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Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in his government's recent Throne Speech announced that he wants to extend Canada's participation in the Afghan War for another two years. Many people are asking why are we in Afghanistan and for what purpose are our soldiers dying? What are the other costs to Canadians?
The Conservative Government of Stephen Harper is attempting to portray the Afghan war as "a humanitarian mission" while continuing to fight against Afghans who are resisting what they see as "foreign invaders". I wonder how Canadians would see American, Russian or Chinese soldiers who invaded our country, over threw an unpopular government, killed tens of thousands, wounded many thousands more, caused wanton destruction and massive environmental damage. Even if they claimed that they were bringing "democracy to Canada" I do not believe that most Canadianswould be impressed.
The recent poll published in the Globe and Mail showed that Afghans want the fighting to end, and they support negotiations with the Taliban. The Globe and Mail reports; "Despite the enmity toward the Taliban, 74 per cent [of Afghans] said they supported negotiations between the Karzai government and Taliban representatives as a way of reducing conflict. In Kandahar, support for talks jumped to 85 per cent."
But what is the cost of the war in Afghanistan to Canadians? The deaths of 71 soldiers and a diplomat are fairly well known. The financial costs are less well known. According to one study published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the "full cost" of the Afghan war to Canada will be $7.2 billion by March 2008. This works out to more than $100 million every month. What could Canada do with $7.2 billion dollars? How could this money benefit our health care system, to help alleviate poverty, provide tax relief or be used in the fight against Global Warming?
One aspect of the war that is rarely discussed is the impact of exposure of our own soldiers, not to mention the civilian population in Afghanistan and Iraq, to toxic substances.
In the first Iraq War in 1991 causalities reported killed and wounded numbered less than 800. However, in 2001 the United States Veterans Affairs Department officially recognized 159,000 U.S. Desert Storm soldiers as being disabled and another 60,000 becoming disabled in Gulf service after the 1991 war. The 2001 report also noted that 8,000 Gulf War vets had already died.
The numbers are staggering. These figures are from 2001 and the rates for cancers and other illnesses can only go up. They are the 220,000 causalities from the First Iraq War virtually no one talks about.
At the end of December 2001 U.S. Army reports were released that suggested one cause for Gulf War illnesses was low level exposure to sarin nerve gas. The gas was released into the air when the U.S. military improperly blew up Iraqi chemical weapons sites in 1991.
The other suspected cause for "Gulf War Syndrome" is Depleted Uranium or DU. Major Doug Rokke (Ret.) who has a Ph.D served as health physicist for the U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Assessment team in Iraq. He directed development of radiation and safety education and field procedures at the Bradley Radiological Laboratories. He now has a 40% army disability because the uranium in his urine is 5,000 times the permissible level. He also has trouble breathing.
In 1991 his team was brought in to cleanup contamination caused when U.S. troops fired DU weapons accidentally against their fellow U.S. troops ("friendly fire" casualties). DU is basically reprocessed nuclear waste. His containment team went into smashed up tanks without radiological protective suits. Within 72 hours they were getting sick, had respiratory problems and rashes that bled. Over the years many team members died. Dr. Rokke says they were abandoned by the U.S. Defense Department. Rokke himself was fired from his job at Bradley Labs in 1996 after he wrote a report saying the US Army had huge liability for contamination at an US army base in Alabama. Pdf file LINK
The Veterans Affairs Department has awarded disability to 60,000 soldiers who went into the Gulf countries after the war was over. Two thousand of these Gulf War "theater" veterans have died. This is very alarming. It means that the Gulf area (Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) is still highly contaminated.
The chief suspect again is DU, "depleted uranium" Rokke says the name is a mistake. "There's nothing depleted about it." He says the dangerous "alpha proportion" actually goes up in the processing. More than 900,000 DU projectiles were fired during the first Gulf War. When the weapons hit, about half of the uranium was released as tiny particles. The radioactive particles will last for billions of years.
Looking for a quick victory and low body count the U.S. military fought the first Gulf War without regard to the long term effects of exposure to DU and other environmental hazards on its own soldiers. The U.S/ Military liked the cheapness and great penetrating power of the DU shells so it made a political decision to downplay the risk of uranium poisoning. (For much more info on DU see LINK)
Now another generation of U.S., Canadian and British soldiers are being sent to war by politicians, most of whom who never have been in combat, into what is a toxic waste land. These soldiers are very likely going to pay a very steep price for fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The future health costs and law suits are going to be very expensive and the human cost in pain and suffering incalculable.
In a more recent study it is reported that more than 73,000 U.S. Military service men have died since the First Gulf War. These figures do not include Iraqi civilian deaths estimated at more than one million in the First Iraq War and the period of sanctions and an additional 1.2 million in the current war in Iraq. Over 20,000 civilians have been killed in the War in Afghanistan.
The United States Department of Veteran's Affairs, in conjunction with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in May 2007 released figures which reveal "the true cost of the War against Iraq and Afghanistan." According to the report more Gulf War veterans have died than the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Vietnam.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, May 2007, Gulf War Veterans Information System reported the following: Total U.S. Military Gulf War Deaths Since Gulf War One: 73,846; Deaths amongst Deployed: 17,847; Deaths amongst Non-Deployed Veterans: 55,999. Total "Undiagnosed Illness" (UDX) claims: 14,874. Total number of disability claims filed: 1,620,906. Disability Claims amongst Deployed: 407,911 Disability Claims amongst Non-Deployed Veterans: 1,212,995. Percentage of combat troops that filed Disability Claims 36%.
Soldiers, by nature, are generally not complainers. The real impact of those who are disabled from the U.S. invasions of Iraq, Afghanistan and other nations, is not fully reflected in the official Veterans Affairs numbers. Many soldiers suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other psychiatric aliments due to their war time activities and many are never able to live normal lives.
The official U.S. government numbers, as of October 25, 2007, of deaths due to the War in Iraq is 3,838 with 28,171 reported as wounded.
Apparently the Bush administration does not want the 73,000 dead veterans to be compared to the 55,000 U.S. soldiers killed in Vietnam. What the Bush Administration is doing is counting only the soldiers that die directly in action in Iraq or Afghanistan. Injured soldiers are quickly taken out of the war zone for medical treatment. Any soldier who is shot in the war but is removed from the war zone before they die is not counted as a causality of the war.
The 73,843 dead amongst the U.S. soldiers for this scale of operation in Iraq and using weapons of mass destruction is proportionately not that high. However, according to one source, ?they expect the great majority of U.S. soldiers who took part in the invasion of Iraq to die of uranium poisoning, which can take decades to kill. From a victors perspective, above any major war in history, the Gulf War has taken the severest toll on soldiers.?
According to reports more than 1,820 tons of radioactive nuclear waste uranium were exploded into Iraq alone in the form of armour piercing rounds and bunker busters, representing the world's worst man made ecological disaster ever. To compare 64 kg of uranium was used in the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. The U.S. Iraq Nuclear contamination represents more than fourteen thousand Hiroshima's. It has been suggested that the nuclear waste the U.S. has exploded into the Middle East will continue killing for billions of years and could possibly wipe out more than a third of life on the planet. Gulf War Veterans who have ingested the uranium will continue to die off over the next few decades from cancers and other horrific diseases.
Birth defects are up 600% in Iraq. Being exposed to the same radioactive contamination we can expect a massive increase in birth defects in the children of U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Our Canadian soldiers are being exposed to the same radioactive contamination and other environmental hazards.
This information is not being addressed in the North American mainstream media. However, this information is readily available on the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs web site: Pdf file LINK
The financial cost of the U.S. war against Iraq and Afghanistan is also staggering. A recent U.S. Congressional study estimates the cost for U.S. war in Iraq and Afghanistan at $2.4 trillion through the next decade. The report says the United States has already spent 604 billion dollars on the so called "War on Terror". U.S. President George W. Bush has asked for $196.4 billion for war-related operations for the 2007-2008 budget year.
The question that needs to be asked is what is spending all of these billions of dollars accomplishing. According to Lord Ashdown, NATO has "lost in Afghanistan" and its failure to bring stability there could provoke a regional sectarian war "on a grand scale." Lord Ashdown is the former leader of the British Liberal Democrats and a highly respected British political figure. He is also the former United Nations High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ashdown delivered his dire prediction after being proposed as a new "super envoy" for Afghanistan.
Lord Ashdown's pessimistic assessment of the war in Afghanistan is shared by Great Britain's Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Jock Stirrup. He recently has said the military cannot resolve the situation in Afghanistan alone. The Chief of Britain's Armed Forces warned ?that British troops could remain in Afghanistan for "decades." He also said that even then the conflict will only be resolved by a political deal – after talks with Taliban leaders.?
Is Stephen Harper's Afghanistan war the kind of war that Canadians want? We need to very loudly ask our political leaders why are we fighting a war in Afghanistan?
About the writer:
This is a slightly edited version of a speech given at London, Ontario?s "Day of Action: on October 26, 2007 to Protest the War in Afghanistan and Iraq. Edward C. Corrigan is a London lawyer certified as a Specialist in Citizenship and Immigration Law and Immigration and Refugee Protection by the Law Society of Upper Canada. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or at (519) 439-4015.


