text:
Is the 30-Year Bond Run Finally Over?
Are we seeing the end of the 30-year bonds run? And, is it time to be bullish on Mexico? David Darst, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management chief investment strategist, joins MoneyBeat to discuss.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... sleepy Friday here market land to the Markets Morning MoneyBeat show I am Paul vignette ... markets are still trying to digest what happened on Wednesday that did surprise decision ... to the Dow down thirty point the huge rally on Wednesday ... not much yesterday and not much today the Nasdaq is up to this appeal I believe is they have basically flat ... down just about what what does this all mean what you do with your investors that have things really change the lucky to have us this morning ... David Darst was Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's ... chief investment strategist ... David thing to come in on the show today appreciated ... I wanna start off and on land ... because we know that despite this being run in stocks lot to import to speed the steep inclines ... got nothing he added it ... got a little bit of or prevent the bell Wednesday when the Fed decided not to wind down QE ... but bonds are not looking like a very attractive investment right now when borders upon investor do ... always said ... I aam ... and this started back in March of this year we told people and to reduce their bond positions we took ... in corporate bonds and Treasury bonds and for many of you folks who invest in municipals it would apply equally to that ... number one where shorten up your maturities ... so if rates rise by one and a half percent ... gain ... write to your bond it costs you one percent in a capital loss ... write ten year bond it costs to eleven and a half percent ... for a thirty year bond because she twenty for a nap percent capital loss ... and ... rates have risen much this year little bit they started this year it won seventy six of the ten year and ... they're now about to seventy five ... case coverup of ... so you've lost about seven eight nine percent ... so we said in March ... reduce ... the are ... not your corporate ... warrior minutes for ten year government bonds moved in we took a from moderate high net worth investor B to get from eighteen percent down to nine percent ... we have been nine percent still ... on the ... case that maybe we're wrong maybe we are in a long-term deflation we don't we don't buy that ... we then took a lot of about a bomb position and putting into your box next ... fifteen percent ... of the total portfolio is into your minds ... your viewers warm up also consider floating rate notes ... because ... a bond ... when interest rates rise the bond capital value falls ... but with a floating rate notes that coupon rises as real interest rates rise in so we maintains the capital ... of the capital preservation aspect of a bomb ... so ... I'll bond deals have gone down from thirty two years as you well know plan ... is not in a straight line but with some Jag in this ... they too are way of thinking might have reached a bottom on may first be Shira at one point six one rice and ten year yield a ten year yield ... so ... we are of the bar tonight what shall we with the message that we give to your viewers ... as to what was to our financial advisors to our clients ... is being very careful with your bond positions ... filled ... I have some long-term bonds an intermediate term bonds but we do see considerably ... put into folders putting into short duration and wait the screen now I want to talk about the hero he would use an unknown at this tweet from Mexico to the low thirty s on the nobody can write about ... but I thought I was very interesting and talk to us about Mexico as an investor ... well Mexico's had a tremendous drawn from the last ten years so we it's not cheap ... it's it's not ... the Eels less than the USDA has a higher price to book the US price the book is to make schools to read and price earnings is nineteen the US is fifteen or sixteen ... so it's not cheap you want to basically look at Mexico selectively ... our focus thus far has been on the industrial side of Mexico which protested which would purchase a plate ... in a recovery in the United States died ... and in the energy reform ... Enrique Pena the upto was elected last July first he took office the Samberg ... first ... piece every second he signed a pact for Mexico ... which is ninety five things they wanted to win a energy education telecom ... and your consumer stocks fall in June all nineteen percent of the Mexico index ... is ... the big at the big telecom giant over the air ... and on ... the telephone giant and then another eight percent is the telecom giant ... so we said go easy on the Consumer part of Mexico ... look at the Augusta part and find ways in the United States to get exposure ... to this reform story and that's really what's driving are ... more positive sign when constructive view towards Mexico of the forms story the the twenty fourteen GPU protectionism is three point nine percent ... I'm unique in Latin America the whole three point six percent ... the link on tax Form how those good numbers ... they are improving numbers this year out we're below the IMF but Morgan Stanley's in one a half to two percent for Mexico ... I we were higher ... but we've seen often when a new president comes in and ... they take certain actions ... that will end up on ... basically at cleaning house ... and that's happened we are beginning to warm up we have not done yet on the consumer side of Mexico ... so there you have that ... with the retailer's own carry ... out some of the beverage company so you'll want to get involved there ... but we have on ... the de Mexico storey townhouse ... is the longer term story ... out we see that bills three-party scientists Pact for Mexico ... the president's ... opinion yet still has been willing to take each ... pot and to open up partially ... the energy sector which is the ... it's the equivalent of messing with entitlements in the United States is called the firm regular AEO Electric it yourself but he's messy rabbit ... and he's making some changes which we think is very positive ... he won on U S railroads that hold things to and from Mexico to anyone on U S drillers are I


