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Table of Contents
Top Nutrient Dense Foods
How nutritious is the food you are eating? Would you be surprised if I told you chocolate shouldn't be avoided? A lot of times certain foods are criticized and avoided but in reality we need to take a closer look. Yes, french fries are not very nutritious but potatoes are! And yes, chocolate is high in sugar but dark chocolate is high is nutritions.Here are 11 of the top nutrient dense foods:
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Salmon
Not all fish is created equal.
Salmon, and other fatty types of fish, contain the greatest amount of Omega-3s.
Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important for the optimal function of your body. They're linked to improved wellbeing and a lower risk of many serious diseases.
Although salmon is mainly prized for its beneficial composition of fatty acids, it also packs a massive amount of other nutrients.
A 100 gram piece of wild salmon contains 2.8 grams of Omega-3s, along with lots of high quality animal protein and a ton of vitamins and minerals… including large amounts of Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium and all the B-vitamins.
It is a good idea to eat fatty fish at least once or twice a week, to get all the Omega-3s that your body (and brain) desperately need.
Studies show that the people who eat fatty fish regularly have a lower risk of heart disease, dementia, depression and a plethora of common diseases
Also, let's not forget the fact that salmon tastes awesome and is fairly simple to prepare. It also tends to make you feel full with relatively few calories.
If you can, choose wild salmon instead of farmed. It is more nutritious, has a betterOmega-6:Omega-3 ratio and is less likely to contain harmful compounds .
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Kale
Of all the super healthy leafy greens, kale is the king.
It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and various bioactive compounds.
A 100 gram portion of kale contains:
- 200% of the RDA for Vitamin C.
- 300% of the RDA for Vitamin A (from beta-carotene).
- 1000% of the RDA for Vitamin K1.
- Large amounts of Vitamin B6, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper and Manganese.
This is coming with 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein and only 50 calories.
Kale may be even healthier than spinach. Both are super nutritious, but kale is lower in oxalates, which are substances that can bind minerals like calcium in the intestine, preventing them from being absorbed.
Kale (and other greens) are also loaded with various bioactive compounds, including Isothiocyanates and Indole-3-Carbinol, which have been shown to fight cancer in test tubes and animal studies.
Bottom Line: Kale is one of the most nutrient dense vegetables you can eat, with large amounts of vitamins, minerals and cancer-fighting compounds.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Seaweed
The sea has more than just fish… it also contains massive amounts of vegetation.
Usually referred to as "seaweed," there are thousands of different plant species in the ocean, some of which are incredibly nutritious.
In many cases, seaweed is even more nutritious than vegetables from the land. It is particularly high in minerals like Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Manganese.
It is also loaded with various bioactive compounds, including phycocyanins and carotenoids. Some of these substances are antioxidants with powerful anti-inflammatory activity.
But where seaweed really shines is in its high content of iodine, a mineral that is used to make thyroid hormones.
Just eating a high-iodine seaweed like kelp a few times per month can give your body all the iodine that it needs.
If you don't like the thought of eating seaweed, then you can also get it as a supplement. Dried kelp tablets are very cheap and loaded with iodine.
Many sushi dishes also include seaweed in them, along with other goodies.
Bottom Line: The vegetables from the sea are highly nutritious, but very rarely consumed in Western parts of the world. They are particularly high in iodine, which is essential for optimal thyroid function.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Garlic
Garlic really is an amazing ingredient.
Not only can it turn all sorts of bland dishes into delicious treats, it is also incredibly nutritious.
It is high in vitamins C, B1 and B6, Calcium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese and Selenium.
But garlic is also loaded with another incredibly important nutrient called Allicin, which is the active ingredient in garlic.
There are many studies on the health benefits of allicin and garlic. It has been shown to lower blood pressure and total and LDL cholesterol, while raising HDL… which should lead to a reduced risk of heart disease down the line.
It also has various cancer-fighting properties. Studies show that the people who eat a lot of garlic have a much lower risk of several common cancers, especially cancers of the colon and stomach.
Garlic is also very potent at killing pathogens like bacteria and fungi.
Bottom Line: Garlic is both tasty and extremely healthy. It is highly nutritious and the bioactive compounds in it have known disease fighting properties.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods: Shellfish
Out of all the wonderfully nutritious organisms found in the sea, shellfish may be the most nutritious of all.
Commonly consumed types of shellfish include clams, oysters and various others.
Clams are among the best sources of vitamin B12 in existence, with a 100 grams of clams supplying over 16 times the RDA! It is also loaded with other nutrients, including Vitamin C, B-Vitamins, Potassium, Selenium and Iron.
Oysters are also incredibly nutritious… with a 100 grams supplying 6 times the RDA for Zinc, 2 times the RDA for Copper, along with large amounts of B12 and Vitamin D – along with a plethora of other nutrients.
Really, shellfish are among the most nutritious foods in existence. Unfortunately, people rarely consume them.
They may also be considered a great food for people who want to be as close to vegetarian/vegan as possible, while also getting most of the benefits of consuming animal foods. Shellfish is non-sentient.
Bottom Line: Shellfish are among the most nutritious organisms found in the sea. They are very high in important nutrients like Vitamin B12 and Zinc.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Potatoes
If there's one high-carb food that I miss on my low-carb diet, it's potatoes.
A single large potato contains lots of Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper and Manganese… with plenty of vitamin C and most of the B vitamins.
Potatoes really are one of the world's most perfect foods.
They contain a little bit of almost every nutrient we need and there have been accounts of people living onnothing but potatoes for a long time.
They are also one of the most fulfilling foods in existence. When researchers compared the "satiety value" of different foods, boiled potatoes scored higher than any other food they measured.
If you cook the potatoes and then allow them to cool afterwards, they also form large amounts of resistant starch, a fiber-like substance with many powerful health benefits.
Bottom Line: Potatoes contain a little bit of almost every nutrient we need. They are incredibly fulfilling and can contain large amounts of resistant starch.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Liver
Humans and pre-humans have been eating animals for millions of years.
However… back in the day, we didn't just eat the muscles like we do today. Compared to the organs, muscle meat is nutritionally poor.
There are even accounts of modern hunter-gatherers selectively eating the organs, then feeding lean muscle meat to the dogs.
Out of all the organs, liver is by far the most nutritious.
The liver is a remarkable organ with hundreds of functions related to metabolism. One of its functions is to store important nutrients for the rest of the body.
A 100 gram portion of beef liver contains:
- 1176% of the RDA for Vitamin B12.
- Over 50% of the RDA for Vitamins B6, B5, Niacin and Folate.
- 201% of the RDA for Vitamin B2.
- 634% of the RDA for Vitamin A.
- 714% of the RDA for Copper.
- Over 30% of the RDA for Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc and Selenium.
- 29 grams of high quality animal protein.
Eating liver once per week is a good way to ensure that you get optimal amounts of these very important nutrients.
Bottom Line: Hunter-gatherers who eat meat usually prize organs like liver, because they are the most nutritious parts of the animal.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Sardines
Sardines are small, oily fish that can be eaten whole.
This includes bones, skin, organs, brains and everything.
Given that the organs are usually the most nutritious parts of an animal, it is not surprising to see that whole sardines are incredibly nutritious.
They contain a little bit of almost every nutrient that the body needs and are pretty close to being perfect from a nutritional standpoint.
Like other fatty fish, they're also very high in heart-healthy Omega-3s.
Bottom Line: Small, oily fish like sardines are usually eaten whole, which includes the organs, bones, brains and other nutritious parts. They contain a little bit of almost every nutrient we need.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods : Blueberries
When it comes to the nutritional value of fruits, blueberries are in a league of their own.
Although they're not as high in vitamins and minerals as vegetables (calorie for calorie), the antioxidant content is where they really shine.
They are loaded with powerful antioxidant substances, including anthocyanins and various phytochemicals, some of which can cross the blood-brain barrier and exert protective effects on the brain.
Several studies have examined the health effects of blueberries in humans.
One study found that blueberries improved memory in older adults.
Another study found that obese men and women with metabolic syndrome had a lowered blood pressure and reduced markers of oxidized LDL cholesterol, when they added blueberries to their diet.
This finding makes sense, given that eating blueberries has been shown to increase the antioxidant value of the blood.
Then multiple studies in test tubes and experimental animals suggest that blueberries can help fight cancer.
Bottom Line: Blueberries are very nutritious compared to most fruits and are loaded with powerful antioxidants, some of which can increase the antioxidant value of the blood and have protective effects on the brain.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods Egg Yolks
Egg yolks have been unfairly demonized because of their cholesterol content.
But the studies actually show that dietary cholesterol isn't something you need to worry about, because cholesterol in the diet doesn't raise the "bad" cholesterol in the blood.
What we're left with is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. Whole eggs are so nutritious that they're often referred to as "nature's multivitamin."
Egg yolks are loaded with vitamins, minerals and various powerful nutrients.
They're high in Lutein and Zeaxanthine, antioxidants that can protect the eyes and reduce your risk of eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Eggs are also loaded with choline, a brain nutrient that about 90% of people aren't getting enough of.
Eggs also contain high quality protein and healthy fats. Several studies suggest that they can help you lose weight.
Really… whole eggs are an amazing food. The yolk is where almost all the nutrients are found, throwing it away is the absolute worst thing you can do.
Also let's not forget that eggs are cheap, taste amazing and are super easy to prepare.
If you can, get pastured and/or Omega-3 enriched eggs. They're healthier and more nutritious than most "conventional" supermarket eggs (45, 46).
Bottom Line: Whole eggs are so nutritious that they're often called "nature's multivitamin." The yolk is where almost all of the nutrients are found, just eating the whites is a terrible idea.
Top Nutrient Dense Foods: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa)
Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat.
It is loaded with fiber, iron, magnesium, copper and manganese.
But the biggest factor is its amazing range of antioxidants.
In fact, a study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate scored higher than any other food they tested, which included blueberries and acai berries.
There are multiple studies in humans showing that dark chocolate has powerful health benefits… including improved blood flow, a lower blood pressure, reduced oxidized LDL and improved brain function.
One study found that people who consumed chocolate 5+ times per week had a 57% lower risk of heart disease.
Given that heart disease is the most common cause of death in the world, this finding could have implications for millions of people.
Make sure to get dark chocolate with a 70% cocoa content, at least. The best ones contain 85% cocoa or higher.
Eating a small square of quality dark chocolate every day may be one of the best ways to "supplement" your diet with additional antioxidants."
Put these foods in your diet for the most nutrients. Share this article with a friend or comment your favorite nutrient rich food below!Source Article


