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By Marianne Stanley
Dayton City Paper
May 27, 2010
It's straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting – the whole family sitting down to Sunday dinner with chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and … .corn. It's as American as apple pie. On the cob, it's a sought-out treat at county fairs and summer festivals. Corn is the United States' largest crop both in volume and value. What people don't know about corn, though, can and does hurt them. As a government subsidized staple of the American food system, it holds some dark secrets.
It is believed that the first corn originating in the Andes, later spread to Central America and up into Mexico where it was hybridized and domesticated sometime between 10,000 and 5,000 B.C. Corn didn't reach the United States until around 600 A.D. By the time Columbus reached America, Indians grew it extensively. He ferried some back to Spain and, by 1700, it had become a major European crop. Today, corn is one of the most widely grown vegetables on Earth, with the U.S. and China leading the world in production.
Corn, Ohio's second most valuable agricultural crop (soybeans are first), puts Ohio 6th in the U.S., right behind Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Indiana. Yet, just a fraction of the 3-plus million acres of Ohio corn is Sweet Corn, fit for human consumption. The majority of Ohio's and all U.S. corn is Yellow Dent Corn, which is used primarily as livestock feed and in the manufacturing of industrial products. Flint Corn, is the last corn category. It is also known as Indian or ornamental corn. And popcorn? It's just a subcategory of Flint corn.
More than half of Ohio's corn crop becomes animal feed, 8 percent is used for sweeteners, 5 percent for fuel (ethanol) and almost 23 percent is exported to other countries. Corn starches, corn oil, corn syrup, industrial alcohol, toothpaste, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), glue, shoe polish and a variety of plastics, used in everything from carpeting to clothing, are derived from corn. As an overabundant government-subsidized crop, companies are finding a multitude of ways to utilize corn and its byproducts. Kevin Mote Fireplaces & Stoves in Laura, Ohio, carries stoves that efficiently burn dry corn kernels without polluting the air. These multi-fuel stoves can burn corn, cherry pits or wood pellets. One advantage cited by owner Kevin is the fact that these cleaner-burning stoves can safely sit just 3 inches away from an interior wall with only a short pipe needed to vent them outside. His showroom carries multiple wood, corn and multi-fuel styles, some computerized. He or his main technician Dan Norton can be reached at (937) 947-1883 or 1-800-526-1978.
New products made from corn continue to come onto the market. Second Street Market's "A Greener You" booth offers environmentally friendly products, including mini-composters that use small plastic biodegradable bags made from corn starch -a wonderful alternative to the plastic bags clogging our landfills. Corn starch also makes frozen pizzas possible, preventing a soggy crust. Corn syrup keeps bread and other bakery products fresher longer. Citric acid, made from corn sweeteners, prevents the browning of fruits and vegetables. Corn syrup was long ago added to lollipops and other hard candies to keep them from dripping. It also stops the formation of ice crystals in ice cream and keeps marshmallows soft. Corn Ethanol, although it burns cleaner than gasoline, is not a panacea for today's energy problems since it actually requires more energy in its production than it provides. The Ohio Corn Growers Association is currently pushing Congress to extend the Ethanol Excise Tax Credit for five more years to stimulate Ohio's economy with more jobs, while making fuel cheaper for consumers since the tax credit pays gasoline refiners $.45 per gallon to blend ethanol into the gasoline supply.
But it's time to peel back the husk and look more deeply at the darker, more dangerous side of corn. Corporate greed has attached itself to government subsidies and created a hidden monster for the unaware American consumer.
HFCS … a wolf in sheep's clothing
The most troubling and controversial derivative of corn by far is HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), unknown until the 1970s. Today, more than 4,000 common grocery store items contain it as a preservative and a sweetener. We see it as delicious and desirable; in truth, it is an addiction – and a poison. By the late 1980s, HFCS took over half of the U.S. sugar market because corn and thus high fructose corn syrup, is much cheaper than cane sugar. It's a dominant ingredient in soft drinks, frozen dinners, cereals, breads and a host of our favorite everyday household staples. But in our bodies, it interferes with our metabolism and our detoxification processes. Putting profits ahead of ethics, companies poured millions into commercials and colorful packaging to convince Americans to buy these 'foods'. The consequences are shockingly visible. In just 30 years, while the consumption of this sweetener jumped by 30 percent, the rates of obesity and diabetes exploded. How can this be?
High fructose corn syrup causes inflammation in our bodies, which is associated with the increasing litany of America's common health complaints: arthritis, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, senility, obesity, depression, fatty liver, diabetes and Alzheimer's. Type II diabetes was formerly found only in adults but now affects our children in epidemic proportions. Adverse metabolic effects are also well documented. Anyone who has ever dieted can attest to the difficulty of losing weight in this age of refined and hidden sugars.
To make HFCS, all nutritional value is stripped from the corn, leaving only a cheap sugar substitute created by soaking corn in sulfuric acid. Yes, sulfuric acid. HFCS puts such a load on the pancreas and liver that they cannot metabolize and eliminate it. Instead, the sugar overload is stored as fat that cannot be lost because the organs that would ordinarily convert the sugar to energy are in crisis mode, leading to the surge in diabetes as the pancreas fails to release enough insulin to neutralize the excess sugars in today's average diet.
Sadly, our own government is subsidizing this situation based on erroneous policy, leaving Americans battling corn's dark side on two fronts: HFCS in our food and the GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in our meat. More than 80 percent of corn is now GMO corn, much of it Bt corn, a Monsanto creation that has its own built-in pesticide. Anyone who eats it can become a living pesticide factory since Bt corn contains pesticides in its DNA that can then transfer into human DNA.
GMOs in Corn, messing with our DNA
This GMO corn has not been sufficiently tested, making Americans its unwitting guinea pigs. GM corn is engineered to produce a built-in pesticide called Bt-toxin. Monsanto's own research found that rodents fed Bt corn had significant immune reactions. Bt corn is implicated in the deaths of cows in Germany and chickens and horses in the Philippines. Cows never eat corn in nature. Most of Europe, by law, requires clear labeling of GM products, but no such protections exist for American consumers since our powerful agribusiness industry has a vested interest in keeping government policy favorable to them while keeping us ignorant. Fortunately, for those curious enough to seek answers, a number of books, documentaries, articles and studies are available on the impact these unnatural 'foods' and crop byproducts are having on us and on our children's health. (See listing at the end of this article.)
The agribusiness marketing campaign has been so effective that the average consumer actually believes that "corn-fed beef" is a positive attribute of meat when the opposite is true.
Factory farming has removed cows from their natural environment, from the grasses that they naturally eat. Cows, by the tens of thousands, are crowded into grassless feedlots where they spend the last months of their lives standing knee-deep in dirt and manure, eating a dried corn diet that sickens them and would kill them within six months if they were not slaughtered first. These sick and mistreated cows become our food, our "corn-fed beef" and nothing about it is healthy.
It is no accident that e-coli and other food-borne illnesses are on the rise across this country. The documentary movie, "Food, Inc." exposes agribusiness's harmful effects on animals, on the safety of our food supply and on the rise in e-coli in everything from hamburger to lettuce as a result of toxic factory farm run-off. While there were thousands of slaughterhouses in the 1970s, there are now only 17 in the entire U.S. America has lost 5 million family farms since the rise of factory farms 30 years ago. The result is unnatural, unsafe food. The hamburger we now eat is likely to be made from thousands of animals rather than just one under this perverse system, exponentially raising the risk of mad cow disease, e-coli, salmonella or other illnesses.
According to the New York Times, the "majority of hamburger" now sold in the U.S. contains the fatty slaughterhouse trimmings the industry once relegated to pet food and cooking oil, including material from the outer surface of the carcass that contains "larger microbiological populations." This meat filler or "pink slime" as one FDA microbiologist called it, is commonly used in the federal school lunch program, in our favorite fast food restaurant hamburgers and in grocery-store ground beef. This nasty stuff is ineffectively cleaned with ammonia to cut its toxicity. This saves Beef Products, Inc., the industry that produces it, 3 cents a pound in production costs while earning it an additional $440 million a year.
As corporations get richer and we get sicker and fatter, we keep running to doctors and drug stores looking for relief when their income depends on us not finding any. Corporations push the double goal of efficiency and profit at the cost of our very lives. Our only defense is to educate ourselves.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have now infiltrated almost every nook and cranny of the food system, leaving us vulnerable to a host of problems including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging and negative changes in our major organs and gastrointestinal systems. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (ASEM) concluded, "There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation … " Renowned biologist Pushpa Ghargaza believes GMOs are a major contributor to the deteriorating health in America.
Scientists at the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) warned that GM foods might create new allergies, poisons, new diseases and nutritional problems. Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says "I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it." With GM foods everywhere now, one way to be pro-active, health-wise, is to opt out of GM foods by printing off the Non-GMO Shopping Guide at www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com.
The story of corn is long, convoluted and fascinating. With the healthy food movement gaining ground in the United States, more and more people are growing their own organic vegetables and demanding meat that is free of growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and GMO products and that is grass-fed, rather than corn-fed.
Ohio is fortunate to have the Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA), a membership-based, grassroots organization founded in 1979 and dedicated to promoting and supporting sustainable, ecological and healthful food systems. It provides a consumer guide for its members of organic and ecological farms and gardens, a membership directory and a newsletter, plus regional and national news of particular interest including farm profiles, practical tips on such things as community gardens and composting, book reviews, resources, events and opportunities.
Renee Hunt, OEFFA program director, said, "Organics have been the one growth area of the food system in the U.S." This year, for the first time, OEFFA had to close its registration for their annual February conference because demand is so high now for information on sustainability and healthy choices. They can be reached at (614) 421-2022 in Columbus or online at oeffa.org.
Hunt summed it up by saying, "Farmers, backyard gardeners, researchers, students, consumers are all wanting to connect with a healthier food system. There's a sense that there's a movement going on."
It's about time.


