text:
How a chocolate bar helps me stay healthy: eating disorder survivor concerned about new food pyramid
'A chocolate bar every now and then won't kill me, but not eating a chocolate bar every now and then will strengthen my eating disorder, which in turn will kill me (and nearly did)'
Claire Mercer
When I was around 12 years old I developed Anorexia Nervosa and became seriously ill in a very short space of time. I won't go into the nitty gritty details of my story, but the past eight years have been what could only be described as a living hell for myself and my family. It has been a long journey of hospitalisations, close calls, treatment centres, nasogastric tubes, fights, relapse, weight gain, and the list goes on.
I have had periods of doing pretty well, but last year I had a pretty severe relapse and in January ended up in ICU fighting for my life. How I survived, no one really knows, but here I am to tell the tale.
Along with my parents and treatment team, I have worked really hard and have fought tooth and nail against the eating disorder. I have put on almost 25 kilograms, and am managing to eat three meals and four snacks every day, as part of my treatment plan. That probably sounds incredibly simple to most people, but the fact I am not only still alive, but also at a healthy weight, and am back on track with my eating, is nothing short of a miracle for me.
I am not recovered, not by a long shot. Anorexia doesn't just disappear once a person reaches a healthy weight. In fact the illness seems to dig its heels in further when they reach a healthy weight. This is because they are literally going against everything that the eating disorder wants. While I have a long way to go in terms of mental recovery, I have come so far in the past six months, and probably the past eight years when I think about it. I have conquered a lot of challenges and fears, and continue to fight every second of every day.
There is no set cause of eating disorders, but certain people are predisposed, or susceptible to developing the disorder. A combination of genetic, biological, environmental and circumstantial factors contribute to the development of the illness. It's a complex intertwining of these factors that determine the predisposition.
However, just because a person is predisposed to developing one, doesn't mean that they will actually develop an eating disorder. For people who are susceptible to developing eating disorders, they will only actually develop the disorder if they engage in eating disorder behaviours, such as dieting, fasting, compulsive exercising, binging, purging, etc. If they never engage in these behaviours, they won't actually develop the disorder. Sort of like if a person is allergic to nuts, they won't actually have an allergic reaction unless they are exposed to the nuts. I guess you could say the people who are susceptible to developing an eating disorder are 'allergic' to dieting and other similar behaviours.
The revised version of the food pyramid has made me feel a little uneasy. I totally understand our current health issues and the need for dietary changes for many people in Australia. However, Nutrition Australia seems to have forgotten the large and ever increasing number of people who have, are developing, or will develop, an eating disorder. There are so many people struggling with eating disorders, or disordered eating, and it is significantly fuelled by the current 'health obsession.' (When I was hospitalised in 2008, there was only one other patient with an eating disorder on the adolescent ward, and they were only in for a few days. Besides those few days, I was the sole patient with an eating disorder. When I was hospitalised in 2012, there were, around 11 eating disorder patients on the ward).
While there is no set cause of eating disorders, the behaviours are triggers. Cutting out fun foods (or 'junk foods' as they are referred to by Nutrition Australia) might help improve some people's health, but it will also be a detriment to the health of others. The term 'orthorexia', while not a diagnosis in the DSM 5, is associated with the obsession of eating only 'healthy' foods. It is an issue not only for those diagnosed eating disorders, but also for a large portion of the general population. All of these fad diets, exercise obsessions, and 'clean eating' regimes are becoming the norm, and it is (despite popular belief), not actually healthy.
I have worked exceptionally hard at overcoming 'fear foods'. There was a time in which I couldn't bring myself to even look at something like chocolate, or pasta, because of the fear that it was bad or would make me gain weight. Although it is still extremely difficult, I am able to enjoy chocolate, and pasta, and many other foods that were once forbidden.
Life needs to be about balance. I understand that Nutrition Australia are not necessarily saying that we should cut out certain food groups altogether, but for people with predispositions to eating disorders, the new changes are very likely to be interpreted in this way. I know that a lot of people will disregard the new pyramid and will continue to eat in the same way that they always have (and quite frankly, the people who disregard it are likely to be the people who desperately need to be more aware it), however many will take the pyramid on board and see it as the be all and end all – particularly young people, and especially young females, who are being brainwashed by this current health obsession.
We have become fearful and associate poor dietary habits, lack of exercise, weight gain, etc with being bad people. We need to get the message out that it's okay to have balance. In fact we need balance. Not just for our physical health, but also our mental health. We need to be aware of the potential for this new pyramid to be incorrectly interpreted and taken too far. Eating disorders are fatal, and I have absolutely no doubt that they will become more and more prevalent and will destroy the lives of more and more people.
I am finally in a strong enough headspace to know that I need to do what is right for me, and not what society, and the new pyramid is telling us is 'right'. However, not everyone will have the same experience as myself and they may not be able to rationalise and put things into perspective. I always say that a chocolate bar every now and then won't kill me, but not eating a chocolate bar every now and then will strengthen my eating disorder, which in turn will kill me (and nearly did).
By no means am I saying that we need to live unhealthy lives. But we do need balance, and to show our society that it's okay to not be perfect. I don't really have anything against the message Nutrition Australia is trying to get out, because I definitely agree that there are a lot of people who are not eating in a healthy, balanced way. However, I also believe that it is critical for the message to get out there that restrictive eating, limiting foods, and being too rigid is dangerous. We all need to hear the message that being self-accepting, loving, and kind towards ourselves is crucial in living happy, healthy lives.
I'm never going to be able to cure eating disorders, but I want to do everything I possibly can to raise awareness, support others, and reduce the prevalence of the illness. The food pyramid is somewhat of a good movement to encourage people to start leading healthier lives, however I believe that for a significant number of people, it has the potential to be very harmful.
I hope it will at least start a fresh discussion on eating disorder awareness, prevention, and treatment and true health.
Claire Mercer, 20, lives in South Australia. She blogs here
Cleanse your mind, the rest will follow: Transform your health with a media fast
Have you tried the latest health cleanse? It's SO great. It'll help you feel better about your body inside and out, and jump-start your healthy choices so you'll have the motivation to be active and feel A-MA-ZING. THIS cleanse is brand new. None of the celebrity health gurus or fitspiration icons have tried this, and you'll NEVER hear about it from an actress in US Weekly. You don't have to drink cayenne pepper juice OR forego solid foods for days and you'll STILL remove countless toxins from your body. But this time, the toxins are in your mind and they're just as harmful to your health.
Those mental toxins have built up from years of taking in distorted, profit-driven messages about what it means to have a healthy and fit female body. Whether it's health and fitness magazines featuring airbrushed celebrities in bikinis with the latest strategies to get "sleek and sexy" in 3 days without ever moving an inch, or fitspiration models with exposed buttocks, breasts and oiled-up abs all over Instagram and Facebook — you've likely got a pretty specific image in your mind of what it means to be a "fit" and "healthy" woman. (We're not even going to show you an example here, because you already have it in your mind.) This is a trending beauty ideal that is parading as a fitness ideal — made to look attainable for any woman willing to put in enough effort, willpower and sacrifice.
But what about the vast majority of women who will never, ever have six-pack abs, jutting hip bones, cellulite-free thighs that don't touch, and every other appearance ideal that is held up as a sure indicator of fitness — regardless of how many squats they do, how "clean" they eat, how many marathons they run, etc.? This image of what it looks like to be a fit woman is so ingrained in our cultural wallpaper that we are completely desensitized to it. It is so common and unquestioned that it has become natural and invisible. THIS cleanse will start to rid you of that numbness. Read entire article


