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change in IQ
Category: Science > Social Sciences
Asked by: diblaw-ga
List Price: $20.00
23 Aug 2005 12:38 PDT
Expires: 22 Sep 2005 12:38 PDT
Question ID: 559366
Does IQ increase with age?
Re: change in IQ
Answered By: bananarchy-ga on 23 Aug 2005 14:08 PDT
diblaw, The short answer to your question is "No, IQ doesn't really increase with age." It's a little bit more complicated than that, however. IQ can vary significantly (as much as 20 points, depending on any number of external factors) over the course of your lifetime. [http://www.brainy-child.com/expert/iq-score.shtml] This isn?t a fast-occurring process, and isn?t predictably in one direction or the other. Thus, while it is technically possible for your IQ to increase by an appreciable amount (20 points marks more than a standard deviation unit, which is very substantial indeed) over one?s lifetime, it all averages out in the general populace. In general, your IQ in childhood (past the age of 7 or so) is indicative of what your IQ will be for the rest of your life. Where the discussion becomes interesting, however, is in how one's IQ *test* scores can change over time. You can train yourself to take IQ tests, in much the same way you can train yourself to take the SAT. Learning the nuances of the tests, and preparing yourself for the appropriate types of questions and length of the test, can boost your performance on IQ tests by a fair amount. This doesn't immediately make sense: in the strictest sense of the word, you're not any smarter, and your IQ isn't any higher. Yet, on paper, you're now judged to be more intelligent! I came across a few websites whose authority I found a little doubtful [http://nicologic.free.fr/FAQ.htm, for instance], which insisted that this increase in IQ scores shows increased intelligence; however, more reputable sites point out that this phenomenon very closely resembles the increase in IQ scores that has been manifesting itself for the last century. Basically, average IQ scores have been increasing at the rate of about 3 points per decade [http://home.comcast.net/~neoeugenics/TRC.htm], but that doesn't reflect increasing human intellect, or selective breeding (if it did, Greek and Roman philosophers would have been morons, which we know isn't true). Rather, the Flynn Effect (as it's known) is believed to exist because of the increase in abstract problem solving ability that's appeared in the last century. Since IQ scores are largely based on these types of problem-solving abilities, an increase in this type of ability creates an increase in IQ scores, even when people aren't really becoming more intelligent. The same sort of thing applies to an increase in IQ scores based on taking more IQ tests. In short, IQ can be affected by any number of things (parenting, poverty, environmental factors, and school attendance, among others), but is statistically not likely to increase over one's lifetime. One's IQ is, for the most part, unchanging after about the age of 7 [http://www.brainy-child.com/expert/iq-score.shtml] If there's anything unsatisfactory with this answer, or if anything is unclear, please don't hesitate to ask for a clarification before rating this answer, and I'll be happy to work with you. Best regards, --bananarchy-ga ? Google Answers Researcher Search Strategy: Google search: iq change age Followed links to encyclopedia articles cited therein Pages cited: Decline or Increase in IQ Scores http://www.brainy-child.com/expert/iq-score.shtml The Rising Curve: Long-Term Gains in IQ and Related Measures http://home.comcast.net/~neoeugenics/TRC.htm Frequently Asked Questions http://nicologic.free.fr/FAQ.htm Rising Scores on Intelligence Tests http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/24612?fulltext=true&print=yes
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The Eye may be late to the India party, but CBS Studios Intl. has partnered with a biggie — Reliance, which is becoming an 800-pound gorilla on the subcontinent's showbiz scene, with a stake in nearly every area, from digital to movies and now TV.
As previously reported (Daily Variety, June 21), CBS Studios Intl. and Reliance Broadcast Network will bow their joint venture, Big CBS Network, in India in the fourth quarter this year, joining Hollywood players including News Corp., Sony, Viacom, Time Warner and Disney.
Reliance Big Entertainment has already partnered with DreamWorks and backs a number of Hollywood shingles including Brad Pitt's Plan B.
In India, Big CBS will air three English-language channels: general entertainment net Big CBS Prime; youth web Big CBS Spark; and women's net Big CBS Love. The channels will air in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan.
Content will include "NCIS," "Survivor," "CSI," "90210," "America's Next Top Model" and "Entertainment Tonight," aired soon after their U.S. bow, as well as library shows such as "Melrose Place" and "Frasier."
"We see great opportunity in the Indian television industry, which projects a high growth rate," said Reliance Broadcast Network CEO Tarun Katial. "We are confident that our deep understanding of the Indian consumer's entertainment requirements and of advertiser needs, coupled with CBS' reputation for creating superior content, will offer unmatched and pioneering entertainment to audiences in India and across the Indian subcontinent."
CBS Studios Intl. president Armando Nunez said, "The vast programming, production and media resources of our two companies position us extremely well to serve audience, advertisers and all constituents of these new channels."
Nunez told Daily Variety that the first CBS shows to be localized for the subcontinent would likely be magazine shows like "Entertainment Tonight" and "Insider."
CBS enters a market with 134 million TV homes, 103 million of whom have pay television, in a country with a population of 1.17 billion. The value of the TV market is projected to grow 12.9% from $5.7 billion in 2009 to $10.5 billion in 2014, according to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report. TV was the fastest-growing sector on the Indian showbiz scene, generating revenue of $2.3 billion in 2009, per Hong Kong-based researcher Media Partners Asia.
However, Indian-language channels dominate that space, and the previous Hollywood entrants have had to develop original Indian programming to remain competitive. But there are also Indian versions of reality shows like "Big Brother," "Idol" and "Fear Factor."
In the past year, the Indian government has received some 160 applications to add to the feevee scene. The market is already crowded with 500 channels; about 140 of these are domestic channels, with 20 foreign-owned ones including ESPN News, Fox Media and Al Jazeera.
Still, Katial is optimistic that Big CBS could branch out into Hindi and regional languages if both partners see an opportunity.
"We are looking to get into an English-language television space that is relatively small, but we're looking to go in there and expand that space. With Reliance as a partner, they have the marketing and promotional muscle to accomplish that goal," said Nunez.
(Shalini Dore in Hollywood contributed to this report.)

subset: commoncrawl


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At The Habit, York: -
Ron solo: -
No Expectations
Make You Feel My Love
Da solo: -
I Don't Want To Talk About It
Da & Ron: -
The Price Of Love
Wild Horses
You Got It
Probably one of the best open mic nights ever. An amazing array of talent including the evergreen Mark Wynn (the host with the most) and a band called Buffalo Skinners who were 2012's version of The Band - no kidding - awesome dudes. Also there was a new song from Completely Bananas - oh this was just mental maaaaan.
And another trip to Bar 1331 - why oh why???
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Last night's set lists
Posted by Frank Black at 02:40
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On the heels of news last week from Lupita Nyong'o, sharing publicly that she was being eyed for "a high-profile Hollywood studio project," comes word that the project – which Nyong'o didn't give any further details on at the time (except to say that she'll be "listening to her gut" before making any final decisions) – just might be Star Wars: Episode VII!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a couple of weeks ago, just before she took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 12 Years A Slave, Lupita met with director J.J. Abrams for the part of the female lead in Star Wars: Episode VII.
But what exactly that female lead character is, isn't public yet, as the project, for the most part, has been bundled in secrecy.
This news comes just 2 days after British actor John Boyega was reported to be 1 of 5 actors currently being considered for the lead male role of Jedi apprentice, in the J.J. Abrams-directed Disney film.
So might we be watching a Star Wars franchise reboot film with 2 black leads? Call me a cynic, but I'll say likely not. Despite Abrams' publicly stated desire to have the film's cast be diverse, this is still a tent-pole, mega-budgeted Hollywood studio film after all.
Chances are, one of them will be cast; but I doubt that both will – certainly not as leads. Also keep in mind that both Lupita and Boyega are among a handful of actors being considered for the respective parts they're being offere.
But ya never know do ya? Maybe Abrams is intent on shaking up the franchise (and Hollywood casting) despite what will likely be the usual racist fanboy/girl laments. Recall that he also recently tapped a practically unknown black filmmaker in Julius Onah to direct a sci-fi thriller titled God Particle for Paramount.
Stay tuned…
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.


