text:
Earlier this year, Dave Forrest and Cameron Francis, two of magic's most notorious creators, met up in sunny Florid-er, USA to eat subs, drink beer and SHOOT SOME COIN MAGIC BABY!
It all started several months ago when Cameron showed Dave a little procedure with a Copper Silver coin. Dave thought it was very cool and lo, a jam session did begin! By the end of said session both were in complete agreement that the Copper Silver coin may well be the most underused coin gaff extant! (Look it up!) So, further 'e-jams' took place and eventually a collection of Copper Silver material had been amassed - piled high like a big mountain of steaming coin magic! What to do with all this metallic material? "I know", said Dave "I'll get myself on a plane to the United States and we'll lay this shit down!!" So, that's what we did!
So what do you get when you buy this download? No less than TEN EFFECTS with the copper silver coin!! You won't believe how versatile this stuff is and - IT'S ALL BEEN TRIED OUT IN THE REAL WORLD!
EFFECT 1: WHERE EAGLES DARE. You take a signed coin and place it between two copper coins - you show it right up until the last minute - then, BANG - it's gone! The signed coin is removed from your pocket with completely empty hands. But, it could appear in even more impossible places with a little bit of thought! This one will fool you first time round - it's brilliant thinking!
EFFECT 2: OPPOSITES ATTRACT: A signed copper coin magically jumps to join a signed silver coin a number of times. For the finale, you place one coin in the spectators hand. Your coin vanishes and the spectator opens their hand to find....just one coin! But, wait - as she turns it over she finds that your signed coin has fused to her signed coin leaving a ridiculously impossible object! Out of the box thinking - brilliant strolling magic!
EFFECT 3: DOUBLE TRANSIT: The spectator signs a silver coin and a selected card - the coin is placed under the card. You take a copper coin and an indifferent card and in a blink - THEY BOTH CHANGE PLACES AT THE SAME TIME - you've now got the signed coin and the signed card and the copper coin and indifferent card are now on the table! Everything may be examined! Super visual magic with cards and coins!
EFFECT 4: SPECTATORS CHOICE: The spectator is given a completely free choice of either a copper coin or a silver coin. No matter what they say - the chosen coin instantly jumps to your pocket! You offer to repeat the effect with surprising results!
EFFECT 5: SIMPLE ALCHEMY: The trick that started it all! Three copper coins are displayed one at a time. Instantly all three change to silver coins! One at a time, you cause them to change back to copper and then again back to silver in a blink! Perfect walk around magic - super easy and super visual.
EFFECT 6: METAL SINK: Inspired by Bob Driebeck's 'Tosheroon' this is a super cool revelation of two playing cards using the Copper Silver coin. First a silver coin vanishes and reappears halfway down in the pack - the card directly beneath it is one of the selections! The silver coin is placed under the first selection. Then a copper coin vanishes and reappears...uh...it's definitely NOT in the deck! Where is it? The first selection is slid aside and underneath we find the copper coin! The card has also changed to the second selection! But where's the silver coin and the first selection? They are both found under the cellophane of the card case that's been on the table throughout! This is pure gold for the working performer!
EFFECT 7: METAL SINK TOO: A completely different handling of the above effect. The effect's a bit different too...you'll have to see for yourself but take my word for it - IT'S GOOD!
EFFECT 8: HEAVY MENTAL: A feature of Dave Forrest's lecture this could be the perfect 'carry everywhere' trick! You place a prediction on the table and lay out three coins under your hand. You ask your spectator to visualize a copper coin, a silver coin and a Chinese coin and decide on only one! No matter what happens you show that you knew what they'd choose all along. A nice neat pocket sized feat of mentalism!
EFFECT 9: MONEY BUSINESS: You display two business cards onto which you have a drawn a large 'C' for copper and a large 'S' for silver. The coins placed under them magically change in sympathy with the cards. A real multi phased fooler!
EFFECT 10: UP FOR THE CUP: Three silver coins travel invisibly, one at a time from your hand to a cup! When the three coins are tipped from the cup they are seen to have changed on the way into copper coins! For a finale, the three silver coins are removed from inside the empty cup!
NOTES: Props not included.


text:
Friday, October 3, 2008
Optimus Wrecks
Friday, October 3, 2008
First, the "official" design, for reference:
So no matter what, you know someone's going to have purple poo in the morning.
Here's Wreck #1, or as I like to call it, Magma Madness:
But, you know, orange magma... red flames: at least they're related.
Next, Wreck #2: the Crackling Blood Bath:
Kinda hurts to look at, doesn't it?
And finally, behind Wrecky Door #3:
The Bubbly Stuff That Would Not Be Named. I think it's growing, too; it seems to be creeping insidiously up over the inscription.
Beth W., Cades, & Jennifer N., your cakes may not have gotten their flames in icing, but at least they got flamed here on Wrecks. Eh?
90 comments | Post a Comment
- Unknown said...
Oh, that last one is the "Great Barrier Reef" take on the design. Coral is really in this year. Sea life is the new cupcake cake.
- October 3, 2008 at 9:08 AM
- jaxx79 said...
Wreck #1 isn't that bad, #3 is just ugly, but #2... that is going to give me nightmares. I feel so bad for Kenny. Who knew a transformers cake would lead to therapy?
- October 3, 2008 at 9:10 AM
i know the last one! it's coral! it's optimus prime in "under the sea"!!!!
- October 3, 2008 at 9:11 AM
Wreck #3 looks like coral reef instead of flames. Almost like the decorator got confused and started to make an ocean themed cake...
- October 3, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Holy cow, the Transformers fan in me just curled up in a corner and cried...
It looks like Optimus Prime is drowning in that blood bath on the second cake wreck. Disturbing... - October 3, 2008 at 9:20 AM
- Kyla Michelle said...
The blood bath is my favorite...just a little scary huh!!! At least they tried!
- October 3, 2008 at 9:23 AM
- Kim H. said...
The last one looks sort of like coral! Maybe cute on a cake with an ocean theme...but not a Transformers theme. :-)
- October 3, 2008 at 9:27 AM
- Jen said...
That last one looks like Optimus is lost in a coral reef! Awesome.
- October 3, 2008 at 9:27 AM
LOL - that last one is a real Optimus Crime!
- October 3, 2008 at 9:33 AM
- HorribleLicensePlates said...
Beep! Beep! These are hilarious.
- October 3, 2008 at 9:37 AM
- Kathryn Maughan said...
I think the bubbly stuff is coral. The truck has somehow made its way into a deep underwater kingdom. There should be an image of a threatening Poseidon on the side.
- October 3, 2008 at 9:43 AM
- *Michelle said...
If you took away the Optimus Prime truck... I don't know that I could have had a clue of what they were going for. That last one almost looks like the red coral thats a popular dainty pattern right now.. dainty and transformers just don't seem to mix!
- October 3, 2008 at 9:44 AM
- Kelli said...
Should I made a stupid coral joke, or is that restricted to the first fifteen comments only?
*singing to theme song*
"Transformers, cake wrecks in disguise!" - October 3, 2008 at 9:49 AM
- Honeysuckle Creations said...
Did anyone else notice that the 1st wreck didn't even frost the sides of the cake??
- October 3, 2008 at 9:50 AM
- Eunice said...
I have to agree that #3=coral.
Considering #2 is the only one that has Optimus in the "flames," it kind of looks like he might have snapped and this is the bloody aftermath. - October 3, 2008 at 9:51 AM
- The Creeper said...
I'm having flashbacks to watching Volcano. Because the only other thing that says "Wreck!" as much as the cakes you feature, is poorly executed disaster movie with completely unrealistic selflessness such as Drew Carey's TV brother jumping off a subway car into molton. hot. mag-ma. thereby killing himself to save a guy he can barely lift, yet somehow manages throw several feet ahead of him to safety as he's melting into the molton. hot. mag-ma.
- October 3, 2008 at 9:52 AM
The bloodbath was actually my favourite of all three. The 'coral' cake..I just don't understand!
I hope you don't mind; I "plugged" your site on my Myspace page.:o)
~Amy B - October 3, 2008 at 10:05 AM
- mere9 said...
so, the original cake appears the flames are airbrushed, yes?
cake #1 did a pretty good job considering it was all frosting.
cake #2 is the closest in regards to the airbrush technique. a BAD example of airbrushing. the colors are BLEEDING! ick.
cake #3- eh. nice try, i guess. it DOES look like coral (as it's been pointed out). - October 3, 2008 at 10:06 AM
- Corey Wilde said...
What do you suppose that last one would have looked like if they had been trying to create coral?
- October 3, 2008 at 10:06 AM
- Ruth said...
So I did a google image search to see if I can find any advertising for this cake, see how Wal-mart are plugging it, or if I could find a well-executed version that someone was really pleased with by way of comparison.
And I found this:
http://craighub.blogspot.com/2007/11/as-promised-worlds-ugliest-cake.html - October 3, 2008 at 10:08 AM
- ~Jenn ODonnell Danza~ said...
Aww, the poor kid can't even play with the truck in wreck #3! The tire is blown!
That's beyond sad. It's cruel. - October 3, 2008 at 10:12 AM
- joyce said...
Oh, the colors, and the hideous magma. And even in the original---shouldn't shooting flames come out of the truck---not toward the truck? Maybe a firetruck attacking the flames would be better? Brings new meaning to "Wrecks" as there was a car wreck somewhere to cause all those flames.
- October 3, 2008 at 10:23 AM
- clueuin said...
Wreck #2, just in time for Holloween!
Maaaaaw ha, ha, ha!
Clueuin - October 3, 2008 at 10:23 AM
@honeysuckle: No, I didn't notice the first wreck didn't ice the sides! Wow, that's really, really bad.
