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Weber's Review of "Team Canada 1972 – The Official 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Summit Series – as Told by the Players"by Pete Weber / Nashville Predators
If you are seeking other means to satisfy your "hockey jones," Predators' Voice Pete Weber will be periodically reviewing various forms of hockey media.
In this installment, Pete reviews "Team Canada 1972 – The Official 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Summit Series – as Told by the Players" With Andrew Podnieks
More hockey history for you with this entry: the "Summit Series" between Team Canada and the Soviet Union is remembered by Canadians as well as Americans over 55 remember where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963.
Andrew Podnieks has put together a coffee table book that allows the players involved in the first-ever series involving the top NHL players against the best of the Soviet Union. Previously, the Soviets had always maintained that they would not play their "amateurs" against the Canadian professionals. The fact that the only thing the Soviet players did was play hockey never entered into it.
This provided a great awakening in North America. Team Canada was supposed to take the 8-game set (4 in Canada, 4 in Moscow) easily, perhaps even sweep it.
The scouting reports on the Soviets added to that presumption of Canadian superiority. The Soviets didn't shoot enough, their goaltender – Vladislav Tretiak seemed to be an absolute sieve when the Canadians saw him play. They didn't know that when they saw him, he was just coming off his nuptials. Weeks later, things would be different.
An All-Star team (minus Bobby Hull, who had jumped to the WHA's Winnipeg Jets from the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, was not allowed to play. Defenseman Bobby Orr was not healthy enough to participate fully) was assembled – and came to camp to get into shape. One problem – the Soviets trained 11 months a year and were in great shape!
Team Canada got out to an early and easy lead in Game One in Montreal…only to receive the ultimate wake-up call, getting thrashed, 7-3.
The response was a victory in Toronto, a tie in Winnipeg and a disheartening loss in Vancouver, after which Phil Esposito emerged in a post-game TV interview, stating that all the booing of Team Canada at the Pacific Coliseum that night was unfair, that the players were there because "we love Canada!"
After the series switched to Moscow, the Soviets took Game Five, taking a 3-1-1 series lead. Team Canada was one loss away from dropping the series.
Calling on every aspect of their character and talents, Team Canada managed to sweep the final three games, with Paul Henderson emerging as the hero. Ask virtually any Canadian what they were doing on September 28, 1972, and most will respond that they were in front of their television sets listening to Foster Hewitt intone: "Henderson has scored for Canada!"
As a keepsake, it's an outstanding addition to any hockey library. There are the official portrait photographs of all the players and coaches, some you know, some you won't, along with tables of statistics from the event.
Link to amazon.com book site


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Will Rogers in October 1931 on the biggest problem in the U.S. during the Great Depression. Same thing today.
Note: if you get an error playing the video here, click on the YouTube logo in the bottom right corner and it will take you to the video on YouTube so you can watch.

subset: commoncrawl


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"If only," for some of us. Many people suffer from sleep problems. In fact, according to the July 2009 issue of the Harvard Health Publication, 10 to 18 per cent of adults in the general population (US) have chronic sleep problems. Combine mental illness with sleep problems and the number rises to 50 to 80 per cent affected.
There is evidence that not enough sleep can not only be a symptom of mental illness, but also a cause. Sleep problems are especially prevalent in those with depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD and anxiety.
Chronic sleep problems worsen negative thinking, and negative thinking at night can worsen sleep! As well, lack of sleep can trigger mania or relapse of depression. REM sleep, the sleep where we are dreaming, is essential in learning, memory and emotional health. Those suffering from chronic sleep problems are often deficient in this area. But there is hope.
Lifestyle changes can be the first step to a restful sleep. Avoiding alcohol or nicotine right before bed, or better yet, altogether, can aid in sleep. Using one's bedroom only for sleeping or sex sets the stage for slumber. Removing electronics, television and computers, also can help. Regular aerobic exercise can work wonders, as long as not done too close to bedtime. Therapy to help deal with issues during the day so as not to be worrying at night is another option.
If all else fails medication may be the route to go. See your doctor for possibilities.
It would also be a good idea to get checked for sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Various devices can be used to help achieve better sleep.
Good luck!


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Burglar falls in rap trap
A BURGLAR who took part in a conspiracy to steal cars worth £400,000 was jailed after a hip-hop rap about break-ins was found on his phone.
Levesconte refused to admit responsibility for the rhyme found on his phone
Police discovered it when they arrested David Levesconte in an operation to catch a gang behind a string of burglaries.
More than two dozen luxury cars, plus laptops, games consoles, watches and jewellery, were stolen in 26 burglaries around Manchester.
The rap contained lines: "What's that, the sound of ur patio breaking. That me n Levo on a break-in."
Levesconte, 22, of Wythenshawe, admitted conspiracy to steal and was yesterday jailed for three years and four months at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.
But Levesconte refused to admit responsibility for the rhyme, saying it was written by someone else.
Five other accused were caged for a total of 12 years and two months.


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Routes : North America : United States : Arizona : Central : Isolation Canyon : South Main Wall : Footprints in the Sand
Footprints in the Sand - 5.10dAverage Rating : 4.00 out of 5
Route sequence (left to right): 1
Route Summary | Ascent Notes (1)
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Rock (Sport)
14 quickdraws
Description:Just after you pass the fixed line on ledge trail, past Indecent Exposure, look for a dihedral leading to a roof. Ascend the right side of dihedral (tan hangers) and trend left. Some bolts are hard to see until you move up. Routefinding is tricky and the crux comes high on the route: difficult finger jam with small feet and a great flat edge to save you! You can still do the original line. Just have to start on the left side of the big dihedral and traverse right above the lip of the roof to the sport line. The original finish went right to the arete then bulging hand crack finish.
Descent Options:Chains; rap w/double ropes or 70m
Submitted by: sonso45 on 2007-01-05
Last Modified: 2011-05-30
Views: 711
Route ID: 82382
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|Safety Rating
Onsight ascent by: stamplis on 2008-03-13 (View Climbing Log)
Good mixed climbing - spicy and thought-provoking climbing!
Added: 2008-04-07


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You never get a second chance to make a first impression. When someone walks into your home, what is the first thing they see? In some homes it's a pile of shoes or backpacks haphazardly tossed aside when the kids get home from school. Other homes have entryways that second as mudrooms. There are coat racks, galoshes and umbrellas gathered for convenience. While these entry areas may be practical, they do nothing for the Feng Shui of the home.
The entrance of your home sets the tone for your home, the atmosphere and mood. It can make visitors feel welcome, or it can make them feel as though they should come back at a more convenient time. Here are some tips for creating a more welcoming entryway.
With rare exception, interior designers will tell you that less is more. Less clutter, fewer knick-knacks and furniture not arranged in such a way as to create an obstacle course that must be navigated. That applies to every room, but especially to the entrance. Your guests should not stumble over shoes or be bombarded visually as they enter your home. Have just one focal point that draws them in.
Draw guests in
When you open the door to receive guests, the goal should be for guests to hug your neck or shake your hand, and as they look over your shoulder into the residence, their eyes should be drawn to the focal point with intrigue or curiosity. For that reason, the focal point, if possible, should be facing the door without blocking the walkway to the rest of the house.
Hang welcome signs, metal art décor or a beautiful chandelier in the foyer. Or place a small, unusual furniture piece, like a decorative table, against the wall with a vase, small sculpture or flower arrangement on top. A rug that leads into the home can be the focal point in smaller entryways, provided it's not just a tool for cleaning off your shoes.
Peace versus chaos
As guests enter your home, they should feel like they're entering a safe portal and arriving at a place of refuge. If, instead, they enter into a cluttered obstacle course of confusion, there is more likely to be a sense of chaos, even if all around them is quiet. They can be overwhelmed by noise, by visual stimuli or by having to squeeze by furniture or coats to get to the living area of the home. Proper Feng Shui is as simple as imagining you are standing at your front door with a large pail of water. If you were to dump the water, would it have a clear path through your home, or would it have to flow around corners, over shoes and baskets and under the sofa?
Home décor is not complicated when you remember that less is more and create a simple focal point in your entry. Consider rustic metal wall art ideas, antique frames or contemporary lighting as your entry focal points.


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Hello all- I disagree with alain's recommendation of making ISS radio difficult, exclusive, and expensive in terms of required equipment. This is a wonderful hobbie and everyone should be able to partake in the space based aspect of the hobbie. I do agree that the MIR packet is wild but I think we should all calm down and reduce the qrm. Working the astronauts and cosmonauts is very exciting and popular. Lets keep it simple and for everyone. I'll wait my turn. 73, Pat N2OEQ
AMSAT Home