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Book Review: There's No Place Like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe
Griffin Sharpe is the twelve-year old son of a minister. He has the God-given ability to notice everything about the people he meets, the places he's been, and the things he's seen, even down to the tiniest of details. Griffin is sure that God has a plan for him and he prays that he can use his talents for good.
Griffin hopes to do some good when his parents send him to England to visit his uncle for the entire summer. He's never met his uncle before and is excited to find out that he shares the same address as the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Could his uncle be the great Sherlock Holmes?
Griffin finds that his uncle, a small-time struggling detective, lives in the apartment below Sherlock Holmes. And to make matters worse, Griffin's uncle is less than pleased at his arrival. While trying to figure out how to make the best of the long summer ahead, Griffin happens upon a strange and mysterious case. Griffin's faith in God is unwavering, but his uncle is skeptical. Will the mysterious case bring the two of them together?
This children's book is targeted for ages 9-12. My 8 year-old daughter and I both read this book and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a wholesome read for children who are ready to tackle a good novel. I was pleased with the story line and it was well-written. There's mystery and suspense, action and adventure, however the main character is unashamedly a Christian and is outspoken about his faith. That is encouraging to me, as a mom, to find interesting books that speak to my children about their faith in God. I thought it was a great book and would definitely recommend it.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review blogger's program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.


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The only person that will manage and grow your career is you. Maintaining and regularly cultivating the documents (resumes, cover letters, etc) is like a bonsai tree. Spending a bunch of time working on these when you suddenly need them is a great way to lose valuable time and it may cost you an opportunity that you really want. Doing regular small items (trimming) keeps the tree growing and looking good. It's also a good way to reflect on where you've been, what has been achieved and the destination of your hard work.
I have taken on the habit of regularly updating my LinkedIn profile / resume at least 1 time per year. It is much easier to maintain this stuff when it's fresh in my mind and take it as a small task when information is easy to gather. I've found that having to go back more than a year to remember accomplishments as well as changes in role or responsibility, when my title may not change, are much harder to get correct. I can also ask people to give comments and recommendations while things are fresh for them as well.
This year was a bit of a unique experience as it apparently freaked a few people out when I asked for recommendations of my work. I had put in my request that I was not actively looking for new work and this was part of my regular process, as I had several people, including my current manager, ask what was going on. I guess some did not read that part after the form letter bits from LinkedIn. So a possible modification to the process is to give people are more personalize heads up.


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The Department of Defense and the Department of Justice together have more than enough prison space within the United States to safely and securely house the remaining 166 prisoners currently held in Guantanamo Bay, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The report (PDF), commissioned by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), details a clear road map to accomplishing President Barack Obama's longtime goal of shuttering the controversial military facility.
"This report demonstrates that if the political will exists, we could finally close Guantanamo without imperiling our national security," Feinstein explained in prepared text. "The GAO report makes clear that numerous prisons exist inside the United States—operated by both the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice—capable of holding the 166 detainees who remain at Guantanamo in an environment that meets the security requirements."
Prisons detailed in the report include Navy brigs in South Carolina, Virginia and California, along with prisons in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and McChord, Washington. Taken altogether, these six military installation are only 48 percent full, and already housing inmates connected to terrorist plots and other dangerous criminals.
In addition, the report notes that as of August 2012 the Department of Justice was holding on U.S. soil a total of 377 inmates who've been charged with or convicted of terrorism. The GAO said that there are 98 different Justice Department prisons where Gitmo inmates could be secured.
The Guantanamo Bay military prison, opened by the Bush administration in 2002 to house so-called "war on terror" prisoners, found itself at the epicenter of international controversy as numerous former detainees accused their prison handlers of torture. Prisoners held in the facility have been kept there without the right to a fair and speedy trial, which many liberals and progressives objected to during those years. The volume of those concerns, however, was turned down significantly after President Obama took office and implemented strict policies forbidding interrogation methods frequently employed by the Bush administration's torture program.
As a candidate for president, then-Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) vowed to shutter the facility and restore confidence that the U.S. courts can handle terrorism suspects. However, despite Attorney General Eric Holder's efforts to try terrorism suspects in the U.S., he was blocked by congressional Republicans who've sought to make the prison impossible to close.
"To say that high-risk detainees cannot be held securely in a maximum security prison is just plain wrong," Feinstein added. "The United States already holds 373 individuals convicted of terrorism in 98 facilitates across the country. As far as I know, there hasn't been a single security problem reported in any of these cases. This fact outweighs not only the high cost of maintaining Guantanamo—which costs more than $114 million a year—but also provides the same degree of security without the criticism of operating a military prison in an isolated location."
Photo: Flickr user takomabibelot, creative commons licensed.


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Cops arrested the man who fatally stabbed an aspiring Marine just hours before his 20th birthday, police said.
Wilson Rivera, 19, stabbed D'Anthony McDonald in the chest at about 9 p.m. on June 14 in South Ozone Park, cops said.
Rivera was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, cops said.
It's unclear what sparked the violence between the two young men, who lived just blocks from each other.