- October 3, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Happy birthday Kenny...enjoy your inflamed intestines!
- October 3, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Good thing they stuck that "transformer" card into each of the wrecks. Makes the intentions clear.
- October 3, 2008 at 10:34 AM
All that red and blue reminds me of the $1.8M piece of plywood painted with two blue stripes and a red stripe, entitled "Voice of Fire". It's painful to look at because of the colour contrast.
So are these >_< - October 3, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I think my favorite part here is that most of the "decoration" is created by sticking a postcard on the cake. Heck, I could do that, and I have no artistic ability whatsoever.
I'm sure it doesn't matter to the target age group for these cakes, but it seems kind of... I know! It somehow reminds me of those cheap Halloween costumes where the shirt has a picture of whatever it is. Hello? If I want to dress as, let's say, Tinkerbell, I want a floofy tutu and wings. I do not want a shirt with a PICTURE of Tinkerbell on it. That is not "dressing up as" Tinkerbell. Does Tinkerbell go around with a picture of herself on her shirt? Well, she's not Paris Hilton, so, no. I know it's not exactly the same concept, but this is nevertheless the cake equivalent. - October 3, 2008 at 10:58 AM
- Model Citizen aka Bonnie Rue said...
Cake #2 just screams "blood on the highway"
i feel for the poor kid who got that plopped down in front of him for his birthday. - October 3, 2008 at 11:00 AM
- Real Live Lesbian said...
Too funny!
- October 3, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Looking at number 2, I don't think I've laughed that hard at blood since the first time I saw the theater trailer for The Shining.
- October 3, 2008 at 11:18 AM
One problem with those grocery store-ordered cakes is that the customer wants it to look EXACTLY LIKE THE PICTURE. Unfortunately, as most people know, red icing is near impossible- if you get a deep red color, it's bitter and stains teeth, children, clothing, and even dog poo. If reddening buttercream isn't bad enough, try it with whipped icing that most cheap stores use. I would guess that is why orange and other ugly red variations are used.
- October 3, 2008 at 11:21 AM
- Juliet said...
It seems the lesson here is:
When it comes to making flames out of icing, less is more!
These are all funny, but the Great Barrier Reef meets Optimus Prime is my favourite.
And the joke someone made about these being "optimus Crimes" - ha ha!
Thanks for the laugh! - October 3, 2008 at 11:21 AM
- M M said...
Cake 3 looks almost like the dirt from the last posted cake wreck. I hope that truck is an actual transformer, otherwise they gave that kid a truck with a broken wheel on it!
Number 1 is the closest so far, but someone laid on the frosting way too thick. - October 3, 2008 at 11:25 AM
- Trevor said...
Cake #2? OMG! When did the transfomers join a slasher flick? Seriously!
- October 3, 2008 at 11:29 AM
- Mrs. Burns said...
The 2nd Wreck looks more Spiderman than Optimus... lol!
- October 3, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Why do the stores offer these cakes and not give the decorators the tools or skills to actually pull them off? These are just sort of sad
- October 3, 2008 at 11:33 AM
All I can think of when I look at wreck number one is... "My loony bun is fine Benny Lava"!!!! (Google it, I can't watch it again!) The others are... scary.
- October 3, 2008 at 11:36 AM
- sues2u2 said...
Aaaghhhh! The flames, man, they're goin' to get ya!!!!
- October 3, 2008 at 12:02 PM
- Poetry Sue said...
- October 3, 2008 at 12:07 PM
We got the same cake for my son's first birthday, but it turned out much better than these. I'm surprised that these wrecks turned out so differently.
michaelandchrissy.com - October 3, 2008 at 12:17 PM
- An Apron Straitjacket said...
Yikers that last one looks like Optimus Prime is in a battle with some nuclear entrails.
- October 3, 2008 at 12:19 PM
So...what the hell?? How is it humanly possible to screw up FLAMES? It's ridiculous. And stupid. And WOW, I think I may go blind from #2...
- October 3, 2008 at 12:25 PM
- Charlotte said...
I love how the cardboard standup on #2 is squished into the icing cockeyed.
- October 3, 2008 at 1:11 PM
The second cake brings back vague and terrifying memories of the movie they showed us in driver's ed. Optimus is just sitting there so smugly amid the carnage.
@kansas girl - you're right about the stupid postcard. It's like those awful Halloween costumes they used to make with the stupid mask and then a plastic smock with artwork of the character. Which wasn't at all the same thing as dressing up as the character but it was good on the cheap. Which I think is what these cakes are going for... - October 3, 2008 at 1:13 PM
The "flames" in the last one look like blood vessels!
- October 3, 2008 at 1:14 PM
- Susie PSU said...
The mom that has to hand their children ANY of those cakes must paste a smile on their face so the kids don't know what a disaster their birthday cake is! Kudos to those MOMS!!
- October 3, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Liquid Hot Magma...
Dr. Evil would love it! - October 3, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Wreck #2 just looks scary to me...!!
- October 3, 2008 at 1:34 PM
- Michael Z. Williamson said...
So what is it with these designs? Is the official design done by some expert, who then licenses out the pattern to less aptitudinous decorators to attempt?
- October 3, 2008 at 2:19 PM
- Nicole said...
Oh my goodness... when I first saw this post, I thought the "official design" was going to be the wreck. I ordered a Transformers cake for my stepson's 4th birthday in April, and what I got was pretty close to that (I know I've got a picture of it someplace).
I HATED IT!! I mean... a postcard stuck in the cake? For what I paid for it, I could have done better than that myself!
Looking at the wrecks of this cake, I can see that they are indeed awful. But I gotta tell ya - the original design of this one wasn't a big winner either. - October 3, 2008 at 3:01 PM
I swear, I would not accept and pay for any of those cakes. The middle one is all cockamamie on the cardboard, besides being incredibly ugly. It would suck to have to out that out at your kid's party.
- October 3, 2008 at 3:22 PM
- Manders said...
The last one looks like some type of plant. And the second one...Poor Optimus Prime, he didn't even see the person crossing the street before he hit them!!
- October 3, 2008 at 3:29 PM
- Suzyhomemaker said...
Seriously? Wow. The original isn't even that great but come on... magma? :)
- October 3, 2008 at 3:50 PM
omg! the 2nd one! The blood bath!
omg the killed kenny! Bahahahaha!!
hehehe...i watch too much South park - October 3, 2008 at 5:00 PM
- Amy Lee said...
My son had this cake last year and a certain big store with the initials WM actually did an awesome job. Those 3 you showed us however, not awesome.
- October 3, 2008 at 6:36 PM
- Kopperhead said...
I can not show these to my son, he would cry...and he's 23.
- October 3, 2008 at 7:31 PM
I've done this cake about 80 times, and never once did it look THAT bad. What kind of tip where they using on #3? Good lord.
- October 3, 2008 at 7:47 PM
I feel sorriest for poor Kenny. Back when I was about his age, the boys at the party would have looked at something like that and laughed wildly and said "Should I, or have I?" and then make noises I have since come to associate with my cat working on a furball.
- October 3, 2008 at 7:52 PM
- Jenster said...
OMG, did these poor people actually pay for the cakes? Do people mention that when they submit photos? I think I would pay for #1 (even though the orange flames are kinda puffy looking) but definitely not the other two.
- October 3, 2008 at 8:05 PM
The second wreck... it's like a driver's ed video. SO MUCH BLOOD!
- October 3, 2008 at 8:29 PM
- Vangie Beal said...
They are all really bad. I think #2 is the worst and I may even, possibly have refused the cake and refused to pay. It looks like.... my four year old worked on it!
- October 3, 2008 at 8:56 PM
- Maggie said...
I actually like #1. I think it's the huge pillowy border of blue that appeals to me. #2 is gastly and #3 shameful.
- October 3, 2008 at 9:59 PM
- TheRealistMom said...
(Shamefaced look) I ordered this cake for my son this year- well, actually, he picked it out, those colors and food just... eek. Luckily they did a decent job with it though, nothing like these wrecks.
I will testify that the blue dye does NOT come off of fingers and, er, cough, the "aftereffects" ended up dark green. For a week. o.O - October 3, 2008 at 10:20 PM
- Amy said...
I hope no one actually paid for #2!
- October 3, 2008 at 11:12 PM
- ~E said...
Wreck #1 kinda looks like sea kelp. Orange, puffy, ugly sea kelp.
- October 3, 2008 at 11:52 PM
The last one looks like the red weed from The War of the Worlds. Scary!
- October 4, 2008 at 12:05 AM
- Donna said...
It looks like bacon on the top of the third cake! Weird! This blog makes me glad my three daughters hate b'day cake!
- October 4, 2008 at 8:56 AM
On Evan`s cake(3rd) that first wheel of the truck looks kinda weird doesnt it?
And i like the bloody cake though...:D
Tiffany Powell
Tiffany Powell, Norfolk, Virginia 23513 - SSN, Credit Records, Arrest Records, Court Records, Criminal Records .. - October 4, 2008 at 9:29 AM
- adozeneggs said...
Why on earth do they design these cakes knowing that some minimum wage worker will have to attempt to re-create it?
Fascinating. - October 4, 2008 at 10:14 AM
- Beth said...
Ooohhh... My son had that cake for his birthday last year. I didn't order it, so I had no idea it was supposed to look BETTER. Ha!
- October 4, 2008 at 5:42 PM
- Darcy said...
My first thought on wreck #3...looks like Optimus Prime is swimming near a coral reef. As I read further, my second thought was "there's an inscription??"
- October 4, 2008 at 9:01 PM
- Mad Izatie said...
I haven't gotten to commenting on these cause I just HAD to show them to my boyfriend and my flatmate. They both laughed their heads off.
THe first one was ok, if I got that one I probably would have thought that whoever paid for that must have been cheap.