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The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of AgWeb or Farm Journal Media. The opinions expressed below are the author's own.
Dairy trading experts offer strategies and practical perspectives to optimize market performance.
By Atten Babler Risk Management, Commercial Risk Management Division
In past articles, we have discussed the increasing influence of the export market on U.S. dairy prices. With more than 10% of U.S. milk production now destined for the export market, it is now more important than ever to understand the variables that drive exports. One key variable is currency exchange rates.
The strengthening U.S. dollar has recently put exchange rates in the news. A number of factors, both realized and expected, have contributed to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar. Indications from the Federal Reserve, signaling an end to quantitative easing, have driven up interest rates and consequently the U.S. dollar. Additionally, signals of improving economic conditions, improving labor markets and rallying equity markets have increased the desirability of U.S. dollar-denominated assets.
U.S. dairy customers losing buying power
As the U.S. dollar strengthens, it reduces the purchasing power that our trading partners have when buying our goods. Commodities, including dairy products, are generally priced in U.S. dollars in the world markets. When the dollar strengthens, it becomes more expensive in foreign counties to purchase the same good from the U.S. Consequently, a stronger dollar acts to either ration foreign demand and/or reduce the price received by U.S. producers. This serves to limit the desirability of the product and consequently may also reduce its price in order to keep trade constant.
Figure 1 below shows the top five U.S. dairy export destinations, which include Mexico, Canada, China, the Philippines and Japan. Collectively, these countries make up over half of all U.S. export demand.
Figure 1 – Major U.S. Dairy Export Destinations (source U.S.DA FAS)
All of our top five dairy trading partners, with the exception of China, have seen their currency depreciate versus the U.S. dollar.
Figure 2 below shows the recent upward trend of the strengthening U.S. dollar. (This can also be viewed as a weakening of the foreign currency.)
Figure 2: U.S. Dairy Export Destination Exchange Rates (source OANDA)
Exchange rates and U.S. export competitors
When assessing the U.S. competitive position, it is also important to look at the currency trends unfolding for other major exporters. Major dairy exporters include New Zealand, the EU-27, Australia and Argentina, as shown in Figure 3 below.
Figure 3: Major World Dairy Exporters (source: U.S.DA FAS)
An analysis of exchange rates for competing exporters also signals potential headwinds for U.S. exports. The U.S. dollar has strengthened considerably versus the New Zealand Dollar, Australian Dollar and Argentine Peso. As these exporters' currencies weaken they continue to sell their dairy products in the world market in U.S. dollars.
These U.S. dollars are increasingly able to be exchanged for more of the exporting countries currency. This serves to extend the in-country value of the U.S. dollar-denominated export sales. Even if dairy prices drop, these countries may be able to generate the same in-country revenue as long as the U.S. dollar strengthens proportionally. This helps maintain profitability and the appeal of exports for U.S. competitors.
Figure 4: U.S. Dairy Export Competitor Exchange Rates (source OANDA)
Currency prices are no less volatile than dairy prices or the weather. While it isn't clear if we are seeing the beginning of a major trend, or a just a temporary appreciation of the dollar, it is worth noting that strength in the U.S. dollar has already impacted U.S. dairy exports. Dairy producers are encouraged to consider the risks posed by any loss of exports, whether caused by currency fluctuations or other factors, and pursue hedging strategies that secure a margin and limit downside risk in milk prices.
Futures and options trading involve significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Contact Atten Babler at email@example.com.
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text: 2000 online holiday spending peaks earlier than '99 Published on December 28, 2000. Online holiday shopping peaked during the week of Dec. 17th even though overall spending nearly doubled from 1999 levels, according to the latest study from Goldman Sachs/PC Data. Released Dec. 27, the latest figures for the week ending Dec. 17th show total online holiday spending totaled $8.7 billion since the first week of November, a 108 percent increase over the $4.2 billion consumers spent on the Web during the same period last year. The latest weekly figures indicate online consumers continued to increase spending during the week ending December 17th to $1.6 billion, up slightly over the previous week's $1.5 billion. This compares with $878 million during the comparable week in 1999. In 1999, consumers bombarded online retailers in early December; in contrast, volume surged in early November 2000. Copyright December 2000, Crain Communications Inc. Most Popular In this article: News


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Monday, March 19, 2007
Happy birthday...
Is it just another occasion to remind others that we exist?
1 comment:
- Eva said...
I think we celebrate because we are happy to be alive, to be, to exist... Although I rarely make a big party, I usually enjoy myself and buy myself something I really enjoy. That's better for me than presents from others, btw. Yes, I wonder why people hide their age... I don't - I enjoy my age - it is not only 'getting older', but also and really experience, some more wisdom, a different way to see your life and it's values. I think that most people change a lot in their way of viewing life and what is important to them after forty - you'll see! :D Anyway, people should not be ashamed to grow older a) it happens to everyone, and b) it's enjoyable, too. And GOSH! We should show these 'youngsters' that we enjoy ourselves, too!! {{{Hugs!}}} (Sorry that I have missed YOUR birthday, so you'll get some extra kisses NOW!! :D
- March 22, 2007 at 11:09 AM


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Here is the link to the estimates by the Center for Immigration Studies regarding the number of illegal immigrants who would receive amnesty under the Dream Act currently under consideration by the Senate. As I noted yesterday, an estimated 2.1 million illegal immigrants would receive amnesty under the Dream Act, and an additional 1.4 million (estimated) parents and siblings might end up with de facto amnesty. Moreover, these estimates do not take into account the likelihood of fraud, which has plagued prior legalization programs.
According to Mark Kirkorian, supporters of the Dream Act claim it would give amnesty to only 60,000 illegals per year. However, Kirkorian notes that even the liberal Migration Policy Institute estimates that the Act would result in amnesty for more than 1 million illegals.
UPDATE: Fred Thompson chastises the Democrats for "trying to sneak what amounts to another amnesty bill through."
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"Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time." Winston Churchill
"Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof." Inscription on the Liberty Bell


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GCA is committed to helping growth-oriented performers reach the top of their game.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 18, 2013
In preparation for highly anticipated business growth in 2014, members of Game Changer Academy (GCA), InsurMark's exclusive club where one of the industry's top annuity and life insurance producer shares his success strategies, now have game-changing sales tools at their fingertips, on-demand, 24/7, mere clicks away in a password-protected area of InsurMark's GCA website.
Among other things, GCA members now have instant access to:
- GCA educational documents
- Point of sale pieces--downloadable for quick-reads or client handouts
- Process and marketing assistance
- Presentations
- Life cycle calculator
- Video of our GCA mega-producer conducting a workshop about face-to-face appointments
- Blog posts about topics that most influence investment opportunities
What Is GCA?
InsurMark's master advisor program offers members the most profitable, game-changing ideas, strategies, and techniques proven to be effective by one of the most successful financial advisors in the world.
The GCA leader is a game-changing "professor of prosperity" who operates light years beyond what is considered "normal" by industry standards. He helps members routinely crank out over tenfold the paid premium production of typical advisors.
GCA members discover how to dominate their local markets – and beyond – by becoming the most trusted, rock-solid go-to experts in their field. They arm themselves with real-world, time-tested strategies and systems that are not shared in any other forum. Members walk away "locked and loaded" with tips, techniques and resources that can instantly generate immediate and sustained results.
InsurMark Founder and CEO Steve Kerns said, "GCA is committed to helping growth-oriented performers reach the top of their game. We believe people benefit from prime investment opportunities—like how to arbitrage annuities into large life insurance cases. We help producers avoid peddling products and, instead, offer sound financial planning. It's a win/win/win."
Become a GCA Member
On January 19 - 21, 2014 in Houston, Texas, InsurMark GCA superstar annuity and life insurance producer Jonathan Lee will share the secrets and sales tools that help him crank out $20 million in annuity premium and nearly $3 million in life insurance premium each and every year. For information call 800-752-0207.


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Hills in the Outback
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|It's National Scholarship Month – so what better time than now to share keen insights into the scholarship search process! Just follow these tidbits below for better scholarship applications, essays and chances.
The Average Student Loan Debt is $23,200—What's Your Plan to Pay?
On average, students who graduate with a bachelor's degree borrow $23,200 in federal student loans. This requires a payment of $267 every month for 10 years on the standard repayment plan. But did you know that there are other repayment options?
Join the Great Lakes webinar "Student Loan Repayment—Everything You Need to Know" on December 7 at 3:00 p.m. Central time or December 9 at 1:00 p.m. Central time. If your student loan payments are right around the corner, attend this event to learn what happens next, how to manage repayment, and who to call for help. When you leave this event you'll learn how to keep track of your loans, how to choose a repayment plan that fits your situation and budget, and who to contact when you need assistance.
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholars candidates must:
•demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship at school, at home, at the workplace, and within the community;
•be nominated by an eligible community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or executive director of a nonprofit organization;
•be recommended by an authority figure, such as a student activity advisor, community service coordinator, coach, employer, teacher, counselor or religious leader;
•demonstrate strong academic performance (3.0 or greater GPA or equivalent);
•demonstrate financial need;
•be a citizen of the United States of America;
•graduate from high school in Winter 2011 or Spring 2012; and
•use scholarship funds for student tuition, room, and board while pursuing a bachelor's degree at an accredited U.S. college or university in Fall 2012.
There are 20 awards of $10,000 and the award can be renewed yearly for a total of $40,000 for a student.


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What good can one person do?
People say, "What good can one person do? What is the sense of our small effort?" They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time.
We can be responsible only for the one action of the present moment. But we can beg for an increase of love in our hearts that will vitalize and transform all our individual actions, and know that God will take them and multiply them, as Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes.
—Dorothy Day (1897-1980)


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After photographing all morning, I stopped for coffee at one of my favorite new age cafes in Lake Worth, Florida.
Tech info:
Nikon D3, 35mm lens set to f3.2, 1/800th sec., ISO800. Exposure set for the background, with the idea that the subjects/objects in front would be partially in silhouette.


