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Mr. Speaker, today is national Pink Shirt Day. Wearing pink today symbolizes that we, as a society, will not tolerate bullying of any kind. This day of recognition and action was started in 2007 by two young men in Nova Scotia, David Sheppard and Travis Price. As an act of protest and support, they gave pink shirts to their fellow students, after a grade 9 student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.
These two young men raised global awareness of bullying, starting from one school in Cambridge, Nova Scotia. In the last year, more than 180 countries have participated in the initiative.
Mr. Speaker, I provided pink lapel flowers for all of the Members to wear in the House today. We have done this for a number of years, to show support for victims of bullying and cyber bullying. It is also a reminder that there are many people working hard to bring this issue off the internet and out of the dark corners of schools. I am proud to see all the pink in the House today, marking our collective acknowledgement that bullying in any form is unacceptable.
In 2013, the Legislative Assembly passed Bill 12: An Act to Amend the Education Act, to establish a definition of bullying; provide for the establishment, by regulation, of a Territorial School Code of Conduct; and require education authorities to ensure the development of safe schools plans. The Northwest Territories Safe and Caring Schools Regulations and Territorial Code of Conduct were established in 2016, and safe schools plans have now been created throughout our education system.
Mr. Speaker, schools across the North are working to create safe and welcoming learning environments for all students. Our schools are actively engaging students of all ages in wellness, resiliency and inclusion activities, and making sure that all students are, and feel they are, valued members of their community. We have seen some marked successes stemming from these actions, with students growing into advocates and ambassadors.
We must continue the work we began in 2013 to make our schools safe places for all members of the school community.
The 2018 national theme for Pink Shirt Day is cyber bullying. The Pink Shirt Day organization states that in today's digital world, it can be impossible to escape online bullying, whether it takes the shape of harassment, spreading rumours, sharing embarrassing information, or threats. This year, Pink Shirt Day is encouraging everyone, young and old, to combat cyber bullying by thinking twice before posting something negative, and instead using the internet to spread positivity.
Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that all of our schools across the Northwest Territories will be marking Pink Shirt Day. I look forward to seeing the wash of pink across the North.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.


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Readings from Uplake: Restless Essays of Coming and Going
English Department, Visiting Writers Reading Series
Mabel Groseclose Fund
55 minutes, 20 seconds
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For the past 25 years, Ana Maria Spagna, who's been recognized by the Society for Environmental Journalists, has lived and written in Stehekin, Washington, a remote community in the North Cascades accessible only by foot, boat, or float plane. Author recently of a novel for young people (The Luckiest Scar on Earth), and several noted collections of creative nonfiction, including the acclaimed, Reclaimers, she'll read from her newest book Uplake: Restless Essays of Coming and Going, due out from University of Washington Press in Spring 2018. In the 2017-2018 academic year, Spagna is teaching here at Whitman College as a Johnston Visiting Instructor of English.
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Amy Bird's debut novel, psychological thriller Yours is Mine, was published in 2013 by Carina UK, the digital imprint of Harlequin. It achieved best-seller status on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching the #1 spot in the coveted Amazon.com Women's Crime chart. Her second novel, Three Steps Behind You, is released in March 2014. Amy has an M.A. in Creative Writing from Birkbeck and is an alumni of Faber Academy. She also loves theatre; her play The Jobseeker was runner-up for the Shaw Society T.F. Evans Award 2013, and she is a trustee of new writing theatre festival High Tide. Born in Hampstead, Amy chose to set both her novels in NorthLondon, where she lives with her husband, dividing her energies between writing and working part-time as a lawyer.
To visit Amy's website, click here or to follow her on Twitter, click here.


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Mark Olson's extensive education and experience drives the creativity and fabrication of all Unique Art Glass pieces. Mark started working with glass in 1976, going on to work as a research and development product designer for a large stained glass manufacturer for 10 years. Mark attended the prestigious Pilchuck Glass School, studying under Master Glass Artists Dale Chihuly and Ludwig Shaffrafh and was later recruited as a designer for a Seattle area stained glass studio designing and producing commissions for many local area residents.
Mark creates his designs with careful attention to architecture, interior design, and function, often collaborating with architects, designers, and other craftsmen. He strongly believes in the quality of his craft and the honesty of its construction.
In 1989 Mark created Unique Art Glass and continues to produce works for many Northwest homes, churches, and businesses. Mark's work has been published in trade magazines, brochures and most recently the Greater Puget Sound area magazine Pacific.


text: Reply To: Raji Ji Home › Forums › Astrology Forum for Free Horoscope Reading and Predictions › Raji Ji › Reply To: Raji Ji July 11, 2017 at 9:12 am #28181 Reply K.Umamaheswara rao Hello, Please describe how you were fasting? On the date of fast,what were you eating? What are your health problems? You are talking of mental problems.What are they? Now coming to your horoscope. Your lagna is Midhuna. Guru in lagna is very good. Sani in seventh house is very bad. For seeing children,fifth house has to be studied. Moon in fifth house is good. But fifth house owner Sukra is highly spoiled. Non only Sukra is in eighth house,but he is with Rahu. So,there is negativity with respect to children. But you can get children if you undertake penance. Are you having any stomach problems? There is Sani in seventh house. Your husband can also do penance . I think there is something wrong in fasting. YOu are also talking of social problems? What are they? email@example.com


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56 • YCN Mentoring Program
In 2013 I was accepted into a YCN mentoring program where I was teamed with a designer who I met and had lunch with in Shoreditch House, London with other mentors and mentees on three occasions to discuss and work on personal improvements in terms of design. During these sessions my mentor set me a task to design an identity for a new coffee shop
opening in London called 56. I wanted to create something abstract and stylish as the target audience were young creatives living in the surrounding area. I looked into the number 56 and found it was a triangular number which I tried out in some designs but I wanted to also capture the rawness of a coffee shop by introducing some texture and shape. Below are the ideas I came up with.