The second cake... I woul have switched the transformers for Freddy Kruger. GOD that one is horrible.
The third one... I wonder if the decorator was watching The Little Mermaid when he was making the flames. Looks horrible, I'd have sent it back and demanded a refund. UGLY! - October 5, 2008 at 8:04 PM
- Michelle said...
Wow. Cake #3 looks like coral is covering it. That's pretty scary.
- October 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
- Nicole said...
I HATE making that cake! It's so ugly. Mine have never looked as bad as those though...
- October 5, 2008 at 9:56 PM
- CrazyMom said...
#2- Eek! #3- Some form of coral/sea life growing on there...
#1 is just gross. Unless, of course, Little Dominic loves cake icing (I hate it in large amounts!)... - October 5, 2008 at 10:30 PM
- Leigh Ayn said...
That last one looks like coral, haha!
- October 6, 2008 at 11:42 AM
- Dea said...
I'm loving the postcard, as well - wtf kinda lazy dec is that??
Too funny... - October 6, 2008 at 5:57 PM
- E.A.D. said...
The last one is either coral, or someone decorated the cake with ketchup. Ew.
- October 6, 2008 at 7:05 PM
I've made that cake many times, and it is stupid easy, and good lord people why does a cake need 10 lbs. of icing!
- October 6, 2008 at 7:59 PM
- Red Wolf said...
After seeing this, I want a cake with "blood" dripping down it! Perfect for Halloween.
- October 8, 2008 at 7:45 PM
- Jennifer B. said...
Oh man I laughed out loud at these.
- October 8, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Picture #2 reminds me of the high school drivers ed films like "Blood on the Highway" and "Red Asphalt" ...
- October 10, 2008 at 1:07 PM
- Laura said...
omg- my ex had this cake for my son this year for his 5th birthday- and it was effing terrible!! my ex complained (they even wrote 'rickey and jay' when my son's name is 'rickey jay') and ended up getting the cake for free. hot mess, for sure.
- October 12, 2008 at 10:54 PM
It looks like the Ripley mold/growth from Dreamcatcher -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcatcher_(film)
...Worst part of that is, if you eat it you get an evil alien slug in you. - October 16, 2008 at 11:39 AM
...That's not coral in that last picture - it's slime mold! Seriously? Seriously.
- December 5, 2008 at 10:39 PM
omg! my sis-in-law got this cake for her son's
5th birthday and it didn't even look as good as the wrecks. - March 9, 2009 at 3:49 AM
Look at the first stab at the reference cake. You see how the "flames" are seemingly spewing from Optimus? It looks like he's vomiting orange soda, hitting the edge of the cake and splashing back at him.
- May 9, 2009 at 10:19 PM
The sadest part about this one is that my mother ordered this from Wal-Mart for my brother's 8th birthday party a few weeks ago. They put her order in for the wrong week (the week after the party) so it wasn't done when she went to pick it up. In 5 minutes, while she waited for it, they created the cake EXACTLY as it looks in that promo shot. So how did those wreckerators manage to screw it up?!
- May 25, 2009 at 3:50 AM
- Jess said...
Ha, my boyfriend got that cake this year from a Safeway in Tacoma, and, amazingly enough, it looked almost exactly like it was supposed to! I was quite impressed, and it almost distracted me fromt he fact that he was getting a Transformer's cake for his 18th birthday...
...Oh, who am I kidding? That was awesome! - February 9, 2010 at 10:41 AM
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A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mr. Speaker, today I want to bring to the attention of colleagues two situations concerning internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Russian Federation. I recently chaired a Helsinki Commission hearing to assess the plight of IDPs, including those in the Caucasus region.
The first involves IDPs from Chechnya who, according to reliable sources, continue to be pressured by Russian authorities to return to the war-torn capital city of Grozny, despite continuing violence there and a lack of many basic services. According to the State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002, approximately 140,000 persons remained internally displaced within Chechnya, with 110,000 more displaced in the neighboring republic of Ingushetia. Despite international attention, including a letter initiated last fall by the Helsinki Commission, which I chair, the Russian Government continues to pressure IDPs to return, and in some cases limits the ability of NGOs to provide assistance.
My concern for the safety of Chechen IDPs is well founded, as authorities in the past year closed three IDP camps, two near the village of Znamenskoye in northern Chechnya and the Aki-Yurt camp in Ingushetia, effectively forcing the residents back to Grozny. Reports of violence and human rights violations by both Russian military units and Chechen rebels in Chechnya are disturbing. The ongoing chaos in that war-torn region has kept UNHCR from certifying Chechnya as a safe return destination, which is supported by the fact that many international aid agencies have limited or suspended their operations out of concern for the safety of aid workers.
Despite this lack of security, the United Nations estimates that more than 38,000 IDPs from Ingushetia returned to Chechnya last year, with many complaining of government coercion. While no camp has been closed since December 2002, Doctors Without Borders reports that government officials threaten to cut off assistance in Ingushetia and block future aid in Chechnya for those refusing to leave immediately. The stationing of Russian troops near IDP camps and the limiting of assistance from international agencies to camp residents represent pressure tactics to "encourage" the return of IDPs to Chechnya.
Clearly, the Russian Government is not respecting the fundamental right of individuals to seek safe refuge. As a participating State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Russian Federation has committed to facilitate sustainable solutions to the plight of IDPs and the voluntary return of such individuals in dignity and safety. I urge President Putin to intervene to ensure that Russian policy and practice are consistent with these OSCE commitments and that no IDPs be effectively forced to return to their homes in Chechnya until the conditions have been created for their return. To do otherwise would place the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Russian citizens at risk.
The second situation I want to briefly highlight concerns the plight of Meskhetian Turks in the Krasnodar Krai region of the Russian Federation. Also known as Ahiska Turks or Meskhetians, Meskhetian Turks were forced to relocate twice within the past 50 years, first from Soviet Georgia in November 1944 to the Soviet Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan. In 1989, approximately 90,000 Meskhetian Turks fled ethnic conflicts in Uzbekistan to all parts of the Soviet Union, with the largest concentration today found in Krasnodar Krai. Numbering approximately 13,000, these displaced individuals find themselves in a virtual no man's land, denied citizenship and permanent residency permits, as well as many other fundamental rights.
Due to loopholes in the Russian citizenship law and the improper application of this law by Krasnodar Krai authorities, Meskhetian Turks must register as "guests" every 45 days, may not legally register the purchase of a house or car, and their marriages and deaths are not officially recorded. Most are denied education above high school, as well. The Krasnodar regional legislature enacted a series of laws in 2002 in an attempt to pressure the Meskhetian Turks to leave. Corresponding with the expiration of the temporary registration held by most Krasnodar Meskhetian Turks, the laws reportedly cancelled leases on land or denied lease renewals for the 2002 crop season. Furthermore, chauvinistic local authorities have not intervened to prevent local Cossack paramilitary units from repeatedly victimizing Krasnodar Meskhetian Turks through public harassment, robbery, and vandalism. In late May, a mob of around 50 people attacked Meskhetian Turks and other non-Russian-looking individuals in two villages, injuring 30 people and hospitalizing six.
By not granting citizenship or providing permanent residency status, current Russian policy enables the discriminatory practices subjugating the rights of Meskhetian Turks in Krasnodar Krai to continue. Mr. Speaker, President Putin cited the problems of citizenship and stateless persons in his annual State of the Federation address earlier this year. The Russian President pointed out the complexities and uncertainties faced by stateless persons in Russia. I urge him and Members of the State Duma to rectify the status of Meskhetian Turks and other stateless persons. Meanwhile, the Kremlin should intervene to ensure that Krasnodar Krai officials desist in their discriminatory treatment of the Meskhetian Turks until their status is normalized, as well as guarantee the prosecution of violent criminals.


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When Gabrielle Douglas woke up Thursday morning, Aug. 2, she did what she has done every day since she arrived in London: she read a letter written by one of her family members. And since she's been living with a host family in West Des Moines, Iowa, for the past year and a half, she has no shortage of those. Packed in her bag in separate envelopes are dated missives from her brother John, her sisters Arielle and Joy, her host mother Missy Parton, her host father Travis, host siblings and other host relatives. Today, however, was her mother's turn. In her letter, Natalie Hawkins quoted scripture that says no one runs a race without the goal of winning. Run to win, Hawkins wrote her daughter. Compete to win.
(PHOTOS: Gabrielle Douglas's Rise to Olympic Triumph)
Douglas, 16, did just that. In four events at the North Greenwich Arena, with all of the U.S.'s Olympic all-around champions — Mary Lou Retton, Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin — as well as gymnastics greats Nadia Comaneci and Shawn Johnson in attendance, Douglas led from the start and never gave up the lead. Already a gold medalist with the U.S. women's gymnastics team, Douglas earned the all-around title as well, becoming the first African American to do so and the first U.S. gymnast to claim both the team and all-around gold medals in a single Games.
"Wow," she says, admitting she wasn't aware of the second honor. "You learn something new every day."
(MORE: Olympic Highlights in Photographs)
Russia's Victoria Komova finished second for the silver, and in a tense finale, Aliya Mustafina of Russia and Douglas' teammate Aly Raisman finished in third with identical scores. The International Gymnastics Federation stepped in to break the tie with the sum of each gymnast's top three scores; Mustafina, who posted the highest score of the night with a memorable uneven-bars routine, 16.1, edged Raisman for the bronze by 0.567 points.
"I just wish I could have been up on the podium as well, but I'm really happy for the three girls who are up there," says Raisman.
Raisman was the surprise entrant in the all-around competition after the qualifying round, in which she earned the second highest score, behind Komova. Because only two gymnasts from each country can compete in the all-around event, her teammate Jordyn Wieber, the current world champion, who finished fourth overall but behind two of her teammates, watched the competition from the stands.