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Over the past year, I have discovered some foundations that are my go-to every day foundations. I need a foundation that would last me throughout my eight hour shift at work, without making me an oily mess and does not separate on me after a long day.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless 30mL | $19.95I use this foundation almost every single day. It is from the drugstore so it is very affordable for daily use. The matte & poreless foundation is targeted to those who have oily skin and has medium but build-able coverage. I wear the shade 220 Natural Beige which has warm undertone so it is great for those with yellow or golden skin tone.
L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Matte 35mL | $29.95I mix this foundation with the Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless to get my desired coverage and look on my skin. This foundation is very matte so I mix it in with the matte & poreless to give my skin a bit of life, instead of looking so flat. I love how this foundation comes in a squeeze tube so you can control how much foundation you are using. The shade range isn't that great, most of them have a pink undertone. I wear the shade 24 Golden Beige which is the closest shade to my skin tone.
MAC Studio Fix 30mL | $50I have heard nothing but good thing about this foundation prior to purchasing it. The Studio Fix has full coverage and makes my skin look flawless. I usually wear this foundation when I am going clubbing because I know that it would last throughout the whole night. The Studio Fix does have SPF15, however I don't have any issues with flashback. I took this foundation with me when I went to Queensland because I knew how hot and humid it was there. The shade range in this foundation is great. They cater to those who have a pink undertone or a warm undertone. I wear the shade NC30 which has a yellow undertone which is my perfect shade.
NARS Sheer Glow 30mL | $68The infamous Sheer Glow foundation. This foundation claims to hydrate your skin tone and gives a natural, radiant finish. However I do not find this foundation to make me very oily at the end of the day. It lasts all day on me and makes my skin hydrated. I love their shade range. If you jump on Mecca, they describe each shade with what skin colour and which undertone each shade is for. I wear the shade Stromboli which is for darker tanned, olive and Asian complexion with a golden yellow undertones.
I hope this post helps you oily skin girls. I did mention two high-end foundations and two drugstore foundation to help those who are on a budget or are looking for an alternative. Especially the Maybelline and L'Oreal foundations, you can always get them on sale. I usually get them 50% off at Priceline or Chemist Warehouse.
If you also have oily skin and have any recommendations on a foundation that I should try out, please leave a comment down below. I do not remember the last time I tried out a new foundation and loved.
Much love,
Nhi Archibald x

subset: commoncrawl


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JAVAA's Music Festival closes Kgn Music Week 2014
Even as the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) Music Festival is slated to be one of two closing events for Kingston Music Week, the organisation's chairman, Frankie Campbell, is looking at a larger picture.
The festival will be at Countryside Club, Courtney Walsh Drive, St Andrew, on Sunday, December 7. Also putting the closing touches on this year's staging of the live-music series of events, which starts on December 1, is Unforgettable, a Sunday evening of Nat King Cole at
the PCJ Auditorium in New Kingston. That runs from
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Campbell said JAVAA's Festival capitalises on a name that is underutilised in Jamaica.
"We realise we have music festivals all over the world. We wanted to put that, so it can be an international music festival eventually," Campbell said.
On the line-up are Fab5 Band, Ken Boothe, George Nooks, Gem Myers, The Mighty Diamonds, Boris Gardiner, Dennis Walks, The Heptones, Charmaine Limonius and Bagga Case. Campbell said the festival has two components, with a number of JAVAA members singing on tracks from 6 p.m. to 7:30, when the band will take over with the evening's main artistes.
The intention is to finish by 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $1,200 presold and $1,500 at the gate. Outlets are Fab 5's headquarters on Springvale Avenue, Countryside Club, Music Mart and Derrick Harriott's in Twin Gates Plaza.
In summing up the line-up, Campbell said "it is the cream of the vintage artistes who are left, more or less. Apart from Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy and couple more, these are who are left from the 1960s and 1970s."
Being the closing act on a show is a honour and challenge. For Campbell, JAVAA's Festival being one of an ending pair for Kingston Music Week 2014 has its advantages. And this is after having the experience of JAVAA's event being placed closer to the week?s beginning at the 2013 staging. "By mid-week the reports start coming in, talk of music week is in the air, and by that time, there are only a few events left," he said, adding that when people make weekend plans they will have Music Week, in mind, if not a specific event, and check the calendar for remaining events.
"It is a good initiative,? Campbell said of Kingston Music Week, crediting François St Juste. "He realised live music has been struggling for the last couple years and he wants to help keep it alive."


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Tournament Raises $836,883, Bringing Total to More Than $10.8 million.
The 14th annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation golf tournament raised $836,883 for Upstate charities, tournament officials announced today. The tournament's 2014 charity earnings push the total charitable giving since 2001 to more than $10.8 million. These funds are part of the PGA TOUR's more than $2 billion in all-time charitable contributions.
Officials from South Carolina Charities, Inc.—the non-profit organization that manages the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation—presented checks to charity representatives at the Charity Check Presentation presented by High Cotton, held at the downtown Greenville restaurant.
The 2014 tournament's charity partners were 100 Black Men of the Upstate, A Child's Haven, Child Evangelism Fellowship – Greenville, Child Evangelism Fellowship – Spartanburg, The First Tee of Greenville, Furman University – The Riley Institute, Greenville Family Partnership, Greenville Tech Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County, Harvest Hope Food Bank, JDRF – Greater Western Carolinas Chapter, Make-A-Wish Foundation of SC, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), New Foundations Home for Children, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS), Play Safe, Inc., Project HOPE Foundation, The Reserve at Lake Keowee Charitable Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas, Scottish Rite Foundation, Set Free Alliance, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Greenville, Vested Partners, and The Walker Foundation for the SC School for the Deaf and Blind. The 2015 charity partners will be announced later this year.
"To have a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event right here in the Upstate that also produces real results for local charities is a win-win for our community," said Bob Nitto, president of South Carolina Charities, Inc. "Reaching $10.8 million for charity in just 14 years is a huge milestone for the tournament that's gratifying in many ways. I look forward to what 2015 will bring."
The 2015 tournament will take place May 14-17, and will once again be played at Thornblade Club, The Reserve at Lake Keowee and Green Valley Country Club.
"We are so excited to return to these three wonderful Upstate courses for 2015," said Darin MacDonald, executive director of South Carolina Charities, Inc. "Each of them offers a unique experience for the Web.com Tour pros and amateur contestants, and the clubs themselves are also great partners."
Awards were also presented today to the 2014 volunteers of the year and the Web.com Tour's Volunteer of the Week. Those volunteers are Bobby Taylor (Thornblade Club), Brandon Tatar (Green Valley Country Club), Mike McClure (The Reserve at Lake Keowee), Sally Smith (Transportation Committee) and Jim Helferich (Web.com Tour Volunteer of the Week).
The pro champion of the 2014 tournament was Max Homa who fired a bogey-free, 8-under 63 Sunday to win the tournament and earn his first career title on the Web.com Tour. Homa started the final round at Thornblade Club two shots off the pace but charged into contention with an eagle and two birdies in his first four holes and went on to finish at 20-under 266, one better than Jonathan Randolph (63), who posted his 19-under total and was hoping for a possible playoff.
The win for the 23-year-old native Californian was worth $117,000 and vaulted the 2013 NCAA Individual Champion from No. 64 to No. 9 on the money list.
Since 2001 more than 121 celebrities have participated in the tournament. The 24 celebrities that competed in the 2014 tournament were Steve Azar, Andy Buckley, Lisa Cornwell, Debbe Dunning, Greg Ellis, Bill Engvall, Ty Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky, Dennis Haysbert, Janet Jones-Gretzky, Gregory Itzin, Richard Karn, Danny Masterson, Jordan Masterson, Jim McMahon, Win McMurry, Frankie Muniz, Jeffrey Nordling, John O'Hurley, Michael Pena, Rob Riggle, Richard Schiff, Paula Trickey and Gary Valentine.
Celebrating its 15th year in 2015, the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation is the only tournament on the Web.com Tour where 168 amateurs and celebrities are grouped with 168 Web.com Tour professionals in a four-day better-ball competition over three courses. Amateurs, celebrities and pros rotate between the three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with celebrities playing once at each course by the end of Saturday's third round. The 2015 tournament will take place the week of May 11, with tournament rounds Thursday, May 14-Sunday, May 17.
After 54 holes, the 10 lowest scoring pro-am teams, six lowest scoring celebrity pro-am teams and 65 low Web.com Tour pros (and ties) will advance to play Sunday's final round at Thornblade Club. The professional winner of the overall 72-hole event will take home $121,500 from the total purse of $675,000, an increase from the $117,000 share of the $650,000 purse.
South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI), the non-profit foundation of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation, was created in order to showcase the beauty of Upstate South Carolina and the hospitality of its citizens to the world; to create an event that brings the Upstate a fun and entertaining week centered around professional athletes and world renowned celebrities; and raise money and awareness for South Carolina charities.
In 2013, Clemson University's International Institute of Tourism Research and Development conducted a study of the economic impacts of expenditures related to tournament operations and found that the 2013 tournament generated total direct spending of $4.712 million, supported 139 jobs, generated net local government revenues of $541,048 and net state government revenues of $868,479, and yielded $6.744 million in total output/impact.
As the most unique tournament on the Web.com Tour, the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation has many different playing options and sponsorship opportunities to offer. To review these opportunities, visit the Sponsorship and Playing Opportunities page of bmwcharitygolf.com.
For more information about the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation call (864) 297-1660, visit the tournament's website at bmwcharitygolf.com or follow the tournament at www.facebook.com/BMWCharityProAm and @BMWCharityProAm.


