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I don't want to be one of those people who share their grief endlessly and monotonously, to the point that you can't read their blog without feeling depressed. So I have shared only a little here and there of the loss of my only child Crystal Xzan. There are no words to express how beautiful she was inside or out or how much I miss her. This world is insane without her and it's because of her love for me that I can endure being here another moment.
A few weeks before she was diagnosed with cancer and told she was terminally ill at the tender age of 23, Crystal was new to computers and sat down one night with her hubby Jason and was messing around, learning how to use Media Movie Maker on Vista. She made this movie of our lives together and wrote the poignant words that now comfort me when I miss her the most.
For all of you who are missing someone you'll never see again in this lifetime…I hope you wlll watch this with me tonight and feel the love that my only child felt for me and be reminded that even as one chapter of our lives ends, a new one begins. Mine began again on earth as hers began in heaven. I do have hope to see her again in tha perfect place. I feel so fortunate to have had the time I had with her here on Hell! She would giggle at that…she had such a sense of humor…and she would have agreed that it was hard here on earth but she was happy to be here too. She loved life and she fought so hard to have more time. She had eleven more months after being told she only had two weeks to live. That was my stubborn, willful daughter who believed in miracles and feared nothing and would not give up.
I am so proud of her. She told me I had to get published before I die. That every time I put a book on the shelves on earth they would appear in heaven and she'd be in the library in a comfy chair reading them and missing me. I like to think that she has read Singing Heart and Sam there and soon she will be reading my third novel Silently Screaming. When I get there she will still nag me to keep writing. ha…ha…
She loved a good story more than anything else and I can't begin to tell you how many of them I made up for her at bedtime as a little child. When she was so ill that she could barely even keep her eyes open, she still would say, "Mommy tell me a story." I would tell her about heaven and how her father would come down and escort her home to be with him while I finished my time here on earth. The week before she left this world she was far away. She reached out and took my hand and smiled and asked. "Do you see him Mommy?"
I asked, "See who baby?"
She looked at the foot of the bed and nodded. "Daddy. He's wearing a black long coat with a bright white scarf around his neck. It's so long and he looks so young."
I nearly cried because Fermin was a newscaster when we first met and he used to wear that long trench coat and the white scarf I get him for his birthday when it snowed. He looked so handsome and always made my toes curl when he'd blow me a kiss heading out the door at four am tp READ the NEWS… 🙂
I had never told Crystal that story. It was a memroy from my past I never thought to share. There was no way she could have known about that scarf. I believe with all my heart that was her Daddy there watching over her waiting to take her home. She believed it too and when she died it was with a smile on her face after the most agonizing year k of her life suffering that unspeakable pain.
This is the horror I think of when I remember her last year on earth and the comfort I find in knowing that SHE did not die. She just left the planet. With someone who loved her as much as I did. She left me this video, unbeknownst to either of us when she made it, just how much those words would mean to me for the rest of my life.
There are no words I can share to express my true grief…but these are her words of comfort and love that I will treasure forever…with all my heart…


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The untitled show will follow the "whitest" man in America as he marries into a large Black family.
Check out why we're having instant coffee:
• Keenen Ivory Wayans' new comedy is heading to ABC. The untitled show will follow the "whitest" guy in America as he marries into a very large and close-knit Black family. ABC has ordered a pilot. If it's picked up, it will join the ranks of several new comedies making waves across the small screen. Wayans is set to not only write, but executive produce the show as well. As of now, he will not be starring in it. [Hollywood Reporter]
• According to Forbes' latest roundup, Michael Jackson topped the list of the highest paid dead celebrities. His estate earned a whopping $160 million in the last year. Elvis Presley, Charles M. Schulz, Elizabeth Taylor and Bob Marley rounded out the top five. [Forbes]
• Viola Davis' three-year-old daughter, Genesis, will make her acting debut in the upcoming James Brown biopic alongside her mother. Tate Taylor, the film's director, will cast Genesis. "We've been rehearsing at home because I don't want her to be fired," said Davis. [Ellen DeGeneres]
• Could NBA star Chris Paul be retiring from the league soon? The athlete says he would consider stopping his career early to spend more time with his children. "Nobody loves to play basketball more than I do, but I could honestly see myself stopping a little earlier or maybe premature just because I hate to miss anything with my kids," explained Paul. "I would hate for my kids to, you know, recall those special moments in their life and I wasn't there." [Real Sports]
• Months ago, President Barack Obama announced the recipients of the 2013 Presidential Medal Freedom. The ceremony is now set for November 20th. Oprah Winfrey, Bayard Rustin, Ernie Banks and Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivan are among the chosen.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hi! although it could be hard to port Linuxbios onto this ASUS mainboard (that uses intel 945 chipset), it has a SPI flash in a convenient PDIP8 socket. The BIOS chip is a 4Mb flash part, Winbond 25X40VAIZ http://www.winbond.com/hq/enu/ProductAndSales/ProductLines/FlashMemory/SerialFlash/SerialFlash/W25X40V.htm Just to let you know the goodies that are around these days. p.s. i'm not going to do any linuxbios related testing Luis Correia


