text:
Taking a Closer Look
We've asked five Canadian theologians to help us look more closely at some of the key figures in the Christmas story.
Do You See?
Praying with The Virgin of the Sign
By Tim Perry
MY FAVOURITE ICON of Mary is "The Virgin of the Sign," or the Platytera, and it is one I find myself praying with often at this time of year. Its first name is taken from Isaiah 7:14 "This shall be a sign unto you: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son. . ." The second, meaning "wider," expresses the mystery of the Incarnation: the womb of the Virgin is now home to that which cannot be contained, namely, God the Son.
Mary is the central figure, standing with her hands raised in the orans position of prayer. The Christ figure enclosed within her is not a baby, but appears as an older boy or man, his right hand raised in blessing while his left often holds a scroll. Clearly, this is not a realistic depiction, but a deeply theological one. But what is it meant to convey?
Christ is, in his incarnate person, the salvation of the world. He both brings and is the blessing of God for the human race. He comes to teach God's truth (the scroll). His depiction as an older man reminds us that he is older than the ages; from the instant of his incarnation in the womb of his mother, he is God made flesh. Because she carries no mere human fetus, but he who holds the stars in place, Mary's womb is now platytera ton ouranon: "more spacious than the heavens."
Which turns us to Mary herself. In this icon, she is far from the troubled teenager whom Luke describes; still less a pawn in the male machinations around her as in Matthew. She is serene; her gaze untroubled. Her prayerful pose suggests she is taking part in public worship (not just private devotion). Sometimes her gaze is directed past the viewer, to some unknown distant point. Most often, however, she (along with Jesus) looks directly at the viewer with an air of expectation. She seems to ask the viewer, "Do you see?"
What are we meant to see? I think we are to see, first of all, a narrative of descent and ascent.
By descent, I mean that God comes to us in the frailty of human nature. The Virgin of the Sign reminds us that God is a God who stoops. Enclosed within the Virgin's womb, God the Son takes on all that it means to be human because he really is her Son. He looks at us with her eyes. And yet, the One descended to us in this way remains the One who holds the stars in place. "Mild, he lays his glory by," we sing. And he does.
By ascent, I mean that God ennobles human nature by taking it up into himself. Many Christians locate themes of ascent, unsurprisingly and properly, with Easter or Ascension. But they are here, too. It is the presence of God within her that ennobles Mary, that raises her from a terrified teenager to a Byzantine Empress. And such is the destiny of all who believe. All human nature has been redeemed for all human nature has been assumed by God the Son.
The Virgin of the Sign thus invites us into the mystery of the Incarnation so wonderfully expressed by St. Athanasius: "He became what we are so that he might make us what he is. . .." (On the Incarnation 54.3).
Further and more radically, the Virgin of the Sign suggests that there is no god except the God who comes to us in the Virgin, and that the route to him is somehow through her. "Do you see?"
If you wish to find God, she says to us with her beckoning gaze, here is God. Neither remote nor uninvolved in the human condition, the only God there is has taken human nature and redeemed it. Mary, ennobled and exalted by the gracious descent of God the Son, is the sign of his saving work. A Jewish peasant girl has become platytera ton ouranon for no other reason than the gracious initiative of God. And it is in this grace that God makes himself known. "Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see! Hail the Incarnate Deity."
If you would come to this God, Mary finally says, you must come to him through me. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox readers, and some Anglicans, will find this uncontroversial enough. Others will pause. But, in effect, Mary is merely repeating what she has just said, except in reverse. Some take the view that somebody had to be Jesus' mother—but Mary is not simply an historical accident. In grace, she is the second Eve whose "Be it unto me according to thy word" stands in contrast to the disobedience of our ancient parents. Mary thus reminds us that our encounter with the Lord is never solitary or direct. It is always mediated in and through that community of which she is the first and pre-eminent member: the Church.
As I pray with this icon, I remember that the Creator is not far, for his transcendence is such that it can hide itself in humanity. As a human being, Jesus discloses both God's glory and humanity's destiny. I remember that there is no god "behind" the God I meet in the Gospel, who draws me into deeper fellowship with him as I enter deeper into the fellowship of God's people.
I see through a mirror dimly. The Virgin of the Sign kindles in me the hope that one day, I will see face to face.
The Rev'd Dr. Tim Perry is rector of Church of the Epiphany in Sudbury, Ont. and author of Mary for Evangelicals.
St Joseph
By Ranall Ingalls
JOSEPH HAS long been loved as the foster-father of our Lord and the faithful spouse of his mother. This devotion began first in the East in the first millennium, and spread gradually westward. There it gained momentum in the Middle Ages with that growing realization of the importance of our Lord's humanity that has often been traced in the lives, writings and piety of people like St Bernard of Clairvaux and St Francis of Assisi, as well as in art, architecture, music, and both private and public prayer.
In the last two centuries in the West he has represented – especially in the Roman Catholic Church – engagement with questions about labour and economic justice, and so has been venerated especially as 'the Carpenter' (Matthew 13:55). He has also represented Roman Catholic engagement with questions about marriage and family life, associated with devotion to the Holy Family.
From the Scriptures we know that Joseph was betrothed to Mary at the time of our Lord's conception. We also know that he was bewildered to find her pregnant, and had decided quietly to end the engagement. In obedience to the same angel Gabriel who had appeared to his beloved at the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-39), he chose instead to stand with her in the public humiliation and shame that must have followed when it was known in Nazareth that she was pregnant outside of wedlock (Matthew 1:18-25).
In obedience to another such angelic message, he took Mary and the child Jesus and escaped into exile in Egypt to protect them from the murderous King Herod (Matthew 2:13-23). After this, he is mentioned in the New Testament only in the remarks of people who were astonished at Jesus' humble origins (Luke 4:22, Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3).
There is much here to love. There is his honest toil as a Carpenter. There is his witness to the only true sources of wealth: the earth and human labour and skill. May he awake in us love and care for both.
Then there is the way he is a spouse to Mary and a father to our Lord. St Paul in Ephesians insists that to be a husband and father is above all to participate in Christ's costly love for His Bride (Ephesians 5). This love not only recognizes but enhances and brings to life beauty and goodness in the beloved. This is true of Joseph. He cast in his lot with Mary 'for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health,' and embraced the vocation God had given her, even at the cost of isolation and exile.
Finally there is his example of chastity. For Joseph marriage and fatherhood represented not the abandonment of chastity, but the way God called him to embrace and practice it. From him especially we learn that this is a virtue for all Christians, both outside and within marriage. As Josef Pieper says, chastity calls us to the renewal of the human capacity to confront reality "with that selfless detachment which alone makes genuine knowledge possible" (Cardinal Virtues Notre Dame, 1966, p. 161). It is this "selfless detachment" that is most necessary for spiritual vision - the discernment required of parents and the Vision of God which is the end of all those who know they are called 'to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever,' whatever their calling.
Dr. Ranall Ingalls is the Rector of St Paul's, Sackville in New Brunswick.
The Christ Child
By Ross Hebb
THERE IS much anxiety in Christian circles these days on whether to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." Christians feel their world is shifting under their feet and the Christ-centered season they once knew is fast disappearing – and they are right.
But what about the 'in-house' perspective? Are there practices within the Christian community that also tend to undermine the Christian distinctiveness of Christmas? Are there traditions that have developed over time which tend to dilute or undermine the unique, Christ-centered message of the season? I think there are. I will mention only two.
First, there is Advent. Not Advent as it was intended to be but as it is actually experienced. In practice, Advent gets squeezed out. Advent is so short, only four Sundays and one of those Sundays is just days before Christmas. Lose a Sunday for Carols and Lessons, another for a Sunday school Christmas pageant and perhaps another Sunday forfeited due to a snowstorm and what is left? Not that these other liturgical practices are bad – far from it, but taken together the result is to reduce Advent from a season to, at best, a Sunday or two. It is the resultant gutting of the major themes of Advent that concerns me. I fear that this seriously weakens our preparation for and appreciation of Christmas.
Advent is about preparing for Christmas – through prayer, Scripture reading and worship. Not only does the truncated Advent leave little time for this but it also reduces the themes of Advent to little more than sound bites. Advent means 'coming,' the coming of the Christ in at least two senses: historically, as the babe in the manager and again, at the end of human history, as the Judge of the living and the dead. Advent stresses both comings and holds them in a constructive tension. It is the same Person who comes as the son of Mary and as the Judge at the end of time. Advent employs this tension to raise the issue of who this Person is. Our Lord's role as son of Mary is not unconnected to or at odds with his role as Judge. These are all aspects of one plan, one mission, one God.
The babe in the manger, Mary's son, is God come down to us, divinity united with our humanity and born as the one we call Jesus. At Christmas, we celebrate nothing less than the birth of God Almighty amongst us. God the Word, the second Person of the Trinity, assumes our humanity and is born the son of Mary. Who Jesus is makes all the difference. At Christmas, despite what we sometimes hear in sermons, we do not primarily celebrate new life and new beginnings; we do not celebrate the joys of motherhood universally applied; and we do not mark renewed hope for the future. While all these good thoughts are appropriate they are not what Christmas is really about. To remain true to the Faith we must recall that Christmas is not about us but about Him. Not just the old jingle that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season," but that at Christmas, as always, our Faith is about God, not us. Indeed, what we must recall at Christmas, as always, is that while we celebrate God's love as a Christian community, that community is only Christian in so far as its focus is on Christ and not itself. After all, the holy day is called Christ's Mass, indicative that the community gathers to celebrate the birth of Christ, to worship the Christ and to receive from the Christ all those gifts of faith, hope and love which only He can give.
And He is Judge. Our Advent preparations remind us of this reality and seek to rescue us from sentimentality about an idealized family, as if that was what Christmas is about. The mother pregnant outside of wedlock and the child born in a barn clearly point in another direction than an "ideal" family. It is not just the humility but also the unconventionality of our Lord's humble beginnings that suggests that the world's expectations are going to be challenged. It is pure humanity joined with full divinity that qualifies Jesus to be the Judge of all – whether we come from, or live in, a conventional family or not.
This brings me to my second concern – the sentiment often suggested that "Christmas is, after all, really for children." As well-meaning and innocent as this seems, it is incorrect. If Christmas is not for everyone, and I mean absolutely everyone, then why did the Father bother to send His Son, the Word, into the world? Scripture does not support this sentiment – in fact it says the exact opposite. The Father so loved the world – the entire world, everyone, that He sent His only Son to become its Saviour. As St John says in his Gospel, that Light, that Word, shines in the darkness, the darkness of this world, the darkness of our selfishness – and overcomes them all. May that Light enlighten, brighten and ennoble you and all you love this Christmas!
Dr. Ross Hebb is the Rector of St Peter's Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Some Shepherds
By Barry Parker
THE FAMILIAR Christmas story is often reduced to a well-worn narrative; comfortable, predictable and domesticated.
But have you ever stopped to consider the participants in that first Christmas, that first revelation of Emmanuel—God with us? For instance, what about the Shepherds? (Luke 2:8-20). We are used to seeing young children in oversized bathrobes and skewed towels on their heads playing the shepherds in the proverbial Christmas Pageant. But who were these men?
Some Shepherds (Luke 2:8). That is the sum total of the Bible's description of these men—"some shepherds." No names, no titles, no celebrity status—just some unnamed shepherds in a non-descript field minding their own business of keeping livestock. Yet to these men came the first declaration of the greatest event in human history: "There has been born to you a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."
We need some background because, quite frankly, they were the last people you would expect God to take notice of.
The Shepherds were religious outcasts. According to Jewish religious law, these men were unclean – raising the sheep that would be used for Temple sacrifice, yet unable to participate in the worship of the temple.
The Shepherds were social outcasts. Since they were constantly on the move to find new pasture for their flocks, they were considered with suspicion. They were not permitted to give testimony in a legal proceeding, because their word was not considered trustworthy. Shepherds didn't have much contact with other people.
The Shepherds were cultural outcasts. Most of the time, they were "living out in the fields." They were with the sheep and the goats 24/7. During the day, they led the sheep to grass and water. They kept an eye out for predators. At night, they slept with the sheep to guard against theft and animal attack. Shepherds smelled like sheep. Being a shepherd was lonely, wearisome, boring and sometimes extremely dangerous. They were isolated.
Yet even as outcasts, Shepherds receive a vision from God and the angelic chorus. Once again, we are reminded that God does give visions and spectacles, but only to a few. Most of us can relate to shepherds—the ordinary, the mundane, the misfit, even the outcast.
And consider that if we take the Gospel presentation of the Incarnation seriously, nothing fits!
We want an angel—we get a shepherd.
We want success—we get failure or drastically lowered expectations.
We want entitlement—we get challenge and required commitment.
We want easy revelation—we get homework.
We want to be on the inside—we end up on the margins.
What are you watching for this Christmastide? How will you know when you hear what you need to hear, see what you need to see?
Allow yourself to be awed in this cynical age
Allow yourself to see beyond what this world deems qualifying
Allow the message to be heard and seen for what it is—supernatural, overwhelming, extraordinary—and not simply for children
Often, Christians complain that the world has taken the Christ out of Christmas. Do we do the same? So, listen. Watch. Stop talking. Stop doing. Pay attention. To receive the gift of life we need to learn to watch and listen. This Christmas, you may be looking for angels—but watch for the Shepherds. They have so much to tell us.
Dr. Barry Parker is Rector of St Paul's, Bloor St., Toronto.