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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Doormat
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Be welcomed home by a furry face with our breed specific doormat! Suitable for indoors and outdoors, this durable mat has a sturdy low pile weave designed for daily use. The neoprene back allows for comfort when standing, and grip to your high traffic areas.
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Please allow 5-7 Business days for delivery.

subset: commoncrawl


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Palm oil is nearly everywhere. It's in tortilla chips, a cheap way to add oil and maintain texture. It's in shaving cream, helping it stay creamy. Palm oil is in soap, microwave meals, doughnuts, and cookies. The great panoply of processed goods that fill the center aisles in most American grocery stores are dominated by palm oil.
Photo courtesy RAN
And yet, to consumers, it's all but invisible. Part of this invisibility may be due to the fact that there are no fewer than 200 different names for palm oil, from the esoteric sounding "palmolein" to the generic "vegetable oil."
But palm oil has deeper secrets than misleading nomenclature. By now many people have heard about the environmental impacts of this ubiquitous food and cosmetic additive. "Palm Oil Is Killing the Sumatran Tiger," TIME magazine trumpeted in a headline last year. "A Grim Portrait of Palm Oil Emissions," The New York Times warned. Here's how David Gilbert explained it in a 2012 story in Earth Island Journal: "Borneo's lowland rainforests and peat swamp forests are nature's densest stores of carbon, and when the trees are chopped down and burned or left to rot, or peat swamps drained and dried, the CO2 stored in them is released into the atmosphere. Even though Indonesia has relatively few factories, all of the forest clearing has pushed the country to the top of the list of the world's contributors to climate change."
Yet even as the environmental impacts of palm oil production gain attention, the social costs of the palm plantations remain largely hidden. The human rights abuses endemic to palm oil production are the industry's best-kept secret.
Just two countries are responsible for 90 percent of the world's palm oil production: Malaysia and Indonesia. In those places, children as young as 8 and 9 sometimes work seven days a week in treacherous conditions. Undocumented immigrants are lured to faraway plantations with promises of safe working conditions and fair wages, only to find a kind of indentured servitude. Weak government oversight — together with glaring deficiencies in the main independent body tasked with regulating the industry — contribute to an atmosphere of violence, fear, and exploitation.
Forced Labor
Photo courtesy RAN
Investigations by Amnesty International, the International Labor Rights Fund, Humanity International, the US State Department, and the magazine Bloomberg Businessweek paint a disturbing picture of conditions on palm oil plantations.
Local labor is rarely used on palm plantations, as plantation managers generally prefer workers without ties to nearby communities. So the dangerous work is relegated to workers from distant locales.
Workers often arrive with a significant debt to third party labor brokers, who notify them upon arrival at the worksite that they are now responsible for all transportation costs, including any flights or ground trips they've just been on. Next, employers often seize and hold passports and other identification documents. Debt peonage is common as well, with workers forced to pay for lodging and food at inflated rates. Even essential safety equipment such as gloves and goggles are added to the tab. Housing is most often substandard, lacking electricity and running water.
A nine-month investigation by Bloomberg Businessweek published in July 2013 revealed the extent of forced labor on plantations, focusing on troubles in Indonesia. One worker, who was identified with the fake name "Adam," described a harrowing ordeal on a plantation operated by the Malaysian palm giant Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK). Upon arrival, Adam's passport, national identity papers, and a deed to a collectively owned home were taken from him. Fresh water was shipped in once a month, but ran out after one week. Workers on the plantation frequently used Paraquat, an herbicide banned in more than 30 countries. When workers attempted to flee, they were beaten with sticks and machete handles, Adam told the reporter.
Eventually, workers on Adam's plantation were able to enlist the assistance of Rainforest Action Network and the Malaysian NGO Sawit Watch. Pressure from these two groups resulted in many workers being allowed to leave, and promises from KLK to pay back wages to workers and blacklist the third party labor recruiter responsible for providing the workforce for the plantation. Despite KLK's promises, most workers never received back pay, and the individuals responsible for the worst abuses continued to work for the company.
The International Labor Rights Fund gathered stories from workers on three plantations in Indonesia for a report it released last November titled "Empty Assurances." Testimony from exploited workers shows the manner in which plantation owners try to impose indentured servitude through generating worker debt.
"Our salary during our three month training was only 200,000 Rupiah ($17 USD), rather than the 2-3 million ($173 - $260 USD) promised," said a worker on a plantation in central Kalimantan, Indonesia. "We tried to be as efficient with this money as possible, but it was not enough. We needed to feed ourselves. So we decided to get in debt to the plantation store."
Goods purchased at the plantation store on credit were only available at a significant markup. If purchased outright, for example, a cup of ramen noodles cost $3,500 IDR (about 30 cents). But if purchased on credit, the price went up to $4,500 IDR. By comparison, a cup of noodles could be purchased in nearby towns for as little as $2,500 IDR.
In many instances, the conditions of many workers can accurately be described as nothing less than captivity. A July 2010 report from Amnesty International, "Trapped: The Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Malaysia," details the violence and intimidation of forced labor conditions. According to the report:
"Some are beaten if they refuse to work or if they do not work fast enough, long enough, or to the standard the employer demands. Many more are threatened with harm or subjected to practices designed to impress upon them that they are powerless to refuse their services—they may be under constant vigilance by supervisors or armed guards, locked into the workplace or prevented from leaving the grounds, refused permission to make telephone calls."
According to the Rainforest Action Network report Conflict Palm, 70 percent of the palm oil labor workforce in Malaysia is comprised of migrants, many of them undocumented, a vulnerable workforce rife for exploitation. The inaccessibility of many plantations and the reticence of the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia to disturb such vital industry means that the full scope of forced and trafficked labor is difficult to asses. Most observers of the industry estimate that there are about 50,000 or more trafficked workers in each Indonesia and Malaysia.
"We only looked at three plantations, and found these serious issues on these three plantations," says Haley Wrinkle, senior researcher at the International Labor Rights Forum. "I think this speaks to the breadth of the problem."
Child labor
Photo by Flickr user Waxx
Plantations do not generally employ underage workers directly. But they contribute to the problem of child labor indirectly by setting production quotas that are often unattainable for a single worker. Unable to meet their numbers, many workers bring in their children to assist, exposing them to onerous labor and dangerous pesticides.
"I often bring my children to work, despite the fact that the regulations prohibit it," said a worker indentified as 'Fatulusi' in the International Labor Rights Fund report. "I need money, so I have no choice. I bring them to help me fulfill the quota target; if I don't fulfill it I'll be scolded. And working together we can often exceed the target and get a bonus payment."
Most of the workers brought on to help are teenagers, but children as young as elementary school age too, are found on plantations during holidays. Children carry heavy loads of palm fruit in extreme heat, risking heat exhaustion. They climb thorny palm trees with a knife in hand to cut down the fruit with no protective gear, at times suffering cuts and abrasions.
The Malaysian NGO Sawit Watch conducted a site visit of a KLK Plantation in Kalimantan on the island of Borneo (Indonesia) in July 2013 and found that children are not immune to false promises and debt peonage. According to a report put out by the group: "Two of the children were told that they owed the recruiter for the cost of the flight and transportation to get from their hometown to the plantation, but they were never told how much they owed. Every month for the first six months, between IDR 500,000 and IDR 700,000 ($41-58 USD) was deducted from their salary, and after six months working, they received a total of IRD 1,798,000 (about $150 USD, or less than $1 a day). The cost of equipment needed for the work was then also deducted from this amount."
There is a disturbing secondary effect of children trafficked onto plantations, as well. The US State Department's 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report identifies increases in children exploited into prostitution in two regions dominated by the palm oil industry: the Riau Province of Sumatra, and West Papua.
Indonesia has been on the US Department of Labor's "List of Goods Made with Child Labor or Forced Labor" since 2010. In Malaysia, between 72,000 and 200,000 children are working on palm oil plantations, according to a 2012 study completed by Accenture and Humanity United.
Nowhere to Turn
Workers seeking reprieve find they have few allies in local government and law enforcement. In Malaysia, for example, investigations from Amnesty International have turned up numerous instances of bribery, theft, and even assault from immigration and law enforcement officials. Independent assessments from the World Bank and from within the government of Indonesia show a police force plagued by corruption. Fear of abuse and reprisal trump concerns for safety, limiting the ability of workers to seek redress.
Photo courtesy RAN
The independent body created to help has been little help to workers, either. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), established in 2004, was created as a mechanism to regulate environmental and labor conditions in the palm industry. Key stakeholders include oil palm growers, palm oil processors and or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, investors, and environmental and social NGOs.
It's a worthwhile effort. But in practice the RSPO leaves much to be desired, both in terms of environmental and human rights abuses. Twelve of the 16 seats on the executive board are held by growers, processors, manufacturers, retailers or investors, leaving the public interest groups in the minority.
"Fundamentally a problem is that laborers have no voice at the table of the RSPO," says said Laurel Sutherlin of Rainforest Action Network. "Theoretically the complaints resolution process could be used to address labor disputes, but the fact that disputes are pervasive but this process has never been used to address them is a strong sign that the system is not trusted or accessible to workers."
The weak process for RSPO certification means that even companies with a proven legacy of abuse — like KLK — can maintain standing within the RSPO.
"Often times, a plantation will directly contract a certification body, and will find out which ones are less rigorous," Wrinkle of the Labor Rights Fund says. "Some of them [certification bodies], anecdotally, don't even come and visit the plantations. There's really not much credibility in it."
A Shift in the Air
During the annual Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil meeting last November in Sumatra, a coalition of nine unions representing palm oil workers held a large demonstration outside the conference. Eventually, the union activists were allowed in to talk to the general secretary of the RSPO. Once inside, the group pushed for improved working conditions and modifications to the grievance mechanism of the RSPO.
As a result, there have been two shifts in the RSPO: assurances to strengthen the certification process by which palm oil producers can be recognized by the RSPO; and a modification to the grievance process to make it more accessible to all parties.
The week before the November RSPO meeting, a workshop in Bogor, outside of Jakarta, organized by Rainforest Action Network brought together for the first time 40 different organizations along with academics, government representatives, labor unions for a multi-day human rights workshop to talk about the human rights crisis in palm industry. Participants agreed that one of the best strategies for reforming the industry is to target the name brands that use palm oil.
Well-known brands such as Kellogg's, Kraft, IKEA, McDonald's, Unilever, and Nestle, all profit by using palm oil as a relatively cheap ingredient. The buying power of these huge corporations, and the clout they hold with palm producers, makes them attractive targets for activist action. For while palm producers are numerous, palm trading is dominated by just a few companies: Cargill, ADM, Wilmar, IOI, Bunge, AAK, Fuji Oils, Romar, and KLK. The emergent strategy is to apply pressure to the companies concerned with public relations, both the small number of trading companies and the The junk food empire is growing. As goes the Cheetos, so goes palm – the rise of the vegetable oil is inextricably tied to the expansion of processed goods. The pattern of palm's expansion, unfortunately, follows closely that of most commodities in the globalized economic order: exploitation, environmental degradation. Profit for a few, misery for many. All that convenience in the grocery store comes with a steep price, but international NGOS and labor groups are working to expose the unseen cost. Consumers are taking notice. Stories are trickling out. Palm can't hide much longer, even behind 200 different names.
We don't have a paywall because, as a nonprofit publication, our mission is to inform, educate and inspire action to protect our living world. Which is why we rely on readers like you for support. If you believe in the work we do, please consider making a tax-deductible year-end donation to our Green Journalism Fund.Donate