text:
Williams Sonoma Hot Fudge Sauce
- Only at Williams Sonoma
- Free Fast Shipping
- Exclusive
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
Earn 5% Back in rewards4 plus free standard shipping3every day when you shop with your Williams Sonoma credit card at Williams Sonoma.Apply Now Learn More
- Summary
Drizzled over ice cream, cakes, pies or cookies, our classic hot fudge sauce adds the perfect finishing touch.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Blend with fresh cream for a delectable accompaniment to fresh fruit.
- 17 oz.
- Made in USA.
- A Williams Sonoma exclusive.
- Ingredients
- Cream, brown sugar, sugar, butter, cocoa, chocolate liquor, pure vanilla, potassium sorbate (a preservative).
- Shipping
Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3–5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners and knife storage), please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
Rated 4 out of 5 by ChefDeJour from UBER EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH THE SPLURGE I didn't rate it 5 Star due to the price but YES! it was worth the splurge.So many hot fudge sauce on the market use high fructose corn syrup. The ingredients in this wine me over and the only reason I was willing to buy such an expensive jar of hot fudge. DELICIOUS Easy to heat up. So when you want that hot fudge sundae at home, this would be the best flavor and healthiest option. You won't be disappointed at all.Date published: 2019-08-25Rated 5 out of 5 by PalmSpringsBaker from Williams-Sonoma Hot Fudge Sauce Delicious! This takes me back to holiday shopping with my Mother and Sister. We would always treat ourselves to lunch at our favorite fountain deli and have the most delicious hot fudge sundaes to complete our day. Now you can make your favorite sundaes at home. This is an amazing confection. Decadent! Treat yourself to an old fashioned treat! Enjoy!Date published: 2016-09-12Rated 5 out of 5 by gqjane from Divine guilty pleasure I was a a little bit hesitant to get this, thinking I could always just make hot fudge as necessary. However, after reading the positive reviews I decided to give it a try and am so glad I did. It's all you could ask for in a hot fudge. Definitely chocolatey and good texture! I love and have tried so many hot fudge everywhere so trust me when I say it's very good. I just hope Williams-Sonoma won't stop making this for years to come.Date published: 2014-10-06Rated 5 out of 5 by pleasanthillsbaker from Absolutely Divine!!! This is the most delicious hot fudge sauce that I have ever tasted right out of a jar. It reminds me of hot fudge sauces that I have tasted on desserts in fine restaurants. However, it should have a warning label on the jar that says: "BEWARE, THIS SAUCE IS KNOWN TO BE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE." I will definitely be placing additional orders of this divinely delicious hot fudge sauce.Date published: 2014-09-10Rated 5 out of 5 by AuntNancy777 from Decadently Delicious This hot fudge sauce is absolutely delicious! It has such a deep, rich flavor. A little goes a long way, although it's so good, I find it hard to stop eating it once I get started! Although the price is a bit expensive, this hot fudge sauce is well worth the expense; it's that good!Date published: 2014-07-28Rated 5 out of 5 by GoldenGourmet from Fantastic Fudge Sauce! I just tasted the best Hot Fudge Sauce on Earth! After falling in love with WS's Salted Caramel Sauce (on the recommendation of a friend), I tried your Hot Fudge Sauce. OMG! I have never in my life tasted a hot fudge sauce as chocolaty and creamy as this one. Best of all, it stays nice 'n thick on top of ice cream without becoming a syrupy mess. When I'm in the mood for a decadent dessert, I can simply run my spoon through the jar because right out of the fridge it has the consistency of....and tastes just like....delicious fudge! For those who want to eat it "as designed", it reheats beautifully in the microwave and is the perfect consistency. This hot fudge sauce is totally awesome. Pure heaven!!Date published: 2012-08-04Rated 5 out of 5 by WisTraveler from Best Fudge EVER!! My husband and I have tried many, many hot fudge jars and nothing compares to Williams-Sonoma. My very favorite snack/dessert is a hot fudge sundae, and my husband can tell you that when the fudge is gone from the sundae, I quit eating the ice cream. We have tried all the grocery brands and others, but this is the very best. It has a rich, dark flavor that takes me back to childhood. We always have one in the frig and a back-up on the shelf!Date published: 2012-01-03

subset: commoncrawl


text:
BAPS Swaminarayan Herbal Care and its subsidiaries and affiliates ("herbal.baps.org") respect your privacy. This Privacy Policy provides succinctly the manner your data is collected and used by herbal.baps.org. You are advised to please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing the services provided by herbal.baps.org you agree to the collection and use of your data by herbal.baps.org and certain authorized third party service providers in the manner provided in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the website: herbal.baps.org ("Site")
This Privacy Policy describes the information, as part of the normal operation of our services; we collect from you and what may happen to that information. Although this policy may seem long, we have prepared a detailed policy because we believe you should know as much as possible about herbal.baps.org practices so that you can make informed decisions.
By accepting the Privacy Policy during registration, you expressly consent to our use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and subject to the terms of the User Agreement