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A Quick Video of A Must Have Accessory for Smoking Marijuana on the Go!
Rated the best for weed accessories in 2015.
Likewise, accessibility will certainly be a huge element too. For example if you reside in Idaho like my cozs, and you do not even understand exactly what a headshop appears like, opportunities are you are simply going to go Macgyver no matter what. In this short article I will certainly discuss my individual viewpoint on numerous techniques, however as constantly, this is not the only viewpoint out there, and definitely does not note every approach of usage. If you have a various viewpoint, or have a various technique of usage, kindly leave it in the remarks area so that others can gain from your proficiency.
star wars doobieThe most typical method that individuals eat the very first time (or very first time back) appears to be the joint. A 3 foot double perk is extremely daunting, however a doobie looks like not as much of a huge offer I expect. The joint is extremely flexible (you can smoke it anywhere that odor is not an aspect) and it definitely gets you high. Plus, they are enjoyable to smoke; who does not such as holding fire in their hand? The huge failure to the joint though, as I mentioned above, is the odor. Joints wreak, so smoking them anywhere and all over is not constantly possible. Plus you need to re-up on documents from time to time, which is not as amazing as having a piece that is re-usable.
The pipeline is a sensible next step to this conversation, because it is most likely the 2nd most typical type of usage. A pipeline is simple to bring around, inexpensive if you understand the ideal locations to buy one, and benefit the 'pass-around group' settings. The bowls burn longer than in pieces that make use of water. The huge issue I have with pipelines is that they do not get me high enough. If I smoke numerous bowls I get high, however there is just a lot smoke that fills into the chamber of the pipeline at any provided time, so taking my finger off the carbohydrate does not offer as huge of hits as a bong. Nevertheless, I smoke all the time daily, so my end objective is most likely various than others reading this short article. If you do not smoke like a busted chimney, a pipeline is a terrific method to go.
A bubbler is an excellent between for those that have actually been smoking off the pipeline however are not all set for the bong. A bubbler is generally simply an elegant pipeline with water purification abilities. I have actually struck off of some fantastic bubblers in my day. The 'sherlock' bubbler design is my individual favorite. I have no idea the physics of the circumstance, however it simply looks like sherlock bubblers develop the utmost wind tunnel in the chamber of the bubbler when the carbohydrate is launched. Many bubblers are smaller sized than bongs, so they are simpler to pack around, yet provide larger striking than a pipeline.
chong bongThe bong is great. I clearly remember my very first bong hit. It didn't work out, however it began a love affair that remains to this day. Bongs need an understanding of one's lung ability, so that the bong operator will certainly understand when to time pulling the carbohydrate or taking their finger off of the carbohydrate hole. If you do not time it right, you will certainly either take in too much smoke or leave too much smoke in the bong. The very first can be rather unpleasant, while the latter is not too huge of an offer aside from squandered smoke is simply unfortunate! A bong is more challenging to pack around, however it constantly works. I do not such as bongs that are too huge, or too little. A one to 2 foot bong is best for my lung capability; others will certainly differ. A bong purchase is a wonderful financial investment to those out there that are discussing whether to make the jump.
A blunt might have followed the joint, because it's generally a joint in a stogie wrap, however I figured I would do it after the more typical techniques. A blunt is not almost as simple to roll as a joint, and a great deal of individuals I understand do not such as tobacco combineding with their weed so they do not do it. I enjoy blunts myself, although I will certainly confess that I'm not the most significant fan of tobacco. A blunt burns longer than a joint, you can roll huge blunts that can hold numerous grams, and flavored blunt covers are wonderful. I have actually smoked a great deal of flavored paper joints, however they do not appear to pack as much taste as a fruity blunt wrap. The exact same failure that afflicts the joint likewise pesters the blunt. Likewise, logically, a larger blunt will certainly make a larger odor, so know that.
cannabis knife hitsKnife hits resemble the cannabis equivalent of beer bonging. It's quick and furious, and advises me of college. The evident advantage of the knife hit is you get obliterated, the failure is you can hyperventilate and lose consciousness in your kitchen area (I've seen it a lot of times). Likewise, it takes a fair bit of preparation, and your knives will certainly never ever be the very same! However if you are attempting to go from absolutely no to hero, knife hits are a terrific method to go.
cannabis gravity bongGravity hits are another fantastic method to forget exactly what you were doing for some time. It's type of hard in some cases if you do not have the strategy down, however if you can unwind the wrist and get strong suction (insert improper remarks right here), you can get a few of the greatest hits of your life. You need to have the ability to make a strong cap, which can be kinda challenging for some individuals, however a minimum of as soon as you make it you have it permanently. The failure is a possible mouth packed with water, and the smoke does not filter through the water, it simply rests on top (this can be repaired by making a 'percaliter,' however that takes the supreme macgyver).
aqua lung bongA waterfall/aqualung/vortex/ liter, or whatever you call it (see image) most likely gets me the greatest from any of the smoking cigarettes techniques. It takes the least quantity of weed, gets me high the fastest, and is extremely simple to transportation. As long as you have a water source and the cap, carrying the bottle simply appears like an utilized bottle. I've gotten torn of this thing in minutes at sporting occasions, camping, you call it. Quick and efficient. One failure is it can likewise trigger you to hyperventilate. I have actually seen more individuals knocked out by this gadget than I have actually ever seen in years of viewing MMA. Likewise, I can not envision making use of an industrially made plastic bottle to smoke out of is a good idea ...
Volcano VaporizerVaporizers are thought about by lots of as the very best method to eat cannabis. From the literature that I've checked out, vaporizers can remove as much as 95 % of carcinogens from the plant product. Likewise, the taste is really unique with a vaporizer. A huge failure to vaporizers can be the cost (specifically with a Volcano) and accessibility, however if you can get your hands on one, I guarantee you will certainly not be dissatisfied. The high from a vaporizer is so extensive, therefore pure, that you may never ever eat cannabis in any other method once more.
Another wonderful technique is casts. I have no idea about other locations, however in Oregon, casts rule supreme with the older crowd. I understand numerous individuals over 40 that just utilize casts since they such as the high it delays, they can take it anywhere considering that it isn't really smoked, and it is much healthier given that it does not include breathing in charred plant product. I'm not the most significant fan of casts simply since it takes so long to make it (although very little effort I'll confess). Nevertheless, when somebody has some, I constantly request for a droppers worth, so possibly I'm a being a bit hypocritical ... haha.
The last technique of usage I will certainly discuss is excellent old made edibles. A brownie, a cookie, cannabutter on a cracker, marijuana instilled oil products, you call it, I LOVE it! When you eat cannabis by smoking it, it enters into your nerves. The high is extreme and begins fast, however it dissipates faster than when it enters into your blood stream when you consume it. When you consume it, it takes a bit to begin (45to60 minutes), however when it does, oh my ... This can be an issue for some individuals. They consume 2 brownies and are completely damageded, when the exact same individuals must have most likely just had a buttered cracker. If you are clever, you will certainly beware.
marijuana frostingHowever, if you believe you wish to be a hero, be my visitor and attempt to ride the greatest high you can receive from cannabis. Realize that not all edibles are developed equivalent. Some cannabutter/cannabis oil is more powerful than others, and up until you consume it as an experiment, you will not understand just how much is too much up until its far too late. For those of you out there in TWB land that resemble me, and you've never ever satisfied an edible you could not manage, the absolute finest method to eat cannabis (in my viewpoint) is to make it into icing. Among my friends utilizes my atomic-grade cannabutter to make her well-known icing, and I ensure all readers, there is absolutely nothing like it on this world. I understand it's precisely how I like it when other veterans grumble that it's too strong. Cookies normally take 1/3 to 1/2 of a cup of cannabutter to make a batch. The red box traditional Betty Crocker brownies normally take 2/3 of a cup of cannabutter. My close friend's dish requires 2 complete cups of cannabutter for adequate icing for 12 cupcakes. Now that's power!
As I mentioned in the past, there truly is no BEST method to eat cannabis for all customers. There is just a finest method for each individual customer. Ideally this post assisted put some concepts into your head, and provided you a concept of exactly what to attempt. I motivate everybody to attempt everything and see exactly what's finest for them. If TWB readers have anything to include, kindly doing this. Making inquiries minds need to know exactly what you need to state!


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over the summer I decided to try out Holga phototgraphy. i just developed my first roll and had it scanned to a cd ($20 later thankyouverymuch!). apparently, I wasn't winding the film correctly and many of the frames overlapped. they were scanned individually, but after looking at the film strip itself, I pieced them back together digitally to look the way they do on film. an unexpected, but whimsical result. the guy on the left is my little brother Jordan, who is currently off serving a mission in Spain. these were taken in downtown Seattle just a few months before he left. I sure miss you brother. =)
here is another one, taken at Salty's on Alki Beach during Cody and Bre's wedding last summer.


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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
Candles were flickering, the light it was dim
Hoping to inspire and encourage those interested in drawing or painting to have-a-go.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you John.ReplyDelete
Great poem! :) Looking forward to see more of your work in the next year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, John!ReplyDelete
Lovely ending to the poem - its been a joy to follow your journey.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, John xx
Merry Christmas John,
and the Best New Year.. ever !
Your blog brings smiles to a lot of people, me included. It's a warm and sincere journey that you share. Thanks BJ
ha ha ha ha Fabulous John!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Merry Christmas Renske
Thank you Judy, glad you liked the poem. Merry Christmas
Pat I have just as much joy following your journey. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas BJ and thank you for such a lovely comment.
Thank you Sue and Merry Christmas to you too.
most Merry Christmas to you, you mad blogger! I love your twist on "Twas the Night Before Christmas"ReplyDelete
Hee hee hee, I like his grin!
Happy Painting and Happy New Year,
Wonderful post, I was mesmerized by the tapping noise really wanting to know what is was :-)) Wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!ReplyDelete
Thank you Kathryn, Nora and Jane. Happy New Year to you all.ReplyDelete


