text:
Jail committee name change?
To the editor:
It has been suggested that the Marion County Public Safety and Law Enforcement Center Committee get a new, streamlined name for the New Year.
I suggest "The Marion County Large Landowners and Car Dealers Tax Avoidance Committee." The majority of the committee's work so far has been to develop and promote a new "fee based" tax that would level all taxpayers in the county to a common amount for a set number of years to pay for the jail project. The new tax/fee system would relieve those who own the largest amount and most valuable property from paying more than those who own little or no property.
The car dealers would benefit from the new tax/fee system because it would remove the possibility of a sales tax increase to fund the jail. All of this would be fine except the plan had been declared unconstitutional by the office of the Kansas Attorney General.
The father of the plan, committee member Don Kraus, was a passionate advocate and reminded committee members many times that he rents 6,000 acres of grass and property tax increases are unacceptable. I believe it was at a May 7, 2009, meeting that committee member JoAnn Knak asked the question of the difficulty that folks on fixed incomes might have paying a set fee that would amount to more than the property tax increase under the current system.
I understood her point. There are people living in Marion
County for whom a $120-a-year increase (the amount of the fee Mr. Kraus provided) might mean deciding to pay taxes in lieu of prescription medicine or food.
Last fall, I was railroaded off the jail committee for not lining up behind the new tax/fee plan. At the last jail committee meeting I attended, July 14, 2009, I questioned the legality of the tax/fee proposal, knowing that a ruling by Michael Smith of the Kansas State Attorney General Office was coming against the proposal. The Chairman of the Committee, Danny Flynn, said there were no problems and he had assurances from the Marion County Commission.
I was charged and convicted in an illegal executive session of some bogus charge of trying to solicit a real estate sale. In reality, I was trying to think outside the box and come up with an affordable alternative to constructing a new jail on raw land.
The real problem was that the dominant members of the committee had an agenda of tax avoidance coming into the first meeting and no opposition would be allowed. So, as bullies usually operate in secret and behind a shield of corrupt elected officials, my fate in this endeavor was decided in an illegal executive session that was recognized and honored by a compliant board of commissioners.
Harry E. Bennett


text:
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday signed the 31st Constitutional Amendment formally merging the tribal region of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and ensuring equal rights for its people.
He inked the amendment here at a ceremony at the President House, after its passage from the National Assembly and Senate and its endorsement by the KP assembly.
Governor KP Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, head of the FATA Reform Committee Sartaj Aziz, National Security Advisor Lt Gen (Retd) Nasir Khan Janjua and Prime Minister's Adviser Barrister Zafarullah Khan witnessed the inking of the historic document.
President Mamnoon Hussain congratulated the people of FATA and said the merger would open up an era of prosperity and development for its people and help them progress in all spheres of life. He said the nation needed to work together to fully benefit from this historic opportunity.
The Head of the FATA Reforms Committee Sartaj Aziz said following the constitutional amendment the people of the federally administered tribal areas were now mainstreamed and would enjoy equal rights like other citizens of the country.
He said all the agencies of FATA would now convert into districts and the assistant political agents would now serve as deputy commissioners. He said Rs1 trillion would be spent on the development of the area over a period of next ten years.
He said of this 25% of the amount would be spent through the local bodies for development of infrastructure in health, education, roads, communications and other projects. He expressed the hope that following the merger the law and order would also be improved.—APP

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Latest Kuwait News
Ramadan timing for ministries announced
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Kuwait has fixed two different Ramadan timing for the ministries and other government departments.
While some of them will start at 9.30am and close at 2pm, others will start at 10am and close at 2.30pm.
CSC, in its decision, has urged the departments whose nature of jobs requires change in timing, to contact CSC for an appropriate schedule.
The ministries and agencies that begin work at 9.30am include the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Public Works, Information and Communications.
Others include Public Authority for Sports, Public Authority for Industry, Public Authority for Minor Affairs, Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources and Environment Public Authority. Among these are also Kuwait Ports Authority, Public Authority for Housing Welfare, General Department of Customs, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate, Bank of Credit, Kuwait Municipality, Zakat House, Civil Service Commission and National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.
Meanwhile PACI has announced that the Ramadan work hours would be from 10am to 2.30pm and from 1.30pm to 6.00pm.
The first day of Ramadan will be on Saturday, the 27th May 2017.
comments powered by Disqus


text:
Steelcase's Profit Fell 39% On Prices, Production Woes
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Office-furniture maker Steelcase Inc.'s second-quarter net income fell 39% on continued pricing pressures and manufacturing problems, but still beat analysts' estimates.
Steelcase Friday said net income for the quarter ended Aug. 27 came to $38.2 million, or 25 cents a fully diluted share, down from $62.7 million, or 41 cents a diluted share, a year earlier. Revenue increased 18% to $831.9 million.


text:
A Fraserburgh youth team have had their kit sponsored by a local business.
Fraserburgh Link Up 2009's have been sponsored by Aberdeen Mortgage Company Ltd.
Tony Cowe, from Aberdeen Mortgage Company Ltd, said: "As a local business it is important for us to see the local community develop and thrive.
"Sponsoring Fraserburgh Link up 2009's seemed the perfect way to give something back as it is a local youth team and many of the AMC team are fans of football."
Bryan Falconer, coach, said: "All the coaches, boys, & parents would like to thank AMC for the sponsor."


text:
Nowadays more and more people faced with the problem of skin diseases. Skin diseases, there are many: some are minor, others can bring the opposite person a lot of problems, but they are united by one thing - they bring discomfort and have a tendency to develop. But early treatment can greatly alleviate the situation.
Today the most effective treatment of skin diseases is carried out in Israel. In this country dermatology one of priority spheres of medicine. After all long ago not a secret what exactly the Israeli scientists reached big breaks in molecular biology and a technique of treatment of genetic diseases of skin. In clinics of Israel such diseases as psoriasis, eczema, neurodermatitises, by vitiligo, fungoid defeats of skin and many other diseases already are for a long time treated.
The most important factor of treatment of skin in Israel is long impact on skin of a soft ultraviolet. It is very easy to achieve this factor on the bank of the Dead Sea. Exactly there are clinics which managed to combine in itself usefulness of local climate and the newest techniques of treatment. The main thing that experts remember are that skin diseases generally have the internal reason of emergence. For this reason, in what clinic of Israel you wouldn't address, to you by all means appoint the general diagnostics for all organism to find the reason of emergence of a skin disease and to eliminate it. Certainly that for each patient the individual approach will be found. Into a course of treatment often enter: phototherapy or as still it is called by a svetoterapiya (use of ultra-violet radiation), radiotheraphy (treatment by ionizing radiation), local and system therapies, wrappings from algas, individual processing of the struck sites of skin, a hydromassage bathtub, cryotherapy (treatment by cold), an oxygen pressure chamber. Besides at the request of the client can carry out additional AMCAT diagnostics, a lymphatic drainage, organism clarification on system to Wood, SU Jock therapy, a salt peeling, thalassotherapy (treatment by products of the sea and sea climate). And, certainly, on the termination of a course of treatment it is necessary to pass survey of the doctor - he will be able to make to you necessary recommendations on the future.
There is one more aspect which should be remembered, choosing treatment of skin diseases in Israel. Treatment in the Israeli clinics manages much cheaper, than treatment in other clinics of Europe. And in Israel many doctors and medical staff speak Russian language. Certainly ethane a defining factor, but nevertheless it is pleasant when you understand without any additional transfers.
Also it isn't necessary to forget that Israel not only medical, but also the tourist center and going there on treatment, it is quite possible to afford comfortable, interesting and informative rest, to swim in the Dead Sea and to examine culture monuments.
To learn treatment cost in Israel, contact ours experts on the specified phone numbers, e-mail or send a request through a feedback form. We are ready to answer all questions interesting you and to help with a choice of suitable clinic, registration of all documents, the organization of transport, housing and the solution of all organizational questions.
Application for treatment


