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XO Tours has been operating our famous scooter tours in Vietnam since January 2011, when the country's tourism industry was just starting to be discovered by international travelers. During that time, we've seen incredible development in the Vietnamese tour industry, with many tour operators providing some really fantastic tour products.
In recent years, we've also seen many unlicensed tour operators trying to cash in on the influx of tourists coming to Vietnam. From our personal experience, we estimate that no more than 20-30% of the tour operators in Vietnam are licensed and operating legally. And of the tour providers that offer motorbike/scooter tours, no more than 5% are operating legally. Here are a few things you should know before booking a tour in Vietnam.
Your Vietnam tour operator may not be licensed and reasons you should care:
1. Legally licensed tour operators must deposit a minimum of 250,000,000 VND (Inbound operators) to 500,000,000 VND (Inbound and Outbound Operators) into an insurance fund verified by the government, in case there is an emergency incident on the tours. Keep in mind that your own travel insurance most likely won't cover you if you're injured while on a tour in Vietnam run by an unlicensed operator working illegally.
Even if the tour provider tells you they have their own insurance, when an insurance claim is made, the insurance provider will check and discover that the tour provider doesn't have an International Tour Operator License or licensed tour guides and will likely deny the claim. Having accident insurance is especially important if you're participating in a riskier activities such as a motorbike tour, rock climbing, spelunking, parasailing, scuba diving, etc. Not only does XO Tours have insurance funds deposited into a verified government account, we offer every single guest that books one or more of our tours extra private accident insurance.
2. The quality of the guides working for unlicensed tour operators are generally poor, since the training they do get are from other unqualified and unlicensed guides. The "tour guides" for these businesses do not have tour guide licenses, which is a separate license to the tour operator license that the business must have. Licensed Tour Operators are required to have at least 4 tour leaders with international tour guide licenses, and the tour manager must have at least 4 years experience. This guarantees a minimum standard of quality. At XO Tours, we have best trained tour guides and drivers in the business!
3. The unlicensed operators often do not pay their staff wages/salaries or provide a very low basic wage, and expect their customers to cover/supplement the tour guide's wage with tips. This encourages the "guides" to take their guests to shopping stops so that they can earn commissions or beg their guests for tips. XO Tours pays our guides and drivers some of the highest wages in Vietnam, so our staff will never ask for tips.
How Can I Check To See If My Vietnam Tour Operator Is Legal?
- Check to see if the tour provider has a MST number. MST stands for "mã số thuế", which is a tax number that a company is issued when they open a business in Vietnam. Once you have a company's MST you can enter it into the Vietnamese government's tax website shown below:
If you enter XO Tour's MST# 0310565137 into the government tax website, this is what comes up:
Having a MST doesn't prove that a Vietnam tour operator is legal, but it is the easiest way to check if they have a business license. It's very easy to setup a business in Vietnam and get a MST number but most unlicensed tour operators won't have one because they don't want the government to know they exist (and be able to verify that they don't have an International Tour Operator License) and they also want to avoid paying taxes.
If a company doesn't have a MST then they are definitely operating illegally. If the company you book a tour with gives you a MST number, verify that the business name listed on the government's tax website matches the business name the company is operating under and also that the address listed on the website matches their office address. Not having a physical office address is red flag.
2. As mentioned above, every legal business in Vietnam must have a business address. This is so the government can visit the business and check to make sure it is what it says it is. The office should also have a sign on the front of the building with the name and address of the business. Sometimes the sign will also include the MST number on the sign. Here is photo of the XO Tours business sign posted outside our office:
If your Vietnam tour operator says they don't have a physical address then they are probably operating illegally.
3. Last of all, every legal tour operator in Vietnam that accepts bookings from international travelers must have an International Tourism License. It will look like this:
In order to obtain this license, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism or VNAT, will check to see if the tour business has deposited sufficient funds into the business insurance account. They will also verify that the tour operator has employed a minimum of 4 tour guides with valid international tour guide licenses.
In Vietnam fake documents are very common however, so it's fairly easy for unlicensed tour providers to create fake International Tour Operator licenses using an image editing apps like Photoshop, and we understand that it is not feasible for every traveler coming to Vietnam to vet this information. Checking the MST number and verifying if the business has physical office is fairly easy however, and will help you filter out most of the unlicensed tour operators in Vietnam.
In conclusion, the best way to ensure your Vietnam Tour Operator is licensed and running tours legally in Vietnam:
- Check the government tax website to see if the tour operator has registered their business and the business name and address match their tour business and address.
- Verify they have an office and the office address matches the address registered with the government tax office.
- Ask for a copy of their International Tourism License and verify that the business name and address matches both the registration on the government tax website and their office address.
We hope you found this blog post useful, and it helps makes your trip to Vietnam as stress free as possible. Now that you know how to choose a reliable and legal tour operator in Vietnam, check out our post for the best Vietnam city tours and start planning your dream trip to our charming country!
XO Tours is one of the few licensed motorbike tours operators in Vietnam. To learn more about our world acclaimed tours, please visit website at: https://xotours.vn/