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Each year, the United States government allots billions of dollars from their national budget towards foreign military aid. As a means to defend the country's national security during a tumultuous financial crisis, the overspending on security seemed to be an unnecessary risk to undertake. The United States has been active in providing foreign military since World War II, with the implementation of the Marshal Plan. Today, the United States has continued to significantly provide aid to the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan as the war on terror continues. While there have been some threats made to the United States in recent years, one tends to questions whether the amount of this funding is cohesive to the internal threat level. Furthermore, it is questionable whether the billions of dollars being spent for security is a necessary expenditure for an already damaged economy, or whether it can be better used within the country for to aid essential citizen needs. In recent years, politicians and scholars alike have begun to question this idea and whether the United States is overextending their patriotic muscle. The United States foreign policy must address whether there is a need to continue funding other nations military's at the expense of American taxpayers. It is also relevant to address whether the United States is further 'fueling' tensions in the Middle East, specifically between funding Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, countries who already have a history of hostile relations. Even though the payout for American arms is beneficial to the country, it should be discussed whether these profits are ethical or even economically sustainable long term. Military assistance to foreign nations has had a profound effect on the United States as it has created increasing pressure and controversy in the nation. Middle Eastern countries feel the need to outdo one another in terms of their military strength, using the American's as a source for artillery, essentially acting as a middleman or a war lord. In fact the United States is the largest exporter of weapons; and it willingly supplies many hostile hotspots in the Middle East with arms. It is reasonable to question whether Americans would feel comfortable in their role as an instigator to violence and impending threat, while military contractors and arms dealers have provided the weapons as a means of military weapons .
My three arguments: National interest has been undermined through the foreign military aid, it has threatened national security, divested the economy and the fund can be used much more efficiently.
Thesis: The continuation of supporting foreign military aid ultimately undermines American National Security devastates the American economy and lastly the aid can help both national security and boost the economy.
Before examining foreign military aid, it is vital to recognize that the United States has historically been providing foreign military assistance to protect national interests and security. The Marshall plan provides the best example in which the United States provided billions of dollars to support Western Europe as a means to recover their economy after World War II. The Marshall plan became a success due to the circumstances Europe had, which was its inability to rebuild itself without foreign capital as the war had devastated there economy. In response, the United States provided 4 to 5 billion dollars of imports to Western Europe per year. There are multiple reasons why the United States wanted Europe to be self-sustainable, three key reasons. To ensure Europe continues to trade with the United States, secondly ensure that European nations are able to pay back there debt and thirdly to make Europe pro-American to counter the Soviet threat. It was in the United States national interest to rebuild post war Europe's economy as they where the biggest importers of American goods. The Marshall plan was a complete success to rebuilding war torn European States; providing foreign aid was justifiable to protecting American interests and strengthen national security. However, once we compare the circumstances of post war Europe to and the war on terror banner it is evident that the circumstances do not justify the need for military aid. The United States has been providing weapons rather then providing needed goods or services, especially as the Middle East is experiencing Arab spring and an already constrained economy. According to the International Monterey Fund (IMF), the Middle East and Pakistan economy has dropped between 24-5% as of 2011, mainly due to lower oil prices, high unemployment as a result of revolts, and flooding in Pakistan. Europe did not need arms but rather capital and goods as well as services to restore their economy; this lead to economic miracles in Germany and Japan, providing weapons is simply useless to the Middle East. The United States has argued that the military aid is to help nations combat terrorism however to effectively remove terrorist they need to ensure the local population are not supporting terrorists; hence the U.S needs to win the hearts of the local population. Providing weapons to the government that the local population detests merely strengthens their commitment towards supporting terrorists. Providing weapons to nations such as Pakistan or the Middle East is questionable, if the Unites States is to ever reduce and win the war on terror they need the support of the local population. This can be achieved by simply giving Pakistan and the Middle East aid that would benefit there economy such as building schools rather then building bases that only strengthens terrorism. Providing weapons to the Middle East and Pakistan has lead to the local population to becoming suspicious of the United States intensions. For example after the CIA had faked a vaccine drive in search of Bin Laden, the local population had become suspicious of any U.S aid and their own government's inability to being sovereign. Once again when comparing post war Europe, it appears that the United States failed to pursuit pro-American sentiments within the Middle East and Pakistan. Unlike the Marshall, plan which improved the economy and American sentiments in Europe it failed in the Middle East simply because military assistance was useless to the region. Providing military assistance to the Middle East and Pakistan was not justifiable as the Marshal plan had been and only arose suspicion and ultimately undermined American national security.
If the United States continues to provide weapons to Israel, the Middle East and Pakistan they create a viscous cycle of increased tensions that may escalate to a war within the region. Tensions between Israel, Iran, the United States and Saudi Arabia have dramatically increased this year alone as Iran has been active in building up nuclear facilities. Israel has responded by a willingness to attack the facilities however the repercussion for an attack may plunge the gulf states harboring American bases to war. Although the United States has provided Israel and the Gulf States military aid on the rationalization to combat terror it has resulted on anxiety where neighbors may attack at any moment threatening to drag the United States to war. The United States cannot be dragged to another war especially as the war on terror has already costed the U.S trillions of dollars has yet to end; a war would only furthers damage national security and national interests. It has also been evident that the United States bases and embassies within the Middle East and Pakistan have become terrorist targets. For example, Hezbollah who has been an Iranian-backed army of guerrilla fighters have been attacking Israel bases including American installations. Hezbollah has the capability to fire 45,000 rockets from Lebanon while expressing there willingness to aid Iran if war where to ever occur. The United States has also had their embassy and military bases targeted by terrorists. For example in September 13, 2011 the Taliban had attacked Kabul attacking NATO headquarters and the U.S embassy escalating the 10-year insurgency. This establishes a cold reality for the United States, even as Bin Laden the leader of Al-Qaeda is killed, the war on terror continued and will continue as long as the United States supplies weapons to the region, which has only increased tensions. United States must recognize that military aid will not win them the war but rather prolong it; they must recognize the need to remove support for terrorism. If the Unites States wants to successfully combat terrorism, they must aid nations suspected of harboring terrorists develop their education and economy. By helping a nations evolve their economy this would in turn win the hearts and minds of the people ultimately reducing prolonged U.S interference in the region, which also eases tensions between Iran and Israel. Providing foreign military aid has undermined national security, unlike the Marshall plan, funding the Middle East and Israel has only fueled suspicion and tensions in the region, which will only grow as terrorist attacks increase.
The United States has heavily funded the Middle East especially states that host American bases on the banner of combating "the war on terrorism". The Costs for the United States into providing military aid has been 15 billion per year. The United States also has 662 overseas military bases in 38 countries since 2010, elaborating the U.S global military reach. It has been often cited that the United States invests over 700 billion on its military the largest in the world however the recent recession in 2008 has questioned on whether the U.S is able to maintain such a large military presence as well as if such basis are necessary for U.S National security
The so-called 'war on terror' has led the United States to spending trillions with little progress to an end to the war, another aspect is hosting over (700) bases already costing billions. These costs are further increased by the United States generous military assistance which have been mostly been given to Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In fact, the recent military assistance static has been a total of 15 billion dollars.
The United States has Continued to fund the gulf region, while at the same time the Middle East has spent over 132 Billion on military rearmament as a response from Iran. The process of providing weapons to regions that are politically unstable can undermine the United States National security as what had historically occurred when the U.S supplied Al-Qaeda with weapons. Providing funding and weapons to these regions can have sever consequences especially as the Arab Spring is still in process meaning these nations may use these weapons to harm their own civilians.
The Middle East has one vital resources that the world craves oil, in which Saudi Arabia owns 14% of the world's oil. Unlike post war Europe, Saudi Arabia continually exports 230 billion dollars worth of oil; meaning they have a healthy and lucrative economy. Although an argument can be made that, the United States provides foreign military aid into protecting The United States has heavily funded the Middle East especially states that host American bases on the banner of combating "the war on terrorism". The so-called 'war on terror' has led the United States to spending trillions with little progress to an end to the war, another aspect is hosting over (700) bases already costing billions. These costs are further increased by the United States generous military assistance which have been mostly been given to Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In fact, the recent military assistance static has been a total of 15 billion dollars.
Fred Block, "Economic Instability and Military Strength: The Paradoxes of the 1950 rearmament decision", Politics and society, 10:1, 1980, pp 159.


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I don't usually hahahahaha in my posts but today I'll make an exception because I'm feeling slightly spritely at this moment besides also feeling sluggish from lying in bed all day. If I don't say why I'm hahaha-ing is this post kind of pointless? Probably, but I don't care. I had fillings and a clean at the dentist today, I got needles, and half my face was numb. I think I should drink more water, and try to read my tutorial notes so I can start recording my procrastination and study habits that I was supposed to start on Monday. However, I can't because I'm behind on readings for psychology, and basically all my subjects and it's only week three. I dunno, this post just doesn't feel like it's the right time to bring in the hahaha's, but it's been done and undoing it seems kind of, redundant. I don't know why I chose the word redundant, but hopefully you can assign some sort of understanding to what I actually mean by it, because I have no idea, and I'll just agree that that is actually what I mean. Maybe I meant what you mean but I didn't even know it. I have a bunch of lecture slides, notes and exercise notifications sitting in the printer downstairs. Downstairs being the word of importance. I feel like I want to just dance around my room so I can use some of this pent up energy (and not to mention unused calories) but I'm just not feeling it, I don't have any music in mind. Also to that, I have to update my iTunes because I've been listening to Halcyon by Ellie Goulding non-stop, with intermittent Katy and Marina and the Diamonds, and every so often just repeating some Miley because I only have two songs off her new album on my iTunes right now. This is quite devastating. So many readings to catch up on. Today I was supposed to catch up on everything. Oh my god, and I still have a brain and behaviour lecture to catch up on that I keep forgetting I've even missed. How does one become organised??? Should I use my diary?? I think the answer is yes. Okay, let me start using my forty dollar diary more thoroughly like I had in the past. Oh my god, and also, where the hell are my really nice binders I used for school? I had a mint fabric covered one and a gold metallic fabric covered one, both of which, were so nice. I want to use those folders to start filing my notes in rather than these flimsy cardboard ones. I mean, they're nicely coloured, but the feel and touch of cardboard makes me sort of cringe. I know, petty reasons, but… No buts!! But I'll still but… Anyway, I don't even know. Just so many funny things right now. Not right now, but what I've discovered. It's kind of hilarious. And also, I don't know. I was just thinking about love, and when I say love, I basically just mean romance in general. It can be so, different, there are so many things that could happen, so many ways actual love can come to be or come to realise itself. There's no way of saying which one is the best and which one is the most long lasting, it just depends, on the people, the person, the everything surrounding the love. Oh wow that last part sounded lame. But I won't delete it, because I feel like this post is a rant post. Not for anyone else, just for me. To vent things, just to type and think, but not ponder, okay, maybe ponder, but to not dwell. I think sometimes, well a lot of the times (The Office) I dwell on thoughts. And sometimes, when I'm reading about psychology I think, oh no, do I have a mental disorder? Am I over thinking to the point where I could be classified under some sort of anxiety or depressive disorder (my inability to even name one actual disorder shows a vast gap in my understanding and my study of psychology, or if there even is a gap, maybe just an empty space, much like an abyss of nothingness. Yes, I think that could be closer). Oh my god, this whole last part seems a lot like dwelling. Okay, let me move on. I need to invest in some hand cream, a nice compact hand cream I can carry in my bag. My hands are so dry right now, just, it's uncomfortable. I feel like my blog is very mundane and it's often just talking about how I suck and venting stuff, but I do have lots of fun as well in my life. I was about to add to the end of that sentence, "I suppose," but I do! I don't know, I don't blog about it because I feel as though the good things, are so ephemeral. I just love that word. And what I mean by that is what everyone always says, that kind of cliche saying, I don't even remember the saying. Just the one that says that you always remember the bad things more than the good things, especially when it comes to compliments and put downs, but I feel this a lot and also more in reference to the bad feels. Yes, feels. They're not bad, well they are, but I mean nothing about death and things. Just things that make you kind of anxious are the things you tend to think about the most. And I think, that you have kind of a limit to the things you can think about all at the same time. And if you're thinking about something negative, and you keep thinking about negative things, you overtime squeeze out the positive and happy thoughts from your mind. Not on purpose, just by habit. I guess that's why they say think positive, be optimistic. Because once you hold onto something negative, your whole attitude is infected, and your mind becomes diseased. At this point, just try your hardest to be positive, fake it till you make it, before it becomes epidemic. But then at the same time I think that if you fake it you could also end up repressing feelings that you need to let go of, I guess it really depends on what exactly you're dwelling upon…
Yes so anyway, tomorrow is a new day. I don't know why I say things like this, but it is. You already knew that. I don't know. I don't know anything. So funny though, I look in the mirror and I say to myself, "Oh my god pizza face" and laugh. And then I'm like, "No! Positive thinking!! You look nice, me… Lol." Yeah I also say lol in my head, it's kind of pathetic and not an attractive trait. But you know, I used to "oh em gee," and I also do that again, sometimes?
Just Another Woo Girl
P.s. These are basically the hashtags which made me laugh and want to blog about it, this is as vague and as specific as I can be, and now, I silently laugh through weird puffing sounds #wordpress #discoverme
P.p.s. I guess this is also the first time I use hashtags in my post. Wow, great day for firsts. I'm going to read some of this blog now.