text:
Training go heavyMy training has not changed a great deal over the years. I developed my core philosophies while attending a Tom Platz seminar in the late 80's. I was still in high school, but it's still crystal clear to me. I had always thought of training in two ways – go heavy for low reps, or lighter for high reps. Tom said his style was heavy for HIGH reps. In other words INTENSITY! This creates a thick, dense muscle, and also creates more striations for me! My legs are my best body part but I rarely do any leg extensions... or leg extinctions... as I call them. Cable and machine work is also rare for me. Just give me the basics, from several different angles. I have squatted 700 for 10, and done incline barbell presses with 320 for 15 reps. I love to train hard and heavy!
Back trainingMy most improved body part over the last year has definitely been my back. Here is what a typical back workout consists of. I start with a few light sets of 15 on low pulley rows. Once there is some blood in my lats, I crank out 3-4 very strict sets of 8-15 reps, adding 10 pounds a set. I squeeze very hard in the contracted position, and arch my chest as much as possible. This has contributed greatly in adding striations to my lower lats. Next I move on to narrow grip lat pulldowns. My partner pushes down on the weight at the stretched part of the movement, creating an awesome pull and lat stretch. Then after the set, I use John Parrillo's fascial stretching techniques to break up the fascial tissue and create more room for growth. The stretching is usually more painful than the set, as I hold each stretch for a slow 30 count. At this point my lats are screaming so I move on to Deadlifts. I do 3-4 warm ups with 100 – 400 pounds. These warm-ups are for sets of 5 reps each. Then I add enough weight, so that I can barely do 5 reps, usually to around 550. I do this weight for three gut busting sets. I then add 50 more pounds, and do two more sets of 3. Lastly I add 50 more pounds, and do two more sets of 2. After this I am completely exhausted, and go home.
Diet and SupplementsMy diet and supplementation program HAS changed greatly over the years. I have worked with a gentleman by the name of Mike Matson for several years, whom I met at the Parrillo performance center in Cincinnati. I got my start at John's center, and made incredible progress while there. By the way, John's training philosophies are also philosophies of very high intensity. He and Mike both helped me make a tremendous amount of progress while I was there. Mike's diets were always tough, consisting of extremely low carbs, and fat and very high levels of protein. I always got in good shape though ... when I did not cheat. Mike's diets were perfect for me then, because I tended to get really FAT in the off-season. I needed the low calories, and also a great deal of cardio to get in shape. 1997 would be the last year for this however. I'd started a new career in the computer consulting field in 1996, and began 60 hour work weeks. Since I didn't understand how to balance this kind of work schedule with training, I began to get fatter and fatter. I trained less and consumed more junk food at night.
A chubby 215 with three months to goI found myself at a chubby 215 three months out from the 1997 Mr. Ohio. I knew I needed to change my habits, and I did have a deep desire to compete again. I gave Roger and Sandy at Beverly International a call, and informed them of my plans. When I went to visit them, they somehow held in their laugh, kept a straight face and discussed my plans. I began a very intense diet and cardio program immediately, much like Mike's previous pre-contest plan, (See box at left), but with one major difference... from 9-11 each morning, I constantly sipped Beverly Muscle Provider usually a scoop every half hour. This gave me a constant supply of whey protein and branched-chain aminos. Then each afternoon from 1-4 PM I sipped Muscle Provider again. I plowed through the stuff, usually drinking a can a week, minimum.
The changes happened fast. I ended up by winning my class at the 1997 Ohio, and losing the overall to my training partner by a measly one point. Not bad considering what I looked like 3 months prior. I weighed in at 185, and re-named myself Scrawny Johnny. I knew I needed to add some more muscle to my upper body.
- John's Diet Supplement Program
- 7 AM meal: 10 egg whites, 1 cup oatmeal with Beverly's Density amino acid formula
- 9 – 11 AM: continually sipping Muscle Provider
- Noon: 1 pound chicken and some broccoli
- 1 – 4 PM: continually sipping Muscle Provider
- Pre-workout meal: ½ cup of rice with a little ground turkey
- Post-workout meal: same as pre workout.
- After my workout I took a whopping 15-20 gram dose of Beverly International's Creatine Monohydrate. I have found that taking 15+ grams after a workout works best for me. A loading phase and/or pre-workout creatine do not seem to benefit me whatsoever.
On to Jr. USAWith a renewed commitment, I set my sights on the 1998 Jr. USA. I continued to train like a psycho with my partners, Derek Lampert, who is an awesome bodybuilder in his own right, and Darryl Mayo, a very strong powerlifter, who pushes me to the brink. I ate much cleaner food this time, saving the donuts and ice cream for the weekend. I also kept a gallon of skim milk beside my bed every night, and every time I woke up, I would drink a couple of glasses. I also switched the Muscle Provider to Beverly's Ultra Whey during my size gaining phase, and sipped it all day at work. I eventually got up to 244, and was in decent shape. This time around when my serious dieting started, I didn't do any cardio. I kept waiting to do it, but I kept getting leaner and leaner without it. I also added Flax oil in the mornings, and evening primrose oil to my diet. Occasionally I had scrambled eggs, instead of just egg whites. Roger also had me replace my turkey with lean steak a couple of times a week. The extra muscle and calories kept my metabolism cranking and I got into my best shape ever, competing a full 11 pounds heavier at 196. Anytime my metabolism started to slow down, I had a few Parrillo bars, and it began cranking again. I jumped into The Battle of Champions 3 weeks out from the Jr. USA, and won the overall at 197. I then tightened up considerably for the Jr's and placed 6th.
Bits of advice
Some other bits of advice I would offer:
- Use fascial stretching every workout! It makes a world of difference in your muscle separation.
- Don't ever let an expediter cake your body with oil. It covers up your hard earned definition, and cost me a least 3 places at the Jr's. Practice before hand for the perfect look. I personally use Dream Tan and find it hard to beat.
- Parrillo bars are an excellent food to carb up on.
- And lastly, just give Roger and Sandy a chance to work with you! You will be flat out amazed at how much they can help you! Besides that, they are just genuine people who actually care about the athletes they work with. That is a PROMISE!
I also want to thank long-time friend Mike Matson, who I continue to work with, John Parrillo for providing us athletes with a tremendous training and dietary program, and my girlfriend Mary for all the support she provides me with!
For Lifts:
From 9-11 each morning, and 1 – 4 each afternoon,
I constantly sipped Beverly International's Muscle Provider, usually a scoop every half hour.
Related Articles
» Back To The Basement Time To Crush Shoulders
Goal: Get stronger and bigger than ever
Now it's traps. My first set is 35 reps with fairly heavy dumbbells.
» 6 weeks to Muscle MASS & POWER
This program's success is the incremental increase in workout poundage
Progress gradually but consistently in each area each week.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What size of skateboard to choose? Read our guide and find out!
Okay, so you have decided to ride a skateboard, maybe even to become a full – time skateboarder. You already realize that skateboards don't come just in one size, not only that, but in different colors, designs etc- Still, you don't know which is the right size for you. Maybe you already have some experience […]Continue reading