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Allow Megan Besler to sing our National Anthem again at Busch Stadium
Megan Besler sang our country's National Anthem at Busch Stadium for the St. Louis Cardinals vs Phillies on July 23rd, 2013. Taking a huge risk, the Cardinals management team allowed a soloist to sing the Anthem on their field. Normally, this is set aside for school choirs, school bands, etc, who are looking to do some fundraising. But the Cardinals took a leap of faith and allowed Ms. Besler a shot at her dream. "I contacted the Cardinals once in early 2012 about singing for them. I got a response back saying that they only allowed groups of 4 or more to sing. No soloists. I understood, but did not want to give up. 5 months later I tried sending them my demo cd one last time, and sure enough, got a call back saying they would like to take a chance on me!" - Megan Megan was born and raised in small town Iowa. Always having a dream to be a performer she finally got that shot when asked to sing for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011. After moving to Milwaukee, WI and graduating college, she headed to St. Louis where she now resides. "Singing for the Cardinals has been such an amazing, surreal experience. The people have been extremely generous and amazingly kind to me through out this entire season. I cannot thank the Cardinals organization enough for taking a leap of faith on me, and giving me the opportunity of a lifetime" -Megan Megan had to sell 350 tickets in order to sing that night. But, as we all know, Megan doesn't do things the "easy way"......Megan outdid herself, and sold 750 tickets!!!! What an accomplishment!! Recently though, the Cardinals organization has come to terms, that they will, in fact, no longer be able to allow soloists. But with having, technically, 2 years under her belt (one with the Milwaukee Brewers, and one with the Cardinals, not to mention all of her Iowa Hawkeye performances), we would like to think seniority would have a factor in this. With all of that being said, we would like to start a petition to help gain support in Megan's future with the Cardinals. We most definitely would like to see her come back and prove that she has what it takes to be THE solo singer again for the Cardinals. For all of those who bought tickets from her this past year (2013) and would like a chance at hearing her sing again, please sign the petition. Or for those who just support her in general, please, sign your name below :) We would like to have a goal of 1000 signatures and send this to the Cardinals very soon to hopefully prove that she's got a fan base and people who want to come and support her and the Cardinals :)


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When Sega held an event for Yakuza 4, it assembled the game's producer Toshihiro Nagoshi and the title's assorted cast. One of the game's biggest stars, former Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi, was one of the smallest.
And when it came time for a Kodak moment, Yaguchi was shuffled into the back. Her small stature accentuated by where she was placed.
This week, a similar photo misstep is leading to Japanese netizens hashing out the importance of balancing short and tall.
The average height for Japanese women is 5 feet 2 inches, while their American counterparts average in at 5 feet four inches. The height of women runs the gamut, but tall is generally considered to be around 5 foot six or 5 foot seven.
Many Japanese fashion models, such as Yu Yamada or Yui Ebihara are around 5 foot seven, two inches shorter than the Western ideal for models: 5 foot 9 inches. Makes sense taking into account national averages.
Koyuki with co-star Tom Cruise. (Kevin Winter | Getty)
Koyuki, who starred in The Last Samurai, got her start as a fashion model, is slightly under 5 foot 6 inches—something that didn't prevent her from modeling on the runways in her pre-acting days in Paris.
Nor did it prevent Tomomi Itano from appearing on stage with a whole host of fashion models, like the aforementioned Yui Ebihara. Itano is a member of AKB48 and an incredibly popular idol. She's also under 5 feet tall, which is fine for an idol, but even then, she's one of the smallest members of AKB48.
Itano's appearance at a recent press event for bags drew attention to her small stature. Japanese netizens were quick to point out the difference between Itano and the other fashion models.
Itano on stage for Samantha Thavasa. (Fashionsnap)
"Woah, it's like they're picking on Itano," wrote one commenter, regarding her placement in the photo. According to another commenter, the photo opp was more like a line up in which you're supposed to pick what doesn't belong. "How did she ever get this gig?" asked one.
Others said she looked like a hobbit or a gnome, even, adding that Itano's face seemed strained. "There's nothing that can be done, these ladies are pro models," wrote one commenter. "I think it's cute she's so small," wrote another.
There's nothing wrong with being short, but there is with getting short shrift. During photo sessions, don't put shorter folks in the back! Or in the middle next to taller people.
Culture Smash is a daily dose of things topical, interesting and sometimes even awesome—game related and beyond.
(Top photo: Gpara | via はちま起稿)


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1 Kings : 22
3 (And the king of Israel said to his servants: Know ye not-that Ramoth Galaad is ours, and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?)
5 And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: As I am, so art thou: my people and thy people are one: and my horsemen, thy horsemen. And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech thee, this day, the word of the Lord.
6 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and he said to them: Shall I go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or shall I forbear? They answered: Go up, and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.
8 And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: There is one man left, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: Micheas the son of Jemla; but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good to me, but evil. And Josaphat said: Speak not so, O king.
9 Then the king of Israel called an eunuch, and said to him: Make haste, and bring hither Micheas the son of Jemla.
10 Then the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Juda, sat each on his throne clothed with royal robes, in a court by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.
11 And Sedecias the son of Chanaana made himself horns of iron, and said: Thus saith the Lord: With these shalt thou push Syria, till thou destroy it.
12 And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, saying: Go up to Ramoth Galaad, and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king's hands.
13 And the messenger, that went to call Micheas, spoke to him, saying: Behold the words of the prophets with one month declare good things to the king: let thy word therefore be like to theirs, and speak that which is good.
14 But Micheas said to him: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord shall say to me, that will I speak.
15 So he came to the king, and the king said to him: Micheas, shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him: Go up, and prosper, and the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hands.
16 But the king said to him: I adjure thee again and again, that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord.
17 And he said: I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no master: let every man of them return to his house in peace.
18 (Then the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Did I not tell thee, that he prophesieth no good to me, but always evil ?)
19 And he added and said: Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on the right hand and on the left:
20 And the Lord said: Who shall deceive Achab king of Israel, that he may go up, and fall at Ramoth Galaad? And one spoke words of this manner, and another otherwise.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means?
22 And he said: I will go forth, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said: Thou shalt deceive him, and shalt prevail: a go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore behold the Lord hath given a lying spirit in the mouth of all thy prophets that are here, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.
24 And Sedecias the son of Chanaana came, and struck Micheas on the cheek, and said: Hath then the spirit of the Lord left me, and spoken to thee?
25 And Micheas said: Thou shalt see in the day when thou shalt go into a chamber within a chamber to hide thyself.
26 And the king of Israel said: Take Micheas, and let him abide with Ammon the governor of the city, and with Joas the son of Amalech.
27 And tell them: Thus saith the king: Put this man in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and water of distress, till I return in peace.
28 And Micheas said: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said: Hear, all ye people.
30 And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Take armour, and go into the battle, and put on thy own garments. But the king of Israel changed his dress, and went into the battle.
31 And the king of Syria had commanded the two and thirty captains of the chariots, saying: You shall not fight against any, small or great, but against the king of Israel only.
32 So when the captains of the chariots saw Josaphat, they suspected that he was the king of Israel, and making a violent assault they fought against him: and Josaphat cried out.
33 And the captains of the chariots perceived that he was not the king of and they turned away from him.
34 And a certain man bent his bow, shooting at a venture, and chanced to strike the king of Israel between the lungs and the stomach. But he said to the driver of his chariot: Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the army, for I am grievously wounded.
35 And the battle was fought that day, and the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians, and he died in the evening: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
36 And the herald proclaimed through all the army before the sun set, saying: Let every man return to his own city, and to his own country.
38 And they washed his chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and they washed the reins, according to the word of the Lord which he had spoken.
39 But the rest of the acts of Achab, and all that he did, and the house of ivory that he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?
42 He was five and thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Azuba the daughter of Salai.
43 And he walked in all the way of Asa his father, and he declined not from it: and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless he took not away the high places: for as Set the people offered sacrifices and burnt incense in the high places.
45 But the rest of the acts of Josaphat, and his works which he did, and his bat- ties, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda?
46 And the remnant also of the effeminate, who remained in the days of Asa his father, he took out of the land.
48 But king Josaphat made navies on the sea, to sail into Ophir for gold: but they could not go, for the ships were broken in Asiongaber.
49 Then Ochozias the ton of Achab said to Josaphat: Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. And Josaphat would not.
50 And Josaphat slept with his fathers. and was buried with them in the city of David his father: and Joram his son reigned in his stead.
51 And Ochozias the son of Achab began to reign over Israel in Samaria, in the seventeenth gear of Josaphat king of Juda, and he reigned over Israel two years,
52 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin.