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PARIS (Reuters) - The French government has sold a 4.5 percent stake in gas utility Engie, kicking off an asset sale drive that aims to redeploy scarce cash from non-strategic, mature industries to an innovation fund.
Banking sources told Reuters last month that the national lottery, Paris's main airport operator, Engie and several other firms deemed non-strategic would be part of a wave of French privatisations starting this month.
Despite strained public finances, the proceeds will go to a new 10 billion-euro (£9.14 billion) fund to finance innovative projects, one of President Emmanuel Macron's election pledges.
The government is struggling to meet a European Union deficit limit of three percent of economic output this year, a level it has exceeded for the past decade.
The Finance Ministry said it had raised 1.53 billion euros ($1.82 billion) with the sale of its Engie stake, putting it well on the road to its 10 billion-euro target for the fund.
Macron, a 39-year-old former economy minister and ex-investment banker, has said he wants to redirect state funds to invest in innovative start-up companies.
Bankers say airport operator Aeroports de Paris (ADP.PA), in which the state holds 50.63 percent, is high on the list of assets that could be sold. Minority shareholder Vinci (SGEF.PA) has already publicly expressed interest as a possible buyer.
ADP's shares were trading down close to two percent in early trading on Wednesday in what one Paris-based analyst said was anticipation that more stock could come on the market at a slight discount as is usually the case in big share placements.
At 147 euros a share, ADP's stock is still close to Friday's all-time high of 151 euros, making it a tempting sale candidate for the state.
Engie shares opened lower on Wednesday after the stake sale, but recovered as investors took heart at the fact that they were placed at a smaller discount than January's stake sale, analyst Pierre-Antoine Chazal said at brokerage Bryan Garnier.
In January, the shares were sold at a 4.4 percent discount to the market price at the time when concerns about the firm's transformation plans weighed, but they were sold at a discount of 1.2 percent to Tuesday's market price, he said.
"The market sentiment has moved on considerably and the share has recovered. There's enough demand to absorb the small discount," Chazal said.
Engie shares hit an all-time low in February, with most energy stocks still reeling from the slump in oil prices and overcapacity in Europe's power production. Despite a recovery, it is trading at less than a third of its 2008 all-time high.
Overall, market conditions are broadly favourable for the state to reduce its corporate holdings. Shares on France's SBF-120 .SBF120 index just six percent off May's decade highs.
Banking sources told Reuters last month the stake sales would not include the defence, aerospace and nuclear industries. This excludes companies like Thales (TCFP.PA), Safran (SAF.PA), Airbus (AIR.PA) and EDF (EDF.PA).
Reporting by Geert De Clercq and Blandine Henault; Writing by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Michel Rose and Edmund Blair


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Friday, September 23, 2011
A Warning and A Plea
This is supposed to be funny. I got a lot of good feedback from it so I thought I would put it up. Thanks. I'm not a psycho.
I am really tired of living with other people who don't clean up there messes. Especially when I have asked them nicely again and again to clean up. So, in honor of all those roommates who just wouldn't clean up their, for lack of a better word, crap, I have written a poem:
Please, clean up your dishes
Or I'll kill you in your sleep. (ok, not really)
I've snuck into your room before,
I know your slumber's deep. (No, I haven't ACTUALLY snuck into your room before)
You think that I'm annoying?
Well, you make our kitchen smell. (true)
And if you don't clean your mess up
Then I'll send you straight to… (That's really not my decision)
Clean up your dishes,
Do not leave them in the sink.
For there are lots of poisons
I could slip into your drink. (That's true, I could. Will I? No)
Really, I do like you
But, in spite of all we've shared,
I'd rather have a clean house
Than somebody who cares.
I've played nice for three long weeks
And I'm not waiting anymore.
So, you better clean your dishes
Or I'll kill you while you snore. (Once again, I'm not a psycho. I'm not actually going to kill anyone. Do not take this poem seriously)
Love Mikyn
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text: CASSELBERRY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION MGR. —— Current Fla. LCAM license, knowledge of HOA Fla. Statutes. 3-5 years prior experience managing multiple property or on site 300+individual homes. Emphasis on budget prep, financial mgt, landscape, Irrigation, maintenance, pool ops, vendor negotiations, Staff mgt. Must have excellent computer, written & oral communications, interpersonal, problem solving initiative skills. Salary commensurate with experience. Benefit package available. Please email resume to firstname.lastname@example.com WEB OS31284


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This is the main fabric from my new collection Cute As a Bug for Avlyn Inc. The glow worms and lightning bugs glow in the dark!!
The main fabric and this one with the black background have sold out already! I'm thrilled.
This one also has glow-in-the-dark ink. The buzzle bees are adorable!
The quality of the fabric and the printing really exceeds my expectations. This is fabric I am proud to say will be available exclusively in independent quilt and fabric shops!
It's hard to see in this tiny photo, but these are itty bitty lollypop roses that echo the design of the snail shells.
What fun! I'm over the moon, to finally see this as a finished product—and I'm working on the next collection right now.
Keep checking back. There may be a fat-quarter give away in the next week or so!! Tee hee!


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It's time to start living the life you want. It's time to start doing the things you want to do. It's time to give yourself permission to change the quality of your life now. I just watched the video below by Cynthia Occelli. It contains such an important and powerful message, … [Read more...]
Home » give yourself permission


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Learning accounting is not only a part of educational system but its techniques are incredibly important if one wants to be successful businessmen. In general words accounting means keeping the financial records of a company and is thus necessary for business growth. Accounts covers a wide part in our educational system including complex problems, calculations, graphs etc therefore a student needs complete concentration while doing any accounting assignments. It is not possible for every student to ensure fast and 100% accurate solutions to any difficult accounting assignment which make oblige them to seek for online accounting assignment help.
There are many reasons which forced students to go for Accounting Assignment Help Online because accounting and its other branch are very complex in nature and needs proper process of doing accounting questions because there is no place for any margin of error. Accounting assignments are stressful and requires a lot of time for completion and students always ran short of time to submit their assignment on time which leads to lower their grades in their tests.
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Get to know more about for Accounting Assignment Help Online and Finance Assignment Help Online. Visit our website https://www.assignmentconsultancy.com/.


