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First was my friend's use of the words "preference" and "lifestyle." Preference implies choice. If my being homosexual is my sexual "preference," it means that at some point I was presented with all the alternatives, and I chose to be gay. If I made that choice, I have to believe that everyone else is presented with the same range of sexual choices, and chooses where he or she will be most comfortable on that sexuality spectrum. I am almost 71 years old, and am a "people-person," so I have known thousands of people over my lifetime, but I have yet to meet one person who says that he or she was presented those alternative sexualities, and chose to be either gay or straight, homosexual or heterosexual. No one makes that choice; it is a given. Whether there is a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality or heterosexuality or not I don't know (I have my suspicions), but I do know that I never chose to be gay, and I doubt that anyone else chose to be either gay, straight, or whatever.
I believe that there is a difference between one's sexual orientation and one's sexual behavior, and I believe that most people recognize that distinction. For example: Even the strictest, most strait-laced Christian would contend that Jesus, the Apostle Paul. and Mother Teresa were heterosexual, right? Those observers would bristle at the suggestion that either of the three people we just mentioned was gay or homosexual, so by default they'd have to be straight or heterosexual. Yet, most of us assume that neither of those three "did it" at all. Their orientation was heterosexual; there was no behavior. The two things are different, see?
But when it comes to gays, most heterosexuals (and all too many homosexuals) define us by what they suppose we do. Straights, heterosexuals, are defined by what they are; gays, homosexuals, by what, supposedly, we do. The truth is, though, that the sexual orientation of every person is defined by what that person is, not necessarily by what he or she does or does not do.
The vast majority of people are naturally heterosexually oriented, a significant minority are homosexually oriented, and a tinier minority are possibly bisexually oriented. That is the way they are born. But, for any of a number of reasons, men and women who are naturally homosexual may learn to behave heterosexually; and there are some who are naturally heterosexual who behave homosexually. Their natural orientation doesn't change, though their behavior may.
People back in what we tend to think of as the Dark Ages of sexual understanding nevertheles seemed to grasp this distinction easily. Before the Pill and HIV/AIDS, it was pretty common for men to seek sexual "relief" from other, usually effeminate, men rather than risk "doing it" with a "bad" girl or if a willing female wasn't available at the time (this was, and to some extent, still is, a pretty common scenario in jails and prisons). Neither of the men engaged in such conduct considered the "top," the "man," to be gay; he was straight, but for whatever reason did his "man thing" with another male (I know there'll be many who'll dispute this contention, but I'm speaking from experience, not just from what I've read or been told). That attitude changed abruptly in the 1970s, to the point that --- again, in my opinion, based on my observation and experience --- the Viet Nam vet generation is, probably, the most anti-gay one of all. With the development of the Pill and because of fear of contracting the "gay disease," HIV/AIDS, straight men no longer chose to be with other men for sex; only homosexually-oriented men did such a thing. The distinction between sexual orientation and sexual behavior all but disappeared.
And that has been psychologically devasting for a host of young straight men. Many of them, because of substance abuse, incarceration, dysfunctional family backgrounds, financial need, or whatever, have engaged in homosexual behavior --- and since, now, there is little or no distinction made between sexual orientation and sexual behavior, they have taken the homosexual behavior in which they've engaged to mean that their orientation is homosexual, that they are gay. And, this erroneous self-label has led to all kinds of deep psychological problems, and even to violent and deadly actions. That's why I find my friend's statement to be deceptively innocuous. Those subtly mistaken attitudes can have deadly consequences.
The final thing we should consider, though, but haven't touched on so far, is Lifestyle. Just as there is no one "heterosexual lifestyle," there is no equivalent "homosexual lifestyle." Let's recap, and I'll explain:
First, one's sexual orientation is naturally or genetically encoded; it isn't a "preference," nor does it change.
Secondly, one's sexual behavior, unlike one's sexual orientation, may involve preference. One may prefer oral or anal or vaginal sex, being "top" or "bottom," or "pitching" or "catching." Within the person's orientation, his or her preferred behavior may, in fact, change.
Thirdly, one's sexual lifestyle probably does involve choice. No matter what one's orientation or preferred behaviors may be, one may choose his or her sexual lifestyle. One's lifestyle may range anywhere from celibacy, through monogamy, through serial liaisons, through to group sex, promiscuity, or whatever. So, a person will have a natural sexual orientation, preferred sexual behaviors, and a chosen sexual lifestyle. These three things are not at all the same, and may not even be in harmony with each other; but confusing the three things, or using the terms interchangeably, is not only inaccurate, but can be psychologically troubling, and downright dangerous.
For the record, if in some pre-existent state I were given the choice as to how I'd come into human life, with all the alternatives laid out before me, and knowing what I know now, I --- unlike most people I know, gay or straight --- would choose to come into human life exactly as I am now: Male, black, and gay. But, of course, I am not given that choice; I just thank God that I am, in fact, male, black, gay, and now --- considering the alternative --- old.


text: Dry off after your bath or shower with this 100-percent Pima cotton loop bath towel set, featuring cotton grown from the United States. Pima cotton is a long staple fiber which makes the towels soft, absorbent and durable. The zero-twist design and fold over seams allow this cotton bath towel set to hold up to daily use. Throw away any stiff, sandpaper-textured towels and turn your bathroom into a haven with this plush, absorbent towel set.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hello Angels!
A circle of friends is forming around the foundational essence of SCR91. There has been so much going on to benefit you that it's actually quite amazing!
The SCR91 Task Force is in Motion and will be holding their 2nd meeting on the 29th! The legislators really meant it when they said they cared!
In a time when we see so many "Leaders" saying one thing and doing another, you will be proud to know that there are Hawaii lawmakers and advocacy organizations who actually walk their talk! A few notable Legislators to mention: Sen Chun-Oakland, Sen. Baker, and Rep. Theilin.
AngelGroup has been witness to real "hands-on" involvement from the SCR91 Task Force.
Despite dealing with an embedded web of bad habits from agencies and individuals who are in place to protect you, this Task Force is actually making things happen...the wave is beginning to roll.
As it rolls, everyone is getting "real-time" examples of what you've been saying...
- Judges not following the law
- DV survivors losing custody and contact with their children
- Rebuttable presumption being ignored and disregarded
- DV survivors being re-victimized via the Family Court
- CWS "choosing sides"
- Insiders working to "cover-up" rather than "fess-up" (and make a child safe)
- Protocols being broken and determination made prior to a "true" investigation being done, etc.
This has been an amazing eye-opening month and it's not done yet!
The SECOND SCR91Task Force Meeting is fast arriving.
Judge McKenna will be speaking (and listening), as well as Dara Carlin (survivor and advocate).
Location: State Capitol; Conference Room 225
When: Thursday July 29, 2010; 3:30 pm
The last meeting was held on June 23 and a summary of the meeting from Dara Carlin is as follows:
"The hour-long SCR91 meeting started out by reviewing where SCR91 came from and what it entailed. During that process, others in the room shared their professional experiences with family court evaluation and custody cases, police, and CPS intervention (or the lack thereof) with everything boiling down to the themes of:
"No accountability, no oversight, no consistency = no order
"Good laws and great statutes but completely worthless because there's no enforcement or application of them
"The discussion spoke of these issues on all islands, (not just Oahu), plus the variations between them. Audits in other jurisdictions (such as CA's Marin County) were briefly mentioned to illustrate the magnitude of these problems on a national scale.
"When asked what the goals of this SCR91 audit would be, I replied "correction and ongoing accountability"."
Please join us for the upcoming SCR91 Task Force Meeting to listen and share.
You deserve to be heard...People are listening.


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$32.00 GST Inclusive
Earn up to 32 Points.
Aura Yarn 4ply is handdyed here for you so there may a be a few days delay in sending out your order due to Dyeing times. Colour variation may occur between skeins and between dye batches.
Additional information
Arctic, Azure, Blue Smoke, Glowbug, Hawaiian Halo, Mint Julep, Nymph, Ravishing Rose, Silver


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Alright, I know this isn't wedding related in any way, shape, or form, but I am too excited not to post about this. It was announced today that Sidney Crosby, the Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, my Pittsburgh Penguins, is coming back tomorrow. A la Mario Lemieux, my idol, this is Sidney's Comeback. Everything in Crosby's career will be measure in pre and post concussion however unfair that is, that will be the way. The Pens will face the Islanders, the team that ended his point streak last year, one game before the Winter Classic where David Steckel ran an unsuspecting Crosby over and most likely started this concussion ball rolling. The hit would certainly be a suspension under the current head-shot rules. The next game, January 5th vs the Lightning, Victor Hedman hit Crosby from behind on a seemingly uneventful play. Crosby's head hit the glass and he was visibly shaken. That was just the start of the problems for Sidney. Concussions can effect different people in different ways and Sidney has taken a long painful roller coaster ride to recovery. We all hope the the league's premiere player can stay healthy and lead his Penguins the way he did before the injury. With Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL's other big superstar, playing poorly, the game needs Sidney to come back and be Sidney Crosby.
For me, I just hope he can come back into the Penguins lineup and add a little sizzle to a team that has been performing well without him. It will take a little time to get back into the swing of things I'm sure, so be patient people. I'm not expecting the world from him just yet. The whole hockey world will be watching and hoping for the best. It's a good thing he's experienced with dealing with the media because this is going to be a carnival.
Since I moved to Halifax I've seen Crosby Jersey's and Penguins logos everything, and that's without him playing, I'm sure his return will increase the interest of local hockey fans.
Here are a few photos from the trip Robyn and I took to see the Penguins play in Columbus last year, and that is wedding related. Robyn's gift to me for our wedding was tickets to this game, one that the penguins won big and Crosby played well, scoring twice.


