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Stark had the backing of the entire Democratic Party apparatus and sent out mailers with endorsements from President Obama, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other party luminaries.
That's despite his record, which is devoid of achievement and loud of mouth. Democrats were so concerned about Stark that they refused to let him chair the House Ways and Means Committee, despite his seniority, after Charlie Rangel had to resign because of ethics violations.
Stark has been out-of-touch, living in Maryland, for two decades. His district was so safe for Democrats that he would have held it until he retired or died, but for the voter-approved change that allowed the top two vote-getters in the primary (regardless of party) to advance to the general election.
Swalwell got within six points in the primary and then worked hard for Tuesday's election with a good door-to-door campaign and received the endorsement of the newspapers across the board, notably both the San Francisco Chronicle and the Contra Costa Times, who clearly saw Stark for what he was. Notably, the recommendations for newspapers closely paralleled any Democrat slate card.
Congrats to Eric and batten down your helmet. Standing in the wings were the party loyalists who sat this one outstate Sen. Ellen Corbett, Pleasanton termed-out Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and Silicon Valley lawyer and former Obama Commerce Dept. official Ro Khanna. All are queued up for 2014.
Barring some tectonic shift, the seat will remain Democrat for decades so it will always be an intra-party squabble.
I'M THANKFUL this morning for the two-thirds requirement on taxes that saw both the ill-advised forever extension of Alameda County's transportation sales tax go down as well as the parcel tax gift to the Oakland zoo that was simply horrible public policy.
That requirement also saw the $28 parcel tax for Las Positas and Chabot colleges fail. All received more than 60 percent of the vote, but failed to reach the two-thirds level.
In a county dominated by Democrats that rarely sees a tax that it doesn't embrace, it is a significant series of results. Personally, I think the argument for local support for the community colleges was a good onethe bloated bond issue coupled with a project labor agreement to pay off construction workers unions was noteven though it had made a significant difference at Las Positas.
That said, the politicians who put together the transportation measure reached way too farnot only did they want to double the sales tax to one-cent, but they wanted to make it permanent. I have advocated for every county sales tax measure, all of which had sunsetstherefore accountability to the people paying the bills. The measure would have given the county the highest sales tax in the state because we're also paying extra for BART and the mismanaged county hospital system.
People will pay if it's a reasonable measure.
As for the zoo, it was bad policy pure and simplelet the backers and the board raise the money to operate.


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As a fav sayin goes: "A good friend will bail you out of jail, a BEST friend will be sitting next to you."
The last time my BFF Claudia--since our growing up years in Montana--was sittin next to me long enough for us to get into that kind of trouble, we were heading to Cali out on the open road, top down, with a cutout of Brad Pitt on a stick in the backseat! LOL!
In just a couple weeks, we are loading up the Paris Montana Blacktop Boudoir Airstream, and she's joining me on my annual selling trip out West (up North if you want to get all technical) to our home state of Montana where Mama Luv and the gang will be setting up camp.
|Custom Dyed Lace and Leather Chaps
|Burnout Velvet and Lace Tank Tunic
Since every trip has to have a theme, we're celebrating "How the WILD West is WORN" Paris Montana NOUVEAU WEST style by showcasing our latest collections of ruffled chaps, burnout velvet and lace tunics and Baroque & Rusted Jewelry.
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Come see us at our first stop in Livingston, MT July 2-4th! Or shop online at www.shopparismontana.com.
See you down the road!
Heidi- Paris Montana


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Sometimes we think we understand a passage of Scripture. Then later, we read the passage again, and the Holy Spirit brings together smoldering thoughts from our lives, our studies, and even His Word. He ignites it, providing a brilliant illumination of God's love for us.
Recently while studying Ephesians 2 in a Sunday school class, I had one of those inspired "aha" moments. Here's the section Eph 2:11-22 [NIV]:
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
When you read Scripture, it's a very good idea to establish the context. Paul's letter is addressed to the church in Ephesus – a city in western Turkey. Paul, being a very well studied Jewish believer was attempting to assure the Gentile believers in Ephesus of their complete access to God. It's critical to note that people from different regions and backgrounds have widely varying ways of understanding what is written. Knowing this is key to interpreting what Paul was saying to the Ephesian believers.
Paul studied under Gamaliel, and as a Jew, his writings are very Hebraic. This means single words can be illustrated with pictures, providing definitive imagery versus an abstract notion of meaning.
So, whenever I see the word "peace" in the New Testament (Eph 2:14), I'll dig into the Greek to see if I should consider it "shalom", which has a far more useful definition. Most think of peace as quietude, but shalom means to be "filled to completion with nothing lacking." Jerusalem , "foundation of peace" doesn't mean quietude, but the place from which all of God's blessings flow.
In Paul's day, Jerusalem was site of the Herodian temple, the access point to God. The temple grounds contained an inner court with the sanctuary building, a dividing wall/fence, then an outer court – "the court of the Gentiles." Gentiles, even if true worshippers of Yahweh, were not allowed into the inner area. There was a sign posted at the inner court gates (through that wall/fence) that strictly warned Gentiles they would be responsible for their own deaths if they entered. It's not clear if this warning came from God, or if it was a man-made regulation. That wouldn't make much of a difference to the Gentiles who were being killed. This is the hostility Paul refers to in verse 14.
Christ destroyed this wall by abolishing (katargeo – cease that prior work) the law of Moses (Torah's commands and regulations – that is: mitzvot – good deeds). He did this – in his flesh.
It appears Paul is saying that when Christ died, so did the Mosaic covenant, the purpose of which was to keep Israel holy and righteous. That "image" of what constitutes holiness (through the law) died with Christ on the cross. The reason I put "image" in quotes in that last sentence has to do with the meaning of the Hebrew word for image – demut (dalet-mem-vav-tav). Demut doesn't simply mean a figurative photo-likeness. It's true meaning is really about someone's character – their actions. The Hebrew word for death is mut (mem-vav-tav). A person's "image" is made up of the right-correct actions they perform (that's the dalet-door, indicating life-changes). If no righteous actions are performed, that "image" is dead (the dalet/life changes are removed). After sinning, Adam's work in the Garden was no longer possible. He (his image) was mut – dead. In fact, all of mankind was dead (via non-righteous actions) because they weren't acting/being like God.
Given that context, what Paul says next (verse 15b) makes sense: Christ's purpose was to create a new man (new Adam) by which written Mosaic mitzvot (good deeds/actions) were not critical to judgement. His death on the cross replaced Torah as far as atonement was concerned. In Mt 5:17-18 Christ makes the claim that he'd didn't come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (pleroo – fulfill – make complete.) He lived a sinless perfect life, and in doing so, was the exact "image" of God in the flesh. According to Mosaic law, no one could do any better. Despite perfection in the law, Christ was rejected.
There is the distinction that Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit and did not rely upon adhering to external laws and regulations – those written upon stones. This "image" of man is what Adam was in the Garden – God blew his Spirit into Adam. Christ – through his death, provided a new covenant, replacing the stone tablets of law with the Holy Spirit within to guide each individual person. In effect, each person becomes a temple of God, just like Christ. Another way of thinking of this – a believers heart became like the ark of the covenant, the "tablets" of the law placed inside them. Now the law (The Holy Spirit through Christ) would be carried whenever and where-ever they moved.
In verses 17-20, Paul clarifies – the distinction between Jews and Gentiles is no longer made, because the old access point – the temple in Jerusalem, is no longer needed. Christ provided access to God through one Spirit. Then Paul begins making a comparison between believers and the temple in Jerusalem – with prophets and apostles as building blocks and Christ as the cornerstone.
In Eph 2:21-22 Paul expands the process of building a temple using living stones. If you're wondering where that idea came from – it appears to be a common word-play on the Hebrew words for stone (eben – aleph-bet-nun) and son (ben – bet-nun). John the Baptist wittily mocks the Sanhedrin in Mt 3:9 using this analogy.
With temples, stones, sons of Abraham and access to God in mind, I think the Holy Spirit hit Paul with a clue-by-4 by reviving a past memory.
In Acts 7, Stephen provides a lengthy sermon about God's interaction with the Israelites, but from Acts 7:44-50 he focuses in on the tabernacle and the temple. Saul (Paul) was likely present – listening to Stephen's dialogue. Later, he watched over the garments of the elders after they stripped them off to stone Stephen.
By Acts 7:48, Stephen summarizes his point: "However, the Most High doesn't live in houses made by men". Here's Stephen, surrounded by the Sanhedrin, stating God doesn't live in the stone house – the Temple in which they serve. The very reason they are confronting Stephen is his speaking out against the "holy place" (Acts 6: 13) and against the law of Moses.
Suddenly, in Acts 7:51 Stephen seems to lose it. He's condemning the elders because they are resisting the Holy Spirit, as Israel had done throughout it's history.
The Sanhedrin, as guardians of the temple, are doing the very same thing to the Holy Spirit, that they did to Gentiles with the Temple! Further, God came in the flesh through Christ. God Incarnate – Immanuel – God dwelling among us. Christ, the true temple of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, God's image ("the Righteous One") and they didn't show any lovingkindness (chesed) whatsoever.
This is what Stephen was yelling about. This is the blasphemous hypocrisy of the leaders of Israel, who claimed they were acting on God's behalf (in the likeness of God – demut), but were really diametrically opposed to God's will.
Y'shua came in the flesh – as a living Temple of God. He even refers to his flesh as the Temple – "destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in 3 days". This referral is used against him in the mock trial. Notice, however, that His body is destroyed by the Romans, as a foreshadowing prophecy of the destruction of the Herodian temple in AD 70.
When Paul wrote Ephesians, it was quite possible he was being held as a prisoner. So in Eph 3:1 when Paul attempts to summarize his mission to the Gentiles, all that imagery and the words of Stephen (who was taken prisoner, then stoned) must have came flooding back. It's like Paul carried Stephen's death all these years, and finally understood what Stephen meant about God's real temple. I can't help but think Paul fully understood Stephen's suffering at that point. One cannot help but see the irony of stones being used to destroy Stephen who, being born again, was a true temple of the Living God.
In Ephesians 3:2 Paul switches to God's grace, his purpose in Christ for the Gentiles. No longer would he enforce keeping Gentiles out – but would now work to include them into the Body of Christ. This is a godly, righteous action, but not of his own doing. Eph. 3:12 sums up that access to God is always available to those who have become true children of Abraham.
When we consider the temple in Jerusalem, it's nothing but stone – it had no real life until the Shekinah glory came to dwell within. In fact, He filled it to overflowing – driving out all the priests (2 Chronicles 7:2). Likewise, we are dead, lifeless stones until God comes, dwells within and fills us to overflowing with his presence. When this happens, we have shalom – peace.
It is with this imagery in mind that Paul begins praying for the Ephesians at 3:14-21.
Please go – read it, and whatever your heritage, Jew or Gentile, may Christ's shalom be yours too.