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Immortal Empires, the upcoming expansion for Total War: Warhammer 3, got a new trailer today, and it shows off a variety of enticing new faction mash-ups. The reveal came during Warhammer Skulls, a weeklong event focused on a wide variety of existing and upcoming games from across the Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 universes.
The highly anticipated Immortal Empires is slated to be massive, as it combines each of the trilogy's three world maps, along with every playable faction, in a domination-focused campaign. The trailer begins with a clash between Warhammer 3's Grand Cathay and Warhammer's Vampire Counts, before shifting to a larger-scale siege by the combined forces of Nurgle and the Skaven.
These army compositions will be made possible by Warhammer 3's expanded alliance system, which has let players recruit units from friendly factions ever since the strategy sequel released in January. Immortal Empires will also mark the first time that factions from the first two games will take part in the series' revamped siege battles: These 360-degree skirmishes now grant more tactical options to attackers and defenders alike.
Although Immortal Empires remains the most ambitious of Warhammer 3's updates, developer Creative Assembly has already made major tweaks to its Realms of Chaos campaign, as well as changes to AI consistency and unit responsiveness. It has also introduced Regiments of Renown (essentially the game's elite squads) to each of the seven launch factions.
Immortal Empires' open beta is still on track for a Q3 release this year, which Creative Assembly previously announced back in April. The studio is also revamping some of the trilogy's more antiquated factions, and introducing new faction leaders, visual effects, and skill-tree reworks. You can read full Total War: Warhammer 3 content road map here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Interviewing SciStarter: How to Advance Science as a Citizen
"We're stronger in citizen science -- and just in society in general -- if we unite and share." Check out our interview with Caroline Nickerson, Program Manager of SciStarter, the company that's allowing everyone to be a scientist and discover more about the universe
SciStarter: the Opportunity Platform for Citizen Science
What is citizen science?
Citizen science is the collection and analysis of data done by ordinary members of the general public as opposed to a professional scientist disciplined in their respective fields. Citizen science projects and programs are usually run by an experienced scientist or researcher, but many times, they would be able to find their discoveries or breakthroughs faster if they had extra helping hands. For those who respect the planet and the value of learning, it's one important way to advance science.
This is where citizen scientists come in: as volunteers, hobbyists, or curious learners, citizen scientists are a critical part of making a direct contribution to scientific research. The purpose of citizen science is to bring connect the world of science with the community to advance our learning about the world as efficiently as possible. Benefits for this include increased learning, community support for science, and transformative experiences for those who want to do their part to progress the world.
Ways to advance science through citizen science projects
There are many ways to help advance science no matter where you are or what your limits can be. Many citizen scientists start finding ways to advance science through examples such as:
- Observing wildlife
- Counting species in an area
- Serving as experiment subjects
- Identify stars and planets
- Mapping natural resources
These scientific tasks themselves can be fun for a weekend activity or be a way for people to volunteer and give back to the community. Citizen science itself is unique because it combines experiential learning and helping a noble cause.
How to get involved with citizen science
This week, we're featuring a company that shows us it's never too late to fall back in love with science. Many of us fall out of touch with science when it gets too difficult in school, but as we get older, we recognize science as the field that's bringing us more knowledge about our natural world and how it works.
Science challenges beliefs by seeking truth and encouraging experimentation, and it matters because it's working hard to meet current and future challenges of disease, climate change, pollution, food, water, urbanization, and energy.
Recognizing the gap that stands between scientists and the public, SciStarter is a company that's helping ordinary citizens connect with science research and experiments. Their online community brings together millions of scientists and allows the general public to not only learn about and appreciate science research, but also actively contribute to the progress itself.
Many of the projects on SciStarter's website involve biodiversity, environmental science, astronomy exploration, or medical research, and the platform allows individuals and groups of all ages to find a way to contribute to the scientific process. Imagine the progress we'd make and all the things we'd learn about the universe we're in if we got as many hands involved as possible.
Interviewing Caroline Nickerson, Program Manager of SciStarter
Tell me about your company and how you got started there
"SciStarter came from an idea my boss, Darlene Cavalier, had while she was in graduate school. In her work in media at Discover Magazine and in organizing the Discover Magazine Awards for Disney, she wanted to know: was there a place in science for someone like her, without a formal STEM background, to meaningfully contribute? Citizen science, or public engagement in research, was the answer.
Darlene's my inspiration; I love working with her and admire her work with Science Cheerleader, ECAST (Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology), all of the other realms -- and of course, I admire her work at SciStarter. I came on board at SciStarter in early 2018 to help with our syndicated blog network, which runs on SciStarter, Discover Magazine, and Science Connected blog platforms. Earlier this year, I became a Program Manager at SciStarter, which means I get to do a little bit of everything.
At its core, SciStarter connects regular people to real science they can do, either by collecting data, analyzing data, or even helping lead projects. Citizen science is as diverse as science itself, so anyone of any age anywhere in the world can find a project that suits their needs or interests on the SciStarter project finder. SciStarter also has a number of citizen science programs -- we're developing a tools database, we host a Girl Scouts journey, maintain an affiliate program so projects can get cool analytics and so users can track impact to different citizen science programs across their dashboards, facilitate school portals for Broward County Schools and North Carolina State University, create curated pages like SciStarter.org/NASA and SciStarter.org/NOAA, bring kits to libraries across the country with our partners at Arizona State University, release a podcast -- and more!
I get to spend my days doing things I care about and helping people find real research they can do."
How close are you to SciStarter's vision of success, and what milestones are you looking towards in the next few months?
"One big thing we're looking forward to is Citizen Science Month in April. We're hoping to galvanize libraries and communities across the country to do environment and human health-related citizen science projects in April.
I think the beauty of SciStarter is that we experiment, and so there may never be one vision of success. We just want to get people excited about and doing citizen science."
What are SciStarter's values and missions, and how do you incorporate them into your day-to-day?
"The main value of SciStarter is "Grow by Connecting."
Research from our partners at North Carolina State University indicates that most citizen scientists tend to do multiple projects. So, it makes sense to have a place like SciStarter where people can find different citizen science projects to contribute to. Everyone benefits -- we connect the people who run projects with citizen scientists who can do projects. And just anecdotally from what I see at work, project leaders who are part of the affiliate program and able to see anonymized data about other projects their participants are contributing can join with other projects in cool collaborations.
Also, users often appreciate being able to go to their SciStarter dashboard and see what they've done -- it really brings a sense of pride. The things you learn when you receive and answer emails from the email@example.com inbox!"
What advice do you have for people who want to make a difference in this world?
"Be willing to say "yes" to new things and give them a chance! A positive attitude is key for learning and growth.
Like I wrote for the last question, a saying we have at SciStarter is "Grow by Connecting." We're stronger in citizen science -- and just in society in general -- if we unite and share. Try to see people as collaborators instead of competitors."
What has been a moment that made you think "Yes. This is why I do what I do"
"As a Floridian, I'm passionate about mitigating climate change. The work we're doing with science centers right now to address climate hazards with citizen science really touches my heart.
Essentially, this project, supported by an environmental literacy grant by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities, honed in on four hazards (extreme heat, extreme precipitation, sea level rise, and drought). SciStarter's role in the project is to help different science centers pick a citizen science project to address one of the hazards.
Then, we'll have special instructions about how to do each project on our SciStarter.org/NOAA page. The Museum of Science, Boston has led the way with their awesome "Wicked Hot Boston" initiative. They set up an extreme heat investigation on ISeeChange (note: ISeeChange addresses all sorts of climate and weather events around the globe, not just extreme heat), trained and engaged citizens in monitoring heat, found preliminary results about the geographic distribution of heat in Boston, and then (last week!) had a forum where members of the public did a city planning simulation about extreme heat and had a dialogue with local resiliency planners from Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge.
On a personal level, I absolutely love working with the Museum of Science, Boston team and can't wait to see what the other science centers do. I think citizen science is the key to fighting climate change, because it helps us understand the scale of the problems and can be partnered with meaningful resiliency planning. As I wrote for Science Connected, "Citizen science is for everyone, and mitigating climate change requires action from all of us.""
What are some of the coolest citizen science projects you've seen or experienced on SciStarter?
"I love all the projects! I think the affiliate projects are my favorite, because I can go to my dashboard and see my contribution stats. One of the affiliates, Stall Catchers, is really awesome because it's a gamified way of accelerating Alzheimer's research. Anyone with an internet connection can play, which is why I love it -- research for a global audience!
I also think Stall Catchers has a particularly special community; many people who play and communicate with each other in the chatbox lost a loved one to Alzheimer's, and connect on that level. We worked with Stall Catchers and other partners for Citizen Science Day this year, and that was a lovely experience. I think we got a lot of people involved, and there was an amazing research result. Here's an article recapping what happened globally and an article about what went on during Citizen Science Day at the Microsoft Headquarters.
Stall Catchers empowers people to meaningfully address a problem like Alzheimer's disease. And along the way, it brings people from all over the world together in a really beautiful partnership."
These are The Good Startup's Top Citizen Science Project Picks:
- Radio JOVE - Observe natural radio emissions from Jupiter, the Sun, and more using remote radio telescopes online
- Tourists Saving Glaciers - Support scientists to study and save glaciers
- Adopt an Ephemeral Wetland - Monitor amphibian populations in temporary wetlands
- 7-day wildlife expedition to the Andean forests - Record species, large mammals, and birds and monitor track traps and camera traps in Cusco
Be a part of the progress. Start addressing local and global problems for science today at SciStarter.org.


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To anyone paying attention to presidential politics, the news that Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) expressed doubt about a woman's ability to win the presidential election is far from surprising. If Sanders raised this concern to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) – something Warren confirmed, but he denies – he would join the company of many political elites, commentators, and voters who have perpetuated a falsehood about women's capacity to succeed at the highest level of American politics.
Before I debunk the claim that a woman cannot be elected President this year, it is worth exploring why skepticism about women's ability to win persists. First, other than in fictional representations, we have yet to see a woman hold presidential office in the United States. If seeing is believing, then asking people to see the possibility of a woman president means asking them to do more work than asking them to see a (white) man in that role. Former Democratic candidate and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) addressed this directly on the campaign trail, telling crowds, "I have faith in the American people to know that we will never be burdened by the assumptions of who can do what based on who historically has done it." Unfortunately, Harris' belief is aspirational, as we know that some Americans are burdened by what has been in envisioning what can be. A June 2019 Ipsos poll demonstrated these doubts; while 74% of Democrats and Independents said they were comfortable with having a female president, just 33% believed their neighbors were just as accepting of a woman in the Oval Office. Reports from media or political elites that doubt women's electability – often without basis in facts – only make these concerns seem more legitimate.
A second source of skepticism may well be rooted in much of the work that organizations like mine do to illuminate and address the gendered hurdles that women face en route to elected office. In detailing the stubbornness of political institutions to women's full inclusion and empowerment, we might unintentionally stir fear among those who perceive those hurdles to be insurmountable. However, our research – and that of many scholars in gender and politics – demonstrates the opposite; that despite gender biases, women are just as politically successful as men. While there is potential for even greater success among women if they were not burdened with doing more work to achieve the same results as men, the resilience of women in politics should be viewed an asset, not a liability, in electoral politics.
Finally, a more pessimistic take on why some perpetuate the myth of women's unelectability is that they seek to maintain a status quo that works to their advantage. In simpler terms, men benefit from perceptions that nominating women is too risky a proposition for presidential success. Apart from Sanders' alleged comments, former Vice President Joe Biden appeared to use these concerns to his advantage at a recent campaign event. After explaining how Hillary Clinton faced unfair sexist attacks, Biden added, "That's not going to happen with me." While his campaign pushed back against claims that Biden was feeding into fears of women's electability, his statement – intentionally or not – implies that this perceived liability of nominating a woman can be avoided by nominating a man.
Whether rooted in legitimate fear or cynical strategy, perpetuating the belief that women cannot win the presidency is not only bad for women, it is factually incorrect. Here's why:
1. A woman won nearly three million more votes than Donald Trump in election 2016. Consistent with polls showing that the large majority of voters are comfortable voting for a woman for president, the majority of U.S. voters did vote for a woman candidate – Hillary Clinton – in the 2016 election.
2. Women can win (and have won) in swing states. Despite winning the popular vote, Clinton lost the presidential race in the electoral college. But there is no evidence that gender was (or is) a determinative barrier to success in the battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania – states that could have pushed Clinton over the 270 electoral vote total she needed to win. In fact, Democratic women dominated statewide executive elections in Michigan in 2018, winning three of four posts including Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. In Wisconsin, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) has won statewide contests since 2012 as the first openly LGBT person elected to the U.S. Senate. And while Pennsylvania's record for women in statewide office has not been great, 2018 witnessed the state's largest increase in women's congressional representation ever in that state, from zero to four.
3. Women won at higher rates than men in the 2018 election. Non-incumbent Democratic women candidates for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and statewide elected executive offices (other than governor) won primary and general elections at higher rates than non-incumbent men in election 2018. Most notably, Democratic women were responsible for the majority of U.S. House seats that flipped from Republican to Democrat in election 2018, thereby playing a key role in changing partisan control of the chamber in 2019. Women also flipped 4 of 7 governorships from Republican to Democrat in the last election. These successes indicate that women are not only capable of winning elections, but have outperformed men overall and in the most competitive races in the latest election cycle.
4. Research consistently shows that gender is not a disadvantage for women at the ballot box. The data on win rates and seats won are helpful, but limited, in identifying the influence (or lack thereof) of gender in shaping electoral outcomes. Gender is just one of many pieces of the electoral puzzle, informing candidate and voter behavior at various phases of the electoral process. While gender stereotypes persist in perceptions of political candidates, Kathy Dolan's research shows "no evidence of any direct, consistent, or substantial impact" of gender stereotypes on evaluations of, or voting for, women candidates. She concludes, along with others, that partisanship overwhelms gender in real-world campaigns, even if gendered attitudes among voters persist. My own work has shown how women candidates and their teams navigate gender on the campaign trail in order to ensure that it is not a liability at the ballot box. As political consultant Mary Hughes told me, "Gender really ceases to be an important factor if you do your work well." While this can yield different and/or additional burdens placed on women candidates, their political success has shown that they are more than able to bear them. And, in recent elections especially, women candidates have shown that they can use their gender as an electoral advantage by tapping into voters' desire to disrupt the male dominance in perspectives, experiences, and power in our political institutions. Finally, making universal claims of gender advantage or disadvantage is problematic. Women who run for office are equally diverse to the men, but they are still too frequently viewed through a monolithic lens of gender in ways that men are not.
Each of these data points refutes claims that a woman cannot win the next (or any future) presidential election due to the liability of her gender. But you know what makes it harder (but not less likely) for a woman to win? The unwillingness of people, especially political elites, to, as Senator Harris explained, "believe…in what can be, unburdened by what has been." Those who withhold support from women and/or foster doubt about women's capacity for success, rooted in dated notions of what is possible, only interfere in the project of women's political progress. So when it comes to the non-believers, don't believe them.


