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The Mind of James Donahue
Human Origins
Was Adam An Alien Half-Breed? Everybody knows
the Bible story about the origin of the human race.
The Hebrew god Jehova, also called Elohim, created a man
named Adam and a woman named Eve and placed them in a garden called Eden. This is an ancient story shared by both the Jewish
and Christian religions. It appears in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament.I suspect this story is a twisted
version of what really happened. Because of personal contact with aliens in parallel but multi-dimensional universes, I know
that we three-dimensional humans are not alone. We never have been alone. We are surrounded by intelligent life that sometimes
enters our dimension and frequently manages to influence our way of life.While I cannot prove it, I suspect that one
or more alien cultures came to Earth in the distant past and used some form of genetic engineering to alter the brains of
existing animals, giving them what we know today as human consciousness. This would explain the sudden rise of great civilizations.
It also would answer the riddle behind the construction of complex cities and stone monuments by a people that just crawled
out of a cave-life existence.How would humans have the sudden ability to hunt, farm, build monuments, and worship
a god unless they were (a.) suddenly created (i.e. genetic manipulation) and also (b.) given personal instruction by another
intelligent life form. Our apparent need to constantly worship something, whether it is a rock or an invisible deity in the
sky, might stem from this kind of mental conditioning.I recently had my nose buried in an unusual book, "The Pleiadian
Agenda" by Barbara Hand Clow, in which the author claims to be a human vehicle for various alien communicators. The aliens
(in her) say they are using this book in an attempt to push certain buttons and awaken readers into an understanding of just
who we are.Clow's work speaks mostly on behalf of the Pleiadians, a race of aliens interested in helping humans rise
above our situation. The author claims that we also share this planet with mainly two other alien races, the Reptilians and
the Anunnaki. It is the Anunnaki who appear to be the villains in this story. These people, who reportedly come to Earth from
the planet Niberu every 3,600 years, appear to be the creators of some of us. But according to the Pleiadians, their motive
was never divine. They made humans to work as their slaves. They created our complex religious belief systems to make sure
we always remain trapped in their elaborate program of social control.The Pleiadians claim that the planet Niberu
is part of our solar system, but it has such a wide arch that it only comes into view every 3,600 years. At that time Niberu
gets close enough to Earth to allow the Anunnaki to physically travel here. Their last visit was at the time of Jesus. Niberu
was the star referred to in the Christmas story. The visit prior to that was made at the time the Sumarian Empire rose to
how the Anunnaki manage to exist on a world that swings so far out of the galaxy it cannot benefit from the heat of the sun,
is not explained.Indeed, this is a wild story. But because I am always willing to consider new ideas and theories,
I filed it away in my head for possible future reference.While studying an ancient translation of The Epic of Gilgamesh,
a type of creation story found in clay tablets among Sumerian ruins dating back to third millenium BC, I was surprised to
find a reference to the Anunnaki:"When the Anunnaki, the judges, come together, and Mammetun, the mother of destinies,
together they decree the fates of men. Life and death they allot but the day of death they do not disclose," one text reads.The
epic also speaks of Anu, "lord of the firmament," an image of God the creator of man.Indeed, the Sumarians believed
that the Anunnaki were gods of a dark underworld where the dead go. Anu was a father of gods, "the great above."The
strange Book of Enoch, an ancient text discovered in Ethiopia in 1773 (and because of references to it in ancient Hebrew writings
considered to be among the oldest manuscripts in existence) talks about 200 angels who came down to earth to mate with the
women. Led by a high angel named Azazyel, the angels produced giant men who ate so much they soon consumed all of the food.
After that they fed on the animals and even the flesh of humans. During this strange occupation, Enoch writes that
humans were taught to make swords, knives, shields, breastplates, mirrors, jewelry, paints and dyes, make cosmetics, and use
valuable stones. The people also learned sorcery, use of roots and plants for medicine, astronomy, astrology and other "signs,"
and the importance of the "motion of the moon."In November I had the privilege of listening to Fr. Charles Moore,
a Roman Catholic Priest, speak on the Coast to Coast radio talk show. Moore, an obvious maverick among the Catholics, also
talked about the Anunnaki and his belief in their control over the human race.It is Moore's opinion that the Anunnaki come to Earth to mine
gold. He said gold is an element that cannot be found on Niberu. The Anunnaki use a form of alchemy to refine gold into a
liquid that they consume. When done correctly, Moore claims the metal makes the consumer young and healthy, gives them great
mental powers, and assures eternal life in this body and in this dimension. The formula that works for the Anunnaki also would
work for humans, he said.Moore believes the Anunnaki created us to mine gold for them. Indeed, gold is regarded by
humans to be a most precious and admired metal. It is worn freely as decorative jewelry. Gold also has been used to make coins
of value. Since hearing that broadcast, I have stumbled upon the writings of yet another Anunnaki believer: Zecharia
Sitchin.Sitchin, an expert in ancient Semitic and Hebrew languages, has stirred much controversy with his books, writings
and lectures. His Earth Chronicles series offers the premise that mythology is the repository of ancient memory, the Bible
is a historic and scientific document, and ancient civilizations were the product of knowledge given to the people by the
Anunnaki.In a lecture at New York University in 1993, Sitchin outlined his theory about human origins and our link
with the Anunnaki. Following are excerpts from his talk:"There is one more planet in our own solar system, not light
years away, that comes between Mars and Jupiter every 3,600 years. People from that planet came to Earth almost half a million
years ago and did many of the things about which we read in the Bible, in the book of Genesis."I prophesize the return
of this planet called Nibiru at this time. The planet is inhabited by intelligent human beings like us who will come and go
between their planet and our planet. They created Homo sapiens. We look like them. I call them the Annunaki," Sitchen said.He said he became interested in the Sixth
Chapter of Genesis, that talks about the Nefilim, or giants, identified as "the sons of the gods who married the daughters
of man in the days before the great flood." In his research, Sitchen said he learned that Nefilim literally means "those who
have come down to earth from the heavens."All the ancient scriptures, the Bible, the Greek myths, the Egyptian myth
and texts, the pyramid texts, everything, led to the Sumerians, whose civilization was the first known one six thousand years
ago. I focused on Sumer, the source of these legends and myths and texts and information. I learned to read the cuneiform
Sumerian texts and came upon their persistent and repeated statements that those beings, whom the Sumerians called Anunnaki,
came to earth from a planet called Nibiru. The planet was designated by the sign of the cross and Nibiru meant, planet of
crossing." Sitchen said scholars who were following this same course of study were debating among themselves whether
Nibiru was Mars or Jupiter. He said he began an extensive study of astrological charts and realized that Nibiru couldn't be
either of these planets. He finally came to the conclusion that it was a wandering planet that crossed through our solar system."Once
I realized that this was the answer, that there is one more planet, everything else fell into place. The meaning of the Mesopotamian
Epic of Creation on which the first chapters of Genesis are based and all details about the Anunnaki, who they were and who
their leaders were and how they traveled from their planet to Earth and how they splashed down in the Persian Gulf and about
their first settlement, their leaders and so on and so on, everything became clear! The Sumerians had immense knowledge. "They
knew about Uranus and Neptune and described them and they knew about Pluto. They were proficient in mathematics and, in many
respects, their knowledge surpassed modern times. They said 'All we know was told to us by the Anunnaki.'"Sitchen said: "The existence of Nibiru is
not a matter of just one more globe in our solar system. This is different, because if Nibiru exists, and the Anunnaki exist,
then the Sumerian claim that they come back to our vicinity every 3,600 years, at which times in the past they gave us civilization,
then we are not alone and there are more advanced people than us in our solar system." In one of his books, "The Twelfth
Planet," Sitchen quotes a Sumerian text that he says explains how Adam, the first Homo sapien, was created. He said the process
was the same as what today is called a "test tube baby process."The knowledge that we have acquired corroborates what
the Sumerians knew six thousand years ago. You wonder how is it possible, how could they know? How, as another example, could
their symbol of the entwined serpents, that we still use today to denote medicine and healing and biology, be 6,000 years
ago, the symbol of Enki, who engaged in genetic engineering to bring about the Adam? That was a symbol of the DNA, the double
helix of DNA," Sitchen said."We look like them. They made us through genetic engineering. They jumped the gun on evolution, and made us to look
like them physically, and to be like them emotionally. That is what the Bible says: Let us make the Adam in our likeness and
after our image. Physically, outwardly and inwardly. So much of what they are, we are."Sitchen even goes one step
farther. He also theorizes that the Anunnaki not only created us through genetic engineering, they "mixed their genes with
those of Ape-woman."This is exactly what the remote viewer finds when he peers into the past. There was, indeed, a genetic manipulation
of existing animals on this planet to create various forms of intelligent Homo sapien. He says, however, that we are not all
from the same source. While the Anunnaki created people, other alien visitors left their own DNA prints on this planet at
even earlier times. This explains the wide variety of races that exist. We are all human, but we seem to have originated from
different places and races in the universe.