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President Barack Obama's re- election campaign is likely to have more money than any presidential campaign in history. Republican Mitt Romney's campaign, when you factor in the super-PACs supporting him, could have even more money than that.
Both candidates will, in other words, have more than enough money to get out their message, attack their opponent and support their ground game. Even as they're spending all this money on paid media, the campaigns will receive an almost infinite amount of free media from newspapers, television, magazines and blogs that will spend the next seven months doing nothing but covering the presidential campaign.
Yet, at the presidential level, money isn't everything. In fact, sometimes it's not even the main thing. Note that Rick Santorum, who was outspent many times over by Romney, nevertheless bested him in a number of Republican primaries.
Just as youth is wasted on the young, money is wasted on the rich. Money is least useful in contests where news coverage is most intense and opinions are most entrenched. How many people do you know who still aren't sure what they think of Obama? Or are undecided about Romney? Probably not many.
But how many people do you know with a strong opinion on their congressman? Or on his or her challenger? Do you even have a strong opinion on your congressman? That's the kind of "low- information" race where money can have a big impact.
Negative Airdrop
Although the effect of super-PACs on the presidential race will probably be limited, I worry when I read that casino mogul Sheldon Adelson plans to pump millions into a super-PAC dedicated to influencing the outcome of congressional elections. That's where an airdrop of a million dollars in negative ads in the waning weeks of a campaign can completely change the result.
In a recent episode of the public radio program "This American Life," Ben Calhoun tells the story of Ami Bera, a long-shot Democratic candidate who ran against Republican Representative Dan Lungren of California in 2010. Lungren has been a fixture of California politics for 30 years. Bera, a newcomer, wasn't supposed to have a chance. He began the race 30 points behind, but he kept closing the gap. And closing the gap. Soon, he was trailing Lungren by single digits.
Then American Crossroads, the Republican super-PAC founded by Karl Rove, jumped into the campaign in the final two weeks. It dumped $680,000 into negative ads against Bera. An unknown quantity to many in the district, Bera had no time or money to respond to the attacks. He just took the hit. And lost.
Without American Crossroads, would Bera have won? Perhaps not. But it didn't help. "It clearly had impact and moved us backwards," he told Calhoun. "It went from a single-digit race to 14 points down. That's a lot to make up in a single week."
A similar barrage leveled against a presidential candidate would be far less effective. Romney knows a lot of rich people. So does Obama. If in the final days of the presidential campaign some hedge fund billionaire begins a multimillion-dollar assault on Obama, some Hollywood billionaire will probably help the president out. Either way, the ads would have a limited effect. By the end of the presidential campaign, most voters will have made up their minds. They're not waiting for one more black-and- white clip narrated by another grim voice to push them over the edge.
In contrast, even at the end of the campaign, many potential voters will know very little about their congressional candidates. They will be susceptible to ads telling them terrible things. Some of those candidates won't have the resources to fight back.
Pays To Listen
No one knows that better than the candidates themselves. Both incumbents and potential challengers realize that a deep- pocketed PAC could decide their race. So when they get a call from that PAC's director urging them to support this or that, they're that much likelier to listen. The result, then, isn't just that moneyed interests can throw congressional elections. It's that they wield more influence after the election — and they can exercise that power without spending a dollar.
Imagine a super-PAC funded by financial interests — "United for Economic Growth," say — that, seeing tax reform legislation on the horizon, makes it known that it will spend $500,000 or more against candidates who support limiting the deductibility of corporate debt. That's a small enough issue that most Americans don't follow candidate positions on it. It's an issue where there isn't an organized set of interests on the other side. And it's an issue where most politicians themselves don't have very strong or even developed opinions. My guess is United for Economic Growth would get its way in Congress without having to spend much money at all.


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Your truck needs the right type of wheels in order to perform optimally. The selection of the wheels depends on the application and environment in which the truck will be used. We offer different materials for the wheels to suit your needs. You can choose between single or bogie wheels depending on the usage of the truck
The choice of the steer and fork wheels depends on the price, the type of application, usage intensity and the type of surface the truck will be used on.
Bogie wheels are better suited for uneven floors. The load is distributed between several wheels, decreasing the point load and point friction and causing less individual wheel wear.
Single wheels are preferred on even floors and enables easy turning. The wear on a single wheel, however, is higher. A single wheel is always combined with a climbing wheel at the fork tip for easy handling of pallets on the long side.
1)Castor wheel: When the truck turns or passes a bump, pressure increases on one castor wheel as a result of compression of the spring. Thanks to the torsion tube, the other spring will compress by an identical amount. The truck remains stable and will never start to rock and travel like a 'walking duck', a classic phenomenon when spring forces do not interact.
2)Drive wheel: Because of the central placement of the drive wheel, the machine does not pitch when the wheel regains its grip after spinning, e.g. on wet floors and ramps. With a drive wheel placed off-centre, considerable lateral movement can occur in these situations.
3)Fork wheel: Possible to choose between single or bogie fork wheel. Single for easy manoeuvring and positioning for long side handling and Bogie for easy climbing on uneven surfaces and heavy loads.
The choice of the drive and fork wheels depends on the price, the type of application, usage intensity and the type of surface the truck will be used on.


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Peruse our stylish and affordable selection of beautiful beaded lanyards and designer fashion lanyards. Whether you are looking for a pretty lanyard to complement your work uniform or a decorative lanyard for a special occasion or holiday, we know you will find the perfect lanyard among the 100+ products in our selection of ID jewelry and badge holders.
Choose from gorgeous beaded lanyards, elegant chain lanyards, and fun fabric lanyards in various styles, ranging from bright, bold colors and designs to popular neutrals that match any workplace style. We know our lanyards will soon become a staple in your wardrobe! And don't forget the ID badge holder accessories!
©2020 Bonitas International. All Rights Reserved.
Bonitas International
11110 Kinsman Road
Newbury, OH 44065


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When she arrived, we began moving furniture and fluffing things . Even though she is now teaching , she came to energize the project and decorate a tiny cottage.
. Cottage don't have unlimited space for things like giant snow villages or miles and miles of garland. What they do have is spots here and there for bits of tinsel and glitter,or fresh greens and natural burlap ribbon. It doesn't take much and the impact is huge.
|hot pink Christmas..view from the porch to the bedroom
|the garland started at my office ( the pink fake polka dot bathing suit was created and used at a tour of homes 10 years ago.. )It appeared in the decoration box so maybe we will use it somewhere....
|Old Metal Santa belong to my grandfather and then to my mother and now it is mine for a while. Even though it has seen better days it still lights up and blinks so it will have a place of honor at the tour.
|the screen porch at Bead Cottage is as large as the house. I added it when I restored the cottage and it over looks the swimming pool.
Bead Cottage was featured in Cottage Living Magazine. when it was still around . It is now featured in FRESH IDEAS special publications that has some of the timeless cottages from the magazine.
|my favorite "find" last year..a turquoise glittery tree skit for my tiny tree(.Target $8.00).
|this little tree is make from pieces of screening and wired together and sprayed green.The beads are wired and glued to the screen.This door is one of my favorites...the cottage is one of my favorites.
Holy cow!!..I better get to work!!! That is two weeks from today.


text: Here you'll find Logo Version It will make your project better. A happy, summer, acoustic, energetic, upbeat, fun, optimistic, fresh, carefree, bouncy, cheerful, joyful track with a light, uplifting, positive, catchy sound. It consists of a piano, ukulele guitar, hand claps, bells or glocks, percussion and other instruments. Perfect for tv advertising, radio, films, viral marketing, web advertisements, children, movie trailers, youtube, successful, business and travel videos, games, applications, backgrounds, corporate, motivational presentations, commercials, visuals and family videos. It's a beautiful, sunny, shiny, jolly, merry, inspiring, playful, fast, easy, simple, warm, bright, nice track that put you in a good mood! This song has: nice ukulele, bells, acoustic guitar. Listen and be happy! Zip has .mp3 and .wav files.