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Digital Ecosystem Updates
When Motorola resurrected the RAZR brand last year we didn't realize that we were looking at the new face of the company. At the time, Google had yet to officially take over the handset manufacturer, it had a deep stable of less-than-impressive devices and, while it was a moderate success, the Droid RAZR didn't exactly turn the market on its head. Still, in retrospect, it only makes sense that the RAZR would once again become the standard bearer for Moto. Even if we weren't blown away by last year's model, it was a big step in the right direction for the company, a device that featured a great mix of premium styling and performance. The new RAZR HD and MAXX HD take that basic formula and attempt to address our concerns about the display and battery life, the latter of which was already handled in dramatic fashion by the RAZR MAXX. So, how do the latest caps-happy, vowel-averse handsets from Motorola stack up against last year's incarnations and the current crop of competitors? Keep on reading after the break to find out.
Gallery: Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD review
Continue reading Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD review
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Verizon
Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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Saturday, August 31, 2013
Let out of house arrest
The Kitty Justice is I do not have to painfully creep from room to room but I can enjoy the outdoors. Oops I may stay in again since the heat index is suppose to be around one hundred.
Friday, August 30, 2013
The Cushion
When the back was really on the blink, I thought I will try the cushion and see if it works better for me. NOT! I almost landed in the floor and the wobbly movement made the back pain worse.
We have had it way too long to return so what to do with the cushion. I think I will put it in the black metal chair in the outside corner of the house that you see through the window where I have an old cushion for Moe Cat.
The Kitty Justice is if Moe kitty does not use it then it is just unusable.
Posted by Lady Di Tn at 8:10 AM 2 comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
The recipe comes from Sadie LeSueur's "Recipes and Party Plans written in 1955. Mimi's copy is well worn and held together with masking tape.
First you need to boil and stuff one egg per plate and make the Russian Dressing which is on page 226 of the book.
2 cups of Mayonnaise
1/2 onion, minced fine
1Tbsp bell pepper, minced fine
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 tsp of curry powder (optional)
1/2 cup tomato catsup or chill sauce
We prefer less curry powder and chill sauce. Instead of mincing , Bep used the food processor. I think it is better minced if you have the time. Combine all the ingredients and chill overnight before the luncheon.
TOMATO SANDWICH SALAD page 207
Spread a slice of Reese's Holland Rusk with Philadelphia Onion and Chives Cream Cheese (it calls for anchovy paste). Cover with a thin slice of baked ham. Over this put a slice of cooked chicken breast; cover with a large slice of tomato; sprinkle tomato with salt; put 2 halves of stuffed eggs on tomato, flat side down. Over all of this pour a generous portion of the Russian Dressing. Completely cover salad. On top of salad put an opened artichoke heart or large stuffed olive, flanked on either side by tiny whole sardines. Serve this salad on shredded lettuce and you can have a complete meal. When planning for a small group, you can buy a large chicken breast and several slices of baked or boiled ham from your butcher. Frizzle this type of ham in butter before using: broil and slice chicken breast.
The salad we ate, did not have cooked chicken breast, artichoke hearts, olives or sardines. We topped ours with fresh parsley and at the dinner serving, we had sliced avocados. Also, we bought from the deli department the boiled ham and baked turkey not chicken. Since I gave up wheat I had a wheat free white cheddar corn cake instead of Holland rusk. I was gonna put a photo of the rusk on the post but could not get it to come up. Just Google Reese's Holland Rusk to view the package as it is not sold in all stores even in the South.
The Kitty Justice is it is a great luncheon meal and even great for dinner. Enjoy
Posted by Lady Di Tn at 7:49 AM 6 comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
I plan to be up and running in a few days. Cannot keep a good Kat down. The first injection has made almost all the intolerable pain go away. No I am not pain free but alas it is bearable. The doc has ordered two more injections and the next one will be after a 2 week period from the first one.
The Kitty Justice is the thought of getting better is as cheerful as the flowers that greet me in the kitchen.
Posted by Lady Di Tn at 2:03 PM 7 comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
True to my name
The Kitty Justice if you have to act like a cat then you might enjoy Doc Martin.
Posted by Lady Di Tn at 9:18 AM 7 comments: Links to this post
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Cloudy inside Out
. The kitty justice is now I cannot sit without PAIN.
Posted by Lady Di Tn at 10:24 AM 14 comments: Links to this post
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Back to War Part two
All of these men (previous post) made reputations for themselves from killing civilians without trial or evidence. They looted homes in the name of the U S Government and took anything they wanted no matter what it was or its use.
The following is a part of a paragraph from the previous story on Nathan B. Forrest in the Confederate Veteran Magazine:
"First Lt. W. H. Nelson, 5th Tennessee Cavalry, US, kept a diary in which he recorded the killing of prisoners as routine:
May 18, 1964, Lieut. Creasy killed two prisoners, one unknown. Warm and pleasant. Nothing important happening.
June 14,1864. We were in a fight today. We burned the houses where the fight took place and took the men of the houses to Lynchburg.
June 15, 1864. We killed the prisoners we took yesterday.
HUMAN LIFE had become cheap in Tennessee by 1864, and the debaser of its value were not Confederates."
Of the men I have written about, Nathan B Forrest is the one who is the villain in today's historical facts. Nathan attacked a fort of military men at 4 P.M. and at 4:30 P.M. 182 of the men were dead and 398 US soldiers survived. Maybe he should have killed all of them then it could have been what it is called a massacre. He did not but alas it was trout ed as massacre.
I am not saying that our Southern Gentlemen who were in charge never committed a crime against humanity but from all I have read so far, they were the most civil and honorable of the commanding officers on both sides of the issue.
The Kitty Justice is who were the real Terrorist of the Civil War.
Friday, August 09, 2013
Back to the WAR part one
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Purple Heart
The first time I saw this plant was in Austin, Texas and it was used as a ground cover and then when I became a resident on the hill, my MIL had just 2 pots and she had never used it as ground cover.
The Kitty Justice is to have at least one Purple Heart.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Elisha Gray
Who got credit for inventing the telephone? Have you always heard it was Alexander Graham Bell. After consuming the article, I went in search of more INFO on the internet. Ah, what a wonderful tool for those of us who crave facts, history and fiction.
Elisha Gray was born on a farm near Barnesville, Ohio on August 2, 1835. Evenson wrote that Gray built his first telegraph when he was 10 or 11. Gray developed a string of inventions, including a telegraph repeater and a printer, that brought him to the attention of Western Union's General superintendent, Anson Stager. In 1869 he bought into an electrical shop and Stager wanted to invest but only if the company was moved to Chicago. The plant was spared by the great Chicago fire in 1871 and later the next year the plant was sold and renamed Western Electric Manufacturing Co which eventually became the main supplier to Bell's telephone company. In 1926 Western Electric spun off its distribution business and named the new entity after its founders, Graybar Electric Company. This has nothing to do with the controversy but I thought it was good reading.
What happen on February 14, 1876? First, in the morning of that day, Mr. Gray delivered a caveat, a preliminary version of the patent and it was placed in an inbox by a clerk. Secondly, the attorneys for Mr. Bell came to the same office and INSISTED that the intake clerk deliver their patent application to the patent examination officer. This made Mr. Bell's application on that day to be recorded as the fifth patent of the day and Mr. Grays is recorded as 39th.
Interesting fact, in Bell's 1876 US Patent 174,465, was claim 4, a method of producing variable electrical current in a circuit by varying the resistance in the circuit. This feature WAS NOT SHOWN IN ANY OF BELL'S PATENT DRAWINGS but WAS SHOWN in Elisha Gray's drawings in his caveat filed the same day. (SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WAS ROTTEN AT THE PATENT OFFICE)
Reading further, I found out that one of the attorneys, one Marcellus Bailey was a Civil War Army companion of the Patent Examiner, Zenus Wilbur. Mr. Wilbur was an alcoholic and owed Mr. Bailey MONEY.
On March 10, 1976, using Gray's water microphone design, Mr. Bell uttered the famous "Mr Watson--come here---I want to see you."
The Kitty Justice is I believe, Gray was robbed by greedy attorneys and corrupt patent examiner and Bell's wish for fame.
BTW There is more to Elsha Gray's story but you will have to read it yourself. I wish to thank Frank Daniels III for his article and Wikipedia for the facts given in this post.
Another Kitty Justice is if something is repeated enough does it make it true. Best look closer at all history and statements to see if they are true history or myth. Now did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone as we were taught?
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
Nathan B Forrest
After reading facts not fiction , Dr. Bradley explains everything in detail, you realize that you have been miss informed by historians. There is NO documented proof that Nathan was every in the Klan much less the founder of the Klan. Also the massacre was a political propaganda for the North.
Monday, August 05, 2013
August Green
The Kitty Justice is Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.
Sunday, August 04, 2013
My ole New friend
It I can tolerate the pain or take enough of my second new friend, then I do not wear it because I do not wish to become depend.
The Kitty Justice is I am happy I did not toss the damn thing.
Posted by Lady Di Tn at 3:00 AM 8 comments: Links to this post
Saturday, August 03, 2013
My two new friends
My second new friend is Bayer Back and Body with 500 mg aspirin and 32 ? of caffeine ( do not have the bottle here at the computer and I refuse to move as playing statue is best)
Why aspirin and not something else? The American Indians were using willow bark before the white man arrived on these shores. Proven to help for a LONG time.
Yes there are side effects but anything you pop in your mouth if you look closely have side effects.
The Kitty Justice if the powers that be could they would make aspirin only available by prescription.
Friday, August 02, 2013
First Chow and Bedspread
The Kitty Justice is will it work or should I buy a coverlet with exotic birds?
Thursday, August 01, 2013
I miss being able to try to say words like Phil L. and hearing Bob R's commentary.The funnies thing that happen was when my MIL asked what a Pee Lotion was? Her way of saying Peloton .
The Kitty Justice is I am having Tour De France withdrawals. Does this affect anyone else out there?
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Book Review: It's Our Turn to Eat
During the May Day holiday weekend, I finally finished reading It's Our Turn to Eat – the bootleg version, one which the author warned was not the real copy. It's a fairly comprehensive e-mail; I'd wager its close enough to the real thing that and that over 90% of the blog readers here have read the PDF (real or faux) - and please don't ask me for a copy.
The introduction of the book to Kenya, a biography of former anti-corruption Tsar John Githongo (written by Michela Wrong), had three background factors
- John Githongo is a powerful, polarizing person in Kenya; a patriot & champion to some, a traitor & coward to others. While his accounts of events related to Anglo Leasing has been published in his parliamentary reports; not much has been written about Githongo the person this is his story
- While the Government of Kenya never commented or banned, the book, several Nairobi bookshops shied away from displaying or advertising the book. This was because of previous libel awards that bookshops who were near easy targets got fined for carrying books that powerful leaders (Nicholas Biwott) felt besmirched them
- Also at the same time, a PDF version of the book also circulating and was forwarded and downloaded widely The author Michela Wrong and her publishing house realized that there was a leaked version circulating and:
(i) Alerted her friends and the net community that a faux/earlier/incomplete version was being circulated
(ii) Released a low cost e-book to counter the faux copy.
Having only read the faux copy, I can only comment on what's in it. I have no doubt it comes close to the real thing. I still intend to get a copy of the real book – either buying one from a friend, or having one delivered from abroad - good enough that I want to read the read the book - and not the E-Copy but the actual book; having a book still convey paper books have functionality, and durability that e-books don't – I can read the book anywhere (matatu, bank queue, at lunch). Demand for the book is make me want to break a vow and obtain a credit card perhaps to buy it from Amazon (UK) or the publisher.
Michael Wrong's last book I read was In the Footstep of Mr. Kurtz, about Mobutu Sese Seko and his years as President of Zaire (a.k.a the Democratic Republic of Congo.) It's the definitive book for anyone new to the Congo or wishing to understand the Congo's post-independence history, economy, diversity, people, problems etc. Likewise the Githongo book - focused on high-level government corruption, raw tribal political leadership, ease of corruption, political interference/weakness of judiciary - will be the definitive book of the Kibaki era (Kenya 2002 to the present) and until other government personalities commission their own biographies, this will be the way that the recent political history of Kenya will be understood. It would be nice to read about Michael Waweru on tax collection strategies, Peter Kenneth and the use of Constituency Development Funds, Esther Koimett at the Privatization process, and Kilemi Mwiria on free primary education etc.
Other local reviews of the book.
4 comments:
- Daniel Waweru said...
(cough) my review (cough)
- PKW said...
I recently read Wrong's 'I didn't do it for you' about Eritrea (and Ethiopia). Helps in understanding the history of those two countries, but I couldn't help but wonder if the it was her voice that was more prominent in the book or that of her subjects.
Looking forward to reading her account of Kenya.
Daniel, I enjoyed your review, as well.
We are so going to have another border scuffle. Look at the map in the book , Illemi Triangle is on the Sudanese side. Why is everybody taking our shit ?
More important ,
Sad that the african story is rarely told by Africans , Foreigners and Africans alike have to take opinion and history from biased book-factory Martin Meredith. I hope more Kenyans will take to authoring books or we are doomed to intellectual fraud for 100 more years.
- bankelele said...
Daniel Waweru: off to read
PKW: I have not read her book on Eritrea
KuingaItaendaPia: resources including water are expected to be conflict flash points for the next few years all around the world


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I am always looking for a good side dish. Last week someone from work brought in all sorts of veggies to share so I thought I would use em' on up and this is what I came up with! I served this with BBQ chicken (recipe to come next week) and it was a very good dinner! I love fresh pesto basil and have never made it because I don't have a food processor but this turned out great without it! You could put this basil butter on pretty much any veggies and it would be wonderful. Can't wait to see what you guys think!
Servings: 2
Serving Size: 1/2 Cup
Calories: 66
Fat: 5 g
Carbs: 41 g
Fiber: 1.6 g
Protein: .85 g
Points+: 1
Here Are Your Ingredients (Basil Butter):
3/4 Cup Fresh Basil
2 Tablespoons Butter - light
1 Tablespoon Garlic - minced
Here Are Your Ingredients (Side Dish):
1 Cup Sliced Yellow Summer Squash
1/4 Cup Cherry Tomatoes
What You Do:
In blender add basil and grind (I used the ice crush option) for about 30 seconds. Place basil, butter, and garlic in small sauce pan and on low heat let cook together for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice squash (pretty thin), place sliced squash, tomatoes, top with basil butter and add to a non stick casserole dish. Cook until yellow skin on squash starts to slightly brown (about 15 minutes).
Bon ABpetit!