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With billions in arts funding, businesses play a key position in guaranteeing the well being and vitality of the nation's arts sector. This fall, customers can help public arts nationwide as they take pleasure in KRIS, one among America's most popular Italian Pinot Grigios. Although it began as a newspaper identified for offering cutting-edge financial and enterprise news. The college has 12 programs including computer science, engineering and drama that are very well-known.
Springboard's Work of Art sequence has been taught at arts organizations, libraries and schools in over eighty communities within the Upper Midwest. You should declare your area of specialization by the end of your third semester at UF. If you do not declare your space of specialization by that time, the School of Business will place a registration maintain in your file. Americans for the Arts works to strengthen partnerships between the arts and businesses and foundations. Digital access to tradition is so widespread that new core activities and business models are needed. Associating themselves with Arts organisations may help them in their permanent search for creativity and constructive branding.
The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration is the answer for individuals who have earned their associate degree and want to earn a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from an ACSB accredited establishment. Must have the ability to complete the Certificate inside the most 24.zero models of Commerce (COMM) elective courses permitted in Arts and Science. The college's best attraction is its tutorial variety, with top-ranked undergraduate faculties of engineering, arts and sciences, structure, resort administration, industrial and labour relations, agriculture and human ecology. Now, the Martial Arts Teachers Association (MATA) does the best job of all, as a result of all the library is up to date three to 4 instances per week. If you like the environments at york or mac better then I would lean towards those schools. Note that there is a maximum of 24.zero items of Commerce (COMM) elective courses permitted in Arts and Science degree programs.
Throughout the three years, you will be uncovered to the completely different forms of artistic arts, starting from theatre, music and dance to the visible arts via lectures, workshops and industry visits. The school takes delight in being on the innovative in each field and encourages college students to consider making use of what they study to the real world. For now do not worry an excessive amount of about it. If you don't just like the business facet of a program you possibly can drop it. If you do not like fantastic arts you can change to atmosphere.
Queen's Certificate in Business has been designed for Queen's University Arts and Science college students who wish to acquire elementary information in the important thing areas of business, so as to broaden their profession choices upon commencement. Most small business homeowners lack the technical and artistic abilities to create such a website.

subset: commoncrawl


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IHttpAsyncHandler Interface
When implemented by a class, defines the contract that HTTP asynchronous handler objects must implement.
For a list of all members of this type, see IHttpAsyncHandler Members.
[Visual Basic] Public Interface IHttpAsyncHandler Inherits IHttpHandler [C#] public interface IHttpAsyncHandler : IHttpHandler [C++] public __gc __interface IHttpAsyncHandler : public IHttpHandler [JScript] public interface IHttpAsyncHandler implements IHttpHandler
Classes that Implement IHttpAsyncHandler
|Defines the methods, properties, and events common to all application objects within an ASP.NET application. This class is the base class for applications defined by the user in the global.asax file.
An IHttpAsyncHandler class can be associated with a file name extension or a particular URL by a configuration file, in the <httpHandlers> section. The ASP.NET infrastructure will then instantiate and call the handler when the corresponding request is received. Alternatively, the handler can be defined in an .ashx file and when the corresponding request is received for the .ashx file the hander will get executed.
Namespace: System.Web
Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003 family
Assembly: System.Web (in System.Web.dll)


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25 Days of Christmas Cinematic Cheer
By: Andrea Karkafi '19 (Guest Writer) Merry December, movie fanatics! The holidays are finally here, so start clearing your schedule! If you are in the mood for some Christmas family favorites, then brew a cup of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows and whipped cream, grab your fluffiest blanket, and curl up in front of the […]» Read more


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New Arrivals
Travel Essentials
Dermatological Sunscreen
Hi-Tech Health
Drug-free Pain Relief
Baby Health & Essentials
Baby Sunscreen
Overnight Underpants
Baby Thermometers
Breast Pumps & Accessories
Nasal Aspirators
Maternity & Prenatal Care
Visit our Optical Store for prescription contacts and glasses from top brands.
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In stock. 192 items available
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These Omron ElectroTHERAPY pads are soft and durable, they adhere gently to your skin for total comfort and will stick to all areas of the body including elbows and knees. Reuse these pre-gelled, self-stick pads 150 times or for up to five months.
Rated 4.4 out of 5 based on 9 reviews.
Great product!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That the replacements are available is again remarkable
Fast shipping what I wanted
I would have given this a 4; however the pads don't stick on your body (even without putting on any lotions) very well; otherwise it works well for my shoulders
Not sure how long the life of these pads are - not sure if I'm cleaning them too often or I need to make more certain of no lotion on skin (almost never). Otherwise , the product is good.
Nice portable tens unit, pads stick well
Just bought these so, I could use my TENS machine longer
They'll need replacing every few years if you take care of them.
These pads work great and they last quite awhile!
View More
*All shipping prices displayed are for the lower 48 states only. We do not sell internationally.
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Hantor can scale development teams rapidly.Read More >>
As an enterprise grows, scalability becomes one of the biggest challenges in terms of pooling and allocating resources, as well as adding new talent to the existing pool. Granted, growth is a good thing, but expanding without the proper team can be a frustrating and a tedious process.
Hantor can help scale development resources quickly, helping an organization meet its goals in an efficient manner, whether three developers or twenty are needed.
We work with existing teams to increase efficiency, help complete pending projects, and boost performance.


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DAYTONA BEACH HOMES have been added to our Disney Homes properties. Daytona Beach is only an hour drive to the attractions in the Kissimmee/Orlando area.
The Daytona Beach Properties range from Beach Cottages to Castles. Prices range from $595.00 to $8,000.00 per week. All the homes for Daytona Beach say Daytona Beach to the right of the picture. If not mentioned...then the homes are in the Disney Area of Kissimmee.
Keep in mind that the prices for the Daytona area are rather high during the Event Weeks of Daytona 500, Bike Week, Pepsi 500 and Race Week. If you're not interested in the events, check out the low season rates. We have other properties not shown, call us for information!
We can offer last minute specials on the Daytona Properties
For a Vacation of a Lifetime...bring a few families, rent a large home and split the cost!
Life is about memories...make some that your family will be talking about for years to come.
Just do it!


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RIVERVIEW, Mo. (KMOV) – Teen calls police when suspects kick in the front door of his Riverview Garden house late Tuesday night.
Police say a 14-year-old boy called for help when four suspects broke into the home on the 10000 block of Diamond Drive just before midnight and started demanding cell phones.
Victims told police two of the suspects were armed with weapons; one of which was reportedly an AK-47 assault rifle.
Another teen sleeping upstairs woke up as the suspects started riffling through the house.
Authorities said one suspect hit the 14-year-old with the gun. He suffered minor injuries. He was later checked out by medical personnel on scene.
The suspects were described to police as four black males in their late teens; three of them were wearing hooded sweatshirts and jeans.
Victims said one suspect had a red bandana over his face while another used a t-shirt.
The suspects were able to obtain two cell phones, an iPod and a television before fleeing.
Further details into the investigation were not immediately released.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2018 KMOV. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service, and Ad Choices.


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University of Missouri
Home | People | Locations | Program index | Calendar | News | Publications
Continuing education Seminars Courses
MU Extension > calendar
Professional development events
4-H County Council (Session 5 of 5)
Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sedalia1012A Thompson Blvd, Sedalia MO map...
:By Law Section to do xyz
Session topic:
September 4-H Council Meeting - Officer Election
NO Registration
Nan Hutcheson, firstname.lastname@example.com Extension in Pettis Countyphone: 660-827-0591
Add event to your compatible iCalendar such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple iCal.
About | Jobs | Extension councils |
For faculty and staff | For researchers | Giving | Ask an expert | Contact
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of Missouri, all rights reserved, DMCA
and other copyright information
University of Missouri Extension is an equal opportunity/ADA institution.
University of Missouri Extension
© 1993
to 2015 Curators of the University of Missouri, all rights reserved


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Wavesat to Make WiBro Client Chips
January 09, 2006
The silicon designer's deal with SK Telecom could help push faster adoption of mobile WiMax.
Fabless chip company Wavesat has not been pushing hard for the Mobile WiMax future (the difference between 802.16-2004 WiMax and 802.16e Mobile WiMax being that users can move around and stay connected with the latter). That will change now that the company has a deal to provide the silicon for clients that will connect to SK Telecom's WiBro deployment in South Korea. WiBro is the Korean version of the recently approved 802.16e specification, which is coming to market much faster than any other version of the technology.
"We'll work to make a WiBro chipset," says Vijay Dube, Vice President of Business Development for the Quebec-based Wavesat. "It'll be a multi-million dollar agreement. We think its a key part of our strategy, to partner with a key player that will propel us into full mobility."
"There's a substantial market in fixed to simple mobility," says Dube, "and we have substantial design wins in that area." He says the company has 50 customers using the Wavesat chipset. "But this is a strong position for us in the full-mobility mobile handset area."
Wavesat won't make chips for WiBro base stations, but will cooperate with other vendors to make sure they are compatible.
While Dube won't strictly characterize the agreement with SK Telecom as exclusive, he says, "Our understanding is that SK is working with us and no one else."
Wavesat was one of many companies to be part of the WiMax Forum plugfest held in China in November 2005, where it claimed to have achieved easy interoperability with chips and products from companies such as Airspan Networks, Axxcelera Broadband Wireless, Picochip, Aperto Networks, Redline Communications and Sequans Communications. Wavesat has previously stated that it expected WiMax product manufacture to increase sharply when it released a miniPCI module design for 802.16-2004 products running in the 3.5GHz radio frequency band.