text:
Shmoop has allowed our program opportunities for student learning far beyond the typical box and traditional methods.
Mountain View, California (PRWEB) September 01, 2015
"Back-to-school season is the least stressful part of the year"...said no one ever. After going to twelve different stores to get the exact supplies needed for the upcoming year, the last thing students, teachers, and admins want to do is continue the pattern once school is in full swing.
Enter: Shmoop University, Inc., a digital publisher known for its award-winning Test Prep and certified Online Courses. Shmoop (http://www.shmoop.com) is a one-stop shop for all things education, which means that once everyone has their graphing calculators and three-ring binders ready, they'll only need to go to one place for the rest.
And what is "the rest"? Shmoop knows what's on everyone's mind this year: big ol' changes to the SAT® and PSAT/NMSQT® exams. The College Board likes to switch things up what feels like every 15 minutes, but Shmoop is on the case, with updated prep materials for both tests, including diagnostic exams, targeted and comprehensive review, loads of drills in each subject, and several full-length practice tests. After prepping with Shmoop, students will be ready for anything the tests throw their way.
Feeling a little cocky on the test-taking front? There's more. Shmoop offers over 200 Online Courses, which can be viewed in its slick Course Catalog. All of Shmoop's core math and ELA courses include a credit recovery option, and those same courses (among others) are a-g certified, meaning that they've met rigorous iNACOL standards for online courses and are honored as part of the requirements for admission into the University of California system. Oh, and they're actually fun. Fancy that.
"Not only are Shmoop's online courses Common Core-aligned, but they also have electives and career readiness components," says Sam Brooks, VITAL Personal Learning Coordinator at Putnam County schools in Tennessee. "We feel like our students are better prepared to succeed at high school and beyond. Shmoop has allowed our program opportunities for student learning far beyond the typical box and traditional methods."
Shmoop offers hundreds of thousands of pages of free content, including Learning Guides, Study Tools, and loads of other resources that will hook students with humor and then teach 'em what they need to know. And this coming school year, Shmoop users can enjoy over $10,000 worth of premium products (including Test Prep and Online Courses) with one easy-to-use and pocket-friendly Shmoop subscription. It's already a steal, but bulk discounts are available for schools and districts by contacting sales(at)shmoop(dot)com.
The icing on the cake? Early this school year, Shmoop will be releasing even more resources for Teachers, including an Encyclopedia of Teaching and a set of Online Courses and Teaching guides dedicated to PBIS, a popular framework for behavioral interventions and supports. And, of course, Shmoop will continue to grow its huge library of top-notch content.
About Shmoop
Shmoop offers hundreds of thousands of pages of original content. Their Online Courses, Test Prep, Teaching Guides, Learning Guides, and interactive Study Tools are written by teachers and experts and balance a teen-friendly, approachable style with academically rigorous concepts. Shmoop sees 11 million unique visitors a month across desktop and mobile. The company has won numerous awards from EdTech Digest, Tech & Learning, and the Association of Educational Publishers. Launched in 2008, Shmoop makes the magic happen from a labradoodle-patrolled office in Mountain View, California.
SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.


text:
Comic Relief's Big Chat - BBC Three, 7pm
We're going to need a bigger sofa. Forget climbing Kilimanjaro, swimming the Thames, or paddling down the Zambezi.
Graham Norton is no fool and he'll be doing his bit for Comic Relief this year in absolute comfort by attempting to set a world record for the most questions asked on a TV chat show.
The only peril he might face is straining a chuckle muscle if any of his guests proves to be too entertaining.
He's taking over BBC Three from 7pm, but he won't be going it alone.
To help him cope with the galaxy of stars in the studio – who run the gamut from Ronnie Corbett to Rylan and from Little Mix to Louis Smith – Graham will be assisted throughout the evening by an entire tag-team of co-hosts including Sir Terry Wogan, Richard Madeley, Frank Skinner, Dermot O'Leary, Fern Britton, Nick Grimshaw and more.
I bet Eddie Izzard will be kicking himself for not roping in some extra staff to do some of the 43 marathons he ran for Comic Relief.
Viewers can help out Graham and the team by submitting questions online (expect Twitter to be jammed with viewers asking: Can you take your shirt off please, Louis?)
But that's not all, and I hesitate before even publicising this, but viewers are invited to pop down to TV Centre, make a donation to Comic Relief and then have the chance to kiss a celebrity in Graham's special celebrity kissing booth.
He's nicked the idea from a chat show in the States which featured a terrified Jessica Alba sitting in a car park with just a sheet of Perspex and some rubber gloves to protect her from Actual Members of The Public.
This could get weird. But, remember folks, it's all for charity.
How to get to Heaven with the Hutterites - BBC 2, 9pm
The Hutterites are like the Amish but with electricity and better haircuts.
And this strict sect believes the way to Heaven is to live communally.
In which case – if you do make it – don't be surprised to find that it's full of bees, ants and the Borg out of Star Trek, who have also made communal living their way of life.
Film-maker Lynn Alleway spent four months at the Maple Grove colony in a remote area of Manitoba in Canada – home to 100 people who have shut themselves away from the world.
As with the Amish, there are some aspects of the Hutterites' way of life that are admirable. A community where the elderly are cared for and where everybody looks out for each other is a good thing. But just like bees and ants and The Borg, the Hutterites aren't big on individuality.
Those who think there is more to life, have to do a runner and the film has the first-ever video of a Hutterite escape. I don't think they'll be inviting Alleway back for a sequel after this.
The Incredible Mr Goodwin - WATCH, 9pm
"Do you trust me?" Jonathan Goodwin asks his volunteers.
When they nod and obligingly let him aim knives between their fingers or fire catapults at them backwards over his shoulder, you can only assume they didn't see him on Death Wish Live in 2006 when he accidentally hanged himself live on E4 and had to be cut down by the crew. The clip is on YouTube if you want to check it out.
Anyway, the likable Welsh escapologist and stuntman has finally won a series of his own to showcase what his sister calls his "oddball, attention-seeking gene".
Tonight he's chained to a car which is about to plummet over a cliff and he's got 30 seconds to pick the lock before he goes over with it. The suede elbow pads on his pullover won't offer much protection from certain death.
He also tries to beat a bear-trap, free-climb up a London skyscraper and crawl under a moving car, as you do. Just as entertaining arethe reports from his bemused, American wife Katy and the clips of him obsessively practising a whole bunch of weird stuff in his shed.


text:
JSB has successfully placed several hundred qualified candidates in a wide range of positions at many top tier firms in the financial services industry.
The total number of completed assignments annually has risen steadily since JSB began operating in July of 1998.
From small start-up businesses to large corporations to a variety of Service Providers, JSB client base covers every sector of the financial services industry including:
Hedge Funds
Private Equity Funds
Fund of Funds
Asset Management
Investment Banks
Broker Dealers
Prime Brokerage
Public Accounting Firms
Fund Administrators
While the majority of job placements involve candidates in the specialized field of Alternative Asset Management, JSB also extends its services to other industries outside the financial services sector including:
Real Estate
Law Firms
Below is a small sampling of the many successful senior-level assignments that JSB has recently completed. However, JSB has also filled numerous positions at more junior levels.


text:
December 23, 2012
Another crushie! The Brazilian hottie Naigel Vilhalba.
I just saw him on "Gandang Gabi Vice" tonight. That's all. And I just found out, too, that he's part of the upcoming movie "Sisterakas."
Well...go figure. I'm so watching that movie now! Teehee!
I know nothing much about him except that he's a Mercator model. That's all. Mercator is famed for housing the most gorgeous models and talents in the industry today. So, I'm not surprised that Naigel is "among" them.
Oh, Naigel....
I think I once saw Naigel in Greenbelt a few months ago (I think, I'm not that sure).
Hmmmm...I do hope I'll get to see him in person again, too. And, of course, I also pray that his stint in "Sisterakas" and his guesting in "Gandang Gabi Vice" will open more doors and opportunities for him.
I love you, Naigel. Teehee!
Click here for "The many cute faces of Brazilian male model Naigel Vilhalba."
Click here for "Brazilian male model Naigel Vilhalba...TOPLESS!!!"
Can also please someone tell me if this "rumor/scandal" about him is true?
♥ Mwah! ♥
"Like" The Gay Life of VinVin on Facebook | Follow @GayLifeofVinVin on Twitter | Follow my blog with Bloglovin


text:
855 PARK Lane Henderson, NV 89015
Hi, Pamela Beaulieu.
My name is
and I have a question about 855 PARK Lane Henderson
You can respond by either emailing me at
or call during
My Question Is:
Estimated Monthly Payment$5,051
- Photos
- Location
- Questions
- Share
- Virtual Tour
- Mortgage Calculator
- Status: Active
Listing courtesy of Jason S VanZant, Simply Vegas
Beautiful single story home! HUGE 5 car garage, huge lot & RV parking, No HOA! This property has a circular spacious driveway! Custom neighborhood! Wonderful home fully remodeled including Kitchen, quartz counters. new stainless appliances, bathrooms, new carpet & fresh Neutral paint throughout.Spacious family room. New roof, desertscape in front & back! Separate alley entrance through back yard accessing garage! call today!, Directions go south on I-95, take lake mead exit go east - cross boulder highway. Right on Burkholder, left on Center., right on Fir, right on Park Lane. Property will be on right
Interior Features Include:
Blinds, Ceiling Fan(s), Drywall, None
Total Fireplace 0
Heating: Gas
Source Central
Floor Type: Carpet, Ceramic, Tile
Exterior Features Include:
Back Yard Access, Circular Driveway, Covered Patio, Patio, Porch, Private Yard
Fence Backyard Full Fenced, Block
Acreage: 0.3300 Acres
Description 1/4 to 1 Acre, Paved Road, RV Parking
Landscape Desert Landscaping
View Mountain View
Square Feet 14375
Roof: Composition Shingle
Garage/Parking: Attached, Entryto House, Garage Cooled, Storage Area/Shelves
Parking Garage/Private
Garage Capacity: 5
Other Features Include:
Subdivision: Fairview Est Sub
Water: Public
Sewer: Public
Realty One Group
Cell: (702) 236-4395
Work: (702) 625-9429
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the INTERNET DATA EXCHANGE Program of the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® MLS. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than this site owner are marked with the IDX logo.


