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This morning's Scottish Daily Mail has a new Survation poll of Scotland. Referendum voting intention figures with changes from last week are YES 37%(-3), NO 50%(+4), Don't know 13%(-1). Excluding don't knows that works out at YES 43%(-4), NO 57%(+4). Tabs are here.
Survation are one of the companies that have tended to produce some of the better figures for YES. Their last three Scottish polls have shown figures of YES 47%, NO 53%. 43% is the YES campaign's lowest score in a Survation poll since January, before Survation switched their weighting scheme to Holyrood recalled vote.
Normal caveats about any sharp movement in the polls apply, but this the first full natrep Scottish poll since the Salmond-v-Darling debate, so obviously people will look at that four point swing and conclude that the debate has indeed moved public opinion towards NO. I'd urge a little caution – as ever, it is just one poll, all polls have a margin of error, and when other post-debate polls come along they may or may not paint the same picture. This first bit of evidence though suggests the first debate has helped NO.
103 Responses to "Post-debate Survation poll shows swing to NO"« Previous 1 2 3
"I really don't know what to do about Scottish threads. It's the most interesting bit of polling for the next month, yet a huge swathe of people seem to be completely incapable of discussing it without it becoming a partisan argument."
Sometimes you don't have to do anything. The recurring currency argument basically got put to bed for you last night, or at least it did until it got vaped; there are quite a few things that used to plague the board that don't any more 'cos they got put to bed.
And it wasn't partisan, it was just pointing out an inconsistency, and it was about polling, although perhaps one needs to spell it out more. In terms of polling, Darling scored a hit because the currency is not in the Yes campaign's gift. But you can't just leave it there, because then a natural reaction might be that it's bullying etc. to deny the currency, hence fostering a VI reaction.
Thus it may boil down in tbe eyes of Scots to whether it is reasonable for rUK to keep control of the currency. But if polling doesn't ask the right questions, then we will wind up filling the gaps.
@ Anthony
Thank you for your response. My apologies, I genuinely didn't mean to niggle or score points. I was initially responding to a comment by Jim Jam regarding the referendum being about identity. Old Nat wasn't commenting at that time. When he joined, I intended only to point out the factual gaps/ errors in Old Nat's comments; I do that to lots of commentators – even the almost infallible Roger Mexico!
But I will be even more cautious in the future when commenting on Scottish threads or just not comment at all because I don't want to 'spoil' this site for others.
This may be a naïve sort of question but do the pollsters actually check that the people questioned REALLY intend to vote?