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|William G. Lewis.
William G. Lewis. Appointed from North Carolina June 2, 1864, to rank from May 31, 1864; confirmed June 2, 1864; wounded and captured in action at Farmville, Virginia, April 7, 1865, and paroled at Farmville Virginia, between April 11 and 21, 1865.
He was a Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. When the Civil War broke out, he was a railroad civil engineer, whom joined the Confederate Army and was commissioned a Major. He saw action at the Battle of Bethel, Battle of New Bern, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 33rd North Carolina Regiment in 1862 and participated in the defense of Richmond. In 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg, he was Colonel in command of the 33rd North Carolina and led a brigade in the Battle Of Cold Harbor. In June 1864, and was promoted Brigadier General in charge of the entrenchments of Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, where he saw his last action. Following the war, he returned to his career as a civil engineer, serving as the State Engineer of North Carolina and general superintendent for several railroads.
Born: September 3, 1835, Rocky Mount, Edgecombe, North Carolina.
Death: January 8, 1901.
Father: John Wesley Lewis.
Mother: Catherine Ann Battle.
Wife: Martha Lucinda, Married March 15, 1864.
He died of Pneumonia.
Burial: Willow Dale Cemetery, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina.
Numbers 509. Report of Lieutenant Colonel W. G. Lewis, Forty-third North Carolina Infantry.
DARKESVILLE, W. VA., July 19, 1863.
SIR: In accordance with orders received from headquarters, I beg leave to respectfully submit the following report of the part acted by the Forty-third Regiment North Carolina troops in the three days' battle at Gettysburg, Pa.: At about 1 o'clock, July 1, we were drawn up in line of battle, about 1 or 2 1/2 miles from Gettysburg. After brief cannonade by a battery on our left, we were ordered forward. We moved forward about a mile before we encountered the enemy. The Forty-third Regiment was halted in a lane, when the Forty-fifth and Second Battalion moved still farther forward and engaged the enemy. Our position at that time was on the fight of the Forty-fifth, and on the left of the Thirty-second Regiments. We were then ordered to move by the left flank to a position between the Second Battalion and Fifty-third Regiment, with orders to support either on the right or left, as necessity demanded.
We remained in that position under a sharp cross-fire for some time, when we were ordered to join on to the left of the battalion and support it. The right of the regiment, in obeying that order, was exposed to a most severe fire in front and on flank, and lost very heavily. Captain [W. C.] Ousby was killed there, while doing his full duty. We remained there but a short time, when we received orders to fall back under cover of the hill, which was done in perfect order. After a short time, and when supports came up on our left, we were ordered to join on with the battalion as before, to swing around the right, and advance toward a battery of the enemy which was pouring a deadly fire into our flanks. We continued to advance, driving the enemy before us, until we came to a railroad cut, which interfered a short while with our advance.
At the railroad cut, 400 or 500 prisoners surrendered to the brigade; also several stand of colors were captured, but I am not certain that any were taken by this regiment. After moving a short distance farther in line of battle, we moved by the left flank behind a railroad embankment, where we rested until the following day. On the morning of July 2, we moved to a position on the crest of a hill which the enemy held as their line the day before. Here we remained quiet until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when our batteries opened on the enemy's position on the highlights beyond the town, and were vigorously replied to, which subjected the regiment to severe shelling, in which we lost 1 killed and several wounded very severely.
About dark, we were ordered forward, and advanced nearly a mile, when we were halted. After remaining there a short time, we were ordered to retire, and took position in a street on the south edge of tho town. We remained there until near daybreak, when we were ordered to the extreme left of our line, to assist General Johnson in an attack on a mountain. We entered the action July 3, about sunrise, on the side of the mountain. We remained in reserve under fire a short time, when we moved by the left flank, and relieved troops who occupied works from which the enemy had been driven.
After remaining some time under fire, but not being able to return it, we were ordered to go over the breastworks, and support General Steuart in a charge on the enemy's position. Colonel [T. S.] Kenan carried the left wing over, but Steuart's brigade was repulsed and driven back before the left of our regiment had advanced far enough for the right to join it in the proposed charge. Colonel Kenan was wounded in this charge, and was taken off the field, when the command of the regiment devolved on myself.
The left wing remained out of the works some time, exposed to a most severe fire from a battery posted about 400 yards distant, when they were ordered to return to the work. From that time to the time we were ordered to retire, this regiment was exposed to a most severe fire of grape, shrapnel, and shell at short range, and only two companies oh the right had an opportunity to return the fire of the enemy. About 2 o'clock we were ordered to retire, which was executed in first-rate order. We remained in line of battle until about 1 o'clock, when we were ordered to return to a position near the one occupied by us on July 2, which we did.
With but one exception-and that an officer-the officers and men behaved remarkably well. There was no straggling from this regiment. Where all acted so well, it is difficult to particularize for good conduct; but Lieutenant [Jesse A.] Macon, Company F, and Lieutenant {W. E.] Stitt, Company B, showed such marked coolness and bravery on the field, that it is just that they should be mentioned. Sergeants [P. B.] Grier, Company B, and [G. W.] Wills, Company D, behaved remarkably well.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. G. LEWIS, Lieutenant Colonel, Comdg. Forty-third North Carolina Infantry.

subset: commoncrawl


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'Afghans cannot kick US out, so we stay'
On the 10th anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan on October 7, US troops are still there and the withdrawal deadline of 2014 seems to be up in the air.
Retired USAF Lt Col Karen Kwiatkowski believes the US never had any intention of allowing the Afghan people to choose anything."If they were allowed to chose, I think we would be long gone," she said. "It is about big cover. They cannot kick us out and we are going to stay. We build permanent bases and we want to terrorize Pakistan, Iran, and be there to look over the mountains into China."Karen Kwiatkowski says that the US mission in Afghanistan was "somewhat successful" from the Pentagon's and Obama administration's point of view. "When the Pentagon says 'We are still there, we are making progress' in a sense they are telling the truth," she said. "In many ways the American people have not been told what we came to Afghanistan to do. And that mission is to build bases – which we have done – and to man those bases into operating a military front against other countries in the region." "It is not a success for the American people, who are very tired of this," she added. "But the real reasons that we are in Afghanistan have never been put forward."Kwiatkowski says the reason for the US staying in Afghanistan becomes obvious if one looks at how the US military is operating in the Middle East. "There is a good reason in their minds why they are there, and they plan to stay," she said. "We like these military bases too well, we like the minerals, and we like the geographic positioning Afghanistan provides our military."
Former CIA officer, Philip Giraldi, says in-fighting in Washington over the withdrawal of troops is having a toxic effect on the decision-making process."I think there are two different assessments taking place here," he said. "The one assessment is a political assessment, where the president of the United States, who is up for re-election, wants very much to make it look like the war in Afghanistan is ending.""If you look at the assessments that the military has been making for some time now, those assessments have always been much more pessimistic," he continued. "In some cases they've said that the US would be there after 2015, in other cases they've said the US would be there for many years, without any date being suggested."