text:
Greetings and salutations! Are you ready for another round of combinatorial confusion?
Complete the grid so that each row, column and three-by-three box contains every digit from 1 to 9. (That means you can't have any repeated numbers in a line or box.)
When you think you have the solution, click on the puzzle to access the answer.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
For an UPDATED version
A warm welcome from ConcordPastor to readers searching for "Back to School Prayers" for students, parents of students, and teachers. I hope you'll visit again or: Subscribe to A Concord Pastor Comments
Many students, teachers and school personnel are now returning to the classrooms while others won't be at their desks until after Labor Day. Checking the "search words" that bring readers to this page indicates that folks are looking for prayers related to the opening of schools and a new academic year. Here are some prayers I hope you'll find helpful. The first three are from my keyboard, the last two from Diana Macalintal, Director of the Office of Worship for the San Jose, CA diocese and author of the blog, Work of the People:
• A Student's Prayer
• A Parent's Prayer for Students
• A Teacher's Prayer
• A Parent's Prayer When a Daughter Leaves Home
• A Parent's Prayer When a Son Leaves Home
You might think of praying the Student's Prayer with your children on the first day of school. Some families pray these words every Monday morning as a new school week begins. And the prayers for parents? Well, I know some moms and dads who pray those words just about every day!
In addition to backpacks and lunch kits, the refrigerator door makes a good home for these texts. In my parish we have the Student's Prayer printed as a bookmark which we distribute at Mass along with a blessing for students and school personnel at the beginning of the new academic year.
Parents, grandparents, godparents and aunts and uncles: share these prayers with the ones you love and with anyone you think would benefit from them.
Parish personnel: please feel to copy and use these prayers. Diana and I ask only that you include the credit line as indicated after each prayer below.
Help me remember that you're always by my side
at school and all day long.
Help me be the best student I can be,
using all the gifts and talents you've given me.
Help me study well and often
– especially when I don't feel like studying at all!
Help me finish all my homework – on time.
Help me listen to my teachers and coaches.
Help me play fair and play safely,
Help me be honest when I'm tempted to cheat.
Help me always tell the truth.
Help me be kind to everyone at school
and to treat others as I'd want them to treat me.
Help me make good friends
and help me be a good friend to others.
Help me know how I can help others
and to ask for help when I need it myself.
Help me love and respect, trust and appreciate my parents
- and to be honest with them.
Help me remember that you're with me always, Lord,
and that you'll never leave my side.
A Parents' Prayer for Students
Dear Lord,
As my children leave for school,
I pray that you will keep them in your care.
Send your Spirit to open their minds
to all that is true and beautiful and good.
Help them to see the gifts and talents
you have given them and to use them well.
Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom.
Help them to be kind to others
and lead others be kind to them.
Give their teachers patience and understanding
and help them teach what is just and true.
Send your angels to guide and guard my children
and to keep them from all harm.
Open their young hearts to your presence
and enfold them in your peace and protection.
Hold them in the palm of your hand
and bring them home safely at day's end.
A Teacher's Prayer
Dear God,
A new school year is about to begin
and my classroom door will soon open
to the students you've assigned to my care...
Open my mind and heart to each of them
and especially to the ones
who will challenge me the most...
Help me challenge my students, all of them,
to study, to learn, to grow in knowledge
and even a little wisdom...
Help me remember, Lord,
how young my students are:
give me patience to help them grow up
and insight to know the help they need...
Help me to understand that sometimes
my students may not understand me:
may I be clear in the things I say and do,
and in how I say and do them…
My students don't know the burdens and worries
my heart brings to the classroom,
so help me remember, Lord,
how anxious and heavy my students' hearts may be...
Keep me from favoring any particular students, Lord,
except for those who most need my help...
Let my decisions in the classroom
be fair and just, honest and true...
Send your Spirit to fill me with gifts
of knowledge and understanding, counsel and wisdom…
Lord, open my mind and heart to my students' parents,
especially those who will challenge me the most...
Help me challenge parents to challenge their children
to study, to learn and to grow...
Help me to teach as you would, Lord:
help me be understanding when I need to be firm,
gentle in all things,
and patient until the last bell rings…
A new school year is about to begin, Lord,
and I wonder,
what will you teach me today?
Many mothers and fathers are sending sons and daughters away to college. For both parents and children, this rite of passage is often moistened with tears and burdened by aching hearts. Here's Diana Macalintal's Empty Nester's Prayer in two versions: one for a daughter, one for a son.
A Parent's Prayer When A Daughter Leaves Home
Gracious God, you blessed me with the gift of my child
and entrusted me with her care.
Now she leaves this home and begins a new life apart from me.
Surround her with good people and watch over her each day.
And let her know that I will always be near
whenever she may need me.
Heal any hurts we may harbor with each other
and forgive our failings
as we learn to be in a new kind of relationship with each other.
And when the sight of her empty room
pierces my heart with sadness,
may I find comfort in knowing that my child is your child too,
filled with your grace and sheltered by your love.
© 2009 Diana Macalintal: TeamRCIA.com
A Parent's Prayer When A Son Leaves Home
Gracious God, you blessed me with the gift of my child
and entrusted me with his care.
Now he leaves this home and begins a new life apart from me.
Surround him with good people and watch over him each day.
And let him know that I will always be near
whenever he may need me.
Heal any hurts we may harbor with each other
and forgive our failings
as we learn to be in a new kind of relationship with each other.
And when the sight of his empty room
pierces my heart with sadness,
may I find comfort in knowing that my child is your child too,
filled with your grace and sheltered by your love.
© 2009 Diana Macalintal: TeamRCIA.com
Subscribe to A Concord Pastor Comments


text:
General Election: A Long Leap of Faith
At Jalan Dipati Ukur Bandung, there's a place which sells delicious gado-gado. Several years ago, a great fire burned the place down, along with several houses besides it.[1] Some of the fire even leapt across the street and singed some roofs.
The government said that the buildings on Jalan Dipati Ukur don't comply to the city's building code and regulations. They're jointed walls-to-walls, providing easy targets for spreading flames.
Only several months after that, a new facility was constructed near the site of fire. A restaurant? Nope. A fire department? You couldn't be more wrong.
It was a gas station.
I couldn't help imagining the discussion went on something like this:
Officials #1: Dang! Jalan Dipati Ukur is dangerously susceptible to fire!
Officials #2: Yes. We need to build something which will lower the chance of incidents. Something that's resistant to fire, for instance.
Officials #1: How about a place which sells gasoline?
Officials #2: Sounds great!
This is just one example of the "common" sense displayed by our government.
And that's the thing about 2009 General Election. Today (April 9th 2009), us Indonesians are supposed to elect our representatives for the local and national legislative bodies (those who make the rules). However, what we also need are executive bodies (those who make daily decisions based on the rules) who can think straight.
Problems are:
- We can't see (and haven't seen) how better representatives in the legislative bodies will lead to more competent people in the executive bodies
- What's worse, we can't see how there could be better representatives in the legislative bodies, when their campaign posters look like they're selling fried chickens, assimilating themselves with imaginary figures like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings and Mr. Bean (the latter isn't exactly popular because of his intelligence) or gladly showing that they're still babies.
As long as those two problems exist, voting in the General Election will always be a long leap of faith and have worse percentages than gambling. So if you'll excuse me, I need to get my dice before going to the voting booth.
[1]: The place reopened only a month after the fire, which shows how tenacious we can get sometimes.


text:
The hospitals, which are both overseen by Caritas Health Care, are in danger of filing for bankruptcy due to a delay in receiving claims from Medicaid, Medicare, and other private insurance providers. Hospital officials said that without an influx of funding from the state, both facilities could close as soon as February.
In an effort to display the importance of these two hospitals to the community, local elected officials and hospital employees staged a demonstration last Saturday on the steps of St. John's Hospital on Queens Boulevard.
Dozens of employees of the hospitals and concerned neighbors came out to protest the possible closings and stand in solidarity with the medical facilities that have served Queens residents in their toughest times.
"If you don't have your health, you've got nothing," said Councilman Tony Avella. "We can't be about the financial bottom line when it comes to medicine, and we've got to keep these hospitals open."
"It's dollars and cents, but it's also about people," said City Comptroller William Thomson. "These hospitals employ 3,000 people, and last year they served 45,000. Where will these people go? The state has put money ahead of people."
"It's scary," said St. John's employee Margaret Zimmerman. "It's not just us that's closing. There are not that many hospitals left in Queens."
"The pharmacists are scared, the Macy's is scared, the entire neighborhood around here is dependent on the hospital's employees and patients for their economy," said Barbara Czerewin, another employee.
The hospital's fate lies in the hands of the State Health Department (SDOH), which has looked to close a number of money-losing hospitals in New York. Many New York City hospitals have faced difficult times in the current economy, as insurance providers, patients, and the state itself are struggling to stay afloat.
Queens has already lost New Parkway Hospital, and though nearby Elmhurst Hospital is thriving, many community leaders say that it cannot effectively absorb the patients that would be turned away from a closed St. John's and Mary Immaculate.
"I have watched hospitals close, and it is detrimental to the community," said Assemblyman Michael DenDekker. "Elmhurst hospital will not be able to handle this neighborhood alone. There has to be another way."
Many state elected officials spoke in support of the hospital, but they have little sway with the SDOH. The hospitals have received close to $50 million in additional state funding over the last two years, but the funding will not continue into 2009.
"If we fight harder and put in an effort, we can keep these hospitals open," said State Senator Shirley Huntley. "It makes you sad when you see people who could care less about health care."
A second rally was held Tuesday on the steps of City Hall. When asked if she thought the demonstrations would help save the hospitals, Czerewin said, "It may work, it may not, but we will scream as loud as we can."


text:
Find us on:
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
1-800-598-4668 (Voice - Toll-free)586-776-3900 (Voice)586-776-3903 (FAX)
The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is the only national nonprofit health agency dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity, the major cause of serious chronic diseases. AARDA is dedicated to the eradication of autoimmune diseases and the alleviation of suffering and the socioeconomic impact of autoimmunity through fostering and facilitating collaboration in the areas of education, public awareness, research, and patient services in an effective, ethical and efficient manner. AARDA provides patients with information and referrals through its national toll-free patient information line, 1-800-598-4668. AARDA also provides information on its Web site, www.aarda.org.
Serial Publication: InFocus, (newsletter). General: Also distributes pamphlets on over 80 autoimmune diseases.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Language Assistance Available


text:
It's Christmas day and fortunately we are moving between fishing grounds meaning we have down time and can relax and enjoy another feast after yesterdays Hangi.
Hamish is a great cook, his menu changers every day without exception. Over the last 6 days he has invited suggestions for Xmas dinner. I hear someone mentioned KFC !!! I understand that feller is giving Hamish a wide berth lately, and so he should.
When you're out here for weeks on end, months in fact, the one thing we really look forward to is good food. Needless to say, Famous Hamish takes the opportunity to build on his reputation every chance he gets.
Rgds: John B.