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you may not be able to borrow much at one time: but in some cases, you can borrow a larger amount, depending on the policy of the creditor. First time borrowers may only be allowed to borrow $ 100. If you decide to borrow a payday loan from the same company again in the future and you maintain a good payment history with them, you will be able to borrow larger amounts of money, up to $ 1,500.
second major advantage to using an online payday loans is that
your privacy is completely protected. Your
sensitive financial information safe and secure at all times. All
financial transactions you will remain confidential and secure.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Auckland - cat story
Following my yesterdays "cat post" and despite being chastised by a photographer friend in Minnesota for stealing his cat material I could not resist making these pictures this morning. One to show if nothing more, that the cat idea is well and truly dead!
Posted by Harvey's Blog at 2:04 PM
1 comment:
Obviously a rabbit the dead one...
- December 19, 2010 at 7:47 AM
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Miss Holly is proving to be quite the little artist. She loves to draw and spends many hours with her little bucket filled with her crayons and one of her many many colouring books. She carries these around the house and sets to work on her pictures in all corners of the house. She puts alot of effort into her drawings, lifting up her head to show me which colour she will use next. Some times she will invite me to join her only to quickly take the crayon off me again, I guess my colouring is not up to her standard!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
My current favorites list
I am making this at the moment
If I ever find the time to get out my sewing machine, I would like to make this
I think this is lovely for a little girl
This is cool but to expensive for me
I would like to make nappies for Isla with this
This site has lots of good ideas
I would like to eat this, yum!
If I had the money, I would buy this
Monday, January 25, 2010
Daddy's girls
This is about him because he is good and he is kind. He was anxious about becoming a father and how he would cope with his physical limitations. Ironically, it is is disability that has allowed him to be a great parent. Unlike many fathers, the gift he has been able to give his girls is his time. He has been able to see so many of the 'firsts' that many fathers miss. Since the little ones arrival, he has taken over Miss Holly's bedtime. He tells me that as she falls asleep, she likes to pull his face close and give him lots of sweet kisses. He has also spent many hours carrying the little one in the evenings when my own arms become too sore and my legs too tired to walk anymore. I probably don't tell him enough but he is a good daddy and his girls love him very much.
Walking the floor boards
The littlest one is suffering from colic. Every night she cries. It is so hard to watch her little face twist in pain. The only thing that seems to ease the tears is walking. The other night as I walked a path around our living room for the umpteenth time, I looked at the floorboards and started to wonder how many other mothers had walked these same floor boards over the hundred years or so that this house has stood here? I decided there must have been at least a couple. In thinking about these babies that have long ago grown up and left this house, I was struck with how fleeting babyhood really is. One day all too soon Isla will be grown up. So for now, I wont will the evenings away but rather hold my little one close and remind myself that one day, I will look back on these nights I walked the floor boards with fondness.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
My big girl
There is a certain irony that this should be my next post after my one about modern cloth nappies but it appears Miss Holly has decided to toilet train herself. We have had a potty in the living room for a while now and Holly has used it a few times when asked but it is not something we have pushed. Well the last few days she has decided that nappies are not for her anymore and she has been taking herself off to use the potty! I am surprised how quick and easy it has come to her. I had imagined I would have to initiate it alot more but so far all I have had to do is get ridiculously excited when she shows me the full potty and give her a chocolate button for every 'deposit' . I am so proud of her as her nappy days start to come to an end but at the same time there is a tinge of sadness as she throws off the last vestiges of babyhood. My little girl is quickly growing into a big girl.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Demistifying modern cloth nappies
As many of you may of you may know, I have a bit of a 'thing' for modern cloth nappies (MCN). Initially, I chose to use MCN for economic reasons but quickly fell in love with how cute they looked and I have also become increasingly aware of their positive environmental attributes. I thought I might provide you with a bit of a run down on the advantages of MCN as well as an outline of the different types of MCN available today.
Benefits of MCN
- MCN do not contain the chemicals that disposables do, making them ideal for sensitive skin.
- The incidence of nappy rash is reduced as you are able to tell when a nappy is wet and change it more frequently.
- They are made from soft breathable fabrics making them comfortable for baby to wear.
- Their shaped to fit well with adjustable closures to allow the fit to be customised to fit your baby.
- Pocket nappies allow you to adjust absorption to suit your babies needs.
- You can save thousands of dollars compared to using disposable nappies.
- MCN are easy to use.
Types of MCN
All In Ones (AIO)
AIO's consist of a lining layer, absorbent inner and a waterproof cover all sewn together. They are trim fitting and very easy to use. The only negative is that drying time is longer due to the fact that the internal layers cannot be separated out.
Pocket Nappies
The most popular choice in MCN. They consist of 2 parts, an outer made from waterproof material and a stay dry liner. In between these two layers is a pocket opening which allows you to place your absorbent padding.
Fitted Nappies
Made from absorbent fabrics with sewn in absorbency. They are shaped to create a snug fit around babies legs. This type of nappy requires a waterproof cover.
Nappy cover/wrap
Is a waterproof cover, generally used over a fitted or a prefold nappy. You will need to only change a cover every 3rd or 4th nappy change unless it becomes soiled. Covers come in a variety of fabrics including PUL, fleece or wool.
Is the modern version of a flat nappy. Made from 3 panels, it can be folded different ways to suit your babies needs. Most commonly, they are folded into 3 to form a pad that is then laid inside a cover. This is the most economical nappy system.
Most people that use MCN, quickly become addicted to them. In my opinion, they is nothing cuter than the sight of a little cloth bottom!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sweet dreams
A little girl is sugar and spice and everything nice - especially when she's taking a nap.
~Author Unknown
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Knitting for the little ones
There is something deeply satisfying about seeing your little ones wearing clothing you have made with love and your own two hands. I only learnt how to knit after the birth of my first daughter Holly. These days I love to knit and always have a project on the needles. The fabulous thing about knitting is it is a highly portable hobby that can be taken anywhere. I have spent many an hour sitting on the front steps, knitting, while I watch Holly play in the garden. There are many amazing knitting patterns available off the net. My favorite patterns mostly come from Ravelry (www.ravelry.com), they have a huge selection, many of which are free.
A couple of examples of recent knits
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Baking day
Today the weather was cold and wet outside, crazy when it is meant to be the middle of summer! Decided it was a good day to teach Miss Holly how to bake. She is such a fabulous little helper, always lending a hand with house cleaning or hanging out the washing so I thought she would enjoy her first foray into the kitchen. For christmas, our family did a homemade present swap. I made cowboy cookie jars as my gifts and had one left spare so we used that today to bake our cookies. For anyone interested, you can get the recipefrom http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/ , they make a fabulous gift idea.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Our walks
Most days, I like to take the little ones for a walk. It is something I started doing when Holly was just a newborn and have continued to this day. These days, Holly goes in the pushchair while Isla is cuddled up in the ergo front pack. Both girls seem to love it, Holly sits in quiet contemplation, watching the world go by, while Isla is lulled to sleep by the gentle motion. There are many lovely places to walk near our house but my favorite is along the waterfront. I never get tired of looking at the water, somedays it is calm and peaceful, other days it is rough and moody but always different and interesting.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The waiting game
The end of 2009 was marked for us by the birth of our second daughter, Isla. We spent the first half of December awaiting her arrival. I spent days 'nesting', cleaning, washing and pulling out the newborn gear in anticipation. A friend kindly offered to take some photos of 'the bump', they turned out lovely and will be something Isla will be able to enjoy looking at in years to come
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Where the flowers grow
At the bottom of my parents property there is a river bed. Most of the year it is dry, rocky and barren. For a few months of the year when the snow on the mountains melts, it fills with fast flowing water. But, at the start of summer, it fills with something else, something far more beautiful.
On one of the long days while we awaited the impending birth of the wee girl we would call Isla, we took a trip to the riverbed. Holly was filled with wonder as she stood looking at the orange flowers that stretched as far as the eye could see.
We picked a bunch to take home and put in a vase, they lasted a few days before they died. But the memory of her wee face as she wondered amongst the flowers will be forever in my memory.
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Politicalgates shared a new photo this week that they received recently. I received this photo as well. It was accompanied by a lengthy email in which the writer tried to convince me that Bristol was not pregnant in 2007. I replied to their email and we began a back and forth correspondence. Here is the picture that I received. I'm sure most of you have seen it by now.
Side note: The person standing to Bristol's right was identified by the sender of the email as a Minnick relative.
The string of emails that I received began after my previous post in which I theorize that Trig and Tripp might possibly be fraternal twins. The sender tried so hard to convince me that Bristol was not pregnant in 2007 but I'm not buying what they are selling.
When I look at this picture of Bristol, I see a young woman who is possibly in her fourth month of pregnancy. This fits with a premature birth in December or January.
The person who sent me the emails and pictures doesn't deny that Sarah isn't Trig's birth mother but she is all about convincing us that Trig was acquired randomly. Again, I am not buying. Trig is most likely Bristol's son and I still think it is very possible that Trig and Tripp are fraternal twins.
I have another picture to share. It is a composite of pictures of Bristol from 2007. Some of them have been seen before; some are new to me. This composite was supposed to prove that Bristol was not pregnant in 2007. To me it proves the opposite.
In the September 8th Homecoming picture, Bristol is wearing the same dress as in the Hawaii picture. Notice how the dress hangs in September. Straight down with her bust much more prominent than her abdomen. In the November picture, her abdomen is protruding and you can see a fullness that wasn't present in September. When I pointed that out to the person that emailed me, they replied that Bristol was leaning inward in the September picture which is why the dress appears to hang differently. I don't think she is really leaning inward but she may be leaning against a wall or door facing. In any case, I don't think that would account for the difference in the way the dress fits in the abdominal region.
Below are some of the replies I received when I pointed out the difference in the way the dress fits in those two pictures. The replies from the person who emailed me are in bold italics so readers can more easily distinguish them from my remarks about the content of her emails.
"How do they hang differently? You see the same folds across the middle in both. There's no belly in either pic. She's even distributed all the way around, as woman are. In the TRL pics, when she's sitting, if you darken the picture and play with color, you can see a crinkle/fold in her shirt across the abdomen. And the more you harp on Tripp being born ONE YEAR earlier, the more you appear unhinged."
I don't see the same folds in both pictures. I do see a belly in the Hawaii photo and I wonder why she is so defensive about my theory on Trig and Tripp being twins that she calls me "unhinged". Why would she bother trying to convince someone that she considers "unhinged" into believing that Bristol wasn't pregnant in 2007?
"Think what you want. 2 months in what would HAVE to be a second trimester would look differently than that, more pronounced."
I wonder why this woman says Bristol would have to be 2 months in her second trimester? Why couldn't she be in the first month of her second trimester or the last month of her first trimester?
"Your twin theory is ABSURD and makes truthers look stupid. Any wonder why you're the only person who's mentioned this theory as certainty? Twins make a bigger baby bump, even at 24 weeks. People need to look at things from beginning to end, not pick and choose. You cant say Bristol was more along with Tripp than announced and ignore her flat belly in early June 08. You can't say she wasnt as far along and ignore her belly circa month 7 (Oct). If you put pics together consecutively, there's a natural progression. She was on campaign trail plenty to do this efficiently. I don't understand why people can't see the following theory as common sense:
A number of people have said the Palin kids were speculating that she was pregnant before her announcement. Local media picked up on this too. (doesn't make it real, but it makes her performance believable.) Because Sarah didn't tell anyone but 3 staffers beforehand, of course the kids are going to be confused and angry. Here is Bristol, a girl with an obvious maternal nature, who was kept in the dark about a baby coming into her family. This is a girl who I believe would have discussed parenthood in the past as something she wanted to strive for earlier than some others, though I'd say the majority of teens in smal towns and there in Alaska strive to start families by 18 or 20. Several of Bristol's friends have multiple children. So, add to Bristol's discussions on motherhood and babies the announcement that her mother is pregnant, and VOILA, you have rumors galore. It would only anger Bristol to have people think the baby is hers when she wants one more than anything - to keep up with her friends and /or soothe a baby itch. Bristol was telling peopl she was pregnant even before she knew for sure, in April 2008.
And the attached 2 pictures are of children who look nothing alike, at least to me. One could say most babies resemble each other, but there are obvious differences between these two. According to everyone who saw Trig in infancy, friends and family, he was a tiny and believable preemie.
If people like Sherry Whitstine say things like, "no one in the valley thinks Trig is Sarah or Bristol's, how does that change things for you?" The weird theories are coming from outside Alaska, which is flawed right there.
I wonder why she mentions 24 weeks? I never said anything abut 24 weeks. The 2 attached photos or of Trig and Tripp are pictures that we've all seen numerous times so I won't post them here. I did remind her that fraternal twins do not resemble each other anymore than siblings born apart do and many siblings look nothing alike. I have never said that I am certain that Trig and Tripp are twins. I always say that is a theory of mine.I don't understand what she means by "The weird theories are coming from outside Alaska, which is flawed right there." Should weird theories come from Alaska?
"I'm aware I have said Bristol doesn't need defending. I stand by that assertion. And really, I don't even feel the need to voice an opinion about babygate in general as I don't care about it. Too many other more important things happening in the country that are being ignored because of political bias, things that hav enothing to do with Sarah Palin.
However, I can't help but voice an opinion when I see someone or a group go off on some nonsensical discussion that holds little to no water.
I didn't receive a picture attachment, but am assuming you're talking about this the Greta video, in which Tripp would be about 7 weeks. Here's another one, one I cannot accurately date, but one that looks nothing like Trig. The one at the hockey game (3rd attachment) is dated May 23rd.
Here's a comparison. My niece was born this past Dec 20th, 7 days before Tripp's bday. She weighed 6lb 6 oz. Here she is on Feb 4th. (4th attachment)
I ask people, esp those who've children, to think about the 2 month difference between the Sept 8th picture (homecoming) and the ~Nov 12 picture. That alone kind of takes out the twin theory.
And for a second pregnancy, she would have shown far sooner. I personally had a very pronounced belly by week 11. I looked like I did at 30 weeks with my first. I am 5'4" and average size. (5th attachment)"
The pictures she refers to aren't important (except for the picture of her pregnant which I post below) so I didn't post them.
Why does she think this statement takes out the twin theory? " I ask people, esp those who've children, to think about the 2 month difference between the Sept 8th picture (homecoming) and the ~Nov 12 picture. That alone kind of takes out the twin theory." A picture of a pregnant woman before she begins to show and one in which she is showing a bit does not prove that she didn't give birth to twins.
"I never said I think Sarah is Trig's biological mother. I just fully believe Bristol is not. It's a gut feeling from looking at everything individually and generally. Actually, in one of my emails to you I go into what I think happened. ie Sarah listening to everyone telling her she needs to show her concern for the special needs community and voila, DS baby. She did many events in 09 and 10 for the SN community, some publicized, some not so much. She could be doing more under the radar like she does military events. I only know about all her military support because I have a close friend in Fairbanks who's made the military his lifelong career.
Yes, I'm fully aware fraternal twins can look nothing alike. Most twins I know look nothing alike. I just don't see what you see what you say Tripp looked bigger than his age in 09. I used to be Bristol's facebook friend when she friended everyone under the sun. I've seen her video
of Tripp taking his first steps at some point in 09. (sorry, no idea when.) Judging by the size of him and other pictures at events, I'd say maybe Sept? But that's really just a guess.
And yes, when I wrote that about the bump, I thought about twins being born early, as most twins are. To me, Bristol had a realistic baby bump on Nov 4 08. I also thought the RNC photos showed a realistic bump too. Whether she was padded or wore clothes that distorted her figure at other times, I will never know. Attached is a picture taken either Oct 9 or 10 in 2008. I actually think it was the 9th. This was about 5 days before the Walmart pictures were taken, of her in the gray sweater with more rounded belly. This is what I was referencing when I talked about when she rounded out.
May I point to Gina Loudon, whom people randomly mention since she adopted a DS baby. Her DS son Sammy looks a lot like her youngest biological son, who's a smidge younger than Sammy. Picture attached."
Here is the picture of Bristol to which she referred. Does anyone know the identity of the woman in the picture with Bristol?
Even though Bristol did appear pregnant in the fall of 2008 that doesn't prove she really was. She could have been wearing a good empathy belly which is weighted and would make the wearer have a sway back.
Finally, why does she bring up Gina Loudon? Here is the picture she sent of Gina Loudon's sons.
This picture doesn't look like one that would be made public and a google search for Sammy Loudon didn't bring up this picture.
Which makes me wonder could Gina Loudon be the woman emailing me? Here is a shot from the neck down of the woman who emailed me and next to it is a picture of Gina Loudon. I know it's not much and certainly not conclusive but the left arms visible in both pictures do show some similarities.
Please feel free to comment on what you make of these emailed comments and what you see in these photos.
As always feel free to email me with anything you find interesting or want to discuss.