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Integrating Pain Treatment into Your Spine Practice
Integrating Pain Treatment Into Your Spine Practice is a novel and unique book that fills a longstanding need for a reference on how to combine the business and management aspects with the scientific, evidence-based component of pain care in a spine practice. The book is superbly organized, well thought out, comprehensive, easy to read and carries the depth of knowledge needed to start bringing pain care practice into your spine practice. Content is written by the field leaders and presents the most up-to-date and highest level of evidence available for each topic. The editors are national and international authorities on this timely subject and they present their unique experience in building such as practice that is both efficient and clinically excellent. This book should be in the immediate access library of all spine practitioners as well pain management practitioners.
Read more at Springer.


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BGSU acquires Vincent Douglas Nickerson Collection
BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL), part of the Center for Archival Collections at the Bowling Green State University Libraries, has recently received a donation of the Vincent Douglas Nickerson Collection of Great Lakes marine art. The collection includes more than 300 original vessel drawings dating from 1880 to 1910. It is one of the most, if not the most, extensive body of work of a Great Lakes marine artist in a public institution, said HCGL Archivist Robert Graham.
The Nickerson collection was donated to BGSU by Ellen Drouillard Boruff of Bloomington, Ind., who inherited the collection from her grandfather, William R. Rearick, a friend of Nickerson's and also a marine artist.
Graham consulted with Boruff for several years on the collection before the donation, helping to identify the vessels portrayed in her grandfather's collection.
"One of our strengths is Great Lakes maritime history, so this is a perfect complement to existing collections. It gives us a depth that wasn't there before," he said. "To find a body of work from a late-19th-century marine artist of this magnitude is really special."
Most of Nickerson's clients were connected to the maritime industry (vessel owners, agents, captains, etc.) and expected accurate details. The collection consists of original perspective drawings, many in color, prepared to provide the details needed for the paintings Nickerson was commissioned to produce. These works often provide scale drawings as well as color schemes of Great Lakes vessels from the 1840s to 1910. In many cases his drawings are the only known details available for a particular vessel, Graham said.
"This was a transitional period, when ships were going from wood to steel construction," he said.
Only a small number of Nickerson's finished paintings survive, adding more significance to this collection. Several of them are at the Great Lakes Historical Society in Vermilion.
The BGSU historical collections staff is compiling a detailed inventory of the collection and identifying items that may require conservation. As soon as the inventory and conservation process is completed, the collection will be available for research.
(Posted December 19, 2011 )
Updated: 12/02/2017 01:04AM


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Rumor: Nokia to release Windows 8 ARM tablet by end of 2012By Lee Kaelin
After being buoyed up by the recent success of its new WP7-based smartphone range, it is now coming to light that the Finnish smartphone manufacturer looks set to further enhance its partnership with Microsoft by releasing a 10-inch Windows 8 tablet sometime around the fourth quarter of this year.
A Nokia executive said last November that they planned to eventually offer a Windows-based tablet, although the company refused to go on the record at the time. Recently leaked slides from an internal video at the beginning of February has further heightened speculation, with mentions of Nokia releasing products with several different form factors based on Microsoft software, including a tablet.
Now, sources familiar with the matter speaking to DigiTimes say the smartphone maker is set to release the tablet powered by a dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, according to upstream component suppliers. "Nokia is expected to outsource production of the 10-inch tablets to Compal Electronics with the first batch of shipments to top 200,000 units," their sources revealed.
There is no doubt that Nokia joining the previously approved vendors, Qualcomm, Nvidia and Texas Instruments will help Microsoft compete stronger against the wave of Android tablets, but with competition already strife against the iPad, it will be interesting to see how much of a success the venture will be.
With the ever-growing range of WP7 Lumia smartphones it does make sense that the firm would look to further capitalize on the partnership with the OS giant, and with the Android tablet market being so fragmented, it is possible the ARM-based Windows 8 tablets could give them strong competition.
Whether it will be enough to topple the seemingly unstoppable success of Cupertino-based Apple's new iPad is uncertain. Android tablets have managed to slightly cut into the iconic American firm's market share, but there hasn't yet been a single Android tablet that has matched the iPad on sales or popularity.
Tablet mock-up via The Verge (not actual device)


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September 10, 2019
Official Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Press Release
The fourth annual Canadian Baseball History Conference will be held on November 9th and 10th at Museum London in London, Ont.
The event, which brings together baseball fans and researchers from across the country, is once again being organized by Andrew North, who is a long-time Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame volunteer and the co-founder of the Centre for Canadian Baseball Research.
This year's conference will also include a bus trip to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ont., where attendees will have a chance to visit the newly expanded facility.
"We're excited to share our new museum with such a hardcore group of baseball enthusiasts," said Scott Crawford, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's director of operations. "Andrew and his wife, Elena, do such an excellent job of organizing this conference. I've been at every one of them and I've learned something new from each presentation."
Fifteen presentations will be made at this year's conference that will run from 8 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. on Saturday and then half the day on Sunday. The presentations will cover a wide variety of Canadian baseball history topics, including talks that will shine the spotlight on Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Bob Emslie, Harry Simmons, Mary "Bonnie" Baker (a Canadian All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player) and George Sleeman.
For a complete list of the presentations and for more information about the conference, please visit this page here.
The registration fee for the conference is $70, which covers all of the presentations, continental breakfasts both days, a catered lunch on Saturday, and tours of both the Museum London Art Gallery and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
If you have any questions about the conference, you can contact Andrew North at email@example.com. To register, you can send $70 via e-Transfer to firstname.lastname@example.com, or a cheque (made out to the Centre for Canadian Baseball Research) to 398 Queen St. E., P.O. Box 3305, St. Marys Ont. N4X 0A6.


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Attached is a link to the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment to surface the top three health needs in Mower County area identified by you, the community members. This is a collaborative effort between Mower County Community Health and Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin campus/Mower Refreshed.
Please take this 1-2 minute survey and email the opportunity on for others to impact direction of wellness efforts in our area communities.
Click here: http://mowerrefreshed.org/community-health-needs-assessment/
Your responses will drive the direction of focus for our health organizations and many other community organizations in our area who address the topics you will select from. This is a rare opportunity to influence direction that both Mower County Community Health & MCHS/Mower Refreshed believe should be determined by individuals who live, work, play, and learn in the Mower County area, not by stakeholders alone.
Thank you for driving the direction!
Sandy Anderson, MS | Community Engagement Coordinator
Mayo Clinic Health System Albert Lea – Austin
408 4th Street NW | Austin, MN 55912
507.434.1039 | firstname.lastname@example.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mowerrefreshed
Email: email@example.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/mowerrefreshed
Twitter: @MowerRefreshed


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Best known for directing cult classic American History X (1998), Tony Kaye is back with his latest release Detachment (2011). Having secured Edward Norton an Academy Award nomination for the former, Kaye has attracted a high profile cast for the latter, with Adrien Brody, Marcia Gay Harden, James Caan, Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu and Bryan Cranston all in attendance.
We follow highly-regarded substitute teacher Henry Barthes (Brody) as he begins filling in at a failing school. Barthes quickly observes a host of aggressive students being marshaled by a team of frustrated teachers, who don't seem to be making much of an impression on their pupils. The school is in desperate need of someone with his talents, but Barthes avoids commitment and refuses to stay in one place for too long. However, after meeting two lonely young girls, Barthes must change his outlook in order to bring about lasting good.
Kaye's Detachment presents a broken US education system, offering a few possible explanations as to why this may have come to pass. Teachers, parents and capitalism all come under fire, but the film ultimately asks the audience to consider the issue for themselves. This is no easy viewing experience, depicting characters and subplots which are difficult to assess in primitive terms of good and/or bad. The film requires the audience to become more than just passive spectators, which results in an interesting and engaging experience.
Unfortunately, although Caan provides some much needed comic relief in a few sequences, Detachment's ensemble cast are largely peripheral. Limited screen-time, combined with the casting of such well-known faces, sadly results in a series of unbelievable star turns which lack authenticity. Whilst Brody does offer a solid performance, it's the relative newcomers who are given a chance to really shine. Sami Gayle and Betty Kaye (daughter of Tony) are both superb as the troubled young women in need of direction, with Gayle in particular marking herself out as one to watch in the future.
Whilst Detachment does have some fantastic moments, the end result is somewhat unfocused. Featuring a series of to-camera sections, the odd bit of poetic narration and even animated snippets, Kaye crams a few too many plot strands and cinematic forms into too short a space of time. Detachment clearly has high aspirations, but unfortunately its jumbled narration means that it falls just shy of the mark.