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When you're a teenager, the world seems chronically unfair, and any little drama can be blown up to feel like a life-or-death scenario. Both of these relatable elements of adolescence have become cliché in coming-of-age narratives, but the tender and tragic romance The Fault In Our Stars gives new weight to these themes through the story of two teenagers who find love while coping with cancer. And remarkably, it's more uplifting than depressing.
Based on the beloved novel by John Green, The Fault In Our Stars centers on sixteen-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley), who has earned her angst fair and square by suffering through terminal cancer since she was thirteen. Wrapped in sweatpants and self-induced isolation, she's worrying her loving parents (Laura Dern and Sam Trammell). So they push her to make friends via a cancer kids support group.
There, Hazel, who has given up on life, meets Augusts "Gus" Waters (Ansel Elgort), a cancer-survivor/basketball player with an indomitable spirit and an undeniably charming smile. The two instantly connect. And even as Hazel tries to push him away to spare him the heartbreak of her inevitable death, Gus is tireless in his devotion and love. No matter what happens.
This will be a love story that girls cling to and cry over for decades to come. It's got the works: a relatable every-girl wracked with insecurities and fears, a dreamy boy who's kind and endlessly charismatic; an enviable romance; a winsome and sometimes weepy soundtrack; and a finale guaranteed to make you pull out the tissues. Woodley is affable even in Hazel's sharp-tongues angst. Elgort is pretty-boy perfection, with just the right sprinkling of humor. The Fault In Our Stars didn't need to be especially good to pull in teen girls, it just needed to exist in a lull between YA releases. But remarkably--and thankfully--director Josh Boone didn't just strive to make a decent tearjerker. He made a movie that is buoyant with the bitter and the sweet, crafting a concoction that is devastating and exhilarating.
This is a film that was smartly built from the start. Adapting Green's adored story was Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the scribes behind similarly sharp films like (500) Days of Summer and The Spectacular Now. These guys not only get how it feels to be a teen girl, but also have an extraordinary gift for balancing comedy and drama, plus a fantastic ear for dialogue. The Fault In Our Stars' script shines on its own. Then you bring in Boone's outstanding cast.
Woodley is predictably wonderful as Hazel. The actress who cut her teeth in The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an old hand at portraying teen turbulence and trauma. Whether grappling with her own mortality, her "first time," or how to say goodbye, Woodley pulls us through with Hazel, offering weighted looks and a breathy, sometimes broken narration. Hazel is our center to this world; Woodley grounds her with great care and (fittingly) grace. And her chemistry with Elgort is instantly electric.
Elgort proves he's much more than a pretty face, painting Gus as a young man of great bravado, but deep fears. While much of his performance is non-threatening flirtation and goofing around with his wisecracking bestie, Isaac (Nat Wolff, in a lively and neat performance), Elgort likewise nails Gus' dark moments with an unsettling stillness. In doing so, he makes the threads of The Fault In Our Stars even richer and more vibrant with emotion.
While parents are often shunted to the sides of teen stories, The Fault In Our Stars keeps Hazel's in the mix. And the movie is all the better for it, as Dern and Trammell radiate with love, edged with grief. Too frequently, teen girl stories have their heroines running from their mother's influence, or laughing them off as clowns. But Hazel and her mother are close, and it's a bond that feels as real and important as her connection to Gus. Trammell is adorable as the well-meaning dad, but its Dern and Woodley's scenes together that really sing. There's a push-and-pull there that many will recognize. It's inherent in the parent-child relationship as you get older, and the dynamic of who takes care of who shifts back and forth. And here, that teeter-totter sensation builds momentum to a fantastic and bright confrontation that rings with the movie's dual tones of tragedy and hope.
I had hoped to enjoy The Fault In Our Stars, but I didn't expect it to hit me quite the way it did. Yes, I cried. But moreover, watching Hazel confront the finite nature of life, realizing how life owes and promises us nothing, so what joys we get should be reveled in while they can be--that hit me at my core. I left the theater feeling light, warm, and happy. It reminded me of the sensation I experienced seeing About Time, where the tragedies just made the victories all the more radiant. I went home buzzing with joy, and feeling deeply grateful for the victories--big and small--in my own life.
All in all, The Fault In Our Stars is a fantastic film. It offers a compelling story told with a great deal of wit, verve, and heart. Its ensemble--from the lovely Woodley to the ire-raising Willem Dafoe--gives its all, fleshing out this romance with zeal and tenderness. Its tone does zig from earnest drama to romantic comedy and back again, but Boone handles these turns with a keen awareness that makes them feel like an inherent part of Hazel's journey. My only complaint is that the final act drags a bit. But even with this flaw, The Fault In Our Stars is a love story that is funny yet heartbreaking, and ultimately wondrous.
Staff writer at CinemaBlend.
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Wikijunior:Solar System/Mars/Phobos
Phobos Facts:
- Phobos orbits Mars closer than any other moon in our Solar System.
- Over the next 50 million years it is expected the Martian gravity will shred Phobos into smaller pieces, possibly creating some spectacular impacts on Mars
- It takes less time for Phobos to orbit Mars than for Mars to turn round on its axis.
- Several craters on Phobos are named after characters in Gulliver's Travels.
How big is Phobos?[edit | edit source]
Phobos is actually quite tiny compared to most other moons in the Solar System. It is not a round sphere-like object, but irregularly shaped, more like a lumpy potato. At the largest extreme, it is 26 km across, and the smallest is about 18 km across. Basically about the size of a large city here on the Earth.
What is its surface like?[edit | edit source]
From the basic appearance, it is very much as it would look on the Earth's Moon, except that the surface features are exaggerated. Just like the Earth's Moon, Phobos has no atmosphere. Also like the Earth's moon to the Earth, Phobos has one face that constantly points the same direction toward Mars, and is called tidally locked.
One big difference you would notice is that there is almost no gravity at all on Phobos. Just by jumping with your own legs, you would be able to put yourself into "orbit" and "fly" around Phobos. The gravity is only 1/1000th as strong as it is on the Earth. This also affects "mountains" on Phobos, as there would appear to be huge cliffs and other features where on even the Earth's Moon they would have collapsed due to gravity pulling them down.
One of the most prominent features on Phobos is a giant crater named Stickney. The impact from this crater has a significant effect on the structure of the entire moon, and there are lines or "grooves" along the surface of Phobos that were formed as a result of this impact.
If you were standing on Phobos, Mars would be a significant feature in the sky, taking up almost 1/4 of the sky.
How long is a day on Phobos?[edit | edit source]
A day on Phobos is about 7 hours 40 minutes.
How long is its orbit around Mars?[edit | edit source]
Phobos is tidally locked to Mars. This means that a day on Phobos is precisely the same as the time it takes to orbit Mars. So, the same side of Phobos always faces Mars.
Phobos is very close to the surface of Mars. In fact, no other moon that has been discovered so far in the Solar System is closer to the surface of the planet that it orbits. This produces a very interesting experience to somebody on Mars, where Phobos rises from the west and sets in the east, as it travels faster than the Sun on a Martian day.
Does Phobos cause a solar eclipse on Mars?[edit | edit source]
Just as on the Earth by the Earth's Moon, Phobos does eclipse the Sun on Mars. This is also called a transit, and produces many of the same effects that you see from a solar eclipse. If you were to see such an eclipse on Mars, it would significantly darken the Sun, but it would not go into totality as the Earth's Moon does on the Earth. This is because Phobos is too small to cover the Sun completely. Also, because the orbit of Phobos is so fast, the eclipse would happen very quickly, in just a few seconds instead of the several minutes you see an eclipse on the Earth.
Because Phobos orbits Mars so closely, an eclipse near the Martian equator will be much more noticeable than an eclipse further north or south, because Phobos is usually quite a bit closer to an observer at the equator.
Is there a future for people on Phobos?[edit | edit source]
Because Phobos is so close to Mars, and because of the very low gravity, Phobos may be a place where people and supplies are transferred before going to the surface of Mars and then going to the Earth, almost like a space station in orbit around the Earth. It is very likely that if people go to Mars as astronauts, they will be visiting Phobos as well. Phobos also has frozen water that could be useful to astronauts on Mars as drinking water and for extracting oxygen to breathe.
However, Phobos is a doomed world. In about 50 million years, it will not exist. Every year, it gets about two meters closer to the surface of Mars, and will eventually crash or be ripped apart, forming a ring around Mars which will eventually fall to the ground.
Who is it named after?[edit | edit source]
Phobos (Ancient Greek Φόβος) was named after the son of Mars, who in mythology was the god of "fear" or "fright", and one of the servants of Mars.
How was it discovered?[edit | edit source]
Asaph Hall was an astronomer with the United States Naval Observatory, where he studied many of the planets and objects in the Solar System. In 1877 he discovered both Phobos and Deimos, and identified them as moons of Mars. The name for Phobos was suggested by Henry Madan, based on the book Iliad, a classical Greek book about mythology. His wife's maiden name, Stickney, gave the name of the giant crater.
How much will Phobos' gravity pull on me?[edit | edit source]
Phobos, because it is so small, has hardly any gravity at all. It has so little gravity that a 100-pound person on Phobos would only weigh 1/20 of a pound. This also means that you would be able to lift massive amounts of mass. A person who could carry 10 kg on Earth would be able to carry three elephants on Phobos.
Because Phobos' gravity is so small, it is easy to escape Phobos and float off into space. In fact, Phobos' gravity is so light that you could throw a tennis ball or a baseball and it would fly away from Phobos and become a new moon of Mars!