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Traditionalist commentary from a true American patriot about America's future...for America's future.
Friday, August 31, 2007
First, DePalma can make whatever film he wants, you know, freedom of speech and all. So if he wants to make a film about one of the military's low points, then fine. He has that right. It's important to note that the soldiers in question have been arrested, tried and convicted and are currently serving punishment for their criminal behavior. But what bugs me about this guy is the following statement that he made at the festival about his film:
"The movie is an attempt to bring the reality of what is happening in Iraq to the American people."
The reality of what is happening in Iraq? A brutal rape and murder of a 14 year old girl is what DePalma considers the 'reality of what is happening in Iraq'? That's about as asinine as it gets. I've talked to a few people who served in Iraq, and none of them describe the rape and murder of 14 year girls as the 'reality of what is happening in Iraq'. But, DePalma would have us believe that they're wrong, and he even goes so far as to say that the mainstream media is part of the "corporate establishment" and is therefore not reporting what's really happening in Iraq.
Yes, you read that right. DePalma thinks the media is not reporting what's really happening in Iraq. You know, all those rapes and murders of 14 year old girls. They're not getting reported, so DePalma felt the need to make a movie about it. In truth, a US soldier can't even give an Iraqi a dirty look without the media making accusations of abuse and torture, but DePalma thinks they're all part of the establishment....because they're not reporting all those rapes and murders of 14 year old girls.
No doubt it will be a popular movie. I'm sure Rosie, Sarandon and Matt Damon already have their tickets. Any movie that gives the US military a swift rib-kick is sure to be a hit with the Left. They can't wait...but, don't forget, they "support the troops".
Remember, this is the same guy who brought us "Casualties of War", a movie about, what else, US GI's brutally raping and murdering a Vietnamese woman. DePalma seems to think US soldiers are nothing but a bunch of murderous rapists, and the media fails to show the American people the truth. This guy is out there. So when will he make a movie about Saddam's mass murders and brutal regime? Or the Khmer Rouge? Don't hold your breath.
The reality of what is happening in Iraq? Unbelievable.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is tipping Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to team up and win the U.S. presidential election.Clinton leads Obama in the race to be the Democratic nominee for the November 2008 election, and Castro said they would make a winning combination.
"The word today is that an apparently unbeatable ticket could be Hillary for president and Obama as her running mate," he wrote in an editorial column on U.S. presidents published on Tuesday by Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma.
He went on to praise Bill Clinton:
Castro said former President Bill Clinton was "really kind" when he bumped into him and the two men shook hands at a U.N. summit meeting in 2000. He also praised Clinton for sending elite police to "rescue" shipwrecked Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez from the home of his Miami relatives in 2000 to end an international custody battle.
He said his favorite U.S. president since 1959 was Jimmy Carter, another Democrat, because he was not an "accomplice" to efforts to violently overthrow the Cuban government.
Jimmy Carter was Castro's favorite, and Bill Clinton was praised for helping Castro "rescue" Elian Gonzalez. Really? Rescue him? That's not how I remember it, but then again communists do have their own version of history. Gonzalez was removed at gunpoint from the arms of his family, denied asylum, and deported back to a communist nation openly hostile towards the US. But, Castro is right, Clinton was very helpful in that matter. To so many on the Left, deporting immigrants is out of the question unless it means deporting back to a communist nation.
And Jimmy Carter is adored by Castro because he somewhat restored diplomatic ties between the two nations. Let's see, Cuba is a nation that attempted to build nuclear launch sites just 90 miles from our coastline without apologies and nearly brought the world to nuclear holocaust. And Mr Carter decides he wants to be friends with them again.
And now Castro seems to favor Hillary and Obama. To me, that says a lot.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Idaho Senator Larry Craig denies being gay. So, some time back the Senator plead guilty to disorderly conduct for supposedly propositioning another male in an airport restroom. Now, he contends those charges and says it was a mistake, mainly due to his failure to obtain legal counsel. Okay, whatever. But the issue isn't whether the Senator is gay, which for some reason is what he wants to focus on. No, the issue is whether or not this man propositioned someone for sex. If this is true, the Senator should resign his position. The Senate is launching an ethics probe (there's an oxymoron...Senate ethics probe) and apparently there will be more to come.
Alberto Gonzalez resigns. I don't know much about this guy, but I do know that he got a raw deal. I'm not exactly sure why the Dems focused so much energy in "getting" this guy, but it apparently worked. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part. My only disappointment was in his handling (or lack thereof) of the Campian and Ramos case. Otherwise, I feel for this guy. Now, what's really scary is that Bush is considering Chertoff as his replacement. Yikes!
Hillary favors a national smoking ban. I'm not a smoker. In fact, the odor makes me want to gag. But I am getting a bit tired of people treating smokers like the lepers of our time. National smoking ban? Gimme a break.
Senator Harry Reid: ""Most Americans, and a bipartisan majority in Congress, believe this strategy is not in our national interest and the time for a major change in strategy is now."
What the Senator means is that we need to change strategy before this strategy succeeds. Everyone knows that if the troop surge works, and is the first step to a safe, secure and stable Iraq, then the Dems are doomed. They will have no chance in '08. So, Reid is working hard to change the course before we succeed.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Dear young, black men:
Today, many of you are angry. You are angry at a society that has swiftly and vigilantly punished a superstar quarterback for dogfighting, but often looks the other way as a grotesque number of black men die in the streets. You are angry at the NFL, which has punishments some of you feel unfairly targets those who look like you. You are angry at Michael Vick's buddies and criminal cohorts for "snitching" on Vick, noting that trainer Greg Anderson, a white man, sits in federal prison with his lips sealed, protecting Barry Bonds and refusing to cooperate with authorities.
You are feeling a lot of things -- some possessing merit -- but I caution you not to make Vick a martyr. Do not applaud him for taking his comeuppance like some modern-day gangster. Do not blame others for Vick's predicament when he alone should be held accountable for his actions.
Let this historic unraveling be a wake-up call for the young, black men caught up in the same lifestyle that claimed Vick. Let his prison sentence send the message that a continued allegiance to street culture successfully keeps young, black men frighteningly behind in American society.
As the Vick case shows, millions of dollars are little protection if a certain mentality remains. Until now, Vick was considered one of the lucky ones. He rose out of poverty to become one of the most mesmerizing athletes of our time. He went from nothing to millions. He wasn't the American dream, but the American reality. He had the support of a city, of a people and he struck a chord with many young, black men because they saw themselves in him -- rebellious, strong and heroic.
But Vick let you down. He betrayed you. He heightened the stereotypes of black men instead of eroding them. Racists certainly will feast on Vick, but he was the one who made himself an entrée.
You can say Vick was persecuted unfairly by the white media, say we should be more concerned with the war in Iraq than an illegal dogfighting ring or say his downfall wouldn't be a 24-hour news event if he were the highest-paid white quarterback.
But it's impossible to stand on moral high ground while trying to defend something so low. Vick did something wrong, something against the law, something disgusting and vile. Even worse, he appears to be the financial backer and mastermind behind the dogfighting ring.
I understand Vick's guilt is a tough, humbling thing to swallow because the one thing black men in this society understand is the feeling of being piled upon, discounted and discarded. Last year, several studies showed that American black men are failing at an alarming and heartbreaking rate. More than half of black men in the inner cities don't have a high school diploma. There are more black men in prison than in college. Everyone else in society -- whites, Latinos, women -- is gaining ground, but black men are falling further and further behind in virtually every category........FULL COLUMN
Bravo, Ms Hill. My hat's off to you.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
And, let's not forget this statement on the Senate floor by Robert Byrd: "...cruel, sadistic, cannibalistic business of training innocent, vulnerable creatures to kill...Barbaric!," he yelled. "Let that word resounding from hill to hill, and from mountain to mountain, and valley to valley across the broad land. Barbaric! Barbaric! May God help those poor souls who'd be so cruel. Barbaric! Hear me! Barbaric! I am confident that the hottest places in hell are reserved for the souls of sick and brutal people who hold God's creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt," he said. "One is left wondering, who are the real animals: the creatures inside or outside the ring?"
Something tells me the Senator feels Vick's behavior was barbaric. Sick and brutal people who hold God's creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt? How poetic. And the good Senator is not alone. Indeed, there is a lot of outrage over Vick's behavior, and there should be. But I can't help but wonder: Why are so many people outraged over dog-fighting, and yet seem to be okay with abortion, and in some cases partial birth abortion? Are these dogs' lives really that much more valuable than human fetuses? It's an interesting question no doubt, so let's use Senator Byrd's voting record as an example to answer this question.
In a vote that would prohibit governmental discrimination against medical entities that refuse to perform elective abortions, Senator Byrd voted against the bill.
In a vote to show whether or note Congress supported the Roe v. Wade decision effectively making elective abortions legal, Senator Byrd voted for it.
Senator Byrd voted against a measure that would prohibit government funding for research on human fetal tissue
Vote to pass a bill that requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells.Senator Byrd voted for it.
To summarize, Byrd is okay with destroying human life for research and convenience, but opposes the destruction of dogs for entertainment, that's what he considers barbaric. Abortions? Not so much. Not that I'm picking strictly on him, he is not alone. Many people out there feel the same. How they reconcile these two positions is beyond me. Barbaric indeed!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
I have refrained from commenting about Vick until now, mainly because I believe in "innocent until proven guilty" and I've been rather disgusted at how the mainstream media tends to convict before any evidence is heard. Case in point, the Duke Lacrosse team. So, while I was disappointed to hear of Vick's potential involvement in all of this I still held out hope that he was not guilty. I was wrong.
Vick is an incredibly talented athlete. He had ways of making people say "wow". In short, he was fun to watch and had a very bright future ahead of him. It's a shame that he's basically flushed all of that for some cheap thrills. It's amazing to me how some athletes are hell-bent to waste their talent and self-destruct. Add Michael Vick to that list. Up to five years in prison and a lifetime of shame next to names like Kobe Bryant, OJ Simpson, Joe Jackson and Pete Rose.
Amidst all of this, the question being asked is: When will Vick be allowed to play football again? Yes, this reflects poorly on our society, but it's still a legitimate question. Interestingly enough, the NAACP has quickly jumped to Vick's defense, asking the NFL to avoid suspending the superstar quarterback. NAACP president R.L. White said that Vick "made a mistake" and should be allowed to learn from it. He feels that any prison sentence Vick receives is punishment enough and that an NFL suspension would be harsh. Well, I understand the argument, but I couldn't disagree more.
First, the crime. White speaks of it (along with many other Vick supporters) as though Vick was ticketed for jaywalking. This man committed a serious crime. Brutal cruelty to animals represents human behavior disturbing in every sense of the word. Many clinical sociopaths are identified early because of their tendency to engage in such behavior. Any psychiatrist will tell you that someone capable of brutality towards animals is also capable of the same towards humans, which is one of the reasons why this is against the law. So, Vick will plead guilty to a very serious crime and with that comes serious punishment. Five years in prison is fair, although I highly doubt he will get that much.
So what happens after his prison term? White says that Vick's debt to society would then be paid and the slate wiped clean and Vick should then be allowed back into the NFL. Well, the debt to society might be paid, but what about the debt to the NFL? Vick's behavior reflects very poorly on the NFL, not to mention that he is yet another professional athlete with a felony history. I'm not the only one getting tired of these guys behaving like the rules don't apply to them.