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Drop your buffs, this tribe is about to merge! Any Survivor fans out there know 'Joe Amazing' + Sierra Dawn. They met during the filming of 2014's Survivor: Worlds Apart, where they had an instant attraction. And, *spoiler alert,* Sierra actually voted Joe out of the game! Fortunately, they more than made up after filming, and, with the help of Canvas Weddings + Events, had a western boho wedding last fall.
Sierra shares a bit of their wedding vision: We wanted our wedding day to be a reflection of both of our personalities; a fall bohemian feel with a little country flare. A quesadilla bar for the bride and a trail mix bar for the groom. We even had some small Survivor touches like merge buffs as wedding favors.
We don't need to tally the votes, these pics from Forevermore Films are winners! Let's check them out:
Boho Western Bride
Hello, gorgeous fringe wedding dress!
Amazing Joe + Sierra Dawn
Sierra's hair + makeup by Stephanie Brinkerhoff brings drama + elegance to her boho western look. And those statement earrings – yes please!
Joe's looking dapper in that grey groom's suit from DC Tuxedos! Later on, he switches into a maroon suit, and it's super fun for dancing.
Yes! Let's talk about Sierra's western wonder wedding dress with all the sleeve fringe we'd ever want! Sierra shares her custom dress journey:
I had been looking for the perfect dress for a long time. After searching the Internet for countless hours I found the most perfect designer, Naama and Anat. Together we were able to not only design one but two dresses. Naama is a couture wedding gown designer who made my dream dresses a reality! A bohemian lace and fringe gown to say "I do" in, and the perfect dancing dress for the reception. I could not have worked with a better designer and am forever grateful for Naama for hand making my dresses that not only fit me perfectly but matched my personality, too!
Going To The Chapel
Processional: Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
Recessional: Canon in D
First Dance: Can't Help Falling in Love by Haley Reinhart
Bridal Party Vibes
Cute bridesmaids look in soft pinks + lavender!
Sweet Western Display
Rustic sweet treats by Caked With Lara are making our mouths water :)
We Love This Western Wedding!
We're feeling this jewel-tone, silk bridal bouquet by Nomadglitter! The king protea in there is magic.
Outfit Change!
This is about the both of you, do exactly what you both want. You won't be able to please everyone and that's ok. You'll only be engaged for a short while so enjoy the time as fiancés. Enjoy every single step of planning, the day will come quick and will be over in a blink of the eye. Don't let little things that may not go your take away from the big picture, this is about you two and I promise the day of, all you'll be focused on is each other!
Ooh loving this fun sparkler wedding exit! Speaking of which, here's how to go out style with rad wedding exits.
And don't miss their gorgeous video below by Forevermore Films!
Congrats Joe + Sierra from GWS!
photography: Forevermore Films // venue name: The Gala Hideaway, Layton, Utah, USA // planning: Canvas Weddings and Events // florals: Nomadglitter // wedding dress: Naama & Anat // bride's ring: Cassy Saba Jewelry // hair stylist: Stephanie Brinkerhoff // makeup artist: Stephanie Brinkerhoff // groom attire: DC Tuxedos and ModernTie // cake: Utah Custom Cakes // desserts: Caked with Lara // photo booth: Gus the Photo Bus // signs: Red Arch Design


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The Early Church Fathers and the Eucharist
Q: What did the Early Church believe about other key Catholic doctrines like the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist?
In our first instalment of the Early Church Fathers, we saw how their writings, while not possessing the inerrant, inspired nature of Sacred Scripture, clearly and historically testify to the fact that the early Church was stunningly Catholic in its structure — a church possessing the authority and office of the apostles, and founded by Jesus himself on Peter and his successors.
But the similarities to the present-day Catholic Church certainly don't end there. We see other key doctrines not only present but clearly explained in the most Catholic of terms, giving us critical insights into both Apostolic Tradition and how the Early Church, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, interpreted Sacred Scripture.
One of the most important areas for Catholics of course is the Eucharist. Did the Early Church hold to the Real Presence of Jesus as we have it today?
Absolutely! In fact, here we have some of the strongest testimonies of all the Early Church writings.
In 110 AD, St Ignatius of Antioch, disciple and co-worker of St John the Apostle wrote (and recall that St John was the inspired human author of Jesus' great "Bread of Life" talk in John 6): "Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions.... see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God… They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His goodness, raised up again."
Around 150 AD, St Justin Martyr would write one of the clearest defenses of the Real Presence that anyone could ask for. Considered one of the greatest defenders of the Christian Faith, and undoubtedly taught by St John's disciples in Ephesus, he would write: "We call this food Eucharist; and no one is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true... For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but.... as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him.... is both the Flesh and the Blood of that incarnated Jesus."
Around 195 AD, St Irenaeus, a student of St Polycarp (also a disciple of St John), and probably the greatest theologian in the first centuries of the Church, wrote his great work, "Against Heresies". There is much we could quote, put here is a particularly strong passage: "He (Jesus) has declared the cup, a part of creation, to be His own Blood, from which He causes our blood to flow; and the bread, a part of creation, He has established as His own Body, from which He gives increase to our bodies."
One of the most important areas for Catholics of course is the Eucharist. Did the Early Church hold to the Real Presence of Jesus as we have it today? Absolutely!
St Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem and a great theologian and defender of the faith himself, writing near 350 AD, captured the essence of the Real Presence probably as well as any of the Fathers when he wrote: He (Jesus) himself, therefore, having declared of the Bread, "This is my Body," who will dare any longer to doubt? And when He Himself has affirmed and said, "This is My Blood," who can ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?" Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that, for they are, according to the Master's declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ. Even though the senses suggest to you the other, let faith make you firm. Do not judge in this matter by taste, but be fully assured by faith, not doubting that you have been deemed worthy of the Body and Blood of Christ.
But let me leave you with a final quote from perhaps a bit of a surprising source -Martin Luther himself! He writes: "Who ever read in the Scriptures, that "my body" is the same as "this is a sign of my body"?.... Not one of the Fathers, though so numerous.... ever said, "It is only bread and wine"; or," the body and blood of Christ is not there present". Surely it is not credible... that they should never... so much as once, say.... "It is bread only" or " the body of Christ is not there", especially it being of great importance, that men should not be deceived. Certainly in so many Fathers, and in so many writings, the negative might at least be found in one of them had they thought the body and blood of Christ were not really present: but they are all of them unanimous."
How have other Christian denominations strayed so far from their own Catholic roots? As St Peter testified about Jesus' Eucharistic teaching in John 6, "you have the words of eternal life". Amen, Amen!
Graham Osborne. "The Early Church Fathers and the Eucharist." The B.C. Catholic (2011).
Reprinted with permission of Graham Osborne.
The Author
Graham Osborne is a professional nature photographer and biologist. He has spent the last twenty years studying Sacred Scripture and Church teaching and teaches Scripture and apologetics classes for the Archdiocese of Vancouver's Office of Catechetics' quarterly Institutes. He also teaches adult faith education courses and gives retreats and conferences at parishes around the Archdiocese. Graham makes his home in Wynndel, B.C. with his wife and 3 children. His website is here.
Copyright © 2011 The B.C. Catholic