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X-Men Scavenger Hunt: Cinema Blend And TCL Are Giving Away A 50 Inch HDTV Today!
UPDATE! The giveaway is over! It was won with this speedy, accurate tweet of our code phrase:
And here's a screenshot of the code as it appeared on our home page:
Original contest post and rules follow...
It's Scavenger Hunt day! In honor of X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Cinema Blend and TCL are giving away a giant television, and with minimal participation, you could have that beauty shipped to your doorstep!
This afternoon, you'll have the chance to join in on the fun between the hours of 12 EST/ 9 PST and 5 EST/ 2 PST. At some point during that window, a special code will appear on Cinema Blend's home page. The first person who tweets that code to CB's official Twitter account will win a beautiful HDTV as a way of celebrating TCL's partnership with FOX and X-Men: Days Of Future Past's premiere events!
The television comes courtesy of TCL, and it is a stunner. I can't imagine how good Blu-rays might look on its ultra-high definition. Win it, and it will immediately become the most attractive thing inside your house, unless if you're hot and/ or have a hot wife. Then it will be the second most attractive thing. You can check out a high resolution image of the exact television you could win below, as well as a full product description…
1 TCL 50" Ultra-High Def TV
Enjoy the Creative Life with the TCL 50" edge-lit LED Ultra-High Definition TV featuring next-generation 4K technology. Bringing you spectacular picture quality with its stunning 3840 x 2160 resolution and advanced 120Hz CMI (Clear Motion Index) refresh rate, this display offers you four times the resolution of Full HD (1080p) for tremendous clarity and smoothness. The 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio provides brilliant color and contrast. Featuring an ultra-thin bezel with a modern gunmetal gray finish, it delivers more picture in a sophisticated slim frame design. Whether wall mounted like a piece of art or sitting on its elegant glass base, this LED UHDTV delivers the very best in picture quality.
Here's How You Win...
First follow @cinemablend on Twitter. Then, watch CinemaBlend.com's home page between the hours of 12pm ET and 5pm ET on May 23rd.. At some point during that time, somewhere on that page, we'll post a code that looks something like this (but isn't this)...
Tweet that code, whatever it ends up being, to @cinemablend. The first person to tweet the correct code to us will walk away a winner and receive all of the glories of Sparta, or at least the ones contained in this prize package
The winner will be notified via Twitter direct message and asked to provide their mailing addresses (no P.O. boxes please). If you aren't following @cinemablend on Twitter, we can't direct message you, and you will be disqualified. Only U.S. residents over the age of 18 may apply. Prize packs will be mailed directly to the winner. No purchase necessary. Failure to comply with any of the above rules will result in disqualification and subsequent mockery. Cinema Blend is not liable for any delays in Twitter messaging, any miscommunications or any failure to deliver the prize, whether the failure be on the part of the delivery service or Cinema Blend's partners in this giveaway. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation is not liable for losses or injuries of any kind resulting from acceptance/possession and/or use/misuse of prize(s), or participation in promotion. Void where prohibited. Good luck!
X-Men: Days Of Future Past officially hit theaters last night. The film follows the beloved characters from the first movies as they join forces with their younger counterparts in order to save everyone's future. It's awesome. Seriously. Read our gushing 4 1/2 star review. It's more than worth your time. Until then, you can check out the film's official Facebook page.
TCL Corporation is one of the largest consumer electronics enterprises in China, with over 70,000 employees in 40 countries throughout the world. Currently it has three listed subsidiaries: Starting from 2014, TCL is focusing its goal of building new customer-centered "product + service" business model, while pushing its transformation towards "smart + Internet technologies." TCL is committed to its new vision of "enriching lives of its customers by rendering products and services of ultimate experience." Check out TCL Facebook page: here.
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Enthusiastic about Clue, case-of-the-week mysteries, a great wrestling promo and cookies at Disney World. Less enthusiastic about the pricing structure of cable, loud noises and Tuesdays.
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The Gender & Women's Studies Program broadens women's and men's knowledge of gender dynamics, globally and historically, with an emphasis on issues central to women's lives. Through an interdisciplinary classroom experience, community outreach, and special events, the Gender & Women's Studies Program advances understanding of the social and cultural institutions and practices that affect us.
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- foster an atmosphere in which diversity and sustainability are valued
- advocate ethical conduct, social justice, and responsible global citizenship
These goals support the university's goals in a number of ways. As an interdisciplinary program, Gender & Women's Studies enhances intellectual and personal growth by synthesizing various ways of knowing, learning, and communication. For the undergraduate minor, approved electives must be taken in both the humanities and the sciences/social sciences, thus exposing students to alternative methods of social, political, scientific, and literary analysis. The core course in the interdisciplinary minor (Introduction to Gender & Women's Studies) meets Category C (social sciences) of the general education requirements. The graduate certificate, which is fully available online, consists of at least five courses: two core courses and three electives, one of which must be outside the student's home discipline.


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How to Apply
You MUST apply online at https://bit.ly/3soAoSk to be considered.
This posting is for 6+ openings, and your application will be considered for all of them!
NCDOT is a Great Place to Work.
Looking for a great place to work with
A living wage
Job security
Full benefits (including the State Health Plan and a pension!)
A true team atmosphere, and
Work you can take pride in
This is an entry-level opening for you to begin a career with the NC Department of Transportation as a Transportation Worker I. You'll get to work on exciting projects, learn construction skills, and build your career. Join us!
The Challenge
We are looking for entry-level transportation workers to join our Highway Maintenance team in Halifax county.
In this role you will be trained to:
Build, inspect, and maintain roads and roadside features for the North Carolina highway system.
Operate hand tools, power tools, and heavy equipment, including broom tractors, paint line removing machines, thermoplastic machines, trenchers, and edge-line paint guns.
Shovel, rake, asphalt, and flag traffic.
Ensure work zone safety.
Participate in snow & ice removal.
Assist with maintenance/repair projects using tools and equipment including tractors with attachments, curb machines, cutoff saws, small wheel and sheep foot rollers, vibrator roller compactors, pulverizer mixers, and pneumatic tire rollers.
Mow grass using a tractor with attachments, and help with grass and wildflower plantings and maintenance.
Drive dump and flatbed trucks.
Assist paint crews.
Install road signs.
Assist Electronics Technicians installing and maintaining signals.
Perform vegetation control, debris removal, and snow removal.
What You Bring
An interest in a career in Transportation Construction, and commitment to a safe work environment.
Experience performing manual labor, and operating power tools such as a chainsaws, weed eaters, skill saws, drills, compactors, jackhammers, etc.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
A Commercial Driver's License. (Note: You can get this after you are hired through on-the-job training, but it must be within 60 days for your CDL Permit and 90 days for your License.)
A pre-employment drug test is required.
We will check with previous employers for the past 2 years about controlled substances and alcohol testing.
Safety toe footwear is required.
Education & Experience
High school/GED diploma; or
An equivalent combination of education and experience.
Call me: Chloe Fanelli at (919) 707-4439.
Connect to NCDOT Careers on
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ncdot-careers
See all NCDOT jobs at: https://bit.ly/ncdotjobs
MNCJobz.com will not be responsible for any payment made to a third-party. All Terms of Use are applicable.