Let me put it this way: If I were to commit a felony, my license to practice medicine would likely be revoked, meaning I could never practice medicine again. Other professional organizations are similar. I wouldn't object if the NFL suspended him for life, although that is also highly unlikely lest they risk a racism charge. Felonies and professionalism don't mix, and Vick is a professional. With that comes responsibility and violating that responsibility carries penalties. Yes, he needs to serve time, but that's not the only consequence he should pay. My guess is the NFL will suspend him for the length of his prison term and allow the suspension to be served while in prison. The NFL tends to be gutless that way (along with all other professional sports organizations). Hopefully, the individual teams will refuse to sign him. Vick committed a major crime, and he should lose his career for it. The NAACP is wrong.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
First, we have Michelle Obama, who has come out of her shell lately, talking about how much they value traditional family values and how much emphasis she and her husband place on their family. She added: "if you can't run your own house, you can't run the White House." Take that Hillary. Or was she jabbing at Guiliani?
Speaking of Rudy, at the latest GOP debate he got a little miffed when a voter asked how he'd expect the American people to give him loyal fellowship if he was having a hard time getting it from his own family. Guiliani's response sounded like a schoolyard bully who'd just been punched in the stomach: "The best thing I can say is kind of leave my family alone, just like I'll leave your family alone." Wow. I think someone just struck a nerve with Rudy.
So is a candidate's family off-limits? To a certain extent, yes. Sometimes being decent means leaving them alone. Take Al Gore's son, for example. He is struggling with addiction and severe legal problems. Let the family deal with it. No need to smear. No need to ask questions. This kid has problems, what else is there to report?
But, do the voters have a right to know what's going on with Rudy and his kids? And why did Hillary not leave Bill? The latter brings in a question of character. Did she stay with him because she adamantly opposes divorce? Or to spare Chelsea? Or, did she stick with him because it would help her White House chances in the long run? I think these are legitimate questions and perhaps Hillary would be better served to answer them.
As for Rudy, all this secrecy is hurting him. What's going on with his kids? His former wives? I don't think people are out of line asking. And why can't Rudy give at least something resembling an explanation. "My kids and I often don't see eye to eye, and divorces hardly help."
That's it. Would anyone have trouble understanding that? No, of course not. We all have interesting family dynamics we deal with. Rudy's mysterious secrecy is hurting him in the eyes of the conservative base, and don't think for a second the Dems (especially Hillary) aren't itching to exploit that as much as the GOP is chomping at the bit to get at Hillary. It should be an interesting campaign.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
First, before we start assaulting McDonald's, let's not forget that the plaintiff still has the majority of the responsibility here. Yes, he told them 5 times no cheese, but still I wonder: Why didn't he check to make sure the order was right before taking a big bite from the burger of death? Again, we've all been victimized by incompetent fast-food workers and it seems like he put a little too much trust in them. Thankfully, I don't have any serious allergies, but if I did and there was possibly something on my burger that could kill me, I would check before I ate it. This guy shares some of the blame for his brush with death and that should not be forgotten. And his friends? Come on. If they're going to sue McDonald's then they should also sue their friend - since he is partially to blame.
As fas as the lawsuit, it sounds a bit ridiculous. $10 million? I understand the concept of punitive damages. They are meant to be just that...punitive. And you can't punish a billion dollar company with small awards, so the damages have to be hefty. That's why a woman gets $3 million for spilling coffee on herself. I don't think punitive damages are always bad. Sometimes big industry needs to be punished. However, I do believe these damages should not be given to the plaintiff or his attorney. That just encourages unnecessary litigation. Punish the offender. Give the money to charity. That will eliminate a good deal of the frivolous lawsuits that are gumming up our courts.
Finally, if I'm a juror the plaintiff would have to convince me that the McDonald's corporation was the one at fault, and not some careless burger-flipping teenager at the grill. I would like to see company policy on special orders, mechanisms for checking those orders, and disciplinary procedures for employees that don't uphold company policy. I would think that it is McDonald's policy to give the customers what they ask for. Expecting them to police every single employee is unrealistic. So, if this guy has a case, then it appears his case is with the person who made the burger more so than the company he works for. Why isn't he suing that person? We all know the answer to that.
Similar things happen in medicine. A doctor writes an order for a medication. The order is correct, the medication is appropriate, but the nurse mistakenly gives the wrong thing and it causes a harmful event. Who gets sued? That's right...the doctor. Why? Because the doctor is the one with the money. Is that fair? Of course not, and it's one of the reasons why many states are currently in medical crisis. So that's why I think my idea about awarding punitive damages is the right idea. A person shouldn't get $3 million for basically being an idiot and not realizing that coffee is hot and may burn. Cover the medical costs and damages for the plaintiff, but give the punitive award to someone who shares none of the blame. I think it would go a long way to solving some of the problems of our litigious society.
"Someone like me has prayed to Allah yang maha kuasa (Almighty God) for eight years in Indonesia and other priests for 20 or 30 years," Muskens said. "In the heart of the Eucharist, God is called Allah over there, so why can't we start doing that together?"......FULL STORY
I find this to be very interesting. Note that I pulled this from the Michael Reagan show, and many of his listeners are unhappy about it. I admit, at first it sounded ridiculous. Why would the Christian community refer to their God as Allah? But I thought about it a moment, and remembered what I could about theology and the Bible. If I'm not mistaken, the three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam all originated from Abraham. I'm sure there are some out there with better theologic knowledge than I, please feel free to chime in. And I'd also like to hear from any Muslim and Jewish readers about this.
For centuries these three religions have been at each other's throats in seemingly constant conflict. For what? That in itself is a very simple, yet provocative question. After all, Abraham served only one God. And if we are all sons of Abraham, are we not all children of the same God? Yes, I understand that the conflicts arise as we move down in lineage. But shouldn't this commonality at least be enough for us to coexist? I'm not saying we all convert to one religion or another. I'm just asking why people who worship the same God can't exist amongst each other with respect and peace. I've often wondered why Jerusalem, a city sacred to all three religions, can't be shared rather than fought over. Yes, my religion teaches that Judea is the land promised by God to the Jews, but does this promise not allow any other religion to exist in that area? I could ask the same question of the other religions. I'm not being confrontational towards Jews or Muslims, I'm simply asking questions that I don't know the answers to.
So, I understand what this particular Bishop is saying, and I respect him for it. The problem is his actions may be interpreted by some Muslim extremists and mainstream Christians as evidence of capitulation, which is why the Bishop is meeting resistance in his efforts. It is my opinion that the vast majority of Christians, Muslims and Jews are willing to coexist peacefully. Live and let live, and so on. But, unfortunately, there exists an extremist minority that wants global domination of their particular religion. Throughout history, all three religions have been guilty of this. All three have claimed Jerusalem as theirs and theirs alone. As much as I love my religion and my God, I feel that making such a claim is simply not right, and I feel God would agree. Because while converting others may be a noble cause, converting under the sword is not. If all three religions are willing to make that concession, then all three must also be willing to accept the presence of each other, with respectful disagreement. When that day comes, so will the day of peaceful coexistance.
Editor's addendum: This does not represent a change in my policy. I still support the global war on terror and aggressive action to neutralize religious extremists who murder in the name of God. My position on religion is (and always has been) that it is not necessary for one or the other to be dominant. Religion is a very personal thing, and we should respect each other's beliefs, even and especially when we don't agree. Those who fail at this and seem intent to convert or kill can't be reasoned with and therefore must be neutralized, or else we risk them ruining any chance we have at peace. That is, in my opinion, what's necessary before all religions can coexist peacefully.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Thanks to Vlado for the feed.
Mayor Ellis has something in common with Sean Penn, who recently made a trip to Venezuela as a journalist (no, I'm not kidding) and just can't seem to get enough of the Castro mini-me. Indeed, Chavez has slowly become the hero of many on the Left who believe that socialism is the best route to that ever-elusive utopia, although I'm sure there are many Cuban-Americans in south Florida that would disagree. Chastro has referred to President Bush as "the devil", called on international efforts to resist US imperialism, led a government takeover of Venezuela's crude oil industry, led a similar takeover of the media, and just today announced his intent to change the constitution so he can be "re-elected" to office indefinitely. But, he gives money to the poor and is a "champion" for the common man. Yeah, sounds like a great guy.
Chavez is a Socialist, let's not beat around the bush. Socialists survive by promising the little guy that the government will provide them with everything they need and will counterbalance the "haves" of the world, and in return the little man owes his services to the government. This, of course, gives the government power which is what it's all about for those in the "party". Sounds wonderful to some, but not me. What the government gives, the government can also take away. But this doesn't make socialism any less of a threat. Promising big things to the "have nots" is a brilliant political strategy, entire empires were built around the notion, however empty that promise always seems to be. History has taught us that Socialism is a failed and flawed form of government, amounting to oppression. People like Jack Ellis and Sean Penn still have a lot to learn. Chastro will roll out the red carpet for these people in an effort to show them how wonderful his people live, but unfortunately the real story won't be told...despite Penn's talent as a journalist.
Whether it's Chavez's championing for the poor, or Castro's health care, the Left seem to fall over themselves in praise for the world's best known Socialists. I don't get it, especially when we consider the dark days of the iron curtain and the bloody images of Tiannamen Square. I guess the prospect of utopia is strong enough to induce amnesia and revisions of history.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Thanks to Loop for feeding the story. So here's a brief summary: A comic store owner participates in a Halloween event for children. He knows kids will be receiving free stuff, and some of that stuff came from his store. Included in that stuff was a comic received by a 6 year old and a 9 year old which shows a naked Pablo Picasso (possibly with an erect penis) in an historically accurate moment. The mother of the two boys protested. The shop owner was arrested and now faces charges of distributing illicit material to minors.
Now my take. First, whether or not this is historically accurate is a non-issue. There are plenty of historically accurate events that are simply not appropriate for young children. A good example is Mel Gibson's The Passion. The violence in this film may be accurate, but young children have no business watching it until their minds are capable of processing what they see. There are many other examples in film, music, art and school textbooks. Second, a drawing of an erect penis and a naked man does, in my mind, amount to sexually explicit material, certainly inappropriate for a 9 year old and a 6 year old.
But then there is the issue of intent. What exactly was this guy trying to do? Based on what I've read, it appears that he gave out many comics that day, and these two boys were the only ones who got the inappropriate stuff. I have a hard time believing that he was deliberately doing anything lewd. Dumb? Yes. He should have exercised better judgment and looked over his free comics a little better before giving them to children. It was irresponsible on his part, and I wouldn't have any heartache with him paying a fine. But prison time? Come on. As I've said before, there are bigger fish that need frying.
Calling this a free speech issue is a stretch. You may have the right to view sexually explicit material, but you don't have the right to deliberately give that stuff to minors. It's against the law. So, I guess technically, the charges apply in that he distributed the stuff at an event that he knew would be attended by children, but again it seems like the prosecution would have to prove this guy's lewd intent and I just don't see that happening. If he had deliberately distributed one thousand of these comics to children, then there may be a stronger case. But we need to use a little common sense here. I don't think this guy is a pornographer and I don't think he needs jail time.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Cecil Sinclair worked as a janitor in the church, although he was not a church member (probably because he did not feel welcome). He died from post-operative complications and the church agreed to hold a memorial service for their employee, that is until they discovered that he was gay. Apparently, they were concerned about some photos supplied by the sister for a tribute slide-show. Some of these photos showed questionably provocative images of Sinclair and his partner. The church claimed they were unaware of his sexual orientation until the day before the service, and decided to cancel the service so as not to appear to endorse homosexual behavior.