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DESTIN, Fla. -- The Southeastern Conference is looking out for No. 1.
Maybe even No. 2.
Football coaches from the powerhouse and recently expanded league were in unison Tuesday that they want a proposed four-team playoff to include the best teams in the country -- and not be tied to conference champions.
Their solidarity came as no surprise considering the league has won six consecutive national championships, with the latest one coming when Alabama knocked off LSU after not winning its division or making the league title game.
"I think it needs to be the four best teams in the country," Florida coach Will Muschamp said. "I don't think it needs to be the conference champions because in our league we might have four of the best teams in the country."
SEC commissioner Mike Slive has been a driving force behind a proposed playoff for years, and remains as committed as anyone to getting it done this summer.
The playoff system could debut as early as the 2014 season, replacing a current No. 1 vs. No. 2 BCS championship matchup that has rotated among the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose Bowl sites.
Slive expects the four-team model to be discussed by coaches, athletic directors and school presidents/chancellors, and an official league decision is expected to be announced Friday.
"Our league has been consistent that if you're going to have a four-team playoff that the best four teams ought to be selected to play for the national championship," Slive said. "If the issue is how teams are selected, then let's go and talk about the selection process and make the selection process more palatable to everybody rather than try to gerrymander who the top four teams are.
"I'm very open to looking at any and all ways to make changes in the actually selection process itself."
Slive said the league also will settle on a format for football following the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M, with teams likely to play six division games, maintain one cross-division rival and alternate an eighth conference game among the other six teams from the opposing division.
The designated rivalries are expected to be finalized, too. All indications are Missouri and Arkansas will be deemed cross-division rivals, leaving South Carolina to pair with Texas A&M.
Also, basketball coaches are close to finalizing an 18-game schedule that would put teams back into divisions. The coaches dropped division last season.
But the proposed football playoff dominated discussion on Day 1.
"We're so much closer to having the best teams play," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "Every single game is so critically important in college football and we should embrace that. You can lose six games, eight games in basketball and still win a national championship. You can't do that in college football. I think we're very close."
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has said the new format shouldn't include a team that doesn't win its conference division -- an obvious reference to national champion and SEC West runner-up Alabama.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is pushing to have two semifinal games played at campus stadiums, which seems to address the concerns of playoff opponents who say that such a system would lessen the importance of the regular season. After all, that would reward the two highest-seeded teams with a home game -- a huge incentive and major advantage.
Slive believes the semifinal games would be part of the bowl system.
"My guess is that it will end up being in the bowl system," Slive said. "I think it's better for college football as a whole than just a plus-one."
Not surprisingly, Slive's coaches seemed to wholeheartedly back his plan -- although South Carolina's Steve Spurrier reiterated his preference for an eight-team playoff.
"Do you know who's won the Super Bowl the last two years?" Spurrier said. "Weren't the Giants 8-8? And the Packers didn't even win their division the year before and got hot in the playoffs. It just depends on how much importance you want to place into a playoff system, a tournament. I know there have been a lot of NCAA (basketball) champions that didn't necessarily win their conference but they got hot in the tournament.
"I don't know how it will play out."
Deciding how to select the Final Four is up for debate.
"I don't know. The way we do it now?" Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "Just take the top four teams in the BCS instead of the top two. That's one way of doing it. It's already in place. You wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. Change is here, it sounds like, I suppose it's worthy of discussion as to how to do it. But I'm not for making it a prerequisite that you have to be the winner in your in league. I wouldn't make that part of it."
Neither would any of his colleagues.
LSU's Les Miles, Alabama's Nick Saban and several others made it clear that limiting a four-team playoff to conference champs likely would benefit everyone outside the SEC.
"It's just like politics and self-interest," Saban said. "Somebody wants to create a circumstance that's going to help their situation or conference. That's not in the best interest of college football."
Added Richt: "If you take the top four teams, I think we'd all be in favor of that in our league. If you take four teams that have win a conference championship, it would guarantee that only one of us could go. If you had it the other way, we'd have a shot at two going. You can say it any way you want, but that's what everybody is talking about."


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Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes
Why I Love This Recipe
I found a fabulous 4-layer chocolate pumpkin cake recipe that wowed everyone. Here, I made the cake into cupcakes, added a buttercream frosting and topped it with a little candy corn. Very cute. Very tasty.
Ingredients You'll Need
2 cups all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 15-oz can pumpkin
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.;line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cocoa. Set aside.
Fit mixer with paddle attachment. In large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, oil and applesauce on low speed to combine. Add vanilla and pumpkin. Increase speed to medium and beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Gradually beat in flour mixture, mix until just combined. Turn off mixer and use a rubber spatula to scape sides and bottom of bowl, combine any dry ingredient traces.
Pour batter into the prepared muffin tins (I use a cookie scoop to avoid a mess). Fill 2/3 full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool completely.
For the buttercream, whisk together the flour and milk in a small saucepan. Heat, whisking contstantly, until the mixture is thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat, cover with plastic wrap and allow to cool to room temperature.
In the meantime, combine the butter and the sugar in a large mixing bowl. Fit the mixer with the paddle attachment and beat the butter and sugar on medium high speed for about 5 minutes, until pale in color and fluffy.
Add the cooled flour mixture and vanilla and continue to beat for 5 to 10 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved and the frosting is very creamy.
Pipe onto the cooled cupcakes. Dust with colored sugar and top with candy corn, if desired
Questions, Comments & Reviews
'CHEF' the Film Cookbook: Recipes from El JefeBy CHEF the Film
7 Recipes11876 Downloads


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- Description
- Reviews
- Wood Variation
- Guarantee
This 15.75 Inch chess board has been expertly crafted from Mahogany and Maple. It has clean and crisp inlaid squares and a clean, fresh look.
An elegant yet robust chess board that will provide years if not decades of use. 1.5 Inch squares size.
Please note that due to indicative nature of wood (being natural) and therefore an inconsistent material, please be aware that this may result in colour, shade, tone variations.
Weights and sizes are intended as approximate guides only
Typically, unless our listings explicitly state "solid wood," they are made with veneer, in compliance with the CITES regulations regarding lumber species
We offer a 3 year standard guarantee that covers any natural defects such as, splitting, cracking, warping of the woods used in our entire range
We are proud of the quality of our products. We also want you to have the best value for your investment in our luxury products. This is why we offer all of them an exceptional 3 year warranty and Lifetime Warranty ( limited editions) from the date of purchase.
The warranty covers the following:
- Hairline cracks
- Moving of the weights inside the pieces
- Warping of the chess boards
- Adhesive problems
- Any damage caused to the product during shipping if it is reported immediately upon receipt
The warranty does not cover:
- Products being broken by accident or by purpose, including but not limited to dropping them
- Products getting scratches or other wear caused by excessive using or misuse
- Discoloration caused by exposure to sunlight
- Products that have been modified after purchase
- Losing a product
- Products getting harmed because of wrong methods of cleaning, polishing etc.
- Warping or any other harm to the products caused by exceptional or extreme storage conditions (temperatures or exceptionally humid / dry conditions)
In order for the warranty to apply, the products must have be stored properly. The chess pieces and chess boards have to be kept away from the sunlight (including sunlight through a window), in normal and stable room temperature and humidity.
UK Delivery Schedule
We aim to deliver UK Mainland orders in 2 working days.
Northern Ireland , Scottish Islands and Isle Of Man - 2 to 5 days


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Product DetailsProduct Number: S1005274
Product DescriptionPostal Products Unlimited, Inc is excited to offer this line of unique Carrier Case Dividers. Unlike metal case dividers that may have sharp edges, our dividers are completely safe. Don't let another day slip by before switching to our more effective and safe Carrier Case Dividers.


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Camp is not just recreation and fun. It is more than teaching skills, such as archery or swimming. It is about understanding the beauty of discovery that can lead to emotional growth and maturation. It is the expansion of one's world, a sharpening of one's vision that invites the acquisition of lifelong lessons.
Camp professionals are not just teachers or counselors; they are coaches and mentors. They influence, advocate, shape, love, and protect. And it is true, both young and old do learn lessons from the camp experience. However, those lessons come after experiences that are real, relevant, and personal.
The way in which parents select a camp should be based on intrinsic values rather than external facilities that a camp offers. Camp pioneer, Ruth Isserman is the former owner of Camp Chickagami, who at ninety-seven still serves as a strong, vital supporter of ACA and camp. She noted, "It is the development of a child as a person that is equally as important as academics." Further, "it's the richness of making their own entertainment" and the most important skills we contribute are listening and observing. "We are building better people for a better world," she stated. A shared vision with ACA.."enriching lives and changing the world."
"Who will care when I'm not there?" It's every parent's question when they leave their children in the hands of strangers. Who will take the time to appreciate basic child development, as well as the unique qualities of their personalities? Who will ensure that my children have fun and, at the same time, learn important life lessons? Who will help my children understand how they can work as a team, contributing and succeeding? Who will help my children understand the importance of a community and the responsibilities that lie within? Who will keep my children safe and guard their tender feelings while they are acting invincible? Who will care when I'm not there?
The answer to these questions is the camp professional. They offer children the opportunity to explore, discover, and learn about the best things life has to offer. They are willing to laugh, talk and cry with children, creating an understanding of social bonding. These are the people who are willing to care when I am not there.
The camp experience is a win-win for everyone. Parents win because their children grow and learn. Children win because they have fun and collect lifelong friends and memories. Society wins because the camp experience helps make healthy, productive adults. Camp professionals win because they have made a positive difference in a child's life.
Updated on March 4, 2022.


