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Network Media broadcasters, in the waning days of Election 2012, make it their business to remind Americans of the term "October Surprise". A fixture of political talk since President Lyndon Baines Johnson's Vietnam assist to Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968. October Surprise is a news event that has the power to influence the voters' reaction to a candidate. Most expected, in this Presidential Election, that the Media would report some event that would garner significant advantage to President Barack Hussein Obama's Campaign. However, the real news is that the October Surprise occurred in September, has revealed Obama's foreign policy failures and brought his campaign to a virtual death knelt. What the Obama Administration knew and when they knew it will reveal with certainty whether they are lying about the circumstances that impacted the deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans or if they incompetently left the US Consulate at Benghazi, Libya and other American embassies and consulates around the world vulnerable to attack. "We the People" are called upon every four years to invest our Trust in one amongst us that will focus on Truth rather than semantics and Leadership rather than rhetoric.
The greatest revelation about the "Surprise" is that Americans seek a World Leader that takes responsibility and executes a strategy to protect our citizens. Four weeks passed after the September 11, 2012 terrorist event and neither the White House nor State Department had taken full responsibility for the mishaps in preparation, security and intelligence. On his last day on Earth, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens requested additional security for fear of losing his life. The terrorist attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya was troubling in itself. That Congress budgeted more than $2 billion for security enhancements to embassy and consulate around the world and yet, rejected the US Ambassador's request is quite unsettling. Stevens did not mention a YouTube video denigrating the Prophet Muhammad. The video is the Administration's defense throughout Benghazi-Gate. The Wall Street Journal's James Rosen writes:
The terrorist attack was curiously planned for September 11. 2012. A time when Americans, and even Israel, remember the onset of our War on Terror with the destruction of New York's famed Twin Towers by militant terrorists on September 11, 2001. Yet, Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seemed aloof and unable to give a reasoned response for the episode that resulted in the death of four Americans and the first US Ambassador killed in an attack since President Jimmy Carter's administration in 1979.
Why would a sitting President not accept responsibility immediately and employ a strategy to retaliate against the militants? Why would the State Department not provide a war zone Ambassador adequate protection? Why did Obama, Clinton and Biden not know that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had determined that this was a terrorist act within 24 hours of the event? Obama and his Administration seem so weak in their Benghazi-Gate defense that voters believe either they are lying in order to increase their chances for political victory or are incompetent in executing foreign policy. Once blaming Governor Mitt Romney for politicizing the Benghazi attacks, the Obama Administration finds itself, according to the Associated Press, under political pressure to respond militarily in Libya for the attacks. This leaves the Administration appearing to be more reactive than proactive in executing military and foreign policy options. When one is proactive on the world stage, he appears to be a Master of topics. When one is reactive, he appears to be a foil-able Student. After four years, the American voter seeks a Master rather than student. Voters depend on the integrity, ability and strength of the one that will receive their trust. Voters also depend on truth rather than talking points for matters of security. The problem is that Democrat leaders have not reverenced the surety of the voter. James Carville once advised:
Unfortunately, the greatest misgiving that the Obama Administration may not want to acknowledge but is quite profound is that the 2012 Presidential Election Voter is not as dumb and lazy as many expected them to be and certainly want to know what is true rather than acceptable platform talking points. We the People want Trust and Truth not reckless abandon for political gain. Americans are determining that they can not find it in Obama, Biden or Clinton.
Unfortunately, the greatest misgiving that the Obama Administration may not want to acknowledge but is quite profound is that the 2012 Presidential Election Voter is not as dumb and lazy as many expected them to be and certainly want to know what is true rather than acceptable platform talking points. We the People want Trust and Truth not reckless abandon for political gain. Americans are determining that they can not find it in Obama, Biden or Clinton.


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Gameguard does not stop hackers. Go to soul stone plains and tell me it's working. Lmao. to do list : Daily > make some money > upgrade gear until max > ohh look new update Cheap Blade and Soul Gold > repeat. Pinnacle of challenging of end-game content....lol. I use GTX750ti, i5 and 8gb ram but I get more than 60fps here.. you probably need to check your mobo.
I'm pretty sure it's not an issue of optimization, but that the client conflicts with fairly common things found on the systems of many. That's why some people with systems right around min requirements can run it better than some with rather solid gaming rigs. If it was a straight issue of poor optimization, everyone would have problems, Cheap Blade and Soul Gold it's just that those with weaker systems would be harder hit. I'm also pretty sure that some complaints people make against the servers, like with disconnects, are actually issues with these same client conflicts instead.
People have been complaining about such issues since our alpha tests almost a year ago. NCSoft have ignored all such complaints outright, and just blame our systems, not the game, if you send a ticket, just as they do with server issues. I don't expect them to ever fix these issues, and they've lost a lot of players due to them.

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday, July 31, 2015
Friday Letters
16 comments:
And my subdivision is not a freeway! Slow down. Nice post.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Denise!Delete
Well you are in quite a snit this Friday LOLReplyDeleteReplies
I didn't think I was. LOLDelete
Totally agree with police obeying the law when it comes to texting or talking on the phone (both against the law in California; not sure about it here, will have to look). It is hard when the weather can't make up its mind; you don't know what to plan for. Poor Darian, it is always hard to get those first lessons of adulthood and realize that's pretty much how it will be from now on (of course with a few exceptions).ReplyDelete
Yep, I remember when I started learning those 'adult' type lessons. I always wanted to pick and chose! LOLDelete
Love the letters! I so agree with you regardning the texting. I even hate to see people simply talking on their cell while they are driving. I've had to do it a time or two myself and I know that my attention is not totally on my driving then.ReplyDeleteReplies
There is no possible way I can text and drive. I need reading glasses to text and I can't see out of them to drive. LOL!Delete
For sure, on all counts! Just the other day I concluded it was a GOOD thing I'm not a police officer, because most likely I'd go through a whole pad of citations in a day! Nice to know other city's have idiot drivers, as well. (Well, maybe yours was a visitor from Phoenix? LOL.)ReplyDelete
Poor Darien! Reminds me of something my 21-y/o grand posted on her FB page the other day: "My favorite childhood memory is not paying bills"!Replies
LOL! That is my favorite childhood memory too. And not having to make decisions about other people! Yep, I think all cities have idiot drivers!!Delete
Hi paula i am back for this week. Hope you are having a wonderful Friday. Have a great weekend.ReplyDelete
Thank you Stacey. I hope your weekend is great too!!Delete
Texting and driving makes me so nervous. I don't know how anyone can manage it, let alone want to try.ReplyDeleteReplies
Exactly what makes it so dangerous Liz!Delete
Great letters! Doesn't it irritate you when cops do what we would get in trouble for? Several years ago I was heading to the car wash. I was traveling north and the car wash was on the southbound side. There was a break in the highway right where the car wash was but the sign said "No Left Turn" so I had to go up to the next light and u-turn to get to the car wash. As I was approaching it I see this cop hang a left right in front of me into the car wash. I pulled in behind him and the longer I sat there the more I fumed. So I got out of my car and went and knocked on his window. He rolled down the window and I said "Do you know you made an illegal left back there?" He said "Where?" Ah, where it says NO LEFT TURN!! Arrrgh! I went back to my car and he ended up pulling out of the line. Apparently he had police business to attend to... I used to hang out with a few cops and they were always breaking laws!ReplyDelete
Anyway, great letters Paula!
Michele at Angels BarkReplies
My son is a cop so I try not to do too much complaining about them. But texting while driving is deadly even for cops!Delete
I love to hear what you might think. Leave me a comment. I guarantee though that I will delete your comment if you are just here to cause trouble. So tread lightly!


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Fri, 16 June 2017
Anxiety, Depression, Gut Health, Anxiety and Depression, Anxiety and Depression affects Gut Health, ADD, Brain Scans, Amen Clinic, Dr. Daniel Amen, Ted Talk, Antibiotics and Gut Health, Antibiotics and Livestock, Hormones and Livestock, Toxins in Products, Probiotics, Dr. Daniel Amen, Chalene Johnson
Chalene talks with her friend and mentor Dr. Daniel Amen of the Amen Clinic. They dive deep into how Anxiety and Depression is directly impacts your gut health and so much more!! Get a pen and paper and prepare to take notes!!
The Chalene Show is brought to you by www.dietbetatest.com
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All others, please visit my website for relevant show notes, links, photos and information referenced in today's show at: http://www.chaleneJohnson.com/Podcast.
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Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT