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What is life without enjoying fruits of labor? Every man in his life sees himself taking a holiday rich in architectural style and history. Don't forget where your going though, Northern Europe has cold winters. Be sure that you choose the fema carnival cruise for locations that have contributed in the carnival cruise inspiration and Alaska during fall when they are served.
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It asked Franck Ribery
It asked Franck Ribery (Bilal Yusuf) operates why not sign that you in the face, after which you will be allowed in Islam this aesthetic surgery? He replied: - This sign will always keep in my face. I have been traveling with my father and brother, pesuam accident in which my father and brother lost their lives, I got this scar on her face ... after this accident I am converted to Islam and with this sign will always remind me of Allah's mercy and goodness me who gave by the spread of Islam, while I could have died in that accident as a non-Muslim ...
Xavi statement after the game
Xavi, Barcelona midfielder believes that Bayern loss is the worst outcome of Barcelona of all time. "This is the worst result. They have been better, it can not deny it, "said Xavi. "I think it is impossible to return such results, however, we will try to achieve, both for ourselves and for the club" he concluded.
Martinez steals the ball Iniesta
After the gala against Real Madrid (4-1) Borussia Dortmund faces moving into the Champions League final. BVB but there is not only euphoria. In addition to the exchange of superstar Mario Götze (20) Bavaria there are still rumors of a premature farewell to top Clippers Robert Lewandowski (24). BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke speaks in plain text PICTURE!
Trick of Bayern, Barca i'a broke ground
Bayern Munchen is the next team finds privileged information "medicine" Barcelona. German team was not the right ground for the match with Barcelona last night. Despite the weather conditions were at the right level, Bayern had made an improper ground for Tiki-Taka. Wells filled with water, were in some parts of the field to prevent land passes to Barcelona. In the photo shows one of the parts of the field where Busquets "float" on the water.
According to Bild, Chelsea coach Mourinho
Jose Mourinho will be the coach of Chelsea next season, so at least the German daily Bild wrote in its edition today. Bild prentendon the Portuguese coach is ready to leave in June to Spain and back in the Premier League. And according to what the German daily reports, Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, is set as a gift to "The Special One" to bring in Stemford Brigde striker Falcao Radam, who has a clause of 60 million euros for breaking Athletic Madrid the contract.
LK formation of the week, no players from Real Madrid and Barca
After completing the first ndeshjve gjysemfinaliste Champions League, UEFA has published the best lineup this stage and obviously in this lineup includes only players Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Best goalkeeper Weidenfeller is selected, the protection Lahm, Subotic, Dante and Alaba, Robben midfield consists of, Gotze and Gundogan and attack Muller, Reus and Robert Lewandowski.
Borusia 4 - 1 Real / UFO in the field
An interesting point is the first long-Dortmund match that ended 4-0 Real M, during a suspected action in the field of play was not a "UFO" by many rrjetve sociale.E true or not? remains to be vertetuar.Cdo Property Rights of man give his opinion until no nothing official.
Why did Mourinho this action?
Spain stands in Germany's significant shadow. Ravaged by a fierce financial crisis, high unemployment and dimishining social conditions, the Iberian nation faces an uncertain future as Deutschland dictates the European economy, with continental control centred in Berlin these days and certainly not in Madrid or Barcelona. Football had always been different. Not now. When the draw for the Champions League semi-finals was made earlier this month, it was quickly noted how the two Spanish sides could meet in a high-profile Clasico clash at Wembley in May. Few, it seemed, held out much hope for an all-German Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Even less expected what followed on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Bundesliga bullied La Liga and smashed eight goals past the two teams considered to be Europe's finest, with just one in reply: Germany 8-1 Spain.
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Reviewed By Tihomir V (Rockville, MD) Reviewed for a 2010 Nissan Altima —9/9/2015 5:45 AM
I am new to the customizing scene and learn as I go. Last year before the Winter started I lowered my '10 Altima SR and now it is sitting on H&R springs.After the wheel alignment I still had some camber at the rear end. Randomly, I found this kit and gave it a try since is very recommended. I got a proper alignment in the green with no camber and toe! Very happy with the results! If you have a lowered car buy this kit to make your life easier


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November 14, 2009
Chuppah Stories ...
Over the next couples weeks, we offer this blog as a place to collect and share personal stories from our "Under the Chuppah" series ... whether you're single, dating, married, or divorced, we would love to hear what God is speaking and what God is doing in your life ... how has this series impacted your life? ... do tell ... please keep it short and sweet!
Thanks for being apart of our community ...
Labels: Chuppah, the stirring
1 comment:
- brian said...
I have been married for 20 years and through this series I have a deeper and greater love for my beautiful wife, she is my 10! I have also been reminded of needing to fight for the purity of my marriage so that it may continually become a greater marriage. Thanks be to God for His way is the only way to live.
- November 15, 2009 at 8:20 PM
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The Surprise Factor And Fear
At any rate, the Opposition is heading to the streets; we just don't know when. Yes, they could be peaceful, but there are factors that just make it much more than that.
Today President Lahoud (whom I cannot stand to be our President anymore) told BBC that along with peaceful demonstrations to which the opposition has the right, civil servants are encouraged to disobey government orders because the government is unconstitutional. He even went to equate this situation to that of Ghandi's civil disobedience tactics under the British colonial rule! (I think at that moment I was going to puke out of embarassment for such choice of a simile; even the BBC journalist was taken aback).
It did not stop there. Aoun, who it seems is losing his mind, has called on his supporters to take part in "acts of protests" (whatever that entails) alongside guess who? SSNP! This time Aoun is not just providing a political cover for SSNP, but now overtly being allied with it.
Just like Hizbullah, Aoun refused to provide a specific day they plan on demonstrating. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has not received as of yet any formal request for demonstrating, which is a standard operating procedure even in the U.S. So how could HA/Aoun et al. hold the government accountable for maintaining the peace while they demonstrate, when they're not even notified of the scope and direction of the demonstrations? The element of surprise here begets me and is only making Beirut look like an army barracks at night, with army tanks circulating the downtown area and Internal Security Forces scattered everywhere, in anticipation of that surprise demonstration.
Just a side note on Aoun, in his press conference, he declared the Parliament corrupt and illegal/unconstitutional because the last elections relied on the 2000 Parliamentary law, which was heavily rigged through Syrian intelligence interference. The LBCI reporter asked him a smart question, "If the Parliament is illegal, then how can it givethe aspired-for "national unity" government a vote of confidence?" Aoun mumbled and contradicted himself by saying that the Parliament should not only give a vote of confidence to such a government but also come up and vote on a new electoral law. Go figure! And if it's unconstitutional, then how did he take part in the elections and shouldn't his representation role be in question?
He dismissed and insulted politicians here and there and yelled at reporters here and there. Is this someone who is President material?...He thinks every government institution is unconstitutional now; he's the savior, or that's what he likes to think of himself. Oh, and I forgot, he talked about the "holy" anger (al-ghadab al-moukaddas). What is that?
But going back to the demonstrations issue, Wi'am Wahhab, the fifth columnist who has returned to life after a short hybernation (including Nassir Qandil who visited Lahoud in Baabda), infuriated me the most when he threatened that, "For those who are calling for the implementation of the U.N. Chapter VII, there's a new term not found in their dictionary called the Chapter of Martyrdom and Martyrs!" What a lowly threat! And what a direct allusion to what took place in Yabous yesterday.
He continued by saying that the national unity government they're calling for is one that will consider void all resolutions/laws that have passed under the Seniora government this past year! Of course, this includes 1701, the tribunal, and Paris III among other resolutions passed.
You might say that these are just words. But a lot of chatter provides a cover for some ugly acts done against our country. We're not fools and we've been following the trends these past two years. Couple words with the suicide bombing incident in Yabous and the Beddawi piece of news and the picture starts to look scarier.
My Mom today told me that what the Opposition is doing is harb a3sab (a war of nerves). All what my family does on a daily basis now is scan all the news channels for news, and more news about what's happening and what is to happen.
Personally, I'm being pushed to the edge. I feel helpless just like I felt helpless when my country was being bombed this summer. I can't do anything from the beltway, but watch the news and get infuriated. I am becoming more convinced that I don't want a compromise with Hizbullah and all the pro-Syrian detail attached. It's sad to be pushed to that limit, but I am not able to see a functioning partnership, when there is disagreement on the basics, such as complying with U.N. resolutions and being open to the international community. Even Justice Minister Charles Rizk, who was Lahoud's man in the Cabinet, switched sides and moved forward with the tribunal resolution, leaving Lahoud behind.
But on the other hand, PM Seniora is calling once again for dialogue. But we just had two round of dialogues this past year, the first one was followed by Hizbullah's kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers which unleashed the war of hell on Lebanon, and the second of which led to the resignation of HA/Amal's Ministers from the Cabinet.
They don't have a solution to offer up for such a complicated existential dilemma, neither do I.
"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."
7 comments:
I saw that bit about what Lahoud said. It made me want to punch something (or someone). I blogged about it here.
What does it say about state when the President of the Republic is telling civil servants not to obey the government? Let chaos and anarchy reign. I mean, why not go out and tell the army to stop obeying their commanders (that's happened before actually), and tell everyone to stop obeying the rule of law...
What a freakin joke. This country is SOOO FAR away from the very basics of democracy (namely the rule of law, and the respect of the state and its institutions) that we might as well call it quits and hand it over to Syria or Iran or whoever else wants it.
Let me just add (after re-reading your excellent, yet depressing entry), that we really don't deserve a country.
Someone needs to come in and bulldoze the whole damned place. These guys are jokes and buffoons. Everyone of them. They should all be quartered and hung and fed to the wolves.
- Faysal said...
I think we are finally beginning to understand one another :-S
I feel the same way about pretty much everything.
- Ms Levantine said...
Dear all,
I share your frustration, and BV we don't deserve a country, and as a matter of fact we do not have one. So at least this problem is solved.
Disclaimer: I am old enough to have lived through Harb al Tahrir and harb al Ilghak, so needless to say I am not a GMA fan. But then again, I am not a Geagea, Hariri, Jumblatt... fan either. But let me be the devil's advocate:
As long as we agree with our sectarian democratie as a way to protect our sects blah blah blah, we agree that the maronites get the presidency, the shiites the speaker and the sunnis the prime minister.
Now if the sunnis get Hariri's right hand man, the shiites get Berri with the support of HA, under which logic do we argue that GMA should not be the president?
You cannot have in a sectarian system 2 sects with their strong people in charge and the 3rd with Ghattas Khouri et al.
The problem is sectarian democratie, and this is what the so called March 14 has failed to address.
- Faysal said...
GMA cannot be president because he is simply incapable of working with politicians who disagree with him in the slightest of issues. Also, this point is moot, because following his alliance with Hizbullah and Co, he has fractured Christian consensus on a candidate and incurred great hostility and distrust from other groups. My argument against giving the presidency has nothing to do with which sect gets which post. I am in fact a supporter of the mithaq al watani.
I am fully in favor of a strong, independent Christian president. I am ashamed at what has happened to the post of President in Lebanon, and even though I am not Christian, I believe that the marginalization of Christians in Lebanon and their decreasing numbers represents a grave threat to Lebanon that must be addressed.
But Michel Aoun is not the man to address it, and it is his fault for letting his people down.
- Ms Levantine said...
Since the system is a sectarian democracy, it is up to the maronite voters to choose their candidate. I tend to agree with you that GMA does not have the qualities to succeed as president. As stated above, I saw him as prime minister in 89 and 90 and it was scary.
But we had elections and he won the overwhelming majority of maronite votes.
Vox populi, vox dei.
Let him rule and fail, and we are failing anyway. Now if you do not like this state of affair (I don't) then criticize our moronic sectarian democracy. If you don't, remember that you cannot have your cake and eat it too.
BTW, who was the maronite concensus candidate you are referring to in your comment? I did not realize there was one.
Ms Levantine,
I kind of agree. What you're saying is that as long as the sectarian system is in place, there is simply no way for any of this to work. And I agree.
But I also would argue that the issue of removing sectarianism is not something that can be addressed TODAY without a revolution. The more immediate threat is this undemocratic notion of Hezbollah and their allies that "no single party should govern Lebanon" (direct quote from Nasrallah's speech).
I'm sorry, but you're wrong, sayed Nasrallah. We have elections for a reason. The winner gets to govern until the next elections.
Of course, Nasrallah knows this. He's just using this as an excuse to advance the plans of his foreign masters. And that, really, is the immediate threat.