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FabLab Sliperiet Wednesdays 16-21
Time: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Sliperiet, Softlab and 3DLab, Sliperiet, Östra Strandgatan 32, Umeå
The event is for: students - anyone - employees
FabLab is a small-scale workshop, a digital Fabrication Lab with a variety of manufacturing and prototyping tools such as 3D printers, digital textile printer, sewing machines, laser cutters and software for drawings and patterns.
FabLab is arranged in Sliperiets' workshops 3DLab (floor 1) and SoftLab (floor 2), on Wednesdays during public days. Please find more information about the workshops at sliperiet.umu.se/en/ and about FabLab on Facebook: / fablabumea.
The activity is run by volunteers, who help you to get started and support you while you are here. Thus, no prior knowledge is needed. Here, everyone over 16 is welcome to work with ideas and projects (we also welcome a younger audience in the company of responsible adults).
Coming here is free, and you can bring your own material or buy here to cost price.
FabLab Umeå is part of an international network of local Fab labs, with the purpose to enable innovation locally by providing tools for digital manufacturing to wider groups of users.
Organizer: Sliperiet
Contact person: Emma Ewadotter
Read more
Fee: Kostnadsfritt (ta med eget material eller köp till självkostnadspris)
Event type: Other
Add to your Calendar
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News about Events at Umeå University
2018-06-01 Record number of students at Graduation Ceremony
2018-05-31 Eco-Visionaries exhibition opens at Bildmuseet
2018-05-31 Photography by Jochen Lempert at Bildmuseet this summer
2018-05-24 Spaceships and Recycling Tips at UID18 – Umeå Institute of Design's Degree Exhibition
2018-05-03 TEDxUmeå – 8 May – at Norrlandsoperan and live
2018-04-23 The Umeå Academy of Fine Arts' master's exhibition opens at Bildmuseet
2018-04-11 The living situation for young refugees – Democracy and Architecture at Umeå School of Architecture


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- a chance to meet new people
- an excuse to make cake
- a chance to share and hear some good writing
- an excuse to eat cake
I'm waffling on what to bring to read (ooh, maybe I should make waffles for tonight!). At first I wanted to bring an excerpt from the new novel--one of the more developed and revised scenes. Yes, I know, after all my ranting and kavetching about sharing drafts too soon and being superstitious about discussing novels in progress, and that's what I wanna bring. But I feel really confident about these particular pages (as opposed to the damned 50, in which I had absolutely zero confidence), and I got permission from my PIC to read them (in fact, she's curious about the response they'll get). Also, even though I've never met this group (save Mit), I innately trust them.
There's also Faking It, which, if I could just decide on cover art, will be released at the end of this month. I could do a kind of preview reading. Hmmmmmmm... I think my head's more into the new stuff as of right now. I'll probably bring both.
Good food, good company, good writing. That's what I call a perfect night out.
Oh, and don't get me wrong -- I'm out to win this open mic, too! ;) In good, clean fun, of course.


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Forth and Endrick Councillor now facing a police investigation over racist tweet depicting colonial-era black people as savages and cannibals. The immediate response of the Tory Party was to condemn the tweets, where the obvious first response would have been to dismiss him from the party. By not expelling elected councillors for this behaviour the Tories are giving tacit support to racism.
News Coverage
Daily Record
Daily Mail


text:
Monday, 26 September 2011
The bathroom vocabulary
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For our first Blog Out Loud interview of 2010, we are honored to have Kim Vallee of At Home with Kim Vallee and On The Web with Kim Vallee. Style expert and social media guru, Kim is definitely one to watch and to connect with. Kim has created a strong web presence and is one of the go-to people for style, design and social media. I personally have been following both of her sites for a long time and hope you get as much inspiration from Kim that I do. Let's hear what she has to say about defining your online voice, blog design and finding the time to get it all done.
You are a lifestyle and entertaining expert and offer incredible tips for the home on your popular blog, At Home with Kim Vallee. You also have a blog dedicated to social media and blogging tips that is full of engaging online ideas called On The Web with Kim Vallee. Plus all of your other projects, contributing to HGTV, interviews and more. Share with us how you started both your blog and how you created an editorial schedule.
I always wanted to the editor of a women magazine but I did not choose that as a career. It started when I ran a Web development company with my husband. He introduced me to blogging. I did it very casually for two years before launching At Home with Kim Vallee. This is when I got hooked.
I attend social media events every month for networking and to stay ahead of what is happening on social media. Plus, I am a presenter at "unconferences" three to four times a year. I also coach a few bloggers here in Montreal. Between and within these events, I needed a platform to discuss further what is happening in the blogosphere and how a blogger can use social media to grow their reach. I launched On the Web with Kim Vallee in December 2007. It was just before I migrated my blogs to Wordpress.
I prioritize one blog over the other. At Home is my main blog. I publish several posts a day on a typical weekday and I published one or twice during the weekend. I found that if you publish on the weekend, you will get more traffic on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is no formal schedule for On the Web but I aim to publish once a week.
You have a great tone on your blogs. Share with us how you went about defining your voice and if, at all, it has changed as your blogs have grown.
What differentiates blogging from journalism is that the root of blogging is the way we are. We are aloud to share our feelings and can show our expressions. Plus, we write about what we are passionate about. This fact alone changes how you write as story.
Obviously my writing skill improved over the years. It is so much easier to write now. It is probably due to the fact that I found my voice. I also know my boundaries. Since my blogs have more than two years old, their scope is well-defined. I know what topics are appropriate and what I will not cover.
I shared lots of things about my taste, my ideal lifestyle, what I did, where I go, what are my dreams, up to what meal I cooked for dinner with my husband. But I also do not share our intimate life. I always been very conscious about that. What your question proves is that you can still share a lot of things about yourself and maintain a private life. This is what I mean by knowing what are my boundaries.
How important is social media when it comes to extending a company's voice? What tips would you give to a small business owner just starting out when it comes to setting up a blog and/or twitter?
Social media gives you a chance to show the world what you can do. It opens doors. But it is a long process. You build credibility one day at a time. When I started, I only dreamt on being paid to write an article for a traditional media. Last December, I wrote an article for the Toronto Star, one of the major newspapers in Canada. If I did not start my blogs, this would have never happened.
I found contracts for my husband's business because I read the tweets of people looking for a supplier. If you connect with people on an authentic way, your followers will send you business opportunities when they see one. When you think about it, the cost of doing social media is a lot less than print advertising. Plus, it is easier to attract customers that fit within the culture of your brand.
After you opened your Twitter account, fill out your bio/description, and get familiar with the basics of Twitter. You need to figure out what you wish to talk about on Twitter. This will determine with whom you will connect. Then, you can write two or three tweets, follow like-minded people, and observe the conversation for a while. This way you will get familiar with the culture of Twitter. As soon as you get comfortable, start tweeting on a regular basis.
If you are willing to put the efforts, you can connect with the type of clients that you hope for. For it to work, you need to give advices to people, to be a problem solver, or to share informations about your market. In this mix, you can share on what projects you are working on. You could start with Twitter and then, you can add a blog to expand on the ideas that attract more attention. If you are present on social media, prospects get to know you and your products or services in a way that a corporate website cannot deliver. Many small businesses found that it can be best to build a blog with a few additional pages (contact, services/products, about) instead of a corporate Web site.
Your own blogs look amazing - very accessible, easy to read and full of content. There are so many blog templates available these days, what are your tips for picking a good theme? Also, how important is a well-designed blog?
Thanks, I am happy you like it. A blog design should be aligned with the culture of your brand and the audience. A well-designed blog conveys a sense of professionalism, which helps build credibility with new readers.
My blog is a very custom version of a Wordpress theme. I believe it saves you time to start this way. I worked with a developer and a graphic designer to get that result. Before you settle on a look, explore the supported features, google to see how well the theme is programmed, and ask people who used it if they had problems installing widgets or changing the headers.
I always check what a link to a post in Facebook looks like before selecting my theme. You aim to see the title of the post, an image of your post and an excerpt of your post. See more details on http://ontheweb.kimvallee.com/2009/04/design-your-blog-theme-to-show-your-post-on-facebook/
Thanks, Kim!
Follow Kim @KimVallee
And check out more of our past Blog Out Loud interviews right here.