(MORE: Olympic Outlook: In Gymnastics, Meet America's Flying Squirrel)
Known for her consistency and steely focus, Raisman uncharacteristically had several wobbles on the beam, nearly falling off but maintaining her balance to earn a 14.333, the lowest score she received in performing on that apparatus in her three events in London. "I was last up, so I think I was just nervous," she says. "I was trying to stay warm, but it's hard when you're waiting, so I felt like it was a really long time, and I just got a little bit nervous."
Nerves have usually been Douglas' problem. At her first national championships as a senior competitor, she fell off the beam three times during her 90-sec. routine. But it was a different Douglas who showed up in London — focused, confident and unflappable. "Many people worried about her mental toughness," says her coach, Liang Chow. "But today she demonstrated that she can handle it, that she can handle the toughest job. It was a wonderful performance under huge pressure for a 16-year-old."
(MORE: Gabby Douglas: Team USA's Flip Artist)
What made the difference? "Definitely training," says Douglas. "It's tough for me to focus. I'm like, 'Focus!' and then it's, 'Oh, something shiny.' It's definitely hard because you want to see what everybody is doing. But if you want to stay on top, you have to learn to focus, so I trained my body so every time someone went, I turned my back and focused on my routines."
The support from her two families helped as well. "I think what helped ground her was all of us coming together as a family unit," says Hawkins. "We all told her the same thing — believe in yourself, and you have nothing to worry about. There is no place for fear." Her brother John told her, "Put your body on the line. Don't give up." Her sister Arielle, who gets credit for spotting Douglas' talent as a 3-year-old who could do perfectly straight cartwheels, told her to believe in herself and do what she does in practice. Her host mom Missy told her to do what she does every day in Iowa. Chow told her the same: "Connect with me and with the equipment, and don't worry about the scores. Leave that to the judges," he said.
And it worked. "Physically, yes, she was prepared. We all knew that," says Martha Karolyi, the U.S. national team coordinator. "But lots of people had a question mark about her ability to focus, and really, this quality has improved in the last five months. She had such a great improvement, it's incredible in such a short time. I haven't seen any gymnast go from an average good gymnast five months ago to climb up to be the best in the world. That's the truth."
(MORE: U.S. Women Gymnasts Win First Team Gold Since 1996)
Chow admits that when Douglas first entered his gym, in October 2010, he could see her talent but wasn't sure he wanted to take her on. It was 18 months to the London Games, and he was worried there wasn't enough time to mold raw ability into an Olympic champion. But Douglas, who lives in Virginia Beach, Va., begged her mother to allow her to train with Chow and his wife Liwen Zhuang after watching him on television coaching Shawn Johnson at the Beijing Games. Chow was impressed by the fact that the determined 14-year-old was willing to move away from her close-knit family to train to be a world-class gymnast. He couldn't turn her away.
And now he's grateful he didn't. After falling just short of the gold in the all-around in Beijing with Shawn Johnson, Chow told NBC that the gold "is a wonderful dream come true — to have an Olympic champion."
Even Hawkins is still in shock over the transformation. "It's just amazing, when I look at where she was when I brought her to him and where she is now," says Hawkins. "I'm utterly amazed at what they have done in one and a half years. To see the great strides they have made together as coaches and athlete, it's just mind-boggling."
(MORE: Heartache at Gymnastics: U.S.'s Jordyn Wieber Misses Qualifying for All-Around Final)
Chow began by playing on Douglas' strengths: her lean physique and natural grace, which he crafted into one of the more crowd-pleasing and difficult uneven-bars routines in the competition. Her gravity-defying releases off the bar prompted Karolyi to call her the Flying Squirrel, and in the all-around, she says, "the Flying Squirrel was flying extremely high."
And that pesky beam that brought her down at her first national championship? She kept both her composure and her balance through a wobble on the 4-in.-wide apparatus and earned the highest score of the night in that event.
"What I admire is, she performed with extreme lightness, and that is one of the qualities that actually the international judges appreciated," says Karolyi, who is notorious for her exacting demands on gymnasts. "She wasn't struggling. She wasn't just barely pulling through the skills. She was really flying in the air like her little name says."
(PHOTOS: Twenty Gymnasts to Watch in the Event Finals)
"She did great," says Comaneci of Douglas' performance. "She is very athletic, but the great thing is, she also has artistry. She is a combination of both, which is great. I am happy she is representing the sport well."
It wasn't long ago that Douglas couldn't have imagined receiving such a comment from a role model like Comaneci or that she would be earning praises from the likes of Johnson and Liukin. In fact, when she saw Johnson for the first time, at Chow's gym, she thought, 'Wow, that's Shawn Johnson! I've only seen her on TV!' and found herself staring, open-mouthed, during Johnson's training sessions. It was the image of Chow hugging Shawn at the Olympics that drew her to him, and to Iowa, when she vowed, "I want to be there." It took nearly two years of sacrifice, but she is finally there.


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The floods that have repeatedly inundated large parts of central and northeastern Colorado since Wednesday likely killed more than the four people who have been confirmed dead, officials say. The search for victims has taken second priority to rescue and relief operations, as agencies rush to help people who remain at risk. President Obama has declared a major disaster in the area.
A break in the region's heavy rainfall has now largely ended; forecasts call for more rain and thunderstorms Sunday. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for areas that include 15 counties. The agency says to expect anywhere from a third of an inch to two inches of rain Sunday.
Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, particularly in isolated areas in the mountains and foothills, where floodwaters have cut people off from major roads and knocked out electricity and other utilities.
As we reported Saturday, people are listed as "unaccounted for" when they haven't been in touch with family or friends. In Larimer County, the number stood at 482 people Sunday morning, the sheriff's office said. Officials urge survivors to use the Red Cross "Safe and Well" tool to alert others of their status.
From NPR member station KUNC, Luke Runyon reports for our Newscast unit:
"A 60-year-old woman was seen being swept off her feet and into the raging Big Thompson River early Friday morning. Officials say she's missing and presumed dead.
"After seeing the devastation above from a helicopter, Nick Christensen with the Larimer County sheriff's office says except the number of casualties to continue to rise.
" 'We are assuming based on the magnitude of the damage, especially in the Big Thompson corridor, that there are highly likely other fatalities and injuries, certainly.'
"More than 1,000 people are still stranded in small mountain communities. Helicopters are flying in food and water, and evacuating those injured in the floods."
Helicopters are also being used to ferry people — as many as 50 at a time — out of canyon areas that face the risk of new flooding, as The Denver Postreports.
In Boulder County, Sheriff Joe Pelle also says that the number of people found to have been killed by the flooding could rise.
"We have not begun to search collapsed structures, debris piles, and washouts, where we would likely find human remains," he says.
Saturday night, President Obama signed a disaster declaration that orders federal help for those affected by the flooding and mudslides that began on Wednesday, Sept. 11. It immediately applies to Boulder County; other areas may be added as damage surveys continue.
The White House included information about how people can begin the process of seeking federal assistance:
"FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance [Sunday] by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice."
The National Weather Service says the flooding will likely spread to more areas as the heavy rainfall — more than a foot in a matter of days, in some areas — makes its way downstream.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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- A lightweight showerproof rucksack with cushioned and polished metal chain shoulder straps and leather trims. Inspired by the fabric of the Burberry trench coat, the bag is made from durable nylon woven in a compact gabardine construction. The easy, soft structure is influenced by military archive styles from the early 20th century and is reworked with multi-zip pockets for added functionality.
- This item can be personalised with your initials as part of the monogramming service. Sourced from an 18th century British embroidery specialist, the letters are handmade using a traditional goldwork technique.
Personalise this item with your initials, sourced from an embroidery specialist and handmade using a traditional goldwork technique. This image is a visual representation only. Monogramming placement may differ slightly from what is shown.
Add your initials
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- 28 x 15 x 42cm/11 x 5.9 x 16.5in
- 85% polyamide, 15% acrylic with calf leather trim
- Back panel: 100% polyamide
- Lining: 71% cotton, 29% polyamide
- Three external zip pockets, one internal slip pocket, one internal zip pocket
- Leather top handle, adjustable canvas and chain shoulder straps
- Buckle and drawstring fastenings
- Diamond-padded back panel
- Polished metal hardware
- Raised Burberry lettering at front pocket
- Made in Italy
Source: us.burberry.com


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In 1970 a young girl lost her banana-seat bike. Lisa Brown was riding it across a rickety bridge in Cape Cod, Mass., when she and the bike tumbled into a little river. The bike sank into the muck and was gone.
Until, that is, the now adult Brown's wife, Deirdre Oringer, came across a rusted bike — banana seat and all — in the woods near where Brown's two-wheeler went into the Herring River.
That discovery happened nearly a year ago, as the Cape Cod Times reported last June, and as it "dramatically" recounted in this quite funny video.
So why mention it now?
Because it seems that Britain's Daily Mail just discovered the story and decided that the headline should be:
" 'It was like finding a long lost friend': Lesbian reunited with bike she lost FOUR DECADES ago after her wife spots it in muddy stream."
As Gawker, which is having some fun at the Mail's expense, says: "What will the lesbians do next?"
Update at 2:05 p.m. ET: Our friend Bill Chappell reminds us of the post he did last October about a man who was reunited with his racing bike after 26 years.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Causes of Homosexuality
The causes of homosexuality are attributable to man's sinful nature, nurture and environment, and personal choice. How important each factor is, though, is an issue that is debated. Those from the most liberal school usually assume a philosophy of determinism, treating homosexuality as an identity or orientation which one has no choice over, and which cannot be changed. This belief is then used to justify acting it out.[1] The contrasting and warranted position is that homosexuality is a choice, that of yielding to ultimately harmful desires, and which choice is partly affected by nurture and environment. As with all choices, faith can overcome unwanted desire.