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Barnsley boss Simon Davey has revealed the club have failed with a bid for Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam. The 23-year-old spent time on loan with Championship rivals Blackpool last season.
"He did very well at Blackpool, played very well against us. What he would bring to the squad is a winning mentality," Davey said.
"They turned the bid down and there's a price we won't go over so we have to find the right price."


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That thing about memes...
Shoe Baton from Gracey..
Qn 1: Total number of shoes you own:
Ans: 9.. 2 pairs of running shoes, 1 pair of sprinting shoes, 2 pairs of slippers, 2 pairs of heels, 1 pair of sandals and 1 pair of those ladies shoes that goes clip cock.. blah...
Qn 2: The last pair of shoes you bought:
Ans: A pair of heels from a shop in MBK, Bangkok for only 199 bahts.. haha
Qn 3: How many shoes do you have underneath your work desk:
Ans: Nope..
Baton from Joycelyn
"Things you enjoy, not because you have to but because you WANT to, even when no one around you wants to go out and play. They lower your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level.Make a list, post it to your journal. And then tag 5 friends and ask them to post it to theirs: "
1. sleep like a pig everyday.. Zzzzzzz
2. listening to music.. all kinds except those techno and loud types..
3. daydreaming.. and pretending i dont need to work...
4. singing and pretending i'm a pop star..
5. running and feeling the wind against you ( havent been able to do this lately due to pt 1.. haha)
Since these are sooooo late already so not asking anyone else to do it.. if you want to do it, just leave me a msg so that i can go your blog to read, ok? :p


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Pop Culture Revue
I forgot to get a Mega Millions ticket yesterday. I hear that two people won the $370 million. We bought one when it was $256 million. I think a dollar for a dream is a bargain. Greg and I talked a little bit about what we would do. We've played this game so often that we don't even need to talk about what we'd do for US -- we found ourselves talking about what we'd do for others. Getting our sisters established in their own homes. Making sure that our parents were retired in comfort. Setting up a foundation for public education for the schools in our community. Funding the pipe dream real estate project for a friend that we believe in and have helped with his project for 3 years. Heck, that would barely put a dent in it. Fun to dream about what we'd do if money truly were no object! (Which is not to say that I don't have deep, dark fears about what that sort of money would do to me and my offspring as well.)
I forgot to watch American Idol last night. AHHHHH! Greg is out of town and my whole schedule is out-of-whack. I don't sleep well when he's away. Both kids are sick anyway so I wouldn't have wanted them staying up late. I avoid the mainstream media for the most part so it was news to me that Antonella Barba has some trashy pictures circulating the internet. I have to say in all the hype that I read last night, I kept thinking about her parents and how sad they must be to see their daughter selling herself so cheaply by allowing pictures like that to exist. I don't think the girl can sing well enough and I don't think she should still be on the show but I feel really badly for her parents. Also, in the course of my late night surfing, I stumbled onto the existence of a website called Vote for the Worst. They pick the one or two singers they think are the worst on AI and encourage people to vote for them to up the drama on the show. Antonella is their pick right now. All that aside, I didn't care for her attitude. It seems very clear -- from the way she interacts with the judges -- that she thinks she's doing just great and doesn't need to do anything different. Now, maybe that's a brave front and I'm misjudging her (remember that I haven't seen last night's show -- yay for TiVO) but add all this together and she is not someone that I care to watch much more of this season.
Blogger vs. WordPress. In my avoidance of work, surfing the internet to avoid missing my husband, blur last night, I decided to play with WordPress and see what I thought of it. I kind of like it. There are a few features that I like a lot better than Blogger. The most important to me is the ability to see your recent comments -- I'm forever stumbling back through posts to see if I missed any comments -- but I didn't like getting emailed everytime I got a comment either. So, that's a big one for me that would be useful. I'm impressed with how easy it was to set up and import all my old blogger posts. I think I could even import my really old posts from back when I used TypePad with no difficulty which would include my really, really old Blogger posts and give a complete history back for several years. That would be nice -- just for me, not for anyone else, probably. Anyway, my question is this . . . what do you like about the platform you are using? What do you like or dislike about reading blogs on the other platform?
Oh, and you can see what I've done so far -- should you have nothing better to do:
Egret's Nest
Chickadee Chatter
Quick child update . . . Gage is responding well to the antibiotics -- yay! Ruthie's cough is getting worse -- boo! And, I woke up with one eye gummed shut this morning -- boo! I hope we can hang on to some semblance of health well enough to get through this week. Fingers crossed!


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Wolf Creek Habitat
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13 responses
Courtney Lodin said (25 Jan 2010):
This looks like my old dog Max, it's a beautiful shot, and a beautiful wolf.
Sanne van de Berg gave props (26 Jan 2010):
Great shot!
Donald Brainard (Deleted) gave props (26 Jan 2010):
Curtis Copeland said (29 Jan 2010):
Great photo. Very intense. Love the composition. Thanks for sharing!
Wedding Photography Miami Fl
Desiree Adams gave props (10 Feb 2010):
Wow lovely haunting eyes Brava!
Regenia Brabham gave props (13 Sep 2010):
Nelson Campbell (Deleted) gave props (25 Sep 2010):
What beauty.
Carol Holmes gave props (26 Sep 2010):
Awesome shot! Almost menacing...
Robin Perkins gave props (17 Nov 2010):
super fantastic!
Reggie Mateo gave props (19 Nov 2010):
Those eyes really pop out. Great shot.
Joy B gave props (21 Nov 2010):
je suis moi gave props (17 Feb 2013):
Very nice
Susan B. Griffith said (18 Feb 2013):
Piercing eyes.
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Select Comfort Q4 Outlook Weak, FY Guidance Slashed, Shares Hammered
Select Comfort Corp. (NASDAQ: SCSS) said on Wednesday that fiscal third quarter earnings dropped 23% as higher operating costs put the pressure on the bottom line, masking improvement in sales.
Shares tumbled more than 25% in aftermarket hours on Wednesday as both core earnings and revenue missed analysts' expectation. The Company also slashed its outlook for the full fiscal year. The mattress maker now anticipates earnings of $1.14 to $1.22 a share for the fiscal 2013, down from its previous estimate of $1.30 to $1.45 a share.
For the current quarter, the Company expects earnings to be in the range of 18 cents to 26 cents a share, which is below analysts' estimate of 32 cents a share, according to a poll conducted by Reuters.
Speaking to analysts in a conference call, Select Comfort Corp.'s President and Chief Executive, Shelly Ibach said, "The consumer responded positively to our product innovations and exclusive retail experience as evidenced by market-share gains along with favorable operational and customer-focused metrics,"
"However, our execution was muted by a progressively more challenged macro-economic environment, resulting in performance below expectations" added Ibach.
For the latest period, Select Comfort posted an income of $20.3 million or 36 cents a share compared to a profit of $26.2 million or 46 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 6.8% to $264 million.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had forecasted earnings of 43 cents a share on revenue of $277 million.
Gross margin contracted to 63.1% from 65.1% while operating costs rose 13% as sales and marketing expenses climbed 16%. Same-store-sales slipped 1% in the fiscal third quarter.