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Bolivia's former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada has sealed a deal with a political rival giving him enough support to become the country's next leader.
The 72-year-old millionaire businessman reached agreement late Thursday with another former president, leftist Jaime Paz Zamora, to assure enough votes for Mr. Sanchez de Lozada when Bolivia's congress meets August 3 to choose a new president.
Mr. Sanchez de Lozada, who was president from 1993 to 1997, placed first in balloting on June 30, but did not garner enough votes to win outright victory. Mr. Paz Zamora, who ruled Bolivia from 1989 to 1993, placed fourth. The alliance gives the future government a strong enough majority to win congressional approval of programs to help Bolivia's poor.
The deal also effectively kills chances for second-place finisher Evo Morales to win the presidency. Mr. Morales is a leader of coca-growing Indians who had campaigned against U.S.-led efforts to wipe out the crop, which is used to manufacture cocaine.
President Sanchez de Lozada would take over from President Jorge Quiroga, who was prohibited by Bolivia's constitution from seeking re-election.


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The Walking Dead #70 (Preview)
in Comic Previews Comment
- Story by
- Robert Kirkman
- Art by
- Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
- Publisher
- Image Comics
Behind these walls everyone has their place; everyone has their job. There is no danger, there are no threats… everyone has hope. Will it last?


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Applications to Revoke Probation or
Applications to Accelerate Probation in Oklahoma
by Glen R. Graham, Tulsa Criminal Defense Attorney, http://www.glenrgraham.com/ or Telephone: (918) 583-4621
What is the difference between an application to revoke probation and an application to accelerate probation under Oklahoma law. An application to revoke probation may filed in a matter involving a suspended sentence and an application to accelerate probation may be filed in a matter involving a deferred sentence. Normally, the prosecutor files an application when the defendant is alleged to have violated probation in some manner. The most common reasons are any one or more of the following:
1. Failure to do all of the work hours or community service hours;
2. Failure to report to the probation officer;
3. Failure or repeated testing positive for illegal drugs (without a prescription);
4. Moving without notifying the probation officer of the new address;
5. Failure to pay the monthly probation fees;
6. Failure to pay restitution (when there are damages involved) to the restitution office not fines. I have never seen an application to revoke/accelerate for failure to pay fines. That is usually done by a warrant for failure to pay fines.
7. The most serious is the commission of a new offense, either misdemeanor or felony.
8. There are multiple other possibilities --- such as violation of any one of the rules of probation.
If the defendant is in custody on an application to revoke/accelerate probation, the court is required to set a hearing within twenty (20) days unless the defendant waives the right to a speedy hearing on the matter. Most defendants waive the right to a speedy hearing on the matter in order to get the case passed off as long as possible. There is a saying, any day a case gets passed is like a "temporary acquittal" because the defendant when out on bond is still free and the punishment has been temporarily avoided. In theory, if the defendant has a drug problem, then by passing the case, the defendant can obtain drug treatment. If the defendant has work days to complete then the defendant can try to complete the work days. If the defendant owes restitution, then the defendant can try to pay restitution.
Typically, the defendant will post a bond and then appear in court and obtain additional time to hire a lawyer. Once the lawyer is hired, then the matter is scheduled for a hearing. Some times a plea bargain is worked out where the defendant agrees to confess the application or admit the truth of the violations to the court and get the sentencing passed for the defendant to come into compliance with what-ever he or she did not do. For instance, the court may require the defendant to complete more work hours or community service hours and to pay all restitution that is owed and to complete drug treatment or to possibly serve some time in jail depending upon what kind of violations, how many violations, how serious the violations and the like. Each case is different and it depends upon a multiple number of factors and too many different factors to list them all here.
You should always consult an attorney in person and not just on the telephone. Would you ask for a medical diagnoses for serious medical problems from your doctor over the telephone? Why would you even consider asking a lawyer for his advice about serious legal problems over the telephone? Obtaining a legal prescription for your serious legal problems by talking over the telephone is extremely impersonal and unprofessional when you are talking to someone who you do not have a relationship to and where there is no commitment and no eye contact. Anyone can say anything over the telephone and it might be correct and it might not be correct. You should schedule an appointment to talk to a lawyer in person to discuss serious legal issues and not just call them up over the telephone trying to "punk" them for free comforting words. Comforting words can come freely over the telephone but you probably want to here the truth and not just soothing words that quiet your fears and make you feel good. The truth can hurt but it is always better to hear the truth than a lie that just makes you feel good.
Sometimes the defendant commits a new offense or even the same offense for which the defendant is on probation for at the time. Each case is different. There are a multitude of factors that a court may consider so you should consult a lawyer in person to discuss all of the factors and options in the case. See the below blog or previous blog for more information concerning those possibilities.
A hearing on an application to revoke or accelerate probation is a hearing where the standard of proof is "more likely than not" and not beyond a reasonable doubt. It is usually a summary type proceeding and the court has discretion on what kind of sentence to impose. It is possible for the court to pass sentencing for the defendant to come in compliance or to complete a treatment program. The court can impose sanctions such as requiring the defendant to complete a period of time at a private prison such as Avalon or require the defendant to compete some weekends in jail or complete a drug treatment program. Each case is different and it depends on a multitude of factors, too numerous to list here.