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I gotta admit, they look hard...especially that Human Dimension one you see on the bottom of the pile.
I mean, the analysis of anthropometric data is fascinating and all but I'm a bit lost.
So excited to learn everything I can about interior design!
Good Luck and have fun learning! You have a wonderful future!
So excited for you! It's crazy how learning the technical side of design can really help you in your creativity.
Ekk I love it!! ALWAYS KEEP YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN TEXT BOOKS! Even after the semester is over... they're a great resource to use in the years to come! xoxo GOOD LUCK!
Ahh it's intimidating but also so much fun at the same time! Enjoy every minute and take it all in!
Isn't That Charming.
Yay, congrats- this is super exciting! I can't wait to learn what you learn. ;)
xo Carlina
I still reference my textbooks from gradschool... three years later! Though they may be exhausting now, they will surely come in handy later!!!
Holly Foxen Wells
Just think, in no time you'll know what the hell that stuff means! :) Have the best time!
All will be so useful....and never resell these...they will be great for future reference.
Good luck with classes starting! Those books look a whole lot more interesting than my books from college!
Its going to be such an amazing experience!
Wow! Say what is right! Good for you -- congratulations and good luck!


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Thornton Creek Elementary
This expansive playground is in Northville School District and was made possible through a $50,000 KaBOOM! Playground grant and fundraising efforts through the school. The playground is not only all new equipment but features an inclusive play design fit for children of all abilities. The We-Saw seesaw is a favorite for the students.
Northville, MI 2013


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Buddhist literature grew out of the ancient Indian matrix of philosophy and yoga, and so was immediately challenged to articulate its own theories. Equally significant was the Buddhist traditions' mandate to articulate systems of ethics, descriptions of agency, theories of knowledge and contemplative practice in the context of their central doctrine of no-self, anātman, with which they countered the Indian subcontinents views of self, or ātman. Buddhist literature rapidly grew to include many schools of thought on logic, meditation, epistemology, and cosmology, as well as histories, biographies, debate and philosophical textbooks.
From India, Buddhism travelled throughout Asia. This journey began within a hundred years of Buddha's lifetime, with early forms of Buddhism taking root throughout Southeast Asia. Later formulations of Indian Buddhism, the Mahayana, with their emphasis on the trans-human qualities of Buddhas and universal concern for all life, migrated to East Asia; to China, Japan and Korea. The last major movement of Buddhism from India began in the 7th century, which saw the beginning of a four hundred-year period of intense scholarly exchange, likely the largest cultural transfer in history—much of the 1,500 years of Buddhist literature was systematically translated into Tibetan. In Tibet, Buddhism became the core of a newly emerging empire and and the center of perhaps the largest body of religious literature in the world. And now, in the 21st century, Buddhist texts, ideas, and teachers are coming West.
Students with a concentration in Buddhism have a variety of options. One is to conjoin serious textual study in English with another graduate concentration. Another is to do preliminary Tibetan language study and then work in Tibetan (possibly amplified by another canonical language) and combine this with other work in Buddhism. Still another is to use grounding in traditional Buddhism to look at issues of modernity, especially in relation to Buddhism's current, and ever changing, status in the West.
Faculty Contact: Anne C. Klein


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1/72nd Revell P-47DHere is a recent completion Alclad finish,with Testors Semi-Gloss rattlecand final finish. Kangaroo decal sheet from Bodenplatte attack. Nice Inexpensive Kit, and then I added resin Interior ,Master Gun Barrels,Resin Wheel wells...Oh well Two Part epoxy for wing Lights over colored Sprue lights I did correct the Gear covers that are reversed A little shiny for 1945 Europe,but I didn't have the heart to flatten her out Weathered lightly with pastels and washed most hatchs Thanks for looking Comments are welcome Bill


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"Most people hear the word fashion and think clothing. But for me, fashion is a way of living. Ever since I started... Read More
Cut Hip Hop Awards 2016
The CUT HIP HOP AWARDS 2016 will involve the music industry and will be a weekend of events encompassing both fans of... Read More


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With just under two months left in the 2017 season, the Cleveland Indians realized they had a problem. Simply put, their offense has been too bipolar this year.
One week, the team is thumping its opponent en route to blowout victories. The next, Cleveland's hitters look hapless at the plate, seemingly swinging toothpicks in attempt to eke out one run at the very least.
The latter accurately described the Indians midway through last week, when they were in the middle of an offensive funk so bad they were only able to generate runs one inning per game. Knowing such a trend could derail Cleveland's postseason hopes, the front office decided to make a move. The Tribe traded for New York Mets slugger Jay Bruce, adding some much needed power.
The trade is only a few days old, but has already been paying dividends. Bruce has gone 6-for-15 so far, contributing three RBIs.
While the team likely loves what it's getting from its new acquisition, there's one player in the clubhouse who seems to be even more appreciative of Bruce's arrival. Based on how he's been hitting since the trade was made, you could argue nobody was a bigger fan of the deal than Edwin Encarnacion.
In the four games since Bruce was inserted into the everyday lineup, Encarnacion has been on a warpath. Of his six hits in this timespan, four of them have left the ballpark. His power was on full display last night in a win over the Boston Red Sox, as he launched two home runs, one of which was sent miles over the Green Monster.
Obviously four games is hardly enough time to claim Encarnacion is on a hot streak. Still, having Bruce batting behind him in the lineup brings an obvious advantage, and he's certainly working hard to prove this.
In adding Bruce – who suddenly became the Indians' home run leader with 29 – to the lineup, Encarnacion no longer has to be seen as the team's sole source of power. This is crucial for him, as it was clear the burden of being the Tribe's lone big bat was having an effect on his performance.
While Encarnacion's numbers – 26 home runs and 70 RBIs on a .253 batting average – are good, they're definitely lower than what he had been contributing with the Toronto Blue Jays. Much of this was due to a slow start to the 2017 season, along with a bit of a cold July.
The struggles seemed to be coming from apparent pressing on his part. As many players do on the first year of a big contract, Encarnacion seemed intent on proving his worth and validating the Indians' choice to break the bank for him in the offseason. Many viewed him as a sizable upgrade, as well as the last piece needed for a successful World Series run.
Unfortunately, the pressure did appear to be having a negative effect on him, as he wasn't able to really get rolling until two months into the season.
By adding Bruce to the mix, Cleveland now has two power bats. Instead of seeing this trade as a necessity because on his uneven season, Encarnacion can view it as a reason to loosen up a bit at the plate.
Say what you will about such a theory being coincidence, there's no denying the fact Encarnacion's approach to the plate has been much different since Bruce arrived. There's likely a great deal of pressure removed from his at-bats now that he's no longer seen as the team's only big bat. As a result, having Bruce batting behind him in the lineup diminishes the need to press at the plate.
Crediting Encarnacion's recent performance as a direct result of the Bruce trade is conjecture, of course. That said, it doesn't sound so crazy when you think about it. A player who felt as though he had to prove he was worthy of an expensive contract by always taking impact swings now has some backup waiting in the on-deck circle.
We'll see if the trend continues. Right now, though, Encarnacion appears more than grateful to the front office for the Bruce pick-up.
Casey Drottar is an independent sports writer. Subscribe to his podcast, or follow him on Twitter and Facebook


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Your partner in cleaning.
Spotting new ways to help you and your facility shine.
You work hard to keep your business shining bright every day, so you deserve much more than just a partner in cleaning. You deserve a partner in total business success. To those who consult with us on their business, this comprehensive mindset is invaluable. To us, it's just the Daycon way.
Increased Operational Efficiency
After reviewing your facility and business, we'll discuss increasing operational efficiency and productivity in order to maximize your business success. Then, we'll work together on implementing these efficiency-based improvements. Because if you don't shine bright, neither do we.
Ongoing New Business Generation
Through bid response, sales assistance programs, and an extensive industry network, our team of facility maintenance experts will work with you to target, develop, and secure new business. Ensure you're set to shine long-term with a partner that's readily available to provide the business development and customer retention support you need.
Interested in a facility consultation?
Start adding new value to your business with a Daycon partnership. Your business, our passion.