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OK, I'll bite. I know what a cash dividend is, but what does a 20% stock dividend mean.Does it mean that FAME will issue you another 20% of shares based on the number of shares that you hold on 26 Mar. That's a huge bonus if the share price doesn't dip afterwards to offset it. Seems like it would.A friend said maybe they're taking 20% of some value (like sales) and paying it out per share. I said that I didn't see how that would be called a "stock" dividend.If FAME has a bunch of extra cash, how is issuing stock going to reward the stockholder. I thought that stock was issued to "raise" money, not spend it.I've always been under the impression that the market is always looking to the future, and the value of a stock reflects that future. It doesn't look like the news of a special 20% stock dividend did anything to the price of FAME. I'm confused.--snow
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Huccha Venkat has been evicted midway after he beat up Ravi Mooruru on the show! The shocking incident occured while Kiccha Sudeep was having a conversation with the the singer.
He was angry at a comment passed by Ravi Mooruru recently about his fans and he waited for the right time for the retaliation. It appears like Venkat had planned well in advance to manhandle Mooruru on Sudeep's weekend special show.
The timely intervention of Rehman, Chandan and others prevented much damage for Ravi Mooruru. It is for the first time in "Bigg Boss" Kannada show that such an incident has occurred and this has come as a big shock for the Kannada television audience.
Sudeep condemned Huccha Venkat in strong words and showed him the door. Later, Rehman, before Venkat left the house, picked the fight with him for attacking Ravi Mooruru.
Ravi Mooruru and Huccha Venkat have not been in good terms for quite some time now. In fact, on one occasion, Venkat had threatened to beat up Mooruru once they are out of the "Bigg Boss" house. Even while Sudeep was having the conversation post the incident, Venkat threatened Mooruru of dire consequences.
It may also be recalled that a few days ago, Ravi Mooruru had lashed out at Huccha Venkat when he did not take part in a task. On the other end, Sudeep has been appreciated the way he handled the situation and the gesture he showed towards Ravi's family.
Meanwhile, the actor-producer's sister and friends have tried to defend him on the same channel. Huccha Venkat's fans have started protesting the Sudeep's decision to send him out of the show. Even on the social networking sites, Huccha Venkat's fans have come in support of him. Below, find their tweet reactions over the shocking development also find video of the incident:
Darshan J Shetty tweeted
@araga_m haha...yeah!! All were thinking he only talks. Innu yellaru silent agi bala madichi moole alli kutkoltare. #BBK3
Avinav Beloor wrote
Technically they should have thrown Akul Balaji out for thrashing Adi Lokesh in Season 2. #BBK3 #BringBackAnna @TrollHaiklu @ColorsKannadaTV
Datt posted
No fun in watching #BBK3 now. #AnnaHumiliated #HVS
*Not That Sachin* tweeted
@darshanjshetty @darshanjshetty They were taking advantage of his silence. Now if Anna goes inside again, ella mucchkond irtare..#BBK3
NammaAdda wrote
Bigboss aache kalsid tatkshana anna roadig baralla.. Awrappa kotyadhipathi... Inmele Bigboss annan fans yakda nu nodalla...
Lord Lavanga Das tweeted
Man handling gu ready antha helidda Ravi ne yeno provoke madirthanne.
*Not That Sachin* â€wrote
A big NO to big boss from now onwards... #hucchavenkat #BBK3
Akshay kumar posted
Okay... @ColorsKannadaTV really? Huccha venkat out.. Seriously? That means watching #bbk3 for me ends now...
Raghavendra Swamy â€posted
#HucchaVenkat has been a complete entertainment package in #BBK3, but will miss show by tomo..! Rahman seems overreacted, Anand winning fav.


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At e4e, we provide a unique combination of end-to-end delivery capability, custom developed point applications, domain expertise, and a robust service delivery platform that will significantly improve your Return on Investment (ROI).


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- Contact Person : Mr. Wang Barry
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Related Product Searches:Urinalysis Strip 2 T,High Quality,Urine strips, urinalysis reagent strip,Strip
URTEST 2T Reagent Strips For Urinalysis are in vitro diagnostic test devices that use reagents for qualitative and semi-quantitative urinalysis. The strips are for professional use only.
URTEST 2T Reagent Strips For Urinalysis are intended for use to detect conditions indicating possible diabetes, metabolic abnormalities, liver diseases, kidney function, and urinary tract infections. Test results can be used along with other diagnostic information to rule out certain disease states and to determine if microscopic analysis is needed.Summary and Explanation of Tests
URTEST 2T Reagent strips provide tests for Glucose and Protein in Urine.Test Priniciples
Glucose: The glucose oxidized by glucose oxidase catalyzes the formation of glucuronic acid and peroxide hydrogen. Peroxide hydrogen releases neo-ecotypes oxide [O] under the function of peroxidase. [O] oxidizes iodide potassium, which causes the color change.
Protein: The test is based on the protein-error-of-indicators principle. An ion in the specific pH indicator attracted by cation on the protein molecule makes the indicator further ionized, which changes its color.
Test ProcedureGather Materials
1. Dry and clean plastic container
2. Toilet paper
3. Watch with a second hand or stopwatch (if you read the strip visually)
4. Urinalysis reagent strips
5. Clinitek 50, 100, 200 or 500 Urine analyzer (if you read the strip instrumentally)Perform Tests
1. Immerse the reagent area of the strip in the urine specimen and take it up quickly and immediately. Start timing if reading visually.
2. Run the edge of the strip against the rim of the container to remove excess urine. Lay the strips on a paper towel with the reagent areas upward.
3. If reading visually, hold the strip up horizontally and compare the reagent areas on the strip to the corresponding color chart on the bottle label at the exact times specified and in good light. Hold the strips close to the color blocks and match carefully. Make note of the result. Color changes after 2 minutes are of no diagnostic value. If reading by instrument, carefully follow the directions given in the instrument operating instruction. The instrument will automatically read each reagent area at a specified time.
4. Dispose of strips with laboratory waste. Do not flush down toilet.
Important Notes
1. Do not take the strips from the bottle unless they are for immediate use.
2. Do not touch reagent areas of strips.
3. Do not use strips beyond the expiration date.
4. Each strip can be used only once.
5. Large amounts of ascorbic acid may effect the test for glucose, bilirubin, nitrite, and blood [2,4].
6. Deterioration may result in discoloration or darkening of the reagent areas of the strip. If this happens, or the test results are questionable or inconsistent with expected results, check and make sure the strips are within the expiration date, and also check results with the control urine.
Sensitivity and Output Values of A10 Reagent Strip For Urinalysis
Test Pad
Output Value
Instrumental Read
Visual Read
Urobilinogen (µmol/L)
Blirubin (µmol/L)
Ketone (acetoacetic acid) (mmol/L)
Blood (Ery/µL)
Neg.- 200
Neg.- 200
Protein (g/L)
0.15- 0.3
Neg. -3.0
Neg. – 20.0
Nitrite (µmol/L)
Negative - Positive
Negative - Positive
Leukocytes (Leu/μL)
Neg. - 500
Neg. - 500
Glucose (mmol/L)
Specific Gravity
Urinalysis Strip 2 T


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OSx86 January 10, 2014Posted by sandyclaus in Hackentosh, Makers.
add a comment
Welcome to the OSx86 ProjectWelcome to the OSx86 Project – the undisputed leader in information regarding OS X on x86 hardware and Apples Intel transition. Open since 2005, the OSx86 Project offers users a place to trade and share information about OSx86 and the various hardware needed to run it; a virtual Wikipedia of OSx86 resources. Be sure to visit our forum for the best OSx86 resources and discussion around.
via OSx86.


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As expected, and entirely understandably, Irish newspapers could not resist a snipe at France's torrid World Cup exit. The Irish Daily Star went for the obvious "End of world for the French cheats", while The Irish Examiner went with a simple and effective "justice poétique".
Irish Daily Star, published in Dublin, Ireland
Irish Examiner, published in Cork, Ireland
[Images courtesy of newseum.org]


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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A Romanian court has ruled that a former defense ministry official indicted in the U.S. for trying to illegally export military equipment to Iran can be extradited.
The Bucharest Appeals Court said Tuesday that it agreed to surrender Aurel Fratila to U.S. authorities.
Romanian Intelligence Service spokesman Sorin Sava said Romanian authorities assisted U.S. counterparts in the case. He said Fratila had tried to export equipment that was under embargo.
Iran Watch, a site tracking Iran's mass destruction weapon capacities, reported Fratila had been indicted in 2006 in the U.S District Court in Southern California for allegedly conspiring to export military equipment without required U.S. licenses to Romania for ultimate shipment to Iran.
The U.S embassy had no immediate comment on the case Tuesday.


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SkyOne Federal Credit Union (AMFCU) of Hawthorne, California has been in service for more than 65 years, currently from 5 locations. Its field of membership is a transportation credit union. It has the 6th fastest growing membership in California. It has the 4th fastest growing assets in California.
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For members needing to establish credit, the credit union offers share-secured credit cards. Financial counseling, financial education and financial literacy workshops are available.
Besides automobile loans and other kinds of borrowing, AMFCU can do real estate loans and can grant interest only or payment option first mortgage loans. Conveniences include check cashing. SkyOne FCU members may also benefit from bilingual services.
Services to businesses and professionals include business share accounts, business loans, mortgage processing and the credit union is an approved mortgage seller.
Available electronic access to AMFCU includes Internet account access, bank by phone and wireless phone apps. From home, you can apply to join the credit union, take out a loan, look at your balance, order share drafts, setup a new share account, loan payments, view account history, transfer money, online bill pay, download your account history, view statements and capture remote deposits.
Free credit report for Canada residents.
Monitor your credit and protect against identity theft! Who checked your credit report recently, and what did they see?
Western Federal Credit Union , Hawthorne (0 miles.)
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Special offer to credit union members. See your instant credit report.
Also see our daily credit union news page.
Online newspapers and TV stations serving Hawthorne and California: Los Angeles Times, The Press Enterprise, The Sun, or view a national listing of newspapers.
Thinking of buying a car? See California car dealers listed alphabetically by city.