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I inherited three handwritten notebooks; one from my grandma, Lily Boothman, and two from her cousin, Ethel Ledger. Lily's grandparents farmed at Homestead Farm, Roundhay, Leeds and her father ran Boothman's Dairy in Shadwell and Harehills. Lily died before I was born but Ethel was like a 'grandma' figure to me, as a child.
Ethel's father was a farmer/miller and she sporadically wrote down recipes – for food and household cleaning products – in two of his discarded notebooks. As a child, I was interested in old documents and odds and ends that the rest of my family probably thought were 'old junk' – as a result, the recipe notebooks of both Grandma and her cousin, came down to me.
At least one recipe in Lily and Ethel's notebooks is identical – so maybe they shared recipes or some of these were old family ones. The girls' mothers – Annie and Kate Hemingway – were sisters, who grew up daughters of Master Wheelwright, William Hemingway, in Hensall, East Riding. The Hemingways also farmed, in a small way. So there is a sense in which this is a typical farm house recipe.
Yesterday I made the "Currant Cake" recipe from Lily's notebook. Very nice it turned out, too. Currant cake would have been a staple in many a farm kitchen, and they also seem to have been popular as birthday cakes.
The notebooks generally give no method – just list ingredients and how long to bake for. Looking at the baking time, I guessed the temperature. I made this cake by creaming the butter and sugar, adding wet ingredients, then adding dry.
Here's the recipe for Lily's Currant Cake with a few little off-piste additions I made. Like my dad, I can never follow a recipe without changing it. You can try your own off piste versions or stick to Lily's plain cake recipe.
Currant Cake
Lily's Recipe
½ lb Flour (8 oz)
3 oz Butter
4 oz Sugar
4 oz Currants
1 oz Peel
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Eggs
2 oz (3 tablespoons?) Milk
Bake about 1 ¼ hrs.
I baked in a round tin at 160 deg.
Off Piste
I used self raising flour instead of plain. Also, I added:
Vanilla essence (1 tsp)
Mead to soak currants (just enough to cover in small bowl)
Old natural yogurt instead of milk (By 'old' I mean been open a day or two longer than it should have been. Slightly old, but not 'off' milk was also often used for baking. You get good results if you substitute buttermilk, for some of the milk, as well).
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp grated cinammon
½ tsp Allspice
See also: Uncle Walt's "Record Off Journeys"


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Stupid typhoon prevented Dad from being here for it. Stupid typhoon put trick or treating on hold and ruined all kinds of fun. Actually, the stupid typhoon isn't really all that bad either. But 'just in case' everything has been cancelled. But not our sleep-over. Yay me!
Now there are three 11 and 12 year old boys running around the house, sounding like they are breaking everything in sight. My son? He has lost all of his "mom" hearing. All of the sudden, I no longer exist. *sigh*
I'll be good, I will smile and enjoy his fun. This night is about him. I just need to survive, and then I can look back and
Help me!


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Yesterday the New York Times made the case for electing Hillary Clinton as president on November 8, 2016. Today, as promised the Times makes the case of why Donald Trump should never be elected to the presidency. It is a strong piece, but, in my view 100% on the money. Indeed, it is less scathing than it ought to be given the ugliness of Trump's personality and supposed policies. Trump simply is unfit for office - any elected office, in fact. Here are excerpts from the editorial:
When Donald Trump began his improbable run for president 15 months ago, he offered his wealth and television celebrity as credentials, then slyly added a twist of fear mongering about Mexican "rapists" flooding across the Southern border.From that moment of combustion, it became clear that Mr. Trump's views were matters of dangerous impulse and cynical pandering rather than thoughtful politics. . . . he has demonstrated in a freewheeling campaign marked by bursts of false and outrageous allegations, personal insults, xenophobic nationalism, unapologetic sexism and positions that shift according to his audience and his whims.
Here's how Mr. Trump is selling himself and why he can't be believed.
Despite his towering properties, Mr. Trump has a record rife with bankruptcies and sketchy ventures like Trump University, which authorities are investigating after numerous complaints of fraud. His name has been chiseled off his failed casinos in Atlantic City.
Mr. Trump's brazen refusal to disclose his tax returns — as Mrs. Clinton and other nominees for decades have done — should sharpen voter wariness of his business and charitable operations. Disclosure would undoubtedly raise numerous red flags; the public record already indicates that in at least some years he made full use of available loopholes and paid no taxes.
Mr. Trump has been opaque about his questionable global investments in Russia and elsewhere, which could present conflicts of interest as president . . .
Mr. Trump, who has no experience in national security, declares that he has a plan to soundly defeat the Islamic State militants in Syria, but won't reveal it, bobbing and weaving about whether he would commit ground troops. Voters cannot judge whether he has any idea what he's talking about without an outline of his plan, yet Mr. Trump ludicrously insists he must not tip off the enemy.
Whatever his gyrations, Mr. Trump always does make clear where his heart lies — with the anti-immigrant, nativist and racist signals that he scurrilously employed to build his base.
Since his campaign began, NBC News has tabulated that Mr. Trump has made 117 distinct policy shifts on 20 major issues, . . . . He said he would "loosen" libel laws to make it easier to sue news organizations that displease him.
His plan for cutting the national debt was far from a confidence builder: He said he might try to persuade creditors to accept less than the government owed. This fanciful notion, imported from Mr. Trump's debt-steeped real estate world, would undermine faith in the government and the stability of global financial markets.
Numerous experts on national defense and international affairs have recoiled at the thought of his commanding the nuclear arsenal. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell privately called Mr. Trump "an international pariah." Mr. Trump has repeatedly denounced global warming as a "hoax," although a golf course he owns in Ireland is citing global warming in seeking to build a protective wall against a rising sea.
In expressing admiration for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, Mr. Trump implies acceptance of Mr. Putin's dictatorial abuse of critics and dissenters, some of whom have turned up murdered, and Mr. Putin's vicious crackdown on the press. Even worse was Mr. Trump's urging Russia to meddle in the presidential campaign by hacking the email of former Secretary of State Clinton. Voters should consider what sort of deals Mr. Putin might obtain if Mr. Trump, his admirer, wins the White House.
[V]voters should be asking themselves if Mr. Trump will deliver the kind of change they want. Starting a series of trade wars is a recipe for recession, not for new American jobs. Blowing a hole in the deficit by cutting taxes for the wealthy will not secure Americans' financial future, and alienating our allies won't protect our security. . . . . The list goes on . . .
In all these areas, Mrs. Clinton has offered constructive proposals. He has offered bluster, or nothing. The most specific domestic policy he has put forward, on tax breaks for child care, would tilt toward the wealthy.
Voters attracted by the force of the Trump personality should pause and take note of the precise qualities he exudes as an audaciously different politician: bluster, savage mockery of those who challenge him, degrading comments about women, mendacity, crude generalizations about nations and religions. Our presidents are role models for generations of our children. Is this the example we want for them?
Should Trump win on November 8, 2016, it will be proof to me that America is utterly morally bankrupt and that it might indeed be time to consider emigrating before America slides into fascism or worse..


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Slash Print | Following the digital evolution
Manga | Following up on Wednesday's announcement that Yen Press will move its Yen Plus manga magazine online after the July issue, Gia Manry gets a few more details from Publishing Director Kurt Hassler — among them, that the web version will utilize a dedicated browser designed to emulate the print edition.
Digital publishing | In its White Paper presented last week at C2E2, ICv2 estimates that digital comics sales in North America last year totaled between $500,000 and $1 million. Naturally, it's expected that sales in 2010 will "expand dramatically."
iTunes | After Apple CEO Steve Jobs weighed in on the issue, the company has approved for its App store the NewsToon app from Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Mark Fiore. Apple had rejected the app in December, stating that Fiore's Flash-animated political satire, "contains content that ridicules public figures," a violation of its iPhone Developer Program License Agreement.
Digital comics | At Extreme Tech, Jim Lynch provides a lengthy overview of comics on Apple's iPad: "Marvel and the other publishers have taken some important first steps, but they still have a way to go. The iPad has solved the problem of storage and readability, but now publishers must provide the app features, subscriptions, and digital delivery that will fully take advantage of the iPad and make reading comics on it as easy and as much fun as reading them in traditional book form."
Copyright | A response to a brief post about the Manga Rock 1.0 app is a contender for quote of the day: "This is awful. You're PAYING to use OneManga, which illegally hosts copyrighted materials! This is such crap."
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Do Gaming: HTC has announced its new range One for Android with the X, S and V. Do Gaming secured an exclusive Interview with HTC's Jon French after the company's announcement last night at the Mobile World Congress.
TechSpy is a community of awesome people posting and discussing the latest tech news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