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Parents always ask me which Houston schools are the best. And while I never answer that question because the best education is the one that fits each individual child, I do encourage them to use performance data as ONE factor when considering schools. (If you want to know the other factors, you'll have to come to a Navigating Houston Schools workshop).
Today, I come bearing gifts! Parents who are served by Houston ISD and will be considering schools for the 2016-17 school year will be happy to know that 29 of the district's schools received the highest commendation issued by the Texas Education Agency. In terms of standards, the acceptable baseline is that a school "met standard". All schools that meet the standard are eligible to earn five additional distinctions. Think of these distinctions like the stars we used to get in elementary school: the green star, which represents the schools that "met standard" are okay, but everybody knows that the best star is the gold one, which in this case represents the schools with the best academic results. Most of the parents I've worked with want gold star schools as well as additional noteworthy details (which I aptly call ANDs).
The five distinctions each of the 29 schools earned in addition to having met the baseline standard are below:
HISD's Gold Star Schools:
17 elementary schools: Bush, Carrillo, Condit, DeChaumes, De Zavala, Horn,Lovett, Lyons, Oak Forest, Park Place, Pleasantville, River Oaks, Roberts, Roosevelt, Travis, West University, and E. White.
6 middle schools: Lanier, Pin Oak, and Project Chrysalis middle schools, T.H. Rogers School, Wharton K–8 Dual Language Academy. Baylor College of Medicine Academy was also honored, with a distinction in math instead of science.
6 high schools: DeBakey High School for Health Professions, Eastwood Academy, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Bellaire, Carnegie Vanguard, and Challenge Early College high schools.
This might be a great place to begin your school selection search. Remember: performance data is only one sliver of what you should keep in mind when finding the best school for your son or daughter. Great, well-rounded kids do more than score well on standardized exams.
For help navigating public, private, charter and boarding schools to find the best fit for your child, contact me at email@example.com or join me for a workshop.


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Clarity® Hydraulic Oil AW
Clarity® Hydraulic Oil AW is designed to give excellent protection in both mobile and stationary hydraulic equipment in marine applications, as well as in environmentally sensitive areas. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW 100 provides the necessary seal protection and lubrication for marine stern tube applications. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW is formulated with premium base oil technology and an ashless ("zinc-free") additive system that provides exceptional oxidation stability, water separability, foam suppression, and protection against wear, rust and corrosion. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW is a longlife lubricant (not vegetable oil based), with dramatically longer TOST life (ASTM D943 oxidation stability test) than conventional zinc-based hydraulic fluids. A longer TOST life equates to longer service life, which can improve the customer's bottom line. This level of oxidation stability is especially applicable in high efficiency (high speed, high temperature, high output) applications where severe stress is placed on the hydraulic fluid.
Typical Characteristics
Recommended Uses
Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW is designed for use in mobile and stationary hydraulic vane-, piston-, and gear-type pumps. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW has shown excellent performance in applications involving servo-valves using multimetal components. The antiwear performance of Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW makes it especially suited for high performance marine applications utilizing axial piston pumps where pressures may exceed 350 bar, and the zinc-free formula makes it well suited for applications involving yellow metals found in hydraulic systems. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW 22 and 100 are shear-stable high VI hydraulic oils designed to improve equipment efficiency and increase operating temperature range of the applicable grade. Many hydraulic systems are required to operate in environmentally sensitive areas where leaks or spills of hydraulic fluid may result in contamination of nearby waterways. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW is well suited for applications situated in environmentally sensitive areas. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW meets the requirements of DIN 51524 Part 3 (HVLP), ASTM D6158 HV and ISO 11158 L-HV. Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW 100 is approved for stern tube application by Blohm+Voss, Kemel (Kobelco) and Wärtsilä-Japan.
Performance Benefits
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Ashless formulation meets or exceeds major vane, piston and gear pump manufacturer's requirements for viscosity, rust and corrosion protection, hydrolytic stability, water separability, foam inhibition, and filterability.
2. Exceptional Oxidation Stability
Longer service life than conventional zinc-based antiwear hydraulic oils or vegetable hydraulic oils.
3. Excellent Antiwear Properties
Provides excellent wear protection.
4. Environmental Sensitivity
Clarity Hydraulic Oil AW passes the stringent acute aquatic toxicity LL/EL 50 test.
5. Excellent Low Temperature Pumpability
The ISO 22 grade was specifically developed to ensure good low temperature fluidity for operation as low as –40°C (–40°F).
6. Zinc-free/Ashless
Suited for applications involving yellow metals found in piston pumps.
Typical test data are average values only. Minor variations which do not affect product performance are expected in normal manufacturing. Always confirm that the product selected is consistent with the original equipment manufacturer's recommendation for the equipment operating conditions and customer's maintenance practices. (December , 2012)
© 2012 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC or their respective owners.


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Protected Cropping Australia is pleased to invite you to attend the APEX-BRINKMAN PCA Biennial Conference, to be held in Adelaide, South Australia from Sunday 9 July to Tuesday 12 July, 2017 at the newly renovated Adelaide Convention Centre on North Terrace.
The theme of the conference is 'Future Growing' and will include a combination of business, networking and social events as well as a field trip on the final day of the conference. There will be an impressive industry exhibition, a large variety of presentations to choose from, exciting keynote speakers, workshops and field days, the welcome reception and conference dinner.
For more details: http://www.aomevents.com/pca2017
The Protected Cropping Industry is the fastest growing food producing sector in Australia, valued at around $1.8 billion at the farm gate per annum. This is equivalent to 20% of the value of total vegetable and cut flower production in Australia (RIRDC report HSA-9A). It is estimated that more than 10,000 people are employed directly in greenhouse horticulture throughout Australia, with the industry expanding at between 4-6% per annum. The average return on investment is between 5% and 10%. The potential return on investment for high technology greenhouse vegetable enterprises is around 20-25% per annum.
Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) is the peak industry body representing commercial hydroponic and greenhouse growers Australia wide. PCA members also include equipment and installation suppliers, specialist consultants and advisors, researchers and educators.


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I will be reading from my collection of short stories and flash fiction. This has nothing to do with my psychic/spiritual work, but I do find it a wonderful way to spend some time. There are a number of island writers who will be reading their works. Perhaps you want to read yours, too. Follow link for more details.
Join us at the West Tisbury Library for Writers Read


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Mrs. Trump, yes her name is Melania, is the 46 year old spouse of the notorious U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump. Known for her sultry looks and sense of style, Melania has managed to keep a rather low profile, considering her hubby is running for President of the United States!
Here are some facts about Melania that may be news to you:
1. She would be the ONLY first lady to have ever posed nude
Yep, this ex-lingerie model has revealed a limb or two in a number of magazines over the years before tying the knot with her business tycoon hubby. It's good to see she has learned to keep her clothes on these days!
2. She was accused of plagiarism
If you happened to miss this incident in the news, Melania was actually accused of plagiarizing Michelle Obama's address from the 2008 Democratic convention. It became the joke of many comedy shows and the whole dilemma was eventually swept under the rug… for the time being anyways.
3. She is Donald Trump's 3rd wife
Melania Knauss (yep that is her maiden name) began dating her current husband in 1998. She is the third wife of Donald, following the footsteps of ex-wives Ivana Zelnickova and Marla Maples.
4. She invited Bill and Hillary to her wedding
Ironic, isn't it? Well, the Clinton's were among the 350 guests that attended this special and extravagant day. Little did they know what was coming for them in years to come!
5. She has VERY expensive taste
Rumor has it her wedding ring is a 12-carat, emerald-cut Graff piece with a value of £1.5m. WOW!
6. She speaks several languages
Ok, so she isn't just a pretty face! She can speak Slovenian, English, French, Serbian and German.
7. She grew up in communist Yugoslavia
Before entering the high life in the States, she actually grew up in an area that was nothing close to being glamourous. She was raised in a modest concrete building in Yugoslavia.
Source: theweek.co.uk


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Obama vowed during a press conference Friday to close Guantanamo Bay prison camp in 2016 because continues to be a magnet for jihadist recruiting.
"For us to close it is part of our counterterrorism strategy," Obama said at a year-end press conference at the White House before he jets off for his annual three week vacation in Hawaii.
Obama would not say definitively that if he'd use executive action to shut down Guantanamo should Congress continue to block him – but suggested it's an option on the table.
"We will wait until Congress has definitely said no to a well-thought-out plan with numbers attached to it, before we say anything definitive about my executive authority here." he said. "I think it's far preferable if I can get stuff done with Congress."
Obama said he expects the population of Guantanamo detainees to fall below 100 by early next year.
"There's gonna come a point where we have an irreducible population," Obama said.
It seems very unlikely Republicans in Congress would suddenly decide to stop blocking the Obama administration's efforts to close the facility, the president said Congress could still "surprise" him.
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In one of my public relations courses my class and I were given some information regarding how to construct a proper resume and furthermore how important a proper and professional resume is when looking for jobs. Our professor dedicated an entire three-hour lecture to resume and cover-letter building and had an individual from Niagara College's Career Services department come in and give us additional information.
I personally found this class incredibly beneficial considering not once in my entire educational career have I been instructed how to go about creating a professional resume. When I was in high school I researched resume templates and created one independently, however I learned in my class that my current resume is seriously lacking in professionalism and effectiveness. Unless a resume or a cover-letter catches the attention of a potential employer immediately, it is arguable that it will get tossed into the trash without further contemplation. Internet resources are available to aid in the development of a proper resume, yet the endless informational websites can become overwhelming quite quickly and you may end up incorporating irrelevant information into your resume as a result.
An interesting thing I learned in this resume-building session is that color is key. Up until recently, I was under the impression that in order for a resume to professional it must be black and white in colour and must be written in a professional font, for example Times New Roman. Our professor informed us that colour and unique fonts are actually what may catch a potential employers attenion, therefore my understanding of a traditional and quite frankly boring resume was incorrect. Excessive colour and crazy fonts are obviously not going to be effective on a resume, either, but subtle accents can make a tremendous difference.
Considering the importance of a resume and a cover letter, it is beneficial to have a concrete understanding of how to compose them properly. Reach out to someone with resume and cover letter knowledge in order to achieve an accurate understanding of how to go about this essential task.