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I think the photo of the man in a buggy outside the Episcopal church in St. Vincent is the Rev. Putnum B. Peabody, the minister there until about 1904. (I was surprised to see nothing about him on your St. Vincent web pages since he was such an important figure in its pre-1900 history.) I can't, of course, be certain it is him since the image of him in the photo is so small, but attached is a set of comparison images -- three of Peabody plus a vignette from your image. I note especially the shape of the head, the mustache, the nose, the expression, and in particular the ears all resemble Peabody. That being said, I actually cannot tell if the man in the buggy has a beard...NOTE: The individual who contacted me wishes to remain anonymous...
I have no genealogical or traditional connection to St. Vincent; only an intense provincial appreciation of all things Minnesota. I have explored the Pembina Trail from St. Paul to the Canadian border, driven across Roseau and Kittson counties in search of birds and history, and camped in the woods throughout the northern counties. David Thompson would be my mentor.
The Reverend Putnam Burton Peabody was a minister in St. Vincent and Hallock before leaving Minnesota about 1903. Peabody (1856–1937) was an ornithologist, Knight Templar, photographer, military captain, Episcopalian minister, Ancient Free and Accepted Mason, author, composer, oologist, nidiologist, and naturalist. He was also one of the pioneer ornithologists of Minnesota. He was a well-known authority on the Yellow Rail and he found the state's only nesting records of White-faced Ibis. Throughout his life, he published numerous papers on the birds he observed in the places he visited. His notes appeared in The Auk, The Condor, The Oologist, Bird-Lore, The Ornithologist and Oologist, The Nidiologist, The Wilson Bulletin, The Journal of Field Ornithology, and The Warbler, among others.
Though born in Wisconsin, Peabody's spent his first 45 years in Minnesota where he studied birds, their nests, and their eggs. He lived in the towns of Faribault, Owatonna, Wilder, St. Vincent, and Hallock. He also frequented Heron Lake, the Roseau Bog, Mille Lacs, and other well known birding locations where he collected extensively.
On 7 July 1890, Peabody married Anna Fulton Graham. They had three children, Lloyd Graham, born 12 April 1891, died 14 April 1891; Donald Francis, born 3 July 1892, died in 1899; and Vivian May, born 5 June 1896. In 1903, the family of three left Minnesota for Wyoming, but they eventually settled in Kansas in 1905.
Peabody is an under-appreciated, forgotten pioneer of unusual significance in Minnesota's avifaunal history.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Profile: Putnam Burton Peabody
Six months ago I posted a photograph of of a man whose identity I didn't know, asking readers to comment if they thought they knew who he was. Today, I got my first response...
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With the telecast running four hours and 21 minutes, there have been few times in Oscar history when the audience was so primed for the Governors Ball. The black-tie masses might not have been huddled, but they were yearning to breathe free.
"Lots of Hollywood marriages don't last that long," Miramax's Mark Gill said as he exited the Kodak Theater.
Producer Laura Ziskin acknowledged the show's length but pointed out, "There were seven standing ovations. But who's counting?"
Arriving at the same time as Ziskin was writer Bruce Vilanch, who said the only problem he encountered was "lots of coffee and not enough bathrooms backstage — a lethal combination in a four-hour show."
Most comments about the new hall were positive. One industryite's remark — "The seats were great. I just couldn't sit in them for four hours" — was the norm.
Nominee David Lynch said he thought the Kodak was "fantastic," but complained, "Smokers were shunted off to a low-class area and made to feel like criminals."
Tom Sherak thought the Kodak was "a beautiful venue," but added he "wished more Academy members were able to attend, as they can at the Shrine."
There were surprisingly few comments about the Oscars being held in a mall. Maybe the crowd was just so hungry by the time they got to the ball (co-chaired by Alan Bergman and Cheryl Boone Isaacs), but the subject rarely came up.
"It's too soon to tell" whether the Kodak will be Oscar's permanent home, according to Saul Zaentz, who downplayed the mall aspect. "Once you're inside, you don't know where you are. You could be anywhere."
The ball itself got off to a rocky start when electrical problems played havoc with the complex lighting that's an essential element of the ballroom's decor, created by Sequoia Prods.' Cheryl Checchetto.
First the room went dark and was lit only by candles (that wasn't so bad), then the ceiling lights flooded the room with bright, incandescent light (that was bad), then the lights went on and off until the problem was solved, probably by unplugging the outside heat lamps.
Ironically, Vanity Fair's party at Mortons also was plagued by electrical problems.
The joke that "the Vanity Fair Oscar party packed so much star wattage that the power went out" started making the rounds just moments after the lights blinked off at 1:30 a.m., putting a premature cap on the mag's annual soiree.
"Nobody panicked," magazine rep Beth Kseniak marveled. "Immediately, security guards were shining their flashlights around so it wasn't pitch black."
The evening offered plenty of illuminating conversational couplings: George Lucas looking up at Nicole Kidman, Paramount topper Sherry Lansing emoting with Oprah Winfrey, Diane Sawyer chatting up Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks conferring with Edward Burns and Robert Duvall talking arts and crafts with painter-director Julian Schnabel.
Over dinner, 170 guests at Mortons didn't seem to mind the record length of the show, especially during Halle Berry's speech, which acknowledged guests Winfrey, Angela Bassett and Vivica A. Fox. Winfrey stood and cried along with Berry.
"The level of emotion was a throwback to old Oscar ceremonies," Lansing said. "It started with Sidney Poitier and just went on from there."
When the main event went dark, the electricity was just starting to flow at the Hollywood Hills bash thrown by DreamWorks production prexy Michael De Luca and Endeavor percenter Patrick Whitesell.
In a glass-walled manse high atop Sunset Plaza Drive, the bold and the beautiful feasted on breakfast food and partied until the panoramic view grew rosy at dawn. Among those populating the dance floor — not to mention the serpentine limo line — were Tyra Banks, Jay-Z, Sean Combs, Janet Jackson, Mark Wahlberg, Tobey Maguire, Ben Stiller, Cuba Gooding Jr., Patricia Arquette, Ray Liotta, Chris Kattan and Neve Campbell.
Down the block from Mortons at the Elton John/InStyle AIDS benefit, Sir Elton was promising the 1,000 guests at Moomba that his band was "gonna blow away those old farts over at Vanity Fair."
While John was taking a more aggressive stance in the party wars, InStyle mag's incoming managing editor Charla Lawhon was being diplomatic. "There's room for everyone," she said. "He's very passionate, and it's for an incredibly good cause."
Lawhon was pleased with the eclectic crowd, which included Kevin Spacey (having his picture taken with Olympic gold medalist Derek Parra), Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, the Backstreet Boys, Olympic gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, Melissa Joan Hart, Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford, Eric McCormack, Denzel Washington andJanet Reno.
Lawhon said she was "very pleased with the way things are going. It's a very personal night for me. It's our sixth year doing this, we want to support Elton."
Other Oscar-night parties included DreamWorks, Universal and USA Films celebrating together at Twist in the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel; New Line at Maple Drive; Amnesty Intl. at Ago; and the Night of the 100 Stars at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
In New York the Academy's official viewing party was at Le Cirque 2000 and Entertainment Weekly's fiesta was at Elaine's.
(Shalini Dore contributed to this report.)


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I did make an early departure from my Econolodge -- left at 6:45 and did well until entering NJ and it was just such traffic -- had to wait about 30 minutes in a line for gas on the Jersey Turnpike. It was "full-service" pumps and each guy would be handling four pumps at a time so it was slow going.
As I was making my way up my steps, this woman stops me, had never seen her before and she asks me why I'm not wearing one of my pretty dresses. She acts like she knows me. Then she says, "And you always wear the matching socks."
I do not want to ever see the woman she has confused me with.
She then says she wants to ask me something and says, "Do you think Oberlin is on par with Columbia?" and I thought about it and said no, and she was satisfied with that answer.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
2 comments:
Bentornato a New York City, mia amica.
- May 17, 2010 at 11:43 AM
I think you're wrong about Oberlin. Maybe you'd understand if you were wearing matching socks.
- May 17, 2010 at 11:47 PM
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I had a good journey over to Portsmouth and found the campsite. Looked a bit rough and ready but was okay. The tent was up in two seconds and it took all of ten minutes to finish setting up camp. What now? Well of course I'd better check out the bar and a taste of English pint. After an excellent pint of bitter (I only had enough sterling for one and a half pints - shame) I headed back to the tent and to brave the elements. Frost, freezing cold, rain - you name it I didn't have it. In fact I woke up to a pleasant and mild morning. I opened up the flap of the tent and watched both a blackbird and robin seeking their breakfast, all of a metre away.
After a breakfast of tea, cereal and a boiled egg (after I managed to buy a lighter) I set of for the course. This was being held at Bursledon Brickworks at Swanwick - http://www.bursledonbrickworks.co.uk/. After coffee and introductions the course started with a morning theory session. Basically this covered the properties, types and usage of lime and the difference to cement.
After lunch we had a brief tour of the museum. This is having a revamp at the moment but was extremely interesting, some of the old machines used in the brick making process are fascinating. Then we had some practical demonstrations and an opportunity to have a go ourselves. I found it much easier to use than the equivalent in cement, but it is much more time consuming. I had a very interesting day and learnt a lot which has given me much more confidence for our future projects.
Now I'm staying with my sister near Matlock for the weekend and we are going to see Leicester v Ospreys in the Heineken Cup tomorrow before I head over to Shropshire for the course on natural swimming pools.