Well, the church is dead wrong. I do believe that homosexuality is sinful behavior. This is my personal religious belief and I have been attacked ruthlessly for it, but my belief is my belief. So, I side with the church in that regard. But, if there is one thing my religion teaches it's that Christians should be careful that we condemn the behavior while embracing the individual. To do otherwise would be construed as intolerance and bigotry, and perhaps rightfully so. It gives Christianity a bad name and I will not tolerate that.
How exactly does holding a memorial service for a gay man amount to endorsing homosexual behavior? I have no idea. The man was a sinner, so what. Are any of us any different? Are any of us any better? No. I wonder if the High Point Church feels the same way. If the photos are offensive or conflict with church teaching, then don't show them. But you can still pay tribute and remembrance to the man who died. I think Jesus would agree with that.
The High Point Church is way off, and if I were a member this issue would effectively terminate that membership. It is my wish that Christians join me in condemning them for their actions not representative of our beliefs. Cecil Sinclair deserves a memorial service, and if the church promised to provide that service then they should have. Shame on them for refusing to embrace a fellow human being, a fellow sinner. Shame on them for misrepresenting Christianity.
Friday, August 10, 2007
This is quite stunning. One of my first posts dealt with the problems facing today's African-American community, and in it I longed for the leadership and inspiration of Martin Luther King. The point I made was that the black community appears to be self-destructing, and the black leadership seems to be devoting their attention to other issues. I am disappointed in the lack of a strong leader-figure in the black community, someone who can inspire and elevate as Dr. King did so well. Instead, we have people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan, people who seem to traffic in racism and profit from the sufferings of their own people while offering little in the way of solutions to the problems that cause that suffering. There seems to be a "blame the man" mentality that often acts as an excuse for failure, and these so called leaders do nothing but echo and enable that sentiment.
Drug use, illegitimate births, high school dropouts, gang violence, gangster rap and poverty are decimating the African-American population while Al Sharpton devotes his time to an insensitive, ignorant remark made by Don Imus. Does this inspire people? No. Does it solve any problems? No. Imus was wrong but come on, Reverand, you've got bigger fish to fry.
Our politicians don't seem to have an answer either. We're now four decades into the Great Society programs and still we're staring at these problems wondering what to do. Trillions have been spent, and still our political leaders (at least in one of the major parties) only want to continue throwing money at the problem. Don't these issues go deeper than simple lack of spending? When half of our murders occur in a group of people that only comprise 13% of the general population, I think the problem goes beyond money. But still, the empty promises flow.
This is a problem rooted at the most basic level of our society...the family. George H.W. Bush was mocked in 1992 because of his platform of family values, and the importance of family in America. I think he was on to something, and I think the objective African-American who sees these problems every day would agree. If things are going to change for the black community, then they're going to have to change at the most basic levels. The black family is going to have to be strengthened, the black neighborhood given a boost of pride. I like Bush's ideas of faith-based initiatives, increasing home ownership in the black community and doing things to favor small businesses. This allows the community to play an active role without having to rely on big brother government, which seems to only leave us wading through the rancid waters of a flooded city. Business and home ownership brings pride to the black neighborhood, pride brings involvement, involvement brings action. After that, the ripple effect will take hold. And, still, Congress passes a minimum wage hike that will do nothing but hurt small businesses and probably cut jobs, and now they're talking about raising taxes, another business killer. I just don't get it.
There are some serious problems here. Congress is sleeping on the job. The black leadership is side-tracked and uninspiring. No one seems to have any answers beyond the failed premises of the blame game and increased spending. 50% of our murders are black citizens. Dr King, oh how we need you now more than ever.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
It's clear that Mr. Croft doesn't have a case. An identical law in Virginia has already been upheld by the courts. But don't close the book on him yet. There are plenty of activist judges out there who hate religion just as much as he does and I'm sure he will continue filing suits and spending taxpayer dollars on the trials until he finds one of them. Plus, the ACLU is lurking and they have lots of money and fancy attorneys just for these kinds of issues. Don't be surprised if this case makes it to the US Supreme Court.
If people like Croft had their way, religion would cease to exist in our schools in any form. Put them in charge, and our schools would soon be patrolled by government enforcers looking for signs of religious belief. The Muslim child who passes on pork in the school cafeteria will be violating the Constitution. And so would the Catholic who makes the sign of the Cross before eating her lunch. And the Jewish child during Passover? Well, they would have no right to unleavened bread. I know this sounds ridiculous, but don't laugh too much. Isn't it equally ridiculous to claim that silence is unConstitutional? There are plenty of people who would be okay with these ideas, and they're the ones filing the lawsuits. Maybe we could find a way to file a countersuit against Croft seeking to reconcile the taxpayer dollars he is spending on his assault on our Constitution. A guy can dream.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
With this latest example of political correctness run horribly amock, I am left wondering exactly what the city council is trying to accomplish. Okay, I understand the fact that they're making a statement, that this is more symbolic than anything else and that there is no way they can possibly enforce such an ordinance, but I can't help wondering if their time is better spent elsewhere.
Not to make light of the issue. Pop culture has become quite demeaning, and there is way too much nastiness out there. I'm all for taking a stand against those who belittle, but I think the city council could have been a little more creative with this. Banning certain words? You've got to be kidding.
How about banning the sale of explicit music? Or, me being a capitalist, levee a tax on the sale of such music and use the revenue to help fund social programs. Banning a few pathetic little words?
I would think that it is common sense that the use of these words in everyday language implies a certain lack of sophistication, intelligence and civilization. The fact that a city council has to pass an ordinance to tell us that is scary. The fact that they would even consider devoting their time to this issue is even scarier. But I do wonder how the Left will respond. I'm sure there will be many who will praise this effort, forcing me to remember that these are the same people who defend an LA child predator's right to post ideal locations throughout the city for viewing "LG's" (his term for little girls). So, to some, it is okay for this guy to stare at little girls and write about it, as long as he doesn't call them "ho's" or "bitches".
In my mind, we have enough problems without having to create more. If you want to address the destructive nature of Hip-Hop culture and Gangsta Rap, by all means you will have my support. But things like this are pretty pointless. I guess for now, dog breeders in New York are going to have to adjust their vocabulary. And Santa Claus had better watch his mouth as well.
Monday, August 06, 2007
A lesson from history
The other option was a full invasion of the Japanese mainland. Six months earlier, US troops set foot on Japanese soil on the island of Iwo Jima. It is a small volcanic island only eight square miles in size, but to the Japanese it was sacred soil. It was Japanese soil. They defended that island with a ferocity never before seen. The fighting at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Wake was fierce, but nothing like what the American marines faced at Iwo Jima. It took over one month of naval bombardment, air strikes and constant pushing by America's finest amphibious troops before Iwo Jima was wrestled from Japanese hands. Of the 22,000 Japanese defenders, 21,000 were killed. Only 216 were taken prisoner. In total, there were 27,000 allied casualties. All of this for 8 square miles of real estate. And Truman was faced with invading the Japanese mainland, all 88,000 square miles of it. Despite all of this, there are still arguments that Japan was on the brink of surrender and that Truman's decision was wrong.
On August 6, the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Japan refused to surrender. Even after being hit with the most destructive device ever known in warfare, they were still prepared to carry on the fight. Was this an army on the verge of breaking? Only six months earlier they suffered over 95% casualties defending 8 square miles of Japanese soil. And still Truman is cursed for his decision.
Historians estimate allied casualties from a Japanese mainland invasion would have been over 1 million, while Japan would have suffered 3 times that many. With Iwo Jima as a comparison, is there any doubt about the accuracy of these numbers? Still, Truman is cursed.
Truman will always be hated and cursed, mainly by those who exploit the advantage they have of not knowing the historical outcome of the alternative decision that Truman never made. They can always say that Japan was on the brink of surrender. I am sure Truman considered this. I am sure he listened to those advisors who felt Japan was beaten. He also listened to those who experienced Iwo Jima, and estimated our losses in an invasion at over one million. He listened, and made the right decision.
Maybe Japan would have surrendered within a month. Maybe they would have dug in and carried the war on another 2 or 3 years. The question facing Truman was: Am I willing to wager one million American lives, and 3 million Japanese lives on their supposed willingness to surrender? The answer was obvious.
So, President Truman, wherever you are, this patriot tips his hat to you, a man of courage who did the right thing despite knowing the consequences. He chose the lesser of two evils, which is sometimes the only option available. Here's hoping that kind of courage can be found in today's leaders, and in the leaders of the future.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
"Oh yeah. If you do not believe in the separation of church and state, then I think you are truly unAmerican."
As for the name calling, there are many who take offense at being called unAmerican or unpatriotic. These are hot button labels that seem to get a lot of people boiling mad, and it seems to really bother those on the Left, probably because these words tend to hit a proverbial nerve. I mean, if you call an unattractive person dumb, he'll probably shrug it off, but call him ugly and he'll get upset. Calling a liberal unAmerican amounts to the ultimate insult. The only thing that gets Ted Kennedy more red-faced is a nice bottle of single malt.
For me, the label is insignificant and hollow. I am 6'2" tall, so calling me unAmerican is akin to calling me short. It makes no sense, seems rather laughable and reflects a degree of ignorance in the accuser. But it does give me a nice chuckle.
It's not the first time, mind you. There have been many on the Left who have graced this website and they all have the same arguments. My readers will surely recognize these canned talking points which leads me to ask, if the Left so adamantly believes in their cause why wouldn't they champion it with a little more originality?
But I do, in a way, pity those who have no comprehension of what it means to be American, in much the same way I pity a child who wields his daddy's gun like a toy, unaware of the danger in carelessness. You know the inevitable is coming. Indeed, the Left seems to wield our freedoms in the same manner.
I believe in the Constitution and the freedoms guaranteed by it, but I also believe that the Constitution must be protected and defended vigorously, not just in taking up arms against those who wish to destroy It, but also in taking care not to neglect or abuse the freedom that It provides. With freedom comes an immense responsibility and part of that is the responsibility of self-restraint. The Left has failed to grasp this concept and so our freedom becomes abused. So it hardly bothers me when someone like that calls me unAmerican. It is the equivalent of me calling someone unmotherly. How can I possibly fling that accusation when I have no idea what it means to be a mother?
Os Guinness once said: "Faith requires freedom, Freedom requires virtue, Virtue requires faith and so on ad infinitum." In the context of today's society he seems to be dead on, which is why this quote is a central theme in my book. So I take a few days off to travel "deep-in-the-heart" and I leave my faithful readers to ponder those words, the words of an Irishman born in China who knows what it means to be free, to be American. God bless you all.