text:
"Artificial Dissemination" – by Kevin Morris and Glenn Altschuler
Review of The Kingmakers: How the Media Threatens Our Security and Our Democracy. By Mike Gravel and David Eisenbach. Phoenix Books.
Like anchorman Howard Beale in the 1976 filmNetwork, Mike Gravel, the former U.S. Senator from Alaska and Democratic presidential candidate, is "mad as hell" and is "not gonna take this anymore!" Since he can't yell from the news desk, he has decided to yell at it.
In The Kingmakers, Gravel and David Eisenbach, an instructor at Columbia University and communications director for Gravel's 2008 campaign, try to elbow their way to the front of a long line of media-bashers. They argue that "a systematic flaw" compromises the work of all major news organizations in the United States. Instead of investigating, vetting, and presenting the news, television networks and newspapers adopt a "storyline" and then ram it through an "echo chamber," which repeats "the same inaccurate and dangerous claims over and over." With the power to control the flow of information, the lemmings in the news rooms have become "kingmakers," taking the country into ill-advised wars and anointing presidents. "The greatest threat to our democracy," Gravel and Eisenbach declare, "is not money: it's the media."
To clinch their case for mass manipulation, the authors take us through an aftermath (to 9/11), a run-up (to the war in Iraq), and a prelude (to an attack on Iran). After terrorists took the Twin Towers down, the press made George Bush a hero, even though he "wasn't up to the role." Editors and publishers refused, until it was too late, to challenge the original storyline that no one could have prevented the hijackers from boarding the planes. The media then "not only allowed" the Bush Administration to sell an attack on Iraq to the American people, it "promoted the war by echoing the sales pitch." Tim Russert, they insist, was "more lap dog than bulldog. No member of the media bears greater responsibility for helping sell the Saddam/Al Qaeda connection…" And by allowing the Bushies to demonize President Ahmadinejad, even though "the threat he might pose is limited," the mass media helped blow "a great opportunity to work with the Iranians to destroy our common enemy: Al Qaeda."
Reading The Kingmakers evokes feelings not dissimilar to the experience of watching Mike Gravel during the Democratic Party debates: you sort of sympathize with him, but can't help concluding that he's a few bricks short of a load. News organizations do, indeed, have a lot to answer for. We share the authors' indignation at Big Media's power to manage and manipulate the flow of information. But the book makes grand accusations which it never substantiates. Gravel and Eisenbach don't investigate where the "storylines" come from, why they are selected, how they come to be adopted, or the context in which they're tabled or terminated. They present no evidence — not even circumstantial evidence — about news organizations' motivations or editorial practices.
Their own narrative, moreover, seems to demonstrate that the mass media aren't kingmakers. Throughout the summer and fall of 2007, they acknowledge, the echo chamber called Hillary Clinton "inevitable." After Iowa caucused, "everyone in the echo chamber fell in love with Mike Huckabee." And the media maintained that John McCain, who had run out of money, was about to drop out of the race. Did NBC's decision to exclude Gravel, the tell-it-like-it-is "Man from Alaska", from the October 30 debate in Philadelphia "ultimately kill his campaign"? Well, probably not. In fact, since Gravel emerges as the hero of his own book, you just might conclude that The Kingmakers was made to fit a storyline.
Gravel and Eisenbach, touch on, but do not adequately examine, important structural changes accompanying the evolution from "Old Media" to "New Media." The mass media has always depended on the Administration to supply the vast majority of stories and story lines about politics and public affairs. Political operatives (in government and in campaigns) have become masters of managed news. Their press releases give new meaning to the phrase "artificial dissemination." They generate "leaks" to scooter their interests. They control image – producing what historian Daniel Boorstin called "pseudo events", activities like Ronald Reagan's commemoration of the D-Day invasion with a "photo op" at Pointe de Hoc. And they control reality — restricting the movements of reporters by "embedding" them in military units.
Equally important, ever since Spiro Agnew attacked the press as "an effete corps of impudent snobs," the mass media has pulled its punches. As competition for ratings has intensified amidst draconian reductions in the budgets of news divisions in newspapers and TV network news organizations, the tendency to go soft has accelerated. Network news anchors open and close broadcasts with celebrities, salmonella, sharks, and shoulder replacements. They rarely give investigative reporters free rein or adequate resources. And they stop the presses whenever the Administration claims that "national security" might be compromised.
In the Age of Infotainment, the public gets stories about personalities and horse races. They get opinions masquerading as information. They get it on network and on cable. From Woodward and Bernstein, who are shills of their former selves. And from "The Best Political Team on Television," whose spinmeisters smash softballs served up CNN's sheep in wolf's clothing. The packaging is more important than the content. The reporters become the story – and the stars.
Gravel and Eisenbach believe that the blogosphere is America's last best hope for exposing "the discrepancies between news coverage and reality." They may have a point. Bloggers did expose Trent Lott's homage to Strom Thurmond and the good ole' days of segregation. They did rather better than Rather in investigating George W. Bush's record as an airman in the Alabama National Guard. And now a blogger has revealed that Justice Anthony Kennedy did not do his homework in the Supreme Court's recent child rape death penalty case. Thus, there is some hope that out of the creative destruction of this era, new open-source journalism will provide the hard hitting and honest reporting we need.
Unfortunately, the net is not yet a bastion of participatory democracy or an authoritative agent of investigative journalism. Occasionally, as Gravel and Eisenbach suggest, it is an open window through which truth is spoken to power. Just as often, it must be said, it's a gravel pit, filled with sludge and Drudge. And most of the time, alas, it's a bigger, more fractionalized echo chamber, where like-minded meet like-minded, each one of them spitting saliva and shouting "I'm as mad as Hell, and I'm not gonna take this anymore."


text:
El TIPNIS y los Derechos de la Naturaleza es un video producido por la Fundación Solón que en once minutos resume una historia de promesas, dignidad, lucha, represión, victoria y traición contra los derechos de la Madre Tierra y los pueblos indígenas en Bolivia. Continúa leyendo Video: El TIPNIS y los Derechos de la Naturaleza
Sombath Somphone: Your spirit is also in Bolivia
Today I found this letter. I looked for it because it's December and on the 15th of December of 2012, Sombath Somphone was abducted in Vientiane. After five years, the Lao Government still has not clarified his disappearance.
Dear Sombath
Today (May 30 2015) I left Asia. Among my memories yours is for sure the most brief and none the less the most deepest. We meet very shortly in Vientiane during the Asia Europe Peoples Forum in 2012 and we shacked hands saying that we would continue chatting. Nonetheless, that never happened. Few months later you were last seen going into a police station and since then the authorities of Laos have never giving an explanation of what happened to you. Continúa leyendo Sombath Somphone: Your spirit is also in Bolivia
TIPNIS: the saga for the rights of nature and indigenous people
by Pablo Solón
[Versión en español] The story of TIPNIS is a story of dignity, struggle, glory, betrayal, heroism, repression, victory and renewed betrayal against the rights of Mother Earth and of indigenous people. Continúa leyendo TIPNIS: the saga for the rights of nature and indigenous people
As water scarcity deepens across Latin America, political instability grows
Ecuadorians clash with police 30km from Quito in 2010 in a protest over proposed water privatisation. Photograph: Pablo Cozzaglio/AFP/Getty Images
[John Vidal, The Guardian, 01/03/2017]
In Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador disputes over water shortages are part of a wider fight for equal access and shared responsibility. Continúa leyendo As water scarcity deepens across Latin America, political instability grows
From Paris with love for lake Poopó
By Pablo Solón
Lake Poopó becomes a desert while in Paris, governments conclude an agreement they call "historic" to address climate change. Will the Paris Agreement save over 125,000 lakes that are in danger of disappearing in the world due to climate change?
The second largest lake in Bolivia did not disappear by magic. The causes of their demise are many and complex, but among them is the rise in temperature and increased frequency of natural disasters like El Niño caused by climate change. The lake Poopó that had an expanse of 2,337 km2 and a depth of 2.5 meters, is now a desert with a few puddles in the middle with no more than 30 centimeters of water depth. Continúa leyendo From Paris with love for lake Poopó
Art 3ter. New Carbon Markets under the name of Sustainable Development
By Pablo Solón
A draft climate agreement and decision with 48 pages and 939 brackets has been presented to the ministers in Paris on Saturday 5th of December. Many things can be said about this text. For example, the words "fossil fuels" don't appear once. There is no proposal [in brackets] to limit coal, oil or gas extraction in the coming years, and no proposal to halt deforestation. Also, as was expected, no text [in brackets] from any country addresses the issue that current INDCs (Intended Nationally Determine Contributions) will actually increased the greenhouse gas emissions gap from a surplus of 12 Gt CO2e in 2020 to around 25 Gt CO2e by 2030. Continúa leyendo Art 3ter. New Carbon Markets under the name of Sustainable Development
Especial for COP21
In this special edition for COP21:
- A New disguise for an old agreement.
- Another Tomorrow is Posible!
- When the Walls Speak
When the Walls speak
Walter Solón Romero Gonzales (1923-1999) was a master Bolivian muralist that lived with the obsession to make the walls speak, embrace and dream. He painted walls and canvas to refresh the memory, unhide the truth and light up rebel spirits.
Today to address climate change we must use all our creativity, humor and imagination to challenge the pragmatism that erodes human beings. These are difficult times in which capital can capture almost every idea and transformed in its opposite like it has happened with the "green economy" concept. That is why it is so important to go from the discourse to the practice and to link the local with the galobal to reveal the contradictions of this system with real alternatives.
In this task the Fundación Solón aims to contribute combining art with utopia. Continúa leyendo When the Walls speak
Another Tomorrow is possible!
The future is not written. It depends on what we do now. What happens at COP 21 is the result of a long process through which big corporations have captured governments and climate negotiations at the United Nations. The Paris agreement is a good deal for politicians that seek popularity and re-election because it does not force them to do anything. For the extractive industries it is also a good deal because they can continue with business as usual and benefit from new carbon markets like REDD+, Climate Smart Agriculture, CDM+, land use change offsets, and also from false technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage, Bioenergy and geoengineering. Continúa leyendo Another Tomorrow is possible!
COP21: A new disguise for an old agreement
[Pablo Solón] The Climate Paris Agreement carries with it the shadow of the Cancun Agreement and like it, will fail. Both Agreements are based on voluntary pledges that prioritized the interests of polluting corporations and governments rather than the needs of humanity and life on Earth.
To limit the temperature increase to 2°C, the Cancun Agreement should have guaranteed the reduction of annual emissions of greenhouse gases to 44 Gt of CO2e by 2020. But with the pledges from Cancun we will instead be at 56 GtCO2e by 2020. Continúa leyendo COP21: A new disguise for an old agreement
43 years ago, he was 22: The struggle to find Jó and to bring justice continues
Tunup@ Nº 02/2015 E
#Jo43años (version en español)
On February 2, 1972, 43 years ago today, José Carlos Trujillo Oroza, was last seen by his mother Gladys Oroza de Solón, and would never be found again. He had only been 22 years old. Jó, as he was fondly called by his loved ones, had been in the infamous State prison called "El Pari" for 41 days. He had been detained by the members of the Political Control Department (DOP) of the city of Santa Cruz. He was brutally tortured, but thinking of the pain it would cause his mother, who would visit him regularly, he had tried unsuccessfully to hide his grotesque wounds from her. Jó was a young activist full of hopes and dreams inspired by Che Guevara. This was very dangerous in times of the cruel and brutal dictatorship of Hugo Banzer Suarez. And in the blink of an eye, Jó was gone, disappeared from within the steel bars he was imprisoned in. Two other prisoners disappeared with him that fateful day, Carlos López Adrián and Alfonso Toledo Rosado. Continúa leyendo 43 years ago, he was 22: The struggle to find Jó and to bring justice continues