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Christian Formation is about lifelong learning about our faith, God and how we live out our faith in our daily life.
Inquirer's Classes are offered annually on an as needed basis, for persons of all ages preparing for Baptism, Confirmation or Reception, and cover general content and specific questions of the Christian faith and the Episcopal Church.
Lenten Series: During the season of Lent we usually have some sort of specialized opportunity for us to grown in our knowledge and love of God. The format of this varies from year to year, but people find that it is a great way to focus their Lenten journey.
Women's Spirituality Group meets Monday morning at 9am, at Charle's House Chapel. This intentional community seeks to support one another in our walk with God. This year we are focusing on the timely topic of "Sabbath." We will be using MaryAnn McKibben's book "Sabbath in the Suburbs" and scripture as the foundation for our time together.
For more information please be in contact with a member of the clergy.


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It is a great day for a hop! Are you ready for some inspiration?
The challenges this month are:
- Challenge #1 Ugly Sweater Inspiration - do you love them or hate them? Let those big shapes and bright colours take centre stage on your projects!
- Challenge #2 Angled Backgrounds - create an angled background for your project
- Challenge #3 10 Minute Craft Dash - time yourself ... you have TEN MINUTES to make a card!
We have assembled a great group ready to share with you what they have been working on this month! I am thrilled to see some new faces today, too!
Start with Jemma and then let each blog link you to the next stop on our hop. (How very Dr. Seuss of me!)
Jemma http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk
Julene http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au
Tina http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com
Annie http://www.artyfartyannie.com
Lesley http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk
Maggie http://maggiebscrapblog.blogspot.fr
Chrissy http://craftychrissycreates.blogspot.co.nz
Leslie http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com
Elaine http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk
Karen http://www.karenscorneroftheweb.blogspot.com
Susanne http://snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com
Virginia http://celtichouse.blogspot.co.uk
Cindy http://www.cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com
Lisa http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de
Don't forget to take a moment to leave a comment on each blog!


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(FootballStL) -- St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola has reinjured his triceps, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.Schefter tweeted "St. Louis WR Danny Amendola reinjured his triceps during practice last week: will see a specialist Monday. Status uncertain and shaky" on Sunday morning around the time the Rams announced Amendola as an inactive against the Washington Redskins.Amendola dislocated his elbow in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Next week is the Rams bye week.
by Scott Bierman, FootballStL
-follow me on Twitter @Scott_Bierman
Keep up with the latest Rams news - Download the FootballStL app - It is free and available for Droid, iPhone and Blackberry devices


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Teardrops of luscious semi-precious stone captivate the imagination and exude beauty. Handcrafted by artist Cheryl Sirkus in her California studio, each earring features a stone selected for its quality and expertly topped with sterling and glass beads.
- Semi-precious stone, glass, & silver-plated base metal
- Sterling-plated french hooks
- Approximately 1.5" L (3.8 cm)
- Handmade in the U.S.A.
For bulk pricing on quantities of 25 or more, please contact our Customer Service department at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Customer Reviews
- March 14, 2018
Bought the green jasper earrings for my daughter and she loves them, so I have to think they are good too. Bought the midnight lapis earrings for my wife because they are in her favorite color, and she loves them, so I am batting two for two
- March 4, 2018
I bought two pairs - the Lapis and Turquoise and the Midnight Lapis. They are beautiful and are a real addition to my collection. They will be wonderful when my blue hair is freshly done
- November 17, 2017
Exactly as pictured. Very nice size and not heavy at all. I am very pleased with them.
- November 16, 2017
I got the lapis and turquoise ones for a friend. They look pretty, and aren't too long or heavy. They seem to be made pretty well, but she has to wear them some to see if they'll fall apart. I think these were a good purchase.
- January 15, 2017
these were a gift and the friend i gave them to LOVED them
- December 30, 2016
These are so pretty and I enjoy wearing them.
- December 25, 2016
I just love them . they are so cute
- August 19, 2016
I purchased the Denim Jasper, Green Jasper and Lapis & Turzuoise earrings and I love them. The color is beautiful. They are not too heavy. I'm very happy with this purchase.


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WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. President George W. Bush will make a statement Tuesday morning on his administration's response to the crisis in financial markets.
The statement will come a day after the House dealt a blow to the White House's hopes to implement a $700 billion rescue package. The plan was rejected in a bipartisan vote, sending stock markets plummeting and forcing the administration to resume negotiations on a way forward.
The White House said the statement will be at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 GMT).
After the House vote Monday, the administration said it will continue working to ensure the market crisis doesn't provoke further damage to the broader economy.
I'm going to see if I can find any other cases that would shine more light on whether this would be constitutional or not.


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WA private hospitals leading the way
The private healthcare system in Western Australia is excelling, with local hospitals featuring prominently a national program recognising commitment to innovation, safety and quality in healthcare.
Seven of the 38 hospitals to receive grants from the 2007 Medibank Private Safety and Clinical Improvement program hail from Perth and regional Western Australia, an exceptional effort acknowledged today at an official presentation function in Perth.
The grants are designed to fund projects that make a tangible difference to patient safety and clinical quality, and will inject over $241,000 into the private hospital system for this purpose, almost a quarter of the total funding made available in the current program.
More than one million dollars has been granted by Medibank Private to hospitals around Australia this year. In the last two years Medibank Private has provided $1.9 million in funding for 73 quality and safety projects across Australia.
Locally based St John of God Health Care has been particularly successful in 2007, with the group's Bunbury, Subiaco and Geraldton campuses implementing projects extending their. Additionally a project involving St John of God hospitals in Victoria is being run from it's Perth headquarters.
The other Western Australian hospitals to receive a grant were Bethesda Hospital, Hollywood Private, Perth Clinic and Mercy Hospital Mount Lawley.
Types of projects funded range from the practical such as falls prevention and infection control, through to the development of new techniques to manage patient transition from hospital to home.
Medibank Private's General Manager Western, Bob Payne, praised the local projects as being of a particularly high standard.
"Quality and safety is emerging as the number one issue in Australian health care, so it is inspiring that local private hospitals are now being recognised for their effort and innovation.
"Australia has some of the best quality hospital care in the world, but there is always room for improvement, and improvement and innovation should be supported. Medibank Private is proud to be working with hospitals to improve health outcomes, not just for our members, but for everyone.
"And its great to see some real innovation coming not just from the big, nationwide hospital networks like St John of God Health Care and Ramsay Health Care, but also from some of the independent providers, such as Bethesda Hospital and Mercy Hospital Mount Lawley," Mr Payne said.
Importantly, the lessons learned from the various quality and safety projects funded over the last two years will be shared throughout the health sector, extending the value of individual projects far beyond the hospitals in which they are run.
For further information please contact:
James Connors - T. (03) 8622 5163 or 0433 992 677
E: email@example.com
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The Beauty of Bespoke Decor
All under your budget
About Us
Elizabeth R. is the leading event management company in Nigeria. Established in 2003, our goal has been to create bespoke exceptional events for our varied clientele.
We believe every event has got a brand/reputation to protect and promote, that is why we pay the utmost attention to detail in all our undertakings.
Got Questions?
Call us for a Free Consultation on 0811 440 4754
Our Clients
Corporate Event Managers
Incorporated in 2003 as an Events Management company, Elizabeth R is committed to fulfilling clients' needs and expectations through unsurpassed services and creative thinking. We are fully aware of the dynamic environment in which we operate in today and recognize the increasing need to incorporate the 'wow' factor into every aspect of Events Planning. We pride ourselves in being able to differentiate between an ordinary and an exceptional event.
Adetutu & Oladimeji
"Thank you for all your hard work and effort put into our wedding reception. We've gotten so many compliments on the venue and are so happy we chose The Dorchester. You were great to work with!"
Chief Mrs. Ogunbadejo
"Everything was lovely! Thank you! This was my daughter's dream wedding and your venue was the only place we looked at because it was the only place she wanted…it was wonderful!!!"
Sarah & Yomi
"I wanted to thank you all at The Dorchester Event Center for making our wedding absolutely wonderful! Everybody was extremely helpful and friendly! Thank you for everything!"
Get in touch with us
You can reach us via any of the channels below:


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With proper documentation, cats can travel freely throughout the United States. Hawaii is the only exception, requiring all entering cats to be quarantined for 30 to 120 days. Check with officials prior to your trip or move.read more
Cats reach full skeletal development when they are this old:
You've heard of homeopathic remedies for cats before, but should you use them? We'll break down everything you need to know.Read More
It might seem impossible, but with these simple steps your cat will be using her litter box in no time.Read More