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Wales star Bale has missed Real's last three games including the crushing 3-0 win at Anfield as well as the El Clasico victory over La Liga rivals Barcelona.
The 25-year-old will sit out tonight's Copa Del Rey tie against Cornella and Saturday's league clash away at Granada.
But Carlo Ancelotti expects the world's most expensive player to be fit and available when Brendan Rodgers' men travel to the Bernabeu for the Group B showdown next Tuesday.
Ancelotti said: "Bale has had a small injury in a muscle. It's very strange that he injured that muscle, but he is recovering well and I think that next week he will be available for the Liverpool match."
Spanish ace Isco has deputised for Bale during his absence and impressed in Real's midfield.
Yet Ancelotti insists £86million man Bale will take his place once he is 100 per cent fit.
Ancelotti added: "He (Isco) could lose his place when Bale returns. I have to put eleven players out on the pitch. We have a lot of games and I can't always name the same eleven.
"I think that many have forgotten that Bale scored in the final of the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. He's a very important player."
Bale's imminent return is also a big boost for Wales boss Chris Coleman ahead of the crunch Euro 2016 qualifier against World Cup quarter-finalists Belgium in Brussels on November 16.
The ex-Tottenham star was superb in the Dragons' hard-fought 2-1 win over Cyprus earlier this month and his return to fitness is a major plus for the Group B table-toppers.
Bale was the only player from the home nations to be included on the 23-man shortlist for FIFA's 2014 Ballon D'Or award on Tuesday.
The coveted prize, likely to be won by Bale's Real team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, will crown the best men's footballer in the year.


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Serpent's Kiss is the second and latest installment of Melissa de la Cruz' Beauchamp Family series whic was first published in June 2012.
Joanna and her daughters are just settling into the newfound peace that has been cast over their small, off-the map town of North Hampton. With the centuries-old restriction against practicing magic lifted, casting spells, mixing potions, and curing troubled souls has never felt so good for the three witches. That is, until everything gets turned upside down - from Joanna's organized kitchen to Ingrid's previously nonexistent love life to Freya's once unshakeable faith in her sexy soul mate, Killian Gardiner. When Freya's twin brother suddenly returns, escaped from Limbo and professing innocence on a long-ago crime, Freya should be ecstatic. But Freddie blames no other than her fiancé Killian for his downfall, and enlists Freya's help to prove it. And for the first time in - well, forever - Ingrid is also busy in love. Matt Noble, the handsome and charming policeman, has won her heart. But can romance work between a virgin witch and a mortal who doesn't believe in magic? Things get even more complicated when it appears Ingrid is harboring the prime suspects in Matt's police investigation. To add to the chaos, a dead spirit is attempting to make contact with Joanna - but does it mean to bring harm or help? Joanna asks her sort-of ex-husband Norman to help figure it out, only to accidentally invite him to a Thanksgiving dinner with a dapper gentleman she's recently begun dating.
As the witches pull together to discover the serpent within their midst and the culprit behind Freddie's imprisonment, everything is thrown into peril. Will the discovery come too late to save those they love most?
About the storyEdit
- Main characters : Freya Beauchamp • Ingrid Beauchamp • Joanna Beauchamp • Norman Beauchamp • Bran Gardiner • Killian Gardiner • Freddie Beauchamp
- Secondary characters : Matt Noble • Hudson Rafferty • Tabitha Robinson • Tyler Alvarez • Gracella and Hector Alvarez • ...
- Minor characters : Maura and Bill Thatcher • Sal McLaughlin • Kristy Hannagan • Marie May • Siegfried, Oscar and Gillbereth •
- Locations : North Hampton • Fair Haven • Beauchamp House • North Hampton Library • North Inn •
- Terms : Gods of Asgard/Witches • Tree of Life • Restriction • Salem Witch Trials •
Main eventsEdit
|v - e - t
|Blue Bloods Universe: Novels
Misguided Angel • Lost in Time • Wolf Pact (#1, #2, #3, #4) • Gates of Paradise
Vampires of Manhattan • White Nights
"Just Another Night in Suck-City" • "Always Something There to Remind Me" • "Ring of Fire"
Triple Moon • Double Eclipse


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Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought
A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting
As Way Opens by Beth Henricks
Last Sunday, at the start of Meeting for Worship, I was standing in the back of our Meeting Room, observing a beautiful sight of Friends worshipping together across faith traditions and ethnic backgrounds. What a joy to have Daud Abdur-Rahman share the message of his journey to becoming a Muslim, his journey to our Meeting and his desire to bring communities and faith traditions together. It was a special moment in the history of our Meeting as we opened our hearts to each other and found our connection to the source of all life and creation - the Divine. It was a holy time and the Spirit was present.
Even more inspiring for me was the two hours our Affirmation class spent with the youth from the Muslim community that attended on Sunday. We had close to 30 young people together in the basement; breaking bread together, experiencing an abbreviated Muslim service, learning about the Muslim faith and asking probing questions about each others' faith. There was a great exchange of experiences with the youth and some of the parents. But the most inspiring moment during our time together was watching about five different clusters of kids gather from both of our communities eating, talking, asking questions and sharing stories. This all happened in a spontaneous way and it showed me how very much alike we are within, even though we look different and practice different rituals. The experience of God is expressed in different ways but the impact, the transformation and overwhelming love was evident to me in the face of each young man and woman in that room - what a powerful expression of God's presence. I was truly overwhelmed at that moment.
I hope this experience opens each one of us in a way that expands our world and our understanding of God. We hope to keep our young people engaged together and plan future events so that we can give expression and reality to seeing that of God in each person.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Mark your calendars for 'A Friend from Guatemala' this Saturday, March 28th at 7:00 pm. Iglesia Amigos of Indianapolis will be hosting a concert right here at First Friends with Pianist Jonatan Pinto. He will be playing classical, sacred, and folk music. Friends from throughout the area have been invited, and we hope you are a part of the audience!
Palm Sunday Celebration! Our children will bring palm branches in to the Meetingroom this Sunday, as we welcome God's Spirit in remembrance of Christ's entry into Jerusalem. George Kelly, the Education Director from Synagogue Beth el Zedek will be here to share his message about the Jewish Jesus – a timely word, as Christ came to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Join us, and bring family and friends!
Please join us this Sunday after Meeting for Worship to experience a Seder dinner led by our guest speaker George Kelley, Religious Education Director at Beth-El Zedeck synagogue. This gathering will replace our normal fellowship hour and we invite everyone to join us for this interesting experience and ritual meal. We will be eating and drinking symbolic foods as part of the Haggadah that George has prepared for us, as well as a buffet of chicken, roasted potatoes and vegetables later in the meal. We should be done by 1:00 p.m. We are providing childcare in the nursery for kids under 3 - children 3 and over will join in the dinner as the Seder meal is really geared to educate children about passover so it will be interactive and lively. We hope you will be able to participate in this gathering!
Easter is April 5th! Bring your family and friends as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord together on Easter Sunday! Here is the schedule for Easter Sunday:
9:00 am Sunday School for All Ages
10:15 am Meeting for Worship, Egg Hunt during Children's Worship
11:30 am Easter Fellowship Brunch
Goodies are needed for the Easter Egg hunt! Please bring in goodies to fill the eggs! All candy must be individually wrapped, but we'd love to fill the eggs with other items as well, erasers, stickers, etc. There will be a basket in the hallway to put donations. All donations are appreciated!
Adult Sunday School Classes: Did you know that Quakers are talking about Quakers? Two or our three adults classes are discussing Quakers, and you're invited to join in! Quakerism Class is discussing the life and writings of Rufus Jones, and meets in the Parlor. Seeking Friends is moving through "Quakers in America" by Thomas Hamm. And of course, Quakers are discussing current events with 'Wired Word' in Coffee Circle. Great stuff, with great people! Join in!
Same Sex Marriage: First Friends has been actively pursuing God's voice in speaking to and through the hearts and minds of our Meeting. After Conversations held for our Meeting in November and December, our Ministry and Counsel has been reaching out to a number of people who attend our Meeting. Every person encounters God's voice and holds God's Spirit within them, and it is our hope and desire to learn as much as we can about how God is leading us individually, as we seek to move forward corporately. One of the strengths of our congregation is our diversity, and unlike other congregations, people choose to participate at First Friends because we find ways to express unity, without uniformity. How do we do this in regard to marriage? Ministry and Counsel continues to bring this to the light of God's leading, and is meeting next week, specifically with attention to same sex marriage at First Friends Meeting. If you would like to express your views, and have not yet been contacted, please feel free to call or email any one of our Ministry and Counsel members: Ed Morris, Andy Cunningham, Duffy Fankboner, Micah Cordray, Ann Panah, Barbara Oberreich, Becki Heusel, Amy Perry, Mary Blackburn, Barbara Dubois, Eric Tinsley, or John Beede.
Ruthie Tippin
The Co-Op is gearing up with preparations for the rummage sale on April 18th. Here is a list of things that are needed:
1. Baked goods - They will sell baked goods and coffee during the Spring Sale on April 18th. Please consider donating the following: Cookies, Bars, cakes, pies, etc...Homemade and store bought are great! Drop-off for these items will be all day Friday April 17th in the Fellowship Hall kitchen. Email firstname.lastname@example.com if you can help!
2. Paper Grocery Bags - Do you shop at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Super Target or anywhere that offers the large brown paper grocery sacks? Please save these! These will be used the day of the sale and we would appreciate as many as we can get. Please drop these off on the table in the Spring Sale room (across from the Handicap Bathroom) anytime you are in the building.
3. Hangers, Hangers, Hangers - Please bring your old children's hangers, your wire dry cleaning hangers, any extra hangers! They are needed to hang up clothing to make shopping easier and more organized. If you go to Tuchman's or any other dry cleaner, someone has mentioned that they have used hangers for free. Pick up a bunch and drop them off in the Spring Sale room - we would appreciate it!
4. Your STUFF! The more that we have to sell, the more our sale will make. There is one more furniture/large item pickup on April 11th, from 11am to 1pm. Email Ashli at email@example.com for pickup!
Good news for Gardeners! This year's garden advisor will be the Master Gardeners Help Line. See a bug? See fungus or blight? Take a sample of the offender to a Master Gardener at the State Fair Grounds and find out what to do. Linda Lee needs to know from last year's community gardeners if they want to keep their plots. Each plot owner will be held accountable for their own weeds and for notifying the coordinator if advice or assistance is needed. Please post your name prominently at your site so we know that site is wanted and not to be assigned to a new gardener. There will be some paint available to mark the wooden frames. This year, as a group we need to finish cleaning up all the debris from last year's blight and then plant only blight resistant tomatoes in a different place. Garden clean up should begin now, and early planting of peas, kale, soon followed by arugula, radishes, lettuce can begin soon.. New gardeners, let Linda Lee know ASAP. Her goal as organizer is happy gardeners proud of their healthy, well-tended, productive garden. We will need a schedule of people responsible for mowing between the raised beds. If we want a community section, then we need a schedule of gardeners responsible for hoeing, weeding, watering, disease monitoring and harvesting that garden on a regular basis. Contact Linda Lee at 317-465-0628 or email email@example.com.
Ladies! Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading will be discussing Ian McEwan's The Children Act on Tuesday March, the 31st, at 7 pm in the Parlor. If you would like to be on the email list or need a copy of the book list for 2015, please contact Kathy Rhyne at email@example.com. A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson is our upcoming book for April 28th.