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routine. de-odor-cream. natural deodorant. Ethically crafted with the health of our planet as priority, routine was created by sisters Neige and Pippa in Calgary, Alberta. routine is, and will always be, manufactured in Canada. Presented in a glass jar, routine's packaging is simple, fresh and modern. With 12 scents and 3 formulas, routine has a deodorant for every body type and scent preference. made with only clean and wholesome ingredients.
Vendor Name: routine inc.
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Street: 5214 32nd Ave NW
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State: Alberta
Zip/Postal Code: T3B 0J6
Country: Canada


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PM's resignation no solution, says BC Khanduri
Departing from BJP's official line over the series of alleged scandals swirling around the UPA govt, party veteran BC Khanduri today said resignation by PM is 'no solution' to the political stalemate and called for political reforms to root out corruption.india Updated: Sep 23, 2012 11:57 IST
Departing from BJP's official line over the series of alleged scandals swirling around the UPA government, party veteran BC Khanduri on Sunday said resignation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is 'no solution' to the political stalemate and called for political reforms to root out corruption instead of going for 'short-term solutions'.
"The Prime Minister's resignation is no solution. Another will come and the same thing will happen again. We go for short-term solutions, we don't try to eliminate the root cause of the problems that ail the system," the former Uttarakhand chief minister told PTI in an interview even as BJP is still insisting for the prime minister's resignation.
Khanduri, who is credited for bringing a strong Lokayukta bill in the hill state, also asked the Central government to give immediate clearance to the bill which is pending before President Pranab Mukherjee for final assent.
Noting that the Prime Minister is a good economist, he said he is under intense pressure and was unable to 'deliver'.
"The pressures of coalition politics hurdle the path to reforms. We must actually stem the rot at its root cause," the former Union road and highways minister said.
Calling for political reforms, he said time has come when the country must adopt a system where there should be some stability like fixed tenures of the government.
"Unstable governments fail to implement their programmes. There should be fixed tenures for governments," he said.
Asked whether this would become counter productive if a corrupt person becomes prime minister, Khanduri retorted there should be provisions for impeachment like in the US.
First Published: Sep 23, 2012 10:13 IST


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Gutiar Pro Tab "Arriba En La Cordillera" from Cuecas Y Tonadas De Chile band is free to download. Tablature file Cuecas Y Tonadas De Chile - Arriba En La Cordillera opens by means of the Guitar PRO program. This program is available to downloading on our site.
Welcome to gtptabs.com! Here you will find free Guitar Pro tabs.


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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The worst day of Geno Smith's young NFL career came four weeks ago with a halftime benching and whole lot of doubts.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The worst day of Geno Smith's young NFL career came four weeks ago with a halftime benching and whole lot of doubts.
The Jets' rookie quarterback was 4 of 10 for 29 yards and a minuscule 8.3 rating in the team's 23-3 home loss to Miami on Dec. 1. It capped a miserable three-game stretch for Smith, who went from potentially being the future of the franchise to an overmatched, mistake-filled question mark.
It also turned out to be a critical turning point.
"I think it may have helped him," coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday, "just because sometimes you sit back out and you have a chance to see it from a different perspective and you know how hungry you are to get back out there."
Smith has played dramatically better in the Jets' three games since that lousy day, throwing four touchdown passes and running for another two scores with just two interceptions. New York won two of those games, with Smith playing a major part.
"Yeah, I've been growing," Smith said after the Jets' 24-13 win over Cleveland on Sunday. "That's a part of the process."
So is winning over his coaches, teammates and fans.
In front of some of the same fans who booed him in that game against Miami, Smith had them cheering as he threw for two TDs and put the Jets in control against the Browns with a 17-yard scamper that was capped by him jumping into the arms of several fans in the back of the end zone.
"I loved the way he managed the game," wide receiver David Nelson said. "I loved the way he took what the defense gave him."
In an up-and-down season for the second-round draft pick, Smith is giving the Jets plenty to consider as they head into the offseason. While it's unlikely he has done enough for general manager John Idzik to believe he's the undisputed starter for 2014, Smith is certainly making an argument for himself.
Another win — against the Dolphins at Miami — and the Jets would finish an unlikely 8-8 with a quarterback who's still developing.
"I'm not worried about what anyone else says about a deadline or who I'm supposed to be proving myself to," said Smith, who has 25 turnovers. "The only people that I have to prove myself to are my teammates and my coaches. I understand that and that's what keeps me level-headed."
From the moment he first stepped foot in the Jets' locker room, Smith has handled himself admirably. While questions about his attitude and work ethic dogged him coming out of West Virginia and apparently contributed to his slide in the draft, the rookie has been humble, engaging and responsible.
That has gone a long way to Smith already establishing himself as a young leader.
"He's a rookie, and that's what I've been trying to stress all along," guard Willie Colon said. "He needs a maturation period."


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Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. II: The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen.: Acesius, Bishop of the Novatians, is summoned by the Emperor to be present at the First Council.Early Church Fathers Index Previous Next
Chapter XXII.—Acesius, Bishop of the Novatians, is summoned by the Emperor to be present at the First Council.
It is related, that the emperor, under the impulse of an ardent desire to see harmony re-established among Christians, summoned Acesius, bishop of the church of the Novatians, 1129 to the council, placed before him the definition of the faith and of the feast, which had already been confirmed by the signatures of the bishops, and asked whether he could agree thereto. Acesius answered that their exposition defined no new doctrine, and that he accorded in opinion with the Synod, and that he had from the beginning held these sentiments with respect both to the faith and to the feast. "Why, then," said the emperor, "do you keep aloof from communion with others, if you are of one mind with them?" He replied that the dissension first broke out under Decius, between Novatius and Cornelius, 1130 and that he considered such persons unworthy of communion who, after baptism, had fallen into those sins which the Scriptures declare to be unto death; 1131 for that the remission of those sins, he thought, depended on the authority of God only, and not on the priests. The emperor replied, by saying, "O Acesius, take a ladder and ascend alone to heaven." By this speech I do not imagine the emperor intended to praise Acesius, but rather to blame him, because, being but a man, he fancied himself exempt from sin. 1132
Soc. i. 10, who derived it from Auxanon, a presbyter, who accompanied Acesius to Nice. Cf. i. 13.256:1130
Eus. H. E. vi. 43–46.256:1131
1 John v. 16.256:1132
Socrates statement of the source of his information is passed over, as well as his criticism of prejudiced historians. The comment substituted by Soz. is, nevertheless, a partially correct interpretation.
Next: Canons appointed by the Council; Paphnutius, a certain Confessor, restrains the Council from forming a Canon enjoining Celibacy to all who were about to be honored with the Priesthood.
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I believe music does wonders for the mind. I've always enjoyed listening and singing to music since I was younger. However, as I've grown older I've realized that without the intervention of music, life becomes dull and repetitive.
I've found that when I'm subjected to moments of utter silence, my mind begins to slap me in the face with reality; quite frankly, silence disturbs me and I consider it a personal enemy in my life. Succumbing to silence only opens the gates to all my fears, my doubts, and the concerns that stress me out – and with such power that it almost puts my life to shame. For this reason, I've learned to always keep a tune or two in mind.
Regardless of the subject matter, like falling way back into love, music clears the clutter from the corners of my mind. It is a rush of freedom for my mind as some music starts to play and suddenly all of my fears, my doubts, and my concerns, and the things that stress me – gone, disappear.
I remember when I met my second girlfriend at a social dance; we hit it off quite well within the first dance. Three hours later, we were still dancing and enjoying each other's company. As I recall, the music at the time only added to the joy and excitement that one feels from meeting someone they really like for the first time.
At the conclusion of the dance, I returned home – glad that I had worked up the courage to go to that particular dance. As I arrived home, I decided to quickly check my e-mail before going to bed. Now it's always been a tradition of mine to listen to music while checking my e-mail, or whenever I use my computer for that matter. So it was on this particular night that I was surprised to hear the Beach Boys singing "Help Me Rhonda."
It was the sign I was looking for – the confirmation of the joy I had felt from that night's event. Several months prior to that night I had endured a horrible break-up. Coincidently, my second girlfriend's name turned out to be Rhonda and she came into my life at a time when my heart quietly pleaded "Help me Rhonda – help me get her out of my heart."
Listening to music is no longer something I do just for enjoyment; it's become a source of healing for all the clutter that somehow finds a place in my mind. It is how I feel my life's story should be conveyed, through the sung tragedies, joys, and experiences of others whose life stories parallel my own.
As I scroll through my collection of music, it's like thumbing through the very pages of my personal life. The music I listened to as a teenager and now as a student in college reflect the very anxieties, joys, fears, passions, irritations, and other feelings that vibrate the core of my soul on a daily basis.
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About Francis Ruyter
By depicting scenes of people engaging in commerce and leisure in public spaces, Francis Ruyter creates works that give viewers the voyeuristic sense of looking in. Ruyter uses paint and permanent marker to recreate images from photographs that he takes, evidence of his physical presence at each scene and a way for the artist to capture the intimate angles for which he is known. Ruyter's figurative and landscape paintings are at once realistic and synthetic, painted in non-naturalistic colors on a flattened, emphatically two-dimensional canvas. By naming many of her works after the titles of films and books, such as Where the Sidewalk Ends (2011), a delicate forest scene, Ruyter places them within the context of cultural knowledge.
American, b. 1968


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Discussion in 'Black Hat SEO' started by Th3T3chGuy, Jun 8, 2012.
What do you guys think? Linkwheel or Link Pyramid?
use both...its not a question of one or another, but both are useful...
I use a link wheel + link pyramid after that
Well I asked because I've been reading that linkwheels leave a huge footprint. But that was before Penguin and you never know with G00gle.
SEO is dead. Didn't you hear?
Matt Cutts hinted at SMX that Google is looking for both. I personally think use pyramid but be smart abut it.
Any SEO leaves a footprint. It's rather simple to analyze the linking structure of any website, whether you're doing white or blackhat. Our job is to create a link strategy that looks somewhat natural (like whitehatters).
As lanbo and manny mentioned, it would be a good idea to use a combination of both. As for my sites that use either strategy, there hasn't been a dramatic shift in SERPS post penguin. As long as your links are diversified, your sites should be fine.
Cool story bro. By the way, what are you still doing here if it's dead?
Search this Bigbuddy's thread, it will give you every answer of your questions regarding to Link Pyramid.
i think that's sarcasm, don't u think?
Either one or both. It's just that how you use and there are a few legit way that can eliminate possible footprints upto a certain extent.
I did link wheels and press releases for 2 of my clients websites. One site is ranking in top 10 for couple of keywords, and for other keywords its slowly increasing.
The second site was ranking in 200-400 positions for 4-5 keywords, it now below 100, so we can say link wheel is working.
Definitely both. the 2 together are sure to maximize your visibility!:china:
linkwheel + link pyramid use both.
Use both and diversify with other links on the side straight to the money site. If you just use the pyramid and wheel it will look sketch, change up the link structure with every pass to avoid footprints.
you must use link pyramid and then use again link wheel for your pyramid..
this works best for after penguin sites
So what are you doing with the signature? Its funny right
SEO can't be dead. It just changes its process. Nothing else.
i mostly use linkwheel with linkfarm + senuke. It works fine
use neither, just quality content that gets shared socially
seo is dead sounds like google is dead..
Separate names with a comma.


