessica. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today.
JCB: Thanks for having me!
AW: Let skip the basic questions that are readily answered on your blog, your website, and in your books- as we'll all see as soon as they get published...
So instead, could you tell us about your creative approach?
JCB: I'm always seeking ways to unbottle emotion, usually emotion that is too 'volatile' to express on an everyday basis – if I did, I'd probably drive everyone around me insane. When one art form ceases to fulfill my need, I move onto another for a while. I'll always come full circle back to the beginning though, and I'll always end up spending the most time on writing.
More often than not, melancholy sparks the need to create – especially music wise. But I've noticed, since I've started writing, sadness and loneliness are not the only forces that drive me. When I write, I experience a more solid fulfillment than I do through any other art form, which in itself causes me to feel a whole new array of emotions anyway; emotions that take me far far way from my typical melancholia. And I get precious glimpses of happiness and highs when I'm satisfied with what I've created, which can last for days. I suppose writing to me is like a drug. I'm addicted. Usually when I write music, I feel worse. I think that's why I've taken such a long break from it – a whole year now to be exact.
Before I started writing my only consistent outlet was music. But I soon realised it wasn't enough. I couldn't express exactly how I felt. I think that was because I was limited by my weak guitar skills. I never learnt how to play properly. I taught myself how to play and write music by ear.
AW: From 2002 to 2004 you were isolated on Ithaca, a small Greek island in the Ionian sea; in that time you've said that you pushed yourself to "grow creatively". Could you tell us about that experience?
JCB: Ah, that time. HA! Horrible period for me. I was in my early twenties and desperate to get my life started but I was stuck on Ithaca, which was my only safe haven from getting deported back to Australia. I was waiting for my residency permit, which I was told would take two months, but took two years due to rampant court and lawyer strikes and arbitrary differences between details on my legal documents vs. my parents'. I was only allowed to stay in the country for six months with a tourist visa, so I couldn't leave without paying a whopping fine and being forbidden from reentering the country. I couldn't get a job. I couldn't do anything but stay put until I was legal.
Anyway, to cut a long story short. I was BORED and needed to use my brain. In that time, I wrote my first book (which I eventually erased from my hard drive because it was, for lack of a better word, SHITE!); I wrote and recorded an entire album, and also wrote various poems and lyrics which I never ended up using.
AW: It's hard to miss that your creative output, your photography, your music, your writing, balances positive and negative energy; that you dare to represent imperfection as well as beauty. How representative of your worldview is that?
JCB: Wow. What an amazing question. Well, firstly, one cannot exist without the other. I try to represent the reality of what lies before me, so yes, it is totally representative of my worldview.
This balance is what I call honesty. Honesty fascinates me because I think it is 'the' most difficult human value to portray realistically. In my writing I endeavor to create a real world, an honest world, a world where imperfection is beautiful merely because it is real. Imperfection cannot be masked. One way or another, a person's imperfections will be revealed, no matter how hard they try to hide them. In fact, I believe the more one does try to hide their imperfections, the more they show. So why try to hide them?
02 Jessica looking cool-
AW: You have several things to share with us, would you care to comment about what we'll be seeing?
JCB: Ok, you've already seen photos 1 and 2 that are a part of a collection of self-portraits called 'waves'. I took these pictures of myself as promo shots for my new album, which I co-wrote and recorded with my mother, entitled Mess of Me. Each shot features some form of a 'wave': for instance, the cover of my album (see photo 3) is of an actual wave in negative format, and also because it metaphorically stands for 'sound waves'…
03 Wave
Photo 4 is of a sunrise from the ferry leaving Ithaca. Nothing special about that, I just thought it was beautiful and wanted to capture it. Though I have to add, I like the main features in landscape photographs to be on the side, for some reason. That probably says something about my personality, but I couldn't say what.
04 Leaving IthacaPhotos 5 and 6 are in the mountains in Kalavrita, a couple of hours out of Athens. These mountains are more than 1000 meters above sea level. The sun was desperate to be noticed behind the clouds that day. The shots were just waiting to be taken.
05 Kalavrita
For number six, I really wanted to capture all of that open flat space below, with the family playing in it and the little cabin. It shows just how vast and wide the land is there and how so much space tempts you to run and play in it. Just like when you are a kid, and autumn leaves are covering the ground and you want to interrupt its peace, make your mark.
06 Kalavrita
This next picture is of a place in Northern Greece called Meteora. Meteora means "suspended rocks", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above". There are six monasteries which are built right on the tips of these natural sandstone rock pillars. These were built approx 9th Century AD more than 550m high. How? Hmmm ... now try to convince me that aliens don't exist ...
07 Meteora-
AW: On a lighter note, congratulations on your betrothal! By the way, I've read you have a dog, what's its name? Do you have any fun dog-owner anecdotes to share?
JCB: Betrothal? Haha, it's no biggie. Just a legal document that's going to allow me to stay in Greece permanently and allow S and I to lead an easier life. It has nothing to do with love. Love was present before and remains unchanged after the dreaded signed piece of paper. : )
My dog's name is Holly [pic. 8]. She's three years old. Anecdotes? Erm ... well, through the eyes of Holly: "A door is what I am perpetually on the wrong side of."
08 Holly looking picturesque
AW: Thanks again for answering all these questions Jessica. You have my best wishes on your publishing endeavors.
JCB: Thank you so much!
And for more Jessica, hop on over to Zoe Courtman's for the current the (pen?)"ultimate interview" of the famed Alliterative Allomorph.