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Originally posted by zroth
Humanity is the anti-christ.
Christ is the blueprint.
If we follow the map, we achieve Christ consciousness.
If we go the opposite direction, we are the anti-Christ.
Do we love our neighbor? Do we love God?
Humanity is the anti-Christ.
We can choose to shift.
Originally posted by Chrisfishenstein
He did produce a fake birth certificate.
Originally posted by Happy1
reply to post by GargIndia
The anti-christ is accepted by the Jews first.
He has to have a mortal wound that he survives. Paralyzed right arm?
He doesn't go for women.
He ushers in a "peace" in the mideast.
Then declares himself to be "God".
The catholic pope is probable a falst prophet that ushers in this anti-christ. The roman catholic church is already laying it's teeth into jerusalem.
Originally posted by GargIndia
reply to post by vaelamin
All Popes are false - basically political appointments. Dalai Lama is false - a politician in the garb of religious head.
But antiChrist has to be a king - commander of a very large army. Pope does not fit the bill.


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'Marley and Me' is #1 at box office
01.4.2009 | By Mack Chico | No Comments">No Comments
The box office this weekend brought more of the same, which for Hollywood was a good thing, as the comedy "Marley & Me" and other Christmas films continued strongly. The top five films — and some others down the ladder — kept their positions from last week.
"Marley & Me," from 20th Century Fox, with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, was the weekend's top film, with about $24 million in domestic ticket sales and $106.5 million since it opened on Christmas.
It was followed by another comedy, "Bedtime Stories," from Walt Disney Company, with Adam Sandler. That film took in about $20.3 million over the weekend, for a total of $85 million since opening. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" from Paramount Pictures with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, was third, with about $18.5 million in weekend sales for a $79 million total.
In a similar display of staying power, "Valkyrie" from MGM, with Tom Cruise, remained the No. 4 film for a second weekend. The film took in $14 million, for a total of $60.7 million since opening on Christmas. Its success has laid to rest months of public speculation about whether the audience would accept Mr. Cruise in his role as a German officer who tried to kill Hitler.
Another holdover, the comedy "Yes Man" with Jim Carrey, from Warner Brothers, took in about $13.9 million, for a total of $79.4 million since opening.
A number of the season's potential Oscar contenders continued to jockey for position in a field packed with movies that have been released to a relatively limited number of theaters.
"Doubt," from Disney's Miramax unit, among the more widely played of these, took in about $5 million for the weekend and $18.7 million since opening, to reach No. 8, up from 10th place.
"The Reader," from the Weinstein Company, took in $1.6 million, as it moved into 398 theaters, and became the weekend's 17th-ranked film, up from 22nd last week, when it played in a much smaller number of screens. It has total sales of $3.6 million.


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Eyes are important indicators of overall health, and comprehensive eye care goes beyond a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. At EyeCare of Denton we want to provide a unique eye care experience when you visit our office. A relaxed comfortable and attractive environment awaits patients in our contemporary office. You will find a unique blend of spa decor and high end technology in our facility.
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The Optomap retinal scanner makes dilation unnecessary for most eye exams, allowing you to return to normal activites right after your exam.
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Great Eye Care and Eyewear in one Location
Please call to schedule an appointment today. If you have a moment, please give us your feedback about our site and your experiences with our Practice.


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Why sponsor?
The Silicon Club was established to provide all senior executives of the Israeli microelectronics industry with a permanent meeting place to address critical operational challenges and other issues that impact the entire microelectronics ecosystem. The club exclusive gatherings are done in a non-formal atmosphere and serves as THE place for meeting industry colleagues, exchange thoughts, discuss industry challenges and act together to resolve major business issues and achieve true global collaboration.
The club is specifically intended for C level executives - CEOs/Presidents, CTOs, COOs, Vice President of Operations, and Vice President of Engineering from microelectronics companies and Partners/Executives within the Israeli venture capital community.
The Club agenda is set by a professional steering committee which consists of several key figures from the leading multinational high technology companies (e.g. Intel, Marvel, Texas Instruments, Freescale, etc.) as well as CEOs of major local fabless and academy professors.
Each club meeting consists of about 150-200 industry executives and is dedicated to a specific topic. The meetings are divided to two major parts:
Executive Networking- Great networking opportunities for microelectronics professionals from the Israeli microelectronics community.
Speaking session - short lectures and panel discussion by senior figures from the microelectronics industry as well as from the High tech world
Why sponsor the club?
When you sponsor the club's meetings you will benefit in several ways:
1. Great exposure to the industry's decision makers – when you sponsor the ISC meetings you will be able to let the decision makers at the microelectronics companies know about your firm offering. These executives represent businesses which generate annual revenue of 5 billion dollars.
2. Building your brand – when you sponsor the Israeli Silicon Club you will strengthen your brand in the minds of all participants. Even if not all of them will become immediate customers, it'll probably happen in the foreseen future.
3. Create your network – when you sponsor the ISC and participate in the club meetings you will have the opportunity to meet with the industry executives, introduce yourself and your firm, and get to know, your potential clients on a personal basis.
4. Supporting the microelectronics industry – The microelectronics industry represent 25% of the export of high tech goods. Supporting the club means supporting this important industry and contributes to strengthen a major part from the ecosystem of the Israeli high tech industry.
The Silicon club was founded by Chiportal – the leading web portal of the Israeli microelectronics industry in early 2010.


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With one eye on an approaching blizzard and the other on its meaty agenda, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI) approved a host of shareholder resolutions Feb. 8 designed to put the denomination's investments where its beliefs are.
MRTI's resolutions guide PC(USA) investors — chief among them the Board of Pensions and the Presbyterian Foundation — in voting their shareholder proxies consistent with the church's social policies.
This year's shareholder resolutions address such issues as executive compensation and pay equity, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency, corporate financial and banking practices, applying movie and television ratings to programming that depicts smoking, Internet "neutrality" and the security of personal data acquired by Internet-based companies such as eBay, and the policies by which corporations determine their political contributions, which reached record levels in the 21012 election cycle.
MRTI works ecumenically with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) to coordinate its shareholder efforts with other faith-based organizations and investors. ICCR held its annual meeting here earlier in the week.
The committee also reviewed its current work plan, which focuses MRTI's work around:
- Environmental responsibility
- Community investment, banking and financial issues, particularly mortgage lending and servicing
- Global corporate accountability and human rights
- access to health care
- for-profit prisons
- media standards and family issues
- weapons production
- Israel-Palestine and the Western Sahara region of Africa.
Carol Smolenski, executive director of ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes-USA), briefed MRTI on her organizations efforts to combat human trafficking and sex tourism. ECPAT-USA also works closely with Presbyterian Women.
In 2004 ECPAT-USA initiated a "Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism" (The Code) to enlist companies in the travel and tourism industry — travel agents, airlines, hotel chains, cruise lines — in taking steps to ensure that their practices do not encourage trafficking and sex tourism.
Smolenski said that one of the first signers to The Code was Carlson, owner of the Radisson hotel chain, "but there was kind of a long dry spell since the first round of signers." That changed, she said, when ECPAT-USA began partnering with ICCR and its large coalition of investors a few years ago.
In 2011 at least three "huge" companies — Delta Air Lines, the Wyndham hotel chain and the Sabre Company, owner of Travelocity — endorsed The Code, and Smolenski said "the ballgame has largely changed."
ECPAT-USA has expanded into two additional areas, Smolenski said: "advocating for policies to protect child victims of trafficking to make sure they receive the services they need to recover from their abuse," and training of employees in companies that subscribe to The Code.
"Training of personnel is the most important part of The Code," Smolenski said, "because too many employees don't know what to look for and how to report" suspicions of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children.
"Another new trend for us is engaging [property] management companies," Smolenski added. "They can really make a difference because they're on the ground and know what's happening when corporate owners of these properties do not."
Tourism-related companies should know about the issues of human trafficking and sex tourism, but sometimes don't, Smolenski said. "They have bad stuff going on and have to take responsibility for it. We're trying to work with them to help them find the best ways to take that responsibility."
In other conversations held at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations office here, the committee heard from:
- John Lind of CANICCOR, the pre-eminent research institution into the banking and mortgage lending practices of U.S. banks. Lind, a longtime partner and consultant with MRTI, outlined current developments in efforts to clean up the mortgage-lending fiasco that triggered the economic collapse of 2008.
- U.N. officials Rob Gaylord, Humanitarian Affairs Officer for the Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs), and Wolfgang Grieger, Department of Political Affairs-Palestinian Rights Division on the current human rights situation in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.


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UMF® 5+ NZ Manuka Honey
Our UMF® 5+ NZ Manuka range is 100% pure, NZ independently tested manuka honey that contains high levels of special chemical markers not found in other honeys. Our UMF® range is honey that tests with a UMF® (Unique Manuka Factor) of 5+ or higher.
Happy Valley's UMF® 5+ NZ Manuka Honey is produced in New Zealand and contains unique plant phenols and is 100% Pure honey sourced from New Zealand native Manuka forests renowned for its unique full flavour and health benefits.
Our UMF® 5+ Manuka Honey is guaranteed to be at least UMF® 5+ and has been verified by an independent testing laboratory.
Only some Manuka Honey has the chemical marker it high levels. UMF® stands for 'Unique Manuka Factor', a measure of the unique levels of MG (methylglyoxal) which is naturally present at varying levels in honey made from the nectar of the Manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium), native to New Zealand.
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Travel Vaccination Clinic (Manila)
Hey folks,
Does anyone know of any travel vaccination clinics in Manila?
I'm going on a trip, and need to get a few immunizations as well as prescriptions for things such as Diamox.
Internet searches don't reveal much...type immunization or vaccination re: Manila and all you get is OTHER countries and their travel advisories for travel TO the Philippines.