- 1 Causes of homosexuality - Biblical explanation
- 2 Homosexuality as a choice
- 3 Modern studies concerning the causes of homosexuality
- 4 Environment and nurture
- 5 Biological research on the causes of homosexuality
- 6 Conclusions
- 7 Additional sources concerning the causes of homosexuality
- 8 See also
- 9 External links
- 10 References
Causes of homosexuality - Biblical explanation
The Bible, being the most comprehensive transcendent moral authority, abundantly deals with human nature and behavior and consistently manifests that the nature of man has not changed since the Fall. So the Bible is certainly the preeminent authoritative source when it comes to providing a framework when determining the causes of homosexuality. Man is shown to have been created as a perfectly made being (Gn. 1:31) - yet not as a robot - but as a being designed to be able to make choices, which thereby allowed him to distort his perfection. God from the beginning also joined male and female in lifelong marriage, and placed a priority on the family, and provided laws, as needed, for its health and preservation and that of society, while aberrations result from failure to abide by them. For more information please see: Homosexuality and the Bible and Homosexuality and biblical interpretation
Nature of man and causes of homosexuality
In the beginning, man disobeyed his Creator, and as part of the punishment for so doing both mankind and that which he was given stewardship of was negatively affected. In addition to physical decay and the suffering and natural death of living creatures being introduced into the world, (Gn. 2:17; 3:17-19; Rm. 5:12,17; 6:23; ) the Fall resulted in the nature of man demonstrating a certain proclivity to sin. However, this does not determine that a man must practice a certain sin, nor does it justify man giving into this attraction to sin, as God also gave man ability to resist sin. (Gn. 4:7)[2]
Certain negative physical effects of sin are also seen as being progressive, as with time more diseases and other aberrations seemed to have occurred, and laws against incest later became necessary. In addition, as men continued to act contrary to the basic moral laws which they knew innately and through creation, conscience and oral tradition, a formal body of law was given through Moses, which detailed and codified the immutable morality God enjoins upon man. (Ex. 20; Dt. 4:8,9; Lv. 18; Gal. 3:19) Addition laws include ceremonial laws which the New Testament reveals were typological. For more information please see: Leviticus 18.
As regards homosexuality, from the beginning of the Bible and throughout, it consistently teaches that God only sexually joined opposite genders together, sanctifying them in marriage, having created men and women uniquely compatible and complementary.(Gn. 2:18-24; Mt. 19:4; 1Cor. 11:8-12)[3]
In contrast to what God had ordained by design and decree, homosexuality is one of many sins which are a result of man yielding to his sinful nature, and is a form of fornication, although a most perverse kind. The prohibition of it is given along with sexual relations with animals, (Lv. 18:23) and is clearly condemned wherever it is manifestly dealt with. (Lv. 18:22; 20:13; Mk. 7:21; Rm. 1:20-27; 1Cor. 6:9; 1Tim. 1:10)
The Bible, as well as history, also evidences that while there are three areas in which man sins, those of lust for pleasure, possessions and power, (1Jn. 2:16) individuals may differ as regards which type of sins present the greatest temptation for them, with genetics playing at least a part in that. That judgment upon a people who gave into a specific sin could result in a genetic predisposition to that same sin among their offspring may be speculated, but it is not proven.
The Bible provides a clear link between the adherence of a family or a nation to the laws of God and the moral choices of offspring. (Prov. 22:6) The Bible also positively examples close father-son and familial relationships, and may be seen to partially implicate detachment with rebellion. (Gn. 37–50; 2 Sam. 13-18) Studies today have shown that religious upbringing and culture can strongly affect rates of homosexuality.
The record of Sodom, as well as accounts of nations elsewhere, testify that living within the environment of people where iniquity abounds is conducive to furthering the same iniquity among succeeding generations, resulting in the necessity of Divine judgment when nations became given over to such. (Lv. 18:24; 20:22; Dt. 18:12; 28; Jer. 14:9,10; Rm. 2:2)
In Genesis 19, the city of Sodom is revealed as a place in which men sexually lusted after men, from which the term "sodomy" was derived (like as homosexuals use the term "gay", although this is contradictory in the end), and Jude 7 refers to Sodom and its region being given to fornication, including that of unnatural relations.
In Ezekiel 16:49 the general iniquity of Sodom and its "sisters" is given as "pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness" and general indifference to the needy. The next verse proceeds to inform that "the Sodomites were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good." The word for abomination here is tô'êbah, which is not the word often used for ritual uncleanness, but is often used for sexual sin, in particular sexual sins and including sodomy. (Lv.18:22; 26–27,29,30; 20:13; Dt. 23:18; 24:4 1Ki. 14:24; Ezek. 22:11; 33:26) Sodom is also associated more with sexual sins than with any other physical type of sin.
What the Bible, as well as secular history, reveals is that prevalent homosexuality is concomitant with pride, affluence, increased free time, and selfish indulgence and carelessness.[4] Therefore, rebellion against God's laws and order and the resultant environmental factors are seen to be a cause in promoting sensuality and homosexuality.
Idolatry and judgment
See also: Homosexuality as a judgement from God
In Romans 1, God, through the apostle Paul, condemns both male and female homoeroticism, which, as a cultural practice, is shown to be a manifestation and a result of idolatry, in which man progressively acted contrary to that which God has revealed by creation, by design and normality. This is morality which is confirmed by written decree (the Law), as the next chapter declares. As a result of this continued rebellion, which was partly manifest in God being reduced to an image like unto corruptible creatures (like as today with homosexuals construing Christ to be homosexual, or sanctioning it, as well as nature effectively being worshiped), "God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves." (v. 24)
It is also stated that a certain afflictive punishment(s) of the body were incurred by those men who engaged in relations with each other. (v. 27) Unless repentance takes place, worse consequences will follow. (Rv. 21:28)
While some seek to render this chapter as only condemning homosexual relations when done as part of idolatry, the condemnation is not due to its association with paganism, rather as it inherently contrary to that which God ordained, then it is a manifestation of false religion, regardless of its form, though in ancient times in which religion was an inseparable part of culture, then formal idolatry was what was more manifested. Romans 1 proceeds to show that homosexuality is not alone as a fruit of idolatry, but that this particular pernicious physical sin is one of many inherently evil things. (Rm. 1:28-32) For more information please see: Romans 1.
In summary, God's eternal power is manifest in His creation (Romans 1:18-20). Nonetheless, certain people chose to worship the creature more than the Creator (Romans 1:21-25). Therefore, God gave them up to homosexuality and other sins and gave them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:26-32). As an example of the truth of this teaching, feminists, wishing to deny the God-given role of women, often engage in goddess worship and other forms of idolatry[5] and as a consequence are often given up to lesbianism.[6]
Conclusion of Biblical explanation
What is revealed in the Bible is that homosexuality is a practice due to man yielding to his sinful nature and disobeying the good laws of God, and misusing, among other things, his sexual abilities. This disobedience itself is idolatry (whatever holds your chief allegiance is your god, at least at that time), while continued idolatry results in homosexuality as a practice, as God delivers one over to perverse desires. In addition, individual and societal disobedience to the laws of God creates an environment which is conducive to perpetuating and further intensifying iniquity, which if continued, in time requires judgment. Studies today have shown that Religious upbringing and culture can strongly affect rates of homosexuality.
Homosexuality as a choice
The Bible shows that while nurture and environment can make one more predisposed to certain types of behavior, man's sinful nature can also deceive one into believing that sinful behaviors are not sin, while yielding to sin reduces ones ability to resist it. Secular studies also indicate that most homosexuals have been attracted to the opposite gender.
A research project (2004) of Robert Goetze identified 84 articles or books that contain some relevance to the possibility of sexual orientation change. Of the data reported, 31 of the 84 studies showed a quantitative outcome of individuals able to change sexual orientation.[7]
Ironically, the homosexuals themselves argued back in 1971 that homosexuality is "merely a preference, orientation, or propensity".[8] One homosexual received the question on this topic in the CBS documentary from 1967: "Most homosexuals if they had a chance [i.e. choice] to be a heterosexual, would they? Well, I have a friend who took a poll of 300 people on that very question, he asked them: If you were able to take a pill to change yourself from homosexual to heterosexual, would you do it? And something like 95% of men said: "No.""[9]
Romana Schlesinger, a prominent gay activist and organizer of Gay parades in Slovakia, referred to homosexuality as to 'way of living' (lifestyle) in an interview.[10]
Former homosexuals
For more information please see: Ex-Homosexuals and Overcoming Homosexuality
One of the earliest historical records of the existence of ex-homosexuals is found in the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Christian church (approx. 59 AD).
" | Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. - I Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV) | " |
Today people still report leaving homosexuality and becoming heterosexual by being born again through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Peter LaBarbera is the President of Americans for Truth which is an organization which counters the homosexual agenda. Peter LaBarbera stated the following regarding Christian ex-homosexuals who reported being transformed by the power of God:
" | Another factor from my experience as a close observer of the "ex-gay" phenomenon is that many former homosexuals do not linger in "reparative therapy" programs, or participate in them at all. They attribute their dramatic and (relatively) rapid transformation to the power of God, and likely would not show up in a study of this kind. In fact, these "unstudied" overcomers would appear to be the most successful ex-homosexuals because they've moved on with their lives — as "reborn" Christians can move on after overcoming any besetting sin.[20] | " |
Modern studies concerning the causes of homosexuality
Some studies indicate environmental factors can be involved in persons becoming homosexuals. Stanton L. Jones, Mark A. Yarhouse state in Homosexuality: the use of scientific research in the church's moral debate (and a main source for this section),
The origins of homosexuality are not clearly understood by scientists, and the topic is a subject of hot debate. Theories and and empirical studies, which often contrast sharply, abound. The theories about the etiology of homosexuality fall into two very large categories: theories that point to nature (that is, biological variables) and theories that point to nurture (that is, the influence of experience, of psychological variables." (p. 52).