text:
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Entering ManTech's 50th year, we hold the distinct honor of being named a "Top 100 Global Technology Company" by Thomson Reuters. We have earned this and many other accolades over the years for our dedication to serving the missions of our nation's most important customers: U.S. Intelligence, Defense and Federal Civilian agencies. All know us as a trusted partner offering best-in-class solutions in cyber, data collection & analytics, enterprise IT, and systems and software engineering tailored to meet their specific requirements.
Become an integral part of a diverse team in the Mission, Cyber and Intelligence Solutions (MCIS) Group. Currently, ManTech is seeking a motivated, mission oriented CNO Developer in the Hanover, Maryland area, with strong Customer relationships. At ManTech, you will help protect our national security while working on innovative projects that offer opportunities for advancement.
The Security Solutions Division provides cyber solutions to a wide range of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. This division consists of a team of technical leaders that deliver advanced technical solutions to government organizations. Our customers have high standards, are technically adept, and use our products daily to support their mission of protecting national security. Our contributions to our customer's success is driving our growth.
•Strong proficiency in C programming
•Working knowledge of Python scripting
•Understanding of TCP/UDP protocols
•Experience configuring network devices (routers, switches, etc)
•Experience with vulnerability research
•Experience with IDAPro
•Experience with low level development on ARM, PowerPC, MIPS, etc
•Experience using continuous integration tools
QualificationsRequires Bachelor¿s degree or equivalent and seven to nine years of related experience. Minimum of three years experience in technology/tools specific to the target platforms.
DegreesSee Qualifications
Years of ExperienceSee Qualifications


text:
Search Results
Please try using one of the sections below, and we'll help you get to the gear you are looking for:
1. Use the search box below
If your search landed you here, try searching for a broader term. Example: 'mens fitness skates' instead of 'mens skates for fitness size 10.5'. Also, double check your spelling to make sure you have it right.


text:
I've already written about conceptual information regarding file system, especially data structure and related terms that help you become a successful system administrator. However I do get few emails asking about /opt directory or /usr or /lost+found directories and their purpose on the system.
Exploring Linux File System Hierarchy
A typical Linux system has the following directories:
=> / : This is the root directory.
=> /bin : This directory contains executable programs which are needed in single user mode and to bring the system up or repair it.
=> /boot : Contains static files for the boot loader. This directory only holds the files which are needed during the boot process.
=> /dev : Special or device files, which refer to physical devices such as hard disk, keyboard, monitor, mouse and modem etc
=> /etc : Contains configuration files which are local to the machine. Some larger software packages, like Apache, can have their own subdirectories below /etc i.e. /etc/httpd. Some important subdirectories in /etc:
- /etc/skel : When a new user account is created, files from this directory are usually copied into the user's home directory.
- /etc/X11 : Configuration files for the X11 window system .
- /etc/sysconfig : Important configuration file used by SysV script stored in /etc/init.d and /etc.rcX directories
- /etc/cron.* : cron daemon configuration files which is used to execute scheduled commands
=> /home : Your sweet home to store data and other files. However in large installation yhe structure of /home directory depends on local administration decisions.
=> /lib : This directory should hold those shared libraries that are necessary to boot the system and to run the commands in the root filesystem.
=> /lib64 : 64 bit shared libraries that are necessary to boot the system and to run the commands in the root filesystem.
=> /mnt : This directory contains mount points for temporarily mounted filesystems
=> /opt : This directory should contain add-on packages such as install download firefox or static files
=> /proc : This is a mount point for the proc filesystem, which provides information about running processes and the kernel.
=> /root : This directory is usually the home directory for the root user.
=> /sbin : Like /bin, this directory holds commands needed to boot the system, but which are usually not executed by normal users, root / admin user specific commands goes here.
=> /tmp : This directory contains temporary files which may be deleted with no notice, such as by a regular job or at system boot up.
=> /usr : This directory is usually mounted from a separate partition. It should hold only sharable, read-only data, so that it can be mounted by various machines run ning Linux (useful for diskless client or multiuser Linux network such as university network). Programs, libraries, documentation etc. for all user-related programs.
=> /var : This directory contains files which may change in size, such as spool and log files.
=> /lost+found : Every partition has a lost+found in its upper directory. Files that were saved during failures are here, for e.g ext2/ext3 fsck recovery.
How do I get information about each and every directory from command prompt?
Above list just summaries important directories, you can get list by entering the following command to display description of the file system hierarchy (works under all other UNIX like oses such as HP-UX ):
$ man hier
List contents of directories in a tree-like format
ls command is basic tool for exploring file system. You can use tree command for a recursive directory listing. It produces a depth indented listing of files.
$ tree
|-- DIR_COLORS |-- DIR_COLORS.xterm |-- Muttrc |-- Muttrc.local |-- NetworkManager |-- X11 | |-- Xmodmap | |-- Xresources | |-- applnk | |-- fs | | `-- config ..... ....... ..
find is another useful command to search for files in a directory hierarchy.
Further readings:
- Understanding UNIX / Linux File System
- Understanding UNIX / Linux filesystem directories
- Understanding the Linux file system directories / hierarchy
- Understanding UNIX / Linux filesystem Superblock
- Understanding filesystem Inodes
- What is a hard and symbolic (soft) link in Linux or Unix?
- Why isn't it possible to create hard links across file system boundaries?
- Surviving a Linux Filesystem Failures
- Linux / UNIX Delete or Remove Files With Inode Number


text:
The Episcopal Church took a major step toward recognizing same-sex unions this week when delegates at its triennial General Convention in Indianapolis voted overwhelmingly to allow priests to bestow the church's blessings on gay couples in lifetime committed relationships. Though the resolution stopped just short of declaring the blessing a marriage rite, and its use by priests remains contingent on the approval of local bishops, the move marks a growing acceptance by one of the country's oldest, most established denominations that gay people have always been part of the church and that their presence should be acknowledged in its liturgy.
The church's evolving position on same-sex unions comes just as Maryland opponents of gay marriage are gearing up to overturn the law legalizing same-sex unions passed by the General Assembly earlier this year. On Tuesday, the state Board of Elections certified a petition to put the measure on the November ballot after verifying more than 109,000 signatures submitted by the Maryland Marriage Alliance, a church-led group pushing for repeal. If the measure survives the fall referendum, Maryland would become the first state in the country in which voters approved a gay marriage law on a statewide ballot.
Polls show the public almost evenly divided on the issue, although the trend in recent years has been toward greater acceptance of marriage equality. Like the delegates to the Episcopal Church's convention, a growing number of Marylanders have come to realize that gay couples in long-term, committed relationships have always lived in their midst as neighbors and colleagues who have contributed to their communities. Moreover, many of them are raising families, and the children of those unions are going to be here regardless of the outcome of November's referendum.
As a practical matter, the referendum will decide a narrow question. Because the Court of Appeals has ruled that Maryland must recognize gay marriages performed in other states, all that really is at stake is whether same-sex couples who wish to make a lifelong commitment can be legally joined in a civil marriage ceremony performed in the state, or whether they have to travel a few miles down the road to the District of Columbia.
The philosophical question posed by the referendum, though, is of great significance. Are all Maryland families entitled to the same protections under the law? Are all children, no matter who their parents are, entitled to the same kind of support?
We think they should be, if for no other reason than that it's important for Maryland to be a welcoming place for families of all kinds. The only reason the state is involved in marriage at all is that strong marriages make strong families, and strong families make strong communities. That's true whether the couples involved are gay or straight. The Episcopal Church has recognized this fact; it's not the first denomination to do so, nor will it be the last. We hope that this November, Maryland voters will come to the same conclusion and vote to support marriage for all.


text: Real Estate Business Archive What Can You Learn About Forex That Will Help You Make Money? Posted by On March 28, 2017 In Affiliate Business, Business, Business Plan, Home Business, Investment, Online Business, Real Estate Business No Comments Getting started in foreign exchange currency trading can be intimidating. Being successful in trading can seem like an impossible task. The most important thing in forex trading is knowledge. Learning all of the ins and outs of Read More


text:
Topic Page: Metz
(Eng. and Ger. mĕts, Fr. mĕs), city (2010 est. pop. 127,000), capital of Moselle dept., NE France, on the Moselle River. It is a cultural, commercial, and transportation center of Lorraine, an industrial city producing metals, machinery, tobacco, clothing, and food products, and the home of one of France's largest military bases. It is one of eight cities targeted by the French government for special planning and development.
Of pre-Roman origin, the city was the capital of the Mediomatrici, a Gallic people. One of the most important cities of Roman Gaul, it was invaded and destroyed by the Vandals (406) and the Huns (451). Metz was an early episcopal see and became the capital of Austrasia (the eastern portion of the Merovingian Frankish empire) in the 6th cent.
After the division of the Frankish empire (8th cent.) the bishops of Metz greatly increased their power, ruling a relatively vast area as a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. Metz was a major cultural center of the Carolingian Renaissance (8th cent.) and was later (10th cent.) a prosperous commercial city with an important Jewish community. Metz became a free imperial city in the 12th cent. and was then one of the richest and most populous cities of the empire. During the Reformation the bourgeoisie of Metz welcomed Protestantism, but the city never became a bastion of Calvinism, and the uneasy bourgeoisie accepted the protection of the French crown.
In 1552, Henry II annexed the three bishoprics of Lorraine (Metz, Toul, and Verdun), and soon after, Metz, under the command of François de Guise, resisted a long siege (1552–53) by Emperor Charles V. The Peace of Westphalia (1648), ending the Thirty Years War, confirmed the three bishoprics in French possession. An important fortress and garrison town, Metz was besieged (1870) by the Germans in the Franco-Prussian War, and after a two-month siege, 179,000 French soldiers under Marshall Achille Bazaine capitulated. During the German annexation of E Lorraine (1871–1918), Metz, largely French-speaking, was a center of pro-French sentiment. During World War II the city suffered greatly under German occupation.
There are many Gallo-Roman ruins in Metz, including an aqueduct, thermal baths, and part of an amphitheater. Much has also been preserved from the medieval period. The celebrated Cathedral of St. étienne, built from c.1221 to 1516, has one of Europe's largest collections of stained glass. The Place Sainte-Croix is a square surrounded by medieval houses (13th–15th cent.). Metz has several other churches, including St. Pierre-de-la-Citadelle Basilica, mansions from the Middle Ages, and many beautiful promenades. The city is also the site of the futuristic Pompidou-Metz museum (2010), the first regional branch of Paris's Beaubourg (Pompidou Center). Paul Verlaine was born in Metz.