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At high noon on Wednesday, Barack Obama went on television to announce a roster of executive orders intended to prevent some of the worst excesses of unrestricted gun ownership. He also called on Congress to step up to the plate and toughen the nation's gun laws. The National Rifle Association was ready too – with one of the sickest TV commercials ever produced. By J BROOKS SPECTOR.
These proposals follow the recommendations of a vice presidential task force convened after the recent shootings of 20 elementary students and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut to look into what could be done under current law and to make further recommendations for congressional action. This task force and Wednesday's announcements respond to a rising tide of national revulsion over mass killings like the one in Newtown.
When Obama spoke to the Newtown community, and to the nation, a few days after the killings, he had said: "What choice do we have? Are we really prepared to say that we're powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?" These comments seemed a definitive sign his administration would finally make a run for some form of gun control legislation, especially since he added, "Surely we can do better than this. We have an obligation to try." (Daily Maverick coverage of the initial events was contained in All guns blazing: The stark reality beyond US firearm laws.)
In a half-minute video planned as a pre-emptive response to Obama's announcements, the National Rifle Association (NRA) – the leading lobby group opposing any form of gun ownership restrictions – called Obama an "elitist hypocrite" for allowing (armed) Secret Service officers to protect his two daughters. (The NRA has been widely criticised for proposing a programme to put armed guards in every school in the country, following the killings in Newtown.)
Watch: NRA's ad
For many years, Americans have endured repeat outrages of multiple killings – usually by very troubled individuals armed with high-powered weapons and large capacity ammunition clips. According to international comparative data, Americans have about 270 million firearms in their collective personal possession, and a significant number of those are assault weapons capable of quickly firing multiple rounds. While many gun owners defend their position on weapons by pointing to their long-time participation in hunting and target shooting, others argue that gun ownership is an essential element in the protection of family and property.
However, while much of the vociferous opposition to regulations, registration or limits on gun ownership derives from those rationales, a further basis is the continuing resilience of "the myth of the frontier", the saga of those sturdy, armed citizens defending a hard-won civilisation from the outrages of Native Americans, wild animals and criminal gangs, as well as a fear on the part of some that gun ownership is the final redoubt against a potentially tyrannical government. This, in turn, draws on a particular reading of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, enthusiastically promoted by the NRA, whose words, in full, read: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Although the NRA was, for many years, an association interested in marksmanship training and a regulated hunting culture, since the 1970s, as part of the hardening of right-wing opposition to liberal-left attitudes, the NRA increasingly has taken on a rigid opposition to any form of gun ownership and sales regulation on the basis of that amendment's wording – despite the realities of mounting carnage. Many scholars (and grammarians) argue, however, that this constitutional amendment was primarily designed to prevent federal government usurpation of the rights of citizens to participate in state militias – based on the experiences of those militias in the country's Revolutionary War as a revolt against the British crown – rather than its call to encourage untrammelled weapons ownership by anybody who wants one, or two or three. Or 58.
Watch: Pierce Morgan "debate" conspiracy theorist Alex Jones (warning: not for the faint-hearted)
However, with Obama's dramatic announcements of his executive orders and his call to Congress to act on weapons regulation, the Obama administration has drawn one of those metaphorical lines in the sand. In doing this now he is drawing sustenance from popular anger over the most recent killings (the newest polls say a majority of the American population supports more regulation). He is also moving now because of a feeling his mandate from the November 2012 presidential election may make this the best possible moment to press forward on an issue he was notably more reluctant to embrace too closely in his first term.
The problem, of course, is that all such laws will require passage in both houses of Congress. However, Republicans continue to control the lower house and even many Democrats are leery of gun control measures as well – partly by virtue of the issue's "hot button" status with many in the electorate and the significant campaign contributions by the NRA and its allies to many congressional candidates over the years.
In Obama's executive orders announced on Wednesday, he promised to act to tighten enforcement of existing gun laws and to improve the flow of information among federal agencies to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and others who shouldn't have them (such as those with a history of mental issues). He also announced plans to ask Congress to consider new legislation that would include an actual ban on assault weapons, would impose real limits on high-capacity magazines, provide for expanded background checks for gun purchases and set up new gun trafficking laws to help restrict the spread of weapons across the country.
The New York Times reported just after the speech "officials said the president will call for a new and tougher ban on military style assault weapons and to limit the number of rounds that can be in a magazine to 10. That would eliminate the 30-round magazines that were used in Newtown as well as other mass shootings at Virginia Tech, a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, and a congresswoman's public event in Tucson, Arizona." Moreover, "The proposals also would require criminal background checks for all gun sales, closing the longstanding loophole that allows gun buyers to avoid such checks by purchasing their weapons at gun shows or from a private seller. The background database, in place since 1996, has stopped 1.5 million sales to felons, fugitives, convicted domestic abusers and others, but today nearly 40% of all gun sales are exempt from the system."
In making his announcements, Obama added, "In the days ahead, I intend to use whatever weight this office holds to make them a reality. If there's even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try." The president began his comments by drawing on some of the letters he received from children after the Newtown slaughter – and some of these children were in the audience for his announcement. Obama said, "This is our first task as a society. Keeping our children safe. This is how we will be judged. And their voices should compel us to change."
Despite the rising tide of public support for further gun control measures, the Obama administration has already admitted it is going to be a very hard road to success. Bruce Reed, Joe Biden's chief of staff, told a group of liberal activists the evening prior to the president's announcement that getting Congress to actually pass these proposals will be even harder than it was to get Congress to pass the 1994 ban on assault weapons – a ban that has now expired.
But, despite such difficulties, Reed added both the president and vice president would be taking their message across the nation. Naturally, the NRA is striking back – first was that video accusing Obama of being an "elitist hypocrite". In response, the White House fired right back with, "Most Americans agree that a president's children should not be used as pawns in a political fight. But to go so far as to make the safety of the president's children the subject of an attack ad is repugnant and cowardly." Generally, picking on a presidential wife, children or pet is usually a very clear sign that the gloves have truly come off.
While the more limited executive orders carry the effective force of law, getting Congress to pass the more extensive measures will require the president expend real political capital and go into high gear to work with gun control supporters to generate the kind of concentrated pressure on Congress so that it finally produces legislation. This fight will measure just how strong the NRA's hold on the national psyche , or at least that part of it that relates to the mystique of guns,– really and truly is after the last mass slaughter. This battle may well be the domestic policy fight – even more than squabbles over the budget and debt limit – that helps define the character of the Obama administration's second term of office. DM
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Photo: U.S. President Barack Obama, flanked by 8-year old letter writer Hinna Zeejah (L), 10-year old letter writer Taejah Goode (3rd L), 11-year old letter writer Julia Stokes and 8-year old letter writer Grant Fritz (R, signs executive orders on gun violence during an event at the White House in Washington, January 16, 2013. Behind the children, are Julia's Dad Dr. Theophil Stokes (2nd R) and Kimberly Graves (4thL), Taejah's mom. Vice President Joe Biden delivered his recommendations to Obama after holding a series of meetings with representatives from the weapons and entertainment industries as requested by the president after the December 14 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six adults were killed. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Bladerunner (1980s version) is a visual feast due in large part to the Hollywood Actors Strike. This allowed the designers an extra three months to refine the sets and props.