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Top Christmas Buys
Australian Financial Review
28 November 2014
Frances Mocnik
» Click here to download article
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engaged buddhism
Mindfulness in times of war. The School of Youth for Social Service
This is a story about courage, mindfulness, selflessness in the face of war. May it serve as an inspiration and reminder for the incredible potential of the human heart to selflessly give in the face of adversities.
During recent travels, I scheduled to stay for a few days in Saigon, Vietnam, around New Year's. By the virtue of following the work of the Plum Village and its founder Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hahn, I came in touch with stories about his peace work during the Vietnam War. Upon an email sent to the Plum Village to know if there were any activists from that time who were still living in Saigon, they kindly put me in touch with some of the heroes that had practiced non-violent activism based in mindfulness precepts of their Zen master. This below is an account of a meeting I had where I interviewed six of these men over many cups of tea in early January in a neighborhood north-west of Saigon.
The School of Youth for Social Service (SYSS) was an initiative started in the mid-sixties to apply the practice of Engaged Buddhism to alleviate the suffering that came with the war. After the French war, Vietnam was struck by poverty. In 1964 the SYSS was beginning to be built with an intention to support people in the countryside, but by the time the school was established one year later, a second war was erupting with the U.S. escalation of violence, and the school shifted its main focus to provide relief to people most affected by the conflict.
Between 1964 and 1965, Thich Nhat Hanh and some of the prospect students built the premises of the school by themselves. The buildings consisted of a central pagoda and a dormitory, plus a farming land where to plant cabbage and mushroom while learning about agricultural practices. By the time the school launched its first installment of a two-year learning program, it could only take in two hundred participants out of the three hundred who wanted to join. A majority of these students were lay practitioners who followed the teachings of Engaged Buddhism, while a few others were monks and nuns. The gentlemen I had the luck to talk to (one monastic and five lay people) are all grads from that first iteration, class of 65-67.
Their curriculum was built around four pillars:
1 Education: SYSS students learned how to organize free classes for people in need, and how to help children both read and write, and to score well in tests to increase their chances in getting accepted to government schools.
2 Household economics: students had an up-to-date understanding of farming, breeding animals, and overall methods to help peasants to improve their livelihood.
3 Living: based on Buddhist teachings, the students practiced basic foundations for a happy life and rightful living. This was instrumental to have inner peace while carrying on their own works and lives, and also helped people who were suffering in improving their spiritual lives.
4 Health and medicine: students were equipped knowledge about vaccination, hygiene, how to build toilets, etc.
An integral part of the school was the practice camp, which was a time of application of the SYSS curriculum by students who went into rural areas that were in need.
The school and its social workers faced multiple challenges from the very beginning. They took a strong, unconditionally pacifist stance, which meant they would not take side in the conflict, and held true to the precept to never retaliate if harm was inflicted upon them. This made them be seen with suspicion by many, and the school suffered many attacks. As of today, it has never been known who attacked them, as perpetrators acted in incognito and covering their faces. All students ran great risks, no matter if they were monastic or lay people, working in Saigon or in the countryside by rural villages. Soon after they begun their activities they got attacked a first time. In 1965 a mine into the SYSS school left 2 people injured; a few months later an attack by mine into the female dormitory killed 2 teachers and injured 16 others social workers. In 1967, at a practice camp, 8 people went missing and nothing has ever been known about them since. That same year, 5 social workers were kidnapped and got shot by the Saigon River. 4 died under the shots and only one of them survived, who recalled they got asked if they were indeed SYSS students, which they didn't negate, and the kidnappers said they did not want to kill them but had received orders from above to do so. As our conversation unfolded, I asked a few questions.
Q: What made you want to join the SYSS?
A: A few shared that Thay's invite to action made them feel called to participate. One told me he was moved to alleviate conditions of poverty in the villages. It was a vicious cycle they intended to break: the poor could not afford to study, which meant no education, which kept them in poverty, eventually illnesses, and even more poverty. To break the cycle you first need knowledge, which compelled SYSS to teach household economics, how to build houses, how to dig wells, and so on.
Q: Weren't you afraid, with all the risks involved?
A: Many times, one of them recounts, we social workers felt afraid, and with good reason: our fellow workers were getting kidnapped, hurt, killed, but we kept moving. But we always believed we were doing the right thing.
They recollect a story of how the social workers rebuilt over and over again the village of Trà Lộc, that was bombed and rebuilt four times. You can hear the story from the words of master Nhat Hanh here.
Q: How did you keep your hope alive?
A: All of them agree in pointing to Thich Nhat Hanh's spiritual leadership as a key factor in keeping their hope alive. We have learned to be very respectful towards our master Thay -one of them fondly recollects. Because of him, we have grown love and nurtured the good inside each of us. Another one shares that they learned from Thay to cultivate hope and belief inside of us, because when we have that, we can still believe in the capacity of everyone to create happiness. One of the men at our table (a monastic who lives in the same pagoda where the SYSS was once located) told me he kept his hope alive because since the age of 15 he received a lot of wisdom from master Thay, and respected a person that had created something that affirmed the value of life. The fourteen mindfulness trainings taught the social workers to understand and love, and to help by freely giving all the energies of body and mind. The youth followed the ideas of practicing a Buddha mind, unconditional loving, and attaining peace and happiness in the present moment while wishing it to everyone else. All of these ideas made them fearless. One of them tells me Vietnamese saying to illustrate the point: "When you do the right thing, life or death don't matter. When you do the wrong thing, death matters a lot, because you feel that you haven't finished your work."
I explained how inspiring their stories were, and how relevant their wisdom seemed to the challenges we are facing today. Whether it is wars, environmental destruction, or injustices, a lot of people are working with passion to make the world a better place and at times are struggling with despair, anger, grief.
Q: What can today's movements learn from you?
A: One of the alumni pointed to the importance of the five essential mindfulness trainings, as he suggested that if everyone practiced them, there would be no more wars. The trainings are: 1) show respect for the living 2) true happiness 3) true love 4) loving speech and deep listening 5) nourishing and healing. Another shared that in his view the youth of today is very intelligent and very good at science, so they understand what is going in the world. We need to build on that scientific knowledge, and add the wisdom that our happiness is interdependent. We hope that young people today could see that your happiness is my happiness, and also that creating happiness for others will make the giver happy, too, because we become happier from giving than from receiving.
It was late afternoon when we eventually went to the nearby pagoda where the SYSS was originally erected. My hosts showed me around the temple, the gravestones of some of the students who had died under the attacks, and recounted the story of self-immolation of sister Nhat Chi Mai, who in the morning of May 16, 1967 lit herself on fire in front of the pagoda as an act of political protest against the Vietnam War.
Leaving the pagoda and waving goodbye to my hosts, I left with a sense of profound admiration and humbleness towards the incredible work that these heroes have performed during times of profound suffering. It has been especially humbling to witness their peace, and the way in which they recounted stories of suffering, including of when their fellow students have been attacked, without resentment towards the perpetrators of such violence. They have practiced staying mindful, compassionate, and forgiving in the face of great adversities, while selflessly helping others to relieve their sufferings. While today's world is quite different than in the 60's, some questions seem timeless: how to stay present in times of war, how to cultivate inner peace when so many voices encourage us to hate, how to give without falling into despair. Elders like them have so much wisdom to share.
If you want to know more:
Chan Khong, Sister. (2007). Learning True Love. Berkeley: Parallax Press
Thich Nhat Hanh has spoken about the SYSS in many videos including this one and this one.
A beautiful graphic novel that covers the peace activism work during that time https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-of-the-5-powers/id621548560


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Today was the day I realized I had way too many clothes. Like WAY too many. I'm sure we're all a little guilty of having too much stuff from time to time but I seriously had about four bags of stuff that I didn't wear anymore. Most of it was too big since my weight lost (I wrote a bit about it here) and the rest was just stuff I had for over a year and didn't wear. I do have a few rules for wardrobe turnaround and one of my most important rules is, "Donate what you haven't worn in a year's time". I don't think I'll miss that stuff and I'm glad to have some space back in my bedroom.
While I rummaging around my closet and bureau I happened to come up with this outfit and I rather liked it! Forest green tights, a cream colored blouse, tailored shorts and a nubby vintage cardigan were the perfect pieces for this cool fall day. I wore this to the little cafe with Zach and then to the local consignment store to sell my clothes.
By the way, do you ever feel victimized when you go into consignment places and they seem to hate your clothes? I was annoyed. There were a couple of really great pieces that they wouldn't take because they were from Target. As if what we have to offer in this area is so high brow that you wouldn't dare buy a Merona Collection dress (it was like $60) at a consignment store in Norfolk, VA. They have a list of designers they prefer which includes Emilio Pucci, Chanel, and Gucci. Um...we live no where close to Rodeo Drive. Ok, so my rant is over:) hehe..
Cream Blouse, Ann Taylor
Shorts, Target
Tights, H&M
Brogues, Steve Madden
Cardigan, Vintage
Bag, UO