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WASHINGTON — Kids aged 5-11 are now eligible to receive Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, and some of American's favorite children's television characters are encouraging them to get the shot.
The Muppets from PBS and HBO's "Sesame Street" have spent their weekend telling kids about the vaccine. In fact, Big Bird posted on Twitter Saturday that he has gotten the vaccine himself.
"I got the COVID-19 vaccine today," the tweet said. "My wing is feeling a little sore but it'll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy."
In addition to posting on social media about the vaccines, Big Bird, Elmo, Grover and more Muppets held a town hall with CNN anchors, fielding questions from children about the vaccines and the coronavirus in general.
Other tweets from characters like Oscar the Grouch seem to be aimed at allaying fears over the vaccine.
"Apparently, the COVID-19 vaccines won't make you feel grouchy at all," Oscar said Saturday. "You might get a sore arm and feel tired, so at least there's that.
Another Sesame Street character, 5-year-old Rosita, shared with CNN that she received her first dose of the vaccine Saturday morning.
The Muppets have been encouraging vaccination since the early days of the COVID pandemic. Back in May, when shots were first approved for adults, Elmo and his dad Louie shared their excitement over getting the shot. Elmo himself was especially excited to be able to visit his grandma.
According to an Elmo tweet Saturday, he hasn't gotten the shot, which makes sense since Elmo's character is only three years old.


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You are here: Reference > CSS > properties > resize
resize property
Specifies whether an element is resizable and if so, along which axis.
|JavaScript page for this property: resize. You can find other example(s) there.
Possible values:
One of the following values:
|Allow to adjust the height and the width of the element.
|Allow to adjust only the width of the element.
|Takes the value of this property from the computed style of the parent element.
|Resizing is not allowed for the user.
|Allow to adjust only the height of the element.
Default: none.
Example HTML code 1:
This example illustrates the use of the resize property:

Resize this division!

Did you find this example helpful?
Supported by tags:
address, applet, blockQuote, body, caption, center, dd, dir, div, dl, dt, fieldSet, form, H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, input:file, input:password, input:search, input:text, isIndex, legend, li, marquee, menu, object, ol, p, pre, select, table, td, textArea, th, tr, ul, xmp
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Stacy came in looking angry. Her husband had recently sounded the alarm bell on their marriage and told her he wasn't sure he wanted to continue the relationship. In an about-face, she behaviorally tried to do everything she could think of to reignite his commitment to the relationship. He continued to avoid her. She explained, "All week, I have done all these nice things for him that I thought he would like. I made his favorite dinner and cleaned up all the dishes myself. I've tried to express appreciation and tell him when he's doing great as a father. I've tried really hard to keep from yelling. He still avoids me. I don't know what else to do. It's not fair."
I glanced over at him, expecting no response, and noticed him staring at me, arms folded across his chest, daring me to comment on his unresponsiveness. I knew there was a reason for his avoidance, because of their history. I turned back to his wife. "I know you are hurting. This has all been incredibly painful and scary for you, and it's hard to try so hard and feel hopeless." She nodded and added, "I don't see how I'm expected to make all the changes. If I'm putting myself out there and trying, then he should too." Her tone suggested that I should chastise him for his behavior.
I continued, "Can you do something for me right now?" "What?" she asked. "Can you please start breathing for him right now?" She looked at me like I was crazy and replied "What do you mean?" "I mean breathe for him. Right now. Go. Make him breathe." Seconds later, she said, "I can't make him breathe." "Right," I affirmed, "You can't make him breathe just like you can't really make him do anything else. You are an entirely independently functioning individual. You can invite him to breathe and possibly influence him to breathe, but you cannot do it for him nor make him do it. It may be unfair. Your sense of justice may be violated, but you cannot make him do anything. That is an incredibly helpless feeling, I know "� and let me add this "¦ even if you could control him, you wouldn't want to, because he would resent you for it."
She became teary, and I continued processing her softer emotions enough that I could turn to her husband and check in with him about his perception. He had noticed changes, but he didn't trust them. He worried that if he did trust her changes, things would go back to the way they were before. He stayed disconnected in part to avoid giving his wife false hope about their future. It was a protective mechanism.
One of the simple hard and true facts about relationships is that we absolutely cannot control other people. Couples commonly end up in tug-of-war like power struggles over who will control the outcome of an argument. People in general like to exercise decision-making and control over their lives. In couple relationships, constant negotiation is necessary for joining two individuals who sometimes have conflicting desires and needs. That's normal and healthy. There are big problems when people think they are going to manipulate or control their spouses to do what they want them to do, and even though it may feel like winning in the short run, it is a losing proposition in the long term.
People hopefully learn this in dating relationships. Not everyone does. When my oldest son was going through a difficult romantic break-up years ago, he asked me if he should write a letter to his girlfriend with specific explanations and questions. I answered that if he chose to do that, it was fine, but absolutely not to send a letter with any kind of expectation for how she might respond. I explained that, "You can do whatever you want. However, you can't choose how or even if she will reply. You cannot ask her a question with the expectation for a certain answer-you must be prepared that she may not answer you, and even if she does, it may not be the answer you want to hear. If you can do that, then go ahead and send the letter. If you are sending it with an expectation for a certain response, think twice about it. You absolutely do not get to control what someone else does. You can only control what you do in response."
Even if you could control your partner's behavior, it is not in your best interest to do so. Some people can be quite controlling and effectively bully their partners into regular capitulation. What ends up happening is that controlling partners think they are getting their way and life is good while resentment builds in the partner that is constantly giving in to avoid conflict. Over time (and by time I mean that it can take four decades or more), resentful partners get to the point that they have had enough and finally take a stand, which usually means shutting the partner out completely or ending the relationship. Then, the controlling partners are confused because they had no idea their placating partners were angry for years. I don't know how many times I have heard a controlling partner say, "If he (or she) had only told me-I had no idea I was being controlling."
In too many marriages and relationships, instead of power equality, there is a huge power differential in which one partner benefits at the expense of the other. Unfortunately, many people lack the awareness that they are taking this kind of position in a relationship. If you are able to persuade your spouse to agree with you all or most of the time instead of your adapting to them, you may be a controlling partner. If you are constantly giving in, I believe you are at high risk for being a typical placating partner who is slowly building resentment that may explode later.
What to do about it
Controlling partners can ask spouses what they think about the marriage, what changes they want to make, and what they really want in life, and try to honor and validate the information and requests. In short, the best thing to do is increase your understanding of your partner's position without trying to change it. People who feel invalidated or misunderstood will cling tighter to their positions. If you are inflammatory or reactive, your partner will probably not share this with you, and you will be no better off. When controlling partners feel at all unsafe, placating partners will continue to give in and withhold expression of their opinions. If your partner isn't sharing his or her opinion, this can be a huge warning sign.
If you are a partner who constantly gives in to avoid conflict, be honest with yourself about how you are feeling toward your partner. Try to find a way to discuss this dynamic with your partner. If your partner is controlling to the point of being abusive, you may have to face some difficult questions about continuing the relationship. Giving in to abusive partners does not make them less controlling-it feeds the pattern.
A typical example
Although power struggles show up in every marital context, a really common area is in the bedroom. A spouse who doesn't want to be physically intimate because he or she doesn't feel emotionally connected (and yes, that happens for men as well as women-people often don't want to have sex with controlling partners), may end up giving in just to get the partner to go away. The problem is, if they really don't want to engage, they can become bitterly resentful.
In one typical session, a wife came in upset because after she verbally explained to her husband that she didn't feel safe enough with him emotionally to want to engage in a physically close relationship, he pressed her on the issue until she gave in and had sex with him, even though she didn't want to. The result was another relationship rupture. In this case, she tried to say no to him but then gave in and then punished him for it. I asked what would happen if she said, "OK, I will have sex with you, but I want to be clear that I will hold a grudge and be resentful toward you afterward and it will disconnect us further." She said, "Oh I could never say that-it would hurt his feelings." I said, "But you are saying it-you're just not using words-and you are hurting his feelings more because when you punish him with your anger, it's an unclear message, and he doesn't know what's really going on. All I'm asking you to do is to be congruent. Verbalize what you are already creating, and give him the choice about whether he really want to participate in that process or not." The husband admitted that even though experiencing rejection would be painful, it was more painful and confusing to be punished after his wife gave in, and made him feel worse. He didn't realize he was coming across as controlling.
Control can work both ways here. In other scenarios, a partner may refuse to engage in a physical relationship, and the absolute refusal becomes the control. I believe there is a distinct lack of integrity in a partner who refuses separation or divorce but then refuses to improve the sexual relationship in a long-term marriage. It's one thing to temporarily abandon sexual relations while actively working on making the relationship safe-it's entirely different to shut a partner out sexually with no hope for improvement. This hopeless scenario in my opinion is quite cruel.
In the above cases, one partner was using verbal coercion to achieve sex and one was using icy withdrawal to avoid sex-both are controlling, and both are losing in the long-run.
(Side note: sexuality is tremendously complex and there are many reasons why couples disconnect around physical intimacy. The problems are usually a combination of individual difficulties AND relationship difficulties. I don't want to oversimplify the problem. These particular scenarios don't necessarily translate to many other scenarios)
Ultimately, realize that you can only really control yourself. You can certainly influence and invite your partner, but do not use coercion to do it. If you win with coercion or manipulation, you're not really winning. There must be a recognition of a partner's right to his or her opinion. You do not want to make your partner to do something they don't want to do. Conversely, if you constantly give in to achieve "peace at any price," you're not doing your partner any favors. You are feeding into the cycle of manipulative control.
Take a serious look at your marriage to make sure you are not playing the part of puppet or puppeteer. Either role is bad for you, bad for your partner, and bad for the relationship.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on Lori Cluff Schade's website. It has been republished here with permission.