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These pets along with a ton of other amazing pets at Hopalong Animal Rescue who deserve a great forever home!
Meet Buffy:
Hi! I'm Buffy. Willow and I are sisters currently in foster. We are both looking for homes separately, but currently being fostered together. We love everyone! Very sweet girls, we're learning to be left alone and slowly getting better. Our foster mom has taught us to touch and now we are learning sit! YAY! We sleep well in an exercise pen, go potty pads and slowly learning to go outside. If you're looking for a sweet girl, we are it!
Meet Mickey:
He's got the looks, he's got the vibe, he's got it all! And then some. Mickey is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, especially if you are into high-energy and endlessly enthusiastic young dogs. Currently, Mickey is getting trained at our San Quentin Pen Pals Program where he lives with a handler 24/7. His handler fell in love after just a few days and says he is very agile and can be a ball of energy but knows when its time to calm down and is learning how to focus.
This athletic young fellow is looking for an active home that can work his body and his mind. He has shown great potential and is quick to learn, especially if you have yummy treats. He definitely lacks in the manners department when it comes to other dogs, so he will need careful introductions and should only be matched with canine pals who can handle his rough and forward play style. He had a blast with the young female bully we introduced him to, so he can definitely have dog friends if they are a good fit. No kitties or small animals though please, Mickey thinks they are just too enticing.
If you have experience with energetic adolescents and want a full-time buddy, Mickey the happy little cannonball just might be the perfect match.
Mickey is currently being fostered by Happy Hound Doggie Daycare and he's having too much fun!!! He's in playgroup enjoying everyone's company!!
Meet Slate:
Well hello there! My name is Slate! I'm a very handsome boy that is looking for a home! I am currently at Happy Hound Doggie Daycare having a BLAST! I get to go into playgroup everyday and play with many dogs! it's seriously the BEST! I'm not sure what my past life was, but I lived in a shelter for 10 months ☹ I was starting to go downhill with stress and Hopalong came in and took me away! Now I'm having so much fun and hoping to find the best home! I'm still young and learning manners! I can be a bit rough at times, I sometimes forget I am not a puppy and get play mouthy, but take corrections well if you tell me to stop! I love going on hikes, love meeting new people and dogs. Just need someone with patience that can continue training me to be the best boy! Happy Hound has taken me under their wing and I'm already learning so many things. I love them so much! Considering that I lived in a shelter for 9 months, I'm doing good! The shelter where I was at even did a DNA to see what I was! And guess what? I'm mostly a LAB! 60% lab 30% Shepherd and 10% pitbull. Yet, I look so unique! That's why I'm so special! I am a high energy dog that wants a super fun home! I do relax and chill too, just need someone experienced! Being that I still act like a puppy at times, I'm probably best in a home with no small children! Unknown how I am around cats unfortunately! I hope you ask about me! I'd love a home with a yard, someone that loves to go out and go on fun outdoor trips! In the meantime, I'm having a blast at Happy Hound!
Meet Gaia:
Gaia is a lovely cat with lots of personality and gorgeous blue eyes. She is very social, chirping around the house, and rubbing up on her human's legs. Gaia is learning how to play gently. She loves to be pet on her head and is learning to love pets on her back as she gets overstimulated. Gaia likes affection on her terms and with training, treats, and patience she could someday be a lap cat. She sleeps next to her foster mom at night and snuggles under her sweatshirt for naps by day. Gaia would do best in a house where she is the only cat and she can be the center of attention, no doggos and no kiddos please. ❤
Tune into Marcus & Corey every Friday to meet more animals that could be your family's next pet, sponsored by Stevens Creek Toyota!


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Women in Business For Better or For Worse
I remember the first time I was asked to help coach girls' hockey. What a different experience. Since 1982, I had only coached boys and men. I thought a hockey player is a hockey player, so what difference does it make if they are male or female, right? Guess again.
IN 2006, MY local girls' hockey association held team tryouts for all age levels. A friend of mine was running their assessment camps. He asked me to help him run the on-ice exercises so the association coaches could do their player evaluations from the stands. I had seen girls play hockey before. When you are up in the stands a hockey game of men or women is the same.
However, when I got on the ice, I experienced nothing like I had before. After each group on-ice session, the girls would thank me. During the scrimmages, if one girl knocked down another girl, there was an apology. During explanations of an exercise, they would ask me questions like 'Why do that?' This was something I had not experienced in boys' hockey. There was very little appreciation let alone time for Q&A on the ice. It was a different experience. It was not better. It was not worse. It was just different. Girls' hockey was not a new concept.
Being involved with it brought me a different approach to what I had been used to from boys' hockey. Business today is the same thing. Women in business bring a different approach, whether they are leaders of top Canadian companies or they take on the challenge of starting a business. Like in hockey the fundamentals and rules are the same no matter what the gender. What changes is the approach to how the game is played.
Leading the charge
Women entrepreneurs are not just a concept or a trend or the next marketing strategy. They enrich the life of companies, their people and the end user. The marketplace has awoken and realized the difference women bring to the table is very enriching for the present economy and beneficial for future generations to come.
One of Canada's leaders in helping companies of all sizes, in all types of industries and in all stages of business growth is the BDC (www.bdc.ca). And if there is a person who has an understanding of this movement towards empowering women entrepreneurs and female business owners, it is the BDC's Senior Vice President Ontario, Lesley Lawrence.
In 2015, the BDC launched an initiative to support women entrepreneurs and Lawrence was asked to champion it. "The BDC is Canada's Bank for Entrepreneurs," she begins. "We help provide financial support and advisory guidance to organizations regardless of their business cycle (i.e. start-up, expansion, merger, etc.). I was asked to champion our Women Entrepreneurs initiative, after we identified this untapped market – Woman-preneurs."
Lawrence pointed out that 92% of women owned businesses have less than 20 employees. "We have found that women want to grow their business. The only thing is they believe it can only be done organically. Their tendency is to invest in relationships which take time. We set out in 2015 to help women scale their business by lending out $700 million to this untapped market and surpassed our objective, so we doubled our target to $1.4 billion over the next three years."
The notion to grow a business organically is a different approach from the business mindset men often have which is like that of a quid pro quo. "The BDC runs boot camps that have a women-only focus. We learned quickly from this untapped market, that we needed to bring women together, so they can do what they have a natural tendency to do – nurture and support, in order to help them grow," notes Lawrence.
Confidence Goes a Long Way
A great example of key differences between men and women entrepreneurs and business owners is how each approach the subject of acquiring working capital. "When a woman deals with us and is looking for working capital she will ask, 'What do I get?' instead of looking at 'What do I need?'" Lawrence points out. "This usually stems from a lack of confidence and not knowing the true value she has with her business."
In Canada today, 8.4% of companies that are women-owned sell beyond Canada, compared to 12.8% of companies owned by men. "We have found that women will undersell their value, which ties in with their own feeling of worth, their confidence level and their insecurity of their ability," adds Lawrence.
Keys to Success
When I asked Lawrence about the most important things a woman can do to succeed in business today, without hesitation said:
1. They must have solid business plan & strategy – While it seems to be pretty straightforward to have a plan to follow, the key to success is – the plan and strategy must be easy to articulate."
2. "They need financial literacy – being able to recite how much money their business will generate or how much money they will spend each month is good, but the key to success is – know what the numbers mean."
3. "They should get a mentor or have an advisory board – no one will have the same passion and commitment to ensure their business thrives as much the business owner does but the key to success is to have others around who can help guide them with an objective outlook and in depth expertise."
Every business needs different things at different stages of its existence.
"The timeline of business is ongoing," Lawrence says. "While some may need working capital for equipment another may need money for a real estate investment. It all depends on the project."
What does not seem to change for entrepreneurs and business owners is the need for advice, according to Lawrence. "The advisory side of the BDC offering is a hidden gem that I wish more people would know about. "We know the importance to educate, because the benefit is a stronger lending partner to a company, which build a better employer, which strengthens the economy and this country."
There is no guarantee that any business will succeed regardless if it is run by a woman or a man. The only thing we can do is approach the journey of running a business with a set of principles that lead to better results.
Women entrepreneurs must:
1. Persevere: There will be bumps in the road and adversity is what you will face.
2. Make sure to ask for help.
3. Ask for what you need, not what you think they will give you."
With Lawrence's final words it is clear that having women entrepreneurs are not better or worse, they are simply different. And different expands our approach which makes doing business, better for everyone.
Kevin Huhn is the Founder of Be Your Best Today a PR and Communication Firm that helps small to medium-sized businesses clarify their message, get known and drive traffic. To learn more visit beyourbesttoday.ca


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To Change or Not To Change
As humans, we typically hate change. We would rather stay the same than dive into the unknown. There is a feeling of safety in what is familiar; we are more comfortable in environments and relationships that we are used to than in those that require us to shift. This is true even if what is familiar is unhealthy or unfulfilling.
To avoid change, we frequently lie to ourselves (Warren, 2014a). We may blame other people for undesirable aspects of our lives or for our feelings. For example, we may blame our unhappiness on a laundry list of external factors and people—our spouse, boss, job, children, health, lack of money, weight, childhood, or education. Or, we may create reasons to justify why we cannot change—we don't have time, energy, strength, desire, confidence, or will power to do anything differently. We may even try to control our environment and other people to make ourselves feel safer: we may forbid our children from having close relationships with their step-parents; punish our husband or wife when they have a fun night out alone with friends; or act passive-aggressively in our relationships when we don't get our way.
There are times in life when we begin to get honest yet we don't want to do anything differently, because change is hard. In these moments, it helps to evaluate the positive and negative consequences of changing and not changing in the short-term and long-term.
Think about something in your life that bothers you. Anything—a romantic or familial relationship, smoking, drinking, sex-life, eating behavior, career, income, the way you speak to people, your attitude. Whatever it is, ask yourself: Why don't I change this? What is stopping me from choosing to change this right now? What does it cost me to change? What does it cost me not to change? What are the costs today? Tomorrow? In 5 years? In 10 years?
As we evaluate the costs of change, we are generally confronted with the fact that not changing benefits us in some way (Warren, 2014b). Perhaps it is easier not to change because we benefit from not having to confront our fear of the unknown. Perhaps we are holding onto resentment, hurt, and anger—and unwilling to let it go—because we benefit from believing we are right and by being a victim in some way. Perhaps it is easier not to change because we benefit from our lifestyle and are not willing to make choices that could jeopardize our financial security. Perhaps we do not want to change because becoming honest would hurt too much; we benefit from our dishonesty because it protects us from pain.
The bottom line is this: As the philosopher Heraclitus wisely said, "The only constant in life is change." It behooves us to embrace change as a reality of life. Getting honest with ourselves requires action. When we admit that we don't like something about ourselves or our lives, we must examine the costs of change to learn what keeps us from making different choices for ourselves right now.
Copyright Cortney S. Warren, Ph.D.
Selected References:
Warren, C. S. (2014a). Honest liars—The psychology of self-deception: Cortney Warren at TEDxUNLV.
Warren, C. S. (2014b). Lies we tell ourselves: The psychology of self-deception. Sevierville, TN: Insight Publishing.
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At Body Healing Power we are all about educating our clients on our various services. Here you will find a series of articles on various health and wellness topics. Enjoy!
- Best Intentions
- Breathing Easy . . . for Life
- For a Better Night's Rest
- Get Rejuvenated!
- Going Barefoot: Not Just for Kids
- Leading the Charlie Horse to Water
- Massage and Attentiveness
- Nurturing the Nurturer
- Springtime Renewal!
- Stay Active for the Long Run
- Staying in Top Shape . . . Between Massages
- Stress Relieved in 4 Easy Ways
Our clients say it best: "Dawn is very knowledgeable in many areas of wellness and body work. Each session is specific to each client and based on the needs of that individual. I highly recommend Dawn!" – Kim Rademacher, CMCA, AMS, Community Association Manager at Marketplace Management