Those who emphasize nurture, sometimes known as the psychoanalytical theory, see powerful psychological forces at work, shaping and molding children from their birth, while those who emphasize nature contend that early homosexual traits attest to a biological cause. (p. 53)
Despite many psychological studies which indicate that the parent-child relationship, early childhood development, early homosexual experiences, and childhood abuse foster homosexuality, liberals tend to reject the environmental aspect, and favor a biological influence.[21] This is then used to render homosexuals to be slaves to genes, and justified in acting it out.
Environment and nurture
That homosexuality is affected by environment and nurture has been the historical secular position.
In his 1980 work Overcoming Homosexuality, Robert Kronemeyer writes: "With rare exceptions, homosexuality is neither inherited nor the result of some glandular disturbance or the scrambling of genes or chromosomes. Homosexuals are made, not born 'that way.' I firmly believe that homosexuality is a learned response to early painful experiences and that it can be unlearned. For those homosexuals who are unhappy with their life and find effective therapy, it is 'curable.'[23]
Similarly, in a 1989 USA Today article, San Francisco State University professor of psychology John DeCecco, and the former editor of the 25-volume, Journal of Homosexuality, stated, "The idea that people are born into one type of sexual behavior is entirely foolish". Homosexuality is "a behavior, not a condition," and something that some people can and do change, just like they sometimes change other tastes and personality traits."[24]
Parental relationships with offspring
The psychoanalytical theory is the historical position, which implicates a detached, rejecting or absent father, often along with a close bond to the mother, as working, on the conscious and unconscious level, against a secure sexual identity. Also contributing to this can be a so called Emotional Incest Syndrome, for example when a mother who has animosity toward the father, or men in general, and who works to present him negatively, and to make the child side with her.
One of the earliest studies supporting this position was that of Irving Bieber and associates.[25] Comparison of 106 homosexuals with 100 male heterosexuals showed that mothers of the former had enmeshed seductive type relationships with their sons, while their fathers were detached, distant or rejecting. This study was contested by some who charged the researchers with bias, but a further study by Ray B. Evans, which also compared homosexuals with heterosexuals, reported similar results, this time among self-identified homosexuals who had never sought treatment.[26]
Based upon his work with 200 male homosexuals, Gerard van den Aardweg stated that 79 percent described their mother as "overanxious", or "overconcerned" about them; their safety, health, and being overly sentimental when they met with some hardship, as well as manifesting other aspects of over-mothering. In addition, in 71 percent of homosexual cases, "the most important factor was the father's detachedness or nonparticipation in the son's upbringing. The fathers of 38 percent of the men were so hypercritical that the sons were made to feel either rejected and/or inferior.[27]
Another study of about 1500 homosexuals showed much less influence by the mother, while far more reported an unaffectionate or detached father, and approximately half of homosexuals reported they had negative feelings toward their fathers, versus 29 percent of heterosexuals.[28]
While these factors are conducive to homosexuality, it should be stressed that these do not ensure that children raised this way will become homosexual, nor are these factors alone in influencing it.
Sexual abuse
Childhood sexual abuse is well attested to demonstrate a correlation to the incidence of homosexuality among those affected by it. A large national survey of almost 35,000 Americans showed that more than three times as many men and women who had been sexually abused as children became homosexuals, versus that of heterosexuals.[29][30] Another study reported that 58 percent of male adolescents who later became homosexuals suffered sexual abuse as children, while 90 percent who did not suffer sexual abuse identified themselves as heterosexuals.[31] In addition, 43 percent of male homosexuals reported sexual activity with another male during the ages of 10-12, versus 9 percent of heterosexuals.[32]
Educational indoctrination
As part of the liberal ideology in modern education, and as a result of psychological tactics used by homosexual activists, schools have increasingly fostered the promotion of homosexuality, whether as part of official policy through homosexual activists working with or in schools. As a form of indoctrination which begins at the kindergarten level, homosexuality is deceptively treated as "healthy" and "normal", with students at very impressionable ages sometimes being influenced to experiment with homosexual behavior. This is often done under the rubric of HIV instruction of preventing suicide by homosexuals, and preventing "homophobia".[33][34][35][36][37][38][39]
Xenoestrogens and Xenoandrogens
Environmental chemicals, specifically sex steroids such as xenoestrogens and xenoandrogens, change the brain's gender preference resulting in homosexuality in nature. According to Melissa Hines, "This article reviews the evidence regarding prenatal influences of gonadal steroids on human sexual orientation, as well as sex-typed childhood behaviors that predict subsequent sexual orientation. The evidence supports a role for prenatal testosterone exposure in the development of sex-typed interests in childhood, as well as in sexual orientation in later life, at least for some individuals... The empirical record generally supports this model for a wide range of brain regions and behaviors that differ on the average for male and female animals. For example, treating female rodents with testosterone early in life decreases their female-typical behavior in adulthood, and increases their male-typical behavior."[40]
These chemicals are produced in quantities of billions of kg. per year, and are used prominently in cosmetics and pesticides such as diethylstilbestrol (DES) and DDT while appearing also in food and dust particles. When in the form of phthalates they can be widely used in plastics including children's toys, food and drink containers, and medical devices.[41][42][43] Xenoestrogens and xenoandrogens alter the brain's sexual differentiation in a number of species, including rams, ferrets, zebra finches,[44] gulls, primates,[41] and rodents,[45] resulting in the masculinization of female brains/behavior (e.g. 'lesbian gulls') and feminization of male brains/behavior.[41]
According to Bernard Weiss, "disagreements arise partly from arguments about the roots of homosexuality, and about questions of gender identity and others that at one time would have seemed quite remote from neurotoxicology." Due to concern over environmental health risks including cancer, thinning of bald eagle eggshells, and reduced species reproduction, endocrine disruption was the primary theme of the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference.[41]
Biological research on the causes of homosexuality
For more information please see: Genetics, Homosexuality, Evolutionary Paradigm, and Creation Science and Homosexuality and Genetics.
The belief that homosexuality has a biological cause can be traced back to the preliminary findings of neuroscientist Dr. Simon LeVay. In 1991 LeVay's studied the brains of 41 cadavers which included 19 homosexual males, and claimed that "a tiny area believed to control sexual activity [the hypothalamus] was less than half the size in the gay men than in the heterosexuals."[46][47] This study was immediately seized upon by many as proof that homosexuality was biologically determined.
However, further scrutiny showed this hasty conclusion as lacking in warrant.
- 1. The range of sizes of the hypothalamic region varied and was inconsistent. The region at subject was the same size in a few homosexual men as that of the heterosexuals, while in a few other heterosexuals this region was a small as that of a homosexual.
- 2. The fact that all 19 of the homosexual men had died of AIDS could easily have accounted for or contributed to the differences.
- 3. It has not been determined if the smaller hypothalamuses were the cause rather than the effect of homosexual activity. "Researchers have found that when people who become blind begin to learn Braille, the area of the brain controlling the reading finger actual grows larger."[48][49]
- 4. LeVay's study was based upon a supposed sexual functional correlation between the SDN-POA brain center in male rats and a brain center called INAH3 in humans, but which assumption was shown to be false.[50]
- 5. The sexual history of the "heterosexual" men was not known, and LeVay's samples included 16 brains from men whose sexual orientation was unknown.[51]
- 6. And as William Byne noted, LeVay's work "has not been replicated, and human neuroanatomical studies of this kind have a very poor track record for reproducibility. Indeed, procedures similar to those LeVay used to identify nuclei have previously led researchers astray".[52]
- 7. The conclusions were that which were sought by the researcher. Dr. LeVay, a homosexual himself, confessed that his study was not entirely a dispassionate scientific endeavor,[53] He also later stated, "I did not prove that homosexuality is genetic, or find a genetic cause for being gay."[54][55]
Two prominent geneticists, Paul Billings and Jonathan Beckwith, commenting on the quality of the LeVay research, stated that LeVay, "could not really be certain about his subject's sexual preferences, since they were dead", and that his "research design and subject sample did not allow others to determine whether it was sexual behavior, drug use, or disease history that was correlated with the observed differences among the subjects' brains." And in addition, it was very likely that LeVay's method of defining homosexuality would "create inaccurate or inconsistent study groups." [56]
Another study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, examined the anterior commissure (a structure that divides the left and right halves of the brain) of male heterosexuals and homosexual men, most of whom died of AIDS. The study shows that the anterior commissure was larger in women and in 27 of the 30 homosexual men than in heterosexual men.[57]
Here again, how AIDS might have factored in this difference is an issue, and the findings of this study were overall in contradiction to another study published in 1988, which found, in part, that the anterior commissure was larger in men than in women.[58]
A 1991 study of twins by Michael Bailey and Richard Pillard was also promoted as establishing biological determination of homosexuality, but which conclusion was also soon found to be lacking in warrant, and contrary to other studies.[49][59]
That blood chemistry as well as brains can change over time in response to environment and lifestyle has been documented by studies.[60][60][61]
Causes of homosexuality and origins paradigms
In 1993, Professor Miron Baron, M.D., the renowned medical researcher and Professor at Columbia University, wrote in BMJ (British Medical Journal) that there is a conflict relative to the theory of evolution and the notion of genetic determinism concerning homosexuality. Dr. Baron wrote "...from an evolutionary perspective, genetically determined homosexuality would have become extinct long ago because of reduced reproduction."[63] In the United States, liberals are more likely to believe in the theory of evolution.[64] Also, in the United States, twice as many liberals as conservatives (46% versus 22%) believe people are born homosexual and liberals generally have more favorable opinions about homosexuality.[65] Given Dr. Miron Baron's commentary about homosexuality, many American liberals are inconsistent on the issues of evolution and homosexuality.