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The chief of an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban has been killed in a U.S. drone strike, a spokesman for the group told AFP Thursday.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, had claimed responsibility for many deadly attacks in the country, including a suicide bombing in a park in Lahore on Easter Sunday last year that killed 75 people including many children.
"Chief of our Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Umar Khalid Khorasani, who sustained serious injuries in a recent US drone strike in Afghanistan's Paktia province, succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening," JuA spokesman Asad Mansoor told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
"At least nine close associates of Khorasani were also killed in the strike," he added.
Two U.S. drone strikes Monday along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan killed at least 26 people including fighters from the Haqqani network which is allied to the Afghan Taliban.
The U.S. has increased pressure on Pakistan in recent months to crack down on the Haqqanis, who are one of the strongest factions in the Afghan Taliban insurgency and have earned a fearsome reputation for their attacks on NATO troops and Afghan installations over the years.
The use of U.S. drones has dwindled dramatically in recent years in Pakistan, where the strikes have proven controversial with the public and rights groups.
Monday's strikes came days after Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed in Pakistan after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network.
Mansoor, the spokesman, said a high-level meeting of JuA's consultative council will be convened soon to appoint the outfit's new chief.
However, an important Taliban commander said on condition of anonymity that one of JuA's senior commanders, Asad Afridi, has already been appointed new JuA chief.
JuA pledged allegiance to Daesh in 2014, but a year later said it had rejoined the Pakistani Taliban, which in turn is allied to al-Qaida, a foe of Daesch.
However since 2016 JuA and Daesh have both laid claim to several attacks, notably a suicide bombing at a hospital in the southwestern city of Quetta last year that killed 73 people.
Pakistan's deadliest ever attack occurred in Peshawar in December 2014, when Taliban militants stormed a school killing more than 150 people, mostly children.
The joint claims raised the possibility the outfits were colluding, or that JuA, which has foot soldiers on the ground, was allowing Daesh also to take credit to achieve propaganda goals.
Analysts said Khorasani's death suggested resumption of intelligence sharing and coordination between Pakistan and the U.S.
"The resumption of drone strikes on anti-Pakistan elements following hard stance on Trump's Afghan policy signals moderation of positions by Islamabad and Washington," leading Pakistan security analyst Imtiaz Gul told AFP.
He said "it shows America's willingness to redress Pakistan's complaints about presence of militant safe havens on Afghan soil."
"Both countries now seem to be back to their business.


text: When I found out I was pregnant with sweet Madison, I already had a 21-year-old, my husband was living in England, and I was scared to raise a newborn without his support. When I went to PRC, they promised me they would walk with me and help me with whatever I needed. They were the ones who said, "you can do it!" And they were right! I am so thankful for the support and prayer I always find at PRC. They have truly become my second family!