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The Ranchhod Foundation undertake a number of charitable causes in New Zealand, with a focus on the aiding of children in need. As such the Foundation provides regular donations to the Starship Children's Hospital with the direct purpose of supplying equipment for life threatening conditions, such as foetal blood pressure monitors and medicine measuring electronic devices.
The foetal monitors, blood pressure machines and medicine measuring electronic devices are used in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We had the pleasure of visiting NICU and were absolutely overwhelmed at the care provided to the premature babies struggling to survive. For more information, please visit Starship's website – www.starship.org.nz
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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is setting up an office of innovation to encourage banks to adopt financial technology changes. FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams made the announcement at an American Bankers Association conference in New York, revealing that federal bank regulators need to encourage financial institutions (FIs) to innovate.
"We have created the regulatory framework where we have actually discouraged banks from innovating for a number of years," McWilliams said. "So, innovation has been happening outside of the banking primarily, and a very small percentage of it has happened within the community banks in particular that don't have the resources, nor are they able to enforce the compliance mechanisms in place that would be needed where the regulators would look positively at innovation."
She went on to explain that the FDIC could encourage innovation in three ways: The first is through the industrial loan company, a specialized banking charter supervised by the FDIC; the second way would be through the FDIC's regulation of banks' third-party vendor relationships; and the third is by working with tech companies to obtain improved processing, service and efficiency at banks.
McWilliams added that she hoped the agency would take a more holistic approach in boosting innovation.
"How can we encourage banks to innovate? How can we bring that within the banking sector?" McWilliams said.
The news comes as traditional banks are feeling the heat from nontraditional rivals. Still, a survey in February found that 60 percent of Americans prefer opening a new checking account in person at a bank branch. It also found that half of U.S. customers feel that online-only banks are "less legitimate" than those with branches.
However, earlier in February, a report found that the mass exodus of consumers to various digital channels has pushed the closure of 1,700 branches in the 12 months ending in June 2017 — the largest one-year decline on record. From mid-2012 to mid-2017, Capital One cut 32 percent of its branches, SunTrust Banks. cut 22 percent and Regions cut 12 percent.


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"Lantis MASTURI" anime song festival: 18,000 people in two days. 2015 overseas performances announced.
The record label, Lantis, celebrated its 15-year anniversary with "Lantis MATSURI 2014". The celebration spanned nine shows in four cities, and all of the shows except for the ones in the Tohoku region were held outdoors. The first show was held on the lawn at Nagashima Spa Land. 18,000 people attended in two days.
"Anisong World Tour~Lantis Festival 2015~", the overseas version of Lantis MATSURI was officially announced at the show.
The 2015 world tour will hit Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Las Vegas. Another city will be announced in the future, making the tour a total of six cities.
Official Website: http://www.lantis.jp


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Blog Categories
Latest Posts
Dolphins, California Sea lions, Fishing vessels and farmstead, fort and more!
Review of Sea Museum and Dolphinarium in Lithuania
Address: Smiltynės Str. 3 LT-93100, Klaipėda
Website: Sea Museum and Dolphinarium
Location, how to get there and when to visit
California sea lions
Fishing vessels and farmstead
Eat and drink
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Looks like you had an amazing time! Such a great place to take the kids :)
I am looking forward to the day I will take a picture with a dolphin! I also love prowling museums and no one seems to understand why I do! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Okay, how cool is this place!! I can't wait until my son is old enough to appreciate places like this - then my husband and I can take him to all the places where it will be so fun to just observe his excitement!
I've never heard of this place before. I would love to visit someday.
It always breaks my heart to see such beautiful animals in captivity. I hope for a world where we as a society no longer have to worry about eating "dolphin friendly tuna" (as you mentioned), because we are not killing any sea life at all.
But yes, I do agree that dolphins are one of the most majestic animals there are... I've always had a fascination with them! In my opinion, they're best enjoyed while watching them leap about in the freedom of the ocean. :-)
Wow, this place looks incredible. There's so much to do and see there! Looks like a brilliant place to take the whole family
I have never been there but it sounds like a nice destination getaway during this Spring break. My kids wouldlove going here.
Wow, this place looks so wonderful. Great photos, I would really love to go here someday.
Looks like a fun place for the family. An interesting fact I never knew was that dolphinarium was a word.
This looks like such an amazing place. So much too see and to learn. I would love to visit one day
I'm not a big fan of these type of parks but I'm glad you had a fun experience.
I always dreamed of seeing dolphins but not a fan of those places as they treat the animals badly there but looks like fun place
This is such a great place to visit and very beautiful. I would love to visit here. Thanks for sharing.
This looks like such a fun place! My son loves going to the aquarium by where we live. Definitely a fun activity for the whole family. Thanks for sharing!


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Clean & Refresh Electronic Screens
by mdsassociatesThere is not a single day when we don't use some form of technology. This could be a mobile cell phone, computer, tablet, lab top computer, automated machinery, television, or even a screen in your car.
Touch screens are commonly touched, and touched a lot. They attract grime, dirt, dust and fingerprints. The human skin secretes oils, and over time, this can build up on the display, making the sensor less reactive to touch. This is why your touch screen should be kept clean at all times.
When cleaning electrical surfaces such as a screen, optical lens or kiosk, it's critical that the cleaning agent be approved safe for use with such devices otherwise damage or deterioration will result. These presaturated device wipes are a quick and easy to use solution to keeping your devices clean, sanitized, and free from unwanted residues. They're also fast drying, lint-free and streak-free!
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This week's GFAC 207 podcast is up!!
On this week's Greetings From Area Code 207 Radio Hour Podcast we have a solid hour of brand new tracks from Bri Lane, Katie Matzell, Five of the Eyes, The Worst, Muddy Ruckus, The Side Chick Syndicate, Dreadnaught and lots more! Brought to you as always by Crooked Cove CD and Vinyl.


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Reciprocal privileges for QF Plat flying Jetstar int'l?
Reciprocal privileges for QF Plat flying Jetstar int'l?
I have to race overseas on very short notice, and I'm flying JQ out of Melbourne.
I've never been O/S with Jetstar before; as a QF Platinum travelling in Y-class, can I expect to be eligible for check-in at the JQ Business Class counter + receive an Express Path card?
I've flown JQ domestic a few times, and note they include the code 'HVC' (High Value Customer) when I've been on QF Platinum tier. Does this carry any tangible meaning whatsoever?
Has anyone had actual on-the-ground experience with this? My web readings would suggest limited reciprocal privileges for a QF on JQ, but looking for someone who's blazed the trail before.
Many thanks!
I have flown JQ International a few times as QF Platinum, really the only benefit is lounge access, where a QF lounge is available. But apart from that the only time I have received Business Class Check in and Express path was when I fly J with them.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Reciprocal privileges for QF Plat flying Jetstar int'l?