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The Comilla Model was a rural development programme launched in 1959[1] by the Pakistan Academy for Rural Development (renamed in 1971 the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development). The Academy, which is located on the outskirts of Comilla town, was founded by Akhter Hameed Khan, the cooperative pioneer who was responsible for developing and launching the programme.[2]
While the results of the Model ultimately frustrated Khan's ambitions, it has important implications for rural community development, particularly cooperative microfinance and microcredit[3][4]
Origins and purpose Edit
The Comilla Model was Khan's reply to the failure of Village Agricultural and Industrial Development (V-AID) programme, launched in 1953 in East and West Pakistan with technical assistance from the US government. The V-AID was a governmental level attempt to promote citizens participation in the sphere of rural development.[5]
Khan argued that for Comilla to develop rapidly, the farmers in its villages must be able to rapidly expand their production and sales. The main constraint they faced was inadequate local infrastructure – especially roads, drains, embankments and irrigation. But even if the government had the resources to build this infrastructure, Khan argued, the problem would not be solved. Once constructed, infrastructure must be regularly maintained. The benefits of it must be managed effectively based on rules that users could accept and predict. In Khan's view it was essential to develop 'vigorous local institutions' capable of performing this type of local maintenance and management.[6]
For this reason, the Comilla Model piloted a methodology for stimulating agricultural and rural development, based on the principle of grassroots cooperative participation by the people.[7] Dr. Khan found inspiration for the cooperative development aspect of his Model from German cooperative pioneer FW Raiffeisen, whose rural credit unions had been an early example of institution-building in predominantly non-literate communities.
Implementation Edit
To simultaneously address problems caused by the inadequacy of both local infrastructure and local institutions, the Model integrated four distinct components in every thana (sub-district) where it was implemented:
1. establishment of a training and development centre,
2. a road-drainage embankment works program,
3. a decentralized, small scale irrigation program, and
4. a two-tiered cooperative system, with primary cooperatives operating in the villages, and federations operating at thana level.[8]
Considerable emphasis was placed on distribution of agricultural inputs and extension services, for example by helping farmers to grow potatoes in the sandy Comilla soil, and using cold storage technology.[9]
Another key implementation challenge, Dr. Khan wrote, was to ensure that the four programs grew stronger at the same time in a mutually supporting way. In particular,
"… the relation between the Rural Works and Irrigation Programmes and the cooperatives is very close and vital. The first two develop the productive capacity of the land and increase the farmer's income. The cooperatives safeguard the farmers from money lenders and enable them to modernize their farming methods. The cooperatives promote the accumulation of self-owned capital through thrift and they promote managerial and technical skill through training. Their ultimate aim is self-financing and self-management."[10]
In the villages, the Academy introduced a number of pilot projects beginning in 1959. These pilot projects were guided by two goals: first, to provide a real-life learning situation for its trainees; and second, to devise pilot programmes and institutions which could serve as models capable of replication.[11] In guiding and operating the projects, a set of principles and strategies were formulated as the bases for developing the pilot projects, resulting in a unique rural development approach.[12]
The main features of the Comilla Model were:
- The promotion of development and of refining of various institutions, both public and private, and establishing a system of interrelationships between them;
- Involvement of both public and private sectors in the process of rural development;
- Development of leadership in every village, including managers, model farmers, women organizers, youth leaders, and village accountants, to manage and sustain the development efforts;
- Development of three basic infrastructures (administrative, physical and organisational);
- Priority on decentralized and coordinated rural administration in coordination with officials of various government departments and the representatives of public organisations.
- Integration and coordination of the various developing services, institutions and projects;
- Education, organisation and discipline;
- Economic planning and technology;
- Development of a stable and progressive agriculture to improve the conditions of the farmers, and provide employment to rural labour force.
These features distinguish the Comilla Model from other rural development approaches, such as community development, the target group approach, and intensive area development.[13]
Difficulties Edit
For various reasons the Comilla Model was unable to achieve its goal. It had particular troubles with government relations and efforts to build strong cooperative institutions. According to Dr Khan:
… in actual practice, the four programs suffered from distortion, mismanagement, corruption and subversion. After Independence of Bangladesh, while the First Five Year Plan gave general endorsement, both theoretical criticisms and practical difficulties became more severe."[14]
Escalating loan defaults became a particularly important concern, undermining the hope that the cooperatives would become self-reliant and develop into strong institutions. Dr. Khan reported that influential local people had secured management positions in the cooperatives. "They are powerful and well informed. They know that the old sanctions (certificates, notices, pressure by officers) are now dead, and they can repudiate their obligations with impunity."[15] In addition, the new government annulled loans issued by its pre-independence predecessor.
Chowdhury reports that by 1979 only 61 of the 400 cooperatives were still functioning. She attributes this result to four factors: fraud/lack of internal controls, stagnation, diversion of funds, and ineffective external supervision. The central problem of fraud and weak controls "was possible not only because of individual dishonesty, but because the people were not made aware of their rights, and were not in a position to voice their rights ..."[16]
At the same time, there were difficulties with government relations made more difficult by the departure of Khan for Pakistan.
The officers and change agents were not ready to plan with the local people and to report to them directly…. The dynamic personality of Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan helped to mobilize and harmonize diverse groups to work towards a common goal for rural development. Afterwards, the contradictions within the Comilla approach manifested themselves."[17]
Lessons from the Comilla experience Edit
Comilla Model provided an experience to be profited by later practitioners. In the early years of BRAC (NGO) and Grameen Bank in the 1970s, both Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Fazle Hasan Abed tested cooperative approaches to delivering credit to poor people. They concluded that the cooperative strategy could not work in rural Bangladesh. Instead, both directly targeted the poorest people, while attempting to keep out those who were not poor.
Dowla & Barua recently summarized the thinking at Grameen Bank:
A major reason for the prior failure of credit cooperatives in Bangladesh was that the groups were too big and consisted of people with varied economic backgrounds. These large groups did not work because the more affluent members captured the organizations.[18]
Later cooperative development initiatives in Bangladesh, like RD-12 and the Swanirvar ('self-reliance') Movement also adopted a targeting strategy.[19]
Both Yunus and Abed also attempted to catalyze collective enterprises that were locally owned and controlled. However, problems with internal control and elite manipulation continued, and by the 1990s Grameen and BRAC, along with all the main microfinance NGOs in Bangladesh, had abandoned cooperative approaches and developed highly centralized control and service delivery structures.
Continuing debatesEdit
The merits of poverty-targeting continue to stimulate debate in microfinance. While many microcredit institutions have adopted poverty-targeting, most cooperatives reject it. The 1st principle in the Statement on the Co-operative Identity affirms that cooperatives are open to all persons in a community. Poverty-targeting is seen as 'reverse discrimination' on the basis of social or economic status.
In this view, the main problem with the Comilla Model was that it neglected the 4th cooperative principle: independence from government. This neglect is clearly visible in the Khan's initial design of the Model, since the cooperatives were conceived of as an instrument for maintaining public infrastructure, and were dependent on the delivery of government extension services and credit for their success. Cooperatives however, have fallen prey to elite capture in many oral communities, and in less densely populated nations than Bangladesh, it still proves challenging to deliver microfinance to them.
Notes Edit
- ↑ "Allama Mashriqi and Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan: Two Legends of Pakistan", by Nasim Yousaf, ISBN 1-4010-9097-4 (2003)http://www.nasimyousaf.info
- ↑ Akhter Hameed Khan, Director's Speech in First Annual Report, Comilla, 1960.
- ↑ Arthur F Raper, Rural Development in Action: The Comprehensive Experiment at Comilla, East Pakistan, Cornell University Press: Ithaca]
- ↑ 2007, Nasim Yousaf,"Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan - The Pioneer of Microcredit"http://www.akhtar-hameed-khan.8m.com/drkhan-microcredit.pdf
- ↑ The Works of Akhter Hameed Khan. Volume I-III. Compiled by the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development, Kothbari, Comilla. (1983)
- ↑ The Works of Akhter Hameed Khan. Volume II. p. 190.
- ↑ Arthur F Raper, Rural Development in Action: The Comprehensive Experiment at Comilla, East Pakistan, Cornell University Press: Ithaca (1970)
- ↑ Akhter Hameed Khan, Works of Akhter Hameed Khan, Vol. II, p. 190.
- ↑ Chowdhury, Aditee Nag, Let Grassroots Speak: People's Participation Self-Help Groups and NGO's in Bangladesh, University Press Ltd., Dhaka, 1989, p. 50.
- ↑ Akhter Hameed Khan, Works of Akhter Hameed Khan, Vol. II, p. 127.
- ↑ Akhter Hameed Khan, Works of Akhter Hameed Khan, Vol. III.
- ↑ http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/C_0309.htm at BANGLAPEDIA webpage
- ↑ MA Quddus (ed.) Rural Development in Bangladesh, Comilla, 1993
- ↑ The Works of Akhter Hameed Khan. Volume II, pp. 190-91
- ↑ The Works of Akhter Hameed Khan. Volume II, pp. 135.
- ↑ Aditee Nag Chowdhury, Let Grassroots Speak, p. 54.
- ↑ Aditee Nag Chowdhury, Let Grassroots Speak, p. 53
- ↑ Asif Dowla & Dipal Barua. The Poor Always Pay Back: The Grameen II Story Kumarian Press Inc., Bloomfield, Connecticut, 2006, p. 18
- ↑ Khandker, Shahidur R., Fighting Poverty with Microcredit: Experience in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Edition, The University Press Ltd., Dhaka, 1999, pp. 17-18


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Top 100 Agencies 2014: CDMiConnect
Corporate missions that place patients first aren't necessarily a revolutionary concept. On some level, every entity in the business—ad firm, pharma behemoth, device manufacturer and corner pharmacy alike—does what it does in the interest of helping patients transcend their struggles. At least that's the case in theory, anyway.
But CDMiConnect appears to be living "Patients First" in a way that few other organizations do. Over the last year, the agency invested heavily in research designed to cement this positioning and pick up some thought-leadership cred along the way. "As always, we have to find ways to persuade our clients of our commitment to our patients," says CDMiConnect president Deb Deaver. "What we're doing with 'Patients First' is a big piece of that."
CDMiConnect recently unleashed the first batch of results from the Patients First survey of 3,000 people, which was buttressed with a series of more in-depth follow-up interviews. The first report (of a proposed five) focused on in-office use of mobile devices and found a distinctly different environment than what had existed a few years earlier.
"The waiting room is not just for waiting anymore," says managing partner and executive creative director Dina Peck. "[Patients] are using mobile devices actively, to make their time with the doctor more meaningful… They're so immersed in their smartphones, when their name is finally called it's like, 'What?'" Look for future Patients First installments to address issues CDMiConnect regularly confronts over the course of its client work, likely including the new phenomenon of what the agency calls "digital proxies."
"Somebody might not actively be caring for somebody else, but they're doing the research and giving it to their friends, neighbors and loved ones. It challenges the traditional idea of what we consider to be a caregiver," Peck explains.
As for more traditional ideas of what constitutes a successful year, it's tough to get an accurate read on CDMiConnect's recent success on the new-business front, owing to client covenants that restrict its ability to say much. "We want to brag more than anybody, but it's gotten restrictive," Deaver says. Nonetheless, she reports four significant new clients spread across the country—two on the west coast, one in Chicago and one in Boston—and reports both double-digit growth in 2013 and a similar pace in the first half of 2014.
To better arm agency execs for those conversations with new and prospective clients, CDMiConnect created what Deaver describes as "a common language for productive discussions." That new framework, internally referred to as "Smarter Creative," is designed to raise the bar for the agency's content and thinking.
"We have to ask ourselves: Is this work smarter? Is it simple?," Deaver explains. "Everything we do needs to be motivating. If it doesn't get people to do what we want them to do, which is act, the work hasn't done its job."
As it moves forward relationships with long-time clients like Genentech and more recent ones like BMS and Otsuka, CDMiConnect has smartly and selectively tweaked its approach. To accommodate hesitant and/or risk-averse clients, the agency has begun to offer pilot programs—with the hope that once an organization sees what CDMiConnect can do, it'll sign up for the longer term.
"At the end of the day, I understand where they're coming from," Deaver says. "Do you want to spend $40,000 of media in an area where you haven't proved [the eventual ROI]? No, of course not. This gives them a taste."