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15/10/2018 Thanks for custom made seat pads, perfect job! Mike, Limerick, Ireland
08/10/2018 This is to let you know that the cushions were delivered this morning. Thank you for ensuring that they arrived well before my deadline of next Tuesday. Jennifer, Sutton
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We are a family run business situated in rural Lancashire. We stock a wide range of products including Tapestry Cushions, Linen Cushions, Print Cushions, Seat Pads And Seat Cushions, Booster Cushions, Doormats, Cushions With Sayings, Novelty Socks, Doorstops, Wall Hangings, Throws and Draught Excluders.
These can all be purchased through our on-line store and the majority of orders are shipped within 2 to 3 working days to our customers. All the products on our web site are made to a very high standard and only the highest quality materials are used in the manufacturing process. We source the majority of our unique products from manufacturers worldwide and directly import into the UK.
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In addition to this web site we retail through our Amazon Store and also on EBay.


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10 Things You Don't Know About Malaysia
Think you know Malaysia? Think again. Did you know that the KL Railway Station was built for snow? Or that Malaysia is home to the biggest cockroach infestation in the world? How about the fact that Mt. Kinabalu is home to the highest suspension bridge in the world! 10 Things You Don't Know About Malaysia uncovers crazy new twists and tidbits about iconic Malaysian places you thought you knew. And Ezra Zaid will be your guide. He's taking a break from Radio Hosting, and generally being a city boy to get his hands dirty and take viewers on an adventure like no other. He'll encounter wild personalities, national treasures, and provocative details about some of Malaysia's most fascinating subjects. Whether Ezra is looking at capturing Bats at Krau Wildlife Park, or navigating the wide boulevards of Putrajaya, Malaysia's political capital –he's on a mission to make sure unseen facts are revealed.


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Dramatic changes
The breakfast presentation, at the Museum of Radio & Television in Midtown Manhattan, was an overview of what Comcast is offering on its VOD platform and a forecast of things to come.
"The window for TV product is changing dramatically," Mr. Burke said -- refreshingly without the help of that standard upfront tool, a teleprompter. He said all four broadcasters would be on Comcast's on-demand platform "in the next 90 to 100 days."
Under the current deals CBS and NBC shows are available on VOD the day after they air on the linear network. The shows are available for 99 cents and carry advertising, although not necessarily the same advertising embedded within the original broadcast. Comcast pointed to the broadcasters' embrace of VOD as a way to emphasize to buyers that on-demand is now a major medium that they should be considering.
Pitches VOD advertising
Comcast also pushes a slew of free on-demand content, which accounts for 95% of its VOD orders and today pitched buyers on the value of advertising within those free platforms. It throws out figures such as 70% of digital cable customers use VOD monthly, and if VOD were Nielsen rated, the hours consumers spent viewing it would make it a top 10 network.
Mr. Burke suggested that VOD is poised to take off much like online video advertising has. With online video, he said, the "eyeballs came first and then it took a little while for the advertisers to get there. ... Our hope and belief is that's what's going to happen with VOD."
VOD advertising frustrations
In the past year, advertisers' interest in VOD appears to have waned in favor of streaming video. Part their frustration with VOD stems from an execution standpoint -- ad buys across multiple cable operators can be difficult. The other frustration lies in metrics and a belief that they're not getting all the data they might like fast enough.
But the cable industry is working on both of those issues, according to executives, with companies such as Rentrak, Nielsen, Atlas, Everstream and DoubleClick. As an example of a successful cross-multiple system operator campaign, Comcast held up a VOD play it executed for Wal-Mart on Comcast, Adelphia, Cox and Time Warner Cable systems.
"We will serve up standards across the industry," said Charlie Thurston, president of Comcast Spotlight.
Leading VOD demographic
The presentation also touted VOD as a trove for advertisers trying to reach young consumers. According to Comcast, adults 18-to-34 are the biggest consumers of VOD. While that demo accounts for 20% of linear -- that is, scheduled or programmed -- viewing, they account for 34% of VOD viewing. In fact, the under-34-year-old crowd accounts for 66% of VOD viewing.
Comcast's newest network, called Fear, is a 24/7 on-demand, horror-themed channel with a cache of movies from its partnership with MGM Sony. Fear will be available both as a cable VOD and a broadband channel and will be licensed to other cable operators as well. Comcast has also in the past year turned its PBS Sprout on-demand play into a 24/7 linear network.
"We look at the areas underserved on TV," said Matt Strauss, VP-content acquisition, including parenting, fitness, karaoke and dating.
Comcast VP-Marketing and Communications Vicki Lins said critical mass, both in terms of usage and advertiser interest, spurred on the company's first upfront VOD pitch. And because the upfront period is when most agencies and clients are planning their video budgets, "we didn't want to miss a window of opportunity," she said.


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|Reviews for Sometimes Maybe
| Setsuna529 chapter 1 . 6/15/2008
I like this line: "I'm made of electricity and mistakes tonight"
| Her Wishing Well chapter 1 . 7/31/2007
Wow this is amazing, the imagery is absouloutely beautiful, really takes your breath away.
"While I paint my nails glow in the dark
Just so you might see me when I'm six feet gone
Dead but maybe so much more alive than anyone
With glass bones and diamond fingertips" Just brilliant.
| Sir Scott chapter 1 . 6/22/2007
Black wedding dresses would be more honest in most cases.
| J.Dietz chapter 1 . 6/21/2007
I love your poem. Dark and symbolic. It would be cool to wear a black wedding dress, too.


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Treemapping is a method for displaying tree-structured data by using nested rectangles.
Or, that is the academic way to explain it. 😛
The simple way?
Treemapping is when you see the contents of your hard drive in a nice visual way, in order to see what you are wasting space on. 😛 😛
Treemapping Software:
TreeSize Free I've used this, it's good but nothing visual.
SpaceMonger This is what I have at the moment, I like it 🙂 It gives you a nice idea of things 😉
DiskView I haven't used, plus it only has a 15-day trial period.
I bought a 1Tb hard drive in July 2009, and… well … I must say it's full already. 😛 O_O (18,4 Gb free out of 931Gb)
I know, I know. Well, what can I say? 😛 I am notorious for such things. 😀
But, I have an excuse! Yes indeedy I do!
This is what SpaceMonger tells me: (Warning: The following may be boring for some 😛 )
233,9 Gb is backup from my older HDD. Some things are quite sensitive and precious, so I want to have as many backups as possible.
222.3 Gb is backup from M's laptop. 😛 He had to format it, so everything was transferred to me, but I haven't deleted anything yet. You never know what might be needed! 😛
82,9 Gb is anime that I recently acquired from P. 😀
80,2 Gb is memories … pictures, videos etc.
57,1 Gb is the rapidshare folder, aka some Lost episodes in HD quality. 😛 My laptop doesn't even support HD quality! Damn, I should delete them.
44,7 Gb is Tv series folder, aka Lost. 😀
23,5 Gb is movies…
I hope they don't put me into jail for this info 😛
33,3 Gb is more backup from another older laptop…
And some more smaller folders with smaller capacities…
Which means! More than half of the hard drive is used for backup 😀 So I guess it's put to good use, ne? 😀
What about yours? I am curious to know! 😀
P.S. Any ideas for a better title? 😛


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Apologies dear reader for the absence of recent posts, one has been somewhat caught up with work and the General Election Campaign 2015. Now that the Conservatives are back in power with a majority this allows me a bit more time to blog.
Today was the day I went to my first ever clay pigeon shooting event organised by the Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club. As part of National Ladies Shooting Day the club had organised taster days across the country where ladies could book to have a go at shooting under the instruction of a seasoned expert.
My nearest event was at the E.J. Churchill ground in Buckinghamshire and after a few wrong turns (mostly due to the Sat Nav and my lack of sense of direction) I arrived. Ladies of all ages were in attendance and had been grouped into teams according to ability. After a quick cup of coffee it was off with our instructor to have a go at some of the pegs.
Our instructor for the day was a lovely older gentleman called Terry who took my team through the basics of a 20 gauge shot gun, gun safety and the techniques for shooting on a teal, rabbit and driven pegs.
I had been clay pigeon shooting a couple of times before but it was great to have some tuition on how to do it properly and correct any mistakes I was making. After a few off shots I got into my stride and managed to hit the clays. After 30 shots across the pegs my total score was 22. Not bad for a beginner!
After the shooting it was back to the lodge for some delicious homemade cakes and a cup of coffee. The selection was so delicious it was hard to pick what to have! In the end I chose the chocolate brownie cake, which did not disappoint.
The day was sponsored by Browning so after the cake there was a chance to try some of their guns on the ground before the winners of the day were announced. I was delighted to have come top in my team and been awarded a Browning shooting cap and protective glasses.
I would like to thank the Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club for organising the day. It was great to meet fellow members and bond over clay pigeon shooting and tasty cake. If you have the opportunity to attend a future day I would thoroughly recommend it!