text:
Great movie idea or greatest movie idea? The Hollywood Reporter has the exclusive details:
Jon Turteltaub, best known for his work on Disney's National Treasure movies, has come aboard to develop Fox 2000's Beached as a directing vehicle.
Beached centers on a chubby 4-year-old child who falls overboard during a family outing, is raised by whales and goes on to become an Olympic swimmer. (No, it's not the Ryan Lochte story.)
Beached has been in development since 1997 and came in the form of a script from Ted Griffin, the writer of Steven Soderbergh's all-star Ocean's Eleven and more recently Tower Heist.
Although Betty Thomas was attached to direct at one point, the project has been dormant of late, and Turteltaub's involvement kick-starts it. No doubt the popularity of swimming at the recent Olympics and NBC's record ratings fueled the project's resurgence.
Sadly, this movie has been floating around Hollywood for 15 years and will probably never get made, due to unsafe levels of awesomeness and batshittery.
'National Treasure's' Jon Turteltaub to Develop, Direct Olympic Swimming Movie (Exclusive) [THR]


text:
Woman lying on road dies after being run over
The Northern Territory has recorded its first road fatality for the New Year, after a woman was run over by a motorbike at Alice Springs this morning.
Police say the woman was lying on the Sturt Terrace roadway at Eastside when the motorbike ran over her at about 2.30am.
She was taken to Alice Springs Hospital but died a short time later.
It was also the first road fatality of the Christmas and New Year holiday period in the Territory.
The bike rider suffered minor injuries from falling off the bike.
Police say it was a busy night in the central Australian town.
A man who asked his neighbours to keep the noise down during New Year's Eve festivities was bashed with a baseball bat.
The 48-year-old man suffered severe facial injuries and broken bones in the attack.
Police say he was beaten after asking a group of people in the suburb of Gillen to quieten down at about midnight.
Two men have been arrested in relation to the assault and two women who allegedly tried to interfere with the arrests also face charges.
In an unrelated incident, two juveniles are in custody after a large group of youths set fire to a car at Yarabah Court.
There were eight house break-ins overnight.
A 45-year-old man was admitted to Alice Springs Hospital with stab wounds.
On New Year's Eve, a grass fire near the Crowne Plaza in the centre of town caused the cancellation of a planned children's fireworks display.
In Darwin, police say they believe social media was to blame for a large party in the rural area that got out of control overnight.
Police were called to a property at Humpty Doo, in Darwin's rural area, where about 300 people had gathered.
Watch Commander Bob Harrison says it took police about two hours to disperse the partygoers, who threw rocks and bottles at officers and their cars.
"What we find is social media is a very useful tool for partygoers," he said.
"Once it gets on to social media, it spreads like wildfire.
"What you think is going to be a small party suddenly turns into a big party and, unfortunately, when you have got alcohol involved, young people and things, it can get out of hand really fast, as this one did in Humpty Doo."
Police say that, generally, people in the Top End capital were well-behaved in their New Year celebrations.
Paramedics say they had an uneventful New Year's Eve in Darwin and have commended revellers on their good behaviour.
St John Ambulance officer Craig Garraway says one of the most serious incidents involved a man who had to be rescued after falling from a cliff at Bynoe Harbour.
The man sustained a fractured leg but is in a stable condition in hospital.
Mr Garraway says he isn't sure why this New Year's Eve was much quieter than previous years.
"We were all standing in Mitchell Street with the police and we were all wondering why Mitchell Street was so quiet," he said.
"There were a lot of people at the casino and other areas but I'm unsure why Mitchell Street was as quiet as it was.
"But it was great for our guys because everyone was really well behaved and enjoying the night, and there were no real dramas."
Topics: police, road, community-and-multicultural-festivals, alice-springs-0870, darwin-0800
First posted


text:
Even though the West Coast is widely considered the birthplace of all things hot rodding, we still constantly get screwed in terms of events. We sit here bathed in perpetual sunshine, yet it seems most of the really cool driving events are at best hundreds, and typically thousands, of miles away. Hot Rod Power Tour, Car Craft Nationals, and a host of other muscle car events are commonplace back East, but rarer than an honest politician out this way. We get the whole "population density" argument, but that doesn't mean we don't long for someone to throw us a bone now and again.
Enter Bill Howell. For the last five years he's been hosting a driving event back in Tennessee called Run Through The Hills. It combines a cruise, autocross, and drag racing into a three-day festival of tire smoke. While on vacation out here in SoCal, Howell, Yancy Johns, and Danny Thomas came out to watch Camaro Performers do some product testing at our El Toro, California, driving facility. Howell was standing there, peering out at the huge expanses of tarmac and thought, "Why couldn't we have an event here?" It was at that moment that us West Coasters caught a break, and the seeds were sown for what was later dubbed Run To The Coast (RTTC). The idea was to combine autocross, road course, and braking competitions with a cruise and a small car show. The irony is that it took three Right Coasters to give us Left Coasters what we had been clamoring for.
The Detroit Speed-sponsored road course section was ran by Orange County Race Craft. They have a killer 2.1-mile track setup at El Toro, utilizing the decommissioned runways where they put on performance driving schools, so hiring them to run that section of the competition was a "no-brainer." Howell's group handled the Ridetech-sponsored autocross, along with a few local volunteers, while the Speed-Stop Challenge was ran by Baer Brakes. Rules for the event were kept simple. The cars had to pass a safety inspection, be street legal, and have tires with a treadwear rating of 200 or higher. Bonus points were awarded to cars that drove over 100 miles to the event. After all, as Howell once said, "Trailers are for boats!" Of course, for local residents this made the drive to the track a bit more circuitous if they wanted those points.
While the main event was held on Saturday, there was also a driving school on Friday sponsored by Carbon Customs, and a Sunday cruise/BBQ hosted by Spectre Performance. Put it all together and it made for three days of gearhead bliss, especially for us West Coasters looking to get in on the action.
Event Sponsors: Baer Brakes Ridetech Detroit Speed Inc. Forgeline Wheels Carbon Customs Wilwood Brakes Boze Alloys BFGoodrich Spectre Performance