text:
LocationManheim, PA
3152 Lebanon Road
Manheim, PA 17545
Used 2013 Open Range RV Light LT305BHSHas water damage in the front bedroom!!!
Open Range Light Travel Trailer w/Rear Bunkhouse Including: Closet, Bunk Beds, 3rd Bunk Above Exterior Kitchen w/Refrig., Sink, Microwave & Stove Top, Pantry, Dbl. Kitchen Sink, 3 Burner Range w/Microwave Above, Refrig., Coat Closet, Booth Dinette & Sofa Slideout, TV, Side Aisle Bath w/Angled Shower, Sink, Toilet & Linen Cabinet, Door to Front Queen Bed w/Nightstands, Mirrored Wardrobe Slideout w/Shelves and Much More!
We had a great ExperienceWe had a great experience at RV Value Mart! We went in looking for a used camper and ended up purchasing a brand new camper for close to the same cost. The staff is knowledgable and helpful. Awesome experience and we will definitely be return customers! - Vince from Jersey City, NJ
Discount: $9,551
Our Price: $13,999
Stock# D2008873
Interior Color: Bloom, Diego, Steel
|34 ft 4 in
|Ext Width
|8 ft 4 in
|Ext Height
|10 ft 5 in
|Interior Color
|Bloom, Diego, Steel
|Hitch Weight
|795 lbs
|Gross Weight
|9595 lbs
|Dry Weight
|6805 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|2790 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|50 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|62 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|31 gals
|Tire Size
|Furnace BTU
|30000 btu
Randy Graber of Elkhart, Indiana, a 25-year veteran of the Northern Indiana RV industry founded Open Range RV Company in Shipshewana, Indiana. Starting with a staff of about 60 including production personnel, Graber said he expects to bring 100 new jobs to the community by the end of the year. Graber said his decision to start his own company came when an unusual opportunity arose. He said, "While I enjoy all the aspects of operating an RV company, I am at heart a creative person who is driven to innovate and engineer product improvements. Further, the ever advancing technologies in construction materials and components continually challenge me to create better products for the dollar spent." "At a certain point in one's career," Graber said, "you come to realize that the best way to accomplish your dream is to spearhead it yourself. " Open Range RV occupies 120,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing facilities with three buildings on 17 acres on Indiana 5 north of US 20 in Shipshewana. An Indiana native, Graber started his career at Newmar Corporation, Nappannee, followed by an eight-year stint in retail sales in Amarillo, Texas. He then returned to the Indiana manufacturing environment. In recent years, he has worked in management and product development at both K-Z RV, Shipshewana, and Keystone RV Company, Goshen, Indiana.


text:
Woke at 6 AM
CFE bike
long intervals
1:2 ratio
4x2 miles (I did 5 minutes instead so I could do it inside)
Warmed up 5 minutes, then did first phase of work (middle gear up front, B-2 in the back), 90 rpms
rested 10' (made haelyn's lunch)
5' at 90 rpm, 10' rest
5' at 90 rpm, 10' rest
5' at 90 rpm, stretched
HR averaged 119 and stayed around 150 during phases of work. Not a huge fan of the 1:2 ratio. That's a LOT of rest.
Crossfit Total
not a big fan of doing this just because going to heavy will only lead to an injury. Planning on going moderately heavy at ACU SRWC this afternoon.
Shoulder press - 135
Squat - 250
Dead lift - 300
685 total
way less than what I've done in the past, but didn't have spotter and am not trying to injure myself.
Watched "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" yesterday. Planning on doing a 15 day juice fast in January before my IMTX training starts.
blueberry milkshake before CFT
dinner - steamed salmon, wild rice, large salad, cooked veggies
snack - Ezekia burrito, frozen fruit


text:
Nehemiah held the high and honored position of cupbearer for Artaxerxes, the king of Persia. Because of his position he enjoyed a life of luxury and ease and security.
Nehemiah's heart grew heavy at every news report from Jerusalem, his homeland. After much prayer he ask the king if he would allow him to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. The king gave his permission, so Nehemiah went back home to begin this seemingly impossible task of leading the people of God in the rebuilding of the wall.
Nehemiah's leadership was not inherited, nor was it voted on. It was something he earned.
In Nehemiah's life we see some of the qualities of leadership needed in our churches today.
1. Vision. – Vision is the ability to see beyond today. It is the capacity to anticipate the future. It is seeing the unseen. Not many have this ability. Many people have sight; few have insight. The masses saw only a trash heap that was once the wall of a mighty city. They saw only hopelessness and defeat. But not Nehemiah he looked beyond what was, to see what could be. His leadership started with a vision and a dream born of God (Neh. 2:12). Leaders are people of imagination, insight, dreams, and vision.
2. Courage. – Courage is the boldness to implement your vision despite almost sure opposition, criticism, and a chance of failure. Most of us settle for mediocrity because of the fear of failure. To be a good leader we must be willing to take chances, to try the new, and even to risk failure. To be a leader you have to be strong enough to make hard decisions and daring enough to risk failure. Nehemiah had this kind of courage (Neh. 4:14)
3. Confidence. – Confidence is believing in yourself and your goals. Confidence can be acquired in several ways. It can come through training, through skill, through experience, and through the confidence in knowing that we are doing God's will. This was the source of Nehemiah's confidence (Neh. 2:20).
4. Humility. – A great leader's confidence must be balanced with humility. He must not be so self-assured that he feels no need of God. He must not be so confident that he ignores the counsel of others (Pro. 11:14). Humility makes a person a better leader.
5. Determination. – This is the persistency that refuses to quit or become discouraged because of hardships, difficulties, or opposition. It is determined people who become leaders (Neh. 4:8-9).
6. Energy. – Leaders are hard workers. The price tag of leadership is long days and sleepless nights. No man can be a successful leader in an eight hour day. Leadership is a selfish taskmaster. Nobody will follow a lazy man. The responsibility of leadership belongs to the Nehemiah's who will roll up there sleeves and work day and night to accomplish their task (Neh. 4:6).
7. Organizing & Supervising. – A wise leader realizes that he can do very little himself. A leaders success is largely determined by what he is able to get others to do. Nehemiah was a master at organizing and utilizing others. With incredible skill he organized, assigned, and supervised his people to accomplish God's work (Neh. 4:13-23).
8. Concern. – A good leader cares for his people as much as for his goals. No man can be a great leader unless he loves his people and sincerely has their best interests at heart. You must be willing to always take more than your share of the blame for failures and a little less than your share of the credit for success.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Nehemiah: A Great Leader
Nehemiah held the high and honored position of cupbearer for Artaxerxes, the king of Persia. Because of his position he enjoyed a life of luxury and ease and security.
Posted by Dr Dave Noffsinger at 6:01 AM


text:
In a hurry? Here are the best products at a glance.
Having the best shoes for hiking when you're out on the trail makes the experience so much better. Think about it: good grip, strong support, fewer aches and pains the next day. Don't just look for a mens waterproof hiking boots sale! We did the research to find you some of the best brands and top-rated hiking shoes. Before we get into our hiking shoe review, let's look at some of the features you need to know when shopping.
Waterproof: Waterproof hiking shoes are a great thing to have if you're planning to explore in rain or snow or even by small streams and river. Water resistant shoes will work, too, but keep in mind they're two different things!
Type: We found boots, shoes, and even sandals that were all made to take on the trail. Boots are great all year round but perfect for cold weather. Sandals, on the other hand, are great for summer hikes.
Gender: We found a mix of men's and women's hiking shoes for you. Keep in mind, though, if you're a woman and a pair of men's shoes strikes you, you can certainly wear them as long as you get the right fit.
Material: These shoes are made out of everything from rubber to textiles to mesh. What you should look for is a shoe that's waterproof or water resistant but also lets your foot breathe. Stay dry and cool.
EVA Frame: EVA stands for ethylene vinyl acetate. It's a lightweight material that is inexpensive and provides a lot of support and cushioning. It gives really sturdy support without adding weight. In other words, ideal for hiking shoes.
Heel Height: Low heel height is usually best because you're closer to the ground for better stance and stability. Some shoes that have a higher heel height also have a thick sole altogether so you'll still get the right grip.
Now that you know more about the important features of hiking shoes, let's get right into our reviews. Whether you're looking for hiking shoes deals or just want the best pair you can find, our picks will help you find a great pair that will serve you well on the trail. If you're in a hurry, check out our top and budget picks first. But stick around if you can! The rest of our picks are pretty great, too! Ok, let's go.
Article last updated on:
June 4, 2019
See more reviews:


text:
The Patrick Mahomes' era in Kansas City has officially begun, and the young gunslinger takes over a Chiefs' offense that's chock-full of dynamic skill position players.
This includes a trio that rivals any in the league with the NFL's reigning rushing champion in Kareem Hunt, the NFL's leader among tight ends with 2,183 yards receiving over the past two years in Travis Kelce, and receiver Tyreek Hill, who has already scored 12 touchdowns of 40-plus yards in his career, which is more than 23 NFL teams have over that same time span.
Mahomes is tasked with spreading the ball around to that group of guys, which also now includes the newly-signed free agent receiver Sammy Watkins, who over the past four years ranks sixth in the league by averaging 15.9 yards per reception.
It's all led to a level of optimism that's palpable around Kansas City.
In his only start last year, Mahomes went on the road in Week 17 and helped lead the Chiefs to a win over the Denver Broncos, finishing that game 22 of 35 (62.9 percent) for 284 yards and an interception.
The performance that night also included a game-winning two-minute drive with a number of other backups on the field, and this was also after Mahomes thought his night was finished. He was pulled from the game and only reentered when it became a possibility that the Chiefs might not win.
Mahomes showed Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid that night that the stage wasn't too big for him.
"This kid is ready to go. He's ready to go ahead and lead,'" Reid recalled thinking after that win over the Broncos.
On that final drive—when it mattered the most, Mahomes finished 4 of 5 for 52 yards, setting up kicker Harrison Butker's 30-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
To go one step farther in discussing Mahomes' performances that day, he finished 5 of 7 for 93 yards on third down, which included one drop on a pass in the end zone.
"He gives you the confidence that he's going to be OK," Reid added of his young quarterback.
Looking ahead, Mahomes has already embraced his new role heading into 2018—leading daily offseason passing workouts organized through group text chats with the other offensive players on the Chiefs' roster. He said he threw to every player on the roster at some point over the offseason as guys were in and out of Kansas City.
None of this means there will be instant success with Mahomes. He's still a young quarterback with a lot to learn—something both he and Reid have mentioned often this offseason, but it is exactly the kind of start you're looking for from him as he takes over his new responsibilities.
With the additions of veteran quarterbacks Chad Henne and Matt McGloin this offseason, who both bring some experience to the position, the battle for the No. 2 job behind Mahomes is up for grabs and one to watch moving forward.
It's a position that will obviously be important should they ever have to step in and play, but it's also important for that position to serve as a sounding board for Mahomes.
Henne, who has been the league for 10 years and worked with six different offensive coordinators over that time, recently said that he embraces the role of helping out a younger player—something he's done multiple times throughout his career.
"I think it's just kind of always been in me," Henne explained of why the mentor role suits him well. "I think it's the unselfishness. It's just a lot of fun for me, not only as myself as a player grow, but if I can give back because this league has given so much to me, why not give as much as I can?
"I mean, being with (Jaguars' quarterback) Blake Bortles, and Blaine Gabbert (before that)—those kind of guys, and just seeing Blake grow in the last four years, it's been a lot of fun for me."
Henne, who has started 53 games in his career—completing 59.3 percent of his passes with 58 touchdowns and 63 interceptions over that time—said he's actually met Mahomes before.
"I actually met Pat last year," he said. "He came into Jacksonville for a visit, just briefly shook his hand, but seemed like a good country boy which is kind of cool. Definitely a lot of talent. I've seen bits and pieces of film on him just being in Jacksonville, but he played that last game against Denver, strong arm, seems to have right kind of head on his shoulders, which is great.
"I think he just has a great work ethic from what I've heard, so I think that's cool."
McGloin, who spent last season with the Houston Texans, is best remembered for his four years with the Oakland Raiders (2013-16).
During that time, McGloin made seven starts and completed 58.1 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He played collegiately at Penn State and went undrafted in 2013.
And finally, the fourth quarterback on the Chiefs' roster for OTAs this year is former Marshall standout Chase Litton, who signed as a college free agent with the Chiefs after the draft. He was with the Chiefs a couple of weeks ago for the three-day rookie minicamp.
According to the legendary personnel man Gil Brandt, Litton (6'5", 230 pounds) was the top undrafted free agent quarterback available this year.
Litton played in 34 games in his three-year career at Marshall and completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,115 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season.
"Litton is an early entrant who has the size and enough arm talent to potentially pique the interest of an NFL team looking to develop a big pocket passer," per NFL.com's pre-draft scouting report.
While most of the focus (and rightfully so) on the Chiefs' quarterback situation has to do with the uber-talented, yet unproven young starter in Mahomes, the battle for the other spots should be fun to watch throughout offseason workouts as well.


text:
Designing Dreams and Making Them Work: An Interview With Graphic Designer and Independent Game Developer, Mr. Jason Forth
Dreams take hard work. That much we know. But what we usually discount are the hours of working alone and the priorities that we need to juggle in order to tread a path that we genuinely want to take.
Graphic Designer and independent Game Developer, Mr. Jason Forth has got this all figured out. And it all started with an interest that he chose to not grow out of and nurtured into maturity.
Mr. Forth had been most generous to extend his time to Xeno Creatives as he answered questions surrounding his career, his immersion in the gaming community and his exciting project, "Medieval Steve".
Xeno Creatives (XC): How does one become enthused in Game Development? What path did you take that made you say to yourself, "I am going to be a Game Developer"? Was it something that came about as a necessity or a genuine desire?
Jason Forth (JF): I have been playing games since I discovered "PaperBoy" on the Atari 2600. My love for games then carried over to "Alex Kidd in Miracle World" on my Sega Master System and only grew from that point. The desire to make my own games came about when I discovered a game engine called First Person Shooter Creator (FPSC). It was very basic, but, you could (and still can) make some truly inventive games with it; you just need the passion and willingness to put the work in. There was no need for game development, it was more of a curiosity at first; which later developed into a full-time passion.
XC: Have you tried your hands into any other form of media or technical discipline? If you have, what was it?
JF: Through my time with FPSC, I quickly realised that if I wanted my games to look different or feel different to others, I would need to make all my own art assets. This drove me to learn 3D modelling. I have been making 3D models for around 6 years now and I am always learning something new!
XC: If you weren't doing what you're doing, what do you think you'd be specializing in?
JF: I am a graphic designer by trade, so, I would be making websites, designing logos and company branding.
XC: Do you see yourself as one who contributes largely to the industry? If so, how?
JF: I wouldn't say that I contribute to the industry. I have helped a few people along the way and have created a basic set of tutorial videos to help people get into making models for games. I would like to contribute more as I see the gaming community (of developers) as one of the kindest communities I have ever been a part of. The other developers you speak to on the forums are full of the same passions as you and are always willing to help each other; even if it's just words of encouragement. I guess I can't really speak for all forums, I am mainly talking about the UE4 forums and the GameGuru forums. All fantastic people.
XC: Where do you see yourself in the coming years?
JF: I would like to say developing games full-time, but, as I am just a one man team, I can't see that happening any time soon. I love my job as Graphic Designer, so, I am more than happy to stay how I am.
XC: What were the key ideas that led to the conception of "Medieval Steve"?
JF: The original game was initially developed in GameGuru, as a First Person platformer! I modeled a whole model pack for the game and managed to make a 5-Level demo, with cut scenes, voice overs and some pretty challenging gameplay. When I made the transition to Unreal Engine 4, I wanted to create a game for mobile, so, I decided upon making a Side Scroller, using the models I already had in my inventory. Medieval Steve has come a long way since the early days. But, I would like to think he has improved as the years have gone by.
XC: Describe your typical day in production for the game.
JF: My typical day is working full-time in my day job from 9-6, then, go home, help put my kids to bed, go to the gym, come home, cram some food in my mouth and start working on the game. I typically manage to get around 2-3 hours of
development time a day.
XC: What are we to expect from "Medieval Steve" that is a departure from other games of the same nature? How would it stand out?
JF: While "Medieval Steve" is a normal platformer, I have managed to get a full upgrade system implemented, meaning as the player progresses through the game, they will receive star awards, which count to upgrade points. These can then be spent to upgrade Steve's damage power, health percentage and how many times he can jump before touching the floor. One of the cool features of the games is Steve's ability to turn into a hand, reducing his overall size, meaning he can squeeze into areas he otherwise couldn't. This is how the player will find secrets and complete the levels with higher awards.
XC: Have you already finalized a release date for the game?
There is no release date set in stone as of yet, although, I do keep telling people that I have around 6 months worth of work left. Honestly, I think that's a little ambitious. It's probably more like 12 months.
XC: What's next for "Medieval Steve"? Are we seeing other installments in the future or do you have other plans?
JF: I have completed all of the core mechanics for the game, so, now all that's left is level design, music composition, voice over recording, sound effects, cut scenes, marketing material, website and testing testing testing!
XC: What piece of advice or message can you give young aspirants wanting to enter the industry?
When you think your work is good enough to show other people, delete it and do it again. The second will always be better. This isn't life advice, just for when starting out.
It is the dedication to young aspirations that lead individuals like Mr. Jason Forth to overcome the constraints in time and create a promising game such as "Medieval Steve". Xeno Creatives is indeed stoked to see the project come into fruition!


text:
This year is going to be bigger than ever.
For those of you who haven't been before, you're in for a pretty amazing experience.
Midwinter Fest is based on the Scandinavian celebration of Midvinter or Jul. We're talking candles, bonfires, and an outrageous amount of food.
This year, Ricky is in the kitchen, and he's making 3 ox shoulders as well as 120 pounds of pork shoulder. (There will also be many vegetarian options if you're of a non-carnivorous persuasion.)
Chef is going to be in the kitchen all day making special Midwinter Feasts. You will not be disappointed.
Not only will we be running drink specials all day (see below), but we're also going to tap a keg of Winter Warmer 2016 so you can enjoy side-by-side tastings.
It's the release of our 2017 Wassail Mugs! Not only are we running our most popular deal of the year: buy a mug and your first pour of Winter Warmer is $1, but we're also running the same offer for Ale Horns!
What else? How about case deals on Autumn Spice and Buckland!
Come early and stay all day! There's always a big Wassail toast at 7 o'clock which you won't want to miss!
See you Saturday!
Saturday, December 9, 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Groennfell Meadery, 856 Hercules Dr, Suite 20, Colchester, VT
Check out the Facebook event for more info!


text:
By Stella Dawson
WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Five years after the United States required oil, gas and mining companies to disclose how much they pay governments, U.S. reporting rules have yet to take effect robbing citizens in poor countries of critical data for combating corruption, Oxfam America said on Wednesday.
Every year, extractive industries pay hundreds of billions of dollars to some of the poorest countries in the world, and some of that money may be lost to bribery, it said in calling on U.S. regulators to stop delaying on extractives disclosure.
Oil produced by developing countries alone has generated about $1.55 trillion for their governments with limited transparency since the U.S. law was passed in 2010, Oxfam America said in releasing its report "Show Us the Money!"
"Almost 700 million people in resource rich countries live in absolute poverty. These people have the right to know what happens to the money siphoned off from their own back yards," said Isabel Munilla, its senior policy adviser, in a teleconference.
The United States set a new standard for disclosure on oil, gas and mining revenues in 2010 when Congress required publicly traded companies to give detailed disclosure of their tax, contract and other payments to governments, and to provide details broken down by country and by project.
But industry leaders filed suit to block the law. The American Petroleum Institute and U.S. Chambers of Commerce argued the Securities and Exchange rules were overly broad, too costly and anti-competitive. The court in 2013 sent them back to the SEC for review.
After several postponements, the SEC has said it plans to issue new disclosure regulations by spring 2016.
The SEC did not return a call for further comment. API said it would welcome speedy SEC action to issue rules that increase transparency without harming industry competitiveness.
"We are not anti-disclosure," said Carlton Carrol, API spokesman. "But we have concerns about implementing rules on one side of the world when there are state-owned oil companies in Russia and China that are not subject to those rules."
Meanwhile, the European Union, Canada and Norway have moved ahead with extractives rules modeled after the U.S. And the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative, a voluntary coalition of industry, governments and civil society that sets disclosure standards, has embraced similar changes. Advocacy groups said they show that new global standards are emerging.
"What is the SEC waiting for?" said Jana Morgan, director of Publish What You Pay US, a coalition of advocacy groups for revenue transparency from the oil, gas and mining industry.
(Reporting by Stella Dawson; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)