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Graduate Teaching Assistant - Primary
- Recruiter
- EduStaff
- Location
Walsall Wood
Walsall WoodWest Midlands
- Posted
- 31 Jul 2017
- Closes
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- Sector
- Education & Childcare
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- Full Time
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The Headteacher wants graduates who can display a passion for education that ignites a love for learning amongst their pupils and to make or exceed expected levels of progress. You will be classroom based working on a 1:1 and small group basis and over time you will be able to get involved in intervention groups outside of the classroom.
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There is a article in today's STATE paper that brings this to light - here.
Two areas that deserve a "disappointing" label (and a boo) after their performance is the play of the O line and the 2 QB system. The coolchicken discusses the two QB decision here and I agree with him. Also this is what Spurrier had to say in the paper about his decision to rotate -
Spurrier second-guessed his decision to alternate quarterbacks Chris Smelley and Mitchell, who combined to throw three interceptions, two inside the Commodores'
36-yard line. "Anytime it doesn't work out very well, you always say, 'Oops, shouldn't have done that,' " said Spurrier, adding that the shuffling did not affect the outcome.
After a performance like that all we get is a "oops"...geez. That is something you say after you spill water not orchestrate a terrible offensive show.
I applaud Spurrier for having the balls to bench Mitchell for not performing this season, most coaches would not bench a 5th yr senior in favor of a redshirt freshman. Keep in mind that is what Smelley is, a redshirt freshman, so he is going to make dumb passes but he is the type that needs rhythm. Two QB systems work when you have one who is a pocket passer and the other is a running style qb (see FLA in 06 and LSU in 07 as examples). Mitchell and Smelley are pretty much the same style QB so to rotate does not make sense; now if we still had Newton then yeah put him in when the Oline sucks (i.e see USC in 06). I guess it shows just how valuable Newton was to the Gamecocks.
And to end this with a discussion of the offensive line, well they were just pitiful and have been all season. The play of the O line is crucial to everything else and so far this season it has been "not so good." Maybe we need to focus on recruiting O linemen and not worry about having 10 WRs on the team.
Think about this ---In 217 games, Spurrier's teams have failed to score at least 10 points just 10 times. Our offense is 93rd among 119 Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense (340.5 yards per game). USC has given 26 sacks for minus-175 yards, which is the most in the league and ranks 107th out of 119 Division I teams nationally. Last year, the Gamecocks allowed 24 sacks for 149 yards in 13 games. Only six teams in the country have yielded more sacks than USC's 26 so far this year.
Vandy simply capitalized on our weakness and expect Tennessee to do the same. Simply blitz, get your d line to pressure our QBs, rattle our O line so no running lanes are created and have your secondary play the ball.
Well it is what it is and let's move on from this loss to Vandy. The team got booed and we dropped from the top 10. It is time to focus on Tennessee. Oh and speaking of our upcoming opponent.....The Volunteers had a rare Sunday night practice in hopes of quickly putting their 41-17 loss at Alabama behind them; "just get it washed and get the corrections made," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. Should we have done something like that?


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Recipe: Koumiyasai no somen (somen with aromatic herb salad)
When Japanese think summer, they think somen.
Somen are very thin noodles made from wheat flour. They are usually eaten cold during the summer months, often with a garnish of grated ginger, asatsuki chives and thinly sliced miyoga.
This recipe combines the fine texture of the noodles with the refreshing flavors of sudachi, a Japanese citrus grown in southern Japan, and yuzukosho, a condiment made from dried yuzu, green peppers and salt.
If you're having trouble sourcing the ingredients, you can substitute limes for the sudachi, and Yuzusco dressing for the yuzukosho.
For something completely different, try adding nampla and cilantro to give the dish a Thai flavor.
Ingredients (serves 4 people)
- 130 – 150 g cucumber
- 60 – 70 g miyoga (Japanese ginger)
- 130 g radish sprouts
- 12 sheets of shiso (green perilla)
- 8 tablespoons of sakuraebi (dried shrimp)
- 2 teaspoons yuzukosho
- 2 sudachi, cut in halves
- 200 g somen (50 g each)
- 400 – 600 ml mentsuyu (Japanese condiment traditionally poured over somen)
Fill a pot with water and boil. Once at the boil, add the somen and cook according to the instructions on the package. Next, drain the noodles using a fine colander or sieve. Rinse them in ice cold water and drain. Repeat several times, changing the water each time.
Now that all the starch has been removed from the somen, it's time to prepare the rest of the ingredients. Slice the cucumber diagonally into pieces 1 mm thick.
Cut the roots from 130 g of radish sprouts and slice the mioga in half lengthwise and then again into thin strips.
Slice the green shiso leaves into strips 1 – 2 mm in width. Rinse the cucumber, radish sprouts, mioga and shiso together in a bowl of iced water for between 1 and 2 minutes. Mix them well while in the water.
Now divide the noodles between four serving bowls. Drain the vegetables and heap them onto the somen. Try to do this as artfully as possible. Sprinkle dried shrimp evenly over the vegetables and gently pour the mentsuyu into the dish, trying not to crush the vegetable garnish.
Add a half-teaspoon of yuzukosho to the side of each dish. Slice the sudachi into halves and add one half to each bowl. Serve.


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rotterdam-based BYTR architects have completed 'shou sugi ban', an extension to a dwelling in maarn, the netherlands.
the angled roof-profile of the single-storey structure creates a sculptured form which contrasts the minimal 1950's brick home
that is attached. the highest point culminates with a skylight oriented to flood the kitchen with natural daylight. windows along
the perimeter are located to respond to the interior functions, placed at heights which respond to views from a seated
position at the dining room table or side views to the yard from the sink and countertops.