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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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Interview with Twilight Cast and Crew
Nicole "Nikki" Reed, (born May 17, 1988[2]) An American film actress, producer and writer. She became known as an actress and screenwriter in 2003, after the release of the film Thirteen, and has since appeared in several low-budget films, including Lords of Dogtown and Mini's First Time. In early 2006, she appeared on the series The OC, playing Sadie, a new love interest for the character Ryan Atwood. She will appear in the movie, "Cherry Crush" in 2006. PUBLICIST APPROVAL REQUIRED


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Post 2 in a Series
This is the post where I come off the worst, although I don't think I come off particularly well in any of them. Post 2 is about EN. And there should NEVER have been another post on him, so clearly I fucked up. Big time.
Before I left for Europe, I started missing EN. I did the best I could to ignore this, despite some strong urges to see him. Then, my lift to the airport came down with the flu and was unable to take me, something I found out only a couple of hours before I was due to leave, and EN offered to take me. I gave in to the desire to see him (and the desire to not deal with Sydney public transport with my luggage… yuck…) and agreed. And it was great to talk to him again; not many people know me as well as he does and even less have known me for the same length of time as him. The floodgates were opened.
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About a week ago I had this great idea to write a post on my aims and goals for the rest of the year – A sort of delayed New Years Resolution, but more focused on achievements and less on weight, smoking etc etc. Due to life getting in the way of my blogging time I never did get around to writing it and now the whole thought of such a post depresses me.
When I look at my life and realise how little I've achieved and how little I have to show for my 21 (22 next week!) years, I despair. I had such grand plans for myself when I was younger and I feel like I'm just never going to get anywhere or achieve anything.
I'm well aware that most of this is depression stemming from the situation I'm in*, but a lot of it has been brewing for awhile. Everytime I see another high school on facebook write something about graduating, I'm reminded of the fact that I still haven't graduated. I sometimes feel like I'm never going to graduate.
I've had four jobs in the last three years. It feels like I'm always the new girl trying to find her feet, not quite knowing the right answers, and always having to prove myself. I'm also constantly worried about managing to stay around in a job long enough to not have a dodgy resume. Which means this job needs to last for at least two years. And I'm not 100% happy in my job and definitely miss my last job a lot more than is healthy.
So, this was going to be an inspiring post about what my goals are, the direction I want to head in, and how I plan to get there. I can't plan all that out anymore, I just don't have the energy or inspiration.
Of course I do still have goals etc. I'm just not up to posting them right now.
*I'm not even sure what to call him anymore. Nigel feels inappropriate, and he's not an ex-nigel and I can't call him 'M' so I'm pretty much out of pseudonyms for him. So there you go.
Nigel and I had a very long, open discussion tonight and have finally faced up to the mess that is our relationship.
Officially we're calling it a break, and we'll decide at the end of the break (we haven't set a limit yet, but most likely 6 weeks) what we want to do from here.
Despite everything, I'm not feeling great right now. I'm also desperately trying to find someone that I can call up and meet for coffee and sit down and talk about it with. Most of my friends that know enough background details on this don't live in the same country as me, and the few that are have reasons for not being available.
Last night I was thinking about how many friends I have and how great that feels etc etc. Tonight I'm just staring at my phone wondering what the hell to do. I think mostly I'd be able to handle this problem if I could curl up under my blankets for a week, but unfortunately I have to go to work and smile and be cheery and not let it show at all. I don't know if I'm good enough to pull that off, but I have to be.
I'm not sure if this means increased or decreased posts from here on out, but I'm sure it will mean something.
Radical Feminism: theory vs practice
EDITED: for various reasons parts of this post have been removed. Am happy to discuss in more detail in email communication, but I'm not happy to discuss the reasons on here.
Everyone has issues, yes? I'm included there, I DEFINITELY have issues. But sometimes when I look at the issues in my life I hit this very confusing wall between what's happening in my life, what I'm doing, choices I'm making etc, and what I believe, especially in relation to feminism. I know I've previously said that we all make compromises, but I still feel like I'm an idiot for ending up with the problems I do. It sometimes gets to the point where I don't feel comfortable turning to my sisters for support, help and advice, because I know how foolish I've been, and I know what the answer according to radical feminism is.
When I have(big) nigel issues, I know the radically feminist answer would be to move on with my life. I also know the p-approved response would be to be a better girlfriend so I don't cause him to create issues. It appears I'd like to have my cake and eat it too though, because neither answer is the one I want. I want my own damn answer.
And when I find myself in a friendship that is just a ridiculously stupid idea, and I know what my radical feminist sisters would think of me if they knew about it, and I know that none of them would be foolish, or p-brainwashed enough to end up in the same situation. I know what the right thing to do is, but unfortunately, I know how hard it is to freeze the friend out and move on. Almost like breaking an addiction. Read the rest of this entry »
"Put a ring on her finger"
At lunch with a (male) friend recently, I was discussing problems I'm having with Nigel. My attraction to other men (not all of them, just a few!) was brought up, and my friend had this to say:
Maybe [Nigel] needs to put a ring on your finger to solve all this.
What an absolutely insane thing to say on so many levels!
Open Relationships
I've been reading the posts over at Bitch Ph.D. on her open relationship and it's got me thinking about relationships.
I know I don't agree with the 'proper' set up the patriarchy drums into us in regards to relationships, but I don't know what I do agree with. I know that Nigel isn't at the same point as I am, so that if I plan on making this work, I need to deal with the rules the patriarchy tells me to follow. I know I don't want to end this relationship right now, but I also know there are other opportunities I want to pursue.
I sometimes try to imagine what relationships will be like post patriarchy, but I have issues with this. Mostly, I think relationships will be up to the individuals involved and won't have such a cookie cutter feel to them. Which is why it's so hard to visualise.
And sometimes I just feel guilty that I'm in a long term heterosexual relationship. There are many obstacles that women face in life that are negated with the support of a partner, and in a country that is rife with homophobia, there are obvious benefits to being in a heterosexual relationship. The privilege I have is something I have to continually acknowledge and fight.
Don't ya wish there was a perfect easy solution to everything?
When the RealWorld meets BlogWorld
I'm leaving this post public because I think it may actually be beneficial to have real life people read it.
Before I begin the post, I want to clarify an important point. Whilst this blog was public, it was not something that I thought would be easily found by people in my life. The few people in my 'real' life that know about this blog I thought were either a) close enough that I trusted them to give me my privacy and stay away, or b) not knowledgeable enough about me to find this. I was wrong on both of those counts.
Twice (that I know of) since the birth of my blog I've had people from my real life deliberately seek it out to read it. Both knew I didn't want them to, yet did so anyway. Incidentally, both were men.
Now when Nigel did it, I understood (after he explained it to me) his reasoning. He could feel me pulling away and wanted to know what was going on. He could have just asked me, as you would in a healthy relationship, but he didn't. He went snooping and hated what he found. We have discussed this at length, and mostly moved on. But not entirely.
The second time, I can't figure out a reason for. And I haven't been given one. I've reread many of my posts here, and besides being absolutely appalled at my grammar and typos, I can't figure out what's so fascinating.
So there's a few levels that this disturbs me and causes rifts within relationships.
1) I feel betrayed. Nigel and I have always trusted each other ultimately. We both have each others email passwords, computer passwords, etc etc. They were rarely used because they weren't needed. Then he sought out my blog to deliberately figure out things I hadn't told him. Now there's always a little part of me thinking 'will he look again?' 'will he look at my forums and chats?' And from his point of view, I'm fairly sure he's going to be forever wondering if there's anything I'm hiding from him. There are a few posts here that make it seem like there is. Will he ever be able to feel comfortable again?
2) Privacy. I get that this blog is public and that I shouldn't post anything I want hidden. There is, however a difference between the general populace that have never and will never meet me, and the people in my life that should not have been able to find this. I thought I had covered my tracks well enough that most people wouldn't be able to find it. I still don't know which terms led the second person here. I feel vulnerable that it was so easy to find. Looking back over my posts, I'm horrified at the kind of information in here that has been accessed. Things about my medical problems, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and even the non personal ones are still pretty telling. Just for a start, I don't go around advertising I'm a feminist at because it causes problems and isn't worth it.
3) It doesn't feel right that someone can read so much about what I'm thinking and feeling without that being reciprocated. When I call a friend and vent about a personal problem, or discuss a diagnosis I've received or whatever, I know that they'll be doing the same next time they need to. There's a give and take. When an internet friend reads this, I tend to head over to their blogs and read theirs. There's a reciprocity that makes it work. Simply coming in here and quietly reading all my personal stuff is not equal. It feels like mind games, power play, and manipulation all in one. Whatever the intention was, that's what it feels like.
Overall it just hurts. I had more to say, but I'm kinda feeling depressed and lousy tonight.
So, to my internet readers, both known and unknown, have you had a similar experience? thoughts? And to my 'realworld' friend(s) who may be reading, fess up anonymously and explain anything you need to. K – obviously this doesn't apply to you, I gave you the link.
Dating in High School
One of the problems I'm finding with breaking up from a 5 year relationship at the age of 21 is that last time I was dating, I was 16. 16!! Do you have any idea how big the differences are between dating at 16 and dating at 21? And flirting? BIG difference.
I know in the grand scheme of things this is a pretty minor problem to have. I get it. I'm just saying.
And honestly, going through that does he or doesn't he crap is ridiculous. I get the feeling I'm never going to have a relationship again simply because I can't be bothered. I don't have time for games, I don't have time to practice the typical femininity rituals that seem to go hand in hand with dating, and I refuse to date any arsehat who is not at the very least a feminist ally. I don't have time to *convince* the "nice guys" that feminism is something they should be a part of.
So where does that leave me readers? Well at this point it leaves me in limbo, because I have yet to actually dump Nigel. And actually, it kind of leaves me in a bad spot, as I've already started flirting and doing things you shouldn't do when you're in a relationship with another person. BUT, eventually, it will leave me single for a very long time.
I'm pretty happy not to be in a serious relationship again for a few years at the very least, but the occasional fling might be nice.
Now if I could just stop the flirting and actually get my act together on the moving out/leaving Nigel thing, I might be able to start working on the dating at 21 instead of 16 thing.
Moving Day
Is this weekend sometime. Not sure what my internet situation will be like for awhile. I'm hoping to leave my computer behind and use the net connection at Nigel's house until I have it set up, but this feels like a stupid move. I'm unlikely to want to hang around much once I've got my own place.
This relationship is over. Not in a 'we just had a massive argument and now I'm speaking in anger' way, or a 'I'm so upset and I don't know what to do' way. It's just over. There's nothing there.
The plan was to move out but stay together to see if that improves anything. It's no longer the plan in my mind. I cannot wait for the freedom and independence of moving out. I won't be living alone, but I also won't be living with anyone who will try to control what I do. And if my roommate doesn't stick to a cleaning schedule, arse kicking will ensue.
I have not felt this relieved in five years. Just to use a cliche that is very true, it feels as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I smile more too. 🙂