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The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have its final race of the 2014 season on Saturday at Homestead.
Brad Keselowski will lead a field of 40 to the green flag for the start of the Ford EcoBoost 300. He will be joined by Kyle Larson on the front row. Nationwide Series champion Chase Elliott will start the race 14th.
Coverage of Saturday's race will air on ESPN2 beginning at 4:30 pm ET with the green flag set to wave at 4:46 pm ET. The race will consist of 200 laps making up a total of 300 miles. Brad Keselowski won this race a year ago.
Failing to make the race were Ryan Elliss, Kevin Lepage, Derrike Cope, John Jackson and Martin Roy.


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CHS (CHS) Class of 1974 Alumni List
Help us Update the CHS 1974 Class List by adding any names missing from the list below:
Registered Alumni
1974 Class List
- Monica Beckford
- Judy Bilotti
- Janet Blok
- Monica Buono
- Pamela Copeland
- Terrance Crosby
- Barbara Dudley
- Steven Duren
- Carol Engel
- Linda Larsen Fiore
- Pat Fitzpatrick
- Louise Flanders
- Elaine Fortune
- Jeanne Giorlando
- John Hargett
- John Hayes
- Richard Jessup
- Roy Johnson
- Thomas Johnson
- Robert Jordan
- Robert Lally
- Tony Larocca
- Lawrence Larocca
- Imichael Mangini
- Teddy Martikois
- Celia Parker
- Louis Perrine
- Diane Raisley
- Michael Reed
- Louise Riccardi
- Janet Russell
- Joseph Russo
- Barbara Sangster
- Michael Seaverns
- Paul Smith
- Terry Smith
- Cecilia Spensieri
- Elaine Tedesco
- Petra Thomas
- Barbara Valente
- Jane Walker
- Brian Weidner
- Johnny Woluewich
- Charles Young
Know CHS Class of 1974 graduates that are NOT on this List? Help us Update the 1974 Class List by adding missing names.
1974 Curtis High School Yearbook
1974 Curtis High School Yearbook
Click here to view at Classmates.com®
The most popular movie of 1974 was Blazing Saddles which has grossed over $119,500,000 since its release. The TV series All in the Family was the most popular show of 1974.
Hit Songs From 1974
Don't You Worry 'Bout A ThingStevie Wonder
I'll Have To Say I Love You In A SongJim Croce
Jungle BoogieKool and The Gang
On And OnGladys Knight and The Pips
Rock Me GentlyAndy Kim
Then Came YouDionne Warwick and The Spinners
My Mistake Was To Love YouDiana Ross and Marvin Gaye
SundownGordon Lightfoot
Helen WheelsPaul McCartney and Wings
The Loco-MotionGrand Funk Railroad
Hit Movies From 1974
Hit TV Shows From 1974
Reunions and Curtis High School News
More 1974 alumni from Curtis HS have posted profiles on Classmates.com®. Click here to register for free at Classmates.com® and view other 1974 alumni.
Missing some friends from Curtis that graduated with you in 1974? Check the list below that shows the Curtis class of '74.
You can share memories of those activities that you were involved with at Curtis HS and you can view other alumni and read what other former students have posted about the time they spent at Curtis.