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Martin Luther King Day is widely celebrated in Puerto Rico. King came to the island twice to deliver speeches, and The King Center contains several written exchanges between Puerto Ricans and King, including a letter from PR's Secretary of Education about race issues in Puerto Rico. This letter explains to King that racism in Puerto Rico is the product of an imposed colonial system with a quote that says it all, "In the United States, a man's color determines what class he belongs to; in Puerto Rico a man's class determines what color he is." (from Latinorebels.com)
Interestingly, slavery was not abolished in Puerto Rico until 1873, and with a significant caveat. Slaves were not emancipated; they had to buy their own freedom, at whatever price was set by their last masters. Former slaves earned money in a variety of ways: some by trades, for instance as shoemakers, or laundering clothes, or by selling the produce they were allowed to grow, in the small patches of land allotted to them by their former masters. (from Wikipedia)
I had Monday free from Spanish class because of the MLK holiday, so I decided to take an overnight trip on Sunday to Fajardo, a beach town on the northeast coast of the island about 50 miles east of San Juan. I got there by renting a car because I didn't feel secure about cycling that far along the coast while struggling with of hurricane debris and electric utility trucks. On Saturday I had ventured east about 15 miles on my bike, and although the coast is beautiful, cycling in PR right now is quite challenging. Of course, it is also very fascinating. How could it not be?
Fajardo is a boaters town, with the largest marina in PR, great beaches, a bioluminescent bay and ferries to Vieques and Culebra. You may have read about Vieques. Along with Utuabo in the central mountains of PR, this highly prized tourist island still has no electricity. As for Fajardo, I was disappointed, but not at all surprised, to learn that there were no tours yet on the bay, and that I could not gain access to the two extraordinary peninsulas of protected land surrounding large lagoons, remote beaches and a lighthouse; they are all closed as a result of the hurricane.
I was quite surprised to see several communities of small trailer houses across the street from the beach. It would seem likely that such structures would not do well in an extreme hurricane, yet they seemed to fare as well, if not better, than many larger buildings.
It was Saturday night in Fajardo, and the locals wanted to enjoy themselves, so they were out, especially at the beach in the center of town.
Nearby I found the Hotel Conquistodor. I rode into the parking lot in the back, and in spite of some "No trespassing" signs I decided to take a closer look at a boat in a small lagoon that looked beat up. A security guard flagged and down and admonished me for being on private property while making it clear that the Hotel would not appreciate negative publicity. His exact words were, "Be a good boy."
I have some sympathy for what I think he was getting at. The truth is that not only can Puerto Rico support tourists right now, the country needs tourists to help its economy recover. (Maybe that's a new business model for our changing climate - "Post Disaster Tourism?") At the same time, the island is still recovering, and while amenities are plentiful in the San Juan área, many tourist sites remain closed to the public. It's a bit of a Catch 22 for everyone involved, although it will only get better as time goes on - at least until the next extreme weather event.
After a while of people and rainbow watching I biked back toward my room, stopping at an interesting looking outdoor seafood restaurant I had noticed earlier. The grilled salmon was fantastic, and the tostones (fried plantains) were superlative. I washed them down with several Medallas, a local beer. After my second beer a gentleman at an adjoining table started asking me questions about my folding bike. Maybe it was the beer, but I had a moment of abandon and began talking in Spanish, not really caring if I was sloppy as long as he could get my gist. In time, I learned about him - he was a retired nuclear engineer. He had attended Columbia and his entire career had been in the states. He told me this in Spanish as I realized he spoke perfect English, yet was making me speak in Spanish. Frankly, this is exceedingly rare in Puerto Rico. Although one cannot be of the culture, one can certainly function in PR using only English. I realized he was simply helping me to speak Spanish. He encouraged me to visit the Dominican Republic and Cuba. When I told him I was trying to keep up a blog about how climate change is affecting different regions of the Americas, he asked, "Why"? "What good will that do"? He was on his third beer by that time. After a moment he said, "What does hope mean to you? You know we won't make it. No one in power cares about poor people. Climate change won't be solved. So where do you get hope?" ...A moment passed. I told him what I really believe, "Because no matter how bad it gets, life will never be extinguished. That is the ultimate form of resistance. And that is what we can celebrate. Our connection to life. Our very lives. The act of living, no matter how it comes". He put his arm around me and said, "I like that answer". Then, abruptly he stood up. I could see he was about to leave. And he said, "Promise me you'll visit Utuado". I knew what he intended. Utuado is to Puerto Rico what the 9th Ward is to Katrina. A very poor section of Puerto Rico near the center of the country, it still does not have reliable electricity or water. Anyone who really wants to understand how future hurricanes will impact those who haven't created climate change should visit Utuado. I told him I fully intended to, but it won't be until I return.
He nodded, and then said one last thing: "Your country is dying."
Tal vez.
On Monday, after returning to San Juan, I biked through Viejo San Juan for another look. This time I was able to look a bit deeper. While the old town was incredibly resilient, I found one visually stunning exception. I am sure there are more.
And then I discovered La Perla. Made famous by the extraordinarily popular YouTube video "Despacito", and the slightly older song by Calle 13 called "La Perla" featuring Reuben Blades, La Perla is a highly picturesque and very accessible barrio just under the north wall of old San Juan right on the Atlantic Ocean, making it incredibly exposed to hurricanes and storm surges. At one time it was a squatters community and was considered dangerous because of drug dealing and prostitution. It is still a rough place, but also now has a strong tourist appeal, especially among millennials. Many homes, bars, clubs, restaurants and cars there where were badly damaged by the hurricane. Electricity was not restored quickly, so the area is still in significant distress. It is also a visual paradise. In some ways it's a symbol of a significant side of Puerto Rico: gritty, vulnerable, resourceful, minimalististic, ingenious and highly attractive. Certainly this is part of the Puerto Rico One can get to know by being open and attentive. And as a symbol of popular boriquén (Puerto Rican) culture it is one I appreciate more each day. It's a rugged, sexy and resilient place. And it's very much still here, in spite of Maria. That gives me hope. Life endures.
Here is a translation of the lyrics for La Perla (from the internet):
The Pearl
Hey, this is dedicated to all of the neighborhoods of Puerto Rico.
Trujillo! Dedicated to the neighborhood of La Perla.
Pocho! Tell Johana to make me some really good rice and beans.
A shout out to Jose; we'll catch you on your way down.
And you - what are you looking at?
I've had an attitude since I was five years old
My mama raised me with scolding and slaps on the mouth
Had gray hair mixed with brown since childhood
I'm the black sheep of the whole flock
And I grew little by little
Jumping from rooftop to rooftop knocking off coconuts
And even though I almost killed myself and beheaded myself
No one ever saw me crying or dripping snot
Always smelled good and had my hair combed
To look for a girlfriend with a pretty last name
Larita, my first kiss of love
The witch got married, rain with sun
Down there in the hole in the gap
Bouquets of flowers are blossoming
Colorful little houses with the windows open
Next door neighboors of the beach
I have everything; I don't lack anything
I have the night which I can use as a blanket
I have the best landscapes of the sky
I have a little refrigerator stocked with ice beer
A rainbow flavored snow cone
Pretty people surrounded by water
The deceased depicted on the wall with spray paint
And those who stay playing basketball
A couple of gringos who ruin my landscape
Been taking pictures since they landed
The police that shoot and go unpunished
Breaking into my house to get their paycheck
My mother was born here and so was even my great-grandmother
This is my neighborhood and I'm free like Mandela
Beware of the old school that it not catch you
Because it'll get you with a sandal or a broomstick
So don't give me that clown act
Because I come with the appetite of a laborer
To eat anyone who comes to take what's mine
I'm the Napoleon of the countryhouse
Hey! I dedicate this to those who work for low wages
To feed their little chicks
I love my neighborhood like Tito loves Jaimito
I don't fight for paved roads
Or for square footage or for a golden dream
I fight for a perfumed landscape
And for a good steak and onions dish
For my mother's smile which is worth a million
I fight for my grandmother rocking in her chair
I fight for some barbecued kebabs
And for how beautiful La Perla looks from a plane
Hey tell 'em!
Hey! This is for the innocence of Jonatán Román
The "Chilinga" from Argentina
We're firing up engines. Do it.
That laughter in La Perla I can hear in the stream
And from Pito to Callao and where there are little ones
I believe in neighborhoods with mothers who lived with similar purposes
And in the end they died without having taken any vacation
As my grandmother used to say: those were the cards dealt to the poor
Even the unborn work for this eternal as well as universal neighborhood
And the one who messes with my neighborhood won't get along with me
I can use the night as a blanket!
I can see the lights in La Perla from Panama
I can use the night as a blanket!
Shining in Morse code and they beckon me
I can use the night as a blanket!
A road made of stars, our traffic light is the moon
I can use the night as a blanket!
I went out at seven thirty and am getting back at one
I can use the night as a blanket!
Girl, put some Vicks vapor rub on me like my mother used to
I can use the night as a blanket!
I will remember where I came from even in my sleep
I can use the night as a blanket!
The good man isn't afraid, isn't afraid of the dark
I can use the night as a blanket!
Ea! And I don't lack for anything
That neighborhood wall and this'll amaze you
Fifty years later, my name is still on it
There's no forgiving the idiot clown here
Your last name, your money is worthless here
The character of the person we hang out with is respected
We were born of many mothers but we're only brothers here
And that ocean in front of my house, I swear it's true,
Like the one in La Perla, even if I'm in Panama
And on the horizon I see a moving cloud drawing the face of the great Maelo Ribera
Celebrate this get-together man.
What do you make of this collaboration between Rubencito and Calle 13?
I can use the night as a blanket!
But that doesn't take care of the suspicious white man
I can use the night as a blanket!
The night doesn't absolve the lying verb
I can use the night as a blanket!
If you lost yourself, brother, find your self
I can use the night as a blanket!
Come to Panama and contribute to tourism
I can use the night as a blanket!
A thousand thanks Resident, a thousand thanks Visitor
I can use the night as a blanket!
Catch yourself a platform in Argentina; keep moving forward
I can use the night as a blanket!
With Lilia the lyrics are going up; let's see if they filter through
I can use the night as a blanket!
Mission accomplished; the minister retires.