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Since my laptop was unusable, I missed a lot of blog posts this Spring. These pictures capture some highlights!
Our friends, Jeff and Tommy, invited us over for a fun playdate in their yard. The weather this Spring was unbelievable, so we were outside a LOT! Poor Mairead is usually quite outnumbered at these playdates. At this one, there were three sets of three year old twin boys!
That same day, the weather was just so amazing that after naps, we piled the kids into the car and headed to Hampton Beach for a spontaneous afternoon of digging in the sand and flying kites. The kids loved it. It made me so happy to see them loving the beach. I have SO many incredible memories of summers in Hampton with my family. The kids loved the sand, were awed by the ocean, and thought their dad was a superstar for getting a kite in the air. Exactly what childhood should be like.
The kids are coming up with more ways to experiment or to play. It's fun to watch their little minds work! I know some parents have a hard time with the age of three, and maybe I shouldn't jinx myself, but I am loving three. The boys are so much fun! This day, they were exploring with their telescopes.
They are still pretty committed to their trains, though. The trains find themselves in all sort of predicaments. Lately, the superheroes that Daddy has are often called in to save the trains or to save the Island of Sodor from something or another. They LOVE when Dave gets home and plays pretend with them. I love it, too. And, Dave loves it. Either because he loves playing with his kids or because he loves playing superheroes... maybe a combination of the two.
Mairead was invited to a classmate's birthday party earlier in the month and she had a great time. She interacted with the kids more than I have seen her do in the past, so that was nice. She was holding hands with the birthday girl and at one point walked up to two other classmates and said, "Callie, Rebecca, do you want to play with me?" I couldn't believe it- she has never shown that kind of initiative in a social situation. I was so proud of her!
We have been to Tyngsboro Sports Center with our friends a few times, too. They have a great Open Play set up where the kids can just run around this giant, fully-enclosed field. There are toys, balls, tunnels, and all kinds of things to play with.
Some mornings, when Mom is really tired, they get to play with Daddy's ipad for a bit before we go downstairs to start the day. It's amazing to watch the three of them use it. It's almost like knowledge of computers is innate in this generation!
This is how Ben sleeps. We were worried that toddler beds might be too small, but apparently, Ben only needs about 2 square feet of space to sleep!
We have already been to our favorite playground, Penguin Park, a few times this season. I love it there- so quiet, safe, and removed from everything. The kids love it, too!
Thanks for reading-- I have a few more things to catch up on and then we will be back to 'present day posting'!


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Favorite quotes from Olivier Assayas in Filmcomment magazine, March-April 2013, on the film THE DEVIL, PROBABLY (1977, Robert Bresson, A+30):
"I had a difficult reaction to it, and it's fairly obvious, because my situation was like yours. I had the utmost respect for Bresson, but this one, my God…I had no idea what it was about. It seemed wrong. Because it was 1977, and I was into punk rock, and the energy around me was so far away from anything this film depicted. It was all about stuff we were rejecting, which we did not want to deal with anymore, it was the old world. When I looked at the film again away from that context, five or 10 years later, I realized that it was the best depiction of what the Seventies were about. To anybody who was in France at that time it's obvious, and it's extraordinary that it was an old man who cracked it. When I saw the film again, it just struck me so cruelly that what I was rejecting was not the movie, it was myself, the person I had been at the time. Because the characters in the film, specifically the central character, are really the closest to whatever I was at that age that I've seen in a film. But at the time I did not want to see that! In the end, it must be one of my favorite films of all time."
Reading what Assayas said, I wonder which film best represents your personal youth in the 1980s. Is it included in the list below?
1.THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985, John Hughes)
2.BU SU (1987, Jun Ichikawa, A+30)
3.CLASS ENEMY (1983, Peter Stein, West Germany, A+30)
4.DEADLY FRIEND (1986, Wes Craven, A+15)
5.HEATHERS (1988, Michael Lehmann, A+)
6.PRETTY IN PINK (1986, Howard Deutch, A+15)
7.THE SOUND AND THE FURY (1987, Jean-Claude Brisseau, A+30)
8.TWO OF US (1988, Roger Tonge, UK, A+15)
9.TYPHOON CLUB (1985, Shinji Sômai, A+30)
10.VICTIMS (1987, Chana Kraprayoon, A+30)
As for my own personal youth in the 1980s, I think BU SU and THE SOUND AND THE FURY are the films that best represent it.


text:
Normal service will resume over the next few days, once I've waded through a huge pile of dirty clothes, a slightly smaller pile of wedding cards and presents and completed tomorrow's 85-mile Oxford to Cambridge bike ride (so long as it's not raining.)
However, in the meantime I wanted to flag up an article that grabbed my attention today.
If you want to get some insight into what it's like to lose one, or more, limbs, read the Guardian's profile of Martine Wright.
Martine is putting her life back together after losing both her legs above the knee in the 7/7 London bombings.
Hers is a harrowing story.


text:
Don't minimize the importance of luck in determining life's course. – Alex Trebek
I got a text a few days ago that I didn't respond to until today.
The woman was a job lead who remembered me, told me there were 2 positions open for the crisis centre I want to work at and she would put in a good word for me!
She said, "I remember you. You're awesome, if I didn't think so, I wouldn't recommend you," I'm always thrown for a loop when receiving praise.
If I get this job my salary and work experience for psychology will jump exponentially.
So random and lucky –I feel blessed.
"We are changed souls; we don't look at things the same way anymore. For there was a time when we expected the worst. But then the worst happened, did it not? And so we will never be surprised again." ― Douglas Coupland
My clients remind me of how things happen to them that are so changing, they affect you on a molecular level.
Traumas affect them that are so unspeakable that I cannot wrap my mind around the reason for their insistence on continued survival.
For that, I respect them and honouring them by shutting the fuck up and listening…I offer no solutions and sit with them like a silent witness to their pain.
For that genuine knowledge that sometimes my silent observance is my best offering, is something I think that makes them track my shifts and call me when they know I am there and the spotlight is all theirs and I won't be stupid or presumptuous with them.
I am their willing student. They are my dear and tender teachers.