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Artist: Micky Shiloah
Song: Move Tonight
Region: USA-North America
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This is box title
Micky Shiloah is a man of many talents (I really mean it) – he not only sings infectious pop songs like "Move Tonight" but he also does comedy and act on movies and tv shows. Amazing right, but today we will focus on his musical prowess, which is really good to be honest. This talented young artist self-produced all his tracks and they are just right when it comes to indie pop. "Move Tonight" is a great song accompanied by nice hooks and a voice to lead the way. Simply enjoyable and just right to get up and move that body you've got.


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Cod. VB469002C00
Large unisex bag from the GIAMPAOLO GO SUMMER by Carpisa line, crafted in block coloured nylon with contrasting profiles. This model features contrasting handles and an adjustable shoulder belt. It also includes a removable internal pouch with handles and a zip, perfect to carry around frequently used items separately. Available in four colour schemes guaranteeing a touch of style when on the go.
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Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder Can Be Temporary Or Chronic In Nature
Circadian rhythm sleep disorder is nowadays quite frequent and many people are coming up with this problem. This sleep disorder is characterized by disruptions in the internal clock of the body. It not only disrupts the sleep of the patient but also it causes depression and fatigue which hampers a person's activity in his work and everyday life. It showcases different sleep patterns which are quite elusive and difficult to comprehend. Insomnia is a very common symptom when a person suffers with this disorder. The inflexibility and rigidity in sleep schedule is often known to be the root cause of various sleep disorder.
Sleepwalking – Another Form Of CRSD
Somnambulism often known to us as sleepwalking is also a type of problem that is caused by the interruption in our biological clock. It is often found in children but also it can be in adults too. A person may show different behaviors for example muttering to him/her, suddenly waking up and shouting and even getting dressed or walking out of the home. These behaviors often lead to safety issue of the person. You should always consult about it and doctor may recommend sedatives or other medicines and therapies to help cure this type of sleep disorder.
Non-24 Sleep Wake Syndrome A Chronic Sleep Disorder
Non-24 sleep wake syndrome is very rare but it is a chronic sleep disorder. It results in an delay of an hour time in wake up and sleep timing. This is often caused because of the malfunction of our biological clock and this type of circadian rhythm sleep disorder is often characterized with recurring problems. In this the sleep-wake cycle is often tends to work in the abnormal period of 24(+1) hour. It is much more frequent in the blind as they are not able to entertain light and henceforth becomes victim of this chronic sleep disorder.
Emotional Imbalance May Or May Not Be A Symptom Of CRSD
The relationship with the psychiatric and emotional imbalance is still cannot be correlated with the circadian rhythm sleep disorder. However, there are many cases which showed a throbbing result of depression and mood disorder in the patients because of the imbalanced working of our biological cycle. Patients have shown different type of anxiety behavior too but they are just significant in number. There are many patients which have showed an impairment of social or occupational activity. There are no particular kinds or symptoms that can showcase a root cause to this sleep disorder. There are studies going on and yet the most important part to be discovered is how you can get a permanent relief from this problem.
Permanent Practical Solution TO CRSD Is Yet To Be Found
As day by day patients with such sleep disorder is increasing, there is a need to find a practical solution to this problem. Repeated mismatch of sleep time and wake up time often makes the patient face social, work and academic problems. Patients with psychological, psychiatric or personality disorder are often neglected or overlooked when they could also be having similar problems. So a standard test needs to be designed so that there is a universal concept in treating the circadian rhythm sleep disorder.