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What Matters
May 22, 2016
Founding and operating a non-profit that serves the arts is plain hard work. Non-profits have small staffs and each person must wear many hats. Countless records must be kept, communications maintained, board meetings to orchestrate and follow through on.
All of our wonderful programs come about after hundreds of details have been managed and put in place. It takes a score of volunteers to fill in the gaps we cannot cover. If we were not all steered by our Mission, "to serve artists and writers of all levels to grow and expand in their creative efforts." the work would seem overwhelming.
I am reminded of What Really Matters at unexpected moments when someone, like many of you, takes the time to let us know that what we do has made a difference in your life.
Please let me share with you two wonderful stories that were sent to me recently from two who have taken workshops with CMA:
"In 2008, I felt shocked awake when I became aware of the serious nature of the colony collapse. I begin to make some representational paintings of bees and beehives. About that time I had several health challenges so painting was a healing place for me to go each day of my recovery. I began to focus more on the deep healing place of the hexagon patterns of cellular structure. My paintings begin to zoom into the interior of the hive. I felt connected and well. I wondered if I could incorporate beeswax into my paintings. In answer to that question, Norma Hendrix, the director of Cullowhee Mountain Arts (CMA), guided me to master teachers in cold wax abstract painting. For the past two years I have been able to study with Janice Mason Steeves, Rebecca Crowell, and Lisa Pressman. I found this medium provided me an informed abstract intuitive approach to painting. I felt freedom of "flying just for the feel of the wind" and the touch of the paint."


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Teasing Readers
First, I know authors who have huge fan loops and tease their readers with what is happening next in their popular series. I tend to do this only on my thread of the Luna Community loop
on other loops to which I belong when a direct question is asked of me, and in response to email questions.
But Catie replied to my last post on Cover Art with the statement that she didn't realize the peacock was Sinafin, my shape-shifting fairy in Guardian of Honor. So I replied myself ;), with a tease. I told you that inspiration can come from many places, when I saw the peacock on the cover of Guardian, I sighed because, of course, there is no peacock in the book.
Not in Guardian.
But I added HER to Sorceress of Faith. Sinafin is female. But what shapeshifter would want to turn into a peaHen? Not Sinafin. So she parades a couple of times (when she's not being a trickster or scary -- see that's a tease) and I had fun with that. So, if you had fun reading Sinafin in Guardian, this should picque your interest in Sorceress. And, yes, Alexa and Bastien are back and Alexa actually steals a couple of scenes from Marian. So there's another tease.
For the Heart books, I introduce secondary characters, and when I do I either want to match them up or kill 'em off. So a lot of my email is "Whose book is next?" When I answer, I tease -- "oh, you'll see more of him/her in the next book."
Since they ARE secondary characters, you learn things about them throughout the series, hopefully are emotionally involved with them, and can extrapolate what might happen. For those following the Heart books, you know that Straif Blackthorn's and Mitchella Clover's story is next in Heart Choice, and you SHOULD know what their major conflict is. (I won't tell, but all the reviews so far do, and that's fine).
So for you of the Lladrana universe. Marian is an academic from Boulder. Jaquar (the sorcerer in Guardian) is the hero. I left an evil thing following Jaquar in Guardian (an unfinished Payoff), and yes, it does something very bad.
For you who follow the Heart books, the next story I (should be) am writing is Winterberry, the guard, and Mitchella's younger cousin, Trif. Again, if you know the characters, you should know one of their major conflicts. BTW, throughout the series, Winterberry has been only Winterberry. Naturally a hero needs a first name. Since he's part of the Celtan universe, that means he must have a "plant" name. Now Winterberry is a form of Holly -- so the hero Winterberry is distantly related to the Hollys, and that means he gets a plant name that's Holly-like -- which is Black Ilex.
Teasing readers is fun, but I rarely go too far, except for my unfinished payoffs, which I think I'll write today and post tomorrow. Maybe. Or maybe I'll talk about titles. Or reviewers giving away twists....
Love to all,


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"Will You Marry Me?" - Pronovias Campaign 2017
You are my today and all of my tomorrow.
- Leo Christoper
I immediately fell in love when watching the official video of the Pronovias 2017 campaign.
The video campaign presents the new wedding dresses from the Atelier Pronovias and Pronovias 2017 Collections. Pronovias itself says that the 2017 collections "Will You Marry Me?" is an ode to all things beautiful and elegant, featuring unique designs that flaunt the latest trends in bridal fashion. The dresses have exquisite embroideries and amazing jewel embellishments in fine fabrics like crepe, lace and tulle.
If you want to see more of the collection check out http://www.pronovias.com/
The top models Romee Strijd and Jon Kortajarena starring in the vieo make a really cute couple that you could almost think of them as beeing a real life couple, too. You really have to see it yourself!
What do you think about the collection? Would you say YES to a dress?


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Calyx Brands started as the Cannabis Rep Network (CRN) in 2015 to help brands get their products into more dispensaries for a fraction of the cost and time of building a sales team.
In March 2018, Calyx Brands was acquired by Nutritional High International (CSE: EAT; NASDAQ OTC: SPLIF), a leader focused on developing, manufacturing, and distributing products and nationally recognized brands in the marijuana-infused products industry.
NHI is based in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Illinois, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada.
What this means for Calyx customers is that you have more resources and an even bigger network than before. Through Calyx and NHI, brands now have access to extraction, manufacturing and distribution across CA, CO, WA, NV and OR. Brands distributed by Calyx also receive priority investment consideration by Nutritional High and NHI's network of private equity partners.
It's simple: to help you. For brands, that means we help you ensure your products are compliant, from the latest packaging laws to complying with different state regulations, testing procedures, and taxation.
For retailers, our approach is to help you educate new cannabis consumers. As cannabis becomes legalized, you have a whole new crop of consumers waiting to purchase edibles, vapes, flowers, and other products. But they also don't know about potency levels, taste consistency, what type of feeling they'll get and so forth. It can be challenging as a retailer to manage a store, find brands to carry, and educate consumers. We'll bring you objective data on things like dosages, lab results, effectiveness, potency etc. so you can share that information with your clients and patients and help them make informed decisions.
Finally, our approach is to connect you. Whether it's connecting brands, retailers, investors, manufacturers and others, we make sure that you get access to a cannabis community you wouldn't know about otherwise.
Dakota co-founded The Cannabis Rep Network in 2014 then acquired distributor California Holistic Transfer in 2015 to create Calyx Brands. Previously, Dakota spent 15 years as a tech executive, serving as SVP/GM for two mobile ad tech providers; Amobee (acquired by SingTel in 2012 for $320M) and Velti ($250M NASDAQ IPO). Dakota also served as VP Sales & Marketing for Adap.tv, an online video exchange that was acquired by AOL. Previously, he was Chief Marketing Officer for BlueLithium, an online advertising network that was acquired by Yahoo! Inc. for $300M. Dakota also served as VP Global Marketing and Channel Sales for LookSmart, a pioneering search engine.
Stan joined Calyx from River Distributing where he was Director of Operations, overseeing Operations, Human Resources, Security, IT, Purchasing, Compliance, and Customer Service. Stan has 20 years of leadership experience running operations for CPG companies, E-Commerce wine retailers, and major beer, wine, & spirits distributors. Prior to RVR, he served as VP of Operations for Mexcor Distributors; as Director of Operations for J.J. Buckley (online wine retailer and auction house); and as Director of Operations for wine & spirits wholesale/retailers Zephyr Express and Vinfolio. Stan also served as Operations Manager for Young's Market Company.
Jim has over 23 years of experience in the food industry and a proven track record of developing and implementing branded and private label programs. He owns and operates the Grimaldi Candy Company, a successful Florida-based chocolate business which has been a well-known manufacturer of confectioneries for over 40 years. He also managed the expansion of his plant facilities and significant expanded sales and developed new customer bases across all retail channels.
Billy founded Peloton Pharmaceuticals, where he designed, developed, and deployed a nearly autonomous grow system that mitigates labor and reduces cost. His experience in operating marijuana companies includes founding The Union Collective, a successful delivery dispensary; Capstone Analytical, one of the first Bay Area thin layer chromatography testing facilities; and Temez Extracts. He also pioneered a patented water conserving technology that eliminates water change outs.
Adam is a partner with the law firm Fogler, Rubinoff LLP. He's chairman and founder of Foundation Markets Inc., a Toronto-based investment bank and exempt market dealer. He has expertise in recreational and medicinal marijuana laws in the U.S. and Canada and has practiced securities law since 1997.
Sonia has over 15 years experience, ten of which were in public accounting within the public market sector. She specializes in providing management advisory services, accounting and regulatory compliance to listed as well as non-listed companies in a number of industries including mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, technology, real estate and pharmaceutical.She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds a Bachelor of Administrative Studies, Honours, from York University.