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An essential history of the Black Panther movement that paved the way for a new revolutionary culture in America. Stanley Nelson takes us through the groups turbulent life...
Change was coming to America and the fault lines could no longer be ignored. Cities were burning, Vietnam was exploding and disputes raged over equality and civil rights. A new revolutionary culture was emerging and it sought to drastically transform the system. The Black Panther Party for Self Defence would, for a short time, put itself at the vanguard of that change.
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution is the first feature length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails.
Master documentarian Stanley Nelson goes straight to the source, weaving a treasure trove of rare archival footage with the voices of the people who were there: police, FBI informants, journalists, white supporters and detractors, and Black Panthers who remained loyal to the party and those who left it.


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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
A Tribute and a Recipe
I'm back from my holiday weekend with family, which was filled with food, food, and more food, as well as family traditions (old and new), inside jokes, and fun surprises. Roast beef and apple pie were part of our Christmas menu, and they got my sister and me talking about Grandma R., whose birthday is today.
Long before my blogging days, I had a tendency to come up with made-by-me holiday gifts, often of the verbal variety. For Christmas 2002, I made a recipe calendar and dedicated it to my Grandma R., who would have turned 105 today. She didn't make 105, but she did make it to 96. As iron-fisted as she could be, she knew how to enjoy herself and wasn't about to let her birthday be overshadowed by that big December holiday that always fell two days earlier.
I pulled out my copy of that calendar earlier this month and reread what I wrote about both my grandmothers nine years ago. I think stands up over time, and it was the first time I wrote about "Intuitive Eggplant," which later became my screen name.
One of the most evocative memories from my childhood is the intertwined aromas of roast beef and apple pie in my grandparents' house in Nebraska City. Grandma R. insisted on buying her beef at Goody's butcher shop, and the fall harvest of Nebraska City apples is renowned (at least among Nebraskans).
I've never learned to make roast beef or apple pie quite like Grandma R.'s. But one thing we have in common is that we aren't given to cooking from recipes. The dishes we cook best we cook from experience, and from the heart.
That was brought home to me recently. After she moved to Tennessee, I inherited Grandma R.'s recipe box. I remember it always being in her kitchen, but don't recollect her ever referring to the recipes inside. I was honored to receive it, and hoped the special cedar box would yield her culinary secrets. What I found were mostly recipes from other people, not the ones I remember her cooking. Then again, perhaps that was because whenever she asked me for meal requests, I always wanted her roast beef and either apple pie or her special chocolate cake.
Like Grandma R., I ask for other people's recipes. I also turn to my collection of cookbooks and magazines, the Internet and TV. Long before there was "Emeril Live" or a cable channel devoted to food, I watched Julia Child with Grandma W. I feverishly took notes as Julia whipped up a tomato and zucchini gratin. Then Grandma W. and I prepared our version of it, with freshly picked vegetables from her garden.
Whatever the source, these days I use recipes more for inspiration than as prescription. I love to experiment, to mix and match, to tweak a recipe, or to recreate something I've tasted elsewhere.
My cooking style might be described as "Intuitive Eggplant," as housemates at Oberlin College dubbed one of the dishes I love to make. I can't tell you how to make my eggplant parmesan, but I learned the basics in Colorado by watching my buddy Derf (who learned from Italian mamas in New York). For many dishes, from marinara sauce to chocolate cake, there is no substitute for learning at someone's elbow.
Grandma's Buttermilk Chocolate Cake
Melt over medium heat:
2 squares chocolate
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. sugar
Combine in mixing bowl, then add melted chocolate mixture:
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
Add 2 eggs.
Sift dry ingredients together:
2 c. cake flour
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
Combine following wet ingredients and add to mixing bowl alternately with the dry ingredients:
1 c. buttermilk
1 t. vanilla
Mix and bake at 350 degrees 20-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool at least half an hour before icing.
The Boiled Chocolate Icing
4 T. shortening
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. milk
2 T. cocoa
Melt and combine above ingredients in a small, heavy-bottom saucepan. Increase heat and boil exactly one minute. Remove saucepan from heat and place in sink filled with cold water, being careful that water does not touch icing. When icing is cool, beat until thick. Do not rush this process. If you stir the icing while it is too hot, it will sugar (this was a tip I got from Grandma only after I thought I had finally learned how to make "her" icing).
Here's hoping you enjoy, experiment, and taste something new this year!
9 comments:
- Aunty Belle said...
Lovely tribute to yore GrandMother! She would be so pleased at this remembrance on her birthday.
I has wunnerful memories of visitin one of mah GMs in Louisiana whar' the fresh ground cawfee aroma felt warm as a blanket. She taught me to respect ingredients no matter how incidental to a dish.
Happy youse traveled safely wif'out snowy snags.
- December 28, 2011 at 7:59 AM
- moi said...
This is a great line: there is no substitute for learning at someone's elbow. So true! I still have the little red stool I insisted my mother buy me when I was about five or six so I could stand by her side in the kitchen and watch her cook . . .
Grandma R sounds like she was a real kick. That photo is full of personality. Ninety-six? Right on.
Thanks for sharing the chocolate cake recipe. I'm obsessed with perfecting mine (haven't done it quite yet) and will definitely try this once I've shed a bit of the holiday bloat.
Glad you had a great time and are home safe!
- December 28, 2011 at 8:27 AM
- LaDivaCucina said...
What a sweet post, Eggy! How lucky you were to have such a loving grandmother, I never had the luxury with any of them.
I too think the ability for some of us to be clever and creative cooks is not only intuitive but inherited. Sometimes it's just in the blood.
I also wonder what anyone would think of the recipes I have in my cookbook once I'm gone? It's mostly other peoples' and not necessarily ones I even tried! All of my every day cooking is on my blog posts...that would be the better indicator of how I cook. (maybe I should print them all for posterity's sake?!) I only was sent some of my mom's (deceased since 1973) recipes by my cousins in the last few years, and of course, they are precious to me.
Nice, thought-provoking post, Mizz Eggy!
By the way, did your dad like his book?
- December 29, 2011 at 9:17 AM
- LaDivaCucina said...
PS: thanks for sharing the family recipe for chocolate cake!
- December 29, 2011 at 9:17 AM
- Sharon Rudd said...
Aunty, ooh yeah to the "fresh ground cawfee aroma felt warm as a blanket" and thankee again for the swell Christmas story you concocted.
Moi, yes, indeed to the "learning at someone's elbow" and love imagining you on that red stool next to the stove :)
Diva, you make an interesting point. My blog posts probably are more representative of my cooking than my accumulated recipes too. As to whether being a "clever and creative" cook is inherited, I'm not sure. I wouldn't put my either of my grandmothers in the "creative" category, but they were certainly solid cooks who always put out delicious, if simple, food, and who knew how to stretch things, given their Depression-era backgrounds. On the other hand, food cooked from scratch was something I was exposed to throughout my childhood. I feel sorry for people who didn't grow up that way, and I probably can't imagine how differently they view food and cooking, as compared to me.
Moi and Diva, so glad you liked the chocolate cake recipe – it really is a winner. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out for you. The cake is pretty straightforward, although the icing can be a bit tricky (especially in humidity, Diva).
- December 29, 2011 at 7:59 PM
- chickory said...
that sounds really good - buttermilk choc-cake! I have to wait until I fall off the new years resolutions wagon. Nobody ever showed me how to cook anything...not really. I just started really trying this past decade. Ive got a few things i do well. I loved this post and thought about the smells of my grandmothers house: mint. cigarettes.
why did Grandma R move to Tennesee?
- December 29, 2011 at 9:22 PM
- Sharon Rudd said...
Chicky! This chocolate cake is good any time of year :)
To answer your question, Grandma R moved to TN because that's where my dad (her only child) was living when she became too forgetful to remain at the "apartment building for the elderly" in her native Nebraska. It was heart-breaking to see her decline, and I'm sad to say that by the time I made that calendar in her honor, I don't think she grasped much about it. I much prefer to remember her in her younger, jauntier days - like when she was only 80, in that photo.
- December 29, 2011 at 9:44 PM
- Jenny said...
awww, I love this post and promise I will give your Grandma's recipe a try. I love what you said about learning at someone's elbow. I hope that's the case with my Nephew and I know it's how I learned much of what I know. What an honor for you to receive her box of recipes and I still think you to devote an entire post about that name of yours and your post. ;-) Happy Happy New Year Dear Eggy!
- December 30, 2011 at 11:59 PM
- fishy said...
Eggy what a sweet tribute to the importance of family and traditions. Is there anything as long lasting as those lessons we learn from our grands? VERY generous of you to share this family recipe for chocolate cake. Baking is not something I do, but if I did, I would start the New Year with this cake for breakfast..... great beginnings and all that.
Happy New Year!
Blessed be you
- December 31, 2011 at 5:38 PM