text:
How to Build Greater Brand Awareness
If your organization is looking for ways to build greater brand awareness without having to allocate vast sums of money, you should consider using social media platforms. YouTube is used by millions of people as a replacement for television so it would be prudent to consider posting videos on YouTube that talk about your organization. This is not paid advertising on YouTube but creating your very own YouTube Channel that is dedicated to informing the public about your company and what you have to offer.
In order to reach your full potential, something that you should do is develop a content creation strategy and dedicate funds to buy YouTube views. When you are starting out, it can be difficult to gain traction so allocating money to purchase YouTube views will help kickstart things.
Importance of Having a Plan
You need to begin planning your content curation and video uploading schedule. It is not enough to simply upload a video and hope it will succeed, you need to plan things out. Start by addressing the question about what aspect of your organization you want to highlight, when building brand awareness it helps to pick a quality or benefit of your business and focus on that.
Once you have established the primary focus of the videos, you need to write a script and determine whether you are going to use professional grade production or keep things casual. Each approach has its own respective pros and cons that you will need to review prior to making a decision on how to proceed.
Building Momentum
After you have developed your plan and uploaded a video to your YouTube Channel, you have to buy YouTube views as soon as possible to create a "buzz" around the video. YouTube uses sophisticated software to rank videos and the more views your video gets in the first day or so will play a pivotal role on how it will rank. You want your videos to appear in the trending tab so there are millions of potential customers who are made aware of your organization and what you have to offer.
Along with using these YouTube views to maximize your positioning on the search engines, it would also be prudent to have multiple calls to action built into your script. You should encourage the viewers to subscribe to your YouTube Channel so they will be made aware of your latest video uploads. Another key call to action to include is asking the viewer to visit your website. These two calls to action can be augmented by offering the viewer a coupon code of some type to encourage them to make a purchase. By following this approach you are going to make more people aware of your brand which should lead to more sales when the prospective customer is in the market for whatever it is you are offering. The primary step is to start coming up with great quality content and uploading it on a regular basis, if you follow that rule you should have no challenges building brand awareness.


text:
A Detroit Tale: Terrence ParkerREAD NEXT STORY
The B-52's "Rock Lobster" (1979)
"The punk out, pre-house days."
On Saturday, July 29th, Le Bain presents
The No Comprendo with Prince Language
Special guest: Jamie 3:26 (Chicago)
10pm | The Standard, High Line
Enter your email address below and get the latest and greatest stories from across The Standard World delivered to your inbox.
Come and go as you please by choosing your ideal check in and out times.Learn More


text:
Creating a modular application using Prism V2 - Screencast 3/4 : Implementing views and services
First of all, nice demo!
Second of all, I have been trying to port this demo to a WPF application and I've stumbled into a HeaderInfo issue. I am setting the HeaderInfo property as in the demo, and then I am creating either an ItemTemplate or as in the demo an ItemContainerStyle where I set either the HeaderTemplate or the Header property. Nothing works!
I used this:
<Style TargetType="TabItem">
<Setter Property="Header" Value="{Binding Path=HeaderInfo,Mode=OneWay,FallbackValue='Error!'}"/>
Every attempt "Error!" is displayed. I tried binding to . (dot) to see what the DataContext was, but again, error was displayed. What am I doing wrong?! And please escuse the noobicity of this question, this is my first WPF app, but puh-lease, someone answer this!
This Week on Channel 9: Feb 15 with Scott Hanselman!
[Sean Connery accent]Great Scott! This was the funnest Channel9 show I've ever watched!
I laughed my gluteus maximus off at the end.


text:
The Knights of Columbus are undertaking a canned food drive during Lent. The food will go to Cornerstone Food Pantry in Rockville. There will be boxes at the entrances of the Church to collect the canned food.
The Knights ask for your help to support this worthy cause.
St. Bernard Church
25 St. Bernard Terrace
Rockville, CT 06066
Parish Office
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Phone: 860-875-0753 X 100
Fax: 860-871-7460
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Register with the Parish
Schedule a Baptism
Get married at St. Bernard
Ask about your Preschool
Enroll my child in Religious Education
Ask about Cemetery plots


text:
Public agencies, servants have let down Jamaica
THE EDITOR, Sir:
It is unquestioned that good-performing public institutions are necessary for achieving economic development. My contention based on recent experience is that Jamaica's low performance over the years is largely because of institutional failures.
I am aware that Jamaica has enacted the Secured Interest in Personal Property, and it no doubt accepts the Legal Empowerment UN Resolution which related to property and business rights. I cannot, therefore, accept that it has been 20 years, a fact confirmed by the contractor general, that my brother purchased a piece of land in St Mary and cannot receive a title. This is because of reasons unexpressed to the public defender or apparently the ministers of local government and lands, and Cabinet secretaries, all of whom I have contacted (of course, without their response), both the St Mary Parish Council and National Land Agency refused to act. It is only the prime minister or commissioner of police that are left for me to ask to intervene.
It is no surprise why we have had the solid waste debacle and so many poor performers, as reported by the hard-working auditor general.
Kingston 8


text:
Although most of our animal rescues involve domestic pets and wildlife, we sometimes get called out for a farm animal rescue. Sheep, goats and pigs are a key part of North Devon life, and they're usually well looked after. But occasionally, they'll be in a road traffic accident, get stuck in water or fences, or be mistreated – and we'll get involved. Whether it's cruelty to a grizzled old collie, or an escaped foal, farm animal rescue comes within our remit.
Farm animal rescue over the years
Over the years we've had to rescue sheep, chickens, ducks, goats and other farm animals – often during appalling weather on the coast or up on Exmoor. Then there are the sad cases where farm dogs have been treated cruelly and need loving new homes.
Fortunately, when farm animals need help, your generous support means we've got a wide range of resources for their rescue, first aid, rehabilitation and rehoming:
- Our animal ambulance
- A dedicated horse rescue unit
- Close relationships with local farm animal vets
- Our Misty Centre (now home to several horses
and ponies)
- Partnership with the police, coastguards
and other agencies
- Our special care unit in Barnstaple
- Links with other farm animal rescue centres
But all this costs money…
How can I help?
Have you ever seen an injured sheep or goat and wondered how you could help? If you're in North Devon, you can call our seven-day-a-week emergency service on 07817 995751.
Running our volunteer team (no one's paid) requires constant support from people like you. Here are some of the ways you can help us:
- Report injured, mistreated or abandoned farm animals.
- Help with a donation or fundraising.
- Volunteer in our charity shops.
- Join our team.
- Provide a home for a rescued farm animal.
- Remember us in your will.
Please help us
Please read on to learn more. Or if you think you could help with our farm animal rescue, please contact us now.


text:
Red Hat Bugzilla – Bug 132143
print layout 4-to-1 is printing 1-to-1
Last modified: 2007-11-30 17:10:48 EST
From Bugzilla Helper:
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.7.2)
Description of problem:
4-up printing doesn't work.
I'm printing via LPR to an HP printer (PSC 950) on another machine (G4
running 10.3.5). I have configured the printer for postscript. Test
pages and normal (1:1) printing seems to work fine.
I open a large PDF document and I'd like to print it 4-up to save
paper. I select print, pages 1..8, my printer, and layout: 4 pages to 1.
But it seems to always print 1:1 pages.
(note: I imagine this might get redirected immediately from gpdf to
some printing component, sorry if this was in the wrong place. I
don't know if multiplexing is handled in the app or in the printer driver)
Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
How reproducible:
Steps to Reproduce:
see description
Additional info:


text:
The Challenge
Marc Sherer, president and CEO of Event Management LLC, decided to hold the first-ever Market New York Expo to attract small business owners and executives from the greater New York City area. Market New York was developed as the offshoot event of a very successful and much larger free annual event, the New York Business Expo. The free event generally attracts more than 10,000 people, but with a registration fee, it was unclear as to how successful the new Market New York event would be. The goals of this first event were to garner media exposure for event sponsors and to attract at least 2,000 high-level professionals.
The Solution
Co-Communications developed an integrated PR and marketing strategy to officially announce the Market New York event, drive ticket sales and tout the impressive roster of marketing thought leaders and organizations involved with the event (i.e. Facebook, Yelp and Constant Contact). This strategy hinged on engaging speakers, sponsors and exhibitors to extend messaging about the value of this event with their prospective audiences. Co-Communications worked closely with event sponsors and thought leaders to develop a strategic and collaborative approach for media outreach and social media promotion.
Co-Communications drafted a set of emails, which Market New York then distributed to partners, inviting them to submit social media content and blog posts for consideration, and mapped out a timeframe for highlighting those posts with a week-by-week focus on specific education themes. Co-Communications also created recommended posts for partners to share with constituents to help promote their involvement with the event. Co-Communications tied the content together with the hashtag #MKTNY, which was included in all promotional materials, including event badges. In addition, Co-Communications developed a customized list of media contacts and an optimized press release announcing the event and personalized pitches for reporters.
The Results
The event was a huge success, drawing nearly 3,000 guests – 60 percent of whom were company founders, owners, presidents or partners. Media outreach efforts developed robust SEO for Market New York leading up to the event.
Social media engagement rose steadily over the course of the month leading up to Market New York and exploded on May 29, the day of the event, with conversations between speakers and attendees about key learnings during the event, excited tweets from participating exhibitors, fun photos from participants, and more.
The #MKTNY Twitter hashtag was delivered to timelines 139,473 times and reached an estimated 58,303 accounts, just during the week of the Market New York event. Social media analytics results showed that 86% of tweets with the #MKTNY hashtag expressed a strong passion for the event.
For help developing a powerful event marketing campaign, contact us.
- Display Order: 3


text: Well, I've graduated college for software development and am still trying to find a job. Been out of the IM game for quite some time now and looking to get back into it, all while keeping my coding skills up to par. This may be a shot in the dark, but I am looking for someone with a working method, with the potential to be automated. I will code the software and send it to you when it's done. We will be the only two people with the software. I understand it can be difficult to just give someone a working method, but I assure you your secrets are safe with me. In the event that I cannot complete a working bot, I will let you know ASAP and will not continue with your method by any other means. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers, xxf8xx


text:
HA! As children growing up didn't we hate to get a pair of socks as a gift for the holidays? but now as adults, we really appreciate them! These socks are the perfect gift for anyone, and trust us your friends and family will love you for it! Their feet will really really appreciate it! No more tired, sore, smelly feet! See how that can benefit a spouse also ;).
The winter holidays are fast approaching, and now is the perfect time to get those orders in! It will vary depending on which holidays you celebrate, but we've whipped up a list of the latest you can safely order with each shipping type to get items in time for Christmas. As always, we will be working hard to get all orders processed for shipment within 24 hours (except on Sundays), but since the mail can get a little behind during peak weeks, we always recommend shopping early, and giving your packages extra time to get to you. Again thanks for your support! And don't forget our 50% sale going on!