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Special Discounts on Purchases of $150 or More | Worldwide Shipping
Item code: UD052
Regular price
100% real natural walnut compass wood watch with red second hand. This watch is handcrafted by a professional watchmaker. You'll be amazed when you hold a wood watch in your hand or wear it on your wrist since it is really comfortable. High Quality, Luxury Fashion and Stylish with Japanese Movement. The Wood color makes it Simple and Easy to Match with all your Outfits. It comes with Nice Watch Box.
Product Dimensions:
The watch has No Second hand pointer, It is NOT quality problem! When pass 1 minute, you will see the watch minute hand Slight move.
When you get the watch, the polarity of the compass was reversed (ie, it pointed south instead of north) but that can happen to any compass, it probably ended up near a magnet in shipping. It's easy to fix though; just google 'remagetizing a compass'. You can do it with any reasonably strong magnet.
Personalized Engraving Service. (On watch back)
MIYOTA QUARTZ MOVEMENT - The Japanese Miyota Quartz Movement is renowned for its precise and accurate time. Not a second lags behind even if you continuously use the watch for 5 years. In addition, it complies with the RoHS Directive and features mercury-free batteries.
Limited Edition-Each timepiece is unique since no 2 pieces of wood are exactly the same
Water Resistant. ( Please do not wear when showering & swimming)
Comes with watch Case
ATTENTION: Please remember that since every watch is handmade by wood, no one will be the same, so you have to expect some little variation in the color and grain of the wood.
Q: How do I get my Own Handwriting Engraved?
A: Please select "Yes" on Engraving options to place order. After place order, please take photo of your handwriting on white paper with good lighting, and send to us with your order number to firstname.lastname@example.com , please be aware of the shape of watch back to get better layout.
Q. How can I put different engraving message on each individual watch if I order several?
A: Option 1:
You can go to the item page, select "YES" on engraving options, put engraving message in the box under "What would you like engraved on your watch?" Then add to cart each time.Option 2:You can select "YES" on engraving options, after you place the order, please send email to email@example.com with your order number (See example below)
Watch 1:
Groomsman(Bow Tie design)Nick Smalley9.15.2018
Watch 2:
Best Man( Bow tie design)Joe Bernard9.15.2018
Watch 3:
Officiant( Bow tie design)Matt Bernard9.15.2018
* Leave any detailed requests here if you have, such as fonts you'd like to use, or you need all content to be centered, the date you need, etc.
2 to 3 business days to process the orders. (hot seasons will take extra days) Tracking information will be provided upon shipping.
Shipping Options: Standard, Priority Mail Service (1-3 days), Next Day Shipping, Priority International Express Mail (3-5 business days) during check out section.
All Urban Designer products covered for a period of 30 days from the date of purchase. and we will issue and exchange for a new product, this does not cover normal wear and tear, water damage, or impact damage. Outside of 30 days, we will still do our best to help you!
Please note: Personalized engraving will make the watch non-refundable.


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Check back regularly here for Stepping Stones and home improvement tips and tricks to make sure you get the most out of your next Stepping Stones!
Getting to know the strategy
To make the ideal choices for Stepping Stones in Millsboro, DE, you should be well informed. You shouldn't go in without knowing it properly, and it's good to be aware of what to prepare for. We take the unexpected situations out of the scenario by offering adequate and detailed information. Start by calling 888-240-1179 to discuss your venture. With this call, you will get your questions resolved, and we'll arrange a time to initiate work. We will work with you through the entire process, and our team is going to show up promptly and ready.
Swift Stepping Stones is the business to choose for all your Stepping Stones in Millsboro, Wyoming goals
You have got a lot of reasons to use Swift Stepping Stones for your requirements involving Stepping Stones in Millsboro, DE. Our equipment are of the highest quality, our money saving techniques are sensible and powerful, and our customer care scores are unrivaled. We appreciate your needs and goals, and we're here to assist you using our practical experience. Contact 888-240-1179 when you need Stepping Stones in Millsboro, and we'll work together with you to systematically carry out your task.


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Image supplied by Animal Photography
Like the old fashioned Siamese with colour points but rounder form. It is said to be active, demanding and noisy.
Health and welfare issues
No reports of problems, but little information is available.
We have limited the information about inherited disorders to those conditions that are known and proven to exist within a breed. For many breeders and many conditions, insufficient information may be available at this time to know whether any particular breed is necessarily free of any particular condition.
In general, pedigree breeds use a much smaller gene pool for breeding than domestic cats and therefore have a higher risk of developing inherited disorders. In addition, a number of 'newer' pedigree breeds are derived from matings between one or more 'older' breeds, and in these situations perpetuation of inherited problems that were seen in older breeds is likely within the newer breeds.
Thank you for visiting our website, we hope you have found our information useful.
All our advice is freely accessible to everyone, wherever you are in the world. However, as a charity, we need your support to enable us to keep delivering high quality and up to date information for everyone. Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant.
Support International Cat Care from as little £3
Thank you.Donate Now


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This Messy Life
by Rebecca Einstein Schorr on 28 August 2014 @ 10:05 am
by Rebecca Einstein Schorr on 31 July 2012 @ 5:30 pm
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Sony's PS3 3.0 firmware with BBC iPlayer out now
The last big PS3 update of 2009
Sony has released what is the last major update for PlayStation 3's firmware in 2009 – with PS3 firmware version 3.0 available for download right now (or, in reality, the next time you happen to log on with your PS3).
The latest update introduced dynamic themes, avatars, a "What's New" panel, a newly designed status indicator and an overhaul of the Friends list.
More importantly, for Brits, you will finally be able to access the BBC iPlayer as a PS3 app. TechRadar will be sure to test out iPlayer on PS3 and bring you our opinion on how well (or not) it's been implemented later this very week.
What's New is new
Speaking to Eurogamer, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida says of the PS3's "What's New" default pane:
"There are more and more contents on the PSN store, so you may miss something that might be very relevant to you.
"The games you're playing every day, new content might have just appeared, but is buried in the layer of menus on the store. So things like 'What's New' are trying to customise the experience so what you do gets reflected in what you see the next day."
For more on the recent release of Sony's new PS3 Slim (including shots of the machines innards and reports of the latest emotion control patents) check out TechRadar's recent PlayStation coverage.
Via Eurogamer
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I've seen a ton on the Facebooks about 'thanking veterans for their service'. As a veteran, let me just be very straightforward and honest with you: We didn't 'serve our country'; we don't actually serve our brothers/sisters or our neighbors. We serve the interests of capital. We never risked our lives or spent months on deployment away from our family and friends so they can have this abstract concept called 'freedom'. We served big oil, big coal, Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Brown and Root, and all the other big Capital interests who don't know a fucking thing about sacrifice. These people will never have to deal with the loss of a loved one or the physical and/or psychological scars that those who 'serve' and their families have to deal with for the rest of their lives. The most patriotic thing someone can do is to tell truth to power and dedicate yourself to building power to overthrow these sociopathic assholes. I served with some of the most real and genuine people I've ever met. You'll never see solidarity like the kind of solidarity you experience when your life depends on the person next to you. But most of us didn't join for that; we joined because we were fucking poor and didn't have many other options.
An anti-capitalist veteran (via rootof-three)