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Rage Against the Machine Hate Bush. Finally!
During a decidedly unpatriotic headlining set at the Coachella festival on Sunday, a reunited Rage Against the Machine called for all Bush administration officials to be "hung and tried and shot" (in that order). For Fox News and the Drudge Report, it was just another manifestation of nu metal's well-publicized liberal agenda. But for the head-banging, flag-desecrating RATM fans, it was too little too late: Before this past weekend, Rage had been on hiatus since disbanding in October of 2000, so this was their first public comment on the presidency of George W. Bush.
No one can accuse the band of blaming America first — even Toby Keith beat them to it in January, when he claimed he'd never supported the invasion of Iraq — and they definitely won't be the last: New albums by Björk, Nine Inch Nails, and Rufus Wainwright all take political stances that are at least three years overdue. After the jump, we ask what took them so long.
Who: Rage Against the Machine
What's their beef? In this video clip of Sunday's outburst, RATM mouthpiece Zack de la Rocha criticizes the war in Iraq and compares Bush to a Nazi war criminal — all while Tom Morello noodles treasonously on his Telecaster.
Why so late? For the past few years, three quarters of the band were busy making jock-rock jams with Chris Cornell in Audioslave while De la Rocha dropped off the face of the earth completely.
Why they (probably) hate America: An oft-overlooked provision of the Patriot Act mandates a three-day waiting period before a machine can legally be raged against.
Who: Björk
What's her beef? On Volta's "Declare Independence," over a beat that sounds like a jammed printer, Björk commands listeners to "start your own currency," "make your own stamp," and "raise your flag. … damn colonists, ignore their patronizing."
Why so late? Björk's last record Medulla (2004), which was recorded using only human voices, actually included a reference to "the Bushes and the Osamas," but everyone knows it's impossible to take a hard-line political stance while singing a cappella. This is why Bobby McFerrin's song about the 9/11 conspiracy never got any airplay.
Why she (probably) hates America: The Department of Motor Vehicles' outrageous non-allowance of umlauts on vanity license plates.
Who: Rufus Wainwright
What's his beef? On "Going to a Town," the first single from his upcoming Release the Stars, Wainwright sings, "Do you really think you go to hell for having loved? … I'm so tired of you, America."
Why so late? Wainwright spent the better part of Bush's first term battling a crystal-meth addiction, going to rehab, and indulging his operatic side on 2003's Want One and 2004's Want Two.
Why he (probably) hates America: No tax-exempt status for being the "Gay Messiah."
Who: Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor
What's his beef? NIN's just-released Year Zero, a concept album, imagines a future so irreversibly screwed up by conservative policy that not even Barack Obama can save it: Earth is devastated by global warming, nuclear war, and synthesizers.
Why so late? 2005's With Teeth primarily addressed Reznor's substance-abuse problems with industrial guitars and disco beats.
Why he (probably) hates America: The Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the United States Constitution, which requires state judges to defer to Federal Statutes and U.S. treaties in the event that they should conflict with any state law. Trent is huge on this. —Lane Brown


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Estate Planning
Make a difficult time a little easier.
How estate planning works with your financial plan
Of course, there's your will – a set of instructions that tells your family who should get what and can name a guardian for any of your children under 18 years old (if necessary). You should create documents to designate who should make financial and medical decisions if you can't make them yourself. But that's just part of it.
Your Northwestern Mutual advisor can help you coordinate your estate plan with your other advisors like attorneys, accountants, and tax professionals to do things like set up trusts, minimize estate taxes and administrative costs, protect your estate from mismanagement, and more. You can even talk with them about how to minimize taxes paid on the inheritance you leave behind.
Estate planning can help you:
- set up trusts for your kids.
- divide up property.
- direct charitable donations.
- reduce your estate's administrative costs.
- eliminate or reduce gift and estate taxes.
- protect your estate from mismanagement.
- protect your estate from the claims of creditors and exes.
The shortest known wills are only three words long, reading "all to son" and "all to wife."
Take the next step.
Our financial advisors can help with your estate planning and show you how it fits into your bigger financial plan.Let's Talk


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Dingdong DantesActor
- Video
Dingdong Dantes is a Filipino television presenter, commercial model, and film producer, but most renowned as an actor currently working as an exclusive talent of GMA Network, Chairman of YesPinoy Foundation, Commissioner of the National Youth Commission and manager of his own film studio, AgostoDos Pictures. Recently, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real helped him won the 2015 6th ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama Program.
Before fame
Dingdong Dantes was born to Jose Sixto Jr. and
Angeline( neé Gonzalez). He began his career as a child model at the age of 2, appearing in a television advertisement for a dairy product and several other commercials ensued before joining an all-male dance group called Abztract Dancers, which became regulars on Eat Bulaga! and That's Entertainment. when he was 17, Dantes debuted on GMA Network's youth-oriented T.G.I.S., became one of the most memorable image in Philippine entertainment industry, especially in the 90's.
Personal life
In December 30, 2014, he married the sought-after actress Marian Rivera who he met on the set of 'Marimar' in 2007. The wedding of them was titled "The Royal Wedding" by GMA as they are A-list exclusive artists of GMA network.


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Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with street festivals and music. In some cities, there are parades and mariachi performances for the public.Continue Reading
Cinco de Mayo marks the day when Mexico's army defeated the French during the Battle of Puebla. In the United States, it is a holiday that celebrates Mexican history and culture, with the biggest celebrations taking place in towns and cities with a strong Mexican population. Traditional celebrations include parades, mariachi music, parties, Mexican folk dancing and Mexican cuisine. Some of the biggest celebrations take place in Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago.
People who want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with their family can:


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Jayma Mays attended the Credit: Style.com & Getty" target="_blank">2012 SAG Awards held on a sunny day in in LA this afternoon.
The 'Glee' star was one of the first to bring some glitz to the red carpet wearing a gunmetal Reem Acra Fall 2011 gown.
Her gown has a neckline and sexy open-back with a lace-panel shows off her gorgeous figure.
Jayma wore her signature copper hair in a sleek, high ponytail for a refreshing change.
Teardrop white stone earrings finished the gorgeous ensemble.
Credit: Style.com & Getty