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topseos.co.za reveals recommendations of 10 top local search companies in South Africa for July 2014.
(PRWEB) July 17, 2014
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7. Virtuosa
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9. Porto Imagem SEO
10. ICrossing
While many local SEO agencies in South Africa are considered for the in-depth evaluation process each month only the top agencies are highlighted in the ratings. The rankings are revised each month in order to account for the latest developments and achievements of competing agencies in areas most commonly associated with exceptional results. The five areas of evaluation used to determine the best agencies include keyword selection, needs analysis, localization, optimization, and reporting.
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text:
(a) inform suppliers about the proposed procurement process, along with the associated timelines and national security requirements and to solicit feedback on any aspect of the procurement process;
(b) solicit feedback on the draft mandatory technical criteria to be used to pre-qualify suppliers during the Request for Response Evaluation (RFRE) pre-screening and industry detailed consultation stage; and,
(c) provide information on security clearance requirements so
as to solicit feedback on these items and prompt suppliers to initiate security clearance processes if required.
1.2. This RFI will also be used to seek input on the scope and interest of suppliers in participating in a broader nuclear innovation agenda.
1.3. To facilitate feedback on these, and other relevant topics,
several specific questions are provided in Appendix B. To support informed feedback, draft elements of the RFRE pre-qualification document are provided in Appendix A.
1.4. Finally, given the amount of time that Canada has allotted for the procurement process, suppliers are encouraged to begin preparing to meet the security requirements for the future solicitation, including for example initiating any security clearance processes that are required."
background documentation: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/cds/public/2013/07/18/dde589bde1a1ef71e06e07566bd6d74a/ABES.PROD.PW__ZG.B411.E26264.EBSU000.PDF


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by Mark Gabrish Conlan • Copyright © 2013 by Mark Gabrish Conlan • All rights reserved
Two nights ago Charles and I watched the DVD of Iron Man
3, which depending on how you count the
omnibus multi-hero film The Avengers
is either the third or fourth of the current cycle featuring Robert Downey, Jr.
as one of Marvel Comics' second tier of heroes from their golden years in the
1960's. Like Batman, Iron Man was really a fabulously wealthy tycoon, part of
the 0.01 percent, who used his riches to train himself, physically and
intellectually, to be a superhero, though Iron Man's alternate identity, Tony
Stark, was also a scientific genius and developed a metal suit and something
called "repulsor rays" which gave him the ability to fly — or at least to
propel himself in short rocket-like bursts through the air — and were a
powerful weapon against baddies. Lacking the angst of Marvel heroes like Spider-Man or the Incredible
Hulk, or the weird family dynamics of the Fantastic Four, Iron Man had a
following but not that much of one. (I remember the magazine Not
Brand Ecch!, in which Marvel parodied their
own heroes, in which Iron Man's weapon was called "repulsive rays" — and when
he fired it at one of the baddies, said baddie said, "Wow! That's repulsive,
all right! What's in it?," to which Iron Man replied, "Essence of skunk, I believe.") When I first heard that Robert Downey,
Jr. was going to play him in a big-budget superhero film from Paramount, I was
a bit nonplussed because at the time Downey's reputation was as a man who got
so wasted from all the drugs he did that he did weird things like walk into
other people's bedrooms naked, though he'd just made the film The
Singing Detective (quite good, actually)
and seemed poised for a comeback. The first Iron Man was a big enough hit that it's spawned two solo
sequelae as well as Iron Man's appearance with the other major Marvel heroes
(Spider-Man excepted) in The Avengers, a film Charles and I hadn't seen and were therefore somewhat at sea
watching this one. In particular we were a bit baffled by the references to the
"Battle of New York" with which The Avengers concluded — did it simply damage New York or
obliterate it completely? (It's an indication of the cheeky audacity the
writing committees on these movies bring to them that they'd pick as the
principal terrorist target the city that in fact sustained the greatest damage
on September 11, 2001 — not unlike Japan, the only country ever on the
receiving end of a nuclear attack, responding by making Godzilla and a whole raft of movie series about monsters
either created or unleashed by atomic radiation.)
I'll say one thing for Iron
Man 3; under the command of a new director,
Shane Black (who also co-wrote the script with Drew Pearce), for once a
modern-day superhero movie was fun,
achieving at least some of the campiness of the 1960's Batman TV series instead of the earnest seriousness of the
Christopher Nolan Batmans or the
Sam Raimi Spider-Mans. As Charles
pointed out, this time around Black and his cinematographer, Jon Toll, as well
as the makeup people did not try
to reverse the effects of years (some of them pretty wild) on Robert Downey,
Jr.'s face and body; he looks
like a man in his mid-40's (he's in fact 48), and since much of the plot of
this movie casts him as a literally homeless person (his home, a
state-of-the-art creation that looks like what Richard Neutra would have
designed if he'd been inspired by a bunch of mushrooms, has been blown to
smithereens by a terrorist attack led by someone or something called "The
Mandarin") with a malfunctioning suit and only sporadic assistance from Jarvis,
Stark's super-computer that serves him much the way John Gielgud served Dudley
Moore in Arthur, his seedy
appearance is actually appropriate for much of the story. Iron Man 3 actually has a bit more plot than usual in a
superhero film of the 21st century — it's not just a series of action-porn scenes and a few plot
contrivances to get from one big action set-piece to the next à la a Republic serial — centering around a
super-scientist named Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). In 1999 Killian crashes a
big New Year's party at a scientific conference and extracts a promise from
Tony Stark to meet him on the roof to discuss a project called AIM for which
Killian wants Stark's research and
financial support — only Stark, then still in his pre-Iron playboy days, stands
him up because he's more interested in screwing pretty little dark-haired
scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall).
Being a character in a comic book-derived
fantasy, naturally Killian spends the next 13 years harboring thoughts of
revenge, and he achieves them by recruiting Maya to his operation. The two of
them create something called "Extremis," which appears to be a human
genetic-modification program that takes ordinary people and runs them through a
painful transition, following which they gain super-powers but also become
slaves to Killian's will. Killian also hires an out-of-work actor, Trevor
Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who's disgraced himself with drug-fueled antics and
thereby wiped out all his chances for an above-ground career (it seems like
Black and Pearce were doing a weird in-joke plotline based on Robert Downey,
Jr.'s own much-publicized antics while on drugs!), to pose as a super-terrorist
called "The Mandarin" who ostensibly heads the terror ring actually commanded
by Killian. This is supposed to be a big surprise reveal made only when the
film is two-thirds over already, but it's absolutely no surprise at all, at
least to anyone who's seen more than six movies before in their life. Slattery
has been lured by Killian's promise of all the drugs he can take and all the
women he can fuck to make periodic appearances before a video camera —
broadcast worldwide through Killian's high-tech video technology, which can cut
in on the world's TV broadcasts any time he likes — and spout rhetoric which
sounds like Noam Chomsky has gone really, really bad: "Some people call me a terrorist. I consider
myself a teacher. America. Ready for another lesson? In 1864, in Sand Creek,
Colorado, the U.S. Military waited until the friendly Cheyenne Braves had all
gone hunting. Waited to attack and slaughter the families left behind. And
claim their land. Thirty-nine hours ago, the Ali al-Salam Air Base in Kuwait
was attacked. I, I, I did that. A quaint military church, filled with wives and
children, of course. The soldiers were out on maneuvers. The 'Braves' were
away. President Ellis, you continue to resist my attempts to educate you, sir.
And now, you've missed me again. You don't know who I am. You don't know where
I am. And you'll NEVER see me coming."
Also among the plot lines in this movie
are Iron Patriot, a.k.a. War Machine (Don Cheadle), a U.S. government
super-soldier equipped with one of Tony Stark's high-tech suits; a president
who's a grey-haired white male (which probably made more conservative members
of the theatrical audience heave sighs of relief after five years they've had
to look at an African-American in that job for real) and ends up in one of the
Iron Patriot suits; a meeting between Stark and a refreshingly unsentimental
street kid, Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins), with whom he has some of the funniest
and most sparkling bits of dialogue in the film. It ends with Stark's
girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow, whose presence in this role
practically defines "overqualified") being subjected to Extremis by Killian and
apparently gaining superpowers herself — a Mr. and Mrs. Superhero story for Iron
Man 4 would actually be a fun and creative
way to take the franchise (though perhaps the decision-makers at Marvel figure
they've done that already with The Fantastic Four) — while at the same time successfully persuading
Iron Man to have all his Iron-suits self-destruct (one conceit behind this
series is that the suits can fly and use their weaponry whether there are
people in them or not) to try to get the burden of him being a superhero off their relationship as it
continues after the final spectacular action scene that for once is not an anticlimax (as it was even in something as
otherwise finely honed as the 1989 Tim Burton Batman, which if pressed I'd declare the greatest superhero
movie of all time). There's also a cameo appearance by Marvel honcho Stan Lee
as the judge of a beauty contest (though both Charles and I missed it) and a
final sequence after the credits have concluded in which Tony Stark, who has been
doing a film noir-style narration
throughout, is revealed to be talking to a doctor and revealing his innermost
secrets — only (and this is something neither Charles nor I registered while
watching, though it's clear on the imdb.com page) he's not a psychiatrist, or
even an M.D. He's Dr. Bruce Banner, nuclear physicist and also the Incredible