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Search for archived stories here...
Nip,Tuck & RAIPUR
There is a bizarre boom in plastic surgery in small-town India. NISHITA JHA reports on the frantic search for beauty. Photographs by GARIMA JAIN
IN MAY 2008, we missed a wake up call. For those who were snoozing, this was when Sony Television aired 10 episodes of a reality series called Naya Roop, Nayi Zindagi, based on the American show Extreme Makeovers. If India had ever imagined that botox injections and silicone implants were preoccupations of the rich and the bored, this was our cue to wake up. Naya Roop trawled through small towns recounting the sordid life story of a 'deformed' person (victims of burns and acid attacks, obese men, aged women), transformed magically when the channel picked them for a cosmetic surgery makeover. Hosted by Mona Singh of Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin (Indian television's most popular makeover), one of the episodes began with a re-dramatisation of Amritsarbased Prasanta Sharma's accident with a pressure cooker when she was three years old.
Phantom dreams Plastic surgeon Sunil Kalda at his Raipur clinic
Sharma's mother and sisters appear in turns, talking about how hard it is for Prasanta, a 26-year-old postgraduate in sociology, to find a husband. One day, on a visit to the Wagah border with her family, a voice on a microphone calls Sharma to the centre of the rows of Indian and Pakistani soldiers. An armed officer stands at attention in front of her and barks, "Madam, you have been ordered by Sony Television to have a makeover!" The thousands of strangers at the border erupt into applause. The overwhelmed young woman bursts into tears, sobbing gratefully into a tricolour the guard hands her.
The show came as a shock because it told us smalltown India had ambitions beyond just becoming Indian idols and dancing superstars. Small towns, much like metros, were full of the same advertising-induced fervour for a 'better' life — catalysed here through a better face.
Here are the incredible facts: The latest report (2010) by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) places India at No. 4 on the list of plastic surgery hubs in the world. We account for nearly 5.2 percent of the world's cosmetic surgeries. Our forerunners are knifehappy US, Brazil and China, where the combined charms of Hollywood, leggy models and soap stars have caused a permanent dip in self-esteem. South Korea, which follows us on the list, is already notorious for its sinister 'Makeover Town' in Seoul — a strip in the city that offers speedy nip tucks round the clock for half the usual price.
The most popular surgeries in the world — liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid reconstruction and rhinoplasties (nose jobs) — are finding a new wave of takers across Indian B towns: cosmetic surgery clinics in Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram and Indore provide tummy tucks for at least 5-6 patients every week. Dr Ravinder Tah of Ludhiana says he's lost count of how many requests he got for rhinoplasties between 2009 and 2010: "There was a time when people would go to great lengths to hide the fact that they were undergoing cosmetic surgery. That is no longer the case — you still don't want a gossiping neighbour to find out, but it's an open secret amongst cousins and family. Female ex-patients often come to me with their daughters-in-law, cousins and aunts, suggesting nips and tucks." Dr Anup Dhir, chief surgeon with the Apollo Hospitals group in Delhi believes that fewer patients travel to metros for cosmetic surgeries now since most small towns and district centres offer the same services at half the cost. Economics dictates a reverse journey — most small-town clinics witness a flood of medical tourists and desperate patients since their services cost much less. A rhinoplasty that would begin at Rs. 45,000 in a metro comes for less than Rs. 25,000 in Dehradun, Raipur and Patiala. Facelifts that cost Rs. 2 lakh in Delhi can be had for one-fourth the price in Chhattisgarh.
WELCOME TO Raipur. Most metropolitan Indians would know this town only as Chhattisgarh's rutty capital. The place the media writes of only as a stopover point to India's mineral-rich and strife-torn heartland — Dantewada, Abujmarh; the Maoist crisis in capital alphabets. But beneath this public reputation, Raipur is a different place altogether. All over town are people dreaming, planning, scheming for nips and tucks that will transform their lives forever.
India is number four on the global list of plastic surgery hubs. We have nearly 5.2 percent of the world's cosmetic surgeries
Kalda Plastic Surgery and Burn Treatment Centre, a small clinic in a narrow bylane, in a sense epitomises this phenomenon. The Kalda Centre has the flurry of a mall. The clinic is the size of any swanky private nursing home in a metro — and it's never empty. This is the first of many clues to the local obsession with plastic surgery. From the moment you enter, the walls suggest ways to make you look better. The expected fawning language is evident in the charts and posters: "In True Service of Mankind's Suffering"; "Cosmetic Surgery — A Positive Life Changing Experience"; "Its about You. Refine and Redefine Yourself". One chart has 12 rows of before-and-after tummy-tuck photos, another cajoles with a selection of lip enhancements, and the biggest promises better hairlines, bigger breasts, sharper jawlines. The before-after photographs are a mirror to our aspirations — thinner waists, heads full of hair, dimples, and yes, we are still hankering for Cindy Crawford's mole.
Dr Sunil Kalda, 50, is a mild man with an imperfect nose, who sits in an office surrounded by trophies and certificates. He has a small staff that waits on the unceasing traffic of patients — him, his pathologist wife Neelam, a team of anaesthologists and a few nurses. But from his little kingdom in Raipur, he promises to transform your life. "My aim," he says, "is to make the patient as attractive as possible. It's what every one wants."
Dr Kalda claims he's performed a mind-boggling 50,000 cosmetic surgeries, nearly 300 liposuctions and six sex change operations. "People said plastic surgery would never get popular in Chhattisgarh, but now, doctors from the UK and Taiwan ask me for case studies for their journals." To be a skilled cosmetic surgeon, one must have vast experience in reconstructive surgery. Treating patients with extreme physical deformities in nutrition-starved tribal regions has sharpened Dr Kalda's skills with the knife.
Bollywood remains B-town India's fantasy, its self image. So while a teenybopper in Vadodara may not have heard of Heidi Montag's multiple surgeries, you can bet your nose she's discussed Koena Mitra's ever-changing face. Dr Kalda recounts many such instances: "A patient came with 200 photos of Aishwarya Rai's nose. I don't even know how she got hold of so many pictures, but she had one from every pose and angle. She wanted a nose exactly like that."
Beauty, however, is only a subset of the desire to belong. Indians aren't just looking for better looking noses. Jackson, a 20-year-old model from Shillong is considering the infamous eyelid reconstructive surgery that will widen his eyes and permanently set him apart from his small-eyed parents and cousins. Ask him why and he says matter-of-factly, "The way I look is my bread and butter. The fact is that very few north-easterners make it as models — it's hard because we look different." After a pause, he adds with a laugh, "In any case, I think my personality is better suited to having big eyes, you know?"
Most commonly, Adivasi clients in Chhattisgarh also ask for their eyes to be widened and for their typically flat noses to be sharpened (they say prospective grooms' families complain that Bastar and Kotoriya girls look too 'sleepy' or 'chinky'). Women want breast augmentation, men want hair transplants, and both want liposuctions and tummy tucks. Dr Kalda gladly shows off a montage of Bollywood belly buttons that he offers his patients. There are also, of course, skin lightening chemical peels and fairness laser treatments. Like everywhere else in the world, plastic surgery is the sharpest expression of a desire to forget your past. In Raipur most requests for tattoo removals come from upwardly mobile Adivasis who want to assimilate, who want their village names erased from their bodies. Across India, plastic surgery is begetting its own world of plastic people. The 'mainstream' is not about the common denominator anymore. It's about Perfection.
A PLASTIC surgeon's office is a good place to observe the kites of human dissatisfaction. There are the traditional demands, such as hymenoplasty — which creates a fake 'virgin hymen' (a gelatin membrane filled with blood-like substance in the vagina) to ensure bleeding after intercourse. And there are newer ones, like the mother who came to Dr Kalda from Uttar Pradesh to get her new daughter-in-law a complete makeover of six painful procedures — a reshaped forehead, a nose-job, new cheekbones, an altered jawline (which involves breaking the jaw for remodelling), breast implants (that will need to be removed for breast feeding) and butt implants. Comments Dr Kalda, "The saas examined the girl's naked body before marriage and brought her to me so she could be perfect for her son." It's the highest number of procedures the good doctor has performed on a single patient, save those who get a sex change.
The Ash effect Patients often bring images of Bollywood stars to get body parts modelled on them
There are those who want to be plastic brides or grooms, others who want to match their partners' bodies and some who just want plasticity for themselves. Many young couples vie to 'improve' their partner's appearance and are heavily targeted in newspaper advertisements around Valentine's Day.
Raipur's concerns echo out endlessly through India's B-towns. At Dehradun's Ashirwad Hospital, Dr Rakesh Kalra neatly classifies his plastic patients into three types:
1) Boys and girls arriving at marriageable age.
2) 40-50-year-olds trying to switch jobs and compete with younger peers in interviews.
3) Post 50-year-olds anxious about occasions like a college reunion or a silver wedding anniversary.
Age is no longer a deterrent to obsessing about your appearance. This plastic world sneers at the idea that 'after marriage you can let yourself go'. Whether anxious about cheating spouses or simply because they now have enough time and money to fret over their bodies, married women of all ages frequent Dr Kalda's clinic.
Ankita Dube, 43, wife of a paediatrician, first visited Dr Kalda's clinic in Raipur for a fairness chemical peel for her daughter's wedding. Among other things, she'd revealed her anxiety to Dr Kalda that she suspected her husband of cheating on her. The doctor had suggested breast implants to counter this threat, and so there followed a second visit where she went from 34 B to 36 C.
A month after the surgery, now that the scars have begun to heal, Dube is both coy and excited on the phone: "People are looking at me differently. I was afraid of the risk. I hadn't told my husband that I sold a pair of gold bangles to get the surgery. But now he doesn't want to leave my side. That's not a big price to pay for a loyal husband. You know what men are like," she adds with a giggle, "it's difficult to keep them interested." As he watched Dube leave his office, Dr Kalda said with an indulgent smile, "Sometimes I get the feeling that some women are here because they got bored of visiting parlours and spas."
The powerful post-op gratification — I finally look like I deserve to — is often short-lived. Dube may be back soon. Someone like Nirmala Kumari, 55 and married to a coldstorage owner, shows signs of a kind of addiction. Kumari, visiting Dr Kalda's clinic in Raipur with her 32-year-old son Satish, is here because her ring finger has developed a strange discolouration. The doctor suspects a blood clot. But when he returns to examine her after seeing a patient in another room, she says in a voice trying its best to remain casual, "Doctor, I think my earlobes have become too elongated. Can you fix them with surgery after you fix my finger?" The procedure will involve removing an earlobe section (stretched by years of heavy earrings), reshaping the lobes and sewing up the slit created by the stretched piercing. Kumari makes her request sound like she was asking a tailor to tighten a loose-fitting blouse.
Not all cosmetic surgery is sought so flippantly. Pinky, 16, doesn't want to talk to anyone. She is fighting with her mother Reena, her father Ram Singh and her brother Raju. She's been fighting with them for two years, when her life changed in a single, burning moment. That day two years ago, Ram Singh, a furnace worker in a steel factory in Chhattisgarh, and his 10-year-old son Raju were waiting by their plates while Pinky and her mother cooked dinner. In a moment of clumsiness Pinky dropped the bottle of kerosene into the chulha, causing flames to shoot up and engulf her body. The family reacted fast. Within seconds she was on the floor wrapped in her mother's shawl while her father and brother doused the resulting fire — but it was too late. "It is a mother's worst nightmare," says Reena between emerging tears, "to have a daughter who you know no one will marry."
Pinky suffered third degree burns on her torso, arms and neck, while her face had minimal scarring. When the family rushed her to a local hospital in Bhilai, doctors managed to treat the most severely burnt parts and she was able to return to school in 10 months. But her happy recovery was cut short when Pinky's parents pulled her out of school — Ram Singh had sold all his valuables and taken a huge loan from his boss for his daughter's treatment, and he had no money left to pay her school fees. A healthy daughter who topped her class and was learning to smile again wasn't enough; instead, her father needed to make sure she was fit to snare a husband. Singh heard that the only way to ensure the impossible was a visit to Dr Kalda's clinic.
Gori scene A patient waits her turn to get a fairer skin and chiselled body
Now, Pinky and her mother visit the clinic every month with a meagre sum that Ram Singh earns at the steel factory and Raju gets from odd jobs. Reena pitches in, tailoring clothes in Bhilai. Depending on the amount collected that month, Dr Kalda surgically grafts healthy skin upon small patches of Pinky's damaged parts. After almost a year of this, her face and neck are entirely scar-free and only the injuries on her arms and legs remain. Now, more than ever, she wants her parents to stop scrimping for surgeries and let her return to school. Reena is defensive about their decision — "Her father and I always wanted her to finish school, we know how important it is." She directs her words resentfully at her glaring daughter and continues, "But who will explain to her how important it is that she have someone to look after her when we are gone?" Pinky, rolls her eyes at her mother's emotional logic. When Reena leaves her for barely five seconds, she mutters tersely, "If she let me go to school, I could pay for my own surgery and I wouldn't need anyone to look after me." Her rage is contagious.
JOAN COLLINS famously said the problem with beauty is that it's like being born rich and getting poorer. Wrinkles, deposits of fat or unwanted hair are enough to cause severe depression among patients, say doctors. Given the high premium we now put on how we look, it's no surprise that patients feel plastic surgery is almost like sorcery — "Usually, no psychological therapy is necessary because patients need only look into a mirror post-operation to feel like a new person. You'd be surprised at how even something as basic as their walk changes after getting a new nose or lighter skin," agrees Dr KM Kapoor, a Chandigarh-based surgeon.
Dr Kalra of Dehradun is the rare plastic surgeon who says he refuses to touch patients who expect miracles. "You have to be realistic," he says. "When young girls bring me a picture of Katrina Kaif, asking for total body contouring to look like her, I have to say no — because there is no humanly possible way to satisfy such a demand. These are cases of body dysmorphia. These girls need counselling, not surgery." To most surgeons, though, the need for surgery is directly proportional to the patient's desire. Take Dr Kalda, who expounds in paternal cadences, "You can't say that someone with a snub nose needs surgery less than someone with a birth defect. To someone who thinks their nose is ugly, even a functional body part can be crippling to their lives and confidence. I always tell my patients that shyness doesn't help you get a good body or face, but if you are honest with your surgeon, everything is possible."
'I sold my gold bangles to get surgery. That's not a big price to pay for a loyal husband. You know what men are like,' giggles Dube in Raipur