text:
Status: Finished
Genre: Erotica
"Could you do me a favour Phillip please, and take this wage packet round to Alf Hollinsworth's house and get someone to sign for it. Mother and me have to go out early." my Dad had said, not knowing the simple request would kick off one the craziest experiences of my life. Alf was an excavator driver for the construction company Dad worked as office manager for.
"No problem," I told him, wondering why the name Alf Hollinsworth seemed significant.
It was Friday night, my usual night out drinking with the boys, Saturday was for copping off at the dance hall for those who did not have a girlfriend, so I expected to be heading for the pub about eight thirty. Most of us still lived with our parents and young people tended to in those days, the idea that we should sacrifice our fun years as soon as we were in regular employment in order to 'get on the mortgage ladder' had not caught on. To me the words mortgage ladder have always conjured up images of a kind of treadmill. The ladder reached into the sky and infinity and each time you stepped up a rung the one below disappeared so once on there was no getting off.
My late teens and early twenties arrived a decade before the mortgage ladder however, in that all to brief golden age when the social revolution of the nineteen sixties had jerked us out of the era of master and servant mentalities and repressive religion and the establishment had not yet figured out a way to reassert control.
Well that's how it was for young people like me anyway, the affluent and well educated. Lower down the social scale, but not much lower, the old morals and traditions still held on. Among the working class a lad would expect to go into the same trade as his Dad and often the same factory, and work there most if not all of his life and for the girls the only aim was to catch a 'steady sort of boy' with 'good prospects', which meant a secure job, and get a ring on her finger before her man got any further than a hand inside her bra.
Westattley, the town we lived in, had two parts; our side was urban sprawl, newish developments that had sprung up as the conurbation of Manchester spread outwards, swallowing old coal mining and textile industry towns in the process. Alf Hollinsworth lived in the old coal and cotton town, neat terraced houses that provided no frills homes. As I walked to town my route would take me close to his house.
Alf's house, I could picture it by then. Clean, well maintained because like so many construction workers Alf had picked up the basic skills of several trades, a small conservatory, and the self built extension that had provided an extra bedroom and upstairs bathroom.
I also remembered with fondness the little porch where I had kissed Shirley Hollinsworth goodnight two or three times a week for almost six months, hoping to one night invited through the front door, on up the stairs and all the way to the gates of heaven. The era of sexual liberation had not reached down to the working class at that stage and Shirley had been brought up to believe nice girls don't, at least until there has been talk of engagement rings and wedding plans have been discussed. And so, three and a half years before our love had run aground, beached on the shoals of social difference.
There had been no contact since, we were very different people and the new town did not mix much with the old town. It crossed my mind that I might see her; petite, with her pretty, inquisitive face framed by its dark hair and her hazel eyes by thick dark lashes, would she perhaps be looking older and worn out, with a snotty little kid hanging round her neck. No sense worrying, we had not ended on bad terms but rather drifted apart so there need be no embarrassment.
It was a good thing I felt so easy about seeing Shirley, it was she who answered my knock on the door.
"Hello Phil," she said, "Fancy you coming round tonight of all nights."
"You're … um … you're looking great, I brought your Dad's wage packet round, can you sign for it please?" I handed her the book Dad had left for me. "So what's special about tonight?"
"I'm getting married tomorrow."
"Wow, congratulations. Anyone I know?"
She gave me a brief biography of her boyfriend, I did not know him but it would be impolite not to show interest."
"Are you looking forward to married life?" I asked
"Do you want the polite answer or the honest one?"
"You have doubts? I think there is nothing unusual in that, it's a big step, a leap into the dark."
We started to talk, what worried Shirley was that her boyfriend Andy had changed after they became engaged, started making decisions about how their lives would be, she had to give up work he had told her, no wife of his was going out to work, people would think he could not look after his family. I recalled Shirley had been an office worker in one of the newer businesses in town a soft drinks company. It was easy to see how she felt there was a problem, Andy was a coal miner, his Dad and Granddad had been coal miners, his mother came from a mining family too. The coal mining communities tend to be people apart.
As soon as I had expressed sympathy and made the right noises to assure her everything would work out I said it was time to leave.
"Must you," she said, "I'm on my own tonight, Dad has gone on Andy's stag party and Mum is at bingo and will go to the club to meet up with Dad after. And I really need to talk to somebody."
We had been standing in the small hallway at the bottom of the stairs, now I took her elbow and guided her to sit on the bottom step, dropping myself down beside her.
"We could go out for a drink, it would be more comfortable," I said.
"You know Phil, from somebody who is supposed to be clever that is a really stupid idea. Going out drinking with an ex boyfriend the night before my wedding in a town full of gossips like this. I'd have to be mad." She laughed.
"Sorry, wasn't thinking," I said.
"Well at least you made me laugh, I haven't been doing much of that recently. If you want a drink we've plenty in, people will be coming here tomorrow between the church do and the evening reception at the club."
"A beer later maybe," I said. "You seem really troubled. Are you sure you are doing the right thing"
She shrugged and sighed. "How did I ever let you go Phil. I've often daydreamed about meeting you and being able to tell you how often I think of you."
Where would I start on that one. The sex barrier? I was intimately acquainted with her nipples but had never managed to get my hand inside her knickers. Probably not a good idea to mention that, nor would it be good to remind her she had thought I was vain and stuck up.
"Well there was the small point that I fancied myself as a James Bond type, thirtyish, sophisticated, with women falling at my feet."
"And I was a straight laced little virgin?"
"A very attractive little virgin. And I was nineteen, hard up and naive. Really. I always thought you were great but I was not ready for marriage, not then. And I'm still not."
"And I thought it was the only thing I wanted and now I find I'm not either."
She laughed again but this time it was a bitter, humourless laugh.
"You don't have to do it Shirley, if you feel this bad."
"And what am I going to do, are you saying you'll run away with me?"
"Don't tempt me, you would hate me inside a month."
"Better than hating myself and my life."
I suggested she pretend she was ill or something, buy some time and I would try to think of a way out. Shirley thought that idea was as bad as going to the pub with an ex boyfriend. We talked around various ways she might delay things but it was too late in the day.
Somewhere in the exchange my arm had crept round her shoulder and hers round my waist. And we were kissing, gently and comfortingly at first as I tried to salve her raging emotions then with more passion. Then I was kissing the Shirley I had known, tongues working, hands caressing .
She raised her arms and draped them round my neck so that I could feel her small, form boobies pressing against me. It seemed like an invitation and without a conscious effort my hands moved up and enclosed the two mounds. Shirley drew in her breath sharply. The kisses became stronger, tongues probed more deeply. Putting one arm around her back to draw he closer I moved the other down and then up inside the thin sweater she was wearing and with a well practised move unhooked her brassiere.
Pulling my lips away from her for a moment I said, "Do you really want to do this."
"I'd forgotten how good kissing you felt, yes Phil, I want to do this. I should have done it three years ago," she said fumbling with the buttons of my shirt as my fingers found the hardened button of her nipple. We were still sitting on the stairs and now as I shrugged out of my jacket and let it fall the two steps to the floor we lay back to let our bodies get closer. Shirley pulled her sweater over her head and slid the unhooked bra off her arms. Lying on wooden steps ought to be uncomfortable but neither of us was paying attention to comfort.
"Why did we not do this Phil, I was so hot for you, did you not know?"
"Lots of reasons, like finding somewhere to be alone. It's only by luck that I came round tonight when you are alone ..."
"And feeling sorry for myself?"
"If you say so." Now she was naked to the waist, I had never seen so much of her before. My hands caressed and gently squeezed her boobs while rolling and flicking the nipples between my busy fingers. Then, arching my back as far as possible to get my mouth to the right level I set my tongue to work, rolling the tip around each hard bud in turn as I sucked gently. Elsewhere my hand was cupping the mound of venus and feeling the heat being generated under her pale pink panties. Shirley was ready for me.
"Right now Phil I feel better about myself than I have in ages. Do it." She spoke between gasping breaths.
"What if someone comes ..."
"Then being shamed I'll have to run away with you."
I did not know whether it was lust or desperation talking but she had pulled down the zip of my jeans and was fumbling inside. I was not in need of arousal and we had probably both passed the point of no return. As my hands hoisted her skirt up to her hips she pushed her tights and panties down, arching her back to let them pass the hard wooden step that must have been sticking in her back. I saw for the first time the dark triangle of hair that had filled my fantasies on so many frustrated nights and caught to sweet, musky scent of her arousal.
Then she was pushing my jeans down past my knees and I shook one leg free.
My fingers explored the triangle of hair and felt beads of viscous moistness along the neat seam of her love lips. She opened to the pressure of my fingers and I found the third pleasure bud, the concealed one. She sighed as my fingers caressed around either side of it, exerting the kind of gentle pressure I knew worked so well.
Shirley had taken hold of my prick and was doing very pleasurable things. She was not an expert but had an instinctive touch.
Licking her ear which was now close to my mouth I said, "Fair warning, do you really want to do this?"
"Forget tomorrow, she said, tonight is the last night of my life."
Spreading her a little wider I pulled Shirley's slim body on top of me and with no effort at all we were joined. She was in control, it had seemed gentlemanly to take the position that would put the stairs in my back, but we managed to find a rhythm and move together, to complement each other and gain a deep penetration as we kissed, nuzzled and nibbled and whispered the sexiest gibberish imaginable to each other.
She said to me, "My quim is on fire, you bastard, what did you have to come round tonight for, now for the rest of my life I will know what I missed."
"Look at it this way, at least you will not die wondering. Shirley, I was there for the taking, but you can't climb up and pick the high fruit if you insist on keeping your knees together."
"Bastard. For that you are going to have to perform again before I let you go."
"I can handle that. Oh for fuck's sake, how did I let you slip between my fingers."
"You were too impatient to wait while I found the nerve to reach up for the high fruit," she said.
Noticing that a sheen of sweat was forming between the boobies that were bouncing in front of me I pulled her body towards my mouth, stretched my neck up and licked it, tasting the sweet saltiness of her.
By then our rhythm was quickening, my thrusts were getting shorter and harder and she was stretching her legs wider as her hips rose and fell above mine. Words were replaced by grunts and we drove each other to climax, me slightly ahead.
It was no problem staying fully aroused for another minute until she caught up and a Richter scale orgasm shook her body. Then Shirley collapsed, head on my chest, gasping and giggling. I let go too, deflated quickly and felt completely drained.
"Was it good for you then?" I asked flippantly, adding "the offer is still open, I'll hide you in my room tonight and tomorrow we can have an embarrassing breakfast as we try to explain things to my family before catching the first available train to anywhere." And at that time I really meant it though I had no idea where we would go or how we would live.
"You're too late Phil. Why weren't you here three months ago, a month ago even. I felt as if I was on a train and nobody would help me get off."
I thought that if she had lain naked in my arms three years ago things might have been different but I was lying to myself, I had only been nineteen then, full of crazy plans and wanderlust, she was eighteen and we had both been too young to commit, probably still were.
We lay still for a while, talked in whispers, she cried a little and berated me for being an immature, irresponsible idiot because now I had made sure she would always know what she was missing in her passionless marriage bed and also set up another torture because she would always wonder if things could have worked had she run away with me on the eve of her wedding.
I thought it had all turned out like the story in one of those old folk songs, where the randy knight snatches the bride as she is on her way to the wedding and rides off with her to his castle. If only I'd had a castle but where can you get one these days, there isn't a castle shop in any town I know. We talked rubbish like that for a while then I asked if her threat to make me perform again had been genuine because it was half past nine.
Shirley lifted herself off me, grabbed a couple of beers from the kitchen and then my hand as she passed on her way upstairs. Shirley started to drag me towards her bedroom. I hooked an arm around her thigh and gave her a love bite on the bottom.
She squealed, "What are you doing idiot, how am I supposed to explain that tomorrow night?"
"Tell him you were running downstairs, slipped and banged your bum on the edge of the step."
"And the step would leave tooth marks would it?"
"Let's grab your stuff and do a runner then?"
"Don't be stupid." She started to pull me upstairs again and into her small bedroom, a typical girl's room with floral wallpaper, posters of pop stars and romantic landscapes on the wall and a dressing table full of make up, perfumes, creams and lotions, hairbrushes, jewellery and female things.
The second time, as always, was less urgent, less hungry, slower, better. Time was limited but I tried to do enough to suggest to her there was much more pleasure to be had from me. This time I was on top, controlling the pace and I went slowly, gliding into and out of her with languid strokes as I caressed her thighs, breasts and the soft, smooth skin between her lower ribs and hips. Shirley responded as before, I guessed what she had been used to had not been very fulfilling for her but my ego was secure enough and her responses to me articulate enough to make affirmation of my triumph in this area superfluous, the little squeals of joy, the faraway look in her eyes, they way her lips, flushed red, were slightly parted told me more than words could. Afterwards we lay, holding each other, sipping warm beer and saying things we ought to have said when we were dating. We had both been too young to understand our feelings but our wanting still to say those things meant we both should have tried harder to understand the other, been more patient in my case, more adventurous in hers.
Having stayed like that for only a few minutes it came as a shock when we started to hear drunken voices in the street outside.
"Bollocks, it must be closing time," Shirley jumped up and looked at the clock. "Phil, it's gone eleven, what have we been doing for an hour? Mum and Dad could be here any minute, we have to get dressed."
We bother gathered our clothes which were scattered around the small bedroom and started to pull them on hastily.
I was halfway downstairs when Shirley, ahead of me, held up her arm to tell me to stop.
"Mum and Auntie Doreen are outside talking. Lucky Dad isn't with them. Go out the back, when she comes in. I'll get her sat down in the front room and put the kitchen light on when it's clear for you to go down the front path. Make sure nobody is about before you go out onto the street.
I grabbed my jacket which was hanging over the newel post and headed for the kitchen. Shirley unlocked the door and said "When you hear her come in sneak out but don't leave the garden until I put the light on."
I took her face in both hands, kissed her and said, "You know where I live, I'll wait for you in the morning, if you haven't turned up by two o'clock I'll know you have gone over to the dark side. I love you Shirley, see you tomorrow I hope."
"I love you Phil but it's too late, I'd be letting too many people down."
I kissed her again and then we heard a key rattle in the front door. Shirley shot of into the main room to emerge a second later in the hallway, I heard her say "Oh, hi Mum. I must have been dozing in front of the television, go and sit down and I'll make some tea."
"Dozing, you look as if you have been dragged through a hedge," Mrs. Hollinsworth said. Thinking of the mess we had made of her hair and the smudged mascara I had to bite my finger to stop myself laughing. As soon as thy went into the lounge it was time to slip quietly out of the back door. A minute later Shirley put the kitchen light on. Seeing she was looking out through the window I blew her a kiss and mouthed "Tomorrow."
She laughed, returned the kiss and waved me away.
The next time I saw Shirley was four years later. I had been away two years, first in India on the hippy trail then in Australia. Before deciding to see the world I had leaned to drive an excavator of all things knowing those guys could get work almost anywhere. Returning with money in the bank and an Australian girlfriend on my arm I was spending a few weeks with my folks while deciding what to do next.
Rachel was at the hairdressers leaving me free to wander round town and enjoy the nostalgia. For a few seconds the girl who said "hello" as if really pleased to see me did not register. She looked older, worn, disappointed with life, her clothes were shabby and the child in the buggy she pushed was clean and well looked after but poorly dressed.
"Shirley, great to see you," I said just before my hesitation became embarrassing, "It looks as if you are well settled into married life."
She laughed, that dry, bitter laugh I had heard before. "Well I suppose I'm still married legally Phil." Seeing my questioning look she told me the whole story, her boyfriend Andy, had changed very quickly after the honeymoon. He went drinking with his mates, she stayed at home. On Saturdays he watched football with his friends, on Sundays he went fishing. And Shirley stayed at home. He earned good money so why did I need to work, he bullied her into giving up the job because in his family a woman's place was at home.
"It was not so much a marriage as a prison sentence Phil," she said.
Shit, her marriage had been falling apart before I left Britain. I thought of that Saturday I had waited in until two p.m., sitting near the window in the hope of seeing her walking along the avenue with her life packed in a holdall. But would life with me have simply been a different prison. Four years later I still did not feel ready to settle down.
We talked for a while, I congratulated her on becoming a mother and said it looked as if Andy had not wasted much time in that department. She gave me a look I could not read in response. I described my travels but in a subdued way, her life had obviously not been full of fun and NDwild adventures.
When Shirley told me how she had to get out of her relationship and her life had fallen apart after she had, it prompted such an enormous surge of guilt I wanted to run away with her again. Mr and Mrs Hollinsworth had taken the news of their daughter's marriage collapsing within two years very badly and she'd had minimal support from the family. First she had gone into a hostel for homeless people and then a small flat in a rough area.
"My mother knew I'd had someone in that night we … you know. She's still disgusted with me."
"Why didn't you go to see my parents, they could have got in touch with me, I would have helped."
"Oh yeah, a scruffy little bird with a kid turns up and says she needs to get in touch with Phillip urgently. They going to phone you and say "Don't come home son, stay out of the country."
"You should try to think better of people."
"I'll try, when someone gives me a reason to. How long are you here for and what are you doing next?"
"A few weeks, I haven't decided what's next yet."
"It would be really nice if we could see each other while you're here."
"Yeah, um, the problem is I'm with somebody, an Australian girl who fancied coming over to see a bit of England."
"I see, sorry. If our paths keep crossing every few years we might meet when we're both available sometime."
"I'm sorry too. Give me you address and when I get the chance ..." She recited her address and finding a pen in my pocket I wrote it on my hand.
"You're little girl is lovely, what's her name?"
"Jasmine, beautiful flower, not so beautiful life."
I squatted down to talk to the child. "Hello Jasmine, I'm Uncle Phil," She looked at me suspiciously. To her mother I said, "Cute little thing, she has her mother's looks."
Shirley said, "Yes, but she's got your eyes don't you think?"
© Copyright 2019 ianrthorpe. All rights reserved.
The way you use the gritty detail and voices of working class britain to place this story into a context works very well, especially as a point of difference.
Even the erotic bits are told in the same voice - more or less - which shows excellent control over the world. It comes across as an authentic memoir, even if it's not.
It could do with a bit of a polish, and some proofing, but altogether a craftsmanly piece. Well done.
Thanks for your feedback, I'm not bad at editing my own work but the world's worst proof reader.
When I read some extracts of '50 Shades' I was appalled by how unerotic the erotic writing was and one of the things that annoyed me was the way they protagonists spoke to each other during sex scenes, real people are just not like that in my experience - and I've been round the block a few times. So having completed the first draft of a novel about a hot relationship in which I have aimed for the same kind of authenticity, I decided to write a few shorts to use in a marketing campaign. This is the first.
Normally I would leave a text at least a month before giving it a final edit, that way the passages that do not read as well as they might will stand out more clearly, but in this case 'Bride' was put online straight away as a test of reactions to this kind of writing.