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Oh my goodness, our trip is getting close. One week from today we fly to London. So right now we have three sheets of printer paper taped to our bedroom door. One is labeled "To Buy", one is "To Pack", and the other "Day of". It looks goofy but we are visual learners (and tend to put stuff off a little bit if we don't see it in our face).
We have decided to get International Driver's Licenses. We don't really have the intention of renting a car but if something comes up or if we want to rent a Vespa to cruise Rome we will be prepared. Getting one is simple. You get it through any AAA for only $15 and they take the photo and print it there for you in a passport style book.
Our airline flights have changed twice, very minor but still…it keeps you on your toes. I am so worried about missing a flight, but so far it is staying together. I am set up so I get emails from Delta when/if flights change. However, I fear what might happen if I am away overseas, without the use of my cell phone, and there is a major change. I am not familiar with how cells work over in London and Rome so if anyone has any info they can pass on please let me know. 🙂
It is a bit crazy getting our Wills drawn up, but it is very important. I also want to sit down and write each of my two boys a letter telling them how much they mean to me and mail it from the airport. My mother passed two years ago and, although I told her that I loved her a lot…I would have loved to have said it one more time. I also want to do some fun stuff like get my nails and possibly my hair done. I want some wicked highlights…but we shall see. A big concern is our dogs. I have two small Yorkies. Bella is 7 yrs old and Frog is 5 yrs old. They are good girls and super important so it is vital to find someone I trust with them. One of my girlfriends is going to take them and she is AMAZING with animals so I know that they will be safe and loved. Then comes the boring stuff. We must pay all of our bills, do the laundry and clean out the refrigerator so we don't come home to a stinky house. I have to make copies of all of our information (passport, driver's license…) so it will be easier to replace if, heaven forbid, something happens. We also much be very aware of the current exchange rates so that we understand what we are paying for something and if we are getting a good deal.
I am trying to figure out what to pack. The weather will be nice yet cool. I know that I would like to go to the Vatican City and see the Sistine Chapel. I also know that if I have uncovered shoulders and knees I will not be allowed in. So I am thinking about packing a long dress with mid length sleeves. I want something that I can roll up and pack in my backpack that won't get too wrinkled. I bought myself and my boyfriend a backpack. His will be used to pretty much carry all of our stuff while we are out for the day and mine will be used to carry my camera :). I had gone back and forth on whether to just bring a small camera or my very nice Nikon D700. I hemmed and hawed but decided that if I were there and didn't have my camera and lenses I would be very sad and feel that I wasn't able to capture all of the beauty in the way that I wanted to.
It gets stressful as we are getting closer. I am still working night shift, doing college, taking family portraitures for a friend and her family over the weekend, shopping, packing.….it can all be very stressful. But you suck it all up because the end result will be a lifetime full of memories. Wonderful memories and a few extra pounds on my rear end from all of the wonderful food.
Life is an amazing adventure.
Jody Lee Smith


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The Canadian TV crossing-the- border trend continues.
ABC announced that cop drama "Rookie Blue" will debut on June 24 simultaneously with its Canadian premiere on Global Television.
Shot in Toronto, the 13-part series — originally titled "Copper" — tracks five inexperienced rookies faced with keeping the peace in the big city. Canadian actors Gregory Smith ("Everwood"), Missy Peregrym ("Reaper"), Enuka Okuma and Travis Milne star.
This is the third time that an American network has picked up a series set and shot in Canada, starring an all-Canadian cast. In 2008, CBS had success with cop show "Flashpoint," leading to its commissioning another cop drama, "The Bridge."


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Alternative to the dreaded shrill of the dentist drill
By Admin on Friday, July 31st, 2015 in featured | No Comments
On July 30, 2015, Dr. Mike was featured on the WGN News Medical Watch segment. He discussed our laser technology that we use in our office. You can read about and watch the segment from here. http://wgntv.com/2015/07/30/alternative-to-the-dreaded-shrill-of-the-dentist-drill/


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Finally, I am far from the only one currently having problems with our local hospital, which recently was awarded one of only two very prestigious national awards (the other recipient being Duke Medical Center). Coincidentally (??), the major hospital in a neighboring county that is our hospital's main rival was informed around the same time that they'd just been listed as not being up to Medicare standards in the field that my ex-husband specializes in here. Both of these smack highly of a combination of my former father-in-law's national connections and the expensive public relations firms he employs. (The rival hospital and its doctors are furious, of course.)
As my friend Medawar likes to say, there's no crime a property developer won't commit!
[*Be sure to read the comments below.]