Sociologist Steven Goldberg, Ph.D. states,
Virtually all of the evidence argues against there being a determinative physiological causal factor and I know of no researcher who believes that such a determinative factor exists...such factors play a predisposing, not a determinative role...I know of no one in the field who argues that homosexuality can be explained without reference to environmental factors.
Goldberg also expressed, "Gay criticism has not addressed the classic family configuration"; it has merely "asserted away the considerable evidence" for the existence of family factors. Studies which attempt to disprove the existence of the classic family pattern in homosexuality are "convincing only to those with a need to believe." [66]
Psychiatrists Friedman and Downey: "Despite recent neurobiological findings suggesting homosexuality is genetically-biologically determined, credible evidence is lacking for a biological model of homosexuality." [67]
Psychiatrist and author Jeffrey Satinover, M.D. concludes,
Like all complex behavioral and mental states, homosexuality is...neither exclusively biological nor exclusively psychological, but results from an as-yet-difficult-to-quantitate mixture of genetic factors, intrauterine influences...postnatal environment (such as parent, sibling and cultural behavior), and a complex series of repeatedly reinforced choices occurring at critical phases of development.[68]
Drs. William Byne and Bruce Parsons, researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute,having carefully analyzed all the major biological studies of homosexuality, found none that definitively supported a biological theory of causation. "Human Sexual Orientation: The Biologic Theories Reappraised." Archives of General Psychiatry 50, no.3. (1993)
Other similarly express that nurture and choice factor as being mostly or wholly determinative.[69]
Indications of onset homosexuality
Childhood manifestations of gender non-conformity such as consistent preference by a boy for the clothing, company and play things (dolls, etc.) of girls over that of boys is generally seen as predisposing such to homosexuality.[70] However, this is not always the case, and many children who manifest gender non-conformity are simply trying to discover what gender is.
Additional sources concerning the causes of homosexuality
There has been much work done since the latter part of the 20th century. Below are some resources in regards to the various causes of homosexuality:
- Religious Upbringing and Culture Affects Rates of Homosexuality
- Sexual Abuse Being a Contributing Factor for Homosexuality
- Homosexuality and Choice
- Homosexuality and Genetics
- Homosexuality in animals myth
- Genetics, Homosexuality, Evolutionary Paradigm, and Creation Science
- My genes made me do it!
See also
- Resources on becoming a Christian
- ABC Theory of Emotion
- Defensive detachment
- Ego-centered thinking and homosexuality
- Ex-Homosexuals
- Homosexuality and the Bible
- Homosexuality and biblical interpretation
- Homosexuality and bestiality
- Homosexuality Research
- Homosexuality Statistics
- Teenager Homosexuality
- Homosexuality and genetic mutations
External links
- Born this Way? Homosexuality, Science, and the Scriptures
- What are some of the causes of homosexuality?
- What Causes Homosexuality by Dr. John F. Ankerberg
- Rich Deem, Genetics and Homosexuality: Are People Born Gay? The Biological Basis for Sexual Orientation
- ↑ Sylvia Thorson-Smith, Reconciling the broken silence, p. 30
- ↑ http://www.sbts.edu/documents/tschreiner/Homosexuality.pdf
- ↑ http://www.cbmw.org/Articles/
- ↑ Homosexual relations and the Bible: see Genesis 19 to Ezekiel 16:49
- ↑ "Probe Ministries: Goddess Worship," by Russ Wise
- ↑ Hetero woman: Feminism turned me into a lesbian, from WorldNetDaily
- ↑ http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2553
- ↑ The Rainbow History Project.
- ↑ Time Capsule: Mike Wallace tells truth about homosexuality in 1967 documentary. CBS.
- ↑ Michal Piško (08-June-2012). Schlesinger: Prestaňme sa točiť okolo hriechu (Slovak). sme.sk. Retrieved on 10-February-2013. "Takisto by som nesúhlasila s tým, aby homosexuálny učiteľ presviedčal, že homosexualita je jediný správny spôsob života. (In the same way I would not agree that the homosexual lifestyle is the only correct one.)"
- ↑ https://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56481
- ↑ http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19650
- ↑ http://www.cwfa.org/articles/4216/CFI/cfreport/index.htm
- ↑ http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.aspid=25145
- ↑ http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/blkexgbks.html
- ↑ http://www.frontlinemin.org/wasgay.asp
- ↑ http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=9019
- ↑ http://www.apocalipsis.org/testimony.htm
- ↑ http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=13784
- ↑ http://www.americansfortruth.com/news/landmark-study-change-for-homosexuals-is-possible.html
- ↑ David G. Myers, A level of explanations view, Psychology of Christianity: four views. pp. 54-83
- ↑ http://www.cwfa.org/images/content/bornorbred.pdf
- ↑ Robert Kronemeyer, Overcoming Homosexuality, p. 7 (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1980)
- ↑ Kim Painter, A Biological Theory for Sexual Preference, USA Today, 1 January 1989, p. 4D
- ↑ Bieber, Homsexuality: A psychoanalytical study of male homosexuality (1962)
- ↑ Ray b. Evans, "Childhood parental relationships of homosexual men", Journal of Consulting and clinical psychology, 33. (1969), pp. 129-33.
- ↑ Gerard van den Aardweg, on the origins and treatment of homosexuality (1985), pp.184-85.
- ↑ Bell, Weinberg, Hammersmith, Sexual preference: Its development in men and women (1981).
- ↑ 7.4 percent or homosexual men and 3.1 percent of females, versus 2.0 percent of heterosexual men and 0.8 percent women.
- ↑ Laumann, Gagnon, Michael, and Michaels, The social organization of homosexuality:..., (1994) p. 344
- ↑ Sheir and Johnson, Sexual victimization of boys:... (1988) pp. 1189-93
- ↑ Manosevitz, "Early sexual behavior in adult homosexual and heterosexual males", Journal of abnormal psychology, 76 (1970), 396-402.
- ↑ CWA: School Tells Kids to Hide Pro-'Gay' Propaganda From Parents, Concerned Women for America, 3/13/2007
- ↑ Fighting the Gay Agenda in Schools Articles, Mission America
- ↑ Roberto Santiago, The Indoctrination of our Youth,The Chronicle Watch, June 17, 2009
- ↑ GLSEN, Corruption and Crime, Mission America
- ↑ 'Hate' laws could label 5-year-olds 'offenders' WorldNetDaily, March 05, 2010
- ↑ 'Czar' sees transgender school goals in reach, WorldNetDaily, February 25, 2010
- ↑ District gags 14-year-olds after 'gay' indoctrination, WorldNetDaily, March 13, 2007
- ↑ Hines, Melissa (2011-02-17). "Prenatal endocrine influences on sexual orientation and on sexually differentiated childhood behavior". Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 32 (2): 170–182. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2011.02.006. PMID 21333673. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296090/.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 Weiss, Bernard (2013-12-01). "The Intersection of Neurotoxicology and Endocrine Disruption". Neurotoxicology 33 (6): 1410–1419. doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2012.05.014. PMID 22659293. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3458140/.
- ↑ He, Zhen; Ferguson, Sherry Ann; Cui, Li; Greenfield, Lazar John; Paul3, Merle Gale (2013-10-15). "Development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area and the influence of estrogen-like compounds". Neural Regen Res. 8 (29): 2763–2774. PMID 25206587. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145994/.
- ↑ Svechnikov, Konstantin; Stukenborg, Jan-Bernd; Savchuck, Iuliia; Söder, Olle (2014). "Similar causes of various reproductive disorders in early life". Asian Journal of Andrology 16 (1): 50–59. doi:10.4103/1008-682X.122199. PMID 24369133. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901882/.
- ↑ Roselli, C.E.; Stormshak, F. (2009). "Prenatal Programming of Sexual Partner Preference". J. Neuroendocrinol 21 (4): 359–364. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2009.01828.x. PMID 19207819. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2668810/.
- ↑ Matsuda, Ken Ichi (2014-10-28). "Epigenetic changes in the estrogen receptor α gene promoter: implications in sociosexual behaviors". Front Neurosci 8 (344). doi:10.3389/fnins.2014.00344. PMID 25389384. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4211403/.
- ↑ Charlene Crabb, Are Some Men Born to Be Homosexual?, U. S. News & World Report, 9 September 1991, p. 58
- ↑ S. LeVay, "A Difference in Hypothalamic Structure Between heterosexual and Homosexual Men," Science 253 (1991), pp. 1034-37
- ↑ Reported in D. Gelman "Born or Bred?" Newsweek, 24 February 1992, pp. 46-53
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/homotheo.html
- ↑ http://www.biblebelievers.com/Cameron4.html
- ↑ Joseph P. Gudel, HOMOSEXUALITY: Fact and Fiction
- ↑ Byne, William (1994), "The Biological Evidence Challenged," Scientific American, May, 1994, 270: p. 53
- ↑ Simon LeVay on The Phil Donahue Show, Genetically Gay: Born Gay or Become Gay?, January 3, 1992
- ↑ Byrd, A. Dean, Shirley E. Cox, and Jeffrey W. Robinson (2001), Homosexuality: The Innate-Immutability Argument Finds No Basis in Science, The Salt Lake Tribune
- ↑ http://www.sltrib.com/2001/may/05272001/commenta/100523.htm
- ↑ P. Billings and J. Beckwith, "Born Gay?" Technology Review, July 1993, p. 60,61
- ↑ L. Allen, et al., Sexual Orientation and the Size of the Anterior Commissure in the Human Brain, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 89, no. 15 (1992), pp. 7199-7202
- ↑ S. Demeter et al., "Morphometric analysis of the human corpus callosum and anterior commissure," Human Neurobiology 6 1988), pp. 219-26
- ↑ Dr. Paul Cameron, Born WHAT Way?