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I have a confession to make. I cannot master the grill.
But I have to start out by saying that, as many people know, I'm a fiercely independent person. I like to learn how to do things, and out of necessity have learned to fix toilets, do minor electrical work, change my own oil and so on.
But this weekend, I learned one thing that truly stumps me. It must be that I'm just not built to do it.
As we approach Memorial Day, National Military Appreciation Month is coming to a close. We shouldn't need reminders to thank those who have given of themselves by joining the armed forces.
And yet, it seems that year after year, we do need some sort of reminder.
Kudos to Marlyn Browning and his employees. Last year, they started an event to thank veterans throughout the region for their service. The event started humbly with a parade, but continued to include food, music, a few speeches, and of course — honoring of the veterans who were there.
Driving down winding Kentucky backroads with the windows down while listening to music, laughing, the new $5 footlong deal at Subway restaurants, the smell of fresh cut grass, anxiously awaiting new episodes of Lost and Desperate Housewives, Espaol, meeting new people, writing...and these, Henry County, are just a few of my favorite things.
Each year, across the nation, one event brings together entire communities to take part in the fight against cancer. That event is the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. It's a time and place where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those we've lost and fight back against a disease that touches too many lives.
It's hard for a reporter when a source doesn't want to talk.
Attempts to reach Larry Mahoney in recent weeks for an interview failed, which means the stories we have about the impact of the May 14, 1988, bus crash will be published with no quotes or information from the one man most people probably want to hear from.
The Henry County Seniors would like to thank each and every person that donated items or came to our 8th annual Derby Eve Breakfast. We truly appreciate this community so very much. For those who came and we had run out of food, we apologize. That makes us strive to be bigger and better next year. These last four years this county has come together to make the Senior Center and other project realities. We are truly blessed with good leadership and good people.
Thank you.
Henry County Seniors
Tragedies often occur without warning.
A poor decision, a quirk of timing, a crash, flames, smoke, death: Suddenly, a tiring but exciting Saturday of amusement park fun endedon a dark,lonely stretch of interstate miles from home.
For 27 people — 24 children — the moment of horror was brief.Survivors of that fateful collision that's come to be known as the Carrollton bus crash still live with a mix of frightening memories and scars of mind and body.
In this week's paper, you'll find several stories focusing on the 20th anniversary of the Carrollton bus crash.
The stories in this week's paper represent just a fraction of those that were written for the event's 20th anniversary, and we will make the rest available on our Web site, www.hclocal.com.
Several papers took part in this effort, including the Carrollton and Elizabethtown papers who serve the communities most deeply affected by the accident.
Copyright © 2018
The Henry County Local is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Eminence, KY and the surrounding area.


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Dear Reader,
Google is in the headlines right now. Earlier today I trackbacked TechCrunch's article about the rumour of Google acquiring Digg. Later on I found Google Operating System's contrasting article on the same subject.
Another thing I found out about today is Google's new article repository, Knol. A bit Wikipedia-like endeavour for creating articles but with the exception that the writers of articles are clearly shown on each article or haven been given the credit for written articles. Read more about and test Knol here.
Filed under: Search Engines, Web 2.0 | Tagged: Digg, google, Knol | 1 Comment »


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June 25th, 2011.
|On the way to Minneapolis. I went to visit my friend there.
Ever since she came to the States.
we never got to see each other.
So, I decided to just steal some time and go see her.
|Gosh, Zee had so much fun at the Mall of America .
Look at her! What a big-time hug is she giving to Dora!
|Wow! She is such a friendly toddler.
|Look at this little super model.
|As she saw this ride, she screamed so hard, "Mamma, Boo Coo!".
And she was right , it was Blue right there.
|She really enjoyed the trip and I am glad that she had fun.
|And there is her "pungbob" (Sponge Bob).
She was all ready to take pictures with him.
|Boy, it wasn't easy to take her out of there.
|Me and my Zee.
|I am so thankful to God for my little Zee.
|She is with her aunt (my friend).
|Mad at us. Wasn't ready to leave.
|See, she had real fun there.
|Zee decided to take taxi and come home alone.
Well, that's her choice.
|But finally, she agreed to come with us.
And there she is, driving back home.


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Gila Bend is located in the state of Arizona.
Gila Bend, Arizona has a population of approximately 2,025.
Gila Bend, AZ has a median household income of
The median household income for the surrounding county is $53,689
compared to a national median of $53,482.
The median age of people living in Gila Bend is
28.9 years.
The average high temperature is 107.5
degrees in July, with an average low temperature in January of 41.3 degrees.
Gila Bend has an average rainfall of approximately 7.7 inches
per year, with 0 inches of snow per year.


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Tonight I was the hands and feet for my son. A classmate of his was broadsided and killed by a drunk driver last week. Her visitation was very filled with friends and relatives—I chose not to go through the receiving line. I didn't know her in life—I didn't feel right looking at her in death. I thought and practiced conversations with her mom three dozen times in the past week—each and every one ended in my weeping—not what her mom needed at a night like this. In the end I signed the registry, including both mine and my son's name, walked around looking for someone I knew, and stood in the back of the room, watching her mom and staring at her coffin. The photos that were in the reception room were probably still put together from her graduation open house last spring. Her videos from script-writing class are immortalized forever. Tonight I felt and still feel somber: thankful that my 5 children are at home, either sleeping or studying for exams; thankful that my eldest is at school studying his brains out and swimming his heart out. I feel indulgent that I have so many beautiful blessings, and Bethany's mom is grieving in a way that I never want to understand. I have a wonderful sister that shares her name, one that is too far away for me to hug, which I would do tightly tonight. And tonight, I was an extension of my eldest son, who knew her briefly but will never forget Bethany.
All my best,


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This is a much simpler method how to remove glitter polish using foil. It's quite popular on nail forums and with nail techs, so why not try it at home next time? It makes the glitter polish just slide right off - rub free! No joke.
Watch the video directly on Youtube.


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While media and fans keep speculating on a new singer for Velvet Revolver, Slash isn't waiting around, but rather, keeping busy with solo project. "I'm working on it pretty aggressively right now while I have the time cause as soon as Velvet finds its singer, then it's going to be off the races with that," he tells Spinner. "I'm using this little period to be able to do as much on my solo record as possible. I'm not sure exactly when it will come out, but hopefully it will come out before the Velvet record."
"It'll be my first solo record," he continues. "All the other ones were just me putting other bands together and going out and just jamming. This will actually be a little bit more personal."
Slash was in a bit of a reflective mood when he spoke to Spinner as it was just after he was honored for his sobriety at a MusiCares event in L.A. There, Slash shared the stage with Steven Tyler, who presented him his award, fellow honoree Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick's Robin Zander and Camp Freddy. "When I was 14 years old, I was going to Cheap Trick, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper gigs," he says. "And if you told me, 'In the future, you're going to be jamming with Steven Tyler, Robin Zander and Alice Cooper,' I never would've believed it. That would've been an premise."
Slash recalls listening to Aersomith's 'Rocks,' which shaped his wild partying days. "One song in particular, which really represented who I was at 15, was the song called 'Nobody's Fault,'" he says. "Listening to it now, you can only imagine what a sort of slightly sleazy, bloodthirsty kind of kid that I was."
Like many artists who danced with 'Mr. Brownstone' and its ilk, Slash considers himself fortunate to now be sober and a family man. "The music was great and then to just really put the icing on the cake, you have booze, drugs and sex -- just this total freedom," he says. "But you're teetering on the edge if not dangling by one foot the whole time and you're lucky if you can come out the other end."
Slash signed pic (Young Photo)