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U S. Attitudes To Sports Betting A Year After Paspa Repeal
U S. Attitudes To Sports Betting A Year After Paspa Repeal
Many of the leading playing bookmakers from the Thirties to the Nineteen Sixties got their begin through the prohibition era of the Twenties. They have been usually descendants of the inflow of immigrants coming into the USA presently. Although the widespread stereotype is that these bookies had been of Italian descent, many leading bookies have been of jap European ancestry. An if bet consists of a minimum of two straight bets joined collectively by an if clause which determines the wager course of.
Join millions of millennials and guess on aggressive video gaming. Win or lose, earn cash back on every on-line racebook wager. We record an unbiased assessment compiled by UK Betting Experts, of assorted UKGC regulated bookmakers.
It is anticipated that Pennsylvania's casino operators will align themselves into three or four networks to pool resources. As of now, Pennsylvania just isn't a part of the alliance with New Jersey and Nevada. Although 5 firms initially entered the market, several quickly exited or merged.
The tool consists of a easy a number of-alternative self-assessment take a look at that we combine with particular person gameplay knowledge to calculate a behaviour profile. These data are then used to make tailor-made suggestions for the player. The European Handicap just isn't broadly identified, however is an interesting choice, which lies someplace between the Asian Handicap and the standard Match Betting market.
Wire-to-Wire – This is a wager that a staff will lead at every quarter or for a specific variety of quarters. Runner – A one who places wagers at a sportsbook for someone else.
About 1.2% of people that take part in gambling have a problem, based on the most recent analysis revealed by the Gambling Commission. The comparatively low figure contains individuals who play the nationwide lottery, where downside gambling rates are low. As with any form of playing, or with any activity for that matter, there IS a danger of dependancy. If you've an addictive character, or wrestle with self-control and self-discipline, then it's probably best to neglect about playing utterly. For a whole record of our ranking categories, along with more info on our high beneficial websites, please see the next web page.
So the query of whether or not enjoying fantasy sports was an act of talent or probability — this became a vital question for DraftKings and their largest rival, FanDuel. DraftKings responded by, amongst other things, banning all its staff from taking part in fantasy sports. Playing fantasy sports activities helped reduce the sting of not having his personal startup. Robins had two co-employees — Paul Liberman and Matt Kalish — who have been additionally means into fantasy sports activities and who also wished to start their own company. The early days of fantasy sports coincided with the rise of the dot-com growth.
The individuals who don't put in that effort and time ARE going to lose. With this in thoughts, we've put collectively numerous guides that concentrate on particular person sports activities. These function data, advice and strategy which are specifically relevant to the sport in query.
California racetracks had the best gross purse of nearly $189 million. New York ($131 million), Florida ($eighty five million), Kentucky ($80 million), and Illinois ($75 million) full the top five highest purse states. As shown in Figure 8.three, the number of Thoroughbred races held every year has usually steadily declined since the early 1990s. Despite the decline in attendance, the amount of cash gambled on horse races has really increased over the past decade.
Generally, if the location has been around for a very long time and has an excellent reputation, then we deem it to be one of the extra trustworthy. The mostly used transaction strategies are nonetheless credit score & debits cards like Visa & MasterCard, however eWallets similar to PayPal, Neteller and Skrill are quickly rising in reputation.
Our agents might be obtainable to provide restricted support. When you wager on an underdog , the quantity either begins a plus sign , and is the amount you'd profit when you bet $one hundred. So if you guess $10 on a +150 wager, you'd get your $10 wager again plus profits of $15. The more typically you have to make withdrawals, and the faster you need the money in your hand, the extra fees get attached to your payout. On one hand, they're used by unscrupulous offshore bookmakers to entice gamers to take a danger on a spot with a worse popularity.
From a citizen's perspective, maneuvering by public officials appears motivated by the cash which playing represents. Prohibitions are seen as turf battles as a substitute of true reflections of excessive-flown sentiments. Economics is seen as an instigator of playing's fortunes—nevertheless it works each methods.
A sportsbook could choose to buy in-play futures wagers at a value beneath the precise payout before a championship is determined if the potential payout may be very excessive . The most up-to-date example of this was when Leicester City pursued and went on to win the 2015/sixteen Premier League.
Please see our privateness statement for particulars about how we use knowledge. Totals – Totals are the numbers that bettors will choose the over or underneath on factors scored.
The most essential factor to remember is that you must solely ever bet with cash you can afford to lose. It doesn't matter what the precise figure is, as long it's not cash that's wanted to pay the payments. Risking disposable revenue is okay, but risking the hire cash is NOT. Relatively speaking, you can spend as a lot or as little cash as you want.
£5 Same Game Multi free wager shall be out there to say from the promotions hub after the qualifying guess has been settled. Bringing betting to life by doing business in a sustainable and accountable method. "I know boxing and sport in general go hand in hand with betting, so I wanted to get involved with SBC Events and say my piece." Sports betting services are supplied by corporations similar to William Hill, Ladbrokes, bet365, bwin, Paddy Power, betfair, Unibet and many more through their web sites and in many circumstances betting shops. In 2015, William Hill generated around 2.37 billion U.S. dollars in revenue with about thirteen.26 billion U.S. dollars in whole being staked / wagered with the company.
In the top, you could have the final say on how much to risk on a sport, however an excellent rule is risk solely what you can afford to lose. For instance, an NBA sport between the Celtics and Bulls might need a complete of 215. If you bet the Over 215 and the whole factors scored end up being 216 or higher, you win your bet. Moneylines are available for all sports, however they're predominantly used when betting on baseball, hockey and soccer.
Understanding what you want is important and knowing that we care about that may help you to make the best choice. Remember, it's your selection and not ours – the proper web site is out there, maybe even a mixture of two or a number of sites is what you should get each facet coated and unlock free bonuses. Our evaluation course of is the most strong in the market.
Our chats and forums permit you to share your more than likely predictions, in addition to get betting advice and tips on tennis, cricket or soccer. US Dollars – One of probably the most internationally recognized currencies, the US Dollar is one option you can see at all the finest UK sports activities websites online. Tennis Betting – Surprisingly, tennis is the second hottest sport that UK punters place wagers on. It has grown in recognition because of online and in-play betting. This service implies that operators can rest assured within the knowledge that their cash is protected from suspicious betting actions and fraud.
Unlike bets positioned with cash a free bet cannot be cashed out both prior to the beginning of the occasion or in-play. Free Bet Clubs – Many companies have 'wager clubs' which can credit you with a free bet every week should you place a sure variety of bets through the course of the previous seven days. Furthermore we promote accountable playing and strongly help organisations who provide support to those who could turn out to be affected by problem gambling such asGamCareandGambling Therapy. Many online bookmakers typically give you seven days to use a free bet once rewarded.
However, if a web-based bookmaker is new on the scene, it doesn't mean it's not trustworthy, we simply have to have a look at all the other areas of the positioning earlier than we make our choice. Another essential space we have a look at is the expertise of the company – and thus, its popularity.
If the player's first selection complies with the situation , then the second selection will have action; if the second selection complies with the situation, then the third choice could have action and so on. And if a bettor took Oklahoma City, they would have to win outright or lose by lower than 3 factors. Licensed and controlled by The Gambling Commission under licence for GB prospects playing on our online web site. Licensed and regulated by The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (licences thirteen C1 & C2) for non-GB prospects enjoying on our online web site. Licensed and regulated by The Gambling Commission beneath licences 614, & for customer enjoying in our land-based casinos.
No on-line bookmaker is perfect, but we place the highest significance on the way it responds to criticism and the way much respect it pays to its customer. Betting websites which might be getting extra customers consistently have a robust likelihood of being safe, secure and trustworthy.
Reverse Line Movement – When a line moves in another way than the money wagered on the sport or event. Puck Line – This is some extent spread of sorts primarily based on objectives scored during a hockey recreation. The base puck line for a game is usually plus or minus 1.5 since there are so few goals scored.
Delegates can entry the information shared by trade-main experts on panel classes and displays stay or when it suits their very own schedule through the Auditorium. The National Gambling Helpline can also be out there 24 hours a day, seven days per week by way of GamCare. It is there to help those affected by playing problems or these involved in regards to the affect gambling is having on people close to them. If you could have a query about your gambling, or the gambling of somebody near you, our FAQs from playing consumers throughout lockdown might present useful data. Our what we do web page additionally offers an summary of the types of queries we are in a position to assist customers with in the first instance.
All bonuses include a "rollover requirement." A "rollover requirement" is an quantity you should guess before requesting a payout. We Fit Your Devices, Mobile, Tablet, Laptop or Desktop, MyBookie fits greatest with probably the most choices and wager's throughout all units, to provide the best posible sportsbook expertise! In this table, you can see an instance of new free bet welcome offers you can find throughout the bookmakers in the UK. Each bookmaker has their own terms and conditions that apply to their presents, which you have to read fastidiously.
The point unfold isn't concerned with the winner or loser. Puppy – Another method to say a team is an underdog in a game. Kelly Criterion – A in style bankroll administration technique for a bettor who seeks to restrict losses whereas maximizing the amount won.
While Thoroughbred horses have been the favourite of high society, standardbred racing grew to become in style among the many widespread folks. Today, there are approximately thirty licensed harness racetracks around the nation at which pari-mutuel betting takes place.
Define and control your strategy with configurable and automatically adjusting payouts, odds, limits, risk and time-based controls. Tailor personalised betting experiences for all of your clients with subtle tracking and evaluation of players' behaviour. Sportsbook Review has rated and reviewed more than 1,000 sportsbooks since 1999. Point spreads result in a more subtle type of manipulation — point shaving. College basketball is particularly susceptible to this practice.
It was onerous to think about many massive-league owners doing the same. After many years of resistance to sports playing, group owners and state officers are laying the groundwork for it — with probably large implications.
At least in the world of the month-to-month New Jerseysports betting deal with, the V-shaped restoration is actual. New prospects solely who've registered an account on or after 28/02/19. £10 must be wagered on slot video games (besides excluded games – see record). Free Spins are available on Starburst & Jumanji slot video games, and are legitimate for 7 days from acceptance. Winnings from the Free Spins (value £0.10 each) are capped at £one hundred.
Some of the industry's leading consultants of their individual fields will host a series of workshops offering attendees with solutions and tools to challenges faced every day by industry professionals. Delegates can connect with fellow attendees with shared enterprise pursuits in themed networking roundtables focusing on selected markets and verticals. The open discussions will feature senior-level trade experts to assist direct and facilitate the conversations, as well as loads of opportunities for everyone to affix in the debate. The Product Showcase space permits delegates to rise up so far and expertise the newest revolutionary gaming products.
There has been a lot of discussion and debate in recent months about online casino bonuses and the position they may play in driving new player signal-ups now and in the years to return. Next we'll study a few of the betting scandals that have plagued sports. Becoming an oddsmaker isn't straightforward — there aren't any oddsmaker faculties. Plenty of books describe handicapping and oddsmaking, but the one way to get an actual job as an oddsmaker is to have a lot of experience.
Keep in thoughts that you may not have many choices, although, relying on where you live. If you reside in Nevada, or close by, then there's the choice of using the sportsbooks that are present in many of the Las Vegas Casinos. If you live in the United Kingdom, there are many bookmaking outlets to use. In other parts of the world, there's a good likelihood that these choice simply gained't be available.
For fans, it has left a yawning gap in their daily routines, but for the gamblers who watch and wager, it is a double blow. The cancellation of main events has left stadiums empty and casinos closed. With so many customers, there are numerous different games and tournaments, and there are significant stakes. Other people were already engaged on every day fantasy sports activities — most importantly, an organization called FanDuel.