text:
Yes, Walt Wawra is a real person. No, the letter we published from him Tuesday, about the "confrontation" he and his wife had with two Calgarians in Nose Hill Park, was not a hoax. The fact that so many readers have written in, or posted comments online, wondering if it was for real, speaks volumes about the cultural differences between Canadians and Americans. It gives the lie to those who say that Canadians are no different than Americans.
Wawra, who lives in Kalamazoo, Mich., is a police officer. While on a recent visit to Calgary, he and his wife, Debbie, were approached by two young men on a pathway in Nose Hill Park, who asked the Wawras if they had been to the Stampede yet. When they asked the question a second time, Wawra moved between the men and his wife and told them he had no need to talk to them. He said they looked "bewildered." The parties then went their separate ways.
In his letter, Wawra said it felt strange not to carry his off-duty handgun in Canada and added that he thanked the Lord they didn't pull a weapon on him. No benefit of the doubt given the young men, no thought that they might have just been trying to be friendly.
He also complained about Canadian gun laws, saying that in Canada, only the police and criminals carry handguns. Yes, that's true, and it's probably one of the reasons when there's a dispute over a parking space in Canada, nobody dies from bullet wounds as a result.
Wawra's mindset is what America's gun mania has produced. How paranoid and how very sad.
Michigan Live story: Kalamazoo police officer bashed by Canadians on Twitter
Wawra wrote that he speculated the men did not have good intentions. He claims the men spoke in an "aggressive, disrespectful and menacing manner." Menacing? A question about the Stampede is construed as a menace? Or, as someone commented on the Herald's website: "... for asking if you had been to the Stampede? Since when is that grounds to be dead?" Another commenter wrote: "I can see why they were frightened. If you rearrange the letters in 'been to Stampede yet?' you get "a beset potted enemy'."
Most likely, the men noticed something about the Wawras that indicated they were tourists, and were trying to make conversation. Maybe they themselves were enjoying the Stampede's centennial celebration and wanted to let these tourists know that their visit to Calgary wouldn't be complete without a day at the Stampede. The fact that the young men looked bewildered by Wawra's response indicates that their intentions were indeed friendly ones and that they were quite puzzled at being rebuffed.
Gawker: Americans become laughingstock of Canada over letter
Wawra did not return my call requesting an interview Tuesday afternoon. Too bad. I would have liked to ask him why an American visitor to Calgary would treat a friendly encounter in a city park here as if it were a midnight stroll through a drug-dealer infested alley on the south side of Chicago. One can only stand open-mouthed at the knee-jerk mindset of suspicion, fear and loathing on the mean streets — which is so ingrained in Americans that they can't leave it at home when they visit another country.
Americans argue that they need to carry guns, because having a concealed weapon makes them feel safe. Their thinking seems to be that at any given moment, they could be under attack from the very next person they meet on the street, and they'll need to shoot in self-defence. Whereas, when you walk down a street in Canada, you don't assume that you're at risk of being suddenly assaulted or killed. You just see ordinary people going about their day and you give their motives no further thought.
Walt Wawra responds: I'm not deterred by negative reaction
And so, Americans, unaware of just how sick their handgun mentality is, continue to fight like crazy to prevent any kind of handgun-control legislation from being implemented. A 9 mm handgun, purchased legally, was the weapon of choice in Oak Creek, Wis., on Sunday when six people were killed and three more wounded by a white supremacist at a Sikh temple. One might argue that if the worshippers had carried guns, they could have killed the guy first. But sitting in a temple armed to the teeth while listening to a sermon about brotherhood and peace is ridiculous.
"Many would say I have no need to carry (a handgun) in Canada," Wawra wrote. "Yet I have a unique perspective based on years of police experience. The perspective (is that) the police cannot protect everyone all the time. A man should be allowed to protect himself if the need arises... My perspective proved true a few days ago for my wife and I."
It doesn't seem to have occurred to Wawra that the need didn't arise in Calgary, and that if he'd been carrying a handgun, two people might now be dead because they asked him if he'd been to the Stampede.
As an American who is also a Canadian citizen, all I can say is, thank God I live in Canada.
Naomi Lakritz is a Herald columnist. firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
If ever there was an all-inclusive resort that embraces the quintessential Caribbean, Sandals Halcyon Beach is surely it.
Stay by a Tranquil Sea in Saint Lucia
+ Get up to $635 Instant Credit
For Travel: Now - Dec.21,2020
Save up to 65% off rack rates at Sandals Halcyon Beach with a minimum 3-night stay
Maximum 2 person limit for offer
Offer is based on double occupancy, minimum
3-PAID nights stay
(Photo: Sandals provides the #1 all-inclusive dining experience)
Offer: $635 USD Instant Credit on 7-paid nights or longer
Offer: $525 USD Instant Credit on 6-paid nights
Offer: $405 USD Instant Credit on 5-paid nights
Offer: $275 USD Instant Credit on 4-paid nights
Offer is valid for new bookings only.
For inclusive offer, the $635, $525, $405 & $275 Instant Credits are in USD, applied to the base fare and excludes government taxes and fees, which must be paid at time of booking and is fully non-refundable.
(Photo: Sandals watersports are always included and always unlimited)
- Unlimited fine dining at 6 restaurants
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and anytime snacks
- Unlimited Premium Liquors
- 7 bars, including swim-up bars
- Home to the Caribbean's longest pool
- Stocked bars in every room
- Unlimited Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks® wines
- All tips, taxes and gratuities
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Round-trip transfers and green fees to 2 nearby golf courses
- PADI-Certified SCUBA diving (and all equipment)
- Snorkeling (and all equipment)
- Waterskiing
- Hobie Cats, paddle boards, kayaks
- Professional instruction for water sports
- Beach volleyball, bocce ball, pool tables
- Day and night tennis
- Unlimited land sports and state-of-the-art fitness centers
- Day and night entertainment including live shows
- Exchange privileges (including complimentary round-trip shuttles) with 2 nearby Sandals with access to all amenities and inclusions for access to a total of 27 restaurants and 21 bars serving unlimited premium liquors and much more
- Free Wi-Fi (in room and all common areas)
- Free wedding (for stays of 3 nights or longer)


text:
What a comeback for the Dow Industrials!
From a March 9, 2009, close of 6,547, the senior index climbed to 13,610 on Oct. 5, 2012.
Moreover, the Dow achieved this feat in the face of a weak-kneed economy, and it has grinded forward now for three and a half years.
The persistent rise has emboldened stock market prognosticators.
S&P Could Still Hit 1,600 Year-End
--CNBC, Oct. 23
All the while, fewer and fewer investors have been participating in the so-called recovery.
Take a look at the chart below from the just-published October 2012 special video Elliott Wave Theorist, and then read Prechter's commentary.
People have started ignoring volume because bears have been talking about declining volume ever since 2010. But it is extremely important. Volume overall has been shrinking ever since the market's low of March 2009. This line that I've drawn tracks the volume on the rising portions of the rally from 2009. Every time the market gets hit very hard-such as in the collapse of 2008, the "flash crash" of May 2010 and the market plunge in August last year-volume picks up.
This is not a picture of a bull market. In a bull market, the opposite happens. Volume should be going up during the entire period, and it should be declining every time the market corrects. But we're getting exactly the opposite situation.
--The Elliott Wave Theorist, October 2012
Volume is an important momentum indicator that many overlook. It's time to start looking at your investments independently. EWI is here to help.
Learn to Think Independently
You'll get some of the most groundbreaking and eye-opening reports ever published in Elliott Wave International's 30-year history; you'll also get new analysis, forecasts and commentary to help you think independently in today's tumultuous market.
Download Your Free 50-Page Independent Investor eBook Now >>
This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline Prechter: "This is Not a Picture of a Bull Market". EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.
Robert R. Prechter Jr.: Conquer the Crash: You Can Survive and Prosper in a Deflationary Depression


text:
Do you need to buy 7216C NSK bearing? You will get what you want here. We have a good stock of NSK 7216C bearing, which can absolutely meet your needs. If you want to get details and quotations about 7216C NSK, please contact our online customer service, send us an online message or send us an email. You will get the most complete information about 7216C NSK, including the size, type, load, service life, model, accuracy and so on.
We are glad to have a long-term cooperation with you. Contact us as soon as possible and you will get more discounts.


text:
2006 Pontiac Torrent Reviews and Ratings
Utility 4D 2WD
Expert Reviews
The all-new 2006 Pontiac Torrent is the biggest of the compact SUVs. Based on a car chassis, the Torrent offers a nice ride and good power.
The available leather seats are nice, the premium stereo sounds good, and the low dash offers a good view of the road ahead. Convenience features include a sliding and reclining back seat that offers extended leg room or more cargo space according to your needs, and a clever tray in back for cargo versatility.
Torrent is Pontiac's first true sport utility vehicle. It's built on the platform of the Chevy Equinox. Unlike most Pontiacs, Torrent's styling is restrained, clean and pleasing.
The 2006 Pontiac Torrent comes with a choice of front-wheel drive ($22,400) or all-wheel drive ($24,300). Torrent is powered by GM's 3.4-liter V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission. Only one trim level is offered, but with a variety of options.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power windows, AM/FM/CD with six speakers, remote entry and automatic door locks, fog lamps, roof rails, daytime running lights, a rear window wiper, and 16-inch aluminum wheels.
Options include a Premium Package ($795) with leather interior and heated front seats. The Preferred Package ($1555) includes primarily a six-way power driver's seat, tinted glass, cruise control, crossbars for the roof rails, and leather-wrapped steering wheel to accent the cloth interior. The Sun and Sound Package ($1285) includes a sunroof and six-disc Pioneer sound system with seven speakers and a subwoofer and amplifier. Stand-alone options include XM Satellite Radio ($325) and 17-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires ($295).
Safety features that come standard include ABS, a rear child-seat latch system, and the mandated front airbags. Traction control comes standard on front-wheel-drive models; all-wheel-drive further enhances safety, of course. An optional Security Package ($1090) includes side curtain airbags and one year of Onstar service. Electronic stability control isn't available.
The Pontiac Torrent is relatively large for the class, with a wheelbase that's 13 inches longer than that of the Ford Escape. The Torrent is based on a car platform. It shares its basic structure with the Chevy Equinox and Saturn Vue. Torrent is the same shape as the Equinox, but Torrent's split kidney grille announces it's a Pontiac and gives it some distinction. Distinction is in fairly short supply in this class, however, and the Torrent looks similar to most SUVs in this category.
All in all, it's a pleasing, subtle design, with clean lines and a forward wedge shape to the sides. The trapezoidal twin-beam headlamps are strong, reminiscent of a Saab, and so is the pseudo skid-plate that wraps up onto the front fascia, coming from under the car. The B-pillar is flat black, so it's barely visible between the tinted glass of the front and rear doors; this accentuates the thick C-pillar, and the pleasant tall rectangular shape of the rear side window. Thick aluminum roof rails are suggestive of those on the Nissan Xterra and help give this car-based SUV a more rugged appearance. The outside door handles are the big grab variety, making it easy to open the doors and climb in without breaking fingernails.
Getting in the Pontiac Torrent is easy. The door openings are wide, and you need neither climb up nor stoop down to get in the seats. Simply slide in. The seats are comfortable, though we'd prefer more side bolstering.
The cabin looks nice, though the materials vary in quality. The standard cloth upholstery, used on the seats and door trim is attractive. One of our test vehicles came in light-colored cloth and, with a matching roof liner, gave the cabin an airy feeling. The available leather seats are also nice. However, the plastic used for the dash and other trim is no better than average for the class.
The steering wheel, is leather-wrapped with stylish but bulky stitching that feels rough in your hands. The instruments are uncluttered and easy to read, despite the red lighting. The dashboard is low, affording good forward visibility. Big side mirrors make more good rearward visibility. The inside door handles are easy to operate. The switchgear works well, with one exception: The power window buttons are awkwardly located on the center console, not on the driver's door, so you'll have to look down to find them; and lowering the window at toll booths demands a shift of hands on the steering wheel, to toss coins or take a ticket.
The center console flips up and out of the way, opening up space between the front seats for a tote bag or purse so it's not flopping around in the passenger's footwell. On the floor is a single cupholder that works well for cans and water bottles; just aft of this, also on the floor, are slots for CDs angled forward for easy access. Flipping the center console back into place offers an armrest and a small amount of storage, though the storage cubby is located far enough rearward as to be awkward to access. A pair of cupholders can be popped out of the end of the console, but they're flimsy and obstruct the floor-mounted handbrake lever; we avoided using them, preferring the floor-mounted cupholder. Your passenger will just have to hold his or her drink. The door pockets are narrow, though there are map pockets on the sides of the center tunnel. There's room for a cell phone on each side of the gear lever, which is surrounded by a grippy rubber pad.
The optional Pioneer sound system is deep and rich, something we discovered while listening to XM Satellite Radio's Cinemagic station, with movie soundtracks.
The rear seat slides forward or back eight inches, a nice feature. Sliding it forward and adds five cubic feet of cargo space. Sliding it back offers rear passengers more legroom. The rear seat is split 60/40 for cargo versatility, and the seatbacks recline, so passengers back there can really lie back. The front passenger seat folds flat, turning it into a tray or allowing long items, like a surfboard, to stretch from the tailgate to dashboard.
The cargo compartment features a clever polycarbonate tray that pulls out of the floor and can be slotted into one of three height levels, so it can be used for different things, including concealment. It allows two levels of grocery boxes or bags, for example. The tailgate lifts high enough that all but the tallest owners can stand fully upright beneath it.
The Pontiac Torrent gets good acceleration out of its 185-horsepower V6 engine. It uses an older, overhead-valve design, however, so it's not as smooth and quiet as, say, an overhead-cam engine from Toyota. EPA rates it 19/24 City/Highway miles per gallon. We averaged 18 mpg, but our test vehicle only had 579 miles on it when we began driving, and engines loosen up and get better mileage over time.
The five-speed automatic transmission may be the smoothest thing about the Torrent. The upshifts are nice and tight. There's good engine torque, with 210 pound-feet, and the transmission ratios and electronically variable shift points are well matched. We drive two steep hills every day in all kinds of vehicles, including those far more powerful than the Torrent; many other transmissions have to kick down, but the Torrent did not. It's also rated to tow 3500 pounds.
The Torrent offers good handling for the class without any sign of harshness to the ride. The longest wheelbase and widest track in the class surely add to this capability. The ride was good, including over some rough gravel roads, and. It's not hard to spin the front wheels when taking off quickly, and the front-drive Torrent comes standard with traction control to mitigate that. We haven't driven an all-wheel-drive version. Our experience with all-wheel-drive versions of the similar Saturn Vue are that the rear wheels are only driven when the fronts start to slip. This works okay for getting through snow, but doesn't significantly improve handling on wet roads.
We'd prefer the Torrent had disc brakes on all four wheels, but it comes with drum brakes in the rear, which are less costly. Four-wheel ABS is standard, but no Electronic Brake-force Distribution is available. We made one panic stop from 70 miles per hour, and were satisfied with the feel of the pedal and stopping distance.
The Pontiac Torrent is among the biggest of the compact SUVs. It's a competent vehicle with some nice convenience features, such as a sliding rear seat. In terms of refinement it's about average for the class.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Sam Moses filed this report from the Columbia River Gorge; Mitch McCullough contributed to this report from Los Angeles.