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Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Photo-Heart Connection ~ March
I had another picture all edited and ready to go, I even did some fancy post processing in Rad Lab on it. Unfortunately, the story kept forming around this photo.
I took this photo for an assignment for Kim Klassen's Beyond, Beyond class. The assignment was "shooting from above". It was early in the photo session and I was still trying to get placement of the vase on the chair nailed down. I was snapping away without paying too much attention to what was displayed on the back of the camera.
When I loaded the pictures from that session on my computer, I fell in love with this photo. The angle of the chair, the soft blur of the chair, the vibrant colors, the light, everything except for what wasn't in focus. I really wanted the purple flowers to be the main focal point.
I went back and tried to recreate the shot, to no avail. I would be close but it was never quite the one. Every couple of days I would try again, never with complete success. Eventually the flowers died and I had to let this shot go.
March, for me, has been a lot like this photo, trying and trying to get the right part in focus.
I am hoping with the start of Kat's A Sense of Place class next week, I will be able to get my focus back.
15 comments:
This is lovely just as it is! I know the feelings you're having! I don't know how many times I've tried to recreate something and never could get it again! I think I was doing the same thing in March, trying and trying and never getting the focus right! I'm looking forward to Kat's class, too. It's almost here!ReplyDelete
I think I know what you mean about having something specific in your mind and just not being able to capture it. But - this is lovely! And I don't know much about what makes something a main focal point, but the purple flowers are what I noticed first. I love the colors, the lines of the wood in the background, the soft focus of the chair... Best of luck with your next class and getting your focus back - I love it when you blog about your lessons (I kind of soak it up). Have a great day! :-)ReplyDelete
I really like the lesson of your photo - trying but not getting the focus just right. I definitely know how that feels - in photography and life.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing,
Rinda (from PHC)
I love the shot and I love your words, too many times things aren't quite in focus aren't clear but still beautiful in their own way... March has been that way with me too see my latest post lol...ReplyDelete
It's like this photo was meant to be the one! I love the wood tones and all that space. I'm looking forward to Kat's new class very much too - hoping it will get me back on track.ReplyDelete
Your story resonates with a lot of us......just can't quite make it happen the way we want. The hard part is knowing when to keep trying, and when to let it go. I like your photo just the way it is!ReplyDelete
Meant to be! It is lovely and I love the story behind your entry here. Sometimes when I'm looking through photos, I am about to delete a picture and something stops me. :)ReplyDelete
It's funny about those Photo-Heart Connections, isn't it? You just can't force them! The heart wants what it wants, no matter what our minds say. To me, the focal point is the flowers - and the placement on the extreme edge and the softness of the focus adds to the mood, along with the light. Excellent photo and I'm glad you followed your heart. I'm looking forward to having you in A Sense of Place!ReplyDelete
I like this image - it was just meant to be. I'm glad you gave into it and shared it with the rest of us.ReplyDelete
It does sound like this photo was meant to be - and given it fits in so well with how you feel March has been it does seem that way.ReplyDelete
I love the focus on those pretty flowers and how the soft brown surface to the right enhances their beauty.ReplyDelete
No wonder you were drawn to this photo - it's beautiful! I relate to the lack of focus - it can be so frustrating. I hope April will be better for you! (and for me, too...) Thanks for sharing, Sarah. :)ReplyDelete
Well actually, focused or not, The purple flower was what my eye went to first. I do understand, I'm having one of those mornings right now.ReplyDelete
I love this post...you got to the heart of the assignment and managed to capture a universal feeling of creatives.ReplyDelete
I can see why you fell in love with this photo...unusual composition and great "blurring."
It really is such a beautiful photo. I do love the colors. I also understand what you're saying about trying to recreate a photo. I've tried this before, and it's just never quite the same.ReplyDelete


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SCL Elements, developer of the Can2Go automation software for smaller commercial buildings, has secured $2.15 Million in Series A financing. The Westly Group led the round, with participation from Navitas Capital.
Can2Go (architecture shown, above left) says the funding will allow it to accelerate its expansion in the "huge underserved market" of light commercial and mid-market buildings.
It notes that in the last CBECS survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, buildings of less than 100,000 square feet accounted for 98 percent of commercial buildings and 65 percent of commercial floor space. But Can2Go says that only five percent of these buildings have HVAC energy management systems, and even fewer have a lighting energy management system.
The Can2Go offering includes wired and wireless controllers, and a license-free web building management system, designed to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of both HVAC and lighting systems. The company says Can2Go's low fixed cost, flexibility and fast payback is tailor-made for the small and medium buildings segment.
Can2Go can stand alone or integrated with third party BACnet systems. It is IP compatible and supports multiple wireless protocols, as well as the Modbus and CANbus wired protocols.
The systems are already installed in retail, offices, schools, universities, factories, warehouses, heritage buildings, laboratories and government buildings in North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East, the company says.
At AutomatedBuildings.com, SCL director of communications David Lamarche recently highlighted the "absurd division" between building automation systems for HVAC and those for lighting control. Lamarche says there is a ratio of five HVAC BASs for every one lighting-focused BAS.
A Verdantix paper released last week, the Buyers' Guide to Energy Management Software, said that system integration presents a huge problem in energy management, with companies buying up to eight different applications to meet 12 different usage scenarios.