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Muitos parabéns ao Manuel Paiva (na imagem) pelo merecidissimo grande prémio Ciencia Viva que logo vai receber. Divulgo o texto que apresentou na recente homenagem a Mariano Gago
Space exploration in the classrooms
(SCIENCE Today and Knowledge as Our Common Future. International Conference in Honour of José Mariano Gago: Session 4 – EDUCATION and CULTURE: New Challenges Towards "Science for All". Lisbon, November 20, 2015)
Space exploration is a common subject within and outside Portuguese classrooms. On several occasions, young Portuguese pupils and students came to this "Pavilion of Knowledge", to be in direct contact with ESA astronauts in the International Space Station. Many other educational activities took place since Portugal became an ESA member in November 2000. José Mariano Gago was then the Portuguese Minister of Science and Technology and Jean-Jacques Dordain the ESA Director General.
However, already in 1995, the year Mariano Gago became Minister, he initiated negotiations with the European Space Agency and many young Portuguese, mainly engineers, benefited from training at ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. When they returned to Portugal, they were at the heart of its emerging space industry. When we celebrated, in this Pavilion, the ten's anniversary of Portuguese membership at ESA, Mariano Gago pointed out, I quote: "we are going through a very stimulating moment, with a permanent increase of the link between industry, the scientific community, and the space sector". And he was right: today, Portugal counts about 20 companies, and almost the same number of research institutes with space activities. But this is not the topic of my talk: I would like to show, that bringing space exploration into the classrooms, is an excellent tool to inspire young people for scientific careers and, in line with Gago's philosophy, "to fight scientific illiteracy, and to interest the general public for science".
We have with us several experts on education and I hope they agree that we should introduce science as soon as possible, already in the nursery schools. I had in this pavilion a unique experience with pupils from a first year primary school. The topic was "how are the stars born?", and when José Mariano Gago got to know of this pedagogical experience, he decided to come incognito and took a chair on the last row. In fact, he just applied one of his principles, I quote: "science education, is not only part of the responsibility of the ministry in charge of education. It is part of any ministry in charge of research, of science and technology".
A very original project is "Ciência Viva School" or "Escola Ciência Viva", created by Rosalia Vargas: last year, pupils of the first four years of primary school, from 46 different schools, spent one week at the "Pavilion of Knowledge" with their teachers, for one hands-on week, and a direct contact with a scientist. One year ago, I was that scientist when Philae landed on a comet. It was an ideal opportunity to give real insight into the difference between weight and mass. I could explain that Philae weighted 100 kg on Earth, but only one gram on the comet, while, obviously, keeping the same mass. This was the reason for its bumping landing. Then, I repeated an experience carried out few months earlier together with Carlos Fiolhais, who is well known from most of you. The question was: what would be the shape of a candle flame in the International Space Station? After one hour of answering the questions from 10 years hold pupils, one of them finally got the solution, a very surprising one for those not familiar with microgravity. I will not give you the answer today, to leave intact your own pleasure when you find it.
On the sites of ESA and NASA, plenty of educational projects can be found for pupils of all ages up to university students. Today, I will focus on a competition called CanSat, because it has a great success in Portugal, thanks again to Ciência Viva and to Ana Noronha. It is indeed Ana who was at the origin of the space educational projects in Portugal. The name CanSat comes from can, a soft drink can, and Sat from satellite. The can is a real 33 centiliters can. The satellite is a simulation of a satellite, because the launching rocket reaches the height of 1000 meters only. The participants of this competition were high school students. Their mission was to propose a project requiring measurements from sensors to install in the can. Their teachers spent a few days at ESTEC, where they received training and a kit with temperature and pressure sensors, and a radio transmitter. Each team had to build its own parachute to safely bring back the can on the ground. The descending velocity should be controlled, and the transmitted data recorded during the descent. Moreover, they were expected to propose and realize something original. For example, several teams equipped the CanSats with a GPS that measured position as a function of time. Even those of you who don't have a scientific background may remember that the derivative of the position in respect to time is the velocity, and the derivative of the velocity the acceleration. You probably learned this in an abstract way, by doing some mathematics on a blackboard. Here, the students were watching the CanSat descending with its parachute and, simultaneously, the computer screen may show 3D graphs of position, velocity and acceleration. It is hands-on calculus, telecom and informatics.
This year, 40 Portuguese schools took part in the competition, and after a first selection, 15 were invited for two days of intensive work at the Santa Cruz airfield, 60 km north of Lisbon. The winners were from the "Escola Básica e Secundária de Santa Maria", in the Azores. The idea was to use the CanSat as a relay to enable the transmission of a SOS message, that otherwise could not reach a rescue team. The jury evaluated not only the innovative aspects of the projects and their technical achievements, but also their educational value, the team work, the quality of the presentations, in English, and the outreach, that includes communication to the media. It is not difficult to guess, that the ESA tracking station on the small island of Santa Maria, was a source of inspiration for the students and their enthusiastic physics teacher. This requires a lot of work for the teachers, who have to learn new digital techniques and transmit them to the students, who were born in a digital world. It is an example of life long learning. For the students, instead of only learn how to do, they also learn by doing. Finally, this project requires an interdisciplinary approach, which is a key for innovation. This year, the European final took place end of June in Portugal, on the same airfield, with 16 teams from 14 countries. I think that those who participated, went home with the feeling that we are indeed moving towards a knowledge-based society.
Two or three years from now, some of the students who built the CanSats will build real satellites, as ESA is providing launch opportunities for student-built 1 kg satellites. However, for these students, the decision to go for a scientific carrier was taken long time before that. How to inspire younger students to study science? I am not sure that there is a consensus between experts for the reasons of that lack of interest for science and engineering, and why this is more pronounced in the so-called richest countries. Mariano Gago, had clear ideas on the subject, and I wish to finish my talk by giving him, once more, the floor. I quote: "in contrast with the expectations of those who live within the science sector, the youth and even some of the most creative youth, is not keen on science and technology. To study science is hard work. For those who like it, it can be fun. But it's hard work. You will not permeate youth culture in a rich society only with job perspectives. In a vast number of families, youth will think: why not choose something easier? Life will not be bad at all… after all. It's not by telling the youth that science is very important for making a lot of money in companies. That will not change the mind of any one of fourteen, fifteen. Science is not presented as connected to human values. Only the human values of science can motivate and permeate youth culture".
Manuel Paiva, honorary professor of physics and former director of the Biomedical Physics Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.


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Bit of an update of the first post. Another artist called Chris Elliott did a quick-ish block out of my concept, which i then worked up into the above image.
Nice stuff. Haven't checked your site for a while. Ahh, you can't beat some cool tech.
Hey Ian, yea ive been slow to update this iste. i do have a new image im working on, showed you the initial design a good while ago, but in the middle of doing a very high res illustration of it, be up in a week or two.


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kegsrus wrote:any idea on turn-around time? what's the label situation?
braindead wrote:You guys did one song at the shows in Chicago that sounded like it could be on the new album. Is that true?
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text: Yesterday I had a dream of you ,a dream that I would never wanna wake up from . We were fighting, then all of the sudden you hold me so tight diminishing all my power . Then I waked up with the sadness of the world weighting my heart down and went through my day trying to remember your touch ,your kiss, your hand going through my hair and your breath on my neck .Counting the minutes for the day to end wishing I never woken up and praying to god to see you in my dream tonight . I know we are not right for each other, but I can't help it you are my reason to live ,so if I can't have you for really then leave me to my dreams maybe just maybe one day it will come true..


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Counter-Strike. A series that has been revolutionized and immortalised as one of the greatest multiplayer series of all time. Spanning for over a decade, each re-iteration brings more players to the frantic first-person shooter, expanding the playerbase. It's not simply about shooting enemy opponents over the internet however - there are many popular modifications that allow different gamemodes to be played.
The newest addition to the series, Global Offensive, has reached over one hundred thousand active users each month, and over three million unique users. Contributing to this rise of players never seen before includes the cheap price the game is set at ($15 USD, well below the full cost of other premium games, such as market competitors like Battlefield and Call of Duty), the cosmetic upgrades, the Operation packs (which support mapmakers creating more maps to play on in competitive mode), as well as frequent gameplay changes to ensure all guns are balanced and able to be used at a competitive standard.
And that's the reason why it's been so successful. All guns are available to be used, even if you just started the game. At the core, there's nothing that prevents you from using anything, unlike games like Battlefield and Call of Duty, which restricts you to either purchasing extra-DLC's to unlock the guns, as well as achieving enough in-game "experience" to unlocks new forms of weaponry.
The way that Valve is financially supported is by the forms of purchasing "keys" which are used to unlock crates or cases that are dropped during gameplay. Once opened, these crates will give a randomised skin of a weapon or a knife, which only affects the graphical look of the game. Additionally, Valve allows support of map-makers, with Operation passes that are purchased by the players, that fund both Valve's tournaments as well as map-makers that have made it into the Operation.
In a market where games seem constantly more "pay to win", where you can boost your progression in exchange for money, Global Offensive is a stalwart defender. In an era where "freemium" and "pay to win" games are predominant, Global Offensive is a lone game that's standing against everything.
But it needs to be careful. Valve, even though are seen publicly as a company we all love and support, need to understand that currently the game has a lot of support due to its balanced gameplay as well as support for tournaments (recent tournaments have a prizepool of almost 250,000 USD!). If Valve ever decide to proceed in a way that hinders the ability for people to fully access the game, the support of the game will, in my opinion, decline.
If Valve decide to release any "weapon packs" where you need to pay or any minimum hours played on any mode, even if to combat the amount of cheaters in competitive matchmaking, it would lead towards the recent trend of gaming - where we purchase our way into better items and objects. Thus, we should applaud Valve for their current direction with the game - and let our money speak to them. That we're perfectly happy with this model, where we can support both tournaments as well as map-makers and the company. What we're not happy with is if the company decides to tend towards the way of other "pay to win" games, and thus not purchase their product/s if they choose to go this way (see Counter-Strike: Nexon Zombies).