text:
Ad ID: 79673 Inactive
Industrial Warehouse for Sale Wiri AucklandEnquire about this "Industrial Warehouse for Sale Wiri Auckland" property on nzcommercial
Industrial/Warehouse - CBRE Sole Agency: TROPHY ASSET ON CORNER SITE
Price by negotiation
Area (m2):
Commercial Property for Sale Description
Industrial Warehouse for Sale Wiri AucklandCBRE is proud to present a truly unique opportunity to acquire a high quality, near-new property at 2 Wilco Place, Wiri.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/oqTJPqUnPvk
*Will suit investors and owner-occupiers*
For Investors: this is a perfect long term asset for your portfolio and will provide the perfect investment product for now and decades to come. Ideal for Family Trusts with its maintenance-shy construction and with a design and quality that appeals to high quality tenants. Situated at Stonehill Business Park, where to date the Park has enjoyed a zero vacancy rate for all its buildings. There is strong tenant demand for this type and size of asset. Recent tenants to the park have been attracted from East Tamaki, Airport, the wider South Auckland market due to the quality of product on offer.
For Owner-occupiers: this is a true one-off offering to own modern near-new building. The holding income provides a bona fide investment until you then choose to relocate your business into this impressive building.
Further Key Details:
- A desirable size and ratio for tenants
- 2,600sqm net lettable area
- Full tilt slab concrete construction
- Building completed in 2014
- Two yards, both concrete
- Large canopy and drive-though yard for excellent devanning and container operations.
- Holding income at market rents
- Fantastic location just 2km from the motorway and situated with impressive frontage onto McLaughlins Road with a commanding position at the gateway to Stonehill Business Park.
Contact the Sole Agents below for more information or to arrange an inspection:
Paul Steele
021 494 111 or (09) 573 3333
Vinay Patel
021 38 25 25 or (09) 573 3333
Listing ID: 18211435B1