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Is The Paleo Diet Right For Triathletes?
It lacks grains, processed sugars and starches, but the paleo diet has its advantages for athletes.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
It lacks grains, processed sugars and starches, but the paleo diet has its advantages for athletes.
After Nell Stephenson contracted a parasite during an Ironman race in 2004, she took the medication prescribed, but for months continued to feel worse. Though Stephenson had always eaten healthy foods, it turned out she had developed a gluten-intolerance and stomach problems.
Stephenson decided to try the Paleo diet—a diet that mimics what people would have eaten naturally during the Paleolithic Period, before the Agricultural Revolution.
"I felt better in three days," says Stephenson, a trainer and nutritional coach who now runs a popular Paleo informational blog, Paleoista, and has come out with a book of the same name.
Paleo has been growing in popularity among the general community. But its basic tenets seemed to counter to the traditional carbo-loading of runners and endurance athletes. Paleo prescribes a diet of just lean protein, healthy fat, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Dairy, grains, legumes, and refined and processed food are completely avoided.
RELATED: Should You Eat Like A Caveman?
While most athletes eat lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables (or, at least, they know they should), many still rely heavily on grains, processed sugars and lots of starches.
But athletes can benefit from a Paleo diet with just a few simple adjustments, says Joe Friel, a U.S. Olympic triathlon coach and author the seminal Cyclists' Training Bible and Triathletes' Training Bible.
"[Paleo offers] better long-term recovery, due to greater micronutrient content [than a standard high-starch and sugar diet], allowing the athlete to train with a greater stress load," Friel said.
Friel and Loren Cordain, PhD, authored the authoritative book on the subject, The Paleo Diet for Athletes, which outlines a couple changes athletes should make to the basic Paleo diet.
The key, said Friel, is dividing an athlete's diet into stages. During most of an athlete's meals the basic Paleo diet should be followed, but before, during and immediately after workouts some adjustments could be needed.
About two hours prior to a long or hard workout or race, an athlete should eat food with a low to moderate glycemic index and low fiber content.
During an extended athletic event or race, most athletes will still need quickly-processed carbohydrates in the form of sports drink or gels. Even Stephenson, who eats 100 percent Paleo otherwise, acknowledges that she has to use carbohydrate gels during Ironman races and her husband uses them during ultramarathons. During short events less than an hour, though, an athlete can drink just water.
Eventually, an athlete eating a low-carbohydrate diet will teach their working muscles to utilize more fat stores, which is more efficient and can level out blood sugar fluxuations. Friel reportedly experienced this body change about six to eight weeks after adopting the Paleo diet.
Immediately after an intense or long workout, an athlete should have a recovery drink with carbohydrates and protein in a 4-5:1 ratio. Eating in the short window after a workout is important to ensure that an athlete is recovering and rebuilding muscles.
The few hours after hard exercise is the time to focus on carbohydrates and to possibly eat non-Paleo—starchy foods like bagels or pasta—because the high glucose is needed for the recovery process. The perfect recovery foods in this period, said Friel, are raisins, potatoes and yams.
A lot of problems that athletes have with Paleo come from either not understanding the diet, not planning, or not listening to their bodies. Most importantly, Paleo is not a low-calorie or calorie-restrictive diet — a mistake Stephenson said she's seen top athletes make.
RELATED: The Imaginary Perfect Diet
Nate Helming, a CrossFit and triathlon coach in San Francisco, tried Paleo for about eight months, but had a hard time eating appropriately for sustained endurance. He was focusing on sweet potatoes, applesauce and dates for energy, but while training 10-15 hours a week, "you have to hit a lot of dates," he said.
While it's possible to plan your food intake appropriately, it simply takes more work. Additionally, Helming said, because he was already eating relatively healthy and close to Paleo before, except for some grains and legumes, "I didn't see a big change."
But, two of his athletes who tried Paleo lost large amounts of weight—one of them dropping 26 pounds in seven months.
Stephenson also had some athletes who were eating no vegetables and living on electrolyte drinks and sports nutrition bars around the clock come to her for help. For these people, Paleo provides a structure to a healthy diet.
Friel says that most importantly, a Paleo diet—as opposed to a high-starch and sugar diet, like many athletes eat—can have the following effects: more vitamins and antioxidants to keep a strong immune system; increased fat oxidation, which helps long-event endurance; balanced pH levels; and better retained and recovered muscles. All of which makes you faster in the long run.
"My body is functioning optimally," noted Stephenson.
About The Author:
Kelly O'Mara is a journalist/reporter and recovering professional triathlete. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and writes for a number of magazines, newspapers, and online news sites. And, she eats a lot of brownies.
Get the latest in triathlon training, gear, nutrition and news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for Triathlete's newsletter.


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Saturday, 20 July 2013 06:36 AM EDT
TRAPPES, France — About 250 people hurling projectiles clashed with police firing tear gas west of Paris, in apparent protest over enforcement of France's ban on Islamic face veils. Five people were injured and six detained in the violence, authorities said Saturday.
The interior minister urged calm and dialogue, insisting on both the need for public order and respect for France's Muslims. The incident in the town of Trappes on Friday night reflected sporadic tensions between police upholding France's strict policies of secularism and those who accuse authorities of discriminating against France's second most popular religion.
A few garbage dumpsters in the area were torched and a bus shelter shattered in the Trappes unrest. Spent tear gas capsules lay on the road Saturday near the police station at the center of the violence.
A 14-year-old boy suffered a serious eye injury in the violence, Prosecutor Vincent Lesclous told reporters. Four police officers were injured and six people were detained in the violence, said an official with the regional police administration.
The violence came after a gathering of about 200 to 250 people to protest the arrest of a man whose wife was ticketed Thursday for wearing a face veil. The husband tried to strangle an officer who was doing the ticketing, the prosecutor said.
France has barred face veils since 2011. Proponents of the ban — which enjoyed wide public support across the political spectrum — argue the veil oppresses women and contradicts France's principles of secularism, which are enshrined in the constitution. In addition to small fines or citizenship classes for women wearing veils, the law includes a hefty 30,000 euro (about $39,370) fine for anyone who forces a woman to wear one.
The law affects only a very small proportion of France's millions of Muslims who wear the niqab, with a slit for the eyes, or the burqa, with a mesh screen for the eyes. But some Muslim groups argue the law stigmatizes moderate Muslims, too. France also bans headscarves in schools and public buildings.
The Collective Against Islamophobia in France urged Interior Minister Manuel Valls, who recently joined Muslim leaders in a fast-breaking sundown feast for holy month of Ramadan, to crack down on insults and attacks against Muslims.
Valls urged calm after the Trappes violence, and pledged to stand against "all those who attack Muslim buildings or our compatriots of Muslim faith."
But he also came down firmly against those who attack police.
"There is no valid reason for the violence seen in Trappes," he told reporters in the southern city of Marseille, which has seen a wave of urban unrest. "The law should be applied, and applies to everyone."
The CCIF said in a statement that it was contacted by the veiled woman ticketed in Trappes on Thursday, and that she said the police officer yanked her by the veil and pushed her mother.
Police argue they are doing their jobs and that veiled women are breaking a well-known law.
Trappes is deploying extra riot police Saturday night to try to head off any new violence.
Trappes was among many towns around France that saw rioting in 2005 by disillusioned youth in neglected housing projects, many with origins in former French colonies in North and West Africa.
Valls acknowledged the "difficulty our fellow citizens have living in these working class neighborhoods, especially young people. What they need is jobs, hope, training."
"Only in dialogue can we find the solutions to the problems of our society, of joblessness, the sentiment of discrimination and exclusion," he urged.
"Violence leads to nothing."
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Biden Tells GOP to 'Get Out of The Way' on Debt Limit
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden urged Republican senators to "get out of the way" and let Democrats suspend the nation's debt limit, hoping to keep the U.S. government from bumping dangerously close to a credit default as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell refuses to lend his party's help.
Biden's criticism on Monday came with Congress facing an Oct. 18 deadline to allow for more borrowing to keep the government operating after having accrued a total public debt of $28.4 trillion. The House has passed a measure to suspend the debt limit, but McConnell is forcing Senate Democrats into a cumbersome process that could drag on and approach the deadline with little margin for error.
Both Biden and McConnell have promised that the country will avoid default, yet the public fight and political posturing risks an economic meltdown. The global economy relies on the stability of U.S. Treasury notes, and unpaid debt could crush financial markets and hurl America into recession. Biden noted that the debt limit applies to borrowing that has already occurred, including under former President Donald Trump, and said Republicans are hurting the country by blocking the limit's suspension.
"They need to stop playing Russian roulette with the U.S. economy," Biden said at the White House. "Republicans just have to let us do our job. Just get out of the way. If you don't want to help save the country, get out of the way so you don't destroy it."
Unmoved, McConnell said Republicans had given the Democrats a roadmap for dealing with the debt ceiling with months of warning.
"I suggest that our Democratic colleagues get moving," McConnell said at the Capitol.
Once a routine vote, raising the nation's debt limit has become increasingly partisan. It's become a favorite political weapon of Republicans to either demand concessions or force Democrats into unpopular votes to enable more borrowing. McConnell has tied the vote to Biden's multitrillion-dollar tax and economic agenda that awaits Congressional approval. But Biden says the price tag in terms of debt for his plan will be "zero," paid for by raising taxes on corporations and on the wealthy, whom the House Democrats have defined as individuals earning more than $400,000 a year, or couples making more than $450,000.
Biden said he planned to talk with McConnell, who dug in with a letter of his own to the president.
"We have no list of demands. For two and a half months, we have simply warned that since your party wishes to govern alone, it must handle the debt limit alone as well," the Kentucky senator wrote in the Monday letter.
The financial markets have stayed relatively calm with interest rates on 10-year Treasury notes holding just below 1.5%. That rate is slightly higher than the all-time lows set last year as the coronavirus pandemic spread, but it's still lower than at any other time over nearly 60 years of data tracked by the Federal Reserve.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has projected the government will exhaust its cash reserves on Oct. 18, an event she says would likely trigger a financial crisis and economic recession. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Monday that it would be hazardous for the economy to come anywhere near that deadline.
"The consequences of even approaching the X date could be disastrous for our economy and devastating to American families, raising the costs of borrowing for average Americans and hampering our economic recovery over the long-term," Schumer said in a letter to Democratic senators.
Democrats and Republicans are in a standoff over how to handle an extension for the debt ceiling. Republicans are insisting that Democrats go it alone with the same legislative tool that is already being used to try and pass Biden's plan to boost safety net, health and environmental programs. Democrats say that extending the debt limit has traditionally been a bipartisan effort and that the debt cap was built up under presidents from both parties.
Schumer said that if the debt issue is not resolved this week, the Senate will likely be forced to remain in session during the weekend and possibly the following week when senators were scheduled to be back in their home states.
Schumer also discussed the current state of play with the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill that has already passed the Senate and is stuck in the House, as well as Biden's larger, $3.5 trillion effort focused on social programs and the environment that would be offset by tax increases on corporations and the wealthy. He noted that the president visited with House Democrats on Friday to generate support for both measures.
"He encouraged them to stick together, compromise, and find the sweet spot that will allow us to complete our work," Schumer said. "I agree with his sentiment wholeheartedly – we can get this done, together, if we put aside our differences and find the common ground within our party."
Biden discussed the larger plan with progressive House Democrats during a virtual meeting Monday afternoon. And Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top White House advisers huddled late Monday at the Capitol over it.
"We're making progress, Pelosi said as she exited. Schumer had said in an earlier letter to colleagues they need to reach a deal soon, preferably "days, not weeks."
Schumer and McConnell debated the debt ceiling when the Senate earlier Monday.
McConnell noted that Biden voted against raising the debt ceiling as a senator when Republicans controlled Congress and the presidency.
But Schumer said Democrats allowed for an up-or-down vote back then rather than requiring the majority to overcome a filibuster. He said Republicans should follow that example when he seeks to bring up the House-passed bill that would suspend the debt ceiling until December 2022.
"We aren't asking Republicans to support it when it comes time for a vote. We only ask that they get out of the way, let Democrats pass it on our own just as the majority party did in the early 2000s," Schumer said.
"The fact is we don't have the luxury of waiting until Oct. 18 to extend the debt ceiling," Schumer added. "Even a near miss can have dramatic consequences."
Biden will be traveling to Michigan on Tuesday to promote his legislative plan as negotiations resume in Washington. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona have said they won't back a $3.5 trillion spending bill. And many House Democrats won't support the smaller bipartisan infrastructure plan until they get an agreement on the larger measure.