While this advice is doled out to everyone who visits his clinic — labourers, babies (Dr Kalda has treated babies as young as nine months for skin discolourations on parents' demands), housewives, college-going PYTs, MLAs, Chhattisgarh movie stars — a reciprocal honesty is harder to find. Weak and outdated laws mean full doctor disclosure is still rare in the plastic clinics and spas that have mushroomed across the land. Facelifts can cause nerves to lose sensitivity altogether and go numb. Pain, numbness, bruising and de-pigmentation usually follow liposuctions. The body often reacts to breast implants by developing a fibrous capsule around the foreign matter, while leakage of silicone gel (gel bleeds) can be fatal. Patients report that little or no mention is made of these dire after-effects and risks. Most are not even aware why they suddenly plunge into post-surgical depression (caused when their tissue retains the chemicals used for general anaesthesia).
Most patients who ask for tummy-tucks have sedentary lifestyles. While doctors unanimously agree that obesity can be controlled with 10 minutes of yoga, a healthy diet and a daily brisk walk, they don't hesitate in offering a short-term, short-cut surgical solution — to cut open patients' stomachs and have pipes suck the fat out. Even Dr Kalda, who's convinced that cosmetic surgery transforms deeply hurt people into joyfully fulfilled beings, has often had cases where the same patient keeps requesting surgeries on different body parts. The problem is, Dr Kalda doesn't view this as body dysmorphia — he applauds his patients for taking proactive steps to improve their life. In the green, neon-lit dystopia of a plastic clinic, you risk being inducted into his 'optimism'. He sees no reason to worry. According to him, the incline in number of patients seeking plastic surgery is because people are taking more pride in their appearance. They are bringing in their aged parents for liposuction or minor corrective surgeries because they are heeding a 'call of conscience'.
Naturally, there are also patients who undergo plastic surgery for physical defects that impede their functioning — such as not being able to breathe, hear, swallow or enjoy sex due to abnormally shaped body parts. Given the vast range of maladies, physical and emotional, which they cure, who can blame surgeons for feeling self-congratulatory, for feeling like a cross between a father confessor and sorcerer? "A young woman from Bastar came with an ugly birthmark that stretched from her neck to her abdomen. She was so affected by it initially that she would not even make eye contact with my staff. Now, she works as an interior designer in Mumbai," smiles Dr Kalda, leaning back in his chair. For him and his peers, the anecdote is remarkable not because an underclass Adivasi woman is now designing homes in Mumbai, but because her post-op appearance made this possible.
So perhaps it's not too eerie to meet Preeti, 19, in the waiting room a few hours later. Petite, fair and well heeled, Preeti is not worried about finding a husband. She is the daughter of a reputed Raipur jeweller and is accompanied by her boyfriend Jiten Yadav, a 20-year-old local mechanic. "Ever since I was young, I've always thought I could do with a better nose. It just doesn't look right," she says, angling her face to highlight what is 'wrong' with her delicate nose. (Interestingly, Dr CV Subbareddy of Visakhapatnam believes demands for nose-jobs are increasingly beginning to rival the local favourite, tummy tucks). Preeti suggests Dr Kalda lengthen it by half an inch to accommodate her future plans of getting braces on her teeth, which will alter her 'face shape'. On examination, the doctor assures her she can get a sharper nose but there's no need to lengthen it. And instead of braces, which take two years, she can get her teeth surgically straightened by him in two hours.
Then and now Satisfied customers (left to right) flaunt a nose job, a better facial profile, a chiselled look and a little dimple
But before Preeti can get up to leave, Dr Kalda suggests an additional nip and tuck for her chin, since noses and chins must align perfectly — obviously. The girl pauses. She's never seen anything wrong with her chin. As the words come out of his mouth, her hand darts to her face and she swivels to the mirror. "What's wrong with my chin? Is it too fat? What do you think?" she asks Jiten. The lover, who in a different story could have allayed her insecurities with a few words, perhaps accepted her for who she was, in spite of (or even for) her minute imperfections — he with his long nose and crooked teeth — looks at her and nods seriously.
NARGIS, 42, is a curious Raipur mother who has taught her daughter she had no need to ever wear a purdah but that she must always wear full-sleeved clothes. "I know my daughter is beautiful," says Nargis, exchanging an identical smile with Bilquis, "but the world is not. Until today, even her closest friends don't know that she has a scar on her arm." Bilquis, 20, was injured as a child when her arm caught on a broken gate and an exposed nail left a vicious scar on her flailing forearm. "I've always loved adventure. Ma and Abba told me not to try and climb that gate but that's exactly why I had to. I used to stay awake at night wondering what lay on the other side," she laughs. Now a second year BSc student at Raipur University, Bilquis didn't have much trouble keeping her scar concealed because her friends expected her to dress 'conservatively' — she was Muslim, after all. It became a private game to hide The Scar — she would come home and tell her mother how she was almost exposed during a hot day at school or while playing basketball at college.
A week before arriving at the clinic, the night when her nikaah was decided, she privately thanked Allah because she would now be able to wear T-shirts and short-sleeved kurtas like the rest of her friends. Her husband would know and there'd be no need to hide herself anymore. It was then that her parents announced their engagement gift for her — plastic surgery to permanently remove The Scar. In the clinic, mother and daughter talk in excited whispers — neither realising that Bilquis' husband will never truly know his wife — that she'd been obsessed with exploring places as a child, that she hurt herself but discovered the other side anyway, that she'd spent her entire childhood worrying someone would see the most imperfect and most inimitable part of her.
The western tyranny of fulfilled perfection that surgeons preach so vigorously can be subverted. Bilquis might benefit from the example of Indian-born chef, model and author, Padma Lakshmi. The exquisite Lakshmi had a car accident at age 14 which left a seven-inch-long caterpillar scar crawling up her elbow. Her adolescent shame for the mark eventually turned to pride as she learnt to see her body and scar as a "map of her life". Photographers and the media heralded a 'real' goddess instead of a plastic doll, a live woman with flesh and blood stories.
The stories of the plastic world are most often of beautiful, intelligent and spunky young girls who never knew there was anything wrong with them. These women who once knew a world beyond mirrors were taught it was wrong to choose their personalities over their appearance. If we are looking for a warning against turning plastic, it is right here — in the sugary dreams of a happily-ever- after.
'A patient brought 200 photos of Aishwarya Rai's nose, saying she wanted one exactly like that,' says Dr Kalda
Sarita, the fifth of Sukhbir Pal's seven daughters in Korba, knew she was her parents' favourite because her father always called her his 'only son', his sher. Pal let Sarita hang around his electronics shop and fiddle with the equipment because she found school 'too boring' and dropped out after class X. For the last 10 years, Sukhbir Pal and his wife have been marrying off their daughters in twos. This year, when Sarita turned 22 and her younger sister finished school, neighbouring families began approaching the Pals with prospective grooms. "They asked my elder sister to bring me to the room," remembers Sarita. "I came in and my prospective saas stood up and walked towards me. I thought she was going to embrace me. I smiled, but she held my face by the chin and turned it, saying, 'Ladki ke chehre pe daag hai (There's a mark on the girl's face).' They left without further explanation."
As Sarita describes the next few days — her father's rage, her weeping mother — her elder sister Roopam's eyes mist over. They are both at Dr Kalda's clinic at their shortfather's behest. Pal says he will be damned if another family finds fault with his daughter. The solution, then, is to get the 'flaw' — a small dark brown crescent on her cheek, present from birth but too insignificant until now — removed by laser surgery. After marrying off four daughters proudly, Pal had to ask his bank for a loan for Sarita's surgery, which costs Rs. 2 lakh.
Ask her if she's now scared and she says, "The doctor says it's a small and quick surgery. I'm not worried, I've fallen and broken my limbs lots of times. But he did tell me that I can't go out into the sun or the scar might reappear. Do you know anything about that? How can I not go into the sun, it's everywhere… even in your city, even the richest women with the biggest cars, they can't totally avoid the sun, can they?" As she's wheeled into the operation theatre she winks at her sister and says "Oh didi, dulhe ko bhi check kar lo jaa ke, us ke upar bhi daag hai toh saath surgery karwa le! (Go get the groom checked too, if he has a scar as well we can get surgery together!)" An unamused Roopam explains, "She is young. She doesn't understand — it doesn't matter if a man is scarred or ugly, he will still get a wife. But a woman must do all she can to make herself the ideal wife. Our father loves Sarita too much, that's why he wants her to be as beautiful as she can be."
Three hours later, Sarita walks into the office for her follow-up prescription. Her sister and brother-in-law are waiting. Sarita holds her dupatta to her face, suddenly conscious of the raw pinkness of the wound where the scar once was. Her eyes are downcast. The perpetually smiling mouth is pursed. She refuses to look at anyone.
Between racing from one operation theatre to another, Dr Kalda often offers laddoos from the several mithai boxes patients send every day. His place and power in Raipur's social life must be a strange and surreal experience. "Last night," he recounts, "I attended a patient's wedding — she'd come to repair a flat nose and get her skin lightened by a few shades. Her parents proudly told the guests that the only reason she was getting married was because I had given her a new life."
Over subsequent days, Sarita continued to be downcast and subdued. Something changed when her family made their favourite daughter believe she needed to be changed for a man. When they let her be wheeled into that operation theatre alone, facing a stranger and a machine that burnt away a part of her skin and her days in the sun. This was a new scar that could not be erased.
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List of nifty tools for drawing diagrams, charts and flow-charts
» Aug 18, 11:53 AM
Developing web-sites over the last few years, I've been stumbling over the same problem over and over again: how can I visualize my idea easily and quickly? Since human being is used to visualize things, trying to understand the idea behind them, recently I've spent hours googling for useful tools and tutorials which would help me to create images – mostly, diagrams, charts, flow-charts etc. to visualize my personal ideas to my potential clients.» Full story "List of nifty tools for drawing diagrams, charts and flow-charts"
» Web-development, Web-Resources @ Aug 18, 11:53 AM
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Icons Round-Up: Free Mini Pixel Icons
» Apr 10, 08:53 AM
Mini-icons are becoming more and more popular. You can use them every now and again – developing web-sites, weblogs or eCommerce-portals. Few hours ago n.design-studio has released a set of Mini Pixel Icons. The icons are divided into 5 categories – File Type Icons, Web Design Icons, Web Blog & CMS Icons, User Icons, E-commerce Icons.
Over 320 free mini pixel icons are designed at 14×14px with transparent background. They are specially designed for header or side navigation buttons. Feel free to use these icons for your site (personal or commerical). However, if you are using more than 10 icons, you must give a link back to the sie you've downloaded them from.
If you are looking for more professional free icon sets, you may be interested in visiting the following links… [...]» Full story "Icons Round-Up: Free Mini Pixel Icons"
» Web-development, Web-Resources @ Apr 10, 08:53 AM
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Free Quality Font - Charis SIL
» Mar 31, 11:22 AM
SIL International, the creator of Gentium, presents Charis SIL – a free quality serif font, proportionally-spaced and optimized for readability in long printed documents. Charis is similar to Bitstream Charter, one of the first fonts designed specifically for laser printers. It is highly readable and holds up well in less-than-ideal reproduction environments. It also has a full set of styles – regular, italic, bold, bold italic – and so is useful in general publishing.
» Full story "Free Quality Font - Charis SIL"
» Web-Resources, Web-development @ Mar 31, 11:22 AM
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WebSiteTips.com re-designed
» Mar 23, 12:57 PM
One of the most useful web-dev-sites with articles, references, tutorials and tips for web-developers is re-designed and updated. Recommended for daily visiting and daily reading.
» Full story "WebSiteTips.com re-designed"
An educational Web site design and development resource, Websitetips.com provides CSS, HTML, and XHTML tutorials, graphics tutorials, articles, tips, and Web design and development resources to build or improve your Web site presence - especially for Web site owners, Web designers, Web professionals, webmasters, teachers and educators, and students.
» , Web-Resources @ Mar 23, 12:57 PM
Comment? [1]
Imagining Google's Future
» Feb 2, 10:25 AM
Have you ever thought about the future of the Internet? You did, right? Semantic Web, Web 2.0, whatever, what will it look like in the next decade? What willl it be capable of? Which social and programming patterns will it change? CNN Money has published an insightful article called "Imaging the Google Future", in which several scnearios of the Google's development in the future are described.» Full story "Imagining Google's Future"
» Web-Resources, Thoughts @ Feb 2, 10:25 AM
The State Of The Web: CSS Galleries and Showcases '2006
» Jan 12, 01:42 PM
During the past few months various CSS galleries and showcases have been popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain - almost every month a "newcomer" was promising more quality content, more updates, just more everything. And even although one could wonder whether the growing amount of css-showcases actually improves the quality of web design, sometimes CSS galleries can serve as a great source for inspiration, creativity and new ideas. Indeed, they present the most beautiful examples of CSS-based web design and they have to be good, so they get regular visitors. There is no need to overestimate them, however, one shouldn't underestimate their ability to inspire, too.
This article is the first part of the series of articles titled "The State of The Web". Every month one specific branch of web-development will be reviewed, web-designers interviewed and web-resources presented, exhibiting the state of the web from my personal perspective. What would are you interested in? What topic should be next? Comment on this article!
» Web-development, Web-Resources @ Jan 12, 01:42 PM
Comment? [13]
The Web-Developer's Handbook: re-design
» Jan 7, 11:20 PM
Few minutes ago I've uploaded a new version of the Web Developer's Handbook. Since many users were asking me to change the outer appearance of the page – design, the structure, font size, font type etc. (well, almost everything) – I finally decided to take some hours, trying to figure out what would be the best for the page, me – visiting the page almost every day – and thousands of users, visiting the page every day.
The result is here.» Full story "The Web-Developer's Handbook: re-design"
» Web-development, Web-Resources @ Jan 7, 11:20 PM
Comment? [18]
15 Best License-Free Pixel Fonts
» Dec 31, 04:40 PM
Some weeks ago I have written about 25 Best License-Free Quality fonts; surprisingly, the article has become quite popular, many artists who have created the fonts listed in my list were either angry or happy about the traffic my article has brought to their site.
However, since the topic I have written about was both extremely useful and unique for the visitors of my page, I decided to publish an article about quality pixel fonts I have found working on my last project (it's not online yet).» Full story "15 Best License-Free Pixel Fonts"
» Web-development, Web-Resources @ Dec 31, 04:40 PM
Comment? [16]