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One of the big online video trends of the past year has been the rise of third-party services that link influential online video personalities to brands that wish to find the right audience for their products. A Wednesday morning panel at Social Media Week Los Angeles will discuss this process through a discussion between three panelists.
The first panelist is Michael Bienstock, the COO of Mozaic Branding. Mozaic, along with other companies like Niche and FameBit, is one of the new services that connects brands to creators. Bienstock himself has a reputation as a deal maker; he played a crucial role in the negotiations that brought Philip Defranco's creative portfolio under the Discovery network.
The other two panelists also have direct roles in the creation of branded content. Liz Teschler, who manages the Smosh brand at Defy Media, will be able to speak from a network's point of view, while Austin Null, who worked as a social media strategist for Fullscreen before becoming one-half of The Nive Nulls, will bring a creator's perspective to the panel.
The "Audience Is Power" event begins Wednesday, September 24th at 11 AM at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. If you're interested in attending, you can get a ticket for Social Media Week Los Angeles here. Use the code TF20 for 20% off. You can also check out the full schedule of SMWLA events here.


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Margot Polo is the solo project of David Provenzano, singer / guitarist of Fialta and Sherwood. Check out the track Sing Hallelujah-
If you are stuck in the barrage of northeaster storms in New York and New England it might be the ticket transporting you to warmer climates with it's kind of tropical dance vibe and embracing chorus. Turn up the heater and dance in your socks with someone you love.
Robb Donker


text: Customer care is the backbone to any organization. This is the case at Pacific Coast Warehouse. The PCW customer care group plays a huge part in the customer relationship. They are the face to our organization – the people who talk directly to our customers every single day. It's a big job and not one… Read More


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Key facts
Located in: Montagne & Val de Reims: Grande Montagne de Reims
Vineyards and grape varieties: 5.4 hectares (13.3 acres), of which 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir.
Classification: Premier cru (94%)
Noted for: being a suburb on the south side of Reims.
Google Maps view with the villages in the Grande Montagne de Reims highlighted. The grand cru villages including Cormontreuil are in green, the premier cru villages are in yellow, and the autre cru villages in orange. The Perle blanche ares is shown as a light green box.
Clicking on a village opens a field to the left with a link to the village profile.
Neighbouring villages
North: Reims
Southwest: Trois-Puits (premier cru)
Southeast: Taissy (premier cru)
The village
Cormontreuil is a suburb of Reims, located on the southern side of the city, and continuous with the built-up metropolitan area.
The Cormontreuil commune has a surface of 462 hectares and counts 6065 inhabitants (as of 2012) called Cormontreuillois and Cormontreuilloises.
The vineyards are located in the southern part of the commune and are a continuation of those in the neighbouring village of Taissy.
The current vineyard surface in the Cormontreuil commune is 5.4 hectares (13.3 acres), distributed over 6 vineyard owners (exploitants). There are 2.7 ha Chardonnay (50.4%) and 2.7 ha Pinot Noir (49.6%). Numbers from CIVC, as of 2013. In 1997, the vineyard surface was 5 ha.
Champagne producers
I have not found any Champagne producers located in Cormontreuil.
- Wikipedia about this village in English, in French.
- Website of the Cormontreuil commune.
- UMC's new village profile of Cormontreuil.
- UMC's old village profile of Cormontreuil. (dead link)
- Vineyard map of Cormontreuil at weinlagen-info.de.
- The Swedish version of this post.
© Tomas Eriksson 2014-2015, last updated 2016-05-22


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Research Repository
Loss of Integrity : the true failure of the Corporate Sector
Armstrong, Anona and Francis, Ronald (2008) Loss of Integrity : the true failure of the Corporate Sector. Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics, 3 (3). pp. 1-13. ISSN 14334318Full text for this resource is not available from the Research Repository.
Despite the introduction of legislation and corporate government standards designed to promote business integrity, prosecution of the directors of many companies for fraud and other offences has continued. This paper describes the changing environment in which the members of the boards of companies operate, and their legal duties and responsibilities. The authors illustrate the traps for, and liabilities of, directors with reference to vignettes of three corporate investigations, Enron, HIH and more recently Opes Prime. This paper argues that, in many instances, the failures of the corporate sector were due to loss of integrity by the major actors. Whether this was related to a belief in their vulnerability, or whether a climate of fraud was seen as acceptable hard-nosed business practice is a moot point. An alternative point , that the collapses could be mediated by ignorance, or by malice, is a critical point, and one deserving of further investigation.
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|ResPubID15831, corporate governance, governance standards, corporate integrity
|Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > Centre for International Corporate Governance Research
FOR Classification > 1503 Business and Management
SEO Classification > 9104 Management and Productivity
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|30 Aug 2011 00:16
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text:
Effects of exercise training on sprint and vertical jump performances among athletes from intermittent sports
Koh, Jing Jing
Date of Issue2017
National Institute of Education
There has been an increasing number of reports stating that resistance training aids sport performances. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of deadlift training (DT) on sprint and vertical jump (VJ) performances among Ultimate Frisbee (UF) athletes. It was hypothesized that DT will improve sprint and VJ performances. Eight experienced (age, 23.382.07 years; height, 1.700.05m; weight, 61.183.85kg) UF male participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the control (n=4) or the training group (n=4). Participants were aged 21-30 years, and have participated in UF competitively for minimum of 2 years with no history of back, neuromuscular or musculoskeletal injury. Participants completed bioelectrical impedance analysis, sprint and VJ assessments as pre-test, followed by 12 training sessions; twice per week for 6 weeks. Same assessments were conducted for post-test. All participants performed exercises such as jogging on the treadmill at speed 5.5 to 7.5kph for 5 minutes, 20 jumping jacks, 10 high knees and 10 walking lunges. After resting, participants in training group performed 5 sets of 5 repetitions supervised DT at an intensity of 85% of 1 repetition maximum (RM). Results showed significant improvement between pre- and post-tests for both sprint and VJ assessments in the training group (sprint: p = 0.012, VJ: p = 0.009). There were no significant differences between the two groups for both pre- and post- tests. This concluded that DT may not be beneficial to improve performance and improvement in performance might be observed if the training intervention period is extended.
Final Year Project (FYP)


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Party In Our Yard
I could not sleep last night. I've been fighting the worst insomnia of my life for several months, but last night was the worst of the worst. Instead of waking up at 2 AM, I woke up a little bit before midnight. I tried really hard to fall asleep again, but then around 1 AM I heard a noise.
I don't know about you, but I hate hearing a noise in the middle of the night. Not a house noise either, but a banging/clattering/something possibly trying to get in type of noise. So I woke up and starting wandering about the house, never straying too far from our thunder-stick.
I flipped on the porch light. I saw a bunch of tracks in the yard, possibly those of a rabbit. There's about four inches of snow covering the grass, so the tracks were easy to spot.
This morning I am practically insane from lack of sleep. I immediately put the coffee on (Dunkin' Donuts whole bean…not bad!) and opened the kitchen blinds. The couple of tracks that were streaking across the yard last night had multiplied. There are areas where bare grass is showing through.
Then the really bad news came this morning…we could open the garage door, but can't shut it. It seems bent. This is not good considering that we have already replaced the garage door once this year. That's how we found out it's a "special order, custom sized door" (translation: lots of money).
So I went on an investigation. It appears that the animals of the Pikes Peak region threw a party in our yard. There are some trees mowed down in the back yard. There are copious amounts of poo scattered everywhere. Everywhere. There are elk tracks and some kind of coyote or fox tracks. Our front yard looks like animals were chasing each other back and forth. Our neighbors have some tracks too, but our yard seems to have been the main ballroom:
They did a number on the snow…they might have been tearing up the snow to get to the grass…
The blue arrows point to some small trees that were crushed in last night's events…
One of dozens of piles…
Some predator sniffing around our garage. Probably a coyote…we have lots of those running around up here…
What in the world were they doing…
This was nice and smooth snow last night…
Small elk tracks…possibly a deer…
Did the creatures try to break into our garage last night? Why won't the garage door shut? The garage door fix-it man is coming out today. I hope he gets here fast, too, because it's about 6 degrees outside and very cold.
5 CommentsLeave a Comment
JACK Ripply / Jan 18 2010 9:27 am
well first of all you really shouldnt be puting up random pictures of stupid shit we see every day. really i just dont wanna look at things the are in everyday life and youtelling us the obvious facts about them or pionting it out. i think we can figure that out are selves. people like you people get annoyed of and hate, thats why theres alot of deaths in canada.
Cherikooka / Dec 13 2007 2:58 pm
you said poo.
pikespeakdenise / Dec 12 2007 5:41 pm
I bet you left pizza and beer out on the porch. That'll do it every time.
ianthealy / Dec 12 2007 5:04 pm
I bet that creepy cockney gecko from Geico had something to do with it. "B'cuz that's wo' i's all abou', innit?"
Cheyenne / Dec 12 2007 12:44 pm
Amazing. I guess this is one plus to living in the city. Still, they really did cause some sort of ruckus. You may have to get Mutual of Omaha out there Meesh.


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I took a little hiatus from blogging without a good excuse. But lets focus on the present. I am back in time to share some very exciting things in the horizon.
First and for most. This is the weekend we have all been waiting for. And by "we" I mean
all my friends family and followers! Okay, I mean me. At 8am this Saturday October 11th 2014 I will partake in my first marathon. I will be running a delightful 26.2 miles in the city of Hartford, in my good ole home state of Connecticut's capital.
If you have an issue with inverted images, my bib number is 2180 if you wish to follow me on this endeavor.
Goals/guidelines for the race
#1 Beat Oprah. In 1994 Oprah completed the Marine Corps Marathon in 4:29:15. She also wore a bra that is worth more than my running shoes.
#2 No matter what kind of pain I may ensue, don't give up! I have the words "mind over body" tattooed on my wrist for a reason.
#3 Have as much fun as possible. Enjoy the crowd, make friends and eat some fantastic GU.