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Denise has been practically inseparable from her grey and white belted 'coatigan' throughout 2013! It certainly looks very warm. She'll occasionally wear it open, or swap-out what looks like the original belt, with an obi style wide black leather one.
We haven't come across the exact match yet, but if you like the coatigan style, we've picked a few alternatives out from the AW13 range.


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I just got a new haircut/color... I was hoping to get some Ideas for Cosplay!! I want to see all ideas, but easier ones would be nice (very new to sewing and want to try to put it together myself).
Cosplay Ideas?
Looking for cosplay ideas? Have an idea but need better pictures? Try shouting here!
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I am single and have a 3 year old daughter -- I am thinking next Spring/Summer (when she is 4) we will start with weekend camping and I am trying to figure out which teardrop might work for us. Are there other single ladies out there who camp with kids and what do you find works best for you?
Dyan in St Louis


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LAKELAND — A year ago, the Northeast High and Westminster Academy boys` basketball teams came within a hair of doing something no Broward school had accomplished since 1963. That`s win a state basketball championship.
Both Northeast (Class 3A) and Westminster (Class 1A) made it past semifinal opponents by winning impressively. But in the championship games, both faltered after going into the final minutes with the lead. Northeast lost 55-53 and Westminster 68-64.
Today, another Broward power, Hallandale, will take a crack at making it to the final and eventually bring home the state title last won by a Broward team, Pompano Beach High (1963).
The Chargers have the talent to take it all, especially with 6-foot-5 Steve Williams and 6-7 Johnny Holmes.
Hallandale (29-3) will meet Auburndale (20-12) in an 8:30 p.m. semifinal match. St. Petersburg Boca Ciega (27-6) and Pensacola Escambia (31-3) meet in the other semifinal game at 3:30.
Class 2A teams also play today. Jasper Hamilton County meets Clearwater Central Catholic at 2 and Jacksonville Bolles meets Miami Curley at 7.
Class 1A and 4A semifinals will be held Friday with the final in all classes scheduled for Saturday at the Lakeland Civic Center.
``We know we have to get super games from Steve and Johnny,`` said Chargers` coach Greg Samuel, ``but the real key is how the other three people out there on the floor and our bench plays.
``Every one hears about Williams and Holmes because of the way they score (Williams 21.7 ppg., Holmes 18.5). But everyone on this team has a job and has been doing it the last part of the season. They are all excited about making it to the Final Four. It is the most exciting thing to ever happen to them.


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"My friend actually gave up and is not going, because they kept getting rescheduled and rescheduled," said Chris Horan, a Los Angeles resident.
"I did check with Virgin. They did tell me that it is still confirmed, but I just want to double check right here with the ladies to make sure I'm still going to be able to make it on my flight tonight," said Verone Pangilinan, a La Mirada resident.
Across the nation, nearly 6,000 flights have been canceled due to a crippling snow storm in the East. Seventeen states are under winter advisories or warnings, and seven of them are blizzards.
"We're experiencing blizzard conditions in every single county in every part of Maryland," said Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.
In Washington, the Capitol building has virtually disappeared under the snow. The federal government has been shut down since midday Friday at a cost of $100 million a day. Washington's two airports had no flights coming or going Wednesday.
New York's La Guardia airport is a ghost town.
"We're stuck in L.A.," said Kescha Spencer, a New York resident. Spencer and his wife are trying to get home after a long flight from New Zealand.
"We have hotel arrangements wet up. We figured we'd wait here until it's canceled, and then we'll go to the hotel, then we'll have a reservation for Friday," said Spencer.
Twenty-year-old Kescha Spencer is trying to get to Los Angeles but she is stranded in the Big Apple.
"They said the next available flight is on the 16th which is next Tuesday," said Spencer.
Laura Nativo and her Pomeranian Preston Casanova are heading to New York for the Westminster Dog Show.
"Since 8 o'clock in the morning, we just kept refreshing the browser on Virgin America to see if our flight was delayed, so we got lucky and I think we're going to make it," said Nativo.
Her celebrity pooch needs to be there by Friday to receive the Golden Paw award for charity.
"Preston has to make his flight. It's crucial," said Nativo.
They're reporting record snowfall in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, and the nation's Capitol will be shut down again Thursday for the fourth straight day. However, the snow in New York is tapering off overnight.