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This set of three porcelain swallow wall sculptures has a metallic copper finish and will add contemporary style to your wall art.
Each one is made from high fired white porcelain ceramic with a coloured finish, so they are perfect for kitchens and bathrooms, because they don't mind a little steam, but they'll look equally cool in living spaces. I like them in bedrooms, because they are a flighty, dreamy focus as you fall asleep. They're easy to arrange in any way that suits your space, so they are great for tricky spaces and hallways.
I designed these to be simplified silhouette shapes reminiscent of swallow tattoos. They have the subtle texture of imprinted feathers in the surface, and I cut each one by hand, so no two are identical and you can be sure that your set is unique.
Each measures around 6 inches ( 15.5 cm ), so the set takes up a space approx 10 x 10 inches when arranged as pictured, but of course this could be larger or smaller depending on your arrangement.
Each one is super easy to hang from one or two nails or screws in your wall, and if you'd like to change the angle a touch then you can easily do so by using a little wall putty or blu tack.
This listing is for three in metallic copper like the ones pictured in the main image. Other colours and groups in this listing are to illustrate alternative options, colours and larger sets.
If you'd like to see more of my wall art, then there are more here:
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or see my full range of home decor, wall art and tableware here:
If you'd like something special made just for you, such as a different number of swallows, or a different colour, then please get in touch.
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If you would prefer Airsure delivery, which is available to most destinations, please contact me. This provides 6 stage tracking, and priority handling, and is available at a surcharge of $10 per shipment.
WORLDWIDE CUSTOMERS - in most destinations, you should usually expect to receive items within seven - ten working days. Please note, we cannot take responsibility for the postal service delays. At busy times, items may take longer, so please allow extra time if possible as delivery times cannot be 100% guaranteed. Items are not considered lost in the mail until a month has passed. FYI, your order will begin its journey with the Royal Mail, which is the UK's postal system. The Royal Mail will deliver that to your country, at which point it will have to clear customs, and then will be passed over to your country's postal service. If your order is delayed in the post, we recommend in the first instance that where possible, you check with your local postal service's depot or post office.
EU CUSTOMERS: Unfortunately we have been experiencing occasional delays when shipping to countries within the EU. We believe this is due to Brexit and hope it is temporary. In the meantime we will not consider an item to these destinations to be lost until at least 2 months after dispatch, due to orders being held at customs. The majority of orders have been arriving as normal but there have been a few more delays than we would have expected previously.
MEXICAN CUSTOMERS - With regret we must announce that we have recently had some delays with Mexico's postal system. You should allow extra time for your parcel to arrive. We will not consider an item lost when it is being delivered to Mexico until at least six - eight weeks after dispatch. Items have been arriving, but sometimes considerably later than we would expect elsewhere in the world, and so as we cannot control this delay, we must ask for your patience and that you allow extra time. Sincere apologies for this, but we hope you will understand that this is something over which we have no control. We can alternatively offer DHL shipping to you - please contact us for a quotation.
RUSSIAN CUSTOMERS - Due to problems with parcels going missing on their way to Russia, we regret that we can no longer ship to you using our regular post methods. We can only ship using DHL or similar, at your expense, which will be added to your shipping charge in addition to your order after you place your order, and the costs can be expensive. We ask that you contact us directly before placing your order so that we can quote for you before your purchase. We are really sorry for any inconvenience and ask for your understanding.
UK CUSTOMERS you should usually receive items within three - four working days of order. I send by first or second class post or recorded delivery within the UK. We have added second class delivery as an option due to price increases by Royal Mail. If you need something quickly, please get in touch - we can usually work something out!
ALL CUSTOMERS, please note, if you want extra services, such as signed for delivery or tracking, I can provide this at a surcharge.
Very occasionally, items are delayed or lost in the post. This is something which we can't control, and I ask that you please wait for one month after dispatch to allow time for the item to arrive. During this time feel free to get in touch. However, as previously stated, the vast majority of items arrive within seven working days of purchase :) Of those that are delayed, it is extremely rare for them not to arrive at all. If you feel your shipment is late, please check first with your local postal depot, neighbours and members of your household that may have taken delivery.
Please note, you must contact us within 6 weeks of the expected delivery date if you have not received your order.
Where we offer free shipping, this entitles you to one free shipping service to the address you provided during checkout. If items are uncollected from your local depot ( for example after you were out when the carrier tried to deliver etc.) or delivery is not rearranged by you after a delivery attempt (or attempts) to you, then they will usually be returned to us by the postal service eventually. Also, if you provide an incorrect address during checkout, your order may be returned to us by the postal service.
In these instances, once had we received the return, we would at that point need to unpack and check everything before redelivering out to you. If you would like us to redeliver to you at that point, then we would ask that you pay a charge to cover our costs for this subsequent repacking and delivery. If you decide you do not want a redelivery in these circumstances, then we would deduct a fee from any refund to cover the costs of our postage and packaging.
If you have been waiting for your delivery and are concerned about its whereabouts, please check your etsy account as there may be tracking information provided there. If you cannot do so or cannot see the relevant information there, please contact us so that we can check on the status of your delivery. We are happy to help you!
Please note: Any customs charges or local taxes are the responsibility of the customer.
I try to make packaging as lovely as possible, because a lovely parcel is a pleasure to open! However, I take extremely seriously the fact that most of my items are ceramic, and wrapping is first and foremost to protect the item. I want you to receive your item in one piece, and do my utmost to ensure that it does by wrapping my work well. Where possible I use recycled packaging.
I love making custom orders!
If there's something you like in my sold orders that is out of stock, or you would like a custom order, please get in touch. Custom orders usually take approx 4 weeks after receipt of payment.
We're working hard to be environmentally sound! Currently, the carbon emissions caused by our deliveries to you are offset by etsy.com, which is fantastic! Our kiln is small, electric, modern and efficient. It is only fired when it's jam packed full and I personally buy renewable energy where possible. We're currently experimenting with more environmentally friendly packaging and we hope you will reuse and/or recycle it when it arrives with you. But, we know we're still not perfect. We have worked with two tree planting organisations and have now funded the planting of over 2000 trees, to hopefully give back a little more than we take from our beautiful planet.
Please let me know if the item is to be given as a gift - I can enclose a free of charge gift tag card if you would like.
Gift wrapping can usually be arranged, please message me if you need this service. There may be a small charge for your requirements.
None of my items are intended for use as toys.
In the case of wall art, we cannot be responsible for these pieces after they arrive with you. It is important that you choose and use fixings that are suitable for your wall, and that you take care when installing the work to ensure that it is suitably and securely fixed. In high traffic or vibration areas, or where children are present, the buyer/installer must take extra care and be certain that they are not able to be reached or knocked, and in addition to regular hardware, you may wish to add a little tile adhesive, silicone sealant, Blu Tack or hot glue if appropriate to the back of the work to ensure stability if this is appropriate for your wall and situation.
All designs, works featured and site content at princedesignuk.etsy.com are © Elizabeth Prince. All copyright, design rights and intellectual property rights existing in my designs and products and in the images, text and design of this website are and will remain the property of Elizabeth Prince. No transfer of these rights is given or implied with purchase or sale of work.
Any infringement of these rights will be taken seriously.
Information I Collect
To fulfil your order, you must provide me with certain information (which you authorised Etsy to provide to me), such as your name, email address, postal address, payment information, and the details of the product that you're ordering. You may also choose to provide me with additional personal information (for a custom order for example), if you contact me directly.
Why I Need Your Information and How I Use It
I rely on a number of legal bases to collect, use, and share your information, including:
as needed to provide my services, such as when I use your information to fulfil your order, to settle disputes, or to provide customer support;
when you have provided your affirmative consent, which you may revoke at any time, such as by signing up for my mailing list;
if necessary to comply with a legal obligation or court order or in connection with a legal claim, such as retaining information about your purchases if required by tax law; and
as necessary for the purpose of my legitimate interests, if those legitimate interests are not overridden by your rights or interests, such as 1) providing and improving my services. I use your information to provide the services you requested and in my legitimate interest to improve my services; and 2) Compliance with the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use. I use your information as necessary to comply with my obligations under the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use.
Information Sharing and Disclosure
Information about my customers is important to my business. I share your personal information for very limited reasons and in limited circumstances, as follows:
Etsy. I share information with Etsy as necessary to provide you my services and comply with my obligations under both the Etsy Seller Policy and Etsy Terms of Use.
Service providers. I engage certain trusted third parties to perform functions and provide services to my shop, such as delivery companies. I will share your personal information with these third parties, but only to the extent necessary to perform these services.
Business transfers. If I sell or merge my business, I may disclose your information as part of that transaction, only to the extent permitted by law.
Compliance with laws. I may collect, use, retain, and share your information if I have a good faith belief that it is reasonably necessary to: (a) respond to legal process or to government requests; (b) enforce my agreements, terms and policies; (c) prevent, investigate, and address fraud and other illegal activity, security, or technical issues; or (d) protect the rights, property, and safety of my customers, or others.
Data Retention
I retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to provide you with my services and as described in my Privacy Policy. However, I may also be required to retain this information to comply with my legal and regulatory obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce my agreements. I generally keep your data for the following time period: 10 years.
Transfers of Personal Information Outside the EU
I may store and process your information through third-party hosting services in the US and other jurisdictions. As a result, I may transfer your personal information to a jurisdiction with different data protection and government surveillance laws than your jurisdiction. If I am deemed to transfer information about you outside of the EU, I rely on Privacy Shield as the legal basis for the transfer, as Microsoft is Privacy Shield certified.
Your Rights
If you reside in certain territories, including the EU, you have a number of rights in relation to your personal information. While some of these rights apply generally, certain rights apply only in certain limited cases. I describe these rights below:
Access. You may have the right to access and receive a copy of the personal information I hold about you by contacting me using the contact information below.
Change, restrict, delete. You may also have rights to change, restrict my use of, or delete your personal information. Absent exceptional circumstances (like where I am required to store data for legal reasons) I will generally delete your personal information upon request.
Object. You can object to (i) my processing of some of your information based on my legitimate interests and (ii) receiving marketing messages from me after providing your express consent to receive them. In such cases, I will delete your personal information unless I have compelling and legitimate grounds to continue using that information or if it is needed for legal reasons.
Complain. If you reside in the EU and wish to raise a concern about my use of your information (and without prejudice to any other rights you may have), you have the right to do so with your local data protection authority.
How to Contact Me
For purposes of EU data protection law, EP Ceramic Art Ltd is the data controller of your personal information. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact Elizabeth Prince via the contact form on my website www.elizabethprince.com, via the conversations feature on my Etsy shop, or via the contact form on my online shop www.elizabethprinceceramics.com. Alternately, you may mail me at:
Elizabeth Prince Ceramics, Suite 205, Lightburn House, Ulverston LA12 8BS, United Kingdom
Thank you for taking the time to read my shop policies. If you have any further questions regarding my products or policies, please get in touch. I love making custom orders!
If there's something you like in my sold orders that is out of stock, or you would like a custom order, please get in touch. Custom orders usually take approx 4 weeks after receipt of payment.