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The following terms and conditions, and any other terms and conditions (including brochure terms) which are notified to you in writing before departure shall apply to all holidays booked with Bucket My List. You are requested to carefully read these terms and conditions prior to browsing other sections or booking on the domain www.bucketmylist.holiday ("website"). It constitutes part of your contract for your trip and any related services. Any use of the website shall signify your understanding, verification and acceptance of these terms and you shall be considered legally bound in this regard.
The lead traveller who confirmed the booking shall be deemed to be the designated contact person for all the purposes unless stated otherwise. It is the sole responsibility of the lead traveller to inform all other parties travelling of the contents of these terms and conditions. The booking passenger, by accepting this receipt and making payment to Bucket My List, acknowledges that they have been advised of, reviewed, and hereby accept these terms and conditions and contract for travel related services.
Except where otherwise stated, these booking conditions only apply to holiday arrangements which you book with us and/or which we agree to make, provide or perform (as applicable) as part of our contract with you. All references in these booking conditions to "holiday", "booking", "contract", "package", "tour" or "arrangements" mean such holiday arrangements unless otherwise stated.
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The Prices and availability may change without notice. We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold holidays at any time and correct errors in the prices of confirmed holidays.
The price of your confirmed voyage, or travel arrangement is subject at all times to changes in transport costs such as fuel, and any other airline cost changes which are part of our contracts with airlines (and their agents), cruise ship operators and any other transport provider; and to changes in the currency exchange used to calculate your arrangements and to rates, dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports any or all of which may result in a variation of your voyage/travel arrangements price.
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We will always quote the price of your holiday by reference to the base currency in which the booking has been made by us, on the date that the quotation is created. If an adverse currency fluctuation occurs, equal to 2% or more of the overall price during the period between the date of the quotation and the date(s) for payment of the deposit and/or final balance payment for the holiday, we reserve the right to adjust the final balance payment due to reflect such currency fluctuation.
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Bucket My List is unable to move passengers booked as part of a triple/quad into single or double rooms or into larger rooms to accommodate separate bedding needs. We're happy to inform the hotels of any special requests, such as "king bed", "lower floor", etc., provided we are advised at time of booking. Such requests cannot be guaranteed as availability is often limited. We reserve the right, for technical reasons, in cases of force majeure or actions by third parties, to replace the planned hotel with accommodation of the same category offering equivalent services. This would only be in exceptional circumstances and in such cases we will inform you as soon as we are aware of this necessity.
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d. Activities offered during your stay
An activity may not be appropriate for all ages or for individuals with certain medical conditions. Bucket My List may not be held liable in the event of an incident or accident which is due to a lack of vigilance on your part.
It may happen that certain activities referred to in the trip description are no longer provided by our local provider for climatic reasons, in the event of force majeure, during a stay out of the tourist season, or when the minimum number of participants required for providing a given activity is not reached (examples: group sports, children's clubs). In the early or late season some activities may not be available, some of the facilities (restaurant, swimming pool, etc.) may be closed, or maintenance work may be in progress. As a general rule, entertainment and sports activities may vary in frequency depending on how many people are staying at the time and on climatic conditions. Particularly during the high season it is possible that the number of parasols, loungers, sports equipment, etc., is insufficient for the demand. The opening hours of bars, restaurants, and clubs, etc., may be irregular and dependent on the management of the establishment in question. You agree that Bucket My List is not liable for activities unavailable due to any of the reasons listed above.
The sports activities offered for collective participation are often organized by outside providers. Any travel costs related to such activities are at the customer's expense. Similarly these activities may be withdrawn at the discretion of the organizer if there is insufficient demand. This will not give rise to any entitlement to compensation.
You acknowledge that the use or enjoyment of an activity may be hazardous and inherently risky, and, to the maximum extent permitted by law. Bucket My List shall have no liability for any personal injury or death; lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed property; or other liability arising out of or in connection with the use and operation of the activity, and all actions or events occurring prior to, during, at or after, the activity.
e. People with medical history /pregnant women
Bucket My List advises people with medical needs/history and pregnant women to consult their doctors before making any reservation, in order to confirm that it is appropriate for them participate in the trip. You agree that Bucket My List will not be liable for any damages arising from inability to participate in any or all of the Trip due to pregnancy or related illness and no compensation will be payable under such circumstances.
f. Travellers with special needs or disabilities
If you have special needs or a disability you must call the provider of your accommodations ahead of time and verify that special needs can be met. Bucket My List make no guarantee as to the ability of any accommodations, activity provider, or facilities advertised on its site to meet the special needs of disabled clients. For information concerning the suitability for disabled persons for any portion of any tour or other reservation, contact Bucket My List directly.
Cancellation by customers
Cancellations are costly to administer and involve dedicated staff time and communications costs. If you request Bucket My List to cancel your travel arrangements, the liability will be limited to a refund of all monies paid by you less any of our cancellation service fees and, less charges that will be made by airlines, hotels, car hire companies, cruise companies, tour operators, and other suppliers; including taxes/port fees.
All cancellations MUST be in writing. Customers may send a written request to us through postal mail/courier on our Registered Address or email a signed and scanned Cancellation Request. We will NOT acknowledge cancellation request over phone.
Cancellations sent to any other address will not be processed. Upon making the booking, Passenger(s) hereby accept & acknowledge liability for all cancellation fees imposed by Bucket My List and the supplier. Cancellations are posted on day that the complete cancellation documents are received by Bucket My List so long as they are received within the office hours. All other cancellations will be posted on the next business day. Example: If a request is received at 7pm on Saturday – when we are closed – it will NOT be processed until the following morning. Your cancellation will be confirmed via email when processed.
Cancellation charges will be effective from the date we receive advice in writing and the following scale of charges will be applied:
The following fees will apply in the event of cancellation:
Less than 6 weeks prior to departure - 40% of total cost
Less than 4 weeks prior to departure - 60% of total cost
Less than 2 weeks prior to departure - 100% of total cost
Additionally, there are cancellation fees on all domestic flights (including the ones at the foreign land). If you cancel a tour at any time, you will be subject to any fees according to airline's cancellation policy.
Once cancellation request is received, we will process your tour cancellation/refund request within 30 (thirty) business days. Refund in respect of air, train, ship, bus and other modes of transportation shall only be made once we receive the refund from the transport service operator.
a. In case of cancellation, advance/balance/full payment paid by online account transfer/check/cash deposit/debit or credit card will be refunded via cheque on the name of the lead traveller.
b. Where you fail to make payments in respect of the balance amount payable in the stipulated period of time required under the booking policy, Bucket My List reserves the right to cancel your booking. Further, Bucket My List also reserves the right to deduct appropriate cancellation fees in respect of cancellation of transport services (such as air tickets, train tickets), hotel reservation cancellation charges and such other charges as may be applicable prior to processing your refund.
c. If the tour or any part thereof cannot be conducted due to Force Majeure or Vis Majeure, Bucket My List shall not be responsible to give any refund. However, at its sole discretion, Bucket My List may provide refunds based on various factors and the final decision on the quantum of refund shall lie with its management.
d. Bucket My List has a policy of applying for group visas. Due to any reason, whatsoever, if the visa is not granted by the respective Consular Office/ Embassy of the country or delayed in issuing the visa, Bucket My List would not be held responsible for such a failure of obtaining visa and further visa fees, cost of cancellation of air ticket, Insurance or any loss incurred, shall be deducted and only balance payment will be refunded to you.
e. The traveller(s) cannot claim Refund if he/ she does not or cannot utilize any of the services like hotels, sightseeing, rides, cruises, meals, entrance fees, optional tours, etc. due to any reason whatsoever.
Modification by customers
If the customer wants to transfer from one trip to another, Bucket My List must be informed in writing. The Client must complete and sign a new Booking Form and, if necessary, provide an additional deposit or balance of trip cost. The date on which the correspondence is received by Bucket My List will determine the transfer charge.
Amendment Charges and Certain fees may be payable in respect of transactions entered into using the modification service, as notified at the time of the relevant transaction. These fees may include cancellation fees and, where amendment is permitted, amendment fees.
Alterations /cancellation by us
Bucket My List reserves the right to make changes to the trip any time prior to the contract being entered into. In the event that any aspect of the trip is altered, the passengers will be advised at the time of their booking.
Bucket My List endeavours not to make changes to the trip once the contract has been entered into. However, because of the unpredictability of travel in many of the areas visited, changes prior to a trip's departure may be unavoidable. Where this alteration is significant (i.e. where a major deviation to the itinerary is made) Bucket My List undertakes to inform the passengers as soon as possible.
Due to the nature of the areas we travel, though significant changes can and do occur after a trip's departure, over which we have no control. Bucketmylist will make alternative arrangements like changing the method of transport and/or the itinerary if Force Majeure, breakdowns, accidents, sickness, political tensions etc. necessitate such a change. Bucket My List cannot be held responsible for compensation or additional expenses incurred due to any such change.
The tour cost does not include insurance charges unless it is mandatory as per the prevailing rules of the respective countries. For all foreign tours, you must be fully insured and must make sure that all of the activities which you will be carrying out (including personal injury and emergency medical expenses) are covered by such travel insurance. This insurance must include adequate substitution of the amount to be paid/has already been paid for your holiday, emergency evacuation, cancellation, curtailment and repatriation costs in respect of all of your activities. Please note that the travel insurance provided by some credit card providers often only offers the minimum coverage and, whoever your insurer, you should always check for any exclusion of activities that you might be undertaking.
Traveller(s) are advised and recommended to acquire adequate Domestic Insurance Policy that covers trip cancellations, interruption, baggage-loss, flight delay Accidental death and dismemberment, Emergency accidental medical expenses, Emergency medical evacuation.
Traveller(s) should not leave personal belongings unattended in any public areas, on board any mode of transportation, or elsewhere, and are responsible at all times for their own effects and belongings. Bucket My List cannot accept responsibility for and in no event shall be liable for loss or damage of valuables or other articles left in or on facilities used by Bucket My List such as hotels, homestays, vessels, expedition vehicles, or any other mode of transportation.
All requests for service under the policy must be filed directly with the travel insurance provider, in accordance with the policy terms and conditions, which you are responsible for reviewing upon receipt of your travel protection policy. Bucket My List is not able to give advice with regard to possible cancellations and any associated claims processing. All queries regarding cancellation, penalties, coverage should be directed to your particular travel insurance provider. Please note that the travel insurance provider may not be allowed to discuss your claim with Bucket My List due to various privacy laws worldwide. Accordingly. Passenger(s) acknowledge and agree that Bucket My List has no control over the travel insurance provider or its coverage decisions, and as a result Bucket My List is not responsible for and shall not be liable for policy coverage, claims processing, or the denial of any claims.
Bucket My List acts as an intermediary between you and the supplier. Bucket My List does not own or operate any of, hotels, shore excursions, tours, transportation providers, cruise lines, vessels, airlines, travel protection companies, attractions, or other travel-related suppliers who provide goods or services for the Passenger(s)' trip. Passenger(s) acknowledge and agree that Bucket My List shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, delay, inconvenience or injury to Passenger(s) or group members as a result of a breach of contract, act or omission whether wilful or negligent, criminal or otherwise of any person other than Bucket My List or its direct employees, including but not limited to these Suppliers, their employees, agents, servants, or representatives.
Suppliers reserve the right to deviate from the direct, customary and/or scheduled route or itinerary for any reason, without limitation and without notice. Passenger(s) acknowledge and agree that Bucket My List is not responsible for Supplier deviations, delays, cancellations, mandated overnight stays, missed connections or any other condition beyond its control. Bucket My List is not liable for any loss due to passenger's gambling and is not responsible for any purchases made while on the trip.
Bucket My List recommends that all Passengers be in good physical and mental health and have medical approval to travel. Any physical disabilities must be reported to Bucket My List at the time of reservation upon initial booking so Bucket My List can contact the Suppliers to investigate amenities and/or special accommodations offered. Passenger is required to provide his or her own personal or individually prescribed devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, or similar devices. If more than minor assistance is needed, Suppliers may require that the Passenger be accompanied by a companion who is capable of, and responsible for, providing such assistance. Suppliers often reserve the right to reject Passengers whose mental or physical condition may interfere with the itinerary. Passenger(s) acknowledge and agree that Bucket My List shall be held harmless for any and all claims relating to Supplier rejection relating to mental or physical condition of the passenger.
While Bucket My List prides itself on selecting top quality Suppliers, no undertaking, guarantee or warranty is given or shall be implied as to the fitness/quality or condition of the Supplier's accommodations, transportation, or any food, drink, medicine, or provisions supplied. Passenger(s) acknowledge and agree that Bucket My List shall not be responsible for refunding, either fully or partially, any amounts paid due to unsatisfactory services from any supplier. In no event shall Bucket My List be liable for any accident which occurs in hotels, in resorts, on airplanes/in airports, on buses/in bus stations, on trains/in train stations, on board a cruise ship, on tenders, on shore excursions, or during any mode of transportation encountered during the trip, resulting from equipment or any other cause. The Passenger admits a full understanding of the nature and character of the mode of transport and assumes all risks of travel, transportation and handling of passengers and baggage.
Without limitation, Passenger(s) assume the risk of, and agree that Bucket My List is not liable for any damages arising from or related to any act of God or public enemies, arrest, restraints of any government or rulers of people, piracy, war, revolution, extortion, terrorist activity, threatened or actual rebellion, political upheaval, civil unrest, riots, fire, lockouts, explosion, collision, weather conditions, dangers incident to the sea, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, abnormal conditions or developments, closure of airports/seaports/hotels/train stations, carrier or supplier logistical problems, computer problems stranding, food or water poisoning, illness, grounding, perils of the sea, rivers, canals, locks or other waters, perils of navigation of any kind, theft, accident to or from machinery, boilers, or latent defects even though existing at commencement of the trip, desertion or revolt of crew, or lost/damaged/delayed luggage.
The Terms and Conditions may be amended or modified by Bucket My List at any time without notice. It is therefore essential that you consult the Terms and Conditions prior to making each and every booking, particularly in order to ensure what provisions are in operation in case it has been changed since the last time an order was placed by you.
Only those who have accepted the Terms and Conditions and affirmatively indicated their consent to be bound by the Terms and Conditions may make a booking with Bucket My List. Without this acceptance, any order is subject to cancellation at any time.
If any provision of this agreement shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this agreement and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
The Company hereby expressly disclaims any implied warranties imputed by the laws of any jurisdiction or country other than those where it is operating its offices.
We will always endeavour to resolve any complaints on the spot. However, if the matter cannot be resolved, you must write to Bucket My List, within 15 days of the end of the trip. We will try to resolve the problem as promptly as possible. In the unlikely event that the problem is not amicably resolved the case/dispute shall be referred to a sole arbitrator who shall be an independent and neutral third party identified by Bucket My List. The place of arbitration shall be Gurgaon, Haryana OR Singapore (as applicable) and the arbitration proceedings shall be in the English language. If, however both the parties amicably and mutually agree to refer the case to the court; may do so (only after giving their consent in writing). The Terms and Conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with the Laws of India or Singapore (as applicable).
© 2023 Bucket My List