text:
Tall Can Sports 253: The Iggy Heard 'Round The World
Welcome back to Tall Can Sports with Matt and Rob as we roll on through the summer.
It's been a shockingly busy week for the dog days of summer and it's left us with tons to cover including the moves that the Toronto Blue Jays have made as we approach the MLB Trade Deadline, several Toronto Maple Leafs players returned to the city to attend Nazem Kadri's wedding and many of them are sporting hair that Old Man Lou would never approve of, and many of them are taking part in drunken Arab dances and having a blast doing it, Iggy announcing that he will announce his retirement, Trevor Linden stepping down from his post with the Vancouver Canucks, drunk boaters making sweet belly flop catches from NFL superstar QBs and so much more.
Many of your favourite sports podcasts have disappeared over the summer but we'll never abandon you. And you can find even more new greatness from us over at www.patreon.com/tallcanaudio and support the show all at once.
Visit us at www.tallcanaudio.com
Follow us at www.twitter.com/tallcanaudio


text:
I Think This One Is Spam
To: [MarsIAm], xxx, xxxxxx, xxxx
Just wanted to ask a quick somthing for ya
You still seeking on getting rid of those extra pds. I am 4 sure, I came by [Spain geocities web domain]. They were great with everything.
Poor Alice! It was as much as she could do, lying down on one. minute the disguises were stowed away in the cupboard, the door.
"Right! right! No time to lose."
Hope this helps,


text:
Beauty Salons
Jenny Magic Lash
Currently open
10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tiffany Plaza, Shop 11, 422 Oxford St
Bondi Junction, NSW, 2022
Jenny Magic LashThe best Volume Eyelash extensions service in Sydney.
Jenny Magic Lash is a specialised Eyelash Extensions studio located in Bondi Junction, Sydney.Jenny Magic Lash was started as a home-based business in 2014 by Jenny Vu. Jenny had several years of working in the beauty and salon industry before she found her real passion in the eyelash extension field.
Jenny had specialised training in Russian Volume Lashes, and she has developed deep expertise in this area through hundreds of lash sets done for her clients.
Jenny has built a reputation for being creative and meticulous to tailor each eyelash extension set for individual client, taking into account personal style, face and eye shapes.
At Jenny Magic Lash, we take pride in our work to ensure clients are satisfied with the service in every visit. We consult clients from the beginning on the best Eyelash style, the knowledge to take care of lashes and lash maintenance/refills. We have over 95% of customers coming back to us for Eyelash design after the first visit.
What distinguishes Jenny Magic Lash from others:
1. All the work is done by me, Jenny, so you can be assured that you are being taken care by one of the most gifted and skilled lash technician in Sydney, especially for the trendy Russian Volume Lash extensions.
2. Jenny Magic Lash is small boutique service and Eyelash extensions is all that I do. I have the strongest passion for creating the charm and beauty that Eyelash extensions can bring to you, so you can feel confident and look gorgeous on any day or for that special occasion.
3. I take Health and Safety for your eyes as the most important aspect in my work. I am meticulous and careful in every steps to ensure lash extensions will not affect your natural lashes, and your eyes are taken care of in all ...read more
Contact details
Opening Hours Detail
- Contact 24 hours
- Flexible Hours by Appointment
Payment options
- Cash
- Eyelash Extensions


text:
Tanabata Festival
Happy Tanabata Festival!
Today, July 7th marks my favourite Japanese festival – Tanabata! The decorations for this festival are just so pretty!
Tanabata originated more than 2,000 years ago with an old Chinese tale called Kikkoden. Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi living in space. After they got together, they were playing all the time and forgot about their jobs. The king was angry at them and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king allowed them to meet only once a year on July 7th. This is why tanabata is also known as the star festival. It's believed that Orihime and Hikoboshi can't see each other if July 7th is rainy, so people pray for good weather and also make wishes for themselves.
Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) and Hiratsuka (Kanagawa Prefecture) are particularly famous for their elaborate Tanabata displays. Shopping arcades in these two cities feature huge decorations that are sponsored by local shops, which try to outdo one another in the size of their displays.
For more info please click here. I hope you might be inspired to make you own little origami paper decoration on this special day. And if so, you might like Origami Club!
Tonight Yumi-chan and I will attend a special Tanabata Festival Concert at the Conservatorium of Music organised by the Sydney Japan Foundation. To book tickets please click here.
Also, please check out Yumi-chan's new blog Dear Plastic where she documents her no plastic challenge. Yumi recently posted about grocery store co-ops where you can re-fill your own containers rather than adding to landfill by purchasing items that come covered in packaging. This is something I was inspired to do when I saw No Impact Man movie with Lovely Liane. Here is Yumi's list of some Sydney co-ops to get you started. I can't wait to join one! But the best kept secret is that the Manly co-op on Yumi's list also sell fresh tofu, umeboshi and other Japanese essentials like mirin!
Enjoy lovelies!
Love Love
Hello Sandwich


text:
International Womens Coffee Alliance (IWCA)
23 October 2008
The International Womens Coffee Alliance (IWCA) held its First International Women in Coffee Conference from 23 to 25 October 2008 in Orosi, Costa Rica on the theme of Coffee from hands to hearts. The Conference was chaired by the President of the IWCA, Kimberly Easson, and organized by a committee including Margaret Swallow, Secretary of the chapter of the IWCA, and Grace Mena, Chair of the IWCA International Relations Committee. It was attended by over 120 women from producing countries including many Central American countries, India, Kenya and Uganda as well as major consuming countries including Canada and the USA. The aim of the Conference was to share technical knowledge on the coffee industry through workshops, build connections between women throughout the coffee value chain and celebrate the wide diversity of women in the coffee community. The ICO Executive Director was invited to give the keynote address and encouraged participants to continue to work together and develop membership of the IWCA. The IWCA is a non-profit organization working to achieve its mission to empower women in the international coffee community to achieve meaningful and sustainable lives; and to encourage and recognize the participation of women in all aspects of the coffee industry. Through International Chapter development and funding, networking opportunities, and mentorship and training programs, it strives to acknowledge, elevate, and connect women in coffee around the world.
|ICO Indicator prices
(US cents/lb) 15/08/2019
|ICO Composite
|Colombian Milds
|Other Milds
|Brazilian Naturals
Press Release
Click here
1 October is #InternationalCoffeeDay.
ICD2018 chose a very special theme for this year's celebrations: 'Women in Coffee'. Women play as important a role in the whole of the coffee chain as men, from planting the seeds to processing to trading to brewing… and drinking it. To find out more visit the dedicated International Coffee Day website.
Latest ICO Studies & Reports
• National Quality Standards (Published September 2018)
• Gender equality in the coffee sector (Published September 2018)
• Maximum residue limits (Published September 2018)
• Country Coffee Profile: Ghana (Published September 2018)
• Mixtures and substitutes (Published September 2018)
• Gender equality in the coffee sector (Published April 2018)
• Development of coffee trade flows (Published April 2018)
• Value addition in the African coffee sector (Published September 2017)
• Assessing the economic sustainability of coffee growing (Published September 2016)
• Coffee in the Russian Federation (Published August 2015)
• Coffee in China (Published August 2015)
• The impact of the price of oil and the US dollar exchange rate on coffee prices (Published August 2015)
• Sustainability of the Coffee Sector in Africa (Published August 2015)
ICO Coffee Library
The ICO has a unique Library containing an international reference collection, built up over 40 years of more than 13,000 monographs (books, reports, theses, pamphlets) and over 200 periodical titles covering all aspects of coffee.
Learn more>>


text:
Río Mosela 222
Colonia del Valle
San Pedro Garza García
Nuevo León
México 66220
Estudio Monumento SA de CV
What do we receive as spectators on a context where intellect and emotion come together as a conjunction?
A poetic sentence in a physical form; Peana's curatorial line includes work from Tezontle Studio, Adrián S. Bara, Pier Stockholm, Ana Kras & Francisco Ugarte.
With it's physical space located in Monterrey and a residency program in New York City, Peana represents a new life to the art scene in Monterrey.


text:
Dancing Light in Ansouis/
My recent experiments with painting small inspired me to look again at some of the little pieces I have done in the past. Why not, I thought? They may not all translate well to a larger canvas, but in many instances with the composition and color work already fleshed out, they provide great jumping off points for further development.
"Dancing Light, Ansouis" Oil on Canvas, 12x12" Click here for more info! Contact me to purchase!
This painting is based on a compositional study of a charming little Provencal window that I did a while back. The scene is from Ansouis, a beautiful little village with flowers tucked in every nook and cranny, and gorgeous painted shutters and doors perfectly washed by the sun.
Speaking of small works, there is still time to bid on my current auction, also of Provence in spring. The auction ends Sunday evening at 9 PM, EST.