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Bismillah wa-salaatu wa-salaam 'ala Rasulillah wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmaeen
Alhamdulillahi-ladhee ja'alana minal Muslimeen!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam... as-salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.
Can it be I'm drawing a daft impression in thinking many of us, as Muslims, often forget or lose touch with the substantive fact Islam is a complete system of life designed to make us succeed at the uttermost in every aspect and circumstance with which we're confronted in life wherever in the world we may be? Commitment to this system from Allah, Rabbee wa Rabbukum (my Lord and your Lord), entitles us to His Love and promises us success.
*As we know a promise from Allahu ta'ala is a guarantee*
A life of complete worship and servitude to Allah -remembering Him before initiating any act (i.e. eating, sleeping, studying, leaving home, sitting, etc.) and praising and expressing gratitude to Allah upon completing every act and task. Islam is our shield and fortress against worry, grief, depression, stress and anxiety. We lose touch or haven't attained any real yaqeen (absolute certainty) of this in the first place and become easily agitated; consequently our hearts curdle and iman declines. La samaha'Allah any of us should be paralyzed in this state. Ya Muslim! Know and be persistent in acting upon it that such a life (of complete worship and servitude to our Rabb) ensures us success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.
Islam grants us the perpetual consciousness that, in dunya, the only thing in our hands are our choices, NOT the results. Our response to each result determines whether we earn Allah's Love and Mercy or His Hate and Wrath. Time eventually heals all, but Islam stimulates our fitrah and extends to us the wisdom to be patient and mindful at the very instant calamity strikes. A unique but eminent condition of those with true iman and yaqeen in Allah and the Last Day; those with ikhlas (sincerity) and walaa (loyalty) to His Decree (i.e. Qur'an, Shari'ah, Sunnah). Our prophet and Allah's final messenger to the world, Muhammad salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam said:
"How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good for them in EVERYTHING, but this is NOT the case for anyone except for the believer! When the believer receives any good, they are thankful to Allah and earn a reward; when some adversity befalls them, they endure it patiently, for which they are also rewarded."
We are tested and met with fitnah in dunya that we might be purified in dunya, as opposed to being so in Jahanam. Na'udu billah! Just as we are tested for any promotion in this life (i.e. career, adulthood, parenthood, etc.), we are tested for promotions or our status to be elevated in Jennah (and both are directly linked). As Rasul salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam told us: "dunya is a prison for the believer." If we are not imprisoned in dunya, meaning restrict ourselves from evil, it's proponents and gateways, we will instead be imprisoned in Akhirah. Again, na'udu billah! Allah is Al Wadud, The Loving, who rather us (as we should rather ourselves) to be purified in this transitory life that we might enjoy an unfathomably blissful eternity.
So whether met with prosperity or calamity in this world, it's always a win-win situation for those with true iman, yaqeen and walaa in Allah and His Decree (i.e. Word, Shari'ah, Sunnah).
Through proper observance of the law of Love as it concerns the principle of al 'Wala wal 'Bara, we understand that what Allah Loves takes precedence over our personal attachments, lures, likes and desires. Just as we would foolishly do anything for someone we love (or trying to impress) unmindful of what others may think or say, we should unhesitantly do for the sake and love of Allah azza wa jall without care or regard of what others may perceive of us.
What most commonly cost many of us success in this life and salvation in Akhirah is being weak and relaxed in what is obligated upon every Muslim after seeking knowledge... jihad an-nafs or the struggle against one's own ego and selfish desires that would have one transgress against oneself and obedience to Allahu ta'ala. By failing or being inconsistent in this endevour we distance our hearts further from Allah all while Shaitan convinces us the same desires and acts have no such effect. Hence, if we are weak in jihad an-nafs (disciplining our souls), we are weak in jihad ash-Shaitan; subsequently opening the door for much transgression, negligence, hypocrisy and/or vulnerability to misguidance and bid'ah. It is paramount for our success and salvation that we strive for the sake of Allah even and especially when it is against our own nafs.
I'm compelled to as well note that as integral as jihad an-nafs wa jihad ash-Shaitan are with regards to the individual. The highest mode of jihad obligated upon the community and excused of others only after a sufficient number have committed to its cause (and those physically unable) is the pre-emptive and defensive jihad against the enemies of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala who seek and act to oppress and slaughter Muslims, deny the right of self-determination and/or expel them from their lands. Doing so because they'd like nothing more than to see ad-Deen ul-Allah extinguished that their brand of religion/politics may prevail. Allahu ta'ala said what means:
"They desire to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths, and Allah will not consent except to perfect His Light, though the disbelievers (kuffar) are adverse. He it is Who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of Truth that He may cause it to prevail over all religions and ways of life, though the mushrikeen (those who worship, serve, obey or fear other than Allah) are adverse." -Surah al-Tawba ayat 32-33
The Deen, Promise and Plan of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala cannot be defeated, frustrated or avoided. Add this to the long list of reasons why those with true iman, yaqeen and walaa to Allah and the Last Day can't lose.
Disturbingly enough there is a popular tradition cited by many Muslim apologists active in interfaith circles and by those associated or involved in Sufism about the "lesser jihad" being war against hostile forces among the kaffir'un and the "greater jihad" being purification of the soul (jihad an-nafs). Sadly either they are unaware or dismissive of the fact this hadith is maudu' or fabricated, void of any isnad (unbroken chain of narrators leading from the very lips of the Prophet 'alayhi wa-salaatu wa-salaam). It's used, like the myriad of other contrived and anomalous views, to present Islam as a fashionably kumbaya, naively passive or otherwise wishy-washy and dare I say pansy religion. A degraded, warped version of Islam best favored and promoted by our "pals" at the RAND Coporation and the Muslims who align themselves with them and/or their goals. Just a reminder that in sticking to al-Qur'an was-Sunnah we can't be lead astray and... we can't lose.
The most noble of sciences is ilm-ul-Islam (knowledge of Islam) and the most noble of acts is the application of the knowledge of al-Islam. For every bit of knowledge of Allah's beautiful Deen gone unapplied and unimplemented is but cursed knowledge; -knowledge that will serve as witness against us on yawm'ul Qiyamah. The believer has no option except to win by wala to Allah and the totality of His Deen and bara (disavowal) to all opposing and contradictive elements of Allah and His Decree.
By constantly being engaged in dhikr through learning and reciting the appropriate dua's before and after every action and condition. By turning to the naf'l or voluntary acts as much as possible. By crying out and seeking His Mercy and direction when in distress:
Bismillah al-ladhi la ilaha ghayrahu al-Rahman al-Raheem
Allahumma adhhab 'anni al-hamm wal huzn
(In the Name of Allah whom there is no god beside Him, The Merciful, The Compassionate. O Allah! Remove all worries and anxiety!)
By admitting our mistakes and sins and seeking His Forgiveness for the things we know and those we've forgotten before calling it a night. Wallahi we can't lose no matter what good comes to us and no matter what adversity or challenge should befall us.
Allahumma musarriful qulub sarrif qulubana 'ala Ta'atik
(O Allah! Controller of hearts, direct our hearts to be firm and steadfast to Your Obedience.)
I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala continually increase us all in taqwa that we will be guided to His Mercy and gaurded from His Wrath. Ameen ya Rabb. Any truth I've produced is good and is from Allah, may we take and benefit from it. Any mistakes are my own, may Allah protect us from them and there potential misguidance. Ameen.


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|Homemade Rice Krispie treats.
|Covered in homemade MMF, that my sister and I colored with food color gels.
|He looks mighty mean
UPDATE: Level Two, Level Three, Day of Ceremony.
|Homemade Rice Krispie treats.
|Covered in homemade MMF, that my sister and I colored with food color gels.
|He looks mighty mean
WOW...I'm speechless. You are amazing with cakes!
kaaren this cake is awesome and you inspired me to try and make one as well. my co-worker loves eagles and has a large collection and so i made the eagle cake topper for his 50th bday cake. thanks for sharing!
Kaaren, this is amazing. How did you make the feathers for the Eagle?
I took some leaf cutters (Wilton makes a product called "Leaf-Cut-Outs;" a 3-pack of leaf cutters) and used the large and small cutters to cut our brown and white fondant leaves. I used a knife to score and fray the leaves to look like feathers, then I started from the bottom and worked my way up. The small leaves were used to fill in around the eyes and beak.
Thanks for your response Karen, It is super cool! How did they like it? I can imagine they were thrilled!
How Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
I will be doing a Cake like this for my Grandfather's 76th Birthday. I had the same idea for the feathers, by using the Leaf-Cut-Outs. I hope my Cake will turn out as great as yours.
This is beautiful! My son's working on his eagle and I'm already gathering ideas. I was thinking of this and cupcakes. How did you make the eyes?
The eyes are also fondant. Black fondant, yellow and then a black fondant dot for the pupil.


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For sure the situation is getting ugly and all the newspapers are reporting gloomy news by the minutes, but good news should exist in this recession - they always do, it's just a matter of finding them sometimes.
I thought I will share with you some good news and maybe you can find other ways to make this economy work for you.
How has the financial crisis affected us positively?
1. This crisis has gotten people nervous about their job security and from what I have observed, there are more people going to church, seeking spiritual "security" - which is a positive news.
2. Those who loss money to the economy will understand, their investment portfolio may have devalue, but the price of their lives and family will never depreciate, in fact they are priceless.
3. The financial crisis has prompted many more people to follow our dreams and re-examine their priorities in life. I have left my job last year to pursue my MBA and I am now looking at services that I can provide for non-profit organizations.
4. With more uncertainty, people are saving more than before. Saving is a good habit and saving more is great for us! (But not so great for the economy. :p )
5. The interest rates have gone down significantly if you compare it to a year back and this is the best time to refinance your mortgages if you have any. Another great saving tips!
Have you found a silver lining to the economic crisis?


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The last calendar you'll ever need.
This perpetual calendar is designed and crafted in Toronto with every detail in mind:
- Works for every month. Ever.
- Calendar sheet comes with two font styles: modern and script.
- Acrylic (plexiglass) pane and dry erase pen for marking and customization.
- Easy wall and desk mount.
- Laser cut with precision from Canadian baltic birch
More photos and details at: http://calendar.christopherrouleau.com
Special thanks to Ali at Light & Paper for making this laser cutting possible. A huge thank you to my web developer Chris Roberts for his masterful skills preparing the microsite.