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When the time came to build a new elementary school west of Boca Raton last year, Palm Beach County taxpayers paid a high price.
After searching in vain for someone who would donate land for the school, the School Board paid $700,000 for a 20-acre site.
The rapid development west of Boca Raton that spawned the need for the school had made the land too valuable for any developer to give away. And since the communities in the area already had received the necessary governmental approvals, there was no incentive for developers to provide a school site.
With student population increasing at a rate of 2,000 to 3,000 students a year and with 21 new schools for them on the drawing board, school officials have become aggressive in seeking land donations from developers, using political muscle if necessary to obtain land from new developments.
Those efforts netted 133 acres of land and $1.5 million in cash from developers in 1984.
``We started getting really serious about this only in the past year,`` said Deputy Superintendent James Daniels. ``It was getting tougher to get donations, and we realized that there is only so much land to go around.``
School planners began attending county zoning meetings, where permits for planned unit developments are issued, and began negotiating for school sites with developers.
``Overall, we`ve been getting a lot of cooperation,`` Daniels said. ``Part of our problem in the past was that we didn`t have our needs well-defined. Now we do.``
Some developers were eager to donate school sites on the theory that schools in the neighborhood make it easier to sell homes to young families.


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By Edwards Air Force Base Fire Department
/ Published June 29, 2017
(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman George Goslin)
Fireworks are synonymous with our celebration of Independence Day, yet the thrill of fireworks can also bring pain. On average, two hundred people go the emergency room with firework-related injuries every day in the month around the July 4th holiday.
In California, only the safe and sane type fireworks are legal for use. However, even these fireworks are not legal for use in every city. The general rule is if you can buy the fireworks legally, you can use them in the city where you bought them. If you are planning to buy fireworks in one city and use them in another, you should check with the fire department to make sure they are legal in that city. An example of this is safe and sane fireworks that are legal to buy and use in Palmdale, might be illegal in Lancaster.
Please remember "Safe and Sane" fireworks are still dangerous. Nationwide statistics show that these types of fireworks are responsible for more injuries than any other type. This is believed to be because the title "Safe and Sane" gives many people the idea they cannot hurt you. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burns and eye injuries. You can help us and your local fire departments prevent firework-related injuries and deaths. How? By following these simple safety tips for off base fireworks use. Remember, fireworks are prohibited on Edwards AFB unless approved by the base commander.
Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper. These are for professional display shows.
Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit – hot enough to melt some metals.
Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
Never turn your back on a lit firework device
Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them. Fireworks are not authorized on base property except for the authorized professional show.
If you have any further questions regarding fireworks safety, contact the Edwards AFB Fire Prevention Office at 277-3124. If you have questions concerning fireworks use and safety off base, contact your local fire department or visit http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/ for California laws and regulations concerning fireworks. Have a safe and happy Independence Day from the Edwards Fire Department.


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Package includes:
Emily has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket will go to supporting women and girls through Planned Parenthood Foundation.
It's time: Emily Haines is back with Choir of the Mind, the Metric singer's first release as her Soft Skeleton solo project in a decade.That interval has particular resonance for Haines: Choir of the Mind, due September15 on Last Gang Records, comes 10 years after her Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton EP What Is Free to a Good Home?, which in turn stemmed from her 2006 LP Knives Don't Have Your Back. Ten years before that, she released Cut in Half and Also Doubleunder her own name.
"It's funny, I believe in a way that my life has functioned in decades," Haines says. "A lot of things aligned to make this seem like the time." Her solo projects represent transitions in her life: her 1996 album came as she passed over the threshold of adulthood, while Knives Don't Have Your Backemerged after the death of her father, the acclaimed poet Paul Haines.
Haines' vocals are definitely the focal point of Choir of the Mind. She used her voice to create spellbinding orchestrations for an effect that is subtle and ghostly on "Wounded," lush on "Fatal Gift" and deeply powerful on "Legend of the Wild Horse," which she calls her "soft anthem." Haines' voice is the only audible instrument on "Strangle All Romance," and she creates mesmerizing layers that drift and swirl through the title track, which includes a spoken-word part adapted from a poem by the Indian mystic Sri Aurobindo.Haines recorded Choir of the Mindover several weeks in September and October of 2016, more or less alone in Metric's Toronto studio with a borrowed 18-foot grand piano built in 1850. Her longtime musical partner/Metric bandmate, James Shaw, helped flesh out the sonics with various instruments and rhythmic elements. (Shaw also mixed the album). Sparklehorse drummer Scott Minor, a member of the Soft Skeleton's first incarnation, returned to perform on "Legend of the Wild Horse."Haines says, "The writing and recording process was heightened and intensive, the two became one thing."
In between solo releases, of course, Haines keeps plenty busy with Metric. Formed in 1998, theband has released six full-length albums and three EPs on its way to commanding arena-sized stages, and contributing to soundtracks for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worldand Cosmopolis.


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- WWE posted the video above of Nikki Bella discussing being a judge at the Miss USA pageant last night.
- Speaking of the Bellas, WWE posted this video from the App during tonight's RAW of the Bellas discussing attending the pageant. They were confronted by Naomi & Cameron and exchanged words before The Funkadactyls walked off.
- WWE also posted this video of The Usos on the WWE App stating that they want a shot at the WWE tag team titles. They said they're next in line, and that they're always on the same page.
- We are looking for correspondents for Tuesday's SmackDown taping at Wright State University's Nutter Center in Dayton, OH, so if you are attending it, please contact us by clicking here.
Follow Raj Giri on Twitter at @RajGiri_303. Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.


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John Bryan, Yorkshire John, Old John, Bloody marvelous, sadly passed way on Monday morning after a fight with quick spreading cancer. I'm of the understanding that the cancer progressed a heck of a lot more rapidly than he considered, although he would confess to very little anyway as always a proud and upbeat optimist to the end. He died peacefully in his sleep around 1am.
I have struggled to contact some of his drinking and golfing buddies here, he was relative new to HuaHIn but I'm sure he made a fast impact on people, pass it on if you are aware. He wasn't one for sadness, but raise a glass to him will suffice.
John Bryan - RIP
Hua Hin general discussion, observations and chat. Hua Hin topics that don't really fit anywhere else.
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Re: John Bryan - RIP
I'm very sorry to hear that Matt, although I don't know the name. Do you know if he had a forum ID please?
League 1 Oxford 1 - 0 Plymouth Argyle
Points 7; Position 24
Points 7; Position 24
Re: John Bryan - RIP
Hi Matt,
Do you have a picture of Old John?
Do you have a picture of Old John?
Re: John Bryan - RIP
I doubt he was on the forum.
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text:
imi Hendrix enjoyed putting his spin on other artist's tunes. His personalization of "Wild Thing" to close his set at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival was, while memorable, hardly unusual for him; but it put him in a select category, to date inhabited only by Hendrix and R.E.M. — artists who have covered Troggs hits.
The Troggs' 1966 cover of Chip Taylor's "Wild Thing" is one of the most recognizable recordings of rock music. Always more popular in England than the US, they were not, as is often supposed by less informed programming directors of pop and rock radio, one-hit wonders. Even if we ignore their string of UK hits (not a good idea, but sometimes difficult to avoid due to US radio's US-centric take on music charts) they had two hits on the US charts, and it was the second, making it to the top 5 in 1968, which was covered by R.E.M. on 1991's "Radio Song."
While "Wild Thing" exemplified the troglodyte persona expected from the band, lead vocalist Reg Presley was adept at crafting sensitive ballads. "Love is All Around", while not as simple as "Wild Thing" (a feat I wouldn't want to attempt) has simple lyrics and uncomplicated music. Not yet unusual in rock singles, it sports strings and a polished arrangement not present in the "Radio Song" cover; the arrangement is distinctly 60s and adds to the sweetness of the song. On the heels of its caveman predecessor, learning that this gentle love ballad comes from the Troggs increases its appeal by emphasizing their diversity and talent.


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Deltawing To Nissan: You Stole Our Design
I'm going to begin by saying that I Am Not A Patent Lawyer. But to anyone with, let's just say, "functioning eyes," it's easy to see that the Nissan Zeod RC's design looks to be a copy of the original Deltawing. And the original Deltawing team is really, really pissed off about that. Still.