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The UCSB men's golf team shot its best round in recent memory, a third round 273, to come from nine shots back a narrowly miss winning the title at the Sycuan Collegiate Invitational at the Willow Glen Golf Course in El Cajon. The Gauchos, who were seven shots better than the next closet team in the final round, finished at 26-under par 838, one shot behind Colorado State.
"It was a great last round for us," UCSB head coach Steve Lass said. "We easily beat every team in the field. We were too far behind Colorado State to come all the way back, but we made a great run."
Leading the final round rush for the Gauchos were sophomore Tyler Weir, who shot a 6-under par 66, junior Sean Bowman, a Santa Barbara native and former star at Dos Pueblos High School, who shot a 5-under par 67, and freshman Aaron Sherry, who carded a 4-under par 68.
"They all had great rounds, but today was a Sean Bowman-breakout round," Lass said. "He was fantastic. It was easily the best round he's shot for us."
Weir finished tied for fourth in the tournament's individual standings with a 9-under par 207. After shooting an even-par first round, he was 9-under in the last two rounds. Sherry finished tied for sixth at 8-under par 208. His best round was the second when he carded a 6-under par 66. Junior Brian Hollenbeck tied for 28th at 2-under par 214. Junior Matt Grush tied for 46th at one-over par 217, and Bowman tied for 61st at three-over par 219.
Wichita State's Dustin Garza won the individual honors with a 16-under par 200. Bryce Hanstad of Colorado State finished second at 12-under par, while Denver's Daniel Wax was third at 11-under par.
The team title was the fourth in a row for Colorado State, which also won last week's Wyoming Desert Classic. The top four spots were tight with the Rams finishing one shot ahead of the Gauchos, two shots ahead of the University of San Diego and four shots ahead of Denver.
UCSB has one fall tournament remaining. The Gauchos travel to the Pacific Invitational at the Brookside Country Club in Stockton on Nov. 3-4.
Bill Mahoney is UCSB's assistant athletics director of athletics communications.


text:
No doubt, nail art is seriously having a moment. But we're already at a point where certain patterns have become passé (accent finger anyone?). To keep your tips covered in fresh, fantastic looks, we've compiled Nail Art's New Wave, a collection of our favorite new patterns inspired by super-talented manicurist Julie Kandalec and Maybelline New York's Color Show Nail Lacquer – plus hints on how to execute them perfectly.
Who doesn't like a sip of bubbly now and then? Better yet, when it comes in the form of a chic, colorful design you can flaunt for your friends. A perfect example is our brand new "Pop Fizz" nail art pattern — something that takes the longstanding nail art fascination with spots and dots, and adds a little sophistication and effervescence to the affair. To help you master this look, we've broken it down into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, so you add more fizz as your skills improve. Get ready to become a pop star.
Photographed by Mark Iantosca
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page!


text:
by publius
Huge turnout is reported in New Hampshire. In fact, some towns are afraid of running out of ballots -- Democratic ballots:
The New Hampshire Secretary of State's office is in the process of locating extra ballots to ship to towns that have expressed concern that supplies are running low. The concern is primarily on the Democratic side, officials say.
Obviously, this is very good news for Obama, and bad news for Clinton. But the key battle tonight is Romney and McCain. The flood on the Democratic side suggests that the indies are requesting Dem ballots rather than GOP ones. That's bad news for McCain, but good news for Romney. More tonight.