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PostPartisan: July 5, 2009 - July 11, 2009
The Wrong Way to Remember Michael Jackson
By Alexandra Petri Has anyone actually read H.R. 600? On its face, the resolution commemorating Michael Jackson that Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) is attacking might not seem like such a bad idea -- a more permanent way than, say, a...
Alexandra Petri
| July 10, 2009; 2:40 PM ET |
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The Obama Administration Spends Billions on the Swine Flu
By Adam Ross Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the United States will set aside billions of dollars to pursue a vaccine for H1N1, commonly referred to as swine flu. The Obama administration has officially overreacted....
Adam Ross
| July 9, 2009; 4:37 PM ET |
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In Russia, Obama's Limited Reach
By Masha Lipman President Obama spoke brilliantly and powerfully at Russia's New Economic School yesterday. And his broader effort to reach out to Russian society during his trip -- meeting with civil society and human rights activists, as well as...
Masha Lipman
| July 8, 2009; 5:57 PM ET |
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Where Is Our Cyber Defense?
By Alexandra Petri The prolonged assault on American and South Korean websites that began July 4 shows why President Obama declared cyber security a priority of his administration. But it also highlights that, so far, we don't have a coherent...
Alexandra Petri
| July 8, 2009; 3:20 PM ET |
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What Not to Say in Moscow
President Obama's election was supposed to usher in a new era of amity between America and a certain time-zone spanning Slavic nation that fell out with the Bush administration. But, like much else in Russia, Obama's reception in the...
Stephen Stromberg
| July 8, 2009; 2:53 PM ET |
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All Hail the King of Pop?
In the matter of Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) and his impolitic remarks about Michael Jackson, let us stipulate that your mother was right on the "if you don't have anything good to say" front. Especially if the person about...
Ruth Marcus
| July 7, 2009; 7:07 PM ET |
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The Humorless Al Franken
By Alexandra Petri The relationship between politics and humor lately has been, like that between pigs and sausage, somewhat one-sided. Politics and politicians provide grist for the mill of late-night talk shows, stand-up sets and parody news sources. Sure, Barack...
Alexandra Petri
| July 7, 2009; 5:57 PM ET |
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The Best of Michael Jackson
Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. may have exaggerated when he called Michael Jackson "the greatest entertainer that ever lived," but there's no question that the memorial service today in Los Angeles deserved all the superlatives anyone might want to...
Eugene Robinson
| July 7, 2009; 3:42 PM ET |
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Barry the 'Betrayed'
It's a hoot to observe the ease with which Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry cloaks himself in the mantle of the "betrayed" whenever he finds himself in a tight spot. And, true to form, that's just what we...
Colbert King
| July 6, 2009; 6:29 PM ET |
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With Palin, Keep Your Eye on That Audible
Sarah Palin's speech on Friday announcing her resignation as governor of Alaska will go down as historic: truly, it was one of the zaniest moments in American political history. It made Richard Nixon's famous "this is my last press...
E.J. Dionne
| July 5, 2009; 12:24 PM ET |
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Thursday, July 28, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Be Visually Inspired! 📷 by: @rachel_jones_ross #artofvisuals #aov #bevisuallyinspired! —————————————————————— New preset packs added to the store ever Tuesday from amazing artists within the community! —————————————————————— AOV Academy is now live, head over to www.aovacademy.com to sign up today! —————————————————————— 👉🏼Artofvisuals.com👈🏼
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"There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights." ― Bram Stoker Dancer: @annagreenbergg #ballet #dancer #instagood #instadance #pointe #powerful #dancephotography #pointemagazineofficial #freedoflondon #ballerina #instagramballerinas #worldwidedance #worldwideballet
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"There is no perfection only life" ― Milan Kundera Dancer: @maramilner of @richmondballet #ballet #dancer #instagood #instadance #pointe #powerful #dancephotography #pointemagazineofficial #freedoflondon #ballerina #instagramballerinas #worldwidedance #worldwideballet
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"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." ― Rabindranath Tagore Dancer: @terklewis of @complexionsballet #dance #dancer #maledancer #menintights #instagramfordancers #igfordancers #complexions #contemporaryart #contemporarydance #ballet #balletpost #tutu
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Untitled (Photo by @ismaileldemir)
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Friday, July 15, 2016
STRANGE FRUIT ARE HOLDING #AUDITIONS! Got something unique to offer? Strange Fruit are looking for #performers to work with the company! We are particularly interested in finding male performers with a strong #aerial / #dance background who are available for a rehearsal period in mid August (exact dates TBC) leading into an engagement in Macau from the 10th -18th of September. Don't be put off by the above requirements though, as there might be an opportunity for you! Auditionees must hold a current Australian passport and have a strong background in #circus and or dance. Details: Auditions will take place on the following dates: July 25th, 26th, 27th (morning only) & 28th. Audition details will confirmed via e-mail. Please send your expression of interest including CV, height and weight to email@example.com #circuseverydamnday #swaypoles #performers #audition #strangefruitaus
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Wednesday, July 13, 2016
#isseymiyake #irvingpenn
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Red Giselle -- dramatic/sad story about one of the greatest Russian ballerinas Olga Spessivtseva, told by choreographer Boris Eifman. Danced by Anastasia Soboleva (Mikhailovsky Ballet) and Eifman Ballet soloists. Powerful-powerful piece! Full 30 photos gallery: http://bit.ly/29KFJuG Attribution+Non-commercial Jack Devant #redgiselle #giselle #eifman #boriseifman #ballet #anastasiasoboleva @eifmanballet_official @anastasiasobolevaoriginal
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Historic and contemporary #MotherOfPearl Lacquerware from Korea, currently showcased on our second floor, celebrates an art form that has, for centuries, been acclaimed for its exquisite craftsmanship, meticulous process, and is now home to a very healthy Goldeen population. Don't miss your chance to CATCH and SEE them all. +++ As we all strive 🎵to be the very best🎵, a friendly reminder to please be #SafeAndSane of your surroundings whether you are catching a Rhyhorn or appreciating a #reinatherhino . And remember that our current special exhibition #EmperorsTreasures does not allow for 📷 in the galleries. 🙅🏻 #MotherOfPearl #AsianArtMuseumSF #PokemonGO #onviewnow #EmperorsTreasures #koreanart #Koreanlacquerware #GottaSeeThemAll #GottaCatchThemAll #SafeAndSane
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Stephanie Salts @bearlovesbean #OZR_Dance || @FujifilmX_US #XT2
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Salvador Dali "Where is the real? All appearance are deceitful, the visible surface is deceptive. I look at my hand...it is nerves, muscles, bones. Let us go deeper: it is molecules and acids. Further still: it is an impalpable waltz of electrons and neutrons. Further still: an immaterial nebula. Who can prove that my hand exists?"
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☔. Photo by @absolut_lee
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Cityscape. Photo by @gina_gjersvik
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summers, so endless (photo by @or.nella)
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So this is slightly different but we thought we'd touch on it a bit 🌪 air pollution is massive now and if we continue as we are then we'll be living in a world of absolute chaos in years to come. The main cause of air pollution is greenhouse gases and these are when we burns fossil fuels they basically get trapped in the air causing the world to warm, which is global warming. Global warming would lead to floods, tsunamis, so hot that crop would die out...and so much more! If you'd like to see us do more on air pollution and other types of pollution just leave a comment below! #climatechange
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Alexandra Danilova passed away on July 13, 1997. Alexandra #Danilova, or #Choura, was born in Peterhorf, Russia on November 20th in 1903. She trained at the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersberg, Russia. After her graduation, she was asked to join the Corps de Ballet of the Soviet State Ballet at the #Maryinsky Theatre. Danilova left Russian with the Soviet State Dancers, a company formed by fellow dancer Vladimir #Dimitriev. During summer vacation from performances at the Maryinsky, the company toured Berlin, Germany and the dancers defected, never to return to Russia again. The company left Berlin, heading to London, where Danilova joined Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1924. When Danilova was asked to audition for #Diaghilev, she refused, telling him, "If I am good enough for the Maryinsky, then I am good enough for you." That same year, George #Balanchine joined Diaghilev's Ballets Russes as #choreographer. When Diaghilev died suddenly in 1929, his company was disbanded. Dancers were left to find other companies to dance for, but Danilova was 28 and considered too old for most companies. She was eventually offered a position with the new Col. de Basil's Ballet Russe , by her friend Leonide #Massine. Quickly, as one of the most popular #dancers of her time, many theatre's would not book Col. de Basil's Ballet Russe without Danilova! She danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1938 - 1945 where she was often partnered by Freddie #Franklin. Danilova also guested with Sadler Wells in 1949, London Festival Ballet in 1952 and created her own "Great Moments of Ballet" tour dancing from 1954-1956. Her last #ballet performance was in 1957, but she appreared in a Broadway comedy/musical in 1958 called Oh, Captain!. She appeared in a single scene, a dance with the show's star, Tony Randall, which stole the show. Danilova was never good at handling her finances and found herself broke and unemployed again when ran into her friend George Balanchine on the streets of New York City in 1964. She told him of her plight and he instantly hired her to teach at the School of American Ballet. She remained with SAB until her retirement in 1989. #ballet
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@brookedidonato #brookedidonato #lovewatts #staycool
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"#MyStory is about being 100 gazillion percent authentic." —Sarah Jane Adams (@saramaijewels), antique jewelry dealer and model based in Sydney. "I don't want to look young. I don't want people to think, 'Oh, she looks good for 65.' I don't care about that. I've always bucked the system. I don't read magazines; I follow nobody. I just look at what's out there in the world immediate to me. My hint to people is: Cut out the crap. Do your thing and follow your heart and don't be frightened. Life is not a popularity contest. You've got to be popular with yourself. I think it's a happy accident that mainstream fashion has discovered the look I've been doing my whole life. I have a lot of clothes I wore when I was 18, and I'm now 61. My clothing has to be very versatile — I'm always doing tomboy stuff, climbing and falling. If I want to do some gardening, I can do it in a ballgown." Photo by @saramaijewels
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Life is pretty simple sometimes
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"I am trying to show the world that we are all human beings and that color is not important. What is important is the quality of our work"- ALVIN AILEY🙏🏾.... With @mickey.mc 😉 📷 by @eccles #alvinailey #maledancer #art #worldwidedance #instagram @instagram
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The islands we reach 💕 .
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It was a pleasure to work with this stunning group of dancers, from American Ballet Theatre! Marcelo Gomes will be bringing them to Brazil for performances in his hometown in Manaus, Brazil - August 12-14. Leotards and tights by Yumiko. @marcelua @yumikoworld @gillianemurphy @stellaabreradetsky @heeseoabt @devon.teusch @nycdanceproject @instagram #abt #abtofficial #nycdanceproject #theartofmovement #artofmovement
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#Repost @dancenthusiast ・・・ Our #WomanCrushWednesday: Ballerina Aesha Ash 😍 Learn more about "The Swan Dreams Project," a campaign spearheaded by Aesha to change the demoralized, objectified and caricatured images of African-American women [Photo by Renee Scott] ____________________________________ #art #artist #dance #dancer #dancing #choreograph #choreography #choreographer #passion #movement #instagramfordancers #dancelover #dancenthusiast #aeshaash #wcw #inspire #theswandreamsproject
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Universal keyboard
Kwiecień 7, 2008
The universal keyboard allows you to use your native letters as well as Latin symbols without getting rid of the symbols used to program and in other situations. Two keys have been added, for the Asian letter symbols, but they can also be used for switching to Latin keyboard quickly.
The number of keys in the keyboard is constant, but I have not specified their lay-out and size. Each manufacturer will do it individually. It is important that the number of keys and their function stays the same, so that any keyboard can be used as easy to write in any language.
There are enough keys in the keyboard to contain all Latin symbols as well as these of any language (that is any language that has the alphabet), including all other key symbols which are currently used in ordinary keyboards.
The number of all keys is 115 (two rollswitch). 26 new keys have been added but there are no functions permanently assigned to them. Each language will use them for their own specific symbols required to write, program and for typographic use. Some of frequently used but difficult to input, e.g. paragraph, degree, symbol "pi" π will now have their own keys in the keyboard.
This keybord is good for tablet with virtual keyboard.
Sample of small (laptop) keyboard:


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Friday, November 4, 2011
Deceptively Yummy Signature Cupcake Pincushions. Now featured on 'The Quilt Show' June 2014!
Deceptive Yummy Cup cake pincushions are the talk of the town, they are carefully hand crafted from my hands to yours.
I am so excited about the path these pincushions have taken on the sellers market. My eccentric little beauties tend to be a crowd puller and head turner.
Are you looking for that special gift for that mother, aunt, seamstress quilter and crafter that sews and often loves to get away on retreats?
Well 'Deceptively Yummy' might just be right for you, I compare the time that goes into these eccentric little beauties to the laboring process of a woman on the verge of becoming a mother, which is a very painful process, but the beauty of this process is only seen when the child is born and laying in the arms of its mother.
These pincushions are carefully hand crafted, the pins and needles that stick my fingers in the process I shall not speak about, since I just can not use a thimble in sewing, but when that lucky buyer shows up at the sales desk because the colorful pincushions spoke to them, I then know that my child is born and laying in the arms of its mother.
Making the pincushions is so therapeutic, I liken this process to traditional hand quilting, it totally de-tresses me and enliven my senses making me very happy, I am always excited with the end result when the beautiful bun is cooked, looks yummy and so enticing.
For this holiday season, Deceptively Yummy Cup Cake pincushions will sell for a reasonable $25 dollar value plus a $5 shipping and handling fee for 1 piece, and an $8 dollar fee for 2 pieces, there will be free shipping on an amount of 3 pincushions upwards.
For international purchases please contact me on my Etsy Page by sending me a Convo.
Not suitable for very young children to play with, but ideal for a seamstress, quilter, or any needle crafter. It also works as a great pincushion for hat pins and tie pins etc.
When purchased they will arrive packaged in a in a 'USPS Ready Ship gift box' and attached will be my personal complementary card,work will be autographed by me, and 2 diamond studded pins included as a personal gift in a surprise needle holder from me to you! That will be included at no cost to you.
Items will ship within 2 business days.
Be my first order this season and receive these pincushions from my hands to yours!
Original design
Copyright Braid and Stitch 2011
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Over the weekend I finished the top for Nursery Rhyme quilt that I was making for son B and DIL J's new little one that will be arriving sometime in November. J wanted something bright and cheery and I think that I fulfilled the bill with this one! Bright colors are not my natural tendency, as I love the pastels and jewel tones. But I think this will really catch the eye of the children. It was a challenge for me to make as I had no specific pattern-just a basic idea to begin with. Then the thing kind of took on a mind of it's own as one thing led to another! Of course, being the novice that I am...I didn't buy enough of the plaid companion print...figures, right? So, it got a lot more scrappy as I went along...(note the border!) But, all in all, I think it turned out just fine. See what you think.
This is a close up of one of the cute nursery rhyme blocks from the original panel. (Sorry for the fuzzy photo) But I think you can get the idea. Hope our new baby will enjoy it all through her childhood!
We are off this morning to take DH to the eye doctor. He has been having quite a time with his vision lately. They are going to dilate his eyes and see what the trouble is..I am needed to chauffer him home. We pray it is nothing too serious...I'll keep you posted.