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The best craft projects, I think, are made up of recycled items or renewable resources from nature. This particular Christmas centerpiece uses both, making it very cost effective so you have plenty of money leftover to spend on gifts!
By looking at the picture, you may think that there was a fair amount of money spent on floral picks for the arrangement – but not really! Well, years ago there was a small amount of money spent but that is all in the past. You have to be a little bit of a hoarder I guess. If a decoration that I bought previously just doesn't quite fit the bill anymore, I will hold onto it for its crafting potential. The pieces and parts can often be used in a fun new way.
This centerpiece idea started with a tin can and then blossomed from there. Let me show you what I did.
I started out with these objects in mind:
The tin coffee can and birch bark would be my base. If you don't have access to birch bark and would like to do a project like this, check out my sponsor listing on the side bar for companies that supply birch bark.
I had saved the wreath that had once been hanging on our front door. The sun had taken quite a beating to it and parts of it are very dried out and faded. However, there are many salvageable parts that I could clip and use in other arrangement.
I'm not sure what I originally bought the artificial poinsettia plant for but didn't want it setting out as is. I had already used part of it in another centerpiece project so I had some flowers left to still use up. It's kind of nice to be able to get more than one use out of an old decoration!
1. First, I started applying small sections of birch bark to my can using decoupage. I applied one coat to the back of the bark and then another coat to the top of the bark when it was adhered in place on the can. I kept adding pieces, overlapping as I went, until the entire can was covered.
Here is how the can looked when it was completely covered with the bark.
2. Next, I inserted a round Styrofoam ball that was trimmed a little to fit inside the can. I used this to poke my poinsettia flowers and other picks into.
3. With a tin snips, I cut three flowers from my artificial poinsettia plant to insert into the can. To add some fill around the bottom, I clipped some of the picks from the wreath which consisted of small pine cones and berries and rusty tin stars.
4. I filled the can with Spanish moss to further secure the Styrofoam and glued some small pine cones at the top of the can.
5. Finally, I tied a peppermint stick to the front and wrapped some jute string around the can a few times.
Here is a close up of the finished Christmas centerpiece:
Even the peppermint stick was somewhat recycled since it was unopened from last year. However, now that I took it from it's wrapper, I will be throwing that out at the end of the season!
Happy Crafting!


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Olivia Donnini shares what a career vision is, why it's important, and how to create and maintain one.
Learn why it's important to embrace risk, and 7 steps to get started!
1 in 3 women say their inner critic holds them back from thriving professionally. This workbook provides insights into your inner critic, separates it from the much larger, more awesome and successful you, and launches you into positive action (without that pesky voice weighing you down).
When your job honors your top 2-3 personal core values, you'll experience a greater sense of fulfillment at work. This workbook will walk you through how to identify your top 5 values, and ways to honor them throughout your day.
Becoming a manager is exciting & scary all at once.
- Feeling nervous about managing your peers or (gulp) laying one of them off (if you have to)?
- Want some proven techniques to calm butterflies before difficult conversations?
- Excited to conduct meaningful performance reviews?
- Wondering if it's possible to lead the jerks who can't seem to get along with anyone ?
Relax. Cecilia will teach you everything you need to create a solid foundation of manager skills.
Manager Boot Camp is a self-paced digital training program that will help you grow as a new manager. Oftentimes we're promoted into a management job with little or no training. Here's help via videos, audio recordings, and exercises!
During week 1 we'll dive into the following core components of becoming a new manager - Getting To Know Your Team, Navigating The Peer To Manager Transition, The Critical Skill Of Self-Awareness, How To Set Expectations, and more.
During week 2 we'll dive into the following core components of becoming a new manager - Building Your Peer Network, How To Promote Yourself (& Your Team), Increasing Social Awareness, Learning To Love Office Politics, and more
During week 3 we'll dive into the following core components of becoming a new manager - How to Receive Feedback Productively, What You Can Learn from Difficult People, Performance Reviews: What's Truly Important, and more
During week 4 we'll dive into the following core components of becoming a new manager - Your New Personal/Professional Boundaries, Motivating your Team with what really matters, How the Most Effective People Communicate, The Art of Self Control, and more.


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Enter your email below and receive my free STRENGTH MANUAL which includes the top 10 factors for Strength Training.
Changing from High-bar to Low-bar Squats – Part 2
The basic principles of the low-bar squat is that your placing the bar lower on your back (hence the name) and your moving in a more bent-over position that relies heavily on the posterior chain.
I'm […]
Changing from High-bar to Low-bar Squats – Part I
The low-bar squat is the superior technique for squatting maximum weight possible!
For my entire lifting career I have always used the high-bar, Olympic style squat. For the mere fact that I wanted to build my […]
Isometric Movements to Increase Your Squat, Bench and Deadlift
Isometrics are a type of movement were the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction i.e. your holding a static position against resistance.
These type of movements are often left out of most […]


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Latest 'transcendence' news
"Captain America" Wins in North America as "Amazing Spider-Man 2" Starts Strong Internationally
3 Movie News
"The Winter Soldier" brought in another $26.6 million this weekend, while "Frozen" became the No. 6 film of all time worldwide.
CinemaCon 2014 | WB Showcases 'Godzilla,' 'Jupiter Ascending,' 'Jersey Boys'
3 Movie News
Warner Bros. brought plenty of stars to its CinemaCon presentation, previewing Godzilla, Jersey Boys, The Hobbit: There and Back Again and more.
Johnny Depp Goes Full Robot in 'Transcendence' Trailer
3 Movie News
Wally Pfister's directorial debut gets a new trailer, released shortly after a string of characer-focused teasers.
Johnny Depp in Talks to Star in Wally Pfister's Transcendence
3 Movie News
Christopher Nolan's longtime cinematographer Wally Pfister will make his directorial debut, with a little help from Johnny Depp, on Transcendence, described as "a present-day science fiction film."


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Distance from Coshocton, OH to Amanda, OH
Driving distance between Coshocton, OH and Amanda, OH is 77.46 miles (or 124.67 kilometers). If you drove an average car (using about 3.6 gallons of gas per mile), the gas would cost you around $, since you would need about gallons of fuel.
Leaving from Coshocton, OH you would reach Amanda, OH in about 1 hour 40 mins if you keep an average speed of miles per hour, assuming you don't make any breaks or get stuck in traffic.