text:
Writing Prompt "Clouds"
This post is for stories related to the Contest theme: "Clouds".
The clouds can be storm clouds, chem trails, sunset clouds, mist clouds, rain clouds or tornado clouds. The prompt is fairly open. It can even be clouds of depression or bad mood clouds.
Required Elements:
1. A boat or a goat
2. A ring or an unusual thing
3. A wooden box or a red fox
The author can use any combination of the above, but he or she must choose one from each of the three groups.
Each of the three elements must play a part in the story. They must be connected to the clouds in some form.
Word limit: 1000.
- This is the thread for stories as well as general comments. Say hello and be sure to check the "Notify me of follow-up comments by email" box for email notifications.
- To leave feedback/Comments directly relating to a particular story – click "reply" to the story comment.
- Specific critiques, comments, and feedback are encouraged. If you do not want honest professional feedback do not post a story.
- Keep feedback and critiques to a civil and constructive level, please. Please critique stories for construction, style, flow, grammar, punctuation, and so on. The moderator has the right to delete any comments that appear racist, inflammatory or bullying.
Please Note: comments may be considered "published" in regards to other contest requirements.
All stories are fall under general copyright laws. No part may be reproduced without the express consent of the respective author.
Story Submission Rules:
- One story per author. You may post more than one but only the first story will qualify for voting.
- Stories must be in English, unpublished and your own work.
- Stories must fit into a single comment box and must be less than 1000 words.
Voting starts Wednesday morning at 9:00am PDT / 12:00pm EST / 10:30pm IST / 5:00pm WET/GMT/ 4:00am AEDT (Thursday) and ends the same time on Thursday / 4:00am AEDT (Friday).
- You may vote only once.
- You cannot vote for yourself.
***the next writing prompt will be chosen by Alice Nelson per the Writing Prompt Roster.
To be included in the "writing prompt roster", you must have submitted two stories in the last sixty days. The roster is alphabetical and can be found here.
See How to Participate for complete rules and disclaimers.


text:
Flavor Flav
Jump to navigation Jump to search
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. (born March 16, 1959), known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper, television star, hype man, and member of the politically conscious hip hop group Public Enemy. Flavor Flav's visual trademark is an oversized clock hanging from his neck. After falling out of the public eye in former years, he has recently reappeared as a star of American reality television. He has starred in multiple VH1 programs, including Flavor of Love, and the 2007 Comedy Central Roast. Contrary to his image as a buffoon, he is a classically trained pianist.
- Yeah boyeee!
- Catch phrase, often delivered with comic timing; recounted in Rickey Vincent, Funk: The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One (1996), p. 309. Alternately reported by other sources with spelling variations.
- Well let me tell you something, I can't be nobody but myself. Ya know what I'm saying? The thing that makes the world love Flav is Flav being himself. So honestly man, to tell you the truth: it was not hard to be myself. It was real easy.
- Cisneros, Casey (27 January 2005). "Flavor Flav interview". The Rocky Mountain Collegian (Colorado State University). Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- Well let me tell you like this, the rap scene right now has taken its own course and its own direction because you have so many rap records of all different calibers coming out. And me, I favor everybody, I like everybody and the reason why is because I want everyone to Favor Flav. If I favor one certain rapper or one certain singer then only one certain singer/rappers are going to favor Flav. So me, I'm just a friendly ghost and not only that I'm a musician. I like all kinds of music. And everybody making records right now is definitely respected by Flav and for all you new comers just starting to make records: welcome aboard.
- Cisneros, Casey (27 January 2005). "Flavor Flav interview". The Rocky Mountain Collegian (Colorado State University). Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- The simple reason why we work together is just the contrast in our voices. People try to come up with intellectual reasons for 'the noise' and it ain't nothing intellectual. We was just making BAU tapes and needed voices to cut through that shit. Flavor got a powerful trebly voice, with cut. I got some bass with treble and pitch, which also cuts. So you put me and Flavor together and it's basically like Bobby Bird and James Brown — Everybody over here? Get on Up! The Bird/Brown combination set off everything.
- Chuck D., quoted by Robert Marriott, "The Resurrection of the Jester King", The Source, August, 1994. p. 76.
- What was crucial to the partnership, it should be noted, is that Flavor Flav was a clown — in the tradition of the best black comics — yet he was a clown with consciousness, empowered with knowledge of self, an entirely different persona from the "Stepin Fetchit" and "Sambo" stereotypes of subservient and uncouth black Americans. Flavor Flav was and is a fool, but a fool on a mission. On the cover of Nation of Millions, he wears a gigantic clock as a medallion — a preposterous getup — yet it is designed to illustrate, through a comic medium, that time is indeed running out.
- Rickey Vincent, Funk: The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One (1996), p. 309.


text: Justin Hernandez currently resides in the Bay Area with his family. He grew up surrounded by books of mythology and folklore and his grandparent's library of 80's fantasy movies on VHS. This was a huge inspiration for him as a young artist. Justin graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art University in 2007. He has since gone on to work in the games industry as a production artist across multiple titles as well as various card games. He has had his work featured in Spectrum and the Society of Illustrators West. When Justin isn't drawing you can find him collecting art books, making spooky comics with his wife, creating digital art tools, and being used as a pillow by his 3lb chihuahua.


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The Perfect Server - Fedora 12 x86_64 [ISPConfig 2]
Version 1.0
Author: Falko Timme
Follow me on Twitter
This is a detailed description about how to set up a Fedora 12 server that offers all services needed by ISPs and hosters: Apache web server (SSL-capable) with PHP5/Ruby/Python, Postfix mail server with SMTP-AUTH and TLS, BIND DNS server, Proftpd FTP server, MySQL server, Dovecot POP3/IMAP, Quota, Firewall, etc. This tutorial is written for the 64-bit version of Fedora 12, but should apply to the 32-bit version with very little modifications as well. In the end you should have a system that works reliably, and if you like you can install the free webhosting control panel ISPConfig (i.e., ISPConfig runs on it out of the box).
I will use the following software:
- Web Server: Apache 2.2.13
- Ruby
- Python
- Database Server: MySQL 5.1.39
- Mail Server: Postfix
- DNS Server: BIND9 (chrooted)
- FTP Server: proftpd
- POP3/IMAP server: Dovecot
- Webalizer for web site statistics
Please note that this setup does not work for ISPConfig 3! It is valid for ISPConfig 2 only!
I want to say first that this is not the only way of setting up such a system. There are many ways of achieving this goal but this is the way I take. I do not issue any guarantee that this will work for you!
1 Requirements
To install such a system you will need the following:
- Download the Fedora 12 DVD iso image from a mirror near you (the list of mirrors can be found here: http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/publiclist/Fedora/12/), e.g. http://ftp.tu-chemnitz.de/pub/linux/fedora/linux/releases/12/Fedora/x86_64/iso/Fedora-12-x86_64-DVD.iso
- an Internet connection...
2 Preliminary Note
In this tutorial I use the hostname server1.example.com with the IP address 192.168.0.100 and the gateway 192.168.0.1. These settings might differ for you, so you have to replace them where appropriate.
3 Install The Base System
Boot from your Fedora 12 DVD. Select Install or upgrade an existing system:
It can take a long time to test the installation media so we skip this test here:
The welcome screen of the Fedora installer appears. Click on Next:
Choose your language next:
Select your keyboard layout:
If you see the following message (Error processing drive: /dev/sda. This device may need to be reinitialized. REINITIALIZING WILL CAUSE ALL DATA TO BE LOST!), please click on Re-initialize drive:
Fill in the hostname of the server:
Choose your time zone:
Give root a password:
Next we do the partitioning. Select Replace existing Linux system. This will give you a small /boot partition and a large / partition which is fine for our purposes:
Select Write changes to disk:
The hard drive is being formatted:


text:
The Russian state telecommunication regulator has started to block Telegram, as expected. This comes after the messaging company refused to give Russian security services encryption keys. The service is expected to be blocked in the coming hours.
According to several reports, Telegram is still operational in the country, though several service providers have started blocking the company's website.
Run by its Russian founder Pavel Durov, Telegram has more than 200 million users and is a top-10 messaging service made popular by its strong stance on privacy.
Russian regulators classify Telegram as an operator of information dissemination in Russia, therefore the company is required to provide keys to its encryption service to Russia's Federal Security Service. This is so the FSS can reportedly read the messages of suspected terrorists. On March 20, the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor gave Telegram 15 days to comply. This was followed by Durov publicly decrying the order, saying Telegram will stand for freedom and privacy.
"The terrorist threat in Russia will stay at the same level, because extremists will continue to use encrypted communication channels – in other messengers, or through a VPN," he said according to a report by Reuters.
Durov has long stood by this stance. Back in 2015 at TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco, Durov revealed that ISIS was using Telegram.
"I think that privacy, ultimately, and the right for privacy is more important than our fear of bad things happening, like terrorism," he said at the time. "Yes, there's a war going on in the Middle East. It's a series of tragic events. But ultimately, the ISIS will always find a way to communicate within themselves. And if any means of communication turns out to be not secure for them, they'll just switch to another one. So I don't think we are actually taking part in these activities. I don't think we should be guilty or feel guilty about it. I still think we're doing the right thing, protecting our users' privacy."
It's unclear how this block will change Telegram's plan for a billion-dollar ICO. We've reached out to Telegram for comment.