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SDG Reviews 'Finding Nemo 3-D'
Pixar's dazzling father-son fish story returns to the big screen in eye-popping 3-D.
(Note: In view of this film's wide exposure for nine years, this review is somewhat less spoiler-sensitive than most of my reviews. — SDG)
Andrew Stanton's Finding Nemo is the best father-son story in all of Hollywood animation, and maybe animation generally. It's also a stunningly gorgeous film that exploits the potential of computer animation like no film before it and few films after it.
I can imagine the Toy Story films or Monsters, Inc. or Shrek being made as traditional hand-drawn animated films — or as stop-motion, for that matter. They would lose something, but perhaps also gain something; and while they wouldn't be the same, I can imagine the essence of the films surviving.
Finding Nemo couldn't be anything other than computer animation, because its essence is inseparable from the splendor of its undersea world, realized in quasi-photographic grandeur and richness unmatched by the noblest attempts of hand-drawn animation (Disney's "Arab Dance" fish in Fantasia's "Nutcracker Suite" sequence; The Little Mermaid; even Miyazaki's Ponyo). No previous computer-animated film was so specific to this medium. Of later films, perhaps only Cars and Stanton's own Wall-E are so dependent on texture, depth and the ambient quality of atmosphere itself — or, in the case of Nemo, of water.
Watching Nemo in 3-D on the big screen with my kids, I was captivated by all sorts of details that don't stand out the same way on the small screen: the varying degrees of transparency and translucence of fishy fins; the articulation of the tiny suction cups on the underside of Peach the starfish in the dentist's fish tank. Look closely at the top of the little pink octopus with one slightly shorter tentacle: Her mantle is slightly transparent.
Then there's Mr. Ray's tour of the coral reef — one of the most eye-popping, kaleidoscopically colorful sequences in all of animation, from the flashing reflections of his own spotted back on the surface just above him to the heightened naturalism of the flora and fauna (the Spanish dancer sea slug is a favorite). Cartoony character design notwithstanding, Finding Nemo has a love for the natural world that's a credit to the tradition of Bambi and The Lion King. (Contrast DreamWorks' Shark Tale, which is full of clever submarine conceits (e.g., the Whale Wash), but is too wedded to the surface world to honor the wonder of the ocean.)
The other thing linking Finding Nemo to Bambi and The Lion King, of course, is not one but two of the most traumatic parental separation/loss scenes in all of family cinema. What makes Nemo different is that these scenes are depicted not from the child's point of view, but from the father's.
Finding Nemo solidifies the orientation of previous Pixar films as family films aimed at parents. The Toy Story movies were about parental anxieties (or at least Toy Story 2 was); and Mike and especially Sully in Monsters, Inc. were for a time the grown-ups in Boo's world (if less surrogate parents than avuncular figures in a sort of Two Monsters and a Baby scenario). Finding Nemo dispenses with surrogate relationships: It's a literal father-son story transparently set amid the aspirations and anxieties of American suburbia and helicopter parenthood, though transposed to an undersea world of anthropomorphic fish.
The film is named for the son, but the titular quest is the father's. Marlin (Albert Brooks) is the hero: a flawed but deeply sympathetic widowed father, scarred by tragedy and loss and anxiously overprotective of his only son, Nemo (Alexander Gould), who has a slight handicap — an underdeveloped pectoral fin.
It all stems from a tragic prologue set in the fashionable neighborhood on the edge of the coastal shelf overlooking the Drop-off, where Marlin loses his beloved wife Coral (Elizabeth Perkins), his confidence ("A fish can breathe out here!" he declares expansively before learning to fear the Drop-off) and all but one of their 400-plus eggs. (This heartbreaking sequence makes effective use of point-of-view shots, from the chilling vision of anemone tentacles drifting lazily at the wrong angle, desaturated by the sinking sun — a marker of time lost in unconsciousness as well as mood — to the throat-lump-inducing shot of Marlin's fins cradling that infinitely precious last egg, an image with powerful nascent pro-life resonances.)
Needless to say, little Nemo grows up in a new anemone far from the Drop-off, and the one lesson he has learned above all others is that the ocean isn't safe — though this hasn't dampened his desire to venture out into the world he instinctively knows he must confront sooner or later. There's the theme of the conflict, though Stanton makes clear that Marlin's overprotectiveness hasn't soured their relationship or taken the tenderness and playfulness out of it. (Contrast Brave, where Merida's relationship with her mother, at least in the first-act present, seems lacking in anything but conflict.)
Then comes another fateful day at the Drop-off. It's a fascinating scene, among other reasons, for its layered depiction of filial obedience, defiance and consequences. Nemo knows he probably shouldn't be at the Drop-off with his new friends at all, but when it comes to their little game of chicken, swimming a few inches off the coastal shelf, he defers to his dad's wishes. Alas, Marlin doesn't see it that way, and his peremptory dressing-down prompts Nemo's understandable but disastrous defiance.
Separated for most of the film, both Marlin and Nemo are stretched by new acquaintances who implicitly challenge Marlin's micromanagerial parenting style. In the dentist's fish tank Nemo finds a secondary male role model in Gill (Willem Dafoe), a crusty striped fish (a moorish idol) who pushes Nemo beyond his comfort zone and offers no sympathy or coddling for his bad fin. Marlin meets Crush, a surfer-dude turtle whose laid-back parenting style befits his species' habit of leaving youngsters to fend for themselves.
And, of course, there's Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a flighty blue tang who knows how to live in the moment because she can't remember anything else. Her short-term memory loss is the source of much hilarity, though it also connects with the movie's theme of handicaps and infirmities (the very funny 12-step sharks are another example).
Perhaps that's why Marlin unconsciously transfers his parental anxieties to Dory. You can see it as he tries, with all the euphemistic gingerness and flat-out dishonesty of a guilt-wracked parent trying not to crush a child's self-esteem, to part ways with Dory. ("And sometimes it's a good thing! There's a whole group of fish — they're called delay fish …" Note the same euphemistic delicacy in Nemo's "lucky" fin.)
And then, of course, the moment of emotional truth, clinging to a taste bud on a whale's tongue, as Marlin resists Dory's unknowingly fraught exhortation that it's "time to let go": "You think you can do these things, but you just can't, Nemo!" Marlin's eyes widen as he realizes what he's said.
There's also a wide-eyed moment of truth for Nemo as he realizes that there is more to his father than he ever guessed. For all his foibles, Marlin is genuinely heroic — reluctantly and frantically at first, but with a grim warrior resolve by the end. (His two hardiest moments are in the gullets of pelicans. After putting in time in the maw of a whale, he isn't about to be pushed around by some pelican.) That moment when Nemo first begins to believe in his dad … I cried the first time I saw it in the theater nine years ago, and it still gets me every time.
But it's not enough that Nemo believes in his father. Marlin also has to learn to believe in his son. For all his adventures, the bravest, hardest thing Marlin has to do is let Nemo go into danger alone. However old and experienced Nemo may be, how can Marlin ever look at him and not think of that precious, scratched egg in his fins?
There are head-scratching bits, such as Dory's ability to read, a random plot convenience. Go with those, though, and the story is the height of Pixar polish and economy. Every scene, and practically every line, propels the story forward; the episodic adventures are one splendid set piece after another.
For all that, what makes Finding Nemo so unforgettable, in my book, is Marlin. He stands virtually alone among animated father figures: not an idealized father, but a heroic and lovable one who is trying his best and whose faults, such as they are, are regarded with sympathy and understanding. At the very end, Nemo tells his father, "I love you, Daddy." In what other cartoon does that simple declaration carry so much weight?
P.S. Finding Nemo 3-D is preceded by "Partysaurus Rex," easily the funniest and most inventive of the Toy Story shorts.
Steven D. Greydanus is the Register's film critic.
Content Advisory: Animated high excitement and menace; parental separation theme. Could be frightening to sensitive youngsters.