text:
There is a lot of information already on this site and possibly the answer to the question you have regarding sheds, carports and garages already exists.
- Cannot find what you are looking for…? Try searching this site via the right hand side bar search box. ——->
Online Shopping : We utilize PayPal for online shopping transactions due to the very high level of security PayPal provides for your transaction. You can also select "Direct Deposit" to our bank account as an option during checkout if you prefer.
Can't see or find what you need : Call us as we might have to or can get it for you. phone David with your request on 0422 590 552
Regular Delivery Times (Jan 15th – Dec 12th) : Most Shed Products available through us are manufactured in 7-10 working days + delivery. The more remote you are the longer it may take. See below for estimates on production times and delivery. Some products do have longer lead times. If lead time is critical please call us to discuss.
Christmas Delivery period (Dec 12th – Jan 15th) :Note 18th Dec –> ORDERS PLACED NOW will be delivered in the New Year. During this period delivery times can vary. Expect extended lead times. Most orders placed between 12th Dec until the 8th January will be delivered after 15th January in most cases. If your product is time critical we suggest contacting us first. Ph 0422 590 552.
Delivery locations : Be aware that not all locations are serviced for deliveries "to the door" and that you may be required to collect your order from a local freight depot that is serviced by the carrier that a particular manufacturer uses to deliver their goods. PLEASE supply an address that is attended business hours. If no one is home, delivery cant take place. Supply your work address or a local business that can accept goods for you. NO P.O. BOXES PLEASE except for Corro Mount Plates.
Bluescope Lysaght products Delivery : this can be added during check out. Adds a delivery charge ($190.00) to your shopping cart. $190.00 is Lysaghts Standard Delivery Charge applied by Lysaght. Subject to confirmation of your location.
Vermin and ember seal product exchanges : Orders placed incorrectly or being returned or exchanged have a 10% restocking charge. The cost of return freight is born by the purchaser. A minimum re-delivery charge of at $38.00 will apply to the replacement order plus any additional price difference between products.
Production or Manufacture times, (working days)
- Lysaght products Orders can take up to 48hrs to be entered into the Lysaght system. Goods may require manufacturing, most regular sheeting and purlins are rolled within 5 working days after keying and before delivery or pick up can commence. Production Schedules do vary from location to location and product to product. Some items have longer lead times of upto 3 weeks. If timing is a concern, please contact us first and we will get an estimated production time.
- Apex and Knee plates are manufactured to order and currently have a 10 working days lead time minimum plus shipping. Production schedule can vary outwards based on how busy the turret punch is. Lead times are currently up and at least 10 working days. April 2018 expect up to 15 days manufacture time.
- Footing Brackets – need to be hot dipped in Gal and can take an additional 5 working days. Shed bracket orders with footing brackets incl could be up to 15 working days min.
- Windows : The manufacture queue is usually from 10 to 14 working days before dispatch. This can be longer for non standard orders and at busy times of the year. SEE important message below about window deliveries. (Custom size windows, Opaque, Toughened and Grey Tint Glass lead times are extended currently due to high demand)
- Larnec doors production times are currently up, Standard 650/37/61 doors 12-15 days, Standard Sentry 200/47 15 days, others 20 days +, non standard sizes, Double doors, customs, ultra skins and screened doors allow min 22 working days before dispatch.
- PADA doors : Pick up from Brisbane Qld warehouse usually 2 working days after order. Freighted – Doors usually dispatched within 3 working Days of order.
- Insulation – pick up orders usually ready in 1 working day, delivered orders usually dispatched within 2 working days subject to freight company schedules
- Manufacture – Manufacture payments are non refundable once manufacture has begun.
- Vermin and ember seal products – usually dispatched within 3-5 working days. Orders placed incorrectly or being returned or exchanged have a 10% restocking charge. The cost of return freight is born by the purchaser. A minimum re-delivery charge of at $38.00 will apply to the replacement order plus any additional price difference between products.
- Shed Stairs : manufacture time usually approx 10-20 working days dependent on the amount of hot dip gal components.
- Vents – Fixed or Operable : for manufacture, allow up to 20 working days
- Garden Sheds : Allow production time of approx 5 working days before dispatch
- Stables : Currently 7-8 week lead time. Can be 4-5 Weeks, but currently 8 weeks.
Orders received after 1.00pm may be deemed to have been received on the next working day due to manufacturers order confirmation requirements.
Tax Invoices : These come in the email confirming your order. If you do not receive your tax invoice please let us know and we shall ensure you receive one promptly.
Payment methods other than Paypal : Paypal can allow you to use your credit or debit card in a very safe secure environment. If you would rather do a bank transfer that option is available during checkout or contact us by phone or email for our account details. Cheques or Money orders are accepted, please call or email for details.
Please return DAMAGED windows with the same Courier/On-forwarder to allow replacements to be dispatched. Contact the ShedBlog on the same day to report such damage. Standard freight terms apply, once windows are signed for with the courier they are assumed to be in good condition, Our manufacturer WILL NOT replace or credit damaged windows that have been received and signed for.
Who also benefits from our Business? We support the chartity Save the Children with a regular monthly donation. It's not huge, but it's something for something good.


text: I have no idea when I read Paul Watzlawick's How Real Is Real? the first time. I was amazed by the theories buried deep within the book and read everything I could. One sentence is still sticking – and seems to be a paradigm of my thinking: One cannot not communicate.


text:
Sunday, 16 March 2014
A little more Ink
Just before I go and update the Sunday list at Challenges for Days I'm sharing something in response to the Less is More Challenge this week. The challenge is to use Mask or Stencil. I looked out a Crafters Workshop mask and used it on the inside of this card. The inks are Adirondack applied with those Inkylicious dusters I use all the time. On the front of the card I've used an Inkylicious Stamp.
Right I have to get on with that list now.
6 comments:
love;y cardsReplyDelete
Thanks for joining us this week
Jen xx
Less Is More
So effective! Well done you!ReplyDelete
Yummy - love them xReplyDelete
Beautiful cards and so clean and crisp lookingReplyDelete
Chrissie x
Beautiful stencillingReplyDelete
Thanks for taking the Less is More Challenge this week
(Guest commenter LIM)
Gorgeous colors and designs.ReplyDelete
Hugs Diane
Thank you for taking time to stop and leave a comment I love reading what you have to say and if there is time visiting you.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
If you haven't heard of the Keenz 7s Stroller Wagon yet, you're about to! This is a full size double stroller with the practicality of a wagon. Currently it comes in three great colors: Grey/black, purple/navy, or green/tan. Some of my favorite features are: two harnesses to keep kids safe, a removable canopy with roll down privacy shades, cargo basket with shoe storage, parent organizer, push and pull handles, and an easy fold! Optional accessories include: Rain Cover, color coordinating Cooler Bag that fits the cargo storage perfectly, Cup Holder, mosquito net, beach wheels (roll over sand effortlessly), wind cover, and hopefully the cool seat padding set that is only available in Korea will be here soon! For a limited time if you order from keenz.us the cooler and cup holder are free with the wagon, but delivery time on average is 5-6 business days. Amazon prime is something to consider if you need it fast!
The assembly was easy other than a stumble over the part where the manual shows you to put the rear axle on backwards, once it was all put together I realized it wasn't working right and flipped it. I was told they are re-doing the manual. I made a video time-lapse of the assembly HERE, a video of the fold HERE, and a fun trailer of clips of the videos HERE where you can see my daughter pushing it through the mall easily with my husband assisting at steering.
The best part about the Keenz is that it pushes amazing! I am somewhat of a stroller snob and this meets my expectations. If I had to compare it to a stroller I'd say its one step above a city select double. I can get up curbs easily, I prefer to walk to the front and lift that handle to pop it up the curb and then go back to the rear and lift that end, I don't want to jolt the baby since he's only 8 months. (Recommended age is 12 months to 5 years of age, the wagon can hold 110 lbs total). We took it to our local community days at a park, and it rolls effortlessly over grass. My husband offered to push for a while and I declined because I wasn't strained at all! I rolled the privacy shades down, and unzipped a portion of the canopy for air flow so my son could sleep. People left and right were asking me where I got my wagon, and I loved showing off the great features. My baby looked like a real VIP during his nap. I would never leave my child unattended as the harness not being used could be a strangulation hazard. I would love to see a panel that zipped over them when not in use in the future.
Let's talk fold! If I take the large wheels off I can stow it behind my third row if I have a kid back there hold it secure for opening and closing the hatch. If the kids are not with me I can leave the wheels on and slide in with one seat stowed. You do have to remove the canopy for folding, but the canopy supports screw down into the frame, that's one of my favorite features! Plus the canopy storage bag has snaps so you can attach it to your handle. Full fold video is down below.
Accessorizing! I added a Dot & Dot parent console (review) to the push handle bar, a Bag Nation backpack diaper bag (review) to the pull handle. The Keenz manual says not to hang things from the handle and that the cargo basket can hold 10 lbs, so I use the attached stroller clips on the backpack to keep the bag attached, and it's the perfect length to have the weight on the basket. Win win! The reason I love this bag so much is because the wipes case is easy access and since the wagon is easily wipe-able, it's a match made in heaven. The cooler still fits in the cargo area as well. If you choose to use shopping hooks the Dot & Dot console linked above comes with some as well. For extra storage I added the Skip Hop Grab and Go Saddle Bag its perfect for their extras! I have a Brica Deluxe Snack Pod (not pictured) that I can attach as well in the inside that fits a sippy and snack cup, or two sippys/bottles. You just pressure mount it over the covered hinge part. I ordered a rechargeable fan for hot days, and tablet mount (not pictured) for my toddler if I ever need to contain him somewhere he can't play. The fan is still in transit, but the mount so far has held up to my 3 year old's use on his crib. (Yes he's in a crib right now while family is staying in his room..he gets tablet time when I need sleep lol).
Another thing worth mentioning is that this is certified as a stroller. Keenz is working to make sure you are not denied entry into Disney because of their "no wagon" rule. Also this Stroller wagon is JPMA certified. More that on that HERE from Keenz.
It feels great to have found something perfect for football practice/games, trips to the beach, farmers market, everything! I have an umbrella stroller, and jogger, so I am completely set! Plus, I don't feel weird if my 3 year old wants to walk, this is perfect for one or two kids. I've even seen moms with picture of three kiddos comfortable in this.
Folding is actually even faster if I'm not doing it so you can see how!
I loved this stroller wagon so much, find my fan group on facebook! Keenz Queenz, there just might be a giveaway happening. Lots of hacks to make the Keenz even cooler!