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It's so nice when friends surprise friends. This cake was for a girl who loves Leopard prints. So her girlfriends bought this cake and were going to surprise her with it at dinner. Happy Birthday Daniela!
*Special thanks to my friend CakesbyRaewyn for letting me use her leopard tutorial for inspiration. It was easy to follow and I loved the look in the end. You're the best Rae!
Tags: birthday graduation mothers day valentine black brown white leopard print tutorial leopard bow cake
~Daniela xo www.facebook.com/itsacakethingwoodbridge
9 Comments
Great job.
Great cake – the bow is fabulous, is that flowerpaste or fondant xxx
Great job!!! xx
Thank you so much. The bow is made of fondant.
Very nice cake!
Love it Daniela! Thanks so much for the shout out Lovely :) xx
Very nice! I love how you photographed it as well!
Thank YOU Rae…always to lovely of you to share your talent with us!
Thanks @teapartycakes


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Ahoy! It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day (VIDEO)
Avast Me Hearties! It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day and Twitter's going overboard with the arrrrguably important news.
The celebration, created by Mark "Cap'n Slappy" Summers and John "Ol' Chumbucket" Baur was mentioned nine years ago by Dave Barry in his nationally syndicated column and has become a growing phenomenon ever since.
The TLAPD website offers landlubbers all they needs to unleash their inner Jack Sparrows, including pirate-talk training in Dutch, Swedish, French, Mandarin, and German, as well as the handy online English-to-Pirate Translator.
So grab ye your grog and hornpipe, belay your barnacles, and hoist your yardarms with all your mateys for this all-day pirate parrrrrrty.