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Bitter: A Taste of the World's Most Dangerous Flavor, with Recipes
— a cookbook from Jennifer McLagan
Like most children, sweet was the flavor of my childhood … pixie-stick sweet. Thankfully, as I grew, I encountered new foods that challenged my palate and eating became much more interesting. More specifically, pregnancy affected my palate. Oddly, after each child, I found myself enjoying flavors that previously I'd either avoided (pickled, briny, sour things with a punchy bite) or couldn't tolerate (I proudly went up a star on the heat scale after my first pregnancy). In the case of my last pregnancy, I discovered bitter.
Adding bitters to my cocktails, falling for Campari-flavored soda, relishing the balance of a simple Belgian endive salad with a cheesy pizza. I felt reformed. Then, I ran across a recipe that surprised me, Jennifer McLagan's Burnt Toast Soup. Burnt? Toast? Soup??? I was very curious, to say the least. Moreover, I was excited. Was bitter an entire world of flavor I'd only caught a hint of? Clearly, yes!
McLagan's Bitter is a wonderful journey through her discovery of beauty and palatability in the worlds most bitter foods. (Be sure not to miss her epilogue re: cow bile and marinated cod roe.) Seems I'd only scratched the service of bitter. Burnt Toast Soup, sure. But also, Beer Jelly, Fernet-Branca Chicken Livers, Tobacco Panna Cotta, my loved Campari in a granita. And, before you shy from this bitter love fest, McLagan reminds that both tea and coffee, and chocolate too are considered our bitter friends.
But, pushing the boundaries of my new found bitter love, is the appropriately named bitter melon. Not really a fruit, but a vegetable, the bitter melon resembles a food cast on Fear Factor. McLagan informs that the bitter melon "is probably the bitterest vegetable that you will encounter." Plus, where do you find the thing? (I found mine at Evergreen Asian Market in Everett.)
Determined to see if indeed McLagan has succeeded in taming this feisty king of bitter, and timidity aside, I set to make Bitter Melon with Pork and hoped for the best.
As cookbooks go, McLagan's is very friendly and easy to use, forgiving the fact that some items we may not be able to source. She educates us on not just the flavor of bitter, but also our response to bitter through other senses — hearing, sight, even sound. In the end, however, Bitter's main challenge is left to tasting the result.
The beer jelly woke my palate. Sure, I'd had the beer alone before, but with the salt and lemon, it jumped beyond beer, and became something more. I enjoyed this as she recommended, alongside some smoked fish and pickled beet slaw.
I bought a bottle of Fernet-Branca and was immediately a convert, so I went ahead and tried her Fernet-Branca Chicken Livers. Again, bitter provided something new here.
The Tobacco Panna Cotta was intriguing, and since I used my favorite pipe tobacco, was a flavor I didn't have to be convinced to love. What was surprising, was the bitter sting in the back of my throat, like when you've smoked too hot a pipe, but the sugar and fat balanced this, and it was easy to love.
The largest obstacle was the bitter melon. I was rather frightened of it, until I put a raw bit in my mouth, and found the taste seemed familiar. It reminded me of the smell of broken wild plants like the sort I'd brush past while hiking through a field … it had a wild taste, and this wasn't entirely tamed by the cooking. Partnered with the fatty pork, the melon was at first bite deliciously interesting, if a bit perplexing. My palate seemed to enjoy the assertive bitter partnered with the sweet fattiness of the pork. But, after a dishful, I found myself dodging the bitter melon, while still enjoying the embittered pork.
So many of McLagan's recipes partner a fat with the bitter ingredient — horseradish with bone marrow, cardoons in a creamy gratin — clearly bitter's strength lies in its ability to cut through a richer dish, keeping the bites interesting and giving them greater depth.
While I wouldn't add every dish in Bitter into a regular routine, there are many recipes that would delight and surprise your guests at a next get together. Ultimately, Bitter: A Taste of the World's Most Dangerous Flavor pushes your understanding of bitter, enticing you to add it in small ways to each meal. Highly recommended for the more adventurous home cook, and well worth putting on your library hold list.
Ten Speed Press // 29.99
Available on Amazon.com
For more on the recipes mentioned in this review, check out In the Kitchen with Bitter.


text:
I purchased a cell phone from Walmart and bought the protection plan well 12202015 the screen broke, Immediately I called to file a claim the guy I talked to first was super nice he explained he would email me a ups label to go print it off and to take it to ups and after ups confirmed they had my package they would email me a gift card..well I sent my phone off Monday 12/21/2015 from my local ups place and I saved the tracking paper ups deliverd it the next day I called to verify I was told its in review to give it a few days.. Review??
Unlike when I talked to the first person he had said as soon as ups CONFIRMED they had my package I would receive a gift card at this point they had my package.. anyway I gave it a few days I called back and the lady explained it was still in review I asked to speak with a supervisor the supervisor transferred me over to the claim review department where I couldn't talk to anyone only leave a message so I did it says to allow one business day to receive a call back and I never received one well 12/29/15 I received an email saying they never received my phone so my claim was denied. I once again called where I was transfered to the claims review department where no one answered and it prompted me to leave a message , I didn't and called back instead and requested to speak to a supervisor (Benjamin) where he informed me he couldn't send a gift card only claims review could because they put a hold on my claim Today 12-30-15 I received a call back only to be told (very rudely) that they never received my phone in the package there was nothing they could help me with. No one will help!
Its like its all just a way to scam some people out of their money and phones. I'm calling UPS and if need be filing a complaint with BBB I'm also returning the new phone and case I purchased yesterday before I received the email
This reviewer shared experience about warranty issue and wants this business to read this review and look into the issue (if any). The author is overall dissatisfied with Walmart. Reviewer wants customer support to reach out to him or her ASAP for further discussion of this matter.
This person also mentioned the following company Target that you may also consider. Also, you can continue reading comments about Walmart.
Check out the best and the worst companies in Supermarkets and Malls category for more informed decision or compare Walmart to other companies on our site.
bobs2015, you are a troll. Some of these people are ignorant but your just saying *** to be a troll.
I have seen u post the same stuff in other subjects. Find something better to do w ur time honey.


text:
In the 2015-2016 Federal Budget, the Australian Government proposed its plan to extend the Goods and Services Tax law to inbound intangible supplies (also known as the 'Netflix tax'), with effect from 1 July 2017. Let's examine the impact of these changes.
Last year, in the 2015-2016 Federal Budget, the Australian Government proposed its plan to extend the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law to inbound intangible supplies, with effect from 1 July 2017.
Also referred to as the 'Netflix tax', the aim is to restore the GST revenue base with the fast-growing digital economy, to create a level playing field for domestic suppliers when compared with overseas counterparts. It will also align Australia's capture of inbound transactions with other countries that have already acted on the indirect taxation of imported digital products such as Norway, Japan and the member states of the European Union.
Scope of the legislation change
The change will impact foreign suppliers and their operations in the GST regime. It will expand Australian GST to include e-commerce business or e-business transactions for digital services, as well as capture other cross-border inbound intangible supplies.
The changes in the GST legislation will include:
- supply of anything other than goods or real property, such as digital products including streaming or downloading of movies, music, apps, games, e-books, as well as overseas gambling supplies and other services
- GST levied on the Australian end-consumer only – generally, business (B) to consumer (C) supply
- extending the scope of GST by levying it on operators of an electronic distribution service
- changes to existing GST administration rules.
Impact and other considerations
Foreign suppliers and operators of electronic distribution services that provide inbound intangible supplies will be impacted; followed by the Australian end-consumer, who will pay 10% more for the intangible supply.
Foreign suppliers and operators of an electronic distribution service will have to register on a simplified registration process, as well as collect and remit GST. It will require entities to modify and/or check their accounting and reporting systems to capture GST information, in order to comply with the new rules.
So, what will the providers of intangible supplies and operators of the electronic distribution services do?
The providers of the intangible supplies may now find themselves in the Australian GST net; they will need to register charge and remit GST.
For operators of the electronic distribution services, they would be captured and therefore need to consider whether to remain in their current scope of services for the underlying suppliers or alternatively, seek to renegotiate current contractual arrangements, where they are not caught.
How we can help
TMF Australia can engage with providers of inbound intangible supplies and operators of electronic distribution services, to monitor the progress of the draft legislation. We can also help your business stay compliant with local regulations, allowing you to focus on your core business.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.


text:
Pink is not a color I have ever decorated with, but I love the fun pop of color that this adds to our home!
Oops I did it again...Card art take two
Pink is not a color I have ever decorated with, but I love the fun pop of color that this adds to our home!
8 comments:
I love it! You're right, it's a fun pop of color to accessorize with!ReplyDelete
I make art out of cards too! Old christmas cards are one of my fav decor elements bc they are sentimental and fo fureeee! =)ReplyDelete
This is the cutest Vday Card i've seen yet!!! <3
Pink is also not a color that I have ever decorated with... well I take that back. When I was a teenager my room was pink, lol. But as far as adulthood... no pink. That framed art however it totally cute and I could so go with something like that. Very fun and creative! :)ReplyDelete
Oh my goodness that is the cutest! Now I no longer want to bring out me tacky heart lights lol!ReplyDelete
i think it is such a fun touch for the holidays! So funny that you point out the toys, my husband always knows which room i have been photographing by how perfect everything looks!ReplyDelete
I like the candle! It may be a littly cheesy but it's also super cute and completes the valentine's day decor.ReplyDelete
Kendra, thanks for stopping by yesterday and your sweet compliment! I love finding new blogs and yours is great! What a creative idea to frame a card and I love the quatrefoil detail on your wallpaper!! I'm your newest follower!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous28 January, 2011
The candle holder with candy hearts on it is so cute. Nice idea.ReplyDelete