text:
Last summer my cousin Emily pulled a tray of exquisite Danish pastries from the oven. She had been working for hours to roll out the dough, layer it with butter to get the puffed effect, and twist it into beautiful spirals filled with cream cheese and jam. To say they were divine is an understatement.
Ever since, I've been consumed by the desire to learn how to make them myself. With the arrival of a lovely Kitchen-Aid mixer on my birthday, I no longer have any excuses. Yesterday's project was a crash course in Danish-making, self-taught by reading Rose Levy Beranbaum's tome of expertise, "The Pie and Pastry Bible."
The result was pretty darn good, if I may say so myself. Not perfect – I overbaked them slightly and they weren't quite as puffy as commercial varieties, but delicious nonetheless. The process, though time-consuming, was much easier than I thought. Here's how I did it, so you can give it a try, too.
Authentic Danish Pastry Dough
2/3 cup milk
2 tbsp (1 oz) sugar
1-1/2 tsp (0.5 oz) instant yeast
2-1/4 cups (10.5 oz) unbleached white flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
1 large egg (approx. 3 tbsp)
18 tbsp (9 oz) cold unsalted butter (soften 1 tbsp)
In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, place all but 1 tbsp of the flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and cardamom. Add the milk, egg, and the 1 tbsp of softened butter and, with the dough hook, mix, starting on low speed, until the dry ingredients are moistened. Continuing on low speed, beat for 4 minutes. The dough will be silky smooth and have cleaned the sides of the bowl, but it will stick to the bottom and be very soft.
Lightly oil a medium bowl and, with an oiled spatula, scrape the dough into it. Turn it over to oil the top; cover with plastic wrap and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Using the oiled spatula, gently fold the dough to deflate it slightly and refrigerate it for at least 2 and up to 8 hours.
Place the remaining 1 tbsp of flour on a large sheet of plastic wrap and place the remaining 17 tbsp of butter (straight from the refrigerator) on top. Wrap it loosely with the plastic wrap. Pound the butter lightly with the rolling pin to flatten and soften it, then knead it together with the flour, using the plastic wrap and your knuckles to avoid touching the butter directly. Work quickly, and, as soon as the flour is incorporated, shape it into a 5-inch square (no thicker than 3/4 inch). At this point, the butter should be cool but workable, 60F. Use it at once, or keep it cool. The butter must not be colder than 60 F when rolled into pastry, or it will break through the dough and not distribute evenly.
On a well-floured surface, roll out the dough to an 8-inch square. Place the butter square diagonally in the centre of the dough square and lightly mark the dough at the edges of the butter with the dull side of a knife. Remove the butter and roll each marked corner of the dough into a flap. The dough will be slightly elastic. Moisten these flaps lightly with water, replace the butter on the dough, and wrap it securely, stretching the flaps slightly to reach across the dough package. Refrigerate it for 30 minutes (not longer).
On a well-floured surface, keeping the dough seam-side up and lightly floured, gently roll the dough package into a long rectangle 7 inches by 16 inches. Brush off all the flour from the surface of the dough and fold it into thirds as you would fold a business letter. This is the first "turn." Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 20 minutes and up to 40 minutes between each turn.
Before each subsequent turn, position the dough so that the closed side faces your left. Clean the work surface, reflour it, and then press down on the edges of the dough with the rolling pin to keep them straight. Roll and fold the dough and second time exactly the same way, but turn the dough over occasionally to keep the seams and edges even. Be sure to roll into all four corner of the dough and use a pastry scraper to even the edges. Do a total of 3 turns, resting the dough for 20 to 40 minutes between each. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours before shaping it.
Danish Pastry Twists
1 recipe Danish Pastry Dough (above)
optional: 1 recipe almond paste (below)
1 recipe Honey-Stung Cream Cheese Filling (below)
sour cherry or other jam
Transparent Sugar Glaze:
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tbsp + 1/4 tsp water
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes. On a floured counter, roll the dough to a rectangle 6 inches by 14 inches. It will be about 1/2 inch thick.
If using optional almond filling, cut the dough lengthwise into 2 strips, each 3 inches wide. Spread one with the almond paste and carefully place the second strip on top, lining up the edges. Roll the rectangle back to 6 inches.
With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Twist each strip tightly. Keeping the end of the strip against the counter with your left hand, lift the strip so that the rest of it is raised off the counter and coil the strip around the end, maintaining the twist as your spiral around and allowing the rest of the strip to fall on the counter as you go. Tuck under the last 1 inch of dough to keep the coil from unrolling and lift it onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Continue making twists, placing them at least 2 inches apart. They will now be about 3 inches in diameter.
Cover them lightly with plastic wrap and set the pans aside in a warm spot. Allow to rise for about 2 hours. They should almost double in size and be very light to the touch.
Preheat the oven to 400 F at least 2o minutes before baking. Set an oven rack at the middle level before preheating.
With lightly greased fingers, gently make about a 2-inch depression in the centre of each twist. Spoon about 1 tbsp of cream cheese filling around the outer edge of the depression and spoon about 1 tbsp of jam into the centre.
Five minutes ahead of baking, place a pan with an inch of boiling water in the lower part of the oven. Place the twists in the oven, lower the temperature to 375 F, and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. (After 10 minutes, turn and reverse the positions of the baking sheets.)
While the twists are baking, prepare the transparent sugar glaze: In a small bowl, place the powdered sugar. Whisk in the water and lemon juice. The glaze should be the consistency of egg white. If necessary, add a bit more sugar or water.
When the twists are done, remove the sheets to racks and brush immediately with the glaze. Cool for 20 to 30 minutes.
These are best eaten warm, while the outside is crisp and light and the center soft and tender, or within 3 hours of baking. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Almond Paste (from Home Baking by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid)
1 cup ground almonds
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg white, briefly whisked
1/2 tsp pure almond extract or vanilla (optional)
Place the almonds in a food processor and pulse briefly. Add the sugar, butter, egg white, and extract, and process until smooth. Use immediately or refrigerate in a well-sealed container . Let it stand at room temperature before using.
Honey-Stung Cream Cheese Filling
1 package cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp honey
Beat together in a bowl until light. Use immediately.


text:
Grant funding
Charitable Trusts and Foundations and Statutory Grants play a vital role at Stonewall, supporting our work seeking acceptance without exception for LGBT people.
Grants generally underpin our education, youth and international work but historically many more of our projects have been supported by grant income.
We have worked with the Stonewall Grants team in the delivery of two projects, and their frank communications and consultations at every stage have been 'spot on' in enabling alignment of our priorities as funders with Stonewall's aims in project delivery.
The MB Reckitt Trust
Grants can provide restricted funding towards a specific project or programme, or unrestricted funding, providing general support to our work supporting and campaigning for LGBT people.
We are immensely grateful to the Trusts, Foundations and Statutory Funders who support us:
- Arcus Foundation
- Awards For All – England
- City Bridge Trust
- Comic Relief
- Department for Education
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Kleinwort Benson
- Pinsent Masons Foundation
- Schroder Charity Trust
- Scottish Government
- The Baring Foundation
- The Charles S French Charitable Trust
- The J P Jacobs Charitable Trust
- The Monument Trust
- Wales Council For Voluntary Action
- Welsh Government
If you are a Trust or Foundation and would like to support our engaging and transformative work, please email Max Riley-Gould (Grants Manager) at email@example.com or call +44(0)20 7593 2824.


text:
With the Gamescom show on in Germany this week, new trailers abound. One of my favorites is also one of the shortest. Check out this 45-second teaser for EVE: Valkyrie:
Now, imagine playing that with a VR headset. EVE: Valkyrie is designed for virtual reality gear like the Oculus Rift.
According to the press release announcing the game, Valkyrie is a "multiplayer spaceship dogfighting shooter" set in the same universe as EVE Online. Valkyrie started as a tech demo, but it was apparently popular enough at this year's E3 show and EVE Fanfest to spawn a full-fledged game. The Fanfest trailer below shows off more in-game footage.
The old trailer has less of a Battlestar Galactica vibe than the new one, but it does include a little more action and what I presume is VR-driven head tracking. Checking your six will never be the same again. EVE: Valkyrie will presumably work with traditional PC monitors, too, but that setup surely won't deliver the same experience as a VR headset.
According to the announcement trailer, EVE: Valkyrie is due in 2014. The Oculus folks are aiming to have their first commercial headset available next year, as well. I can't wait to put the two together.