Sometimes the jockey is seated on the horse rather than in a sulky. Harness racing is carried out by a sort of horse referred to as a standardbred, which is shorter, more muscled, and longer in body than the Thoroughbred. In 1879 the National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders in America established the official registry for standardbred horses.
Since betting on sports is unlawful in many places, you'll be able to't always lookup your native bookie in the phone book. Yes, I agree to receiving emails from Bookies.com on playing news and provides. NFL betting is the most popular sports activities wager on within the United States, with an estimated $6.8 billion guess on the 2020 Super Bowl alone. Super Bowl betting and March Madness betting are the 2 largest betting "events" of the yr.
During fiscal yr 2003 ADW accounted for only 6% of all wagers. However, earlier analysis has proven that there are some expert bettors who earn cash on their bets on a constant basis. Assuming that 10% of bettors obtain a positive return of 1% implies that the typical among the many remaining gamers needs to be around −19%, a substantial loss, to account for that 1% revenue. Considering a home edge of 17%, the researchers concluded that a "fair amount of ability" can be required to realize a return of −10%, and that even very expert horse bettors could find yourself shedding money. The article's final estimate is that only one–2% of horse race bettors really earn cash.
To join the In-Play Club stakers are required to register at reception and then show their dedication to the membership by wagering 5 x €10 in-play bets. Committed club members are credited weekly with a €5 free bet after they complete the '5x €10 bets per week' rule. A mini quest from the Unibet staff to load your Bet Builder with choices.
As proven in Figure 8.2, the parimutuel handle from thoroughbred horse racing was $15.2 billion in 2003, up from $9.4 billion in 1990. Just over 87% of the amount bet during 2003 was at OTB services. The OTB share has increased dramatically since 1996.
We additionally include a description of every so that you can make a more educated choice when selecting your betting web site. Don't simply take our word for it nonetheless – beneath we take a closer have a look at a few of the leading Betting Sites we've partnered up with to offer you a greater betting expertise. So, earlier than you do something, or put your money and personal details anyplace, verify that your operator is totally licensed and regulated.
Our online betting options help a unique and unparalleled betting expertise to achieve your business objectives. Treat your players to free bets, odds boosts, enhanced accas and versatile cashback to spice up lifetime value. Join the successful group – SBTech has received a number of awards for one of the best in-play software program, options and bonuses in the industry. Betting Sites Ltd provides a preferred and trusted web site for gamblers trying to enroll to new betting websites.
Ultimately, when taking a look at on-line bookies, this is by far and away the most important aspect. Below, we provide you with some insight into the UK Gambling Commission and the significance of betting with a bookmaker that holds a full license to ensure safe and secure expertise. The largest problem that arises by way of complaints and dissatisfaction when it comes to on-line bookmakers is the policy connected to depositing, and, most importantly, withdrawing. Sites should also be connected to GamStop so you could have someplace to go if you're experiencing drawback gambling issues as it'll help you to self-exclude from registered websites. You can exclude yourself for a period of 6 months, 1 yr and even 5 years.
The catch behind a free wager is in reality there is almost all the time an expense required before you can earn a free wager and most free bets can't be cashed out. A Free Bet Club – you'll receive a free bet when you make the requisite variety of regular bets, similar to placing four accas in every week. A free bet is a bonus that's value a certain amount and have to be used as a person bet. New customers to Paddy Power solely, sign up through the Paddy Power Vegas Reg Code PVCREG. 50 Free Spins added immediately to accounts as soon as SMS verified with no deposit needed.
It is important to trust and perception that when a guess is placed with a UK licensed bookmaker it's on markets which are honest and free from betting-related corruption. The SBIU is a unit within the Gambling Commission which offers with stories of betting-related corruption. In addition to a complete sportsbook, the Playtech portfolio additionally contains Numbers Betting on Self-Service Betting Terminals. Our firstclass in-play product delivers reside scores, match information and match visualisations to drive high margin in-play betting exercise. A user-focused, knowledge-driven design ensures your Sportsbook is tailor-made to your viewers.
If you need to take full advantage of the offer then a complete of 5 bets of £10 are required to get £10 and a Power Up. All you have to do is bear in mind to repeat the identical steps the next Monday to be a maintain your club membership open. The welcome offer relies on a a hundred and fifty% deposit match bonus price up to €150 in whole, which is on the market from their €10 minimum deposit situation.
However, there isn't any substitute for shopping around and having several operators obtainable to you from our best betting websites record. Our staff of reviewers take time to verify the forums, test the customer service and delve into pain points that existing clients have with betting operators.
Officers found one dog that had already died from its wounds and two that had been mortally wounded. Ten surviving dogs had been turned over to animal management businesses. The people arrested were charged with quite a lot of offenses, together with animal cruelty, playing, and weapons and drug charges. A variety of guns and 1000's of dollars in cash had been seized along with dog combating paraphernalia, including trophies and plaques that were to be awarded to the owners of profitable canines.
The bar will provide attendees the choice to participate in actual-time networking by way of Zoom and have the ability to attach with others in the bar or start one-to-one chats. A 'bartender' will also be on hand to information and maintain the move of conversations.
Our betting products are operated in Ireland by 888 Ireland Limited, an organization integrated in Malta, which is licensed and regulated by Ireland's Revenue Commissioners. Come April our tipsters are specializing in MLB picks day by day.
They are the ratio of the quantity received to the stake – the solidus "/" is pronounced "to" for example 7/1 "seven to 1". US format odds are the quantity won on a a hundred stake when positive and the stake wanted to win one hundred when adverse. The 'edit guess' function can be used by gamblers to 'unsettle straight accumulators' earlier than matches have started or while they are in-play. The characteristic may also be used for to swap single bets for new bets, and the gambler is given a brand new wager choice valued on the bookie's cash out worth to reflect reside market/game odds for the unique bet.
We never let you know precisely what to do and when to do it, nonetheless, so don't suppose for one minute that the strategies right here will make winning cash without having to suppose for yourself a risk. The final part of our introduction is particularly useful. It options a lot of recommendation that will allow you to develop some basic betting abilities. This is helpful for individuals who wish to guess for enjoyable, and essential for many who are betting for profit.
This can draw so much action to 1 aspect of the guess that the oddsmaker must move the road. Sometimes the decimal point is left out, so one hundred twenty is similar as 1.20. If you want to bet on the favored staff, the White Sox, you need to guess $1.20 for each $1 you need to win.
And that's valuable as a result of you possibly can determine the place your strengths and weaknesses are as you start betting. These are all a good factor to know, and it could let you maximize your winnings. Lines can vary primarily based on the sportsbook, because totally different books have different clienteles.
If you want to use your free bet simply click on this before confirming your wager placement. As against winnings being paid in money, under some circumstances free wager credit / bonuses are used as a fee technique. As your stakes aren't returned with the winnings from a free guess, free wager bonuses have a lesser worth than precise cash. Matched Deposits – Many of the most important bookmakers will match a new customer's first deposit with bonus money or free wager tokens.
Some racetracks have tried to become leisure venues by offering meals courts, malls, and music concerts. Although these gimmicks appeal to guests, those guests don't necessarily gamble. Devoted race followers complain that such promotions are too distracting and draw attention away from the racing. The HSUS stories that up to 20,000 adult greyhounds are destroyed every year as a result of they're too sluggish. The organization claims that the racing trade severely overbreeds greyhounds in the hopes of producing winners, leading to the destruction of hundreds of undesirable puppies every year.
We can't be fooled by fairly graphics, fancy animations, or aggressive promotions. While that stuff sadly works on plenty of unknowing clients, it's not going to work on https://1xbet-cameroun.icu us, and we received't let it work on you. Out of the entire lists on this web page, that is the one we find ourselves updating probably the most, so be at liberty to bookmark it when you like to jump around between books incessantly. As legislation changes, more and more companies are moving into the market area, which implies a lot more great choices for you to select from.
A parlay is no less than two bets, however may be as many because the bookmaker will enable. For him to win his bet, Miami must win the game by four points or more. Here at 888sport we have created a singular guess calculator that will give you the facility to run via a plethora of permutations earlier than you ante-up.
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It is in the interest of the businesses to advertise playing by way of astute and innovative advertising that attracts continued playing. Gambling habit is a real and severe threat, and many people have ruined their lives and households via the follow. People who gamble on occasion turn out to be engrossed in it and throw away money they can't afford to lose. Country based mostly casinos in Portugal reopened on June 5 with security measures in place.
If parking prices you $5, you'll have to pay $10 in parking fees, and your $18 win is now a $2 win. If you suppose you're going to be able to beat the e-book by only making $2 a bet, you need to get somebody to pinch you and wake you up. Apparently, in accordance with what we've seen on a lot of sites, it's means too much to ask for. The drawback most likely stems from sites constructing their platform with out accommodating for the top user or without making preparations to permit for enlargement. As increasingly more sports become in style, websites must add them into the combination to stay competitive.
Darts A pub recreation on knowledgeable stage draws the audience each time. Cycling Consistency and a competitive edge – game-changers on the road.
This is down near 60 percent from the peak revenues. According to these estimates, legalized playing will contribute as much as $5 billion to the overall financial system of the states. Approximately 152,000 jobs paying over $7 billion in wages are projected. One main prospective advantage of legalized playing is a rise in tax income.
Europe was proving to be a take a look at case, and its groups have been thriving. Now Leonsis has come along, telling homeowners that their franchises would acquire in worth as a result of gambling, like fantasy leagues, provides fans another excuse to be engrossed in a sport.
There's proof that implies that the number of suspicious matches in cricket has gone down since cricketers started really making some actual cash and have one thing to lose if they get caught. He may be saying this out of self-curiosity, of course, but also keeping in thoughts competition from present black-market playing retailers. One fantasy-baseball research confirmed that more than 90 p.c of the winnings went to only over 1 p.c of the gamers. Now I'm going to move to the ability finish of the spectrum.
Prioritise all your data feeds based on sport, league or event. Available on singles and accumulators with partial cash out and financial institution my stake choices, every operator can management payouts by managing fee and availability at all times. 'Betting Sites' is an online show name of Betting Sites Ltd – a non-buying and selling firm that holds the UK domain name registration (bettingsites.ltd.uk). The domain name is being utilised by a separate entity to supply the Service presented here with the permission of Betting Sites Ltd . 43173Bet NowOur product staff constantly displays the UK Gambling Commission database to source new gambling operators that have launched as white labels or on their very own UK license.
As every little thing is stay although, you should be fast to benefit from the odds at their present state before they change. You will discover everything from the extra traditional sites like Bet365 and William Hill to new and upcoming bookies like StarSports and MrPlay. As such, we have come up with a very complete record of the best bookmakers which are currently licensed in the UK business.
"downside" or "pathological" gamblers, compared to 10% of riverboat gamblers, 9% of those who visited casinos in Nevada or Atlantic City, New Jersey, and 6% of these in tribal casinos. These findings were based on the evaluation of hundreds of gamblers who admitted multiple gambling visits during the earlier 12 months.
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Oulton Broad
This HD live spouting overlooks Oulton Wide, a provincial run and appointive ward of Lowestoft in Suffolk, Britain. These sees are seen from the 3-star Wherry Lodging, set at the waterfront of Oulton Wide. You see here the extend reasonable outside the motel towards Oulton Wide Lake and its northern shore, a scene around Oulton Wide Yacht Station and a see towards Bridge Rd. Oulton Wide is parcel of the run known as "The Broads", composed of magnificent amplifies of inland water. This may be a fine event objective, idealize for water sports such as cruising, canoeing and floating. The wide green ranges in and around Oulton Wide welcome visitors to loosen up and explore.