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
This listing is for ONE expandable "twisted" Stainless Steel bracelet. One size fits all.
Dangling from the bracelet is a hand-cut, hand-finished 3/4" fine pewter disc with "My Whole World", a hand-cut 5/8" fine pewter disc personalized with a name, and a birthstone. More names and birthstones can be added.
Ships in approximately 2-3 weeks.
This bracelet is hand stamped. Expect variations in lettering- this is not a defect, but adds character and beauty to each piece.
2 Review(s)
Add Your Review
Availability: Available To Order
Characters left: 12
Please note that not all special requests can be accommodated and they may be subject to additional costs (we will contact you)


text:
Today, we got word from Us Weekly (via Jezebel) that rapper Kanye West is currently interning at the Gap's New York offices. Says one insider: "He works all the time, and one Friday night recently, he stayed until 12 am. He's learning the fashion business from the inside and trying to do it quietly." Well, "quietly" would certainly be a first, considering Kanye's reputation for large-scale theatrics.
Recently, word has spread that the highly-successful rapper was considering taking a break from music to dive into a fashion career (New York Magazine even called around to see who might consider taking on the famously arrogant Mr. West), and of late the musician has been decidedly focused on style. First, there was his collaboration with Nike, and then most recently, his seriously high-end line of sneakers for Louis Vuitton, which we now hear are already sold out. Plus, he's been posting a ton of style content on his blog of late (like this model shot from insider favorite label Acne).
So ... interning? Choosing to sit in on the day-to-day at a massive brand like Gap would certainly be a wise move for West if he's thinking about creating his own mass-market brand (we wouldn't put it past him), and creative director Patrick Robinson has long been highly regarded as bringing the brand back from the brink of being irrelevent in terms of style. And after model Chanel Iman spent that afternoon cleaning up the Teen Vogue closet, interning is really becoming the cool thing to do. We'd argue it all kicked off with Ashley Olseninterning for Zac Posen back in 2005 (alongside Lauren Bush, we might add), and we all know that resulted in two highly successful clothing line launches, so we're interested to see what Kanye's got up his sleeves.


text:
P.O. Box 46398Tampa, Florida 33646-0104
United States
Phone: 813-334-9392
See map: Google Maps
Range Process Equipment has had offices in central Florida since the early 1980's. We have been a manufacturer's representative firm from the beginning, occasionally teaming with our contractor network to provide limited installation.
Airpro Fan; Hix Ovens; Marion Mixers; Monroe Environmental; Paxton Products; Pebco/ Cleveland Armstrong; Servolift; Sharpsville Container; Thomas Conveyor; Universal Blower Pac; Verantis Environmental Solutions Group


text:
#neverliberal #nevermarxist
You're pushing 720 posts, and haven't managed to make one valid point with any of them.
No, we can use basic probability analysis (read: math) to suggest that life is very much likely to exist somewhere else in the universe (something that would turn Christian theology on its head).Can you use similar arithmetic to establish that the probability of God existing is more than infinitesimal? ----You see, your entire logic here is "you can't prove that X couldn't possibly exist, so it must exist."I suppose we should start preparing for the invasion of the flying hippos from Jupiter sometime soon.
You've all likely heard of it: the universe is ordered and has just the right makeup and physical laws for life to exist. Ergo, it must have been intelligently designed.OK, let's analyze this commonly used argument, one that even Sir Isaac Newton adhered to:1. The argument simply advocates deism, not any specific religion. There is no conceivable justification for leaping from "the universe was intelligently designed" to "the universe was intelligently designed on X day, in Y days, by Z creator, for A purpose in B exact circumstances".2. The argument actually leads to the conclusion that the watchmaker is imperfect and impersonal. After all, if you came across a fabulously designed watch, you would assume that the watchmaker was highly skilled. But if you came across a watch with serious imperfections, the rule of parsimony would dictate that the watchmaker messed up, not that the watchmaker was an omnipotent deity and that, through a ridiculous convoluted narrative, the watch broke itself due to no fault of the watchmaker. To state otherwise would be to presuppose that the watchmaker must be omnipotent, which sounds like blatant and unjustified bias, and it is.3. Here's the kicker: the exact same logic can be applied to the watchmaker. If the universe is complex -> it must have been designed is a valid logical argument, then the watchmaker is complex -> the watchmaker must have been designed is just as true, if not moreso. This leads to an infinite regression, which does nothing but make the problem more complex with every backpeddle.If we admit that, logically, there must be a First Cause (unless if we include some sort of time-loop, which discounts God entirely), wouldn't Occam's Razor suggest that we just leave the universe, which which clearly exists, as the First Cause, rather than add in an infinitely complex variable (God) into the equation that solves nothing, and actually makes the question larger?
Sounds like magic to you because you don't understand it. That Earth developed life is not magic; it's simple probability. Out of quadrillions of planets, at least one happened to undergo the unlikely set of coincidences that led to the development of intelligent life. Do you think one person winning the lottery is magic?
You still haven't answered the million dollar question: you think that the universe is far to complex to have just appeared, how do you explain God? He just exists for no reason, and yet is infinitely more complex than the universe. And unlike the universe, which quite certainly exists, God is a variable you add in to explain said universe.
Not by anyone. If something cannot be explained in scientific terms, it does not exist.How about this:Name me one thing other than God that cannot be explained scientifically even in theory, but still quite clearly exists. And no, abstract ideals do not "exist".
Would you say only things subject to perception by our particular five senses exist?
OK, let me rephrase that:Anything that cannot be objectively verified or supported through the scientific method has no reason for us to believe that it exists.So technically, God could exist. But the probability is pretty low, because the only way he could exist would be by coincidence. Flying monkeys on Mars could exist, but for all intents of purposes we can conclusively say that they do not.
I'm actually quite happy without God in my life. Maybe you don't understand this, but there comes a time when you can outgrow your imaginary friend and realize that you only have one life; here, on Earth.
And you can outgrow your naïve understanding of "happiness" without any meaning and purpose. I don't suggest you go too far down this road. It can make you very unhappy.
If there's only one ticket--and it's a winner--is that "simple probability"?
God is not necessarily more complex than the universe. From where do you get the necessity that God is more complex than the universe? It does not follow.
What do you mean by "no reason"? By "reason" do you mean the physical properties of your brain that are the result of random processes and natural selection? For what "reason" do you find your "reason" trustworthy?
At what point does this become Spam?Posting endless rants,