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|Jordan - 2 Weeks Old
Given that, I decided I would take another week or two to let our sleep improve before getting back into any workouts. Any extra time I have would be spent sleeping, not working out.
Now, Jordan is 2 weeks and 4 days old, and our sleep is already much improved this week! He and I are sleeping for at least 2 hour stretches, sometimes up to 3 hours at night. I think it will only improve from here.
So, I've decided to go ahead and start the nutrition portion of my plan as well as some light exercise, tomorrow. I've got a date for yoga tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. and will enter the IsaBody Challenge at that time, too!
I'm thinking my regular workouts will begin the week of May 5 - not only will that have given me 4 full weeks to get into the swing of things and get some more sleep, but I am super busy next week preparing for a JustCleanse presentation that I am hosting here in Bend next Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3.
Oh, and I have gotten out for a few walks and a few rounds of disc golf. I have not made it out every day (again....sleeping has taken precedence there) but I have not been entirely lazy ;)


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"I remember learning about mythology & Greek gods in elementary school....boring! Well, this fantastic book takes everything you thought about gods/mythology and turns it on it's ear, sort of like "Wicked" did to the "Wizard of OZ". At times funny at times gruesome and scary, this story definitely kept my interest. I loved the way the writer made the gods "human". I also liked the subtle, blink and you'll miss them hints sprinkled throughout the story. Don't let the young adult genre scare you away. This is an engaging story that can be enjoyed by all. Can't wait for the next one!!!!" ~Paula (Amazon Review)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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So true!
Ebola: 100 people from Beverly Hills starving in a rat-infested apartment
by Jon Rappoport
August 7, 2014
Do you think all bizarre human symptoms must be caused by a germ?
Absurd. Insane.
Ever heard of Scurvy? It's basically a drastic Vitamin C deficiency.
Read this, from the Journal of Applied Nutrition, Volume 15, 1962, "Have We Forgotten the Lesson of Scurvy?" by WJ McCormick, MD (reprinted at selene river press):
"From the 14th to the 19th century, scurvy took the lives of millions annually in Europe and Asia. From 1600 to 1800, it is estimated that fully a million English sailors succumbed to this disease. In the early history of these pandemics the designations "Plague" and "Black Death" were used…the characteristic symptoms: multiple hemorrhages under the skin (red, purple and black spots and hematoma) and [hemorrhages] from all mucous membranes—gastrointestinal, pulmonary and genitourinary…"
Sound familiar?
People use the fact…
View original post 1,009 more words