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Leading Supply Chain Consultants for Small to Medium Enterprise
Are you a Director or a Senior Executive in a Small to Medium Enterprise of $5-30 million annual turnover? Do you have Supply Chain and Logistics challenges that cause you concern? Would you like a fast and proven process to 'fix' these challenges and get your organisation on track to improved sales and reduced costs?
Then you have come to the right place!
Supply Chain Coaching Conference
All Tickets Sales To Charity
Dawson Consulting is a brand within the Logistics Bureau Group and provides a range of specialised cost effective Supply Chain and Logistics Consulting services to businesses just like yours. These services have been developed to ensure you gain maximum benefit for minimum investment and are based on working with thousands of consulting clients since 1990.
Oh, and like all of the businesses and brands within our group, not only are we focussed on helping you, but also those in need. You can see how we do that on our Giving Page.
Take a look at our services page and you'll find our Supply Chain Consulting Services are focussed on the main Supply Chain issues we see amongst SME's.
We look forward to talking to you soon!
Recent Blog Posts
6 Key Areas of Supply Chain Opportunity for SMEs
In our capacity as a supply chain-consulting partner for small to medium sized enterprises, we're used to helping clients with a wide range of challenges, but the majority of them fall under six broad areas of focus. However, we prefer to think of these as areas of...read more
Putting the Spotlight on SME Supply Chain Challenges
As a consulting company specialising in helping small businesses improve their supply chains, we like to think we're well aware of the specific challenges SMEs face in managing the balance of supply and demand. Many of those challenges are similar to the ones...read more
Act Now for Insights from Supply Chain Experts in Melbourne or Sydney
Have You Booked Your Place at Supply Chain Leaders Insights? October 17th and 19th 2017 will see SME leaders heading for Sydney and Melbourne to participate in the refreshingly different Supply Chain Leaders Insights event, where experts normally too busy to share...read more


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From our Isabella Collection - We've put a modern twist on the classic bell-shaped glass cloche (which historically protected hothouse flowers for indoor display) and illuminated it to create the perfect pendant. Trimmed with a simple thread and a rim of berries, it is clean, crisp, and elegant. 60 watt recommended.
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The weirdest comparison I've read that actually kind of works.
There is just something deeply unsatisfying about watching a team without its superstar player, no matter how much it overachieves without him for a while. It's the Pet Sematary effect -- teams can still win games, but it's always an uglier product; and chances are things are going to end badly anyway.


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Ramona's crazy eyes, ala gilmore!
I ended up watching The Real Housewives of New York City the other night. Alex & Simon ("Silex" as Jill calls them) really gross me out so I don't go out of my way to catch this one. I don't get why they're always out shopping for expensive clothes when they live in a hovel. It's just so odd to me. I could see if they were doing this on the down-low, but they're on a freaking reality show! Why would they work so hard to LOOK like they have money and then show that they clearly DON'T to anyone who feels like tuning in? wtf
How much do I love Jill's parents! The mom was a little crazy with the car not being "right" for her, but once she was happy she was happy so everything worked out fine. What was up with all those cars on the side of the house? Do they really have that many cars at their summer house all the time?
Jill's mother "adopting" Bethany was very sweet. Do we know where Bethany's real mom is? I don't pay that much attention to this series so I don't know everyone's back story.
I loved when Jill got that ring from her mother and she called her "mommy". I just thought that was the cutest moment.
Ramona's article about how to "manhandle" was funny. Seeing Ramona SHOW the article to someone was even funnier! Her eyes are so bulging out crazy it amuses me just to watch her on screen. She is a little kooky, but I feel like she's being herself and I appreciate that. SOME PEOPLE on these shows (coughVicki, Tamera) act one way then around certain people then a totally different way when they're gone. Ramona, if she doesn't like you, she will tell you and walk out of a dinner party because you're there! ha!
I don't understand who this Kelly chick is and why going to a party for 30 minutes by yourself is fabulous. Did she go to several other parties that night and they just didn't show us? It was kind of a "yikes" moment when she fell off that horse. She's so tall it didn't look like she fell that long though.
Bethany & Jill dancing in front of that fan was pretty funny.
I have to admit, I can only take so much of this show because of the accents and how fast they all speak. Sometimes I just want to tell them to CALM DOWN. I guess that's cuz I'm "West Coast"! ha ha


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I just wanted to reassure my one faithful reader out there (hello? *tap *tap, this thing on?) that more posts are in my (and subsequently YOUR) future. :)
Happy New Year!
Decided to start 2010 out with a new layout...a nice and simple one. :) That is a good representation of my style...simple, classic, neutral. I won't tell you the real reason of the switch (that my lack of blogging for 90 days splashed "inactive" everywhere across of the lovely green background I used to have and changing the layout was the only way I found to get rid of it! ooops! did I mention I am not technologically inclined? Why am I blogging again?? Oh yeah, because it's fun!) :) Here's to us!


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7 Tips For Thought Leadership On A Startup Budget
This summer, I recently participated in a thought leadership workshop for Arizona CEOs (from which I was inspired to write an article for Upstart Business Journal on "3 Lessons Startup Founders Could Learn from Corporate America"). Molly Castelazo of Castelazo Content led this event at the annual Arizona Technology Council's CEO Retreat. The audience was comprised of mainly well-established companies. However looking around the room, I thought of how thought leadership can still be achieved on a shoestring or startup budget.
Here are seven components to advance your thought leadership early on:
1. Use HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
HARO is an awesome tool that makes it easy to include your company's ideas or opinions in someone else's story. It is free—a clear appeal for startups—and only requires time to prepare the pitch. The trick is to be very succinct and answer the reporter's query precisely.
In our early days, we answered the queries of others and successfully used HARO to appear in Entrepreneur several times. Today, we are posting our own queries on HARO as a way to gather IP Horror Stories from others (a big thanks to Stephanie Burns from CHIC CEO for that tip). There is a prerequisite that you have to have a top million ALEXA rating and we are finally there!
2. Enter Contests
Enter early and often. Honing your pitch is critical to your success and winning some cool prizes along the way is not bad either. Contests or competitions often require support and can be a good way of spreading your name around. We gained momentum from winning a few contests early on and this helped us to refine our message.
3. Use LinkedIn
Do not sell your business on LinkedIn. Period. End of story. Your LinkedIn posts should be informative or educational only. At the top of my list of pet peeves are those who post spam on LinkedIn as if it were something we all need to read. We used posts that prior to our software launch as a way to spread the word on our company and provided education on the value of IP.
4. Blog Regularly
Some sites blog daily and others blog weekly; more posting is definitely better but regular posts are best. Pick a cadence and stick to it. We learned this first hand when our website traffic fell when we stopped blogging.
To shake things up a bit, we like to exchange blogs with other sites and invite guest bloggers to write relevant content to share with our readers. We have found that sharing quotes and linking to others is great for raising our profile and providing legitimacy.
5. Social Media Strategy
Like blogging, it is important to be consistent with social media posting and follow-up with engagement. Re-purpose and recycle old blogs by linking to new articles and sharing on social media. Ask others to share your content. It can lead to guest blogs and that help establish you as an expert.
Chect this Out.. 6. Read, Write, Read, Write