text: Stueyd 3 Posted June 13, 2013 Hi there 89F owners, I have a 59 and though I love the look of it and the sounds, i'm missing not having a tremelo and to be honest i'm finding it a bit on the heavy side after a few hours of playing so i'm thinking of selling it on and getting an 89F. I've already played a few 69s in the shops and didn't like them which is why i'm leaning towards an 89F but there are none locally to try so i'll have to buy "blind". So.... Those of you who've bought them, how do you rate them? Sounds (I assume they'll be almost identical to the 59?) , feel, playability? Would you recommend one? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
90% of North Americans consume caffeine on a daily basis. When ingested by itself, caffeine is extremely bitter — not the type a flavor many of us want lingering on our taste buds.
But some foods offer substantial amounts of caffeine, while others are packed with it synthetically. How many cups of coffee are you slugging per chocolate bar? Let's take a look at some sources of edible caffeine and how they stack up to your morning cup of java.
Caffeine pops up in our life-giving cup of early morning coffee and in a majority of soft drinks. A can of Coca-Cola contains 30 to 35 milligrams of caffeine. A typical cup of coffee ranges from 100 to 200 mg of caffeine — some commercial blends of coffee even push the 300 mg mark.
Caffeine also naturally occurs in a handful of foods, with chocolate being the most popular. An individual cocoa bean, the key ingredient in chocolate, is 0.1 to 0.7% caffeine by mass.
The amount of caffeine that in a serving of chocolate candy is not extraordinary. A serving of Hershey's Kisses contains 11 mg of caffeine, roughly a one-third of the caffeine in a soft drink. One might get an extra jolt from the sugar content in the chocolate, but you aren't going to replace your daily espresso fix by downing a handful of dusty kisses from the office candy dish.
Dark chocolate is made by increasing the amount of cocoa beans in the mixture. This leads to a slightly bitter taste and a considerable increase in the amount of caffeine. Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate doubles the caffeine amount of milk chocolate, coming in at 25 mg of caffeine per serving. One of Hershey's boutique brands, Scharffen Berger Mocha Dark Chocolate, contains 68.8 mg per the suggested serving, half of the chocolate. If you eat the entire bar, you are certainly entering coffee territory.
If you're looking to get even more unorthodox, a burgeoning market exists for "caffeine infused" versions of existing foods. Nestlé markets a caffeinated version of its Butterfinger candy bars, Butterfinger Buzz. Buzz contains 80 mg of caffeine, thirty-five times the amount of caffeine in a normal Butterfinger. Another potent example of infusion is AMP Energy Gum, containing 40 mg of caffeine per piece, which is a phenomenal amount of caffeine for a small tablet of gum, especially considering one could easily chew three to four pieces in a sitting.
The United States Army is experimenting with a caffeinated form of beef jerky for Meals Ready to Eat (MREs). The beef gives soldiers without access to potable hot water for coffee a caffeine source. Several companies already produce caffeinated beef jerky for commercial use, with Perky Jerky containing 150 mg of caffeine per serving of beef jerky. The amount of caffeine in the U.S. Army's jerky formulation is currently unknown.
Moving right along, there is the wild and crazy world of "extreme" caffeine-loaded foods, or consumables containing amounts of caffeine surpassing multiple cups of coffee in a single serving. The classy Ed Hardy Chocolate Rocks contains 600 mg of caffeine in a serving, which is as much caffeine as several cups of coffee or three maximum strength No-Doz pills.
And for those of you Caffeine powders are also available, allowing you to add caffeine to macaroni and cheese or anything else you can get your hands on and dissolve the powder in. Blast Caffeine is available as a blend of caffeine and additives that delivers 11 gram of caffeine within a 15 gram bottle of Blast Caffeine mix. One "shake" of Blast adds roughly 100 mg of caffeine to your food or drink, but use with care, as ingesting 11 grams of caffeine in a short amount of time is quite dangerous.
Caffeine powders also alter the flavor of a food or drink due the bitter nature of caffeine, so you might make some awful-tasting food in the process. Bitter macaroni and cheese. Mmmm.
All in all, our prodigious daily usage could likely frighten our descendants the same way we are shocked by the availability of cocaine in the early 1900s. Heck, back in the day caffeine was accused of being more societally deleterious than cocaine, so perhaps everything will come full circle.
Top image from iwannabesquid/DeviantART.


text:
HOUSTON – Baker Hughes says it's ready to divulge all the chemicals it uses in hydraulic fracturing, revelations that other big industry players have limited by asserting the potions they use to get at trapped oil and gas are trade secrets.
In a statement recently posted on its website, the Houston-based oil field services firm says it "believes it is possible to disclose 100 percent of the chemical ingredients we use in hydraulic fracturing fluids without compromising our formulations — a balance that increases public trust while encouraging commercial innovation."
Baker Hughes included a disclaimer: It would reveal its chemical data "where accepted by our customers and relevant governmental authorities." The company said it will take several months for it to negotiate with its suppliers before it can release its data.
The new disclosures, the company said, would eliminate any trade secret claims about its reports to FracFocus, an industry-backed database that regulators in Texas and other states use as a clearinghouse for fracturing-fluid data.
It contains data on more than 68,000 U.S. oil and gas well sites.
Last year, researchers from Harvard's environmental law program said FracFocus has "serious flaws" because it allows oil producers to withhold information on the fracturing fluids they use, by asserting trade secret exemptions.
And last month, an Energy Department advisory board of engineers and environmentalists concluded FracFocus disclosures hold back too much information, with companies invoking trade-secret exemptions on more than 84 percent of all the registered wells. In Texas, the advisory board noted, more than 5,500 of the 6,400 disclosures invoked a trade secret exemption between last June and March.
Baker Hughes says its new data format will calm those concerns, as it will include in its newly formatted reports a complete analysis of its fluid mixtures, down to tiny trace elements of ammonium hydroxide.
The release of Baker Hughes' data would come as activist investors and environmental groups press oil companies to disclose the chemicals they use in the modern technique of blasting a mix of water, chemicals and proppants sometimes two miles under the earth's surface to crack open shale oil and gas reservoirs.
Shareholder groups have so far failed to force Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp. and others to disclose several quantitative metrics around shale-gas drilling, but activists say 30-percent shareholder votes for transparency resolutions at the two largest U.S. oil producers last year indicate the pressure is building. The oil giants say they already report fracturing chemicals to state regulators and such public disclosures would be redundant.
The New York City Pensions Funds, which filed a shareholder resolution last year for Exxon Mobil to publish more shale-gas drilling data, said money managers with at least $1.3 trillion in assets under management support greater transparency around hydraulic fracturing.
Baker Hughes estimates that 60 percent of U.S. natural gas would be trapped in shale and other reservoirs if not for hydraulic fracturing, a technique that has been around for some six decades but only recently targeted shale reserves since the mid-2000s when engineers combined the process with horizontal drilling.
Also on FuelFix:
Inside Colorado's fracking boom


text:
- Home
- Membership
- Education
- Chapters
- News
- Member Resources
- Events
- Find a Tax Preparer/Consultant
SDNC - Breakfast Roundtable Meeting - 03.20.2018
632 Sycamore
Vista, CA 92083
View additional information
Tuesday, March 20, 2018, 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM PST
Category: Chapter Meetings
North San Diego County Chapter Breakfast Roundtable Meeting
March 20, 2018
IHOP, 632 Sycamore Avenue, Vista, CA 92083
This meeting is a round table discussion by all members in attendance. Each member brings a topic for discussion or a problem that they are having completing a tax return. The members discuss each situation and due to the many members and many years of experience, most often an answer is achieved. If research is needed, a member will bring the answer the following week, with printed documentation.
1 Hour Federal Tax Law
This presentation has been designed to meet the requirements of the Return Preparer Office, the California State Board of Accountancy; and the California Tax Education Council including code 31 of Federal Regulations10.6 (g). This does not constitute an endorsement by these groups. A listing of additional requirements to renew tax preparer registration may be obtained by contacting CTEC at P.O. Box 2890, Sacramento, CA. 95812- 2890, or phone CTEC at (877) 850-2832, or on the Internet at www.ctec.org.
Contact: Michele Maheras, [email protected]
Sat Dec 7, 2019SD - 60 Hour In-Person QE Education 2019
Category: CSTC Events
Wed Dec 11, 2019HOLIDAY PARTY - Inland Empire Meeting 12.11.19
Category: Chapter Meetings
Wed Dec 11, 2019Orange County Chapter Meeting 12.11.19
Category: Chapter Meetings
Wed Dec 11, 2019San Diego Chapter Holiday Party 12.11.19
Category: Chapter Meetings
Thu Dec 12, 20192019 Annual Holiday Party - San Diego-North County 12.12.19
Category: Chapter Meetings
The California Society of Tax Consultants consists of tax professionals that are located throughout California. Click here for the online search.
If you pay to have your tax return prepared in California, your preparer must be properly registered or licensed. There are several sources of information to help you verify your tax preparer is properly registered or licensed:
California Tax Education Council (For California Registered Tax Preparers)
Internal Revenue Service (For PTIN holders and Enrolled Agents)
National Society of Accountants (NSA) Choose a Tax Pro
National Society of Accountants (NSA) Find a Tax Pro