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Packed and Ready: Has Kanye West grown too big for his hip-hop britches?
Big Fish
Kanye West is huge—so why does he seem so small?
By John Gentile
IT SEEMS that Kanye West is trying to straddle two worlds, and he might just be titanic enough to do it. On one hand, he is hip-hop's fearless innovator, mixing classic Public Enemy samples with Steely Dan with Daft Punk with 311, taking hip-hop in bold new directions in an effort to steer it away from the ever-looming threat of stagnancy. On the other hand, he's pure pop showman, leading clap-alongs, dancing while the audience sings choruses, surrounded by smoke and flashing lights. On his latest tour, dubbed "Glow in the Dark," West surrounds himself with intergalactic motifs, often referencing Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. And just like Capt. Dave scratched his head in the presence of the black monolith, when the audience catch their first glimpse of West emerging from flashing lights, they ask, "Just what is this thing that is Kanye West?"
When West preformed in San Jose last April, the stage show was as important as the performer himself. West appeared in a massive arena surrounded by high-tech gadgetry. As he dropped his verses, laser beams pierced the air, smoke was ubiquitous and a massive LED screen behind West played the foil to his verses. While West was rapping the heartfelt rhymes of "I Wonder," the screen teleported him to the desolate rings of Saturn. During "Can't tell Me Nothing," the hip-hopper aimlessly drifted through the galaxy.
While he pushed multimedia aspect of concerts in April, he also pushed Graduation, with almost half the set being drawn from his newest album. While critical acceptance of Graduation hasn't reached that of his previous two albums, West brought out a number of new cuts not so much to rework them, but to give the audience a second chance at hearing them. For the most part, it seemed this gambit worked, and an interesting contrast arose. The songs off Graduation seem reserved and private, but when he performed them live, they were transformed into snappier crowd chants. Still, when the hammering beats of "Gold Digger" and "Jesus Walks" hit the audience, the entire arena shook.
But even though West is bold enough to mix so much flash into his music, does he become more pop than hip-hop? In 2007, AllHipHop asked hip-hop founding father KRS-One, who recorded the 2007 single "Classic" alongside West and Nas, what he thought of Kanye's newest album. KRS, who refers to himself as the physical manifestation of hip-hop (with good cause,) had a very interesting viewpoint. "Kanye's album was brilliant," he said, "That was a really good work. But is it hip-hop? Flashing? Lights? Camera? Nah, we want the boom bap!"
Certainly Kanye's stage show suggests that he might be drifting away from hip-hop. The Glow in the Dark tour is an achievement in choreography with all of its light up floors, gigantic lit globes and powerful strobe lights. But in this orchestration, a great deal of flexibility is lost. There's almost no room for freestyling; the music is all pre-recorded, giving a DJ no chance to innovate upon the turntable. While the greatest asset of many hip-hoppers is the ability to get down in your face, West elevates himself into outer space, leaving you with just a glimpse of him between whiffs of smoke and blasts of light beams.
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By blending the gigantic live show with his music, Kanye implies that the huge show is the new hip-hop and that music can be both hip-hop and pop at the same time. If there's someone with enough bravado and skill to accomplish such a feat, it is Mr. West. No other hip-hop group has come as close to making such a huge show, and such daring is admirable. But, at the Glow in the Dark tour, when West claps his hands above his head, he's just a tiny speck on the huge stage and monstrous screen. It's easy to overlook him in the face of a fancy computer graphics, which raises the question: Has the art grown bigger than the artist?
KANYE WEST performs with RHIANNA, N.E.R.D. and LUPE FIASCO on Friday (June 6) at 7pm at HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. Tickets are $39.50–$75. (408.998.TIXS)
Send a letter to the editor about this story.


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Following Donald Trump's election, professors' free speech is under siege
Diversity of opinion and civil debate are important components of any discussion.
Turning Point USA, a conservative advocacy group whose mission is to educate and organize students to promote fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government, has previously defended this idea, especially in its recent publication "5 Reasons Censorship Should Offend You!"
In the publication, the authors state: "By hearing the opinions of those that do not agree with us, we learn to question our own beliefs and expand our views on the world around us."
This statement is why it is so surprising that in late November — two weeks after the election of Donald Trump — Turning Point published a Professor Watchlist. The watchlist is a published group of college professors it says "discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom." The list is meant to inform students and their parents of professors who threaten students with their "radical agenda."
"All posts are of professors who have radical views that would chill the free speech of students in the classroom and stifle debate," said Matt Lamb, the director of constitutional enforcement and transparency for Turning Point, in an email.
One name on the watchlist is Dana Cloud, a professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Syracuse University and a member of the International Socialist Organization. Cloud was included on the list because of comments she made following 9/11 and the United States' role in sparking the terrorists' actions.
"None of it is untrue," said Cloud, who added that "it's not the first time" she's been included on similar lists.
"But my reaction this time is different because of the moment of the Trump election," Cloud said. "It used to be that these kind of lists, all the 'lefties' are like 'Why aren't I on the list?' and that it was cute or funny, right? But it's not funny now."
Cloud's open admission to the supposed reasoning of her inclusion on the watchlist gets at the very heart of why such lists are threatening academic and personal freedom: It is not that the quotes provided are wrong or misleading, but rather that they shouldn't matter.
These professors have the right as private citizens to take part in any activism and advocacy they want to — a cornerstone of free speech that a libertarian group such as Turning Point could hardly oppose.
"It also makes a weird assumption that these professors — whatever their activist lives are — that they bring that into the classroom," said Cloud, who added that she doesn't believe she crosses this line.
When college students, who often experience limited exposure to varying ideologies before entering college, are introduced to new ways of thinking by their professors, they are able to broaden their horizons like never before. Singling out these professors simply because they don't share your ideas or conservative values is the very censorship the creators of this watchlist say they oppose.
"Anyone who teaches the full spectrum of history and thought in our society will teach critical thinking, and doing that is dangerous — in a good way," Cloud said.
This type of critical thinking, and the divisive ideas that accompany it, must be fought for now more than ever.
Cole Jermyn is a sophomore environmental resource engineering major at SUNY-ESF. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com and followed on Twitter @Cjermyn8.
Published on December 4, 2016 at 11:40 pm


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Wednesday, June 20, 2012
33 down 7 to go
8 comments:
- Southern Belle Mama said...
You look great Laura! Hope this summer weather treats you nice until Baby C gets here!
- June 20, 2012 at 2:58 PM
- Lori said...
7 more weeks?! that's it? you look amazing :)
- June 20, 2012 at 7:45 PM
- Secret Mommy said...
You look fabu! My boys often ask for "girled" sandwiches. They KNOW they are "grilled" sandwiches, but think it's awfully funny to call them "girl" or "girled." Twerps. :)
Enjoy your last 7 weeks! I was so not ready for my 3rd baby, either, then in the last 6 weeks I got mad chores done and voila! Ready for baby. :) Congrats!
- June 20, 2012 at 10:46 PM
- A Lil Story said...
Awww you look beautiful!! You don't have the crazy swollen baby face I get towards the end of pregnancy ;) 7 weeks! Yay! and oh my word, could Reid be any cuter???
I am a month behind you, but I have nothing done either- the nursery is still a blank space- no decor, curtains, or crib! I did go through the baby clothes I kept... so far Baby B has one little drawer of clothes for the first year of his life... I think we have some shopping to do!
Awwww and Lily, bless her little heart ;)
- June 20, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Oh gosh, sounds like you had your hands full ;)
You are absolutely glowing in your pictures!
- June 21, 2012 at 12:15 PM
- carissa at lowercase letters said...
you are wonder mom! go laura!! and you look gorgeous.
- June 21, 2012 at 7:56 PM
- LeAnna said...
You look fantabulous, friend!
- June 22, 2012 at 4:11 PM
- Jumping Jack said...
Jack was born in the summer. I'm sure I can round up some clothes for baby C. And I'm sewing again. Ok just a little, but I'll make the littles matching shirts and a lovey for baby C. Email me sizes.
You look great!
- June 26, 2012 at 10:59 PM


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life's work & passion to learn, play, perform, and teach music, as well as to harness the power of music to spread Love, truth, emotions, health, joy, unity, and a growing community. Being such an important fundamental part of human life, I don't believe learning music should cost an arm and a leg, which is why I do all my services by donation or for free, especially for those in low-income families or in need.
"Be the change we want to see in the world."
Amazing video footage and pics of the recent Dog Rescue Charity Drag Show event: Check out the first Video!
"Someone Like You" byAdele
This is one of our most well-received and highest praised songs, by the ever emotional evoker, Adele!
I couldn't be more pleased & Excited that you've found the Harmony & Hearts official website!
This is the official website of Harmony & Hearts, which is proudly created/founded under the concept of providing services to the community on a by donation or free basis, whether people choose to donate according to what they feel the services are worth to them, or in ratio to their financial situation and affordability, or if they are simply in need of or want the services but are unable to afford them. I believe that everyone has an innate human right to enjoy, play, and learn music and that everything is a form of frequency of sound and light; music is a fundamental aspect of existence and life, especially to humans. It is my goal to utilize music in every form available to be leveraged to help people, be it via music therapy, music lessons, sharing our music and/or playing for others, or simply teaching others how to use music as an outlet for themselves, their emotions, feelings, and spirit or to help find and explore their true selves. Most of all, it is a tool to help spread joy, truth, and Love!
This website will also serve as something of a hub, as well, for all of my fans, family, employers, followers, and the like, to keep up with my very zany and sometimes borderline exhausting & overwhelming musical happenings. I've been blessed to reach a point in my life to finally choose to make my living doing what many dream of but few actually do — following my passion; my truth; my very soul & essence! Indeed, this is why I was meant to be.
Whether I'm cut off from the world, in the studio working on my new album, or getting pulled to event after event, this is the one place you can always go to get the latest scoop, and find out what we're up to. I'll be working hard to keep the information on my site current, practical, efficient, and fun! So peruse at your leisure and check back often — you never know when something fun is going to pop up here for your music enjoyment!
Music is a fundamental universal language, very much like and related to "Love" -- Music is a part of all human beings' lives and all cultures. It has the profound ability to heal people, to move people emotionally and spiritually, and to change lives. It has become my
Play our cover of "Someone Like You" by Adele & more of our songs in
and check out our band page for more music & videos!
Music is the
universal language...
The next 3 ONE client (1 remaining!) that requests services will receive gift certificates. redeemable for 3 hours of any service provided by Harmony & Hearts!
Check the "Contact" section to request a service and a chance to redeem a gift certificate for free services!