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Faithful To Me
VISION: A Revelation Without Action Fades
Read: Ezekiel 12:1-28
God told Ezekiel to pack up his belongings and symbolically at out the exile awaiting the Jews, once again using creative means to communicate vision.
In Ezekiel 12:21-28 God speaks of the powerlessness of visions unless someone puts feet to them. Visions lose their strength without action to support them. Good leaders always share both the vision and the steps of its implementation.
Yet the first step always must be to catch the God-given vision. consider one process to go through as you attempt to catch God's vision for the people.
1. Look within you: What do you feel?
2. Look behind you: What have you learned?
3. Look around you: What is happening to others?
4. Look ahead of you: What is the big picture?
5. Look above you: What does God expect of you?
6. Look beside you: What resources are available to you?
The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Notes and Articles by John C. Maxwell, New King James Version, Thomas Nelson Bibles, ISBN 0-7180-0660-7
Faithful To Me (Reprise)- Jennifer Knapp
Music Video by Beanscot: You can search the ends of the earth, but the only thing that can fill that God-shaped hole in your heart is Jesus.
By SIMPLY DIVINE LOVE on Monday, February 02, 2009
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A recipe for you all
Posted January 9, 2010on:
Consider this in between the last post and the new post. It is post #2.5 if you will, because I am being harassed in my every day life to update this thing.
One of the problems I have most often at work is that I have an oral fixation (please…enter jokes here) and pretty much always have to be eating or drinking something. That's occurred since I was a baby, walking around with an empty bottle hanging out of my mouth. At work, I'm trying to drink water to pacify this, but during a 9 hour day, I have to snack on something (not counting lunch, which I generally get from the Best Vegetarian Restaurant Ever, right around the corner). Lately, this "snack" has consisted of dark chocolate, which I guess is better than milk chocolate, but I'm thinking it should probably not be an occurrence in each of the six days a week that I work. So I've been on the look out for a good snack to bring to work.
LUCKILY, I have this girl on my Facebook feed that I went to Mexico with way back in 2007. This girl is studying to be a dietician and thus is blogging about it. Recently she blogged about roasted chickpeas.
Now let me tell you, Girl, I'm Fat Audience. I love me some chickpeas/garbanzo beans. Whether whole, in the form of hummus, as falafel…I don't care. I will chow the hell down. So this seemed like an obvious approach. I've whipped up a batch in the last couple of hours and I must say, they are delicious. So to give credit where credit is due, I feel you should all check out Amari's blog here, at Eat Chic. She's a smart, cool girl, though I'm not sure she remembers who I am, and she seems to know what the hell she's talking about. I've linked specifically to the garbanzo bean recipe.
However, I did modify mine a little bit. I did the following:
Throw a whole damn bag of raw, whole chickpeas into a pot of water. Let that boil for two minutes, and then let it sit for two hours. Or, you can go about it in the non-Panamanian approach, and just buy those guys in cans.
Once they are edible (or taken out of their cans), mix them up with olive oil, lemon juice (I had about three cups of beans, so I used about 5T olive oil, and 2T lemon juice). Then toss them in the following spice mixture of salt, pepper, cumin, curry, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and probably some more curry, since it prevents Alzheimer's. Roast them up for thirty minutes, making sure to stir part way through.
This recipe is for everyone. It's vegetarian, it's vegan, it's gluten free, it's pretty diabetic friendly…I really don't know of anyone who *couldn't* eat this. Plus, it's a good source of protein, so when I'm hitting my 3pm slouch and am about read to throttle my ridiculous boss, I will just reach for my handy Tupperware container of these guys, instead.
BRAVO, Garbanzo.
Posted January 1, 2010on:
A note before we begin: Yahoo has proclaimed that eating full fat cheese actually aids in weight loss. You can read the article here. I am more thrilled than any of you can actually imagine. Obviously the key is moderation, but hello! CHEDDAR CHEESE FOR WEIGHT LOSS. I am a glutton.
I am evidently the most infrequent blogger ever. I think I got momentarily inspired when I went to see Julie & Julia and actually thought that maybe I would have updated on a daily basis. Ha! I also thought I had a job with daily internet access, but I guess that isn't so much the case.
So what has been happening in the last eighteen days? I will tell you what. It is difficult trying to get into the swing of this weight-loss thing, and especially around the holidays. Here in Panama, Christmas is celebrated by buying a giant wreath of "egg bread," whatever that is, and eating it at pretty much every meal. It is Jorge's favorite bread ever, and as it's only available once a year, it is a constant presence in our apartment.
Other delicacies that fall into the "once-a-year-so-let's-eat-as-much-as-possible-of-it-now" category are cookies that are made out of almost entirely butter, eggnog, giant 25 lb. turkeys filled with pork sausage stuffing, whole legs of pig, and fruitcake fruitcake FRUITCAKE. So while that's all well and good and not nearly as damaging to cardiac health as the types of food my American family indulges in during the holidays (nor as delicious…), it's also not the best fare when one is trying to "rebajar." Add that to the fact that my new job is not nearly as physical as my old one, and we have a problem on our hands.
What to do, what to do? I will tell you what: we will start an account at Sparkpeople. Sparkpeople is an amazing, wondrous website that almost the whole world already knows about, but which I will shamelessly pimp out anyway. It's effective, supportive (with this whole huge online community thing that holds you accountable), nagging (in that it sends you various emails EVERY SINGLE DAY if you forget to turn off the notification like I did), and most importantly, it's free. You enter in your information, your goals, and your lifestyle, and it creates a work out plan, eating plan, and grocery list for you.
And weight loss isn't the only goal with Sparkpeople. There are various goals to choose from that can help improve the quality of your day, and that don't necessarily have anything to do with your weight loss. My personal goals include "drink 8 glasses of water every day," because I am a Diet Coke (or rather, Coca-Cola Light) addict who should be a paid sponsor for the company, as well as "listen to an upbeat song every day." So while obviously the website's primary goal is to encourage weight loss, it also fosters a very healthy online environment that also encourages people to take control of their lives in other ways. I should mention that Sparkpeople is definitely for everyone.
Now obviously, I am still in Panama. Sparkpeople doesn't exactly take this into account when it creates, for example, my grocery list. What's that, Sparkpeople? You want me to buy swiss chard and quinoa? Even if I did know how to translate "swiss chard" into Spanish, I highly doubt any supermarket around here would have it at an affordable price. The only supermarket in which I can find some of these things is the local Kosher place. There, quinoa costs $6 a can, which in the United States I guess wouldn't be bad, but here that's the equivalent of two hours of work. So no, Sparkpeople, I will not be using quinoa. I will be defaulting to brown rice.
Anyway, after all that ranting, my point is this: use Sparkpeople. It's an incredibly useful tool not only for weight loss, but also for nutritional planning and all around health-management. I suggest every single one of you head right on ever there right now to create an account.
In other news, I took my measurements about two weeks ago. They are the following:
Waist: 31
Hips: 42
Thighs: 24
Arms: 13
Neck: 13.5 (MY UPPER ARM IS THE SAME CIRCUMFERENCE AS MY NECK!?)
I am, as I am told often in this country, "murlona." That translates, basically, to "thick-legged." It's a fact of life and one that I'm not getting around any time soon. I can lose all the weight I want and I'll still be pear-shaped as hell. My calves do not fit into knee high boots and didn't even at my thinnest, and the skinny jeans at Zara are my "thinspiration," as it were. If I wear a six around my waist, I will still wear about an 8 just to accommodate my huge Viking legs (another Jorge-ism).
An anecdote for you: while in the Peace Corps, I got parasites pretty badly (multiple times). The first time I was struck down with them, I traveled to the local rural clinic to get some anti-parasite drugs. I walked into the clinic, and the doctor's first reaction upon seeing me was "why are your legs so swollen? Is that a build up of fluid? We're going to have to drain them!"
Yeah, he was talking about my normal, giant calves. My calves which I try to attribute to years of tap and hockey and figure skating, but which are abnormally large regardless.
I am hoping, however, that with my vigorous combination of exercise (which I will get into on my next post) and eating somewhat healthily, my calves will shrink, but if anyone has any tried and true ways of deflating these bad boys, let me know.
I realize, in all my glorious partying, caring about the change of the decade ways, that it became 2010 while making this post. So I wish all of you a safe and happy New Year, and you can probably all predict my resolution for 2010: lose this fucking weight. And I promise you all: the next post will include pictures! Yay!
Here we go!
Posted December 12, 2009on:
I am a fatty.
I'll come right out and say it. I am a fatty. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. Maybe at one point in my toddler-hood, I was a normal, active girl, but I don't actually remember that time; it only exists in pictures and anecdotes. Since my very first memory, I have been chubby, overweight, "pleasantly plump." Whichever horrifyingly cute word you use to describe it, it still comes down to the same thing: I am fat.
It's garnered attention all my life.
My Godfather, whom I love, called me Chipmunk Cheeks for the fatty deposits on the side of my face that resemble a chipmunk storing enough food to last him a winter.
I always had to order the giant leotards in my dance classes, and fight against the tights that didn't want to fit my ginormous calves. When the other girls had no problem changing out in the open, I ran behind a curtain so that no one had to stare at my rolls. I was conscious of this at age 10.
My fiance calls me Piernona (big legs) or Viking, both in reference to the huge tree trunks that are trying to pass as my lower extremities. He loves them, and means it purely as a compliment, but it is still as reference to my big-ness.
Suffice to say, I am not a small girl. However, as big as I am now, it was, at one point, worse. Let's all reflect on these pictures from high school/early college, where I stood at 5'7″ and weighed between 200-230 lbs., depending on the year the photo was taken.
In this picture, I am the seafoam green monster.
In school, I was not just fat. I was "holy shit, girl, you're huge." Some classmates made sure I didn't forget it, especially from fourth grade to around eighth grade. Granted, the "wide load, Bessie" comments died down by the time I got to college, but my self-esteem took a definite hit. Eventually, it came to the point where I got sick of moping around about poor Fatty Melissa, and decided to buy a bike (this coincided with my impatience regarding the Chicago Transit Authority). Riding it as my main form of transportation, along with consciously not stuffing my face with chocolate, resulted in a thirty pound weight loss over two years…I went from 230 lbs. to 200 by my college graduation.
And then I took the biggest step yet toward weight loss: I joined the Peace Corps. Getting shipped off to Panama, complements of the United States Government, insured me another thirty pound weight loss. I dropped to 170 – my lowest weight ever. Here's a picture of how I was hot, to commemorate that event:
On the right, in my sassy size 10 Gap jeans.
But eventually, my body had to adjust to the parasites in the water, and I had to start eating all that strange food being served to me. The diarrhea stopped, the love of arroz con pollo began, and after 2.5 years of living in this country, I have gone back up to 185 lbs.
And enough is enough.
I am a 24 year old. I only weigh 185 lbs. I am not heavy enough to be a Biggest Loser Contestant, and yet I am not nearly as motivated to lose the weight, either. Those people are way heavier than I ever was, and yet they manage to put their ass on a treadmill and do something about it. I, on the other hand, can't haul my ass out of bed any later than a half an hour before I need to leave my house. That kind of "self-determination" does not exactly lead to permanent and lasting weight loss. Which is where this blog comes in.
I'm hoping that, by having a blog, there will be some amount of accountability. Maybe I'll have readers, or maybe I won't. If I do, maybe they'll be people I know, who leave messages like "Melissa, get up off your fat ass and run a mile." Who knows. I just know that if I have to write about it, then I'll do it. It'll be like homework for me, every day.
So thus begins "Girl, You Fat." A look at a 24 year old girl's struggle with weight loss, from a country where the food is rice and fried meat, and pretty much everyone suffers from adult-onset diabetes. Where potatoes and plaintains are considered vegetables, and eating a salad for an entire meal is unheard of.
And I have motivation. The goal: look hot as hell for my May 29th, 2010 wedding, and then come back to the United States and stun everyone I ever knew in my old life.
I have the dress. I have the blog. Let's go.
Hello world!
Posted December 12, 2009on:
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Did you play with paper dolls when you were a kid? Well here is your chance to do it again with How to Make a Spring Peacock Paper Doll with Rinea Foil. The Spring Peacock Paper Doll collection is from Calico Collage and I have paired it with Rinea paper foil.
The fun thing about these paper dolls is that you get to make them any way you want. With the items in the kit you can pick and choose which patterns you want to use. Or you can make up your own.
For my Spring Peacock Paper Doll Fairy I decided to add some of the Rinea paper foil. I love the shine and sparkle it adds.
Supplies used for How to Make a Spring Peacock Paper Doll with Rinea Foil
Calico Collage Spring Peacock Paper Doll
Rinea Foil, Blue, Pink, and Purple
Tim Holtz Sizzix Die, Butterfly Duo
Sizzix Die, 3D flowers
Cross Lock Tweezer
Bamboo Skewer 12 inch
Acrylic Paint, Black and purple
White Lace
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Silver Silk flowers
Hot Glue Gun
Video for How to Make a Spring Peacock Paper Doll with Rinea Foil
The paper doll is super easy to make. Cut out the desired doll. Since mine were printed on copy paper I glued mine to cardstock.
Select the Rinea foils that match the Doll parts and die cut the butterfly and roses.
Paint the Bamboo Skewer black with acrylic paint.
Use the Cross Lock Tweezer or a quilling tool to make the roses. I use hot glue to finish the rose as it sets up quickly.
Using purple acrylic paint, cover the back of the dolls head to mimic her hair.
Adding a little extra to the outside edge, trace the dress on the Purple Rinea Paper Foil and cut out. Adhere to the back of the dress.
Hot glue bamboo skewer to the back of doll body. Attach arms and legs with Aleene's Tacky Glue.
Make a lace petticoat and adhere to the back of the dress. Hot glue the dress to the body. Tie lace around the body at the waist to represent a belt. Leave extra in the back to look like a big bow.
Adhere the Rinea Paper Foil wings to the Calico Collage Wings with Aleene's Tacky Glue. Then adhere both to the back of the doll.
Place the large Rinea paper foil rose at the waist of the doll with hot glue. Add the smaller rose and a couple of silk flowers on her head.
Admire your super cute fairy you made.
Now that you know How to Make a Spring Peacock Paper Doll with Rinea Foil, do you have plans to make several? I think I'll be making a few more and will hang some from the ceiling in my studio. Won't that be fun!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Be sure to come back soon to see the latest project. Keep updated with Bloglovin.