text:
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW)
Watson College of Education
Educational Leadership
M.Ed. in Higher Education
- M. Ed.
ContactDr. Andrew Ryder
Program Statement
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) program includes a specialization in Higher Education.This specialization is designed for people who wish to enter or advance in administrative and/or academic support roles in colleges and universities. It provides social, historical, philosophical, developmental, and international perspectives of postsecondary education. The program supports the Watson College of Education Conceptual Framework of developing highly competent professionals to serve in educational leadership roles. The program has been designed in accordance with the Council for the Advancement and Standards in Higher Education (CAS Standards).
Program graduates typically work in functional areas such as academic advising, admissions, career services, financial aid, judicial affairs, alumni relations, athletics, multicultural affairs, residence life, and student activities.
The M.Ed. in Higher Education requires a minimum of 36 credits including electives that are selected from course offerings in Educational Leadership and other disciplines. The program requires students to engage in supervised professional practice, which provides the opportunity to connect theory to practice while working in a community college or university administrative or student support office or program.
Specialization Objectives
Upon completion of the M.Ed. in Higher Education, students will be able to:
Understand the history and sociology of higher education, and organizational and student development theory.
- Advocate for the inclusion of practices and policies that represent the differences and diversity of postsecondary student, faculty, and staff populations.
- Think critically as a member of a complex and global society with responsibilities in postsecondary institutions.
- Effectively use data for assessment and decision-making, including the design and evaluation of effective postsecondary programs.
- Effectively use marketing, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Effectively use technology and distance learning, along with traditional communication methods
- Respond with innovative solutions to contemporary shifts and challenges in the higher education landscape, including social, political and economic changes which directly impact the higher education profession.
Number of Program Faculty
Visitation Program
- None Required
- Full time
- Part time
- In-person
- Hybrid
- Evening


text:
Finnish student Arto Ollila at Helsinki's Aalto University recently won an annual architecture competition with his striking pyramid-shaped glass and steel "Fokka" tower, which contains a massive indoor garden. Sustainably designed and located in a dense urban space connected to public transportation, this concept for a new mixed-use project looks like a stellar combination of nature and architecture. The competition was organized by the Helsinki city planning office and steel product company Rukki.
Each year the Helsinki city planning office and Ruukki hold a design competition for a new and innovative building made from steel. This year's design called for a mixed-use development that combines office, residential and hotel facilities in the Koivusaari area, the most western part of Helsinki. Arto Ollila proposed the winning concept, which rises like a mountain and encases all the programs within a glass and steel outer shell. The lower floors hold space for retail, commercial and office facilities, while the upper floors hold the hotel and residential units.
Situated in a dense urban area, Fokka is sited conveniently next to a stop for Helsinki's public transport system. Ollila designed a large indoor urban park that connects all of the programatic elements together under one roof. The glass shell is optimized to allow for natural daylighting without overheating the interior and integrated solar panels generate power for the project. With a focus on sustainable design, Fokka could become not only a recognizable landmark for the city, but also a model for future development.
Images ©Arto Ollila


text:
Dark Walls for Mobile | 240x320 ~ 176x220 | 275 Nos. | JPG | 6.4 MB | RAR
A wonderful collection wallpapers - Special Black Edition.
Disclaimer and Warranties We are not responsible for any errors, omissions or representations on any of our pages or on any links on any of our pages. We do not endorse in anyway any advertisers on our web pages. The linked sites are not under our control and we are not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Disclaimer of warranties: You expressly understand and agree that: Your use of the service is at your sole risk. The service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Mobilesdream makes no warranty that (i) the service will meet your requirements, (ii) the service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free, (iii) the results that may be obtained from the use of the service will be accurate or reliable,and (iv) any errors in the Service will be corrected. Any material downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of the service is done at your own discretion and risk and that you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from the download of any such material. No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by you from Mobilesdream or through or from the service shall create any warranty. Mobilesdream makes sure that the links of the content in the web-blog is not its source and it just provides the links to others servers. Hence it states that the source servers and the downloaders of the link are solely responsible for the entire legal prosecution but not Mobilesdream. If you don't agree with any of our disclaimers above please do not read the material on any of our pages and leave the site right now. This site does not store any files on its server. It only index and link to content provided by other sites. Home Full Download, Home Crack Serial, Home Rapidshare links, Home Warez Download, Home Free Full Download, Home Patch Direct links, rapid share links, download full softwares, portable applications, games, ebooks, movies, music, script,...and MORE!
Original design by Blogging Secret | Blogger Templates | Ads Theme Blogger Template


text:
Howdee all,
The second Island we toured on our Cranberry Island trip
Little Cranberry Island
Islesford is a picturesque harbor town on Little Cranberry Island just southeast of Mount Desert Island, Maine, providing spectacular views of Acadia National Park. Access is provided by a local mailboat or tour boats from Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor. Several interesting shops, galleries and artisans reside here. The Islesford Historical Museum (operated by the National Park Service) shows ship models, tools, and photographs that