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LOS ANGELES — At a fundraiser in Hollywood Sunday night, former Democratic Florida Rep. Alan Grayson used rape jokes to raise money for his congressional campaign.
Grayson, an acerbically partisan one-term congressman who is hoping to return to the House two years after being voted out of office, was in attendance at his fundraiser at the Hollywood Improv, where comedians, including Sarah Silverman, spat out jokes in support of Grayson's campaign.
The five comedians there to support Grayson performed jokes that were edgy, raunchy and sometimes funny. That's standard fare for the comedy club circuit. Topics that would be out of bounds to joke about in normal conversation are covered in abundance when the lights dim on the stand-up stage. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that. What's unusual is that 10 days before Election Day, a congressional candidate would raise money from an event full of rape jokes.
Making fun of Republican Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin's suggestion that there is some biological mechanism to prevent a woman from being impregnated when she is raped, comedian Jimmy Dore riffed on how he and his wife were poor when they were younger and couldn't afford birth control.
"Guess you're going to have to rape me," Dore mimicked his wife saying.
Melodramatically striding to the stage to Enya's "Only Time," Silverman declared to much laughter as the music faded, "Wow. God, I love that song — I was a brutally raped to that song."
"Didn't ruin it for me," she added.
Silverman went on to explain that while rape is perhaps the most "heinous crime imaginable," rape jokes are a "hidden gem in comedy."
"Rape jokes are great because they make a comedian seem very edgy and very dangerous," she said.
Plus, she added, "who's going to complain?"
Silverman joked that rape victims are "traditionally not complainers" and the worst that could happen is "after a show a woman might come up to you and say, 'Look, I'm a victim of rape … and I thought that joke was insensitive and inappropriate and totally my fault.'"
Moving away from rape jokes, Silverman told the crowd of just under 100 that they must remember that both conservatives and liberals want the best for the country, even if liberals are more "open-minded" and conservatives are "less open-minded" and " a little more "faggot-ish."
But, "I pray for them," she said.
"Just the other night I was praying for the literally billions — billions — of teeny, tiny Republicans that die every single year in hookers' assholes."
She conceded that Democrats also have anal sex with hookers, but only Republicans are trying to take her rights away.
"So when a Democrat gives a hooker anal warts, she can then go to a clinic and zap it."
Silverman also joked that conservatives are generally racist.
"In general, Republicans say they don't want big government in their backyard because they can't say what they really want to say," she declared, before proceeding to say the n-word a half dozen or so times.
Another raunchy Silverman joke centered on how she was babysitting the infant daughter of a friend of hers and was shocked that the baby girl was "totally shaved — six months old."
Concluding her set by noting that we all once started as sperm, Silverman said: "There was a time I was literally choking on my dad's cum."
"I was five," she joked.
A night of liberal political comedy would not be complete without some Fox News bashing.
"Fox News is like a hand job for your id," joked comedian Rick Overton, one of the least funny comedians of the evening.
"I'm Bill O'Reilly and I'm fed up with your hard facts and research details," he mimicked the Fox News host saying.
"They don't want smart people," he declared.
Overton wanted to make clear he was not only a "patriot," but a "matriot" because "I love my Mother Earth."
Overton then began preaching. He said that if Romney wins he isn't leaving the country; "I'm going to stay here and fight."
"My dad fought Nazis and turned snow red in France with Germans," he said, adding the least he could do is stand up to Republicans with his microphone.
This gift to comedy was wearing a sport coat with 99 percent written on it.
Ending his sermon, he informed the crowd that they could walk their mail-in ballots to their election center and put them in the box themselves, joking they shouldn't trust poll workers wearing crosses to do it for them.
Another comedian, David Feldman, took a shot at Florida Republican Rep. Allen West, saying he was "Not afraid to speak his mind no matter how small it is."
Speaking of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he joked, "If she could read intelligence memos the way she reads teleprompters, the twin towers would still be standing."
After mentioning Sarah Palin's statement that she thought the president was shucking and jiving on Libya, Feldman joked that Palin defended herself from those who said her comments were racist by saying, "Some of her best friends are self-hating black conservatives on Fox."
He then said Ann Coulter was racist, as if a fact, before bringing up her recent tweet joking that President Barack Obama was a retard.
"You know, if Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann were the leading female voices in my party, I wouldn't trust women to make their own health care decisions either," Feldman said.
"These people are idiots," he declared, referring to conservatives.
Feldman said Grayson was the "only half-way decent thing to come out of Florida. No wonder he wants to go to Washington, he lives in Florida!"
Several of the stand-up acts were funny, even if sometimes grotesque and partisan. The problem is not that comedians made off color jokes or made fun of conservatives. That's what comedians do and comedians should almost never be forced to apologize for what they say in comedy clubs. Pushing — and sometimes stepping over — the line is part of the business.
But for a candidate to raise money off a night of rape jokes? At the very least, that doesn't seem like the brightest of political moves.
Tickets for the fundraiser were $30 (full disclosure: TheDC bought one) and $250 for better seating and a meet-and-greet with Grayson afterwards. A staff member of the Improv said he thought the money went to a committee supporting Grayson's campaign — not necessarily to Grayson's campaign directly. To date, Grayson has raised 33 times more money than his Republican opponent, according to the AP.
Grayson rebuffed my efforts for an interview Sunday night, first telling me that he had to greet all those who showed up to support him and then telling me after I waited in the lobby of the club for over an hour that he was too tired to talk.


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Feeling safer yet? As part of its initiative to boost security at the nation's ports, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently awarded $141.97 million in security grants to what it calls critical ports and maritime facilities. The grants, which represent the fifth round of port security funding since the 9/11 attacks, are intended for use protecting ports against what DHS calls "small craft and underwater attacks and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices." The program also funds measures to enhance explosive detection capabilities aboard passenger vessels.
Though $141.97 million may sound like a lot of money, U.S. port operators say it isn't nearly enough. That amount represents only a fraction of what's needed, they charge. They also complain that the DHS qualified only 66 ports for the fifth-round of grants—a smaller number than in previous rounds.
In defending its grant awards process, the DHS reports that in order to maximize security benefits with limited resources, it encouraged private companies to apply for grants with the requirement of a 50-percent match. In the most recent round of funding, it says, the private sector came through with roughly $33 million in matching grants.
Over the past five years, the Port Security Grant Program has provided $489 million to enhance dockside and perimeter security in the nation's seaports.
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