text:
Elite crafted umbrellas by Fox & Fulton
Regent umbrellas are selected from the finest manufacturers. Exclusive to Regent is the collaboration with Fox Umbrellas - a traditional English company with worldwide recognition for their umbrellas, Further to our Fox-Regent umbrella, are Fulton umbrellas, a Royal Warrant holder for their rainwear.
Fox Hardwood Handle Umbrella with Regent LogoIncl. Tax: £99.00 ex. VAT: £82.50
Fulton - Minister UmbrellaIncl. Tax: £49.00 ex. VAT: £40.83


text:
Line extension to the Technology Center (Technologiezentrum)
The extension to the station "Technologiezentrum" was opened on 19th of December 2003. It starts at the station "Universität S" in eastern direction first and then swings to the north up to Emil-Figge-Straße. There it turns in to the west and follows the road to the station "Technologiezentrum".
The length of the track is 1.212 meters. The stop at can be upgraded for double-traction.
The service on the extended line is 10-minutes "Technologiezentrum" headway in each direction.


text:
Better and faster hosting with WP Engine partnership
July 2018
In a world where enterprises seek to be a step ahead with their online businesses, WordPress has become the enterprise CMS of choice. Known for its agility, cost, and ability to integrate across verticals, WordPress makes up over 28% of the Internet today.
We're glad to announce that wea re now agency partner for WP Engine. Most reliable and feature rich hosting platform for WordPress.
Learn more at WP-Engine or call us!
- Hosting


text:
All the great, smooth taste of a bold cup of coffee, with none of the caffeinated after effects. A great afternoon coffee.
Our blend of South American and Indonesian decaf coffees has hints of cedar, cocoa butter, and roasted chestnuts. Exceptionally full-flavored with a sweet, rounded finish.
"Beans are on the darker side of medium roast. I liked the bold flavor from my drip coffee machine. Makes a solid everyday cup of coffee. "
"Of all the blends I received in the four-sample pack, this one was my absolute favorite. It had a smooth aftertaste, full body, less bitterness and more complexity in flavor notes. With a splash of cream, it tasted like a cozy cabin fireplace. Not necessarily spice-laden, but woodsy. "
"Not really memorable. Too many high notes for my taste. "


text:
KILMIHIL Ladies Football Club secretary Rosie Currane has plenty to think about this week.
Wing-back on the Kilmihil team preparing for Saturday's county final against champions Banner Ladies, Rosie has to plot how she is going to stop the likes of Louise Henchy or Naoimi Carroll from decisively influencing the game.
Before a ball is even thrown in however, herself, club chairperson and centre-back Fiona O'Neill and their playing colleague Sharon O'Gorman, (club treasurer) have to ensure that the day runs smoothly.
Not alone are Kilmihil competing in their first senior county final; the West Clare village is also hosting it.
Making their impending final date even more remarkable is the fact that this is Kilmihil's first year competing at senior level. Last year's county intermediate champions, who went on to capture the Munster and All-Ireland junior titles, have beaten Cooraclare, Miltown, West Clare Gaels and Fergus Rovers to secure their final place.
Yet Rosie Currane is adamant that playing in a county senior final was not on Kilmihil's agenda when they heard that they had drawn Cooraclare, Miltown and West Clare Gaels in their championship group.
"I remember the draw for the groups, myself and Fiona (O'Neill) were at the meeting. We didn't even think we'd get out of that group. I think we looked at each other and said 'there's no hope'," Rosie said.
Having beaten Cooraclare and Miltown they drew with West Clare Gaels before winning the play-off.
This meant that Kilmihil had to play Fergus Rovers in the semi-final, while the Gaels played Banner Ladies.
"I think everyone is still tired from the West Clare Gaels games. I know it's two weeks ago but they were fairly draining and were within three days of each other. It was complete luck at the end because they were ahead by five points with a couple of minutes to go," Rosie acknowledged.
Although they were tipped to beat Fergus Rovers in the semi-final last Sunday, Rosie says Kilmihil didn't look at it that way.
"We would never have written off Fergus Rovers because they've been senior for years, winning several championships. That attitude definitely wasn't there. It was only in the last few minutes, when we pulled away from them. It was anyone's game," Rosie stressed.
While Kilmihil might have been favoured to reach the final, they definitely won't be expected to win it. "It's a massive task," Rosie said. "The Banner are a super team. They're the best of the ladies teams at the moment. We'll be underdogs."
"It will be great to have home support but then again we still have to go out and play. They've loads of county senior girls and I don't know how many of the Clare minor girls that got to the All-Ireland they had. The players they bring on are nearly as good as the players on the field," Rosie said, suggesting that the reigning champions will take beating.
Waterford man Stephen Quinn, who works in Moneypoint, is training Kilmihil this year, assisted by Thomas McMahon and Kevin O'Halloran.
"I'd say he didn't know what to make of us when he met us first. He has done a good job so far anyway," the club secretary concluded, hoping that their season will extend further into autumn, even if Banner Ladies are virtually unbackable favourites.
Sonya prepared for Kilmihil showdown back out west
BANNER Ladies head west to Kilmihil on Saturday and are expected to bring their senior championship crown back to Ennis with them later that evening. Their task, however, will be made considerably more difficult by the fact that the match venue is also the home ground of their opponents.
Last year, the Banner girls beat West Clare Gaels in Cooraclare to win their first senior title. A year later, they face a Kilmihil team whom they have never met in the championship arena before.
If Kilmihil weren't at home and hadn't won Clare, Munster and All-Ireland titles in 2008, the Banner would be expected to walk it. They will be favourites but that doesn't mean that Kilmihil have no hope.
"They've some outstanding individual players and they've been obviously strengthened significantly by the addition of the Doonbeg girls," Banner Ladies captain and club chairperson Sonya Maher said of Kilmihil.
"There are an excellent outfit, we absolutely will not be taking them for granted. They potentially could have beaten us twice already this year in the league," she added.
Banner Ladies beat Kilmihil by a point after extra time in the senior league semi-final.
Although they defeated West Clare Gaels 4-12 to 2-8 in last Sunday's championship semi-final in Quilty, Sonya Maher points out that a few key moments turned the game in her side's favour.
"Last Sunday's game was definitely the toughest game we've faced so far in the championship. That game could have gone either way but for an own-goal on their part and an opportunistic goal from a Louise (Henchy) free-kick," she said, noting that West Clare Gaels also missed a penalty.
In the group stage of the championship Banner Ladies recorded comprehensive wins over Crusheen, Coolmeen and Fergus Rovers.
"We've done well and we've put up high scores and we've improved with every game, which I think is probably the most important thing," Sonya said.
While they won their first senior title last year, the Banner had been threatening to make the breakthrough for a couple of seasons.
"We'd been there or thereabouts for the three years previous. We'd got to a final and a semi-final but it wasn't really until the younger group from that Féile championship-winning team came through that we really competed. That really strengthened the panel for us," she said.
Every one of the Banner's starting team last Sunday has played for Clare at some level. Although this statistic is an impressive one, it makes club training difficult to organise.
"That is a big problem for us, unfortunately. We've six players on the Clare intermediate team and they're training Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It's very difficult to get those girls to come out two more nights during the week. And we've a huge number of players on the U-16 and minor teams that went to the All-Ireland this year. So getting numbers to training is an issue for us," Sonya said.
As for Saturday's county final, the Banner Ladies forward is certain that their resolve will be closely examined in Kilmihil by the home club.
"We're absolutely up against it on Saturday in the sense that we're playing in Kilmihil. They'll have everybody out in support of them. We'll be playing them on the field but we'll also have the crowd backing them, which will be difficult," Sonya predicted.
Saturday's senior final will throw in at 4.15pm in Kilmihil. The senior B final, Cooraclare v Miltown, will throw in at 2.30pm at the same venue.


text:
We are excited to announce our very own CEO, Debbie de Fiddes will be speaking at the 2017 Social Impact Festival held at the University of Western Australia.
Debbie will present Maintaining Community Within a Dementia Facility on the 19th July 2017.
We look forward to sharing our insight into these complex social issues.
For further details visit: https://socialimpactfestival.org/


text:
Bill Walsh samples Starbucks Indivisble to find a decent coffee from a mass producer.
Tag: siphon
One Village Coffee's Rwandan is a Crowd Pleaser
Bill Walsh finds a good coffee in One Village Coffee's Rwanda Gatare Station Bourbon.
Revved Up for Rev Coffee Roasters Costa Rican
Bill comes across a tasty Costa Rican coffee from Rev Coffee Roasters.
Peter Asher Coffee and Tea – An Ethiopian to Invite to Breakfast
Bill samples a decent Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from Peter Asher Coffee and Tea, that makes for…
Deep Cello Has a Decent High Jump
Coffe expert Bill Walsh finds a nice cup in Deep Cello's High Jump Blend.
A Brisk Brazilian Coffee
Our resident coffee expert Bill Walsh slurps up Peter Asher's Brazil Bob-O-Link.
A Fruity Ethiopian Coffee That Gives Back
Our resident coffee expert Bill Walsh finds a pleasant Sidamo from Kifu Coffee Company.
Sea Island Coffee – A Kopi Luwak That's Not Crap
Bill forays into a Kopi Luwak coffee from Sea Island Coffee in the UK.
A Kona Roasts in Brewklyn
Coffee expert Bill Walsh has the pleasure of sampling Brewklyn Grind's Kona.
Peru Coffee Fairly On-Target
Bill samples another of Target's Direct Trade coffees with decent results.
Decent Direct Trade Almost a Bull's Eye
Though a bit surprised, Bill finds a tasty direct trade coffee at Target.
Sushi and Siphoned Coffee on the Strip
In Las Vegas, Bill finds a fancy sushi operation that takes their coffee seriously too.
Brazil Macaubas is Rio Good Coffee
Bill finds a pleasant cup of coffee in Brazil Macaubas from Old Soul.
Old Queens Parades a Lovely Indonesian
Bill has the fortune to sample an amazing coffee grown in Sulawesi and roasted in NJ.
A Colombian Coffee With Soul
Bill finds some pretty good coffee in a bag of Colombian from Old Soul Co. in Sacramento.
Coffee Labs Concocts A Decent Sumatran
Bill Walsh tests Coffee Labs Roaster's Sumatra Mandhelding, and ends up with a decent cup of coffee.
Mugged In NYC: Coffee Foundry's Bolivian Fair Trade
Bill Walsh explores a bag of Bolivian Fair Trade Coffee from the West Village in NYC that scores pretty well in the coffee and tea index.