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How to Be Charitable on Your Wedding Day
We at Loving Invitations hope you've had a wonderful Christmas with your nearest and dearest. Christmas, as we all know, is a time for celebrating with friends and family. It's also a time to show goodwill and kindness toward others. For this reason, many people choose to give to charitable causes at Christmas time, and many charities will renew their appeals for assistance at this time of year. There are countless worthy charities, all of which deserve all the support they can get.
Of course, giving to charity is a wonderful thing to do at any time of the year, not just Christmas. Charities rely on the kindness of ordinary people in order to carry out their missions, and they are constantly appealing for help. Almost any large gathering of people presents an opportunity to raise funds for worthy causes, and weddings are no exception to this. So, in the spirit of Christmas charity, we'd like to offer you some tips on incorporating charity into your wedding day. We hope you'll find them interesting.
Present Your Guests With Charity Wedding Favours
We've written in the past about wedding favours and how they're a great way to make your guests feel appreciated. We've also mentioned that making a charitable donation on behalf of your guests is a great choice of wedding favour. Charity wedding favours are increasingly popular, and many charities will offer to make specific arrangements for this purpose. This will usually include tokens, such as pins or flowers, that you and your guests can use to show support. If you'd rather offer a more tangible sort of wedding favour, remember than many charities raise money by selling chocolate or other confectionary, which make ideal wedding favours.
Forgo Your Gifts in Favour of Donations
It's customary to present a gift to the bride and groom at a wedding. Naturally, we all enjoy receiving gifts, but perhaps you already have all of the material possessions you need. If this is the case, asking your guests to make a charitable donation in lieu of a gift is a great way to do something really positive on the occasion of your wedding. There may be a particular cause which is close to your heart, and you can let your guests know that you'd greatly appreciate their generosity in giving to that cause. If you're planning to do this, make sure you let your guests know as early as possible. Consider noting on your invitations that you'd prefer charitable donations to gifts.
Arrange a Collection for Charity
You may consider arranging a collection for charity during your ceremony, your reception, or both. If your ceremony will take place in a place of worship, consider asking the celebrant of the wedding ceremony for help organising a collection. Places of worship regularly engage in charitable work and charity fundraising, so your celebrant will be more than happy to help. If organising a collection during your reception, consider simply having a donation box, so that guests can donate at their leisure, without feeling pressured to do so.
Consider Donating Your Wedding Dress and Other Attire
Many charities accept clothes and other items as donations, which can then be sold to raise funds. You may find it difficult to part with your wedding dress, but remember that doing so could raise a substantial sum for a good cause, as well as giving your beloved dress a chance to shine again on someone else's wedding day. The groom's and groomsmen's suits would also make a valuable donation to any charity, as would the bridesmaids' dresses.
Still looking for the perfect wedding invitations and stationery for your big day? Have a look at our full range of wedding invitations and stationery here: http://www.lovinginvitations.ie/product-category/wedding-invitations/


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The dirty little secret about simple: It's actually hard to do. That's why most people make complex stuff. Simple requires deep thought, discipline, and patience – things that many companies lack. That leaves room for you. Do something simpler than your competitors and you'll win over a lot of people.
There are only three major items on Chipotle's menu: burritos, tacos, and salads. In Chipotle's Secret Salsa, Founder and CEO Steve Ells sums up its business model in a single sentence: "Focus on just a few things, and do them better than anybody else."
One thing you won't find at Chipotle is dessert. Restaurant analysts say a cookie or other dessert at the end of the food line could instantly boost sales by 10 percent or more there. Ells doesn't care. "We've had 10 years of double-digit comps in a row, and we've done that without cookies," he says. "So why start now? I see only the downside to adding cookies."
The yogurt chain Pinkberry started off by selling only two flavors of yogurt: original and green tea. That meant fewer worries about inventory, machinery, recipes, and other complications that would have resulted from selling a variety of products. Instead the company focused on flavor. It's now a chain with dozens of stores and devout fans who refer to the yogurt as "Crackberry." (Ever think about how your product would sound with "crack" as a prefix?)
This isn't just for restaurants either. Nintendo has won big by doing less than competitors. The Flip has won a big percentage of the camcorder market by doing less. Fixed-gear bikes have been growing in popularity due to their simple, low-maintenance design.
You can try to win a features arms race by offering everything under the sun. Or you can just focus on a couple of things and do 'em really well and get people who really love those things to love your product. For little guys, that's a smarter route.
When you choose that path, you get clarity. Everything is simpler. It's simpler to explain your product. It's simpler for people to understand. It's simpler to change it. It's simpler to maintain it. It's simpler to start using it. The ingredients are simpler. The packaging is simpler. Supporting it is simpler. The manual is simpler. Figuring out your message is simpler. And most importantly, succeeding is simpler.