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This is all good gesture and these steps are necessary in order to let Mullahs of Iran know that there is another sheriff in town. This is not clearly another Liberal western government trying to appease them in a way they wouldn't be offended. Although this statement is just another diplomatic statement but it is very much appreciated among many many Iranians around the world. There's still much more needed to be done to deal with a rogue regime like the one ruling Iran today.
Foreign Minister Peter McKay has issued a statement condemning the Iranian government for torture and death of the Iranian-Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi and, also for holding another Canadian citizen Dr. Jahanbegloo without any official charges.
Also, the US State Department issued an editorial, related to the incident, condemning the repressive behavior of the mullahs and their cover-up in the murder case of the Canadian journalist back in 2003.
Like I have always said, Iran's issues are not just limited to Nuclear proliferation matters or terrorism, but the most important part which we shouldn't ignore at all times is the violation of human rights after the Islamic revolution of 1979. Western governments must speak out against these abuses while backing up the Iranian people to have a democratic and free society.
Cross-posted @ The Shotgun weblog


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Naked, nude, sex! Just look at those pictures! We love Tara Reid
Where can I find these Nike shoes? (Picture)? heres a picture of Tara Reid wearing them. http / / perezhilton.com/2009-04-20-the-br ...
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Monday, October 20, 2008
Beware the Killer Docs
6 comments:
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2008 2:03 pm
It would be interesting to know whether repeatedly making and then cancelling appointments for check-ups and tests has a placebo effect on this.ReplyDelete
Lol, hospitals exist to kill you. Yes, I'd guess most of us know of a relative or two who was killed off by a bungling doctor. And in an age when we are increasingly treated as passive "clients" or victims, it is that much harder to summon up the courage to challenge medical advice or find another doctor if you think your present one is just a salesman for Big Pharma.ReplyDelete
However, one would expect increased use of the internet to reduce iatrogenesis. Someone with a serious condition can now find out a huge amount about it and can compare notes, treatments, etc. with a great number of others all over the world. Either was pretty well impossible even twenty years ago. So we are in a better position to challenge the medical monopoly these days, though it's up to us to use that knowledge.
So do NHS waiting lists actually increase the nation's life expectancy?ReplyDelete
(PS - Mark. Hmmm, maybe. But you should never ever ever Google your symptoms. That way madness lies.)
Our local practice sends us, unsolicited, a "fact" sheet giving us, based upon our medical records, the odds for or against reaching old age, telling them that we are not interested and would they kindly stick their statistics up their backsides has no effect, the system is rolling, no can stopee.ReplyDelete
The NHS is the worlds premier organization for the production of life threatening, hospital based, bugs.
I find the phrase 'no can stopee' curiously consoling.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2008 6:14 pm
As a humble cog in the NHS i'd like to defend it by adding that Occupational Therapists often have great figures and Speech Therapists tend to be historians. i suggest you drop this NHS pessimism and realise hospitals are not here to do anything about illness but are rather grotesque Gormenghast-like labryinths where the Occupational Therapists are almost all sexy dames in green trousers, Speech Therapists know a lot about Cumbrian peasantry, and typists are usually homicidal maniacs. Hospitals are not here to cure you; hospitals are here to provide you with free amusement - just wander the corridors for hours, as i do, observing the varieties of female beauty and human suffering, the cripples, the maimed, the dying, the dead, the Last Rites priest in his sobriety, the pretty lady doctors, the 7' tall porters, the huge piglike nurses, tusks and all, the scent of human death and medicine - it is one of life's great experiences!ReplyDelete


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Shabby Chic Crafts is a fantastic source for unique tags & other elements that are perfect for many various projects. The tag sets are available in a variety of themes, including the adorable Bowl of Cherries design. I love the ice cream shop tags that are perfect for summer. And the Going to the Chapel tags are fabulous! I love how they are shown being used on favor tins for your special day. This shop is currently having a sale on ALL discontinued items, so get them while they last because once they are gone, they are gone for good!
Shabby Chic Crafts
Posted by Funky Finds at 6/02/2008 06:28:00 AM
Labels: craft supplies, favor, sale, scrapbooking, tags
1 comments:
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The last few days, I've been learning not to trust people and I'm glad I've failed. Sometimes we depend on other people as a mirror to define us and tell us who we are and each reflection makes me like myself a little more.
ou de como aqui vamos continuar a confiar na escolha dos espelhos.
My Blueberry Nights (Wong Kar Wai, 2007)


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Higher-intensity exercise does have a whole different impact on the body's physiology, Everything is more pronounced: your heart rate is higher,... and you're revving up your cardiovascular system as you would a car. Dr. Eric Topol MD, Scripps Institute
New York, NY (PRWEB) November 20, 2012
Given that lack of time is the most common reason people give for not incorporating exercise into their lives, conclusions of recent studies that short duration interval training is the most effective for achieving people's health and fitness goals is welcome news.
Jeff Behar of My Best Health Portal recently reported on research showing that shorter but more intense cardio workouts of 10-30 minutes can be more effective for weight loss and battling metabolic disease.
According to the established science of exercise physiology, short duration high intensity interval training workouts also strengthen and activate fast twitch muscle fibers and allow for muscle growth, both of which are necessary for most recreational sports including tennis, golf, biking and skiing.
Beyond the physiologic benefits, people are more likely to find time and be less intimidated by short duration high intensity workouts and thus may work out more regularly.
About CoreFitnessByJana:
Certified Pilates Instructor and ACE Certified Personal Trainer Jana Sanford provides private individual and small group training, teaches group classes through her PilatesInThePark program and studios in Manhattan and also developed an online fitness site to provide effective workout options to anyone, anytime and anywhere.
CoreFitnessByJana.com offers online fitness workouts including Pilates, Body Sculpting, Stretching & Flexibility and Sport Conditioning. Daily, Monthly or Annual Membership options available.
The 15-20 minute exercise videos use just one's body weight (or add resistance props for increased intensity) and are designed to help one incorporate exercise conveniently into a daily schedule.


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The central theme for PLM Road Map™ 2012 is PLM as the Strategic Imperative: Managing Lifecycle Complexity to Drive Competitive Advantage. Now in its 19th year, PLM Road Map 2012 is the must-attend global PLM event that is designed by CIMdata's team of PLM industry thought leaders for PLM industry executives and practitioners.
For 2012 PLM Road Map continues its rich history of bringing together the best in the industry for two days of independent education in a collaborative networking environment where ideas, trends, experiences, and relationships critical to the industry can germinate and take root. Our agenda, featuring the best speakers in the business – those who are ready and willing to share the ways they have used PLM to manage lifecycle complexity in their own organizations – plus top notch networking opportunities, make PLM Road Map 2012 the only PLM conference you do not want to miss.
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Most of all, PLM Road Map is the only PLM event that provides you with a support network of peers and industry thought leaders that does not leave you as you head out of the door after the conference but is available throughout your PLM journey.
PLM Road Map 2012 focused on PLM as the Strategic Imperative: Managing Lifecycle Complexity to Drive Competitive Advantage. Presentations considered why implementing PLM is so difficult, large scale PLM program governance, the data deluge, systems engineering, simulation-based design, and more.
Day 1 started with an overview of the PLM market followed by a series of keynote presentations highlighting the experiences of leading-edge industrial end user organizations who will share their PLM implementation experiences. The afternoon featured three breakout sessions covering PLM Integration, Design Creation & Collaboration, and PLM Management.
Day 2 started with three breakout sessions covering Simulation & Analysis, Systems Engineering & Digital Manufacturing, and PLM Management. During the afternoon attendees came together for a series of keynote presentations which continued the discussion on managing all lifecycle processes for all product components, including software-based elements. Possible solutions to some development issues, including new product design technologies and systems engineering as a unifying discipline to bring it all together, were suggested.
David Cole
Center for Automotive Research
Tristan Gegaden
Jon Hirschtick
CAD Software Entrepreneur
John Knight-Gregson
Dimitri Mavris
Georgia Tech
Jeff Burk
Kristine Stoll
Schreiber Foods
Randy Huber
Frank Popielas
Mike Williams
Dow Chemical
Mark Johnson
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