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Walking Holidays to Germany
From the romance of walking in Rhineland, the magnificence of the Bavarian Alps and the hidden delights of Saxon Switzerland, Germany is a great and varied destination for a walking holiday.
To plan your ideal Germany walking trip, contact a specialist trekking consultant today.
Further below on this page, you can click through to specific self-guided walking holiday itineraries in Germany.
From the romance of walking in Rhineland, following the course of the River Rhine through beautiful countryside, to the magnificence of the Bavarian Alps and the hidden delights of Saxon Switzerland, Germany is a great and varied destination for a walking holiday. Discover fortresses and castles, walk through stunning Alpine scenery in the trails of King Ludwig and visit charming cities and rural wine cellars.
"A scenic and well-marked hike following the majestic Rhine allowing for stunning views of towering castles and forests above picturesque towns. And nothing better than a beer or glass of Riesling to cap a rewarding day's effort!" Stephen North, Along the Rhine
Walks here range from lower level valley walks to higher walks in the mountains that follow waymarked trails. They can vary from rocky trails to forest trails, with mostly good conditions underfoot. Ascent and descent are natural features but are rarely sustained. Accommodation includes 3* hotels with en-suite facilities and small inns, or add a touch of luxury to your walking holiday and upgrade to delightful 4* hotels on our In Style trip.
The best time of year to visit Germany is from March to November. The Alps should be visited from July to September for leisurely hikes on the many mountain trails. Summer is usually quite warm with frequent dry periods, although rain and thunderstorms can occur at any time.
Grades Explained- Easy
- Moderate
- Demanding
- Strenuous
Detailed grade info here


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Creator of the Mohan Veena, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has mesmerized the world with his pristine, delicate yet fiery music. Born on 27th July 1952, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt hails from a family of musicians and had his initial training from his elder brother, Shri Shashi Mohan Bhatt.
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has attracted international attention by his successful Indianisation of the western Hawaiian guitar with his perfect assimilation of sitar, sarod & veena techniques. By changing the strings that were originally used and adding 'Chikari' and 8 'Tarabs' (sympathetic strings), he has given his guitar an evolutionary design and shape, and has developed his own style of playing Indian Classical music - a fine combination of 'Gayaki Ang' (Vocal style) and 'Tantrakari Ang' (Instrumental style). With blinding speed and faultless legato, Bhatt is undoubtedly one of the most expressive, versatile and greatest slide players in the world.
Being a powerhouse performer, Bhatt's electrifying performance always captivates the audience whether in the United States of America, Europe, Gulf countries or his motherland, India. An 'A-grade' artist of All India Radio and Television, he has participated in the National programmes of All India Radio and has given exclusive recitals of one hour in the 'Sangeet Sabhas' of Radio Sangeet Sammelan. He has given numerous lectures and demonstrations around the world and has numerous CDs and cassettes to his credit.
A disciple of Pt. Ravi Shankar since 1983, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has had accolades and honours heaped upon him. These include the Padma Bhushan (2017), Padmashree (2002), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1998) and the Grammy (1994).
ITC Sangeet Research Academy 1, Netaji Subhash Chanda Bose Road Tollygunge, Kolkata - 700 040
Click here to view map
+91-33-23773395 / 23810559


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I have deep conviction that life is essentially a spiritual enterprise; or, as someone has said, "We are spiritual beings having an human moment." But to be honest, I'm hesitant to even use words like "spiritual" for in my culture they too often refer to jargon and rhetoric which I now see as ideological bondage described by the Apostle Paul as, the "letter of the law" which he described as spiritually lethal.
Bear with me here as, in my hubris, I attempt to define "spirit," to put into words that which is Ineffable and therefore beyond the grasp of language. The human ego is driven to attempt to but this Essential into words, to capture that which always eludes the effort to grasp it. This is the existential dilemma of human beings, having in their heart an intrinsic drive to find meaning only to eventually to discover that the Ground of our being where meaning is found is always beyond our ego's effort to capture, and therefore "own" it. This obsession eventually brings us face to face with the experience of humility in which we have the opportunity to accept that this "Ground" is present in the very quest that drives us and is satisfied when we begin to resign from the "beseeching" of the ego and rest in the comfort of Grace, in the knowledge offered to us by W. H. Auden that "the Center that we cannot find is known to the unconscious mind. There is no need to despair, we are already there." Or, to put this wisdom in biblical terms, we must come to realize that God is "the author and the finisher of our faith" so that at some point we give up the efforts of "the flesh" to earn salvation, be this effort intellectual or moral endeavor.
This brings up the subject of meditation, a dimension of prayer which is usually dismissed in Protestantism as it is antithetical to Protestantism's obsessively rational approach to Spirit. Meditation brings one to recognize the limitation of rational thought, a recognition that teaches one the value of thinking but simultaneously the value of recognizing, and experiencing that there is more to spiritual endeavor (and to life) than rationality. The most powerful expression of this insight I've ever run across was provided by Shakespeare when, in Hamlet, King Claudius was on his knees in prayer, offering these words, "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go."
So, how have I done in defining Spirit? Failed miserably huh? Well, good. Then I've accomplished my purpose. Life is a spiritual enterprise and rational understanding of it is completely beyond the grasp of our finite mind. When this understanding and experience of finitude begins to sink into our ego-ridden consciousness, we are brought to our knees…so to speak, or perhaps literally. For then we begin to embrace the incomprehensible Mystery of life which, paradoxically we recognize always has and always will Graciously embrace us. "There is a Divinity that doeth shape our ends, rough hew them how we may."
ADDENDUM–I am about to diversify with this literary effort of mine. In this blog I plan to focus more on poetry and prose. Below you will see two other blogs of mine relevant to spirituality and politics which have lain dormant for most of the past five years. I hope some of you will check them out. However, the boundaries will not be clear as my focus is very broad and my view of life is very eclectic/inclusive/broad-based. Yes, at times too much so!


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Comprehensive DescriptionRead full entry
BiologyFeed on crustaceans mainly amphipods (Ref. 3167). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). About 10-56 eggs are laid per individual annually (Ref. 41305, 41314).


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State police at Stockertown have charged a Pen Argyl man with stealing a motorcycle.
James Henry Joseph Harris, 25, of Sanders Road, also was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle before District Justice Joseph Leo. Leo released him on $5,000 recognizance bail for a hearing on Tuesday.
Police accused Harris of taking a motorcycle that belongs to Raymond Groner from 220 W. Main St., Pen Argyl, early Thursday. They said they recovered the cycle, slightly damaged, in a wooded area about a half-mile from Harris' home.


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Contact Us
Feel free to contact us anytime with your production requests. We are here to serve all of your visual storytelling needs!
KR Productions Photography / Videography
We strive to bring your visual ideas to life through video and photography.
Check out our BLOG page for all our recent & upcoming projects!


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In my last blog I wrote about the credibility and reliability of witnesses. But how does the Tribunal get to the truth when faced with conflicting evidence and/or (in)credible witnesses?
In order to answer this question it is important to look at the process of proof and the role of the parties and the Judge.
If the dispute is not settled during ACAS Early Conciliation, the Claimant's solicitor will set out the basis of the Claimant's case in an ET1 claim form. This will give the Respondent fair notice of what the Claimant intends to prove (and in the majority of cases the onus of proof is on the Claimant). The Respondent will then answer the allegations in an ET3 response form.
At Tribunal, the Claimant will often begin by calling their first witness. The witness will "swear" or "affirm" to tell the truth. This is the first part of the process in getting to the truth, assuming the witness does not lie (i.e. commit perjury).
Tribunals in England and Wales follow differing procedures for hearing witness evidence. In England and Wales, the parties exchange witness statements in advance of the hearing. The Tribunal will read the witness statement in advance. The Claimant's solicitor will sometimes be permitted to ask clarifying questions to elicit further evidence, known as examination in chief. Both parties' witnesses may sit in the Tribunal to hear the evidence being given.
In Scotland, parties do not tend to exchange witness statements in advance of the hearing and so evidence is given by way of the witness answering his solicitor's questions (examination in chief). During examination in chief the Claimant's solicitor is prevented from asking any leading questions and can only use open questions: for example, the Claimant could be asked what happened on a particular day. In Scotland, witnesses may only sit in the Tribunal after they have given their evidence.
In both England and Wales, and Scotland, once examination in chief is complete, the Respondent's representative has the opportunity to cross-examine the witness. In contrast, leading questions are permitted in cross-examination and many solicitors will make deliberate use of leading questions in order to shape the evidence of the witness. For example, the Respondent's solicitor could ask questions such as "You did not report the mistake to Brian on 23 May, did you?" This process is designed to challenge the evidence of the witness and give them an opportunity to respond to the other party's case. Following cross-examination, the Claimant's solicitor will be entitled to re-examine the witness. Re-examination gives the Claimant's solicitor an opportunity to repair any damage/misunderstandings that may have arisen during cross-examination. At any stage of a hearing the Judge can intervene to ask a mix of open and leading questions. These processes are intended to produce evidence on oath or affirmation and versions of events which will assist the Judge in getting to the truth.
After the Claimant has closed his case, it is the turn of the Respondent to call their witnesses so the roles are reversed. Once the Respondent's solicitor has led all their witnesses, both parties will make final submissions to the Judge on both the factual evidence and the application of the law to those facts.
The parties' solicitors are officers of the court and have professional duties to adhere to but they also have their duty to put forward their client's version of events.
The Judge should have listened carefully to all the evidence presented and will decide which version of events is accepted. The Judge is well placed to make this determination, having observed the evidence and demeanour of the witnesses. Demeanour is often a useful indication of the witness's truthfulness.
The Judge will then state whose evidence he accepts and whose he rejects. He will also deliver his reasons orally or in a written judgment.