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Mina Esguerra is one of the Filipino authors most beloved by the blogging community, partly because she writes excellent "chick lit" stories in a Philippine context, and partly because she maintains a regular online presence. Her next romance novella is a YA book with speculative elements, so I jumped at the chance to have her on the blog for a short interview.
Tell us a bit about your new book, "Interim Goddess of Love":
Interim Goddess of Love is my first YA romance novella, and it's about Hannah, a sophomore scholarship student at a college just outside of Metro Manila. Her world changes pretty much overnight when her friend (and not-so-secret crush), reveals to her that he's actually the god of the sun, and that he needs her to temporarily be the goddess of love. Because the original goddess is missing. It's the first volume of what I've planned as a series. (Operative word is "planned" of course.)
In an interview last year, you mentioned how your first novel pitch was for a YA story that was not picked up. What made you decide to return to that genre now? How do you approach writing a YA novel as opposed to one that is not aimed at that market?
Before getting published that first time (My Imaginary Ex, a chick lit novella), I had only ever really written YA — stuff that was more Sweet Dreams- and Sweet Valley-ish. Writing chick lit now, I actually still take my YA concept and just age the characters by five to seven years. My books are not very "adult" or raunchy. (My mother will disagree, but anyway.) I've also used a lot of flashbacks to college, so I feel like I never really left that comfort zone.
I pay attention to readers mentioning my books in social media though, and I noticed that they're young. Teenagers. Younger than I'd expected since the stories are about twenty-somethings. So I thought maybe I could work on a story and keep the characters teenagers too, instead of aging them. That's how Interim Goddess of Love started.
This is also the first of your published novels/novellas that uses fantasy/speculative elements. Why did you choose to take this approach? Did this make the writing process any different?
It started as a personal writing challenge, because by the time I had written IGoL I had finished five chick lit novellas and wanted to push myself in another direction. The process was a bit different, mostly because I had to keep pulling myself back, toning down the fantasy parts. I decided it would be a romance first, but it's easy to get swept up in the mythology.
Writing in the romance genre, where readers expect (if not demand) a happy ending, what do you do in order to surprise or tantalize the reader?
I always work with the happy ending as a given. (Spoiler!) I guess my version of "surprise" is I usually try to play with stereotypes or what people think are wise decisions. But I make sure everyone's happy in the end, to varying degrees.
Tell us a bit about your writing process. Are you an outliner? Do you make use of alpha/beta reader? A writing group?
I am a fan of the outline. I can go as specific as a chapter-by-chapter treatment sometimes. I only start something when I know how it ends, so outlining makes everything easier. When I finish a draft, I share it with three people usually: my editor/s (different people depending on how the work will be published), cover designer, and my husband (who provides the male perspective on things).
You and your husband (2006 Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards winner Michael A. R. Co) are both writers. Can you describe for us what that dynamic is like? Do you critique each other's drafts, or do you go out of your way not to "influence" each other, or is it something in between?
We always come up with stories together, for fun, but those never really get written, much less published. It's like the act of telling each other the idea completes it, in a weird way. Which isn't so great if we actually want to produce something.
So if I want to seriously write and finish a story, I don't involve him at all in the early stages. I let him read the draft when it's finished. He'll have some comments (or a lot), of which I'll take a few (haha) into consideration and maybe do a revision. But that's it. The next time he gets to read my work is when it's been published.
Let's dig up some behind-the-scenes info for fans of your work: Looking back at (any or all of) your earlier books, can you tell us about alternative choices that you could have made that would have drastically altered the stories? Any characters who were tweaked or removed, any plot twists left on the cutting room floor?
There's a version of Fairy Tale Fail that has Lucas and Ellie on a road trip together. But that's also the version where Ellie's friend Charisse had a subplot that was meant to call her intentions into question, but I trashed that because I didn't want to complicate things given the word count I was working with. (Also I felt bad about ruining a character for the sake of more drama.)
In my next chick lit novel (accepted for publication but not yet on the shelves), I imported two characters and their entire backstory from a failed manuscript attempt. Just plugged them in there as supporting characters. I had gotten attached to them and wanted them out in the world in some form, even though I had given up on their story.
You started your blog after your first book was accepted for publication, so it seems that you knew even then that you wanted to have an online presence as an author. What have been the advantages to this decision so far? What have been the disadvantages, if any?
When I started the blog, I didn't have any grand plans for it. I just thought I should have an "official" place, in case people wanted to get in touch with me.
Now I'm on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and a few other places, which has been great because overall, the readers who contact me have been awesome and supportive.
A potential problem with this — not that I have it, so I'll speak hypothetically – is when an author forgets that she has to remain professional, even though these social media accounts can lead to sharing personal thoughts and info. That includes not using "author" accounts to lash out at the crazy things one sees on the internets.
As someone who has published both on her own and through a traditional publishing house, what's your opinion of the state of Philippine publishing today? Is there any hope that someday, the Philippines will have full-time authors?
I am even more excited about publishing now – as a Filipino author, living in the Philippines, writing about Filipinos — than when I started. I appreciate the support coming from a publisher like Summit, and I can tell that many readers know of me because of my work with them. At the same time, it's great that digital publishing has made it easier for me to reach a larger market, and that this market has taken an interest in familiar stories set in unfamiliar places.
Can the Philippines have full-time authors? YES, definitely. Last year, I decided that I would take steps to eventually become one. But I'm not really sure what a "full-time author" makes, or can make, here in the Philippines, so I've set my own standard. At one point I described my book earnings as "my salary in 2001" – which is cool, but not something I'll give up my day job for just yet.
In any case, I became a mom last year, so that will still have to be my priority. The "full-time writing" will happen while my daughter naps. J
What's next for you, short-term and long-term?
Still working on the print version of Interim Goddess of Love. Hoping to finish the manuscripts and possibly publish Interim Goddess of Love #2 and #3 within the year. Waiting for the new chick lit title to come out. And then, will start outlining a new series (romance and crime!). After planning my daughter's first birthday! Busy busy year ahead.


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Title: The Viper Prince
Author: Rebecca Goings
Publisher: Carnal Passions
Buy Link: Buy The Viper Prince Here!
Rating: You Need to Read
Reviewed By: Janelle
A successful romance author, Sabine Santiago's latest book is about hot desert sands and a sexy caravan prince. She's dreamt of him every night since buying a coiling viper armband at her local flea market. Little does she know the trinket is about to transport her to another world.
Tariq Sayed is the Viper Prince of Jikkar. For a millennia, the six princes of the Golden Desert have ruled their caravans, providing water for their people and protection from the hot desert sun. Punishment for stealing water is death, so what is Tariq to do when the woman he's been dreaming of is caught drinking from his oasis?
When their worlds collide, Sabine is dropped right into the plot of one of her books. One look at the sexy Viper, and it's clear that the line between fiction and reality is slim to none. But Tariq has been promised to wed the niece of the Jackal Prince, which will form a strong alliance for his people.
Now, the Viper must choose between his duty and the woman who burns his very soul.
I finally managed to read my way to the first story in this series. And I find this one...different, though not in a bad way. The heroine comes from "our" world, and is dumped into a realm she always thought came from her own imagination. This gives her a different perspective on the events she finds herself thrust into.
Tariq is a fairly classic knight in shining armor, complete with riding off the into unknown danger to save the damsel in distress. He exhibits great compassion...and later passion, for this stranger who all but literally fell into his life.
This is also the first nod we get to the other princes, thus helping to complete the picture I have only been getting pieces of up until now. Though I have to wonder how, if all of these great men had horribly abusive fathers, they turned out to be so compassionate.
The sex is what I have come to expect from this series, though some are a bit more fanciful due to the special connection of Sabine and Tariq.
Overall, I still love this series.


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#AskJoao - the answers!
At La Turbie today, the Portuguese midfielder has been answering your Twitter questions. Here's what he had to say.
"Whether it's in Ligue 1, the Champions League or the national cups, our aim is to win. Personally, this year I'll be trying to improve my game, do well in Europe, score more goals and get more assists. Helping the team to win is the most important thing."
"Rui Barros was a great player, he had a great career. He did brilliantly with AS Monaco. Like many people, I admire him. He's a smaller guy, like me, and there are some similarities between us. But I identify more with players like Rui Costa and Joao Pinto."
"Mainly, I try to rest. We have plenty of free time, and that's when you need to rest. We burn a lot of energy in training. But whenever I can, I look to go out with my family, take my daughter to the park. I try to take make the most of living in a beautiful place like Monaco, too."


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Green Xplorer
Tour & Travel Sevice
Bukit lawang,North Sumatera ,Indonesia.
or Call : 085361759583
e-mail : firstname.lastname@example.com
• Early morning pick up from Medan by public transport or privately chartered car or bus.
• Drop off belongings at a recommended guest house if staying overnight.
• Lunch and afternoon visit to the feeding platform
• Return to overnight accommodation or return transport to Medan if required.
(Itinerary may alter according to your pick up time from Medan)
Day 01 : MEDAN - BUKIT LAWANG
Duration: 07 DAYS / 06 NIGHTS
Arrival at Polonia airport Medan drive to Bukit Lawang with stop at crocodile farm, and several plantation for rubber and palm oil arrival at Bukit Lawang check in to hotel.
Day 02 : BUKIT LAWANG TREKKING LEUSER PARK
After breakfast at hotel then walking trough the bank of the river and crossing the river by traditional canoe and walking up the jungle to see the Orang Utan on the their feeding time. After feeding the Orang Utan trekking through the Leuser National Park, walking around Leuser National Park is the time to experience many kind of flora and fauna as well enjoy the song of birds and Siamang "The Black Gibbon" and overnight in tent or shelter. (B,L,D)
Day 03 : CONTINUE TREKKING RETURN TO HOTEL
After breakfast prepared by tour guide continue trekking, today is full day walking and explore the rain tropical forest with their wild life living in their natural habitat. Afternoon return to hotel. (B,L)
Day 04 : FULLDAY WHITE WATER RAFTING
After breakfast drive by mini bus to Wampu river and arrival at starting point, starting your white water rafting adventure. During the rafting, the excellent opportunity to see the bird and wild life as white enjoying the two mild rapids. Arrival at waterfall at the bank of the river enjoying your shower and lunch will be provided afternoon arrival at the point stop enjoying coffee break before driving back to hotel. (B,L)
Day 05 : BUKIT LAWANG FREE AT OWN LEISURE
Today is a free time to enjoy the view of Bukit Lawang, walking to the villages or relaxing. (B).
Day 06 : BUKIT LAWANG - MEDAN
After breakfast free at own leisure for swimming or walking and then drive to Medan arrival in Medan, city tour by visiting Great Mosque, Sultan palace and Chinese temple. (B)
Day 07 : HOTEL - AIRPORT
After breakfast transfer to airport for your flight to next destination. (B)
• Accommodation based on twin sharing
• Air-conditioned transport
• Daily breakfast, 3x lunch, 1x dinner
• Trekking (included local guide, porter, tent and camping equipment)
• Rafting (included rubber boat, captain, life jacket and rafting equipment)
• Entrance fee
• English speaking tour guide
• Air fare
• Airport taxes
• Insurance
• Donations
• Tips and all personal gratuities
• Daypack
• Good and comfortable trekking shoes
• Comfortable suits and T - Shirt
• Sandals/slippers
• Warm cloth
• Rain coats
• Flash light
• Binocular, Camera
• Personal medicine and first aid kit
• other personal things
Prices : Euro : 60 P / Day