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E-commerce stems out as undoubtedly one of the elemental pillars of a internet marketing business entity.
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Cet auteur voit son nom accompagné de l'abréviation "Esq" ("Esquire" - "cavalier"), signifiant une origine nobiliaire. On sait également qu'il était membre de la Egyptian Society.
L'ouvrage, relatif aux pyramides de Guizeh, que l'on connaît de lui est un opuscule d'une cinquantaine de pages : A Letter from Alexandria, on the evidence of the practical application of the quadrature of the circle, in the configuration of the Great Pyramids of Gizeh, 1838. Il comporte de savants calculs basés sur les mesures, la forme, l'inclinaison des faces des pyramides et leur emplacement respectif sur un même site ayant fait l'objet d'un projet global (un "immense système"), fixé par une "loi" (law), et non par "pure commodité" (mere convenience), source d'une extraordinaire harmonie d'ensemble, "preuve du goût et du jugement des architectes". Bref, les "matheux" pourront se délecter à la lecture de cette Lettre.
Cumulant à la fois une certaine aversion et une réelle incompétence dès lors qu'il s'agit de chiffres et de proportions, je suis dans l'incapacité d'assurer une présentation au moins honnête de la théorie d'Agnew. Il se trouve par contre qu'un certain Howard Vyse a déjà fait le travail à ma place, au terme de son ouvrage Operations carried on at the pyramids of Gizeh in 1837 (1840), présenté dans ce blog. Il m'était impossible de ne pas profiter de l'aubaine, pour m'abriter derrière l'autorité du savant colonel...
Je souligne enfin le conseil donné par Vyse lui-même : pour mieux apprécier la démonstration d'Agnew, il est indispensable de se référer à son propre texte, ce que j'ai illustré ici par quelques exemples. On trouvera au bas de cette note un lien vers ce texte dans son intégralité (en anglais).
|Extrait de Google Earth
Résumé de la théorie de H.C. Agnew par Howard Vyse"Mr. Agnew published, in 1838, a treatise on the application of the quadrature of the circle to the configuration of the Great Pyramids of Gizeh, which, together with the causeway, he considers to be "component parts of one immense system" (1) ; and says that "the whole of the immense scheme of the three Pyramids proceeded from a chief circle of origin, the properties of which were more especially to be represented". He also observes in another place, that "the Pyramids of Egypt appear in general to have been emblems of the sacred sphere, and of its great circle, exhibited in the most convenient architectural form" ; and adds that "the chief object of these buildings being to serve for sepulchral monuments, the Egyptians sought, in the appropriate figure of the Pyramid, to perpetuate, at the same time, a portion of their geometrical science".
He imagines that the three in question were built in succession during the course of sixty years, and that each was begun before the preceding was finished ; that the third monarch, under whom the whole design was completed, dismissed the people from their labours, and again opened the temples for the national worship. He then goes into a variety of calculations demonstrated by geometrical figures to support these opinions, and to prove that the quadrature of the circle was known, "with all practicable approach to exactness", by the ancient Egyptians (2) ; and that in the bases, proportions, and relative positions of these three Pyramids, and also in the size and course of the northern causeway, and in those of the adjoining pits, certain geometrical rules were attended to. For the causeway belonging to the Third Pyramid he attributes other reasons.
He assigns to the interior of the Pyramids also mysterious properties ; but observes that in their construction, "the proportion of five to four is very dominant" ; and he endeavours to prove that it might have referred to astronomical calculations, which may shew the aera when these buildings were erected. He likewise supposes that the labyrinth near lake Moeris was constructed on "some curious combination of geometrical figures, relating to a sphere and circle, the radius of which was the perpendicular of the forty-fathom Pyramid, which stood at one end" ; and that all the great buildings of Egypt, besides their primary and special use, elucidated in their construction geometrical science. To understand clearly, however, the author's ideas, a reference to the book is absolutely necessary.
The following remarks on the Three Pyramids are, therefore, only added.
The Great Pyramid
The author having quoted from Pliny, " est autem saxo naturali elaborata et lubricata," in support of his opinion that the exterior of the Pyramid had been originally saturated with some fluid, such as oil or varnish, (*) observes that the liquid, whatever it may have been, appears to have been transparent, and nearly colourless ; and that the brownish tinge upon the stones, which formed the casing, has been acquired by time. He does not conceive that any part of the Pyramids had been painted red, or it would have been mentioned by Herodotus, and by other ancient authors, although the pavements and steps around them may have been stained with some dark colour. He is of opinion, that the Great Pyramid had been revetted in the same manner as the Second, because he has seen fragments of stones precisely similar to those, which covered that building, the external faces of which had been "lubricated".
With respect to the interior of this Pyramid, he found the angle of entrance to be 26° 34' ; and, referring to a diagram, proceeds with many conjectures and calculations, which it is not necessary to detail. He is of opinion that many other apartments, besides those already known, exist ; and that more than one person was interred in the edifice ; that several pits and deep channels, with places on their sides for the reception of mummies, have been excavated in concentric squares, the area of each diminishing by one-half successively ; and that, by the extent of these works, the length of time taken up in their construction might be ascertained. He imagines that there must be a second entrance at the base, either at the northern, or eastern side; and mentions the grotto in the well, and several other points, where apartments and passages might probably be found.
The Second Pyramid
He considers, that the exterior is steeper by one degree than that of the Great one (3) ; and that its summit is higher above the horizon, although the Great Pyramid is the more lofty, owing to a base upon which the Second is built, as it is situated upon a high perpendicular platform beyond the pavement, and is surrounded with three squares or steps, which bear certain proportions to the sphere or circle ; and this, he imagines, to have been likewise the case with the steps around the other two Pyramids. The step of the Second Pyramid is five feet high, and seven feet from the perpendicular of the edge of the base, and the platform of rock is about ten or eleven feet above the inner surface. (...) He conceives that there were two ranges of granite, and that the inner step was also of that material. After other observations, he says, that the dark colour of the casing has led many people to believe that it was painted.
The Third Pyramid
He is of opinion that the granite casing, mentioned by ancient authors as extending half-way, was ninety-two feet high ; and that it had some mysterious signification : that the size of the building was regulated by that of the other two (4) ; and that, from an examination of the granite blocks, which formerly composed its revetment, he found that the angle of its elevation indicated a perfection of form superior to that of each of the other Pyramids, and that it was nearly a medium between them : that its perpendicular height was the radius of a circle, the circumference of which was equal to the square of the base ; and that this Pyramid was an emanation, or spirit, and essence from the first great principle of the system, namely, the circle of origin ; and also that its relative position was determined by some fixed law, and not by mere convenience.
The exterior of the upper part did not appear to have been covered with painted stucco, but to have been saturated with some fluid like those of the other Pyramids ; and the contrast of the two colours must, in his opinion, have had a good effect."
(*) The word "lubricata" simply means a surface polished, or made slippery, and does not infer that oil or liquid of any kind had been applied to produce the effect.
Textes de H.C. Agnew, dans A Letter from Alexandria, on the evidence of the practical application of the quadrature of the circle, in the configuration of the Great Pyramids of Gizeh, 1838
(1) "Following the common fable, that each pyramid had its own peculiar builder, and that each was a separate monument, unconnected with its neighbours except by the casual contiguity of position, my first idea was that the constructors of the first and second (call them Cheops and Cephren) had each built his pyramid on the geometrical plan most accordant with his conceptions of propriety, and that their successor Mycerinus, finding his father's monument too flat and his uncle's too steep, had discovered, or believed he had discovered, the rule of perfection, and formed his pyramid accordingly. This notion was correct only in so far as that the third pyramid was the most perfect geometrical figure ; but if the deductions in the following pages be admitted, we must arrive at the remarkable conclusion, that the three great pyramids of Gizeh were component parts of one immense system, members of a vast united triad, each in itself admirable, but all three so connected with the first principle of the system as to form but one perfect whole. If then, in the contemplation of one of these sublime structures, we are lost in astonishment at the greatness of the undertaking, how must our wonder be increased when we find that all were planned at once ! that before a stone of the great causeway was laid, the precise proportions of the second and third pyramids, as well as of the first, were unalterably determined by the necessary effect of the rule which fixed the length and breadth of the causeway itself !"
(2) "Here then we find the quadrature of the circle exemplified in a curious manner, with all practicable approach to exactness, by the Egyptians a thousand years perhaps before the birth of Archimedes or of Hippocrates of Chios ; I say approach to exactness, for I am far from supposing that they had really solved the question geometrically. Its arithmetical solution is known now to be impossible; the geometrical solution, in all probability, is so likewise ; but whether the Egyptian priests were of this opinion I cannot venture to say. In the instance before us of the practical exemplification of the problem by the united properties of the two great pyramids, the method may appear a little complicated ; but the principle is one, whether a single square be made equal to a single circle, or two squares to two circles, when all are defined. We shall, however, presently see that a single and unmixed elucidation was exhibited in the third pyramid, the perpendicular of which was the radius of a circle equal to the perimeter of its base."
|Photo de Simon Cog (avec son aimable autorisation)
(4) "I now felt persuaded that the third pyramid formed part of the grand system, and that the circumstance so expressly mentioned by Herodotus, Diodorus, and Strabo of the granite casing reaching half way up only, had a special meaning. It was reasonable to conclude that this third pyramid had its size necessarily determined by some properties of the first great pyramid, or of the two great pyramids jointly. The angle of the inclination of the faces which I had measured on the granite stones, gave me something under 52°, and it was evident that the true angle, were it possible to ascertain it with sufficient accuracy, would be found to have been 51° 51' 14", and that therefore this pyramid presented in itself a perfection which neither of the two great pyramids separately possessed, namely, that its perpendicular was the radius of a circle, the circumference of which was equal to the square of its base."
Texte intégral de la Lettre d'Agnew