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Helped a group of garage owners to exercise their rights and create cooperative
- Author: Volodymyr Gurlov
- Standardized procedures: Legal service of registration of garage cooperative in Ukraine
- Date of publication: 18/09/17
In July of 2017 office of our law firm in Kiev was contacted by a group of garage owners. Their garages were located in one of districts of Kiev. But as it turned out the persons seeking our legal assistance were not even owners of the garages.
Full text of the publication is under translation.
Full text of the publication is under translation.
Просмотров: 2210


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Sunday night the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards is blasting off live from the Forum in Inglewood, California. The show, hosted by Katy Perry, will celebrate the best in visuals for the music industry. The biggest switch-ups this year include the lack of gender-specific categories, as well as new ones to highlight the "Song of the Summer" and visuals with particularly strong political resonance.
Tag Archives | MTV Video Music Awards
Rihanna Reflects On Her "Best Night Ever" At The VMAs
By Oceanup Staff on September 2, 2016
Last weekend, Rihanna took the stage for a quartet of performances at the MTV Video Music Awards. The singer must have been overcome with emotion from the spectacle, because she is just recently taking to social media to share her thoughts on her big moment. Late Thursday evening, Rihanna mused on the honor via Instagram.
"#VMA2016 night was one that I would never forget!! I have the most incredible people in my life," she captioned a clip of her accepting the "Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award."
Rihanna also gave a special thank you to rumored romantic interest Drake, who escorted her to the microphone.
Check out Rihanna's full Instagram message below along with her accompanying photo shares.
(Photo credit: Rihanna Instagram account)


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Facebook said it acquired wit.ai on Monday, without providing a price for the deal. The 18-month old company, based in Palo Alto, California, makes software that can understand spoken words as well as written text phrased in "natural language."
A Facebook representative declined to provide details on how Facebook planned to use the technology or with which group within Facebook the wit.ai team would work.
The deal comes as technology companies are racing to bring Internet connectivity to a new crop of devices, from watches to washing machines. Voice recognition, the technology that helps power services such as Apple Inc's Siri, is considered a key building block for the new devices to earn mainstream consumer appeal.
Facebook, the world's largest Internet social network, with 1.3 billion users, is increasingly looking beyond the PCs, tablets and smartphones currently used to access its service. In March, it acquired virtual reality headset maker Oculus VR for $2 billion.
The deal for wit.ai is likely to have been significantly smaller. Wit.ai announced in October that it had raised $3 million in a funding round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.


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Enjoy our special guest offers and spend even more time getting social with us.
To look after your hair colour investment in-between salon visits, Josh is now offering a full hair care system to look after your hair at home as part of your colour service at Reilly Denholm Edinburgh.
All colour services with Josh now include the recommended Schwarzkopf Professional BC Bonacure shampoo and conditioner best suited to your hair for you to take home.
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· Foils half head £75
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· Balayage - price on consultation from £100
· Balayage, long - price on consultation from £120
· Colour change £120
After your chosen colour service, Josh will recommend the perfect BC Bonacure system for your specific hair type enabling you to take your salon experience home.
The Schwarzkopf Professional Fibreplex system can be added to your Deluxe Colour Service package at an additional cost.
If you repurchase your recommended BC Bonacure shampoo and conditioner prior to your next colour appointment with Josh, you will receive a 20% discount on the combined product price.*
Use our new online booking system for your next appointment and you will save 10% off your total bill, the first time you use it!*
How would you like 25% off your next haircut and finish? We love spending time with you and would love the opportunity to spend time with your friends too! Speak to your stylist about our Recommend a Friend vouchers.*
*Terms and conditions apply.


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- "Karu & Why Are You Opening Back Up Again?" - Jose Duran, Miami New Time's Crossfade Blog, September 09, 2008.
- "Karu and Why?" - Lesley Abravanel, Miami Herald's Scene in the Tropics Blog, September 23, 2008.
- "Karu? Y?" - Kris Conesa, Miami Sun Post, September 25, 2008.
I'm not even saying this is the definitive list of "Karu and Why" punning. This is just the usage from the recent coverage.
Mostly though I just wanted to show you this super classy picture of host Kendra Wilkinson and this awesome dude at the club's reopening this weekend. She's one joke that will never stop being funny.
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!


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Growlerwerks uPint Tumbler
- Personalization
- Product Details
Designed by Portland-based company, Growlerwerks, the uPint™ tumbler is the ultimate Chalice for your favorite beer and cocktails. Made from 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, the uPint™ features double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your drinks colder longer. The tumbler comes with an integrated lid with wide opening for easy sipping and features side divots that make it easy to grip. Choose from stainless steel or copper finishes and add an engraved monogram for a personal touch.
• 3.25"w x 6.25"h; 16oz capacity.
• Double wall insulated 18/8 stainless steel.
• Hand wash only.
• Made in Portland, Oregon.
• Personalization is engraved.
Standard delivery in 5 to 7 business days. Rush delivery in 2 to 3 days.


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Sign into your account to place new orders, create wishlists and track orders.
If you don't have a Sign In, then simply Create a New Account to become a member at Georgia Morgan Jewelry by clicking on the link to the right.
A collage of blue polymer patterns in a shield shape, with vintage dark branch coral. Artisan Sterling silver wires.


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American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. They number 2,500 members and associates, and are recognized by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as a special interest group within the College.
Their purpose is to reaffirm the unique value and dignity of individual human life in all stages of growth and development from fertilization onward. Strong voices within our culture (and within their professional College) espouse elective abortion on demand as a standard of care for unwanted pregnancies. Often perinatologists are quick to recommend abortion as a "final solution" for "defective" in utero babies. AAPLOG opposes these values and views the physician's role as a caregiver, responsible, as far as possible, for the well-being of both the mother and her unborn child.
AAPLOG is extremely concerned about the potential long-term adverse consequences of abortion on a woman's future health. They realize that, in the United States, reporting of both abortions and associated complications is generally not adequate to provide meaningful conclusions. They continue to explore data from around the world regarding abortion associated complications (such as depression, substance abuse, suicide, other pregnancy associated mortality, subsequent preterm birth, placenta previa, and breast cancer) in order to provide a realistic appreciation of abortion-related health risks.
They encourage their members to participate, whenever possible, with Pregnancy Resource Centers and other programs helping women with "crisis pregnancies."
The California Association of Natural Family Planning, founded in 1993,
is a nonprofit organization promoting those methods of family planning that do not
require the use of drugs or devices. When the couple understands and monitors
their mutual fertility, they can cooperate with their health care provider in every
stage of their reproductive life from puberty to menopause and beyond.
Helpful Links
Posted by Editor @ Parishworld.net at 12:01 PM
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HeadBlade S4 Shark - Limited Edition
HeadBlade S4 Shark - Limited Edition
Continuing the tradition of our limited edition S4 series, the S4 Shark is inspired by the HeadBlade ATX All Terrain Razor and is our most unique and advanced razor to date.
The S4 Shark is made of high-quality, hand-polished stainless steel. It features HeadBlade's renowned car-like suspension and our trademark tightly-conforming rubberized finger ring for a more secure grip. Like the ATX, the S4 Shark has the blade suspended in the back by a unique spring action device which virtually eliminates the chance of nicks or cuts.
The S4 Shark comes standard with two HB6 SixBlade cartridges and is compatible with both HB4 and HB6 cartridges.


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Nearly 15 years after opening its doors, Bluffton High School is ready to establish its Athletics Hall of Fame.
Tag: Cross Country
Top Local Sports Stories of 2018
We scoured the archives for the top local sports stories of 2018, and you helped us pick the top 10. Here they are.
HSXC: May River Boys, Girls Finish 3rd At State Meet
May River's boys and girls cross country teams each finished third in Class 3A at the SCHSL State Championships on Saturday in Columbia.
HSXC: Seahawk Girls Finish 2nd At State Meet
Hilton Head High's girls cross country team raced to a second consecutive runner-up finish in Class 4A at the SCHSL State Championships on Saturday in Columbia.
HSXC: Seahawk Boys Extend Dynasty With 6th Straight Title
Hilton Head High's boys cross country team claimed its sixth consecutive state championship – and its ninth in the past 10 years – on Saturday in Columbia.
HSXC: Holy Trinity Boys Capture SCISA 1A Title
Holy Trinity Classical Christian School captured its fourth cross country state championship in three years when the Lions claimed the 1A boys title at the SCISA State Championships on Saturday in Columbia.
HSXC: HHCA Girls, Holy Trinity Boys Claim Region Crowns
Hilton Head Christian Academy's girls and Holy Trinity Classical Christian School's boys claimed SCISA Region 4-2A titles on Thursday in Sea Pines.
HHP To Add 8 To Athletics Hall of Fame
Hilton Head Prep will induct six student-athletes and two coaches into its Athletic Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 28.
HSXC: Beaufort Boys, May River Girls Win At Habersham
May River's girls and Beaufort High's boys won the team titles at the Beaufort Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Habersham Village.
HSXC: Muehleman Leads Seahawk Girls At Coaches Classic
Hilton Head High's girls finished 10th among 28 teams in the International Division of the Coaches Classic on Saturday in Columbia.