text:
The Weeklings depends on advertising money to stay online. Our revenue the last six months has not been enough to meet expenses. In order to keep the lights on, we have devised a fundraiser: #ResistDirtyRubles.
First, a bit of background: The Weeklings began life six years ago as a long-form arts & culture daily. After a long and successful run, we'd decided to suspend regular operations in November of 2016, when Hillary Clinton was elected president. Unfortunately that did not come to pass, and the site dedicated itself to combating Trumpism (i.e., anti-Fascist, anti-Putinist, pro-Constitution, Team Patriot).
Our mission has been primarily to spread the word about the crimes Donald Trump committed to steal the White House…to give shape and structure to the often confusing and complicated Trump/Russia narrative. We have been weeks, and sometimes many months, ahead of mainstream coverage of Trump/Russia, and ours has held up. We hope we have provided a useful service in this work.
And now, about #ResistDirtyRubles.
These 100% genuine, authentic 3-ruble banknotes circulated in Romanov Russia and the Khruschchev-era USSR. We have stamped them RESIST, to remind certain American politicians what they're supposed to do with dirty rubles.
We are selling them for $10 for the Soviet issue and $20 for the Romanov issue. Proceeds help support The Weeklings.
If you've appreciated our work in the last six years, and the last year particularly, we ask that you please show your support by buying our dirty rubles.
Thanks so much!


text:
Puerto Iguazú attraksjoner Se alle
Iguazu Falls
Though the Brazilians boast of their outstanding views over the falls, Argentina is blessed with about 80% of Iguazu, lovingly threaded by several kilometers of paved trails and catwalks that could keep you occupied for three days. A free "jungle train" connects several trailheads.
The Upper Circuit Trail offers outstanding views over Mbigua Falls and the undulating Iguazu River, before dropping toward misty Bernabe Mendez Falls. The Lower Circuit Trail has more views, as well as access to motorboat trips under the falls, whitewater rafting, and a free ferry to Isla San Martin, with even more to explore. Whatever you do, don't miss the vistas over Garganta del Diablo. No matter where you trek, you will get soaking wet. And that's not a bad thing on a hot summer day in Argentina. Though Puerto Iguazu, 17km (10mi) from the park, is the smallest of the three cities here at the triple border between Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, it has a great deal to offer tourists.


text:
Delhi High School will CONNECT students to daily, on going SUPPORT.
IF STUDENTS choose to not attend CONNECT they will be provided support during their lunch time. Athletics games/practices do not preclude CONNECT support time. Student athletes will NOT be permitted to leave CONNECT time.
Students at Delhi High School will be CONNECTED to SUPPORT!
NO Students will be permitted to fail.


text:
Open 10 AM to 4 PM
Sun., Wed., Thur., Fri. & Sat.
Closed Mon. & Tues.
Copyright ©
2003 - 2005
Automotive Heritage Museum
Kokomo, Indiana
History of Kokomo, Indiana
things have gone into shaping our society as we know it today, but
nothing has affected our society and culture as deeply as the
invention and development of the automobile.
Hours: Open 10 AM to 4 PM
Sun., Wed., Thur., Fri. & Sat.
Closed Mon. & Tues.
Indiana has a rich history that revolves around the American
automobile and the Automotive Heritage Museum pays tribute to this
heritage. Kokomo is home of the Haynes, "America's First
Car" and many products were, and continue to be, developed and
manufactured in Kokomo to support the auto industry.
1892, inventor Elwood Haynes designed his plans for a motorized
"horseless carriage." In 1893 he began building, with
the help of the Apperson brothers, America's first gasoline
powered car. The car, named the Pioneer was successfully
road tested on July 4, 1894. The Pioneer is now housed in
the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C.
1898, the Haynes-Apperson Automobile Company opened in Kokomo. It
was the first automotive plant in Indiana. By 1923, there were
over 61 different companies in Kokomo producing automotive
components that were shipped worldwide and over 76,000 automobiles
were built in Kokomo. The Maxwell Automobile Company eventually
became Chrysler and Crosley became Delco Electronics, a division
of General Motors. Today both DaimlerChrysler and Delphi
continue to develop automotive components in Kokomo.
the Automotive Heritage Museum displays over 100 antique and
classic autos representing dozens of makes and models. Included
are displays of automobile components and accessories such as
Kingston Carburetors, Delco Radios and many other auto related
products that were manufactured in Kokomo since 1894, thus
preserving Kokomo's unique and important historical automotive
Automotive Heritage Museum is considered by many to be one of
Indiana's finest attractions. During its first year in
operation, visitors from over 24 foreign countries and 45 states
came to view the automobiles and related displays thereby
demonstrating the museum's potential as a tourist destination.
first-class Automotive Heritage Museum and the affiliated
Johanning Civic Center are indeed, beneficial regional assets,
needed to enhance tourism, economic development and educational
enrichment throughout North central Indiana.
information on membership, click
- $5.00
Seniors - $4.00
Children under 12 admitted free when accompanied by parent
Web Site Designed
The Automotive
Heritage Museum is located in The
Johanning Civic Center
Reed Rd. (US 31 North)
Kokomo, IN 46901
Ph: (765)


text:
Lets Get Started
Backed by a team of adroit professionals, we are engaged in manufacturing and supplying a wide range of Waller Plate in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. These are manufactured using supreme class raw material and latest technology in conformity with set industry norms. To match the international quality standards, these are rigorously tested by our team of quality controllers against various quality parameters. Clients can avail these plates in numerous dimensions according to the application area.
Last updated on : 21 August 2017


text:
Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Receives ACCE Award for Communication Excellence
Thursday, June 17, 2015
FirstCare has been the health plan offered to Lubbock Chamber of Commerce members for 10 years. The Chamber was recently awarded an Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) 2015 Awards for Communication Excellence (ACE) for its 11-week campaign, in conjunction with partner FirstCare, to promote the new FirstCare HealthConnect private exchange—giving businesses more benefit options to choose for their employees.
Click here to read a copy of the Chamber's press release announcing this award.
Click Continue to proceed or Cancel to stay.
* Required field


text:
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Revenge, Mad Housewife style...
Revenge, worthy of The Bloggess' approval (I hope).
Two nights ago, my husband and I had a small spat. He said something kind of mean, so I (naturally) retaliated like a mature adult.
First, instead of going to the gym, I ran all of the gas out of his car. I mean, I got it down to 10 miles within empty, so he would have to stop on his way to work.
Second, I programmed all of his XM radio stations to the Studio 54 channel (that's all disco, all the time, bitches).
Third, and this is not so awesome, but whatever. I re-wrapped his Christmas presents in little boy birthday themed wrapping paper.
Take that.
He apologized, We are all good now.
But FunJen said I should definitely apologize for the disco channels.
Posted by Mallorie at 12:01 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Queensland Results
QLD RM Championships
2016 QLD RM TITLES – HERVEY BAY QLD 30th April / 1st May
Saturday 30th April started with a couple of light showers but soon cleared and after the registration and setting up was complete, 11 starters were ready to do battle at the Uni Lake located in Hervey Bay City. The lake had recently been cleaned by the local council after years of lobbying from the Fraser Coast Club, and they were pleased with the result. We had 11 skippers register with a number of them travelling some extra-long distances to be at the event.
QLD Dragon Force Challenge 2016 Round 1
Dragon Force Challenge 2016 Round 1 Report
Since the arrival in 2013 of this affordable, one design restricted class yacht, which easily fits in your car, a number of new and experienced skippers have been attracted to Dragon Force yachts.
In sponsoring the inaugural Challenge, QRYA and Paradise Radio Yacht Club are to be congratulated on proactively fostering this growing interest in RC yacht racing.
Round One of the 2016 inaugural Dragon Force Challenge was raced at Emerald Lakes (Gold Coast) on Sunday April 10th.
C/QLD IOM Championship
The International One Meter CQ Championships have been sailed and won in light to moderate conditions on the Gladstone Marina last weekend.
An unfavourable off shore wind direction saw the even moved from Spinnaker Park to a more appropriate racing area near the new VMR building along the western bank of the marina, allowing for unrestricted and perfect 5-10 knot breeze all weekend.
Skippers from the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg and north to the Whitsundays joined the Gladstone contingent to make a strong 21 boat competition.
BRYC Brisbane IOM Challenge
As always, the BRYC thanks Riversands for our venue, the BRYC club members who assisted in site preparation and the running the event, Ian Ashe for performing the PRO duties, and the skippers for their patronage.
The Eagleby venue is improving and now boasts toilet facilities and a mown grassed area on the northern shore of the lake incorporating a smaller fenced area in an attempt to keep the resident cattle of it.
There is ample space for parking. Adequate shade was provided, and with predicted temperatures in the low to mid 30's, it was an absolute necessity.
Latest Rankings
(Hint: Ctrl+F5 to refresh)
|A Class
|Ten Rater
National Champions
A Class: Graeme Howie
IOM: Paul Jones
10R: Andrew Reid
RM: Scott Condie
RC Laser: Scott Fleming
Past National Champions
Past National Champions: Click here


text:
1. What inspired you to become an eye doctor and how is your practice different from others?
My own poor vision was the catalyst to my becoming an eye doctor. Although, I entered college to become a writer, I found that I enjoyed the challenge of math and science much more. After changing my major to pre-optometry, I never looked back.
From the beginning, I have made it important to always be up to date with new treatments and technology. We provide the best products possible for our patients. I enjoy my practice and patients so much that many have been part of the practice family from the "early days". I am seeing second and third generations now. Many have been patients since I first came to San Antonio in 1983. Not a day goes by, that we don't see someone who has been a patient in the office for more that 20 years.
2. What was your favorite book when you were a child?
3. What are three things that you love to do outside of work?
- Read
- Travel
- Spend time with family and friends
4. Who is your all-time favorite musician/band and movie?
I am a die hard Beatles fan and enjoy well done, well acted movies.
5. Why did you sign up to become a Certified ChromaGen Practitioner?
My nephew is dyslexic. I signed up the day I learned about ChromaGen.
5A. Do you have a favorite ChromaGen success story to share?
Recently, a 26 year old patient came to the office because we had prescribed ChromaGen lenses for her sister. Her initial reading score was less than 30. After determining the proper ChromaGen lenses, she looked at a magazine and said, "Oh! I can read this now!" She read very fluidly. Her score increased 300% !
6. What are your top three tips for eye health?
- Have a routine eye exam regularly.
- Protect your eyes from UV rays.
- Follow a diet full of green leafy vegetables and/or take an "eye" vitamin every day.
7. Is your practice using social media to reach new and/or existing customers/patients? If so, where can our readers find you?
Dr. Dawn Rakich - Biography
A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Dr. Rakich graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Rakich moved to San Antonio immediately after passing her Texas Board exams. It has been her home ever since. She began her private practice in 1986 and has been at the current location since April 1987. She has certifications as both a Therapeutic Optometrist and Glaucoma Specialist. Dr. Rakich is married and lives with her husband, daughter and 2 rescue dogs.