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A development company, the Venia Group, has recommended co-working spaces for entrepreneurs to reduce the cost of building offices.
The Founder of the business group, Kolawole Oyeneyin, said subscribing to co-working spaces was beneficial than investing in traditional offices.
He urged property owners to ensure affordability while giving out spaces for use.
He said this while addressing journalists ahead of the July 27 co-working conference organised by the Venia Group.
Oyeneyin stated that co-working spaces also boost networking opportunities, adding that renting of traditional offices did not guarantee increased income.
He said, "A big advantage of working in a co-working space is cost. Compared to traditional offices, co-working spaces tend to be much more affordable for start-ups and even multinationals, which want to have a soft landing in the country. Operating a business, especially in an environment like Nigeria where infrastructure isn't yet our best friend, as entrepreneurs can drive cost through the wall.
"However, in a co-working space, the concept of rent doesn't exist; you simply subscribe for the space or package that suits your business and you can grow or shrink as you like. Understanding that money must be spent on critical elements like marketing and top talent, you want to keep operational costs to the barest minimum; co-working spaces help you achieve that."
He warned that seeking to acquire or build an expensive building as office space might affect business growth.
"Acquiring an expensive office building or anything expensive as a new business puts a lot of pressure on your cash flow," he added.
Oyeneyin urged property owners to partner the co-working industry to rescue business outfits from crumbling.
He said, "Property owners and developers have to think creatively about how to utilise their spaces and proffer property solutions that are affordable and in line with the market needs."
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
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My dream of getting a Kaimanawa straight off the muster has finally happened! It's been over 10 years in the making but at last we have our own little girl who we have called Piwaka. Such a cutie!
We had to pick up our lot from Saddle Rd between Ashhurst and Woodville, up above the foggyness. We got 3 mares, 2 colts and our little one who is about 2 years old. She's pretty big for a young one - much bigger than Tigs. The road into the yards was pretty terrifying though and the truck almost went off the side of a bridge... without the horses in it but it was still nerve-racking!
From there we had to get to Pahiatua to pick up some other young ones who had been collected by the other organisation but who were heading this way as well. 2 went to Ormondville and 2 just up the road from our house. A beautiful chestnut with flaxen mane and tail and almost Appaloosa-like white spots was dropped off up the road.
Last, but certainly not least, Vickie's lot and Piwaka were dropped off in a paddock at Vickie's. We were all exhausted (horses and people) and it's been nice coming home to rest. I'm actually so tired I can't think straight. I need to have a good night's sleep tonight and a bit of a sleep in with the dog-man.
For some reason I can't upload photos at the moment but you can see some on Facebook... if you're my friend! :) I will try and upload later.
Kerry x


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Momentum and support for -- plus some howls against -- Colin Kaepernick becoming the Seahawks' backup quarterback continue to build.
Seahawks Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett said on the radio Tuesday Seattle would be "the perfect place" for Kaepernick.
"I think a person that's dedicating their life to creating change, why wouldn't you want that type of leadership in your locker room?" Bennett said on KIRO-AM radio Tuesday morning. "Why wouldn't you want a young person that's dealt with people wanting to kill him because of his choices in life? So I don't know why people feel like that is a problem."
Bennett is already among those in the Seahawks locker room who have publicly supported the former San Francisco 49ers QB's social activism.
"I think that Kaepernick getting the opportunity to be on our team would be really cool, would really be a good place for him because you have a coach like coach (Pete) Carroll who is up for challenges like that," Bennett told 710 ESPN Seattle. "You have an owner who spends and gives back to the homeless. You've got players on your team that give back in the community. You've got Russell Wilson who shows that our team is built around community. So this is a perfect place for him."
Carroll put a blowtorch to flames of speculation about Kaepernick possibly signing with Seattle on Monday when the coach said on the radio his Seahawks were considering Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III and every other veteran passer available as a possible new backup for Wilson in 2017.
Monday night, Michael Silver of the league-owned NFL Network reported Seahawks general manager John Schneider contacted Kaepernick's agent on Friday to express interest in potentially signing his 29-year-old client.
Seahawks GM John Schneider reached out to Colin Kaepernick's agent last Friday. Interest in him as potential backup is legit. @nflnetwork— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) May 16, 2017
Quarterback Trevone Boykin played more than expected last season for Seattle as an undrafted rookie, after issues on the offensive line caused Wilson to get somewhat seriously injured for the first time in his career: a high-ankle sprain and sprained knee ligament in the first three games. Boykin has spent this offseason in legal trouble in Texas.
Court records from Bexar County, Texas, show Boykin has a motion-to-revoke-probation hearing June 6 there. That is the fifth of the Seahawks' seven days of organized team activities on the field at team headquarters within the next month.
The rampant talk of Kaepernick possibly signing with Seattle, not to mention it actually happening, fits Carroll's preference to be seen as a leader and supporter of strong, outspoken individuals who win while going against the NFL's norms.
Indeed, the Seahawks are the only one of the league's 32 teams this offseason to publicly proclaim any interest at all in Kaepernick, who reportedly has been working out fiendishly in New York preparing to play this year. There is much debate nationally whether he remains unemployed because he wants to be a starter or wants starter-like money no team wants to give him -- or because teams are blackballing him out of the league in response to his kneeling during national anthems before games last season, his protest of social injustice in our country.
Seahawks three-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman believes the latter.
The truth may lie somewhere in between those two views. Yet it's more than a tad curious that a quarterback four years and three months removed from starting and just missing winning a Super Bowl, who came a tipped pass by Sherman in the end zone in Seattle from starting a second Super Bowl for San Francisco, a man who threw 16 touchdown passes against just four interceptions for an absolutely awful 49ers team last season, has not signed a contract to at least be a backup for anyone in 2017.
Especially while guys like Mike Glennon get $16 million guaranteed from Chicago and even Kaepernick's former backup, Blaine Gabbert, gets a job in Arizona just last week.
The mere thought of Kaepernick in a Seahawks uniform has excited some and riled up others, judging by reactions to my story here Monday of Carroll stating Seattle's interest in him.
A sampling of the comments:
@gbellseattle @thenewstribune Why stop there maybe see if Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi can play left tackle!— LWSaint (@lon253) May 16, 2017
@gbellseattle I love that people are okay with twice-arrested Boykin, but not charitable, peaceful-protesting Kaepernick.— David (@David_M_R_J) May 16, 2017
@gbellseattle So would that open up some season tickets?— Michael Buzan (@michaelbuzan) May 16, 2017