text:
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Dec. 28, 2012) - Creso Exploration Inc. ("Creso" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:CXT)(FRANKFURT:C3X) announces the closing of part of the non-brokered private placement announced earlier this month. The Corporation issued 3,400,000 "flow-through" units (each, a "FT Unit") and 8,400,000 units (each, a "Unit"). Each of the FT Units and Units was issued at a price of $0.05 for aggregate gross proceeds of $590,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each FT Unit is comprised of one common share of the Corporation issued on a flow-through basis and one-half of a common share purchase warrant of the Corporation (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Corporation (a "Unit Share") and one Warrant. Each Warrant entitles its holder to subscribe for one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.10 during a 24-month period following closing of the Private Placement. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement have a four-month hold period. All securities issued under or in connection with the Offering are subject to a hold period in Canada until October 7, 2012. The Private Placement is subject to receipt of the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
An insider of the Corporation subscribed for $300,000 of the Private Placement. This participation constitutes a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"), but the Corporation was exempt from both the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in connection with the Private Placement as neither the fair market value of the securities issued, nor the consideration for such securities, in so far as it involves interested parties, exceeded 25% of the Corporation's market capitalization as calculated pursuant to MI 61-101.
The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to finance the exploration program of the Corporation and its working capital.
About Creso
The Corporation's principal mining exploration holdings are located in the Shining Tree mining camp of Northern Ontario within 100 km of the Timmins and Kirkland Lake mining camps.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements that address future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Corporation's control. These factors include: results of exploration activities, general market and industry conditions, and other risks disclosed in the Corporation's filings with Canadian Securities Regulators.
Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Corporation's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Corporation expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Depending on exploration results and available financing, the Corporation may at any point modify its work program.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact Information:


text:
ISPs Agree to FCC Rules on Anti-Botnet, DNSSEC, Internet Routing
Major Internet service providers have agreed to follow a set of cyber-security recommendations designed to deal with botnets, Domain Name System attacks, and Internet routing hijacking, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
An FCC advisory committee unanimously voted to adopt three cyber-security codes of conduct to protect consumers from malicious online attacks, the FCC said Mar. 22. The Communications, Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council includes public sector representatives and experts from ISPs, public safety, and consumer organizations.
AT&T, CenturyLink, Comcast, Cox, Sprint, TimeWarner Cable, and Verizon have pledged to comply and abide by the CSRIC recommendations.
These are "smart, practical, voluntary solutions that will materially improve the cyber security of commercial networks," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski.
The advisory committee spent 12 months developing the voluntary rules in three areas:
Anti-Bot Code of Conduct
Many residential customers are not aware that their computers are infected with malware that receives instructions from a remote server. These machines are participating in a botnet without the user's awareness. More than one in ten U.S. computers are zombies that can be used by botmasters to send spam, eavesdrop on network traffic, or steal user passwords, according to the Online Trust Alliance.
CSRIC recommended ISPs adopt the Anti-Bot Code of Conduct for Internet Service Providers (ABCs for ISPs) to deal with the botnet threat. Under the ABCs, ISPs will educate customers about botnets, proactively scan for and detect botnet activity on their networks, notify affected customers, help with remediation, and collaborate with other ISPs.
Several ISPs have already adopted the ABCs, meaning nearly 29 percent of U.S. households who have broadband service are protected. The results are already promising, as ISPs report reduced upstream traffic, spam, and helpdesk calls, according to the OTA.
DNS Best Practices
CSRIC recommended ISPs implement best practices to secure the Domain Name System from abuse. Among them is DNSSEC, the secure protocol extensions that make it harder to abuse DNS.
DNS works like a telephone directory for the Internet, translating domain names into numeric IP addresses of the server being requested. Attackers can poison DNS cache records or spoof records to trick users into thinking a malicious page is legitimate. With DNSSEC, domain name hijacking will not be possible.
This is significant step toward getting all ISPs to implement DNSSEC.
IP Route Hijacking
CSRIC recommended an industry framework to prevent Internet route hijacking, in which Internet traffic is routed through unauthorized servers and networks on its way to the server or to the end-user's device. In a recent hijacking attempt, some U.S.-based users using Facebook had their network traffic diverted through Chinese servers before reaching the social networking giant's own data centers. ISPs committed to implementing new technologies and processes to reduce the number of these events.
Users in the U.S. will be "more confident that their Internet traffic will not be exposed to scrutiny by other networks, foreign or domestic, through misrouting," the FCC said.
Genachowski had called for ISPs to voluntarily adopt an industry-wide code of conduct to both prevent online attacks and to help customers recover from an attack last month. In a speech at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C., Genachowski had praised Comcast and CenturyLink for proactively informing customers about potential botnet infections and offering remediation support.
"If other ISPs employed similar best practices, it could significantly reduce the botnet threat," Genachowski had said in the speech.


text:
The greatest WordPress.com site in all the land!
Red Pen Confessions of a Recovering Perfectionist, Passionate Educator, Attempted Runner
Just another WordPress.com site
Journalist & Children's Writer
Thoughts from an elementary administrator
Greenwood High School News
Poems and stories of love & heartbreak.
Confronting "our rigid refusal to look at ourselves" (James Baldwin)
Beautiful photos of hiking and other outdoor adventures.
A site to discuss better education for all
Stop high-stakes testing from destroying public education.
Official Writing Tips, Inspiration and Hacks
When will we ever learn?: Common sense and nonsense about today's public schools in America.
Moving Forward... most of the time
Passionate Penchants
My point-of-view after 25 years in the classroom


text:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Gaining praise and accolades from experts in any field is extra special.
That's why Wednesday was a good day for senior Jamie Skeen of the Virginia Commonwealth University men's basketball team as he was honored with a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District First-Team.
District 10 is made up of all the CAA institutions, with only coaches allowed to vote on the squads.
He was joined on the First-Team squad by Charles Jenkins of Hofstra, Denzel Bowles of James Madison, Cam Long of George Mason and Frank Hassell of Old Dominion.
"Jamie was phenomenal all year for us and I couldn't be happier for him," Head Coach Shaka Smart said. "He's an extremely hard worker and a guy who just wants to do anything to help his team win. It's nice to see his play get recognition from the coaches around the league."
The honor comes just days after Skeen was recognized with a spot on the CAA All-Tournament team after averaging 21 points and 5.7 rebounds, as well as shooting 56% from the field in VCU's run to the CAA Championship game.
He leads the Black & Gold in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg), blocks (1.1 bpg), field-goal percentage (52.7%) and free-throws made (151).
In addition, he ranks in the top-10 in the CAA in all five of those statistical categories.
Skeen's best game of the year came on the night when he joined the 1,000-point club. It came on February 9, when he scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Rams to a 84-74 double-overtime victory at Delaware.
The Charlotte, N.C. native currently stands at 1,126 career points, 634 rebounds, 86 three-pointers and a career field-goal percentage of 48.5%, with those totals coming from his two seasons at Wake Forest and two at VCU.
Skeen and his teammates will now have the week to rest and prepare for their postseason fate, which will be determined sometime Sunday night.


text:
I know this comes with a little delay but my lovely friend Kinga from Rock this Runway came over from Manchester two weeks ago to stay at my place for a couple days. We firstly met each other in person at the London Edge in February but got to know each other through the internet before. Realizing that it is really possible to build up such a strong relationship with someone only through social media is fascinating to me and I never believed that it is really possible, yet it happened a few times already.
I picked her up from the bus station on Thursday evening quite late and we talked a lot till 2 am even if we both were super tired :D on Friday I showed her around the central city of Leipzig. Some shops like a crystal store where we both bought some for the personal collection. Monki, Primark and some other shops we wanted to check out together followed by vegan ice cream at Milchbar Pinguin. They had two vegan sorts, one the bittersweet chocolate which was so good and as dark as our goth soul 💀
We went home very late and tired but super happy :D
Hungry and exhausted we took the train to Connewitz aka. vegan heaven and the place where I lived in a flat share before I moved into my own flat.
We decided for sushi so Vvasabi was literally calling for us. I haven't been there before so I couldn't say no.
We tried out all sorts of sushi plus got the sweet versions and a little side smoothie to taste. We both totally agreed on our favorite Sate version!
Also the sweet rolls were super interesting. Raspberry tasted like milk rice and the chocolate nougat one was crunchy inside because of the peanut brittle, ugh so good! Also a perfect stop to grab a fresh smoothie, especially when it is getting warmer outside now.
After that we went back to the tattoo studio for the appointment then back home to me and Kinga went to the Tokyo Hotel concert, the main reason why she decided to visit me :)
Late in the evening she already had to leave again. I still can't believe how fast the time passed by also thinking of it while writing it down. I'm so thankful for the wonderful time we shared. I'm surprised and proud that my fear and anxiety left me completely alone throughout these days since I had a very bad experience the last time where an internet friend visited me but it was just the vibes that got confused with her, that happens.
Kinga is such a wonderful soul and as we both share the same interests. I finally felt right being with someone. At the same time it reminded me how wrong I am at the place here right now since I know where my passion and heart truly belongs to. And I'm sure most of you know it as well as I wrote about that quite often in the past. My dream to live and move to England is just getting stronger again, even if I tried to erase it from my mind or better said to keep it in a deeper section of my head. One side tells me to stay here for a little longer, gaining experiences and more confidence, knowledge about living and everything, the other impatient part wants to satisfy the craving for the dream already. And right now these parts fight in my head daily while keeping me busy with jobs, business and my own reflection and identity(more about this point in my last look). But it's all fate and I can't decide over it. Right now I just let things happen at any place, hopefully just in another country or at least town. I'm just so open to go anywhere and there's so much to explore in this world :)