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Yehonatan Kenan
I'm Yehonatan Kenan, a web and UX designer,
and a graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design.
I live in Jerusalem and work at the IPBC (Israeli Public Broadcasting Service) as an art director.
Before that I worked at 'Globes' as an infographic designer and illustrator
('GLOBES' is one of israel's most popular economic newspapers).
in my free time I run the 'ABALE - a manual guide for men' Facebook page,
which I write and illustrate. The page is a humorous, comics-like guide for young parents,
showing them how to deal with everyday situations.
I love working with infographics and the vast majority of my work is in this field.
- infographic designer at GLOBES
- september 2011 – febuary 2016
- illustrator and infographic designer at BLAZER magazine
- 2011 – 2011 Tel Aviv, Israel
- infographic designer at LONLEY PLANET
- 2011 – 2011


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Hi Everyone!
We are moving into Beta with the Battlelords Twitter casual game.
Check out a new Daily Challenge every day: tw1.bl23c.com/pages/challenge/
Please also help us by spreading the word. All proceeds from the game go to the artists, writers and coders working so hard on the games, comics, etc.
Thanks for your continued support!
Also don't forget a new What The Fott?! comic is posted every Wednesday: comic.bl23c.com/
Andrew Bator
COO, Athena Virtual Productions, Inc. (AVPI)


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Writing for the Minnesota Law Review in 2012, in an article titled "Separation of Powers During the Forty-Fourth Presidency and Beyond", Kavanaugh said his experience working for the Bush White House made him realize being president is "far more hard than any other civilian position in government". He was on President George W. Bush's team during the months-long 2000 recount case against candidate Al Gore.
Judge Kavanaugh penned a dissent saying the majority had broken with 40 years of Supreme Court precedent to establish "a new right for unlawful immigrant minors in USA government detention to obtain immediate abortion on demand".
A nominee needs a majority of 51 votes but, as Senator John McCain is battling cancer in Arizona, Trump can now only muster 50 votes.
"He is a terrific judge", said Kate Stith, Lafayette S. Foster Professor of Law.
Republicans hold a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate, though with ailing Senator John McCain battling cancer in his home state of Arizona they now can muster only 50 votes.
"Tomorrow I begin meeting with members of the Senate", he said.
Kavanaugh's nomination could establish a 5-4 conservative majority on the court - which could shape legal decisions for generations to come. She was sent to one of the cushy dorms that have been in the news as of late, and after being given an entry medical exam was told she was pregnant. The initial list of states targeted by the Judicial Crisis Network includes ones Trump won in 2016 and where three Democrats are in tough reelection fights - Sens. Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan-reliably liberal, once on the Court-also spoke the language of commonality when they went before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2009 and 2010.
Trump could yet have further opportunities to move to the court to the right.
Nearly two weeks after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement and changed the midterm election cycle, President Trump picked one of Kennedy's former clerks to replace him.
The high court handed Trump and his administration a series of victories in its term that ended on the day of Kennedy's retirement, including a major decision upholding the president's travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries.
Conservatives will argue that the nominee is a mainstream jurist, and that any opposition is a form of liberal extremism that voters should consider when they go to the polls. "He swung to the other side on the question of gay rights and abortion, and those are the particular issues that concern those on the left". "The Supreme Court was designed as an independent check and balance against both the executive and legislative branches of government", he wrote. "This is partially due to the cases it has been asked to decide, such as the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, and it is partially due to the divided nature of American politics".
But they hope to gain support from a handful of Democrats who are up for re-election in states where Trump is popular.
Kennedy, who is 81, had been nominated for the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. The president nominated Neil Gorsuch, his first Supreme Court nominee, for the seat left open by the late Justice Antonin Scalia past year.


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March 1999
33 people, including 2 Winston-Salem police officers, attended the February meeting. The officers gave reported on crimes that occurred in the downtown area.
In January, Jim Vaughan, on behalf of the West End Association, accepted a resolution from the Winston-Salem Board of Alderman in recognition of the importance of the Association. The plaque is now on display at the West End Cafe, one of the great neighborhood eateries. Check it out!
Elections were held for open positions for Officers and Board members. The nominations were unanimously accepted in toto. Congratulations to the following elected members:
President: Eric Elliot 724-4913
Second Vice President: Jim Vaughan 724-4579
Vice President: David & Lisa Elam 724-5282
Board of Directors:
John Hauser 761-8760
Alice Bullock & Jay Foster 722-8151
Bud & Barbara Goldsmith 766-7283
Billye Keith Jones 723-1771
David Poythress 724-0922
Kathleen Ramich 723-9207
Warren & Becky Sparrow 725-8953
Kathy Otterbourg 724-7004
The following Standing Committee Reports were presented: Government Board Liaison, Parks & Recreation, Signage, Traffic and Economic Development. All of these committees have made important contributions to the neighborhood and still need participants. Come to the meetings and get involved in the West End!
The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 2nd 1999 at Brunson Elementary School cafeteria from 7:00 to 8:45. Everyone is invited. Brian Cormier, the chief executive of the Winston-Salem YMCA, will be making a presentation concerning the proposed Aquatic Center. Hopefully, he will address questions covered in the letter Jim Vaughan sent last October. This presentation should be very informative.
CrimeTIP Information Line 607-7260
The following two (2) applications for the West End will be reviewed by the Historic District Commission at the March 3, 1999 meeting:
Craig T. Dishner, Applicant
Perry-Kester House
1404 Brookstown Avenue
Miscellaneous Alterations and Additions to the Rear Drive and Deck
Staff Recommendation: Approval as Submitted
City of Winston-Salem, Applicant
Right-of-Way Areas Adjacent to
700 Summit Street and 709 Manly Street
Removal of Two Trees
Staff Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
Remember, if you are planning any exterior additions or improvements, you must have an approved COA prior to the work. Contact Robbie King at 727-2087 for more information. Also, there are N.C. tax credits for home improvement for homes in the National Historic Register - contact Robin Stancil-Walton at 919-733-6547 for more information.
The Historic District Commission meets every month at 5:00 PM in the Board of Alderman Chamber, 2nd Floor of City Hall. These meetings are open to the public.
COMMUNITY ROOTS DAY 1999 will take place on Saturday, March 27 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Join the other adults and kids in planning over 200 trees along the major streets of West Salem neighborhood on the morning of March 27th. Call Nancy Day at 727-2087 for more information and to sign up yourself or your group. This event is sponsored by the Community Appearance Commission and City Roadway Appearance Division.
The annual meeting for the African American Network on Historic Preservation is to be held in Winston-Salem on March 12 & 13. Contact Robbie King at 727- 2087 for more information.
I NEED INPUT!! My limited writing skills are drying up due to LOI (Lack of Information)! I know there are people in the West End, young and old with ideas and opinions about a variety of issues concerning the neighborhood. Give me a call, send me an e-mail or mail your submissions for this newsletter. The newsletter goes to press (Kinko's) on the Friday or Saturday before the end of each month. The West End would like to hear what you have to say.
The membership drive is still on! Join the West End Association - the dues are only $15.00 and not only help funds our ideas, but pays for the printing of this newsletter.
18 to 35 years old? Wondering what to do on the weekends? "Smitty's Community Notes" is your source of information for entertainment and other events of interest. This e-mail update is compiled by Jeff Smith, who is probably the informed person in Winston-Salem about what's happenin'. He started this as a way to keep his friends up-to-date on current events, via the Web. Mary Giunca mentioned him in the Winston-Salem journal and his e-mail list tripled! To get a weekly e-mail of events of interest to the 18-35 crowd, send your request to firstname.lastname@example.com. There is also an online edition at http://www.journalnow.com/getalife.
The new West End Association has a slick web site at the following address: www.geocities.com/~thewestend. This site is maintained by David Elam and has archives of newletters, information on the N.C. Historic Tax Credit, and other interesting tidbits about our neighborhood. Bookmark now!
Blanton House - 276 West End Blvd.
circa 1912
The Blanton House is a one-and-a-half-story frame dwelling which is architecturally striking because of its unusual bellcast clipped gable roof, giving it a pagoda-like feeling. The house has a large hipped front dormer and a full facade porch. In mid-century the house was sheathed with asbestos shingles, but it still plays a contributing role in the architectural character of the neighborhood. Like many houses in the West end, this one has a stone retaining wall at the sidewalk and stone steps into the yard. The first city directory listing for the house was in 1913, when Fred and Della Hinshaw were listed here, but by 1918 William C. and Helen Blanton were occupying the property, which they continued to do until at least 1930.
Published by the West End Association
P.O. Box 10055 Salem Station
Winston-Salem, NC 27108
Editors: Mike & Helene Tyson 722-9804
firstname.lastname@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.com
Business Mgr.: Nick Kefal 725-9209
Circulation: David Elam 724-5282


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Blood By Moonlight by Jocelynn Drake, Terri Garey, and Caris Roane
Paranormal Romance
October 23, 2012
Avon Impulse
Reviewed by Tori
Just in time for the scariest season of all, three popular paranormal authors come together to tell original tales of romance where anything can happen under a Halloween moon . . .
Tempers flare and passions rise in Jocelynn Drake's Of Monsters and Men as the local werewolf pack clashes with the Winter Court's Wild Hunt . . .
In Terri Garey's The Ghoul Next Door, a witch and a warlock battle it out for possession of a haunted house, but the ghost may have her own agenda . . .
And, in Trick or Treathen by Caris Roane, a master vampire struggles to stay away from the mortal woman who enflames his very soul. (Goodreads).
Of Monsters and Men by Jocelynn Drake Rating-C+
First off, let me start out by saying that this short novella is part of her Asylum series and is best read after book one-Angel's Ink. If you haven't read Angel's Ink, this will spoil some things for you.
Drake takes us on a dark, satisfying trip back to Lowtown when Gage is approached by the local werewolf alpha for some help in avoiding the Wild Hunt. Action packed with Drake's trademark dry humor makes this a welcome addition to the series; though I wish the romance would have been more forthcoming.
Read more of my review at Smexybooks.


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Interfaith Advocacy Day
Seattle Presbytery
Concerned members of Washington churches of all Protestant denominations, working through the "Faith Action Network" (successor to the Washington Association of Churches), have scheduled February 14 – Valentine's Day, by coincidence – as this year's "Interfaith Advocacy Day" in Olympia. On that occasion, accompanied by folks from mosques and synagogues, we will meet with our State Legislators and urge support for programs that help people in need and prevent degradation of the physical environment God has blessed us with. The theme: "Uniting Hearts and Minds: Raising Revenue for the Common Good." A continental breakfast and light lunch are included in the program cost; register at www.fanwa.org.
To minimize the number of individual cars going back and forth, the event sponsors are seeking to identify churches that have a van they might make available for transportation to and from Olympia's capitol complex on that Tuesday. If you have such a vehicle, with or without a church-member driver, please contact Dean Fournier of Presbytery's Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Team, at firstname.lastname@example.com or (206)364-4539.