text:
When aircon switches off by itself or switches on and off by itself, it suggests some problems with your aircon.
They can be due to:
Controller Problem
Your remote control is the first thing you troubleshoot. Sometimes you will be surprised that you are able to resolve the issue simply by resetting the remote control. The reset button is usually not easily visible to us and you may need a paper clip to activate it. If this fails to rectify the issue, ask yourself when was the last time you cleaned or serviced the aircon. You may need to service your aircon if it is due to dirty fan coil.
Dirty Fan Coil
Sometimes the problem of "Aircon Switches Off by Itself" may just go away after you give it a thorough cleaning. This is because clogged air filter, dirty fins or some other obstruction to the airflow may result in auto shut down of your aircon's Fan Coil. If this works, good for you. If it does not work, it suggests a more complicated underlying issue and you will have to call upon the aircon technician to troubleshoot the problem.
Electronic Circuit Board Problem
It could be the malfunctioning of electronic circuit board within the aircon's Fan Coil. If this is the issue, a replacement of circuit board is required and it should be performed by the aircon technician.
Compressor Problem
The compressor is the engine behind the cooling mechanism of aircon and this may be the culprit for the "Aircon Switches Off by Itself" problem. It may have worn out or overheated and therefore initiated the shutting down of the aircon.
Refrigerant Problem
The refrigerant in your aircon system has to be maintained at an acceptable level for the aircon to work properly. Once it falls below a certain level, it will lose its cooling ability to the extent of shutting down the aircon system. As such, any leakage of refrigerant should be resolved immediately.
Read more about aircon leaks and aircon is not cold syndrome as well as aircon maintenance guide. You may also wish to find out more about aircon chemical cleaning, aircon steam cleaning and aircon overhaul as part of the maintenance and preventive action to prevent some of the aircon problems. If you are currently facing the above problem, contact us and our aircon repair specialist shall attend to you immediately. We suggest that you schedule for periodic aircon maintenance and servicing to ensure that you reduce the risk of aircon breaks down.


text:
Imko HD2 with PICO64 and PICO32
|Posted on 25 September 2013
Product Description
The IMKO HD2 measures soil moisture content, the soil conductivity EC, and the level of salt contamination can now be performed as fast and easy as never before! Within two seconds, the moisture content value, the temperature, and the soil conductivity EC are displayed on the clear display. THe probe TRIME-PICO64 measures with the new TRIME radar technology (Time Domain Reflectometry).
« Back


text:
Instructions for becoming a
Booster Club helper:
Complete the form below. (You should do this AT LEAST 4-6 WEEKS
in advance of a show in your town.) After that time frame, we'd love to hear from you, but we may need to have your help for the next time through.
Wait to hear back from the DSO Promo Team with
instructions and information about doing grassroots promotions in your area to promote for Dark Star Orchestra
If we are in need of people in your area, someone from the DSO Promo Team will be in touch with you over email to confirm your information. From there, they may send flyers by having them shipped to you or coordinating a pickup of flyers at the venue.
Distribute handbills at local shows and hang posters at cool shops, coffeehouses, bulletin boards &
kiosks, etc. (IMPORTANT: Please observe any
local poster and handbill ordinances...If you don't know your
city's policies, check with the venue about postering in public
areas. MILWAUKEE PROHIBITS POSTERING!)
Fill out our DSO Street Team Report to let us know what you did.This
is mandatory! Again...No last minute "I
postered and didn't submit any survey to you...can I get into the already SOLD OUT
show" emails please. The "good" helper is in touch
regularly with updates the month before the show.)
We will confirm with you over email so you can come to the show and find your name on the guest list!
Design by Junipa


text:
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Friday, March 22, 2013
30 comments:
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Follow Ice Goddhez via Bloglovin'
Follow on NetworkedBlogs via Facebook
Follow me via Google+
With Google Reader retiring by July 1, 2013; let's follow each other as well on Bloglovin' and/or other networks as an alternative to GFC should it be affected. Thank you dear!
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tarun kharat
My Golf Tours is a one stop shop for golfers, whether a beginner, amateur or professional. The company offers niche services in Golf Training, Golf Vacations, and Corporate Golf Events. Managed by a team with over 30 years experience in providing travel-related services to Corporate Clients.
© 2018 Copyright


text:
The final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, currently underway on San Francisco Bay, marks the beginning of the end of the 34th America's Cup. The battle for the Cup itself will follow in early September but a saga filled with tragedy, the usual politics, controversy and sometimes even a touch of farce is now reaching what organisers will desperately hope is a dramatic conclusion.
Emirates Team New Zealand hold a narrow 2-1 lead over Prada-owned Luna Rossa Challenge in the Louis Vuitton-sponsored challenger selection series final, with the next races scheduled for Wednesday, and although the early stages of the best of 13 contest were marked by the unreliability of the high-technology AC72 boats chosen for this edition of the Cup and a series of wind-related race postponements, it says much about what has transpired over recent months and weeks that they were considered mere trifling issues.
To say it has been a difficult period for sailing's most famous event, the pinnacle of the sport as far as a casual observer is concerned, would be an understatement. It is, assuredly, not the competition Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison (below) envisaged when he won the Cup in 2011, also winning, as per the historic rules which govern and restrict the competition, the right to organise the next event and shape it as he saw fit.
Ellison soon set about putting his stamp on a competition that has a storied past but remained in dire need of a commercial overhaul. He decided the America's Cup would be raced in giant AC72 catamarans - complete with sails taller than a jumbo jet is long - to inject the contest with a new, spectacular, high-octane edge. It became clear, however, that the cost of constructing an AC72-specification contender was prohibitive; the number of challengers dwindled to just three.
It became clear that the cost of constructing an AC72-specification contender was prohibitive; the number of challengers dwindled to just three.
The Swedish entry, funded by billionaire Torbjorn Tornqvist, was quickly eliminated from the Louis Vuitton Cup despite a huge emotional and financial effort to get back on the water, following the capsize which killed British Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson in May. It left Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Challenge, two perennial Cup challengers, battling to face Ellison's Oracle Team USA in the final match, scheduled to start on 7th September.
The tragic accident which befell Simpson and his Artemis team was a huge blow for an America's Cup community which has spent the past two years-plus on the US west coast preparing for this summer.
That it followed an earlier capsize by Oracle Team USA during a training exercise only served to raise concerns about the safety of the new breed of boats, which race at higher speeds than any America's Cup yachts before them. Crews now must wear body-armour, one of 37 safety recommendations made and enacted in the aftermath of Simpson's death, but even those changes weren't without controversy. There was fierce criticism from Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa and suggestions that the defender was attempting to push through advantageous amendments to the technical rules on the eve of the competition. It was the kind of technical and political brouhaha the America's Cup is famous for but, coming amidst the other problems afflicting the event, was the last thing organisers needed.
The protests and understandable delays to Artemis' preparations led to farcical scenes on the water in the early stages of the challenger series; with no competitor available, several times a single team effectively raced itself. Sir Keith Mills, the British entrepreneur who launched a British challenger for the Cup in the aftermath of the successful 32nd Cup in 2007 only to close it down amidst frustration at the new set of Ellison-inspired rules, was moved to describe the situation as "pretty grotesque", adding: "I don't think it's even a sport now. How can you have a sport with one competitor? If Tottenham Hotspur turned out on the pitch with no other team to play, it would be a joke and it is a joke and that's a shame".
Amidst the many negatives, however, there have been positives. An investment of up to US$100 million in broadcast technology, including on-board cameras, audio and explanatory live graphics, has revolutionised the way the sport can be watched, potentially providing a model for sailing as a whole. The new Youth America's Cup, complete with backing from Red Bull, is full of potential. And Ellison's vision for a greater narrative, to sustain the Cup during the long periods between editions, certainly has merit.
The America's Cup World Series, launched in 2011, remains a work in progress but its format, a Grand Prix-style series of events around the world, may be the catalyst for a brighter future. Whether the World Series can be successfully untangled from the binding nature of the Cup – the premise that the winner organises the next event and can completely change the rules, location, type of boat and format should it so wish is a fundamental of the event - remains to be seen, but The Sports Consultancy's co-managing director Angus Buchanan, who specialises in sailing, is hopeful.
"This, because of the way it was generated to begin with, was a single event and it had its time, but it needs to be reformatted."
"There are clear positives from what they've done in San Francisco," he said. "It's to be hoped some of the positives will be capitalised on, no matter who is taking the Cup forward. There are some clear game-changers with this America's Cup, be it the media coverage, technological values they've brought, the shorter, sharper format. It's been pretty spectacular in that respect."
Sports industry veteran Harvey Schiller predicts that the future of the World Series is franchise-based. Schiller, who has been the vice chair of the America's Cup 2013 Advisory Board, told SportsPro: "The whole idea is to have events that will occur and what we're looking at is getting a league. The league would have franchises and the franchises would compete on a global basis. The league would be much like a single-entity league like Major League Soccer, in that you could have owners owning more than one franchise.
"This, because of the way it was generated to begin with, was a single event and it had its time, but it needs to be reformatted."
For whoever prevails on San Francisco Bay in the next few weeks, be it Ellison or his challengers from New Zealand or Italy, there is much to ponder as the America's Cup continues its uneasy transition from elite amateur contest to commercially driven, modern sports property.