text:
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! It's been nearly a year since Mikinnely Highs most scandalously popular boys (Derek James & Evan Staton) have become an official couple and now the two are starting college with a bang!
Impulsive Derek has asked Evan to move in together and while Evan is highly tempted by the thought of waking up every morning next to his boyfriend, he can't help but feel cautious. Dereks parents have been fighting lately and he feels that THAT'S Dereks ulterior motive. To get away from the fighting, not actually wanting to move in together to strengthen their relationship.
And there's the matter with the mysterious boy who keeps trying to break them apart. Who is he and why does it seem like he has something against Derek?
Then Derek makes everything worse when he decides that maybe he should join the military, something Evan isnt too enthused about. With so much drama swirling around the new couple, their still fragile relationship may break and if it does, who will be the first to walk away?
.....No one, if mischievous Giovanni Moretti (I Tempted Him With A Kiss) gets his way but then again, he's having his own relationship issues. He loves his possessive boyfriend Hunter with a passion but he just cant seem to get over adorably sweet Nick. If he had his way, he'd keep both but thats just absolutely scandalous!
He takes a vow of celibacy until he can figure out his erratic emotions but that isn't exactly working out so well, especially when theres so much hormones flying all over the place, mainly his own.
- derek
- evan
- gio
- giovannie
- hunter
- nick
- sequel
Dreambiglove101 Apr 04, 2017
Make it 6 because my sister started that one when I locked her out of her bed room and damn the bïtch can claw!
nuzzlesandkisses Nov 27, 2017
omfg why can't he just forget about nick and stop hurting him.
iwillshrekyou Jun 29
Oh derek how i missed you even tho is just finished the other book like 5 minutes ago
iwillshrekyou Jun 29
That boy is gonna be a trouble in dereks and evans relationship i can already smell it
retokyo Oct 24, 2017
This a sequel to highschool scandal? Bc damn I can't wait to read it
Dreambiglove101 Apr 04, 2017
I say that to my friend all the time hence I said friend not friends


text:
Iraq asks for more weapons to fight IS group
Iraq on Thursday called on the international community to provide more weapons to help it push back Islamic State amid growing fears the jihadists are planning to bring their fight to the streets of Europe.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, speaking in London at a meeting of the international coalition, also warned of the impact of falling oil prices on his country's ability to defeat IS.
"We don't want to see a military defeat because of budget and fiscal problems," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told reporters after talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and ministers from 19 other countries in London.
The United States assembled a coalition of about 60 countries last year, including Arab nations, to take action against the Islamist group after it seized a swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria.
Coalition members have conducted almost 2,000 air strikes against IS targets in the past four months, killing "thousands" of its fighters — including "50 percent of the top command", Kerry said.
"They have definitively put Daesh on the defensive where those strikes take place and in that particular region," he said, referring to the IS group by its Arabic acronym.
But Iraq's security forces are on the frontline of the ground battle and they are struggling.
The former head of Britain's MI6 secret intelligence service, John Sawers, said this week that an attack in the UK was now "highly likely" due to a "hardened core" of militants returning home from fighting in Syria and Iraq.
Abadi, who before the meeting had talks with Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street, said there had been a recent increase in the delivery of weapons to his security forces, and reported a positive response at Thursday's talks to a request to defer payment.
But he warned that the 60-percent fall in world oil prices since June had been "disastrous" for his country, where 90 percent of the budget is dependent on oil.
"Iraq needs weapons -– and the international community has the ability to provide Iraq with the weapons it needs," Abadi said at a press conference flanked by Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.
Both foreign ministers promised to supply what Iraq needed, saying the London meeting was intended to take stock of progress so far and establish what more action was needed.
"We've heard very clearly what he said," Hammond said. "This campaign is not going to fail for want of some guns or some bullets in the hands of the Iraqi security forces."
Kerry added that the IS group "is not simply a Syrian problem, it's not an Iraqi problem — Daesh is global problem".
The meeting was the second held by the coalition but unlike December's talks in Brussels, only core members were invited.
It was their first chance to discuss as a group this month's attacks in Paris against the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket, which left 17 people dead and were claimed by Al-Qaeda in Yemen and the IS group.
Looming over the meeting was also the Friday deadline imposed by IS militants threatening to kill two Japanese nationals unless they are paid a $200 million ransom.
"Terrorists want to drive us apart, but in fact their actions have had the opposite effect, they're bringing us together," Kerry said ahead of the meeting at the lavish 19th century Lancaster House in central London.
Asked about the Paris attacks, and terror raids in Belgium last week, the US diplomat said the public should take heart.
"In a sense we are flushing them out. These sleeper cells have been there for years now," he said, adding that they represented "the challenge of our time".
The coalition will set up expert-level groups to address specific issues relating to the IS group, from stopping the flow of foreign fighters that swell its ranks to cutting off sources of funding and their resources.
"Faced with such a threat, it is important to have a comprehensive, coherent strategy, and political leadership," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
Thursday's talks were attended by Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.


text:
For the first time in four months, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama spoke on the phone. Putin made the call to discuss Iran, the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in Syria, and violence in Ukraine.
"The leaders discussed the increasingly dangerous situation in Syria, and underscored the importance of continued P5+1 unity in ongoing negotiations to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," announced the White House.
But as Putin pressed Iran and Syria, Obama concentrated on Ukraine. The 16-month old war is still occurring in the east with over 6,000 dead. Russia and Ukraine signed peace agreements in September 2014 and February 2015 in Minsk, Belarus. Both times, Russian soldiers and pro-Russian rebels broke the agreements almost as soon as the countries signed the papers.
"President Obama reiterated the need for Russia to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements, including the removal of all Russian troops and equipment from Ukrainian territory," stated the White House.
The West implemented sanctions against Russia's financial, energy, and military sectors after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014. The European Union recently extended sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2016, since Moscow fails to comply with the Minsk agreement.
As the situation continues to worsen, NATO countries in eastern Europe want more defense help from their allies in case Putin targets them next. But Russia threatened retaliation if America places tanks and weapons near Russian borders.
"If heavy U.S. military equipment, including tanks, artillery batteries and other equipment really does turn up in countries in eastern Europe and the Baltics, that will be the most aggressive step by the Pentagon and NATO since the Cold War," declared General Yuri Yakubov, the Russian defense ministry official. "Russia will have no option but to build up its forces and resources on the Western strategic front."
Last year, Vice President Joe Biden and NATO leaders promised protection and security, with little concrete results. NATO countries welcomed the news of American weapons and tanks to protect them from a possible Russian invasion.
"We think that at least part of it [Abrams and Bradleys] will be in Lithuania and we are in a process preparing our military infrastructure, so it could be used for such pre-positioning," claimed Juozas Olekas, Lithuania's defense minister, adding:
It is almost ready. We have been in talks with our American allies that it would be purposeful to locate the equipment here on permanent basis, in order to increase our security and support the soldiers stationed here. If the decision is taken, it will be very positive for our security.
It is the first time America has increased its presence in Europe since the end of the Cold War. The U.S. will spread weapons and 5,000 troops in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Poland. All of these countries were once Soviet states or satellite states.
Putin frazzled the world when he told world officials he owns the right to place missiles in Crimea. Under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), five countries, including Russia, may plant "nuclear weapons anywhere in its territory." However, the United Nations and NATO still consider Crimea a part of Ukraine. To make matters worse, Putin announced the plan to buy 40 more intercontinental ballistic missiles. This caused NATO to review its nuclear weapon policy.
"There is very real concern about the way in which Russia publicly bandies around nuclear stuff," explained a NATO diplomat. "So there are quite a lot of deliberations in the alliance about nuclear [weapons], but it is being done very slowly and deliberately. We need to do due diligence on where we are."


text:
We have discussed various factors that can affect the reliability of NDE techniques (i.e., probability of detection - POD and sizing accuracy) in Part 1. In general, it is difficult to quantify these uncertainties. In fact, it is impossible to fully quantify the uncertainties in NDE results. However, one can achieve a higher level of reliability by reducing or minimizing the uncertainties. We will discuss some of the steps one can take to minimize the uncertainties in NDE results. By minimizing or reducing the uncertainties in NDE results, FFS assessments can be less conservative, and thus provide more margin to the serviceability of the equipment.
Inspectioneering Journal
NDE Input to Fitness for Service Decision Making
Part 2
By C.P. Hsiao, and Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal. This article appears in the May/June 2002 issue of Inspectioneering Journal
This content is available to registered users and subscribers
Register today to unlock this article for free.
Create your free account and get access to:
Interested in unlimited access? VIEW OUR SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS
Current subscribers and registered users can log in now.


text:
Hoping your day is typo-less.
Live, love, bark! ❤
Hoping your day is typo-less.
Live, love, bark! ❤
That was a very fun typo 🙂
Now that's a fun typo – thanks for the much needed smile!
Now, that's a good typo, much better than anything you'd find under cargo ship!
This is hilarious! How happy does that Corgi look? 🙂 lol!
Haha! Love it! 😂 That sweet Corgi looks very content making waves.
Now THAT is funny! I love Corgis ♥
"disapointed." Hahahahaha 🙂 How could anyone be disappointed will cat or dog pictures?!?!


text:
Bonjour de Paris
Today a few Bridge Pointers learned about living in Paris, France from a former BPE student. Looks familiar, doesn't he? Last year we used FaceTime to learn about Vietnam from this very same globetrotting friend. Our friend told us all about how he gets around on the metro in France and how soccer in Europe is extremely popular. At his French school, he works hard to listen and follow along as everything he hears is in French! He even gets swimming lessons as part of his curriculum at school. His apartment overlooks a busy street in Paris and he is minutes from the Eiffel Tower. Our 2nd graders caught him up on our new playground and other BPE news. When it was time to say adieu, our 2nd graders gave him "air hugs" and practiced their goodbyes in French. Merci beaucoup!
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply.
June 2018