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Suburban Park Mental Hospital
This facility was the last state hospital to be constructed within the state. It was opened in 1958 with the capacity to hold 3,500 patients. The hospital closed in 2012 after decades of the facility not treating nearly as many patients as expected.Read More
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Bergthal Mennonites
Bergthal Mennonites comprise the following three groups in Canada: (A) the congregations which belonged to the Bergthal Church (congregation) of Manitoba until it was dissolved in 1972 and which have since functioned autonomously (in part also in affiliation with General Conference Mennonites); (B) the Chortitzer Mennonite Conference, based in the former East Reserve; and (C) the Sommerfeld Mennonites, based in the West Reserve. The Sommerfeld Mennonites also have settlements in Saskatchewan (Herbert and Hague areas), where they are known as Bergthaler Mennonites of Saskatchewan. These will be designated here as Saskatchewan Bergthaler (Sommerfelder) for clarity. Sommerfeld Mennonites and Chortitzer Conference Mennonites are also found in Paraguay, Mexico, and Bolivia. Largely of Bergthal background is the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference, formerly known as the Rudnerweider Mennonites, which grew out of a renewal movement among the Sommerfeld Mennonites in 1936, and the Reinländer Mennoniten Gemeinden (Reinländer Mennonite Church), which also grew out of the Sommerfeld Mennonites in 1958.
In 1922 a small group of Sommerfeld Mennonites settled in the Santa Clara region of Mexico. A further movement (comprising almost half of the Chortitz group) immigrated to the Chaco area of western Paraguay in 1926. They were joined by a small number of Manitoba Sommerfelder and most of the smaller Saskatchewan Bergthaler (Sommerfelder). In 1948 a Sommerfeld group emigrated from Canada to East Paraguay where they founded the Sommerfeld Colony. In that same year a group of Chortitzer Conference Mennonites left for East Paraguay, founding the Bergthal Colony and church. In 1963 a group of Saskatchewan Bergthaler (Sommerfelder) immigrated to Bolivia and founded the Bergthal Colony. They were soon joined by settlers from the Menno Colony of Paraguayan Chaco. A group of Sommerfeld Mennonites from Mexico founded the Sommerfeld Colony in Bolivia in 1968, and another group left Mexico for East Paraguay in 1972, founding the Santa Clara settlement. Reinländer Mennonites also participated in the 1963 movement to Bolivia. In 1983 members of the Sommerfeld churches in Manitoba founded Nueva Holanda Colony in Bolivia together with settlers from Menno Colony in the Chaco.
During the 1960s many Mennonites left Menno Colony in the Chaco for Bolivia because church and school activities seemed too progressive, and because of objections to the cooperative economic practices in the colony. A large group founded Canadiense Colony there.--Martin W. Friesen & Cornelius J. Dyck
In 1837 the Chortitza colony in Russia established its first daughter colony, Bergthal, consisting of five villages, Schoenthal, Schoenfeld, Heuboden, Friedensthal, and Bergthal, with Bergthal as the worship center. The widespread religious, educational, and agrarian renewal movements of the nineteenth century left Bergthal largely untouched. When new pressures from the Russian government threatened Bergthal through proposed educational and noncombatant-service legislation, the majority of the colony migrated to the Canadian prairies (1874-1876), settling east of the Red River in Manitoba, on land known as the East Reserve. After 1880 many homesteaders from the East Reserve relocated to the West Reserve because of better soil conditions.
The first West Reserve elder, Johann Funk (ordained 1882 by East Reserve Elder David Stoesz), lived in the village of Alt-Bergthal. In 1885 Funk and other leaders began to lay the groundwork for the establishing of the first western Canadian Mennonite secondary school, Mennonite Educational Institute, built in Gretna in 1889. In 1891 H. H. Ewert, a highly motivated Prussian Mennonite from Kansas, was called to give new life to the faltering school concept. Ewert, a charismatic leader, made far-reaching contributions to the educational, cultural, and spiritual renewal of the West Reserve Mennonites. Funk worked closely with Ewert for a parallel renewal in the church.
In 1892 Funk proposed a new direction in church activity. His proposal included an affirmation of the "old and tried foundation which is Jesus Christ," obedient discipleship, spiritual renewal, training of teachers, progressive schools, fellowship with other believers, the opening of the pulpits to ministers of other churches, and the preaching of the Gospel to the "heathen." Reaction against Funk and his coworkers was resolute. Already in the spring of 1892 an elder from the East Reserve was invited to baptize in the West Reserve churches, and by the spring of 1893 Abraham Doerksen was ordained in the village of Sommerfeld to give leadership to the conservative majority of West Reserve families, who came to be called the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church. Funk was left stranded with a few ministers, one church building, and about sixty families, a group that became known as Bergthal Mennonite Church of Manitoba (A).
Under Funk's leadership the Manitoba Bergthal Mennonites moved forward slowly. Progress during the first quarter century was hampered by various tensions: Mennonite Educational Institute location and direction, relationship to the General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM) Home Mission Board, and leadership difficulties. After 1926, with the leadership of Elder David Schulz, the church grew rapidly, reaching its peak of 3,500 members in 20 worship centers in 1972. Technically it was still a single congregation, according to the pattern that characterized Mennonite colonies in Russia and Latin America; functionally it had become in many ways a multi-congregation conference. At its peak the church had 44 ministers and 35 deacons. All but the leading elders were elected locally.
The leading elders were Johann Funk, 1892-1917; Jacob Hoeppner, 1910-1936; David Schulz, 1927-1972; Jacob F. Pauls, 1964-1967; and Ernest Wiebe, 1967-1972. The overlapping years indicate that younger men were called before the officiating elder passed away or retired. In 1950 J. M. Pauls was called as assisting elder, and in 1961 D.D. Klassen, J.F. Pauls, and Ernest Wiebe were called as assistants. By 1968 all leading ministers were ordained as elders.
The 20 "congregations" of the Manitoba Bergthal Mennonites included Altona, Gretna, Winkler, Lowe Farm, Halbstadt, Plum Coulee, Rosenfeld, Carman, Grunthal, Steinbach, Winnipeg, MacGregor, Gladstone, Arden, Kane, Bethel Bergthaler, Homewood, Morris, Morden; Graysville.
The founding of the Mennonite Educational Institute, the calling of H. H. Ewert, and the emphasis on public schools created the environment in which the Bergthaler Mennonite Church had its beginning. The church continued to support education in a Christian context. A private school was founded in Gretna, Manitoba in 1889. Schisms in the church, however, resulted in two schools in 1908: the Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna and the Mennonite Educational Institute in Altona. The church was largely responsible for the founding of Elim Bible School and was involved with the development of Canadian Mennonite Bible College, though with less enthusiasm.
The church supported mission work from its beginning, and during the 1940s established Mennonite Pioneer Mission for work in Mexico and later with native people in Canada. The latter work was transferred to the Conference of Mennonites in Canada in 1957.
The ordaining of elders for the local congregations; the localization of finances; the younger church workers serving in the enlarging context of the provincial, Canadian, and international conferences and service agencies; and the developing competitiveness with its sister conferences accelerated the dissolution of the central church structure.
In the process of dissolution, Bergthal Mennonite radio work and scholarship funds were transferred to the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. The dissolution became final in 1972, although legal matters, including transfer of property titles, kept the official corporation alive until 1983.
Two congregations have closed doors: Kane, which amalgamated with Lowe Farm, and Arden, which dissolved. The Morris congregation joined the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Conference (Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches). The Steinbach congregation severed relations with the various conferences in 1976, as did Gladstone in 1995 and Halbstadt in 1996. As of 1998, the remaining congregations related to the General Conference Mennonites on the provincial level and, with the exception of Grunthal, on the Canadian level. Most congregations also belonged to the General Conference level. Some churches have dropped the "Bergthaler" prefix.--Henry J. Gerbrandt
Saskatchewan Bergthaler
Many of the Mennonites who settled near Rosthern, Saskatchewan in 1891 and 1892 later became part of the Saskatchewan Bergthal Mennonite Church (C). Some of these settlers came directly from Russia, others came from Manitoba, and one group came from Manitoba via Gleichen, Alberta in 1891. Among these settlers was a nucleus that had come from the Bergthal Colony in Russia and had left the overcrowded West Reserve for land in Saskatchewan. This latter group left the mother Bergthal church in Manitoba before the division that created the Sommerfeld Mennonites in 1894. Therefore, the Saskatchewan group retained the name Bergthal yet bore closer ties to the Sommerfeld group in Manitoba than to the Manitoba Bergthal Mennonites.
Elder David Stoesz of the Manitoba Chortitzer Mennonite (B) church of the East Reserve came to Saskatchewan in 1893 to organize the Bergthal Church. The Manitoba Chortitzer church was closely tied with the Sommerfeld Mennonites of the West Reserve until about 1958. Elder Stoesz ordained Kornelius Epp (1861-1936) as the first Saskatchewan Bergthal minister in 1893 at Rosthern. The church dissolved in 1896 when the group at Rosthern could not agree about who should serve them as elder. Some preferred the local elder Peter Regier of the Rosenort (GCM) Church. Kornelius Epp was ordained as elder in 1902 and served the group until 1908, when the church split because of differences over wedding rituals. Epp formed his own church, first in Lost River and later in Hague, Sask. He eventually moved to Mexico in the 1920s with a Sommerfeld group from Herbert. The remaining group was then led by Elder Aaron Zacharias who served the church until 1926. He died in Paraguay where he led a number of his followers in 1926. They, like Elder Epp, left Canada because the Canadian government refused to allow them to operate their own private schools as it had promised these Mennonites in 1873.
The members that remained in Canada were reunited under Elder Cornelius Hamm (1878-1947). This era brought many changes. The Waisenamt (widows' and orphans' fund) fell apart in the 1930s, largely as a result of the economic Depression. To help relieve the effects of poverty many Saskatchewan Bergthaler were resettled to northern Saskatchewan. A Sunday school program began in the 1940s as well as a change from High German to Low German in the worship services.
There have been three major migrations of Saskatchewan Bergthaler since the 1940s: one to Paraguay in 1948; another to Honduras under minister Jacob B. Guenter in 1951 (this group was refused entry and forced to return home); and a third in 1962, when a small group moved to Bolivia. The concern in each has been the desire to resist accommodation to the world.
The Saskatchewan Bergthaler participated in three church conferences held with Manitoba Sommerfeld and Chortitzer Mennonites and related groups from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, LaCrete, Alberta, and Vanderhoof, British Columbia. These took place in 1952, 1955, and 1957. In 1958, two church schisms ended this unity; the Reinlander group left the Manitoba Sommerfeld Mennonites and the Evangelical Mennonite Missions Conference (Rudnerweider) church formed from the Swift Current Sommerfeld group.
The Bergthal Mennonites have emphasized their historic peace position, particularly during World Wars I and II, and again in 1980 when a uranium refinery was proposed for the Warman, Saskatchewan area. The refinery was opposed because of the relation between uranium and nuclear arms.
There have been two further divisions. In 1979 minister Jacob D. Peters formed a Sommerfeld church in Hague because of concern about too much English in church services. The second division occurred in 1983 when the leadership of the church was divided over the amount of accommodation to the world. A group of four ministers and one deacon left to form a church in Reinland.
Education was a key factor in the migrations to Paraguay in 1926 and 1948 and later to Honduras and Bolivia. Two private schools were set up locally in Saskatchewan in opposition to the public school system. A two-room private school in Reinland, Sask. was started in 1979 by 14 Saskatchewan Bergthal and Old Colony families. Another school opened in the fall of 1986 near Osler, Sask., led by Elder John D. Redekopp. It pulled 200 students out of the public school system to form a church school. Both private schools shared a similar frustration with the public school system, although each school had a different approach and emphasis.
The Saskatchewan Bergthal Mennonites became a member of Mennonite Central Committee (Canada) in 1984. The group had a membership of approximately 900 persons in 1990.--Leonard Doell
2021 Update
In 2021 the church's website (https://bmchurch.ca/) listed the following congregations: Blumenheim, Gruenthal, Martensville, Reinfeld, and Warman. The bishop was Howard Peters, and ministers were Frank Bueckert, Reuben Klassen, Martin Wiebe, Henry Janzen, Brian Neufeld, Howard Ens, Larry Neufeld, Andy Wiebe, Lloyd Janzen, and Merlis Wiebe.
Doell, Leonard. The Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Saskatchewan. Winnipeg: CMBC, 1987.
Friesen, Martin W. Neue Heimat in der Chacowildnis. Altona: D.W. Friesen, 1986.
Gerbrandt, Henry J. Adventure in Faith: The Background in Europe and the Development in Canada of the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba. Altona: D.W. Friesen for Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba, 1970.
Gerbrandt, Henry J. Postscript to Adventure in Faith. Winnipeg: CMBC, 1986.
Kraybill, Paul N., ed. Mennonite World Handbook. Lombard, Ill.: Mennonite World Conference, 1978: 313-14.
Lichdi, Diether Götz, ed. Mennonite World Handbook. Carol Stream, Ill.: Mennonite World Conference, 1990: 403.
Peters, Klaas. The Bergthaler Mennonites. Winnipeg: CMBC, 1988, trans. by Margaret Loewen Reimer from a series of articles in Mennonitische Rundschau, January 1890, reprinted in German as a book in 1925, 1983.
Schroeder, William.The Bergthal Colony. Rev. ed. Winnipeg: CMBC, 1986.
|Martin W. Friesen
|Cornelius J. Dyck
|Henry J. Gerbrandt
|Leonard Doell
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Friesen, Martin W., Cornelius J. Dyck, Henry J. Gerbrandt and Leonard Doell. "Bergthal Mennonites." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1990. Web. 28 Sep 2023. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bergthal_Mennonites&oldid=171506.
APA style
Friesen, Martin W., Cornelius J. Dyck, Henry J. Gerbrandt and Leonard Doell. (1990). Bergthal Mennonites. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 28 September 2023, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bergthal_Mennonites&oldid=171506.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, pp. 67-70. All rights reserved.
©1996-2023 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.