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Now that the dust has settled on last week's NBA draft, longtime Grizzlies fans could be forgiven for not recognizing their team.
The dismantling of a team that suffered through three consecutive playoff sweeps from 2004 to 2006 began at the '06 draft, when Jerry West wisely jettisoned local object of worship Shane Battier to bet on the all-star upside of incoming rookie Rudy Gay. The process followed the next summer when the team selected Mike Conley with the fourth pick, adding some needed oomph to a point-guard core that had included stale veterans Damon Stoudamire, Chucky Atkins, and Bobby Jackson.
But, this February, new general manager Chris Wallace decided to accelerate the process, wiping the $48 million owed to franchise centerpiece Pau Gasol off the books in exchange for two prospects (rookie guard Javaris Crittenton and Gasol's rapidly improving little brother, Marc), two picks, and financial freedom. The deal was wildly ridiculed at the time, but as Pau's mammoth contract increases and the Grizzlies acquisitions mature over the next three seasons, I suspect the verdict on the deal will change.
The demolition was completed last week, when Wallace paired holdover Mike Miller with the team's number-five pick to acquire the third-rated player in the draft: USC guard O.J. Mayo, a player widely compared to such current NBA stars as Dwyane Wade, Chauncey Billups, and Brandon Roy. As a bonus, the number-28 pick acquired from the Lakers for Gasol turned into Darrell Arthur, the Kansas power forward who dominated the University of Memphis frontline in the college national championship game and slid in the draft based on erroneous reports of a kidney ailment. The Grizzlies had Arthur rated as the 11th best prospect in the draft.
So, little more than a year after taking charge of a capped-out loser led by a core duo of well-compensated and pushing-30 post-season underachievers in Gasol and Miller, the much-maligned Wallace has completely remade the Grizzlies. The lone holdover from the final playoff run is forward Hakim Warrick, the senior Grizzly at age 25.
Wallace claimed after the draft that his team now has as good a collection of young talent as any in the league, and the facts bear him out. Barring trades, the Grizzlies are likely to go into next season with the following players all potentially in the rotation: Conley (age 20), Crittenton (20), Mayo (20), Arthur (20), Gay (21), Kyle Lowry (22), Darko Milicic (23), and Marc Gasol (23).
That's eight core contributors age 23 and under. The only other team in the NBA that boasts a collection of young talent as deep and (okay, more) promising is the Portland Trailblazers. No other team really comes close, with the Bulls, Hawks, Warriors, and Timberwolves all having four significant under-23 players on their roster.
It's the deepest and potentially best collection of talent in franchise history, a group bursting with athleticism, upside, and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the floor. The team also has money to spend right now and potentially much more in 2009 if they refrain from long-term free-agent contracts this summer (as I would expect).
But there are also important qualities this assemblage lacks: experience, proven commodities, a balance of skills. All of the team's guards are used to handling the ball, not playing without it. None of the team's power forwards are proven power players. There is clearly work to be done. A final product won't take the floor until at least the fall of 2009.
Unless the Grizzlies sign Methuselah in free agency, this is likely to rival Portland as the youngest team in the league and without the experience playing together Portland's core got a year ago. And, typically, very young teams in the NBA lose — in bunches.
It would be helpful to think of this year's Grizzlies as an unusually promising expansion squad: year one of a brand-new team. But, with back-to-back 22-win seasons having followed three straight playoff sweeps, do Grizzlies fans have the patience for growing pains? Can the palpable and desperately needed post-draft excitement generated by the Mayo acquisition survive the certain-to-be-rough early patches these baby Grizzlies are going to face? For that matter, can owner Michael Heisley — astutely preaching a long-term plan focused on eventually winning big — accept the bumps along the way? Can Coach Marc Iavaroni, already seemingly on shaky ground, survive a bad start?
Those questions won't begin to be answered until November. Until then, Grizzlies fans can bask in something that's been in too-short supply over the past few seasons: hope.


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Place Name Favour Box
This cute little heart box has a flat heart front with a delicate rose embossed design and a transaprent box to the back of it for sweets and confectionery.
Size of this white place name box is 40x40x65mm
Write your guests name on the front.
Box is pictured with jelly candies, available to purchase separately on our website. They do not arrive with the box.
please hover over small pictures to see larger view
close up of embossed floral design
Back of box with jelly candies in
Customers also bought


text: Hey, everyone... I've been away from YT (and our forum here) for a bit; I've been having a lot of luck with affiliate marketing lately, so I kinda put my YT operations on hold while some of the drama got shook out after the pandora's box of mobile views happened. Anyway... Now that I'm getting back into it, I see that some of my old tools have gone obsolete. For example, I never really used EnhanceViews for much of anything EXCEPT the custom comments feature. It seems now to be unavailable for use (says it's in Beta? I'm not sure what this means since it was working before...but, again, I've been away and probably missed something). Is there any service out there at will provide Custom Comments now? I'm aware of santhej's cool PyUtube Commenter...but I don't really have time to create a ton of new YT accounts at the moment. So...what's out there? Paid or free services that can provide this? I need comments from existing accounts. Thanks in advance!


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Studio, One-Bedroom and Two-Bedroom ApartmentsLocated in the desirable Hilltop neighborhood, 805 Dahlia is perfectly situated and recently renovated. Walking distance to a number of popular restaurants and shops, this community is also a short drive from downtown Denver and all it has to offer. Updates to these spacious interiors have given them a retro-modern feel with new countertops, cabinetry and appliances in the kitchens, vinyl wood flooring, stylish contemporary bathrooms, and fresh paint schemes throughout. Please visit our leasing office located at 825 Dahlia.
Then your $200 reward is waiting!
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select a move in ready package
Student pricing is available for this package, you must show a valid Student I.D. before delivery.
select a lease term
select desired # bedrooms
We have sent your request to a CORT Furniture Specialist, and will email you a copy of your furniture rental quote.
Thank you for using ApartmentSearch by CORT!
In times of transition, we all need a place to stay, a place to call home. Why hassle with buying, moving, setting up and then having to move, store, sell or discard furniture when you are done with it, when you can rent furniture from CORT? Cost-effective, convenient and hassle-free, furniture rental is the smart, flexible alternative for times of transition.
Whether you're a corporate commuter, student, stager, or serving in the military, furniture rental is an ideal solution. From several months to several years and everything in between, CORT has the lease term options you need for your stay.
Personalize your own space by choosing your furniture by the room or by the piece. With CORT's Move-In Ready packages, a trained professional will pick furniture to match your needs and budget.
Your prompt, professional delivery includes a complete furniture package setup down to the last pillow, lampshade, or spoon. CORT Furniture Rental provides a furnished life without compromise or commitment.
Turn by turn directions from any starting point to 805 Dahlia
If you lived here, how long would it take to get to work?


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Weathermen everywhere deliver the news of snow like they are about to receive a million pieces of hate mail from people under the impression that they can control whether or not it snows. I, on the other hand, about kiss the television screen. I, unlike so many depressed souls believe that snow is something to be looked upon as a good thing rather than obstacle in our daily routine.
Children everywhere scream in glee over the potential of a snow day where they could do nothing but play all day sledding and building snowmen. Many times in years past, my mom bundled me up to go sledding with the neighbor kids. My memory is littered with snow fights, tiny snowmen, rosy cheeks and wet mittens. Why can adults not feel this way anymore? Adults always see the burden snow will create like getting snowed in or car accidents. But why not look at it for what it gives you? Don't get behind the wheel and look at it as an excuse not to make it to work and cuddle up at home, time to reconnect with your kids playing in the snow, and time to make memories. Our country needs something that can slow our lives down to appreciate what we have.
I believe in snows unfailing ability to be beautiful and inviting. Maybe I do have an obsession with snow. But I have good reason to believe that snow is magic. Years ago my grandma passed away before Christmas. Her loss around Christmas was particularly devastating because of how close I had become with her and how she loved the holidays, particularly because it brought our family together. Christmas Eve, to my dismay, it looked like we were going to have another snow less Christmas. As I walked out of church that night though I found myself greeted by the most beautiful white flakes falling from the sky. I was almost in tears. I understand the concept of weather but we really had no chance of getting snow. To me this was my grandma's Christmas present, her way of saying that she would always look over me. My grandma seemed to understand how important snow was to the holiday season. Years of traditions have been built around it. Cutting out snowflakes in class, sledding, snow fights, snowmen, and tons of holiday decorations are frosted in fake snow. Think of all the Christmas songs and movies that would be altered and not even exist. No Frosty the snowman, no sledding, Santa wouldn't even drive a sleigh.
Just think about this next time you curse the snow. Snow is something consistent, something you can always depend on to be beautiful. Each individual flake is completely it's own, just like every person in this world. If snow can show us the beauty in the individual then maybe the world can take a cue and see that by putting all the individuals together something purely beautiful can happen.
If you enjoyed this essay, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to This I Believe, Inc.