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Quick Reference
Sometimes 'cup' is used as a metaphor, as in Ps. 11: 6, Matt. 26: 39; when Jesus asked James and John if they could share his cup (Matt. 20: 22), he was referring to experiences of suffering. In Paul's account of the Last Supper participation in the cup (1 Cor. 11: 26) is explained as a proclamation of the death of the Lord.
From: cup in A Dictionary of the Bible »
Subjects: Biblical Studies.
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Quick Reference
A mode of fiction in which the possible and the impossible are confounded so as to leave the reader (and often the narrator and/or central character) with no consistent explanation for the story's strange events. Tzvetan Todorov, in his Introduction à la littérature fantastique (1970; translated as The Fantastic, 1973), argues that fantastic narratives involve an unresolved hesitation between the supernatural explanation available in marvellous tales and the natural or psychological explanation offered by tales of the uncanny. The literature of the fantastic flourished in 19th‐century ghost stories and related fiction: Henry James's mysterious tale The Turn of the Screw (1898) is a classic example.
Subjects: Literature.
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Schedule your campus visit today!
D. Anthony Watt '69 was one of four new members inducted into The Indiana Academy at its 45th annual symposium on Monday, October 19, at the Skyline Club in Indianapolis. This award recognizes Watt's lifetime achievements and contributions to the state of Indiana.
"Congratulations to Tony Watt for his induction into The Indiana Academy! We are blessed and proud to have Tony as an alumnus and member of the Board of Trustees at Marian University. His dedicated service to the university has been instrumental in the tremendous growth the university has experienced," said President Elsener.
Deeply committed to Marian University, Watt has served on both the local and national alumni association offices. He has also served faithfully on Marian University's Board of Trustees for 20 years. When he joined the board in 1995, the university faced enormous challenges and Watt was asked to act as president until a permanent leader was found. He then co-chaired the search committee that elected current president, Daniel J. Elsener.
Beyond his commitment to the university, Watt has made great contributions to the entire state. A retired Chrysler Corporation plant manager, Watt began his 35-year career as an hourly employee, working his way up to plant manager, where he gained a reputation for stabilizing and improving plant operations at multiple locations.
Watt has also served as a school board president, officiated Indiana High School Basketball for fifteen years, and served as a consultant for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, resulting in the founding of the inner city Mother Theodore Catholic Academies. His service to youth and education was recognized by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis with the Community Leadership Award.
Other honorees included Rose M. Mayes, professor emerita at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis; Jeanne E. Mirro, president of Mirro Family Foundation; and Carmen C. Murphy, community leader and advocate.
The Indiana Academy
The Indiana Academy was founded in 1970 by Associated of Indiana (ACI), now Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), to further the development of public service, higher education, the arts and sciences, literature, and the general culture of the state through recognition of individual leadership, achievement, and philanthropy designed to promote these ends. Continuing in this tradition, we recognize the following individuals and congratulate them on their induction into The Indiana Academy.
Mark Apple
Vice President of Marketing Communications
(317) 955-6775 email@example.com
© 2017 Marian University
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Marian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age or disabilities in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students. *Placement rates are gathered from data collected from graduates within six months of graduation.


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With 11.7 million YouTube views, you must see this performance by Jake Shimabukuro, a ukulele virtuoso known for his complex finger work. Be sure to watch the last minute where Jake plays a pretty incredible sequence.
My husband gave found Jake on YouTube and my kids loved watching him play, especially my son who plays the guitar. My son then had his guitar teacher, a graduate student from the New England Conservatory, watch the video. His teacher had not heard of Jake but he was also impressed. He told us that Jake used Flamenco guitar techniques on the ukelele so, of course, my son wanted to try it himself.
The second video is instructional. Jake breaks down his fingering techniques. Though he's very clear on how to do it and makes it look easy, it looks pretty difficult to emulate. Still, my son was inspired by Jake's accessibility as a performer and watching him play makes my son play his guitar more. If Jake ever comes to Boston — he's on tour now — we'd make a great effort to catch him.
What do you think of Jake? Did you ever imagine the ukelele could sound like that?
image from ML Films


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BeatrynBlindfold Your eyes and make a step forward, enter into the pulsing Room of Kinkiness, I'm Alice and my room is WonderLand, I will show You everything that's worth to see, HunnyBunny. Dare to step forward, I'll be there.Beatryn touchmehon webcam Beatryn cynthyax video cam profile Beatryn addasweet cliphunter Beatryn intitle:index of?wmv girl
I can't resist men who know how to treat a lady like me, tease and pamper me. Be sure - I've got what You need, visit my private room and You will get everything You've been dreaming about.


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Real Image is proud to offer creative wedding, corporate, editorial, food or portrait photography in Auckland or throughout the North Island. Photographer Nicola Topping is a highly awarded professional photographer who is passionate about creating beautiful images.
"I can't thank you enough. Your professional yet relaxed approach, ideas and true understanding of what our wedding meant to us and the incredible images you took mean we now have memories for a lifetime. " Michele Crawshaw and Chris Daniels, Auckland, New Zealand


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Ash Wednesday: Crossing the Threshold into Lent
Guidance on using the lectionary.
Lectionary readings for February 10, 2016: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
"'And yet even now,' says the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart…'" –Joel 2:12
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Church's observance of the Lenten season—six weeks that are set apart for the purpose of drawing closer to God and seeking him with greater intensity. Unfortunately, the Lenten season often gets reduced to the question, "What are you giving up for Lent?" This is a fine question, but it can only take us so far. The real question of the Lenten season is, "How will I repent and return to God with all my heart?"
This begs an even deeper question: "Where in my life have I gotten away from God, and what are the disciplines that will enable me to find my way back?"
Honest to God
Ash Wednesday initiates this season in which we are called to be as honest as we are able about the ways we have "left" God and slipped into spiritual mediocrity. "You desire truth in the inward being," Psalm 51 points out, "Therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart."
As God gives us wisdom and insight about our true condition, we can choose spiritual practices that are uniquely suited to help us return to God in the places where we have strayed or to renew our passion where our hearts have grown cold.
The Scripture readings for Ash Wednesday (which are the same for Cycles A, B, and C) provide a good introduction to some of the concrete disciplines that have the potential to loosen the grip of sin and distraction in our lives—prayer and fasting, hiddenness, self-examination and repentance, forgiving others as we have been forgiven, and storing up treasure in heaven by giving generously to others.
Search Me, O God
Left to ourselves, we probably would not choose to devote a whole season to such rigorous and demanding disciplines, but God knows we need it. As we receive the symbolic gesture of the imposition of ashes on our foreheads, we acknowledge our human finiteness and mortality.
No matter who we think we are, receiving the ashes reminds us that, "You are dust and to dust you will return" (Genesis 3:19). This is not meant to be morbid; it is just meant to limit our grandiosity and help us to stay in touch with the real human condition we all share.
The ashes marking our foreheads carry the same meaning contained in the Old Testament practice of covering oneself with ashes. They are a graphic reminder of our sinfulness, an outward sign of inward repentance and mourning as we become aware of our sin. This, too, is good for us because we live in so much denial. With as much openness as we can muster, we invite God to search us and know us and (eventually) lead us into resurrection life.
Longing for God
The purpose for engaging in Lenten disciplines is that we would become more finely attuned to our longing for God so we can seek him with all our hearts. Disciplines of fasting and other kinds of abstinence help us face the hold that our sin patterns have on us so we can somehow let go of our attachment to anything that is not God.
As we wrestle with our awareness of the grip our attachments have on us, we enter into the godly grief that leads to repentance, so we can receive forgiveness and walk in new levels of freedom.
God's Steadfast Love
Serious as the Lenten season is, it is also a time of great hope as we experience God's steadfast love for us, even in the midst of whatever sin we are acknowledging. In the shadow of Christ's cross and impending resurrection we are assured that there is forgiveness and cleansing for all who turn to him. In Christ there is the power to pass from death unto life in the places where we ourselves are in need of resurrection.
"I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent,
by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial;
and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.
And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature,
let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer."
Book of Common Prayer
©Ruth Haley Barton. 2015. Not to be reproduced without permission. This is adapted from Lent a Season of Returning (Transforming Resources, 2015.)
How are you hearing the invitation to observe a holy Lent this year?Discuss


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Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting turned into a marathon. Public comment on $12 million of proposed cuts to public health services lasted almost 5 hours before another group of speakers weighed in on the board's resolution condemning the Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla.
Facing a historic $483 million deficit, Mayor Gavin Newsom's budget proposes about $12 million in cuts to public health services for the indigent. State law requires a public hearing on those cuts before they are approved.
The board, though, has final say on the budget and can restore funding by proposing cuts to other services.
Supervisor John Avalos, chair of the budget committee, said he considered restoring the cuts a priority and suggested cutting from the "top end" of both the police and fire departments by reducing the salaries of command staff.
Tony Winnicker, the mayor's spokesperson, said the proposed budget reflected what were considered the least damaging cuts to the city's health system.
"The balanced budget we've proposed protects the social safety net and prioritizes services for the most vulnerable," he said in a e-mail.
For most of the afternoon and evening, the line of speakers continued down the hallway outside the chambers. Many said the cuts would harm homeless and mentally unstable residents in the city who depend on city services for support.
Bob Bennett, president and CEO of the Family Service Agency of San Francisco, said the proposed $1 million cut to his organization will force him to lay off 35 percent of his mental health staff and turn away a large number of the 420 individuals who depend on the program.
"Our goal is to make people better," he said. "But we can only serve so many people per year."


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AXT, Cree Settle Patent Litigation Over LED Technology
The parties have agreed to dismiss all claims and counterclaims, according to statements released by the companies. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Cree and Boston University had sued AXT in the U.S. Court for the Northern District of California in 2003, alleging that AXT infringed a patent regarding the structure of light-emitting diodes held by Boston University and licensed to Cree.
The patent relates to...
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text: Pick a faction et join the ruthless struggle for supremacy in this wonderful digital version of Scythe. Explore, extend, exploit and exterminate thanks to your workers and your army of mechs. The game requires composure and strategy to lead his people to victory as well as technologies, production and confrontations. This is up to you to find the right strategy, sacrifice crucial positions and run for the Factory at all cost or be more passive and wait his moment?


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