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By Henri E. Cauvin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 8, 2010; 11:43 PM
An abusive foster mother nearly cost Rafael Pearson his life, and now the District has agreed to pay $10 million for placing him with the troubled woman, whose beatings left the boy with massive brain damage.
Rafael was just a few days old when he was taken from his drug-addicted mother and placed in the foster home in fall 2005. Beaten and shaken by his foster mother, the baby suffered catastrophic brain damage. He was on life support for days, not expected to survive. More than five years later, he remains profoundly disabled. He can sense light and shadows and movement but otherwise his vision is extremely limited.
The settlement, to be paid out in three installments, beginning with a $5 million payment this month, is one of the largest the District has ever agreed to.
But with a lifetime of round-the-clock care ahead of Rafael, the settlement is hardly a windfall, his attorneys say - the agreement is structured to ensure that Rafael's needs are funded for as long as he lives.
The lawsuit, filed in 2007 after the foster mother, Tanya Jenkins, was tried and sentenced to 12 years for cruelty to children, sought $50 million from the District. The suit was about to go to trial in early August in D.C. Superior Court when the parties indicated that they were closing in on a settlement.
Over the next three months, the agreement took shape, and late Friday, after a few final tweaks, the judge in the case, Judith N. Macaluso, approved the pact.
Sitting in the first row of Courtroom 415, in his tiny white Nikes and his black reclining wheelchair, was Rafael. He occasionally uttered sounds, but he cannot speak. Next to him was his grandmother, Sylvia Pearson, 57, who filed the lawsuit on his behalf and who has been his champion since the day in late October 2005 when it looked like Rafael would not survive.
"You can't replace what would have been a great, normal life," Pearson said after the hearing, "but I have faith in him and his ability to progress more rapidly than people expect."
Already, Raffy, as his grandmother calls him, has defied expectations. He made it out of Children's Hospital. He made it out of the Hospital for Sick Children. And by early next year, he is expected to leave the nursing home in Dunn Loring where he has lived for the past five years.
If all goes according to plan, Raffy will move into his grandmother's Fairfax Station home, which is being fitted with an elevator and other accommodations, and where he will have a home health aide around the clock.
It could, of course, have been worse. But it also could have been altogether different for Raffy, born Sept. 9, 2005, in a motel in Northern Virginia.
When his mother, Renee Pearson, brought him to Virginia Hospital Center later that day, he was 5 pounds 14 ounces and had traces of cocaine in his system. Concerned, the hospital called child welfare officials in the District, where Renee Pearson said she lived. The social worker couldn't verify the the mother's address in Northwest Washington and called the baby's grandmother.
Sylvia Pearson, who had watched her daughter succumb to drugs and the streets, told the social worker to take the baby. Pearson had already adopted one of her daughter's children, and her son had adopted the other. Now, they would have to find a way to help Raffy, who was going to stay in foster care while everything was sorted out.
He ended up with Tanya Jenkins, a new foster parent who was unemployed and lived in Southeast Washington with her 2-year-old son and her boyfriend. Earlier that year, another infant had been placed with Jenkins, but she had sent the child back after five weeks, saying she had health problems that made it difficult to care for the small child.
Despite the red flag, the Child and Family Services Agency came to Jenkins five months later when they needed a home for Raffy. Jenkins agreed but said she didn't have the money to care for the child and would need CFSA to rush the assistance that is routinely provided to help with costs such as additional food.
But even without the additional child, she was struggling, according to testimony at her trial. She told a neighbor that the financial assistance from the District would keep her from being evicted.
Once Raffy arrived, the stress mounted for Jenkins, according to the neighbor, who testified that Jenkins was complaining about never sleeping. Meanwhile, the city's long-troubled child welfare agency wasn't keeping tabs on Jenkins or the baby who had been entrusted to her. A social worker should have visited every week for the first eight weeks. The agency made one visit during the 43 days Raffy was in the home.
It was another harrowing episode in the annals of the District's beleaguered child welfare system, and when they filed suit, Pearson's attorneys, Sidney Schupak and Michelle A. Parfitt of Ashcraft & Gerel, planned to put the entire system on trial.
Instead, the District agreed to pay one of the largest settlements in its history, as well as $2 million in attorneys' fees.
Robert J. Spagnoletti, who was the District's attorney general under Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D), said a settlement as large as the one in this case had never crossed his desk. "It's a very big settlement," but not necessarily unreasonable, said Spagnoletti, now a partner at Schertler & Onorato.
Patrick M. Regan, a leading plaintiffs attorney in the District, called the settlement a "significant" sum of money, but said the amount had to be viewed in the context of the needs the child and his family will face over a lifetime. "It's fair," Regan said.
D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles, who was involved in the settlement negotiations, did not return a call today seeking comment.
Original Link-
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
D.C. settles for $10 million in foster care abuse case
Posted by Zoey at 9:06 AM
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We are regulars at Sal's restaurant for Sunday night pizza with Lauren. After dinner, we walk over to the Publix grocery store where Lauren does much of her shopping for the week.
From a young age, Lauren grew to love the Italian tenors particularly Andrea Bocelli.
In the middle of a grocery aisle, Lauren will begin to sing "Per Amore".
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all had a song in our hearts and no qualms about singing.. anywhere?
This one is for you Lauren...per amore!


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From The Spectator, 31 January:
The Green party has been likened to a watermelon: green on the outside and red on the inside. But that is to do a huge injustice to generations of socialists and communists. Misguided though they were in many of their ideas, nobody could accuse them of actively seeking to make society poorer.
That, however, is the unashamed aspiration of Natalie Bennett and what has become the fastest-growing political party in Britain. It is quite possible that a good proportion of the 9 per cent of the electorate who say they are planning to vote Green in May are unaware of this, but it is there in black and white ('policy EC201') on the party's website. It states that the party wants to pay every-one a 'Citizen's Income' — which has since been put at £72 a week — in order to allow 'current dependence on economic growth to cease, and allow zero or negative growth to be feasible without individual hardship should this be necessary on the grounds of sustainability'. [My emphasis. Read the rest, in The Spectator]The Greens can only call for zero or negative growth if they haven't experienced a downturn. I've experienced a couple here in Asia, the worst in 1997, when shops were shuttered and thousands lost their jobs, including me. "Without individual hardship"? They're kidding, right?
The effects of these downturns are always worst on the poorest, or the lower middle classes, which is maybe the only reason why a mostly middle/upper class Green movement can think that downturns in economic growth is a thing to be wished for.


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"These corporations, if they were individual human beings, would be locked up for life. Instead, they continue raking in the big bucks. Human rights abuses, murder, war, eco disasters, and animal exploitation keep these evil companies raking in the green. Prepare to be disgusted.
I don't think the list is in any particular order. Even if you don't agree with all of them (eg. the cigarette company) most of them are legit horrible. I'm posting a summary but I recommend reading the full article: http://brainz.org/15-deadliest-us-corporations/
Chevron : (then Texaco) discharged 18 billion gallons of toxic water into the rain forests of Ecuador without any remediation, destroying the livelihoods of local farmers and sickening indigenous populations. Chevron was responsible for the death of several Nigerians who protested the company's polluting, exploiting presence in the Nigerian Delta. Chevron paid the local militia, known for its human rights abuses, to squash the protests, and even supplied them with choppers and boats. The military opened fire on the protesters, then burned their villages to the ground.
DeBeers : was knowingly funding violent guerrilla movements in Angola, Sierra Nevada, and the Congo with its diamond purchases. In Botswana, DeBeers has been blamed for the "clearing" of land to be mined for diamonds — including the forcible removal of indigenous peoples who had lived there for thousands of years. The government allegedly cut off the tribe's water supplies, threatened, tortured and even hanged resisters.
Tyson : Even if you don't care about the horrendous animal abuse that has been documented in Tyson's factory farms, you have to flinch at Tyson's appalling environmental abuses and workers' rights violation- Tyson has allowed e coli tainted beef to enter the food supply. A recent study showed that Tyson's chickens were the most salmonella-and-campylobactor filled poultry of all the major suppliers and has even been accused of human trafficking to supply themselves with cheap labor.
Smith & Wesson : In a study of the top ten guns involved in crime in the U.S., the first was the Smith & Wesson .38 Special.
Phillip Morris : is the largest manufacturer of cigarettes in the U.S.
Haliburton : is a huge "oilfield services" company, profited big time from the U.S.'s invasion of Iraq when Cheney called in his boys to quell burning oil wells — and to "help" the Iraq oil ministry pump and distribute oil. Haliburton has also been implicated in countless oil spills, including the BP disaster of 2010.
Coca Cola : corporation has wrought devastation in India, where its factories use up to one million liters of water per day, leaving tens of thousands of nearby residents dry during the drought months. Then the factories dispose of the wastewater improperly, contaminating whatever water is left. A lawsuit in 2001 accused Coca Cola of hiring paramilitaries in Columbia which suppressed unionization in the cola plant there through intimidation, torture and murder.
Pfizer : the largest pharmaceutical corporation in the U.S., pleaded guilty in 2009 to the largest health care fraud in U.S. history. Pfizer decided to use Nigerian children as guinea pigs. In 1996, Pfizer traveled to Kano, Nigeria to try out an experimental antibiotic on third-world diseases such as measles, cholera, and bacterial meningitis. They gave trovafloxacin to approximately 200 children. Dozens of them died in the experiment, while many others developed mental and physical deformities. According to the EPA, Pfizer can also proudly claim to be among the top ten companies in America causing the most air pollution.
ExxonMobil : is perhaps best known for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill which resulted in 11 million gallons of oil contaminating Prince William Sound. But they have also been responsible for a huge oil spill in Brooklyn and for aiding in the decline of Russia's critically endangered grey whale because of drilling in its habitat. The Political Economy Research Institute ranks ExxonMobil sixth among corporations emitting airborne pollutants in the United States.
Caterpillar : supplies the Israeli army with bulldozers which are used to demolish Palestinian homes — sometimes with the people still inside. In 2003 a Caterpillar bulldozer ran over and killed Rachel Corrie, an American protesting in Gaza who stood in front of the tractor to prevent the destruction of a Palestinian home.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily : "The Cruelest Show on Earth" is famous for its abuse of wild animals.
Monsanto : Monsanto's list of evils includes creating the "terminator" seed which creates plants which never fruit or flower so that farmers must purchase them anew yearly, lobbying to have "hormone-free" labels removed from the labels of milk and infant milk replacer (through bovine growth hormone is believed to be a cancer-accelerator) as well as a wide range of environmental and human health violations associated with use of Monsanto's poisons — most notably "Agent Orange."
Nestle : crimes against man and nature include massive deforestation in Borneo — the habitat of the critically endangered orangutan — to grow palm oil, and buying milk from farms illegally-seized by a despot in Zimbabwe. Nestle attracted worldwide boycott efforts for urging mothers in third-world countries to use their infant milk replacer instead of breastfeeding, without warning them of the possible negative effects. Supposedly, Nestle hired women to dress as nurses to hand out free infant formula, which was frequently mixed with contaminated water, or the children starved when the formula ran out and their mothers could not afford more and their breast milk had already dried up from disuse.
British Petroleum : Who can forget 2010's oil rig explosion in the Gulf Coast which killed 11 workers and thousands of birds, sea turtles, dolphins and other animals, effectively destroying the fishing and tourism industry in the region? This was not BP's first crime against nature. In fact, between January 1997 and March 1998, BP was responsible for a whopping 104 oil spills.
Dyncorp : is best known for its brutality in impoverished countries, for trafficking in child sex slaves, for slaughtering civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for training rebels in Haiti. This privatized military company is often hired by the U.S. government to protect American interests overseas — and so the government can claim no responsibility for Dyncorp's actions.
So yeah.