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/narth/bioresearch.html
- ↑ Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, The Biology of Homosexuality: Science or Politics?
- ↑ Richard Dawkins speculates that gene for homosexuality exists
- ↑ BMJ. 1993 August 7; 307(6900): 337–338.
- ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml
- ↑ http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=764
- ↑ S. Goldberg, When Wish Replaces Thought: Why So Much of What You Believe is False (1994), Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books
- ↑ R. Friedman, M.D. and J. Downey, M.D., Journal of Neuropsychiatry, vol. 5, No. 2, Spring l993
- ↑ J. Satinover, M.D., Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth, (1996). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books
- ↑ On the Origins of Homosexuality: Is a Person "Born that Way"?
- ↑ Stanton L. Jones, Mark A. Yarhouse, Homosexuality: the use of scientific research in the church's moral debate, pp. 52-92
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Jeannie Mills Pwerle / Yam Dreaming (JMP302)
30cm x 30cm Acrylic on Canvas
View more from artist$170.00
30cm x 30cm Acrylic on Canvas
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Artist Profile
Jeannie Mills Pwerle was born on 15 May 1965. She is an Alywarr woman from the Utopia region in Central Australia. Jeannie comes from one of the most celebrated painting families in Australia. She is the daughter of senior Utopian artist Dolly Mills and the niece of the late Greeny Purvis Petyarre who was a tribal elder, senior artist and ceremonial leader who lived at Boundary Bore, Utopia. Other relatives include the most famous of the female aboriginal artists – the late Emily Kame Kngwarre and respected senior artists Barbara Weir and Gloria Petyarre.
Jeannie is a quiet lady who chooses to spend most of her time in her traditional homelands at Utopia with her immediate family creating her stunning artworks. With painting 'in her blood' Jeannie was destined to be a great artist. Her beautiful Yam Dreaming artworks have been snapped up by both Australian and International collectors.
Jeannie has been included in high profile exhibitions such as 2006 Colours of Utopia at Japingka Gallery, Fremantle and the 2007 aboriginal art and culture exhibition in Sydney in conjunction with NAIDOC week celebrations.
In 2008, Jeannie was selected as a finalist in the 25th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, a wonderful achievement for a young artist.
Artwork Description
The painting depicts the Bush Yam. The seed of the yam is represented by the fine white dot work and the thick colourful brushwork represents the flower and the vegetable. Jeannie's style is unique and her palette is bright and bold.
The Desert yam is an important food source for the Aboriginal people from Utopia in central Australia. It has an impressive root system, spreading up to twelve metres from the stalk, and is commonly found in woodland areas nearby a water source.
Its bright green leaves and yellow flowers, can spread over quite a wide area, growing strongly until after the rainfall months when it is harvested by digging it out of the ground. By depicting the Yam Dreaming in their paintings, indigenous artists are able to pay homage to this significant plant and encourage its continual rejuvenation.
The women perform in their Awelye ceremonies certain songlines and dance cycles to show respect for their country and to ensure continues productivity of the Desert yam.
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If you read and listen to two articles every day, your reading and listening skills can improve fast. You can learn quickly and after some time you will not have to translate into your own language. You will simply understand. Why should you do this?
When you listen to people in your native language, you do not translate. You simply understand. The same has to be in English. When you learn English, you have to learn the whole sentences in context.
Students, who translate English texts, do exercises and do tests are very good at translating, doing exercises and doing tests, but they have problems with understanding English in real life. In real life, nobody waits for your translation. People usually use simple English when they speak but they use it fast. You have to understand with no translation to your native language. If you translate, you cannot be part of communication because you are thinking about the language too much. These words are maybe hard to read but they are true.
You also have to hear every new word 5 to 10 times if you want to remember it. That's why we use the same words in one level. If you read and hear the same words again and again, you will understand them and remember them. If you know words from one level, you can go to a higher level and learn new words. It is important to go step by step, and read and listen to words which are used in English often. This is what we do with our news. In our short news, we use words which are used in English often. Level 1 has the 1000 most important words. Level 2 has the 2000 most important words, Level 3 has the 3000 most important words.
So, if you want to understand English fast and learn fast, read two articles or more a day. You can improve your reading and listening quickly when you read easy English news. We will help you learn English fast and understand it. When you use this website every day, you can learn 3000 words which you need for communication with anybody in English.


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Millions of computer users who run the most recent versions of Oracle's Java software should disable the product owing to security flaws, says the cybersecurity section of the Department of Homeland Security. The agency says, "Web browsers using the Java 7 plug-in are at high risk."
For our Newscast desk, Steve Henn filed a report from Silicon Valley in which he says that "in the last few months security researchers have discovered a series of bugs that can allow bad actors to take over machines that are running Java in a Web browser and steal your identity."
Those bugs can be exploited to allow hackers' programs to give themselves full security privileges, according to a "vulnerability note" posted by Carnegie Mellon University's CERT computer security site.
"Oracle Java 7 update 10 and earlier are affected," the notice says. It adds that the only known solution is to "disable Java in web browsers."
It seems that security experts began to highlight the vulnerability this week, after it began to be used in software kits that are sold to hackers. The Malware don't need Coffee site seems to have been among the first to report it.
"This vulnerability is being attacked in the wild, and is reported to be incorporated into exploit kits," the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team wrote in its vulnerability note. "Exploit code for this vulnerability is also publicly available."
Brian Krebs, who blogs about computer security, writes, "The hackers who maintain Blackhole and Nuclear Pack -- competing crimeware products that are made to be stitched into hacked sites and use browser flaws to foist malware -- say they've added a brand new exploit" that attacks the security flaw.
Anyone wanting to know how to disable Java can check out Oracle's explanation of the process. It has become easier to disable Java in its most recently updated version.
For those wondering how they can get by without software that has become ubiquitous, Krebs says, "I haven't had Java plugged into any of the browsers I use for surfing the Web for the past two years, and I haven't missed it once."
He adds that another option would be to consider employing extensions such as Noscript (for Firefox) or Notscripts (for Chrome), to control what plug-ins and scripts can do.
Our colleagues at KQED are also monitoring this story; we'll add updates as they come in.
Copyright 2013 National Public Radio. To see more, visit www.npr.org.


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When you travel, do you want to drink Bellinis in Venice and yak butter tea in Tibet? Well, so do monkeys.
Monkeys will eat new, different food if they travel to a new place and want to fit in with the locals, according to a new study. But back home, they'll eat what Mama eats, shunning perfectly good food if it doesn't get her approval.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do," says study co-author Andrew Whiten, director of the Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. "You're trying to ingratiate yourself."
There's growing evidence that animals learn behaviors through their social networks, much like humans, but most of those studies haven't been rigorous enough to prove that the shared behaviors don't come about through chance.
To try to nail that down, Whiten and his colleagues gave four groups of vervet monkeys living in the wild in South Africa two types of corn, one colored blue, the other red. One was flavored to be bitter. Within three months, the animals had learned to shun the bitter corn.
Then the scientists took away the corn. Months later, when a new crop of baby monkeys was old enough to eat solid food, the scientists once again put out tubs of red and blue corn. This time, none of the corn was bitter. But the baby monkeys ate only what they saw their mothers and other adults eating, even though the other corn was just as yummy.
Out of 27 baby monkeys, just one ate the non-preferred corn. And that monkey had seen his mom eat some of the shunned corn because monkeys of higher rank were hogging the "good" stuff. "It's really quite a strong effect," Whiten told The Salt.
The results were published in the journal Science. Most controlled experiments with animals are done in the lab, not in the wild, so this should give a better sense of how social interactions affect behavior.
The "mom effect" is interesting, but not unexpected; what baby wouldn't want what Mom eats? And there's an evolutionary benefit to that, because Mom already knows what food is most nutritious or tasty, and what's to be avoided.
The second part of the monkey and corn study is more surprising.
Young male monkeys who migrated into other groups after the first part of the corn experiment almost all chose the corn eaten by the new group, even though it was the color shunned in their home group. Those 10 monkeys chose the new-crowd corn even when none of the new monkeys were watching them eat .
Just one monkey, Lekker, stuck with the corn of his home group. "He was big and strong, and immediately rose up to a high-ranking position," Whiten says. It's easy to speculate that he didn't feel the need to fit in by eating like the locals, but as Whiten cautions, that's just one monkey. "Maybe he was just a nonconformist."
There are benefits to being a nonconformist, of course; out of experimentation and innovation come great inventions. Or a nonconformist could end up eating toxic food.
The take-home, Whiten says, "is how strong social learning can be in wild animals."
It's a big week for animals, food and social behavior. A second study in Science found that humpback whales spread new feeding techniques through their social networks — the cetacean equivalent of sharing a new cooking method on blogs.
These scientists combed through 27 years of humpback whale observations in the Gulf of Maine. They showed that a new form of feeding, with whales slapping their tails on the surface of the water, spread among whales based on who they hung out with.
"We found it was following the social network, spreading from individual to individual, based on how much time they spent together, " says Jenny Allen, a researcher at the University of St. Andrews and lead author of the study.
The method, called lobtail feeding, was first observed in the wild around 1980. Now, about one-third of humpbacks in the Gulf of Maine use it. The whales who feed that way don't seem any healthier, Allen says, which suggests it doesn't necessarily catch more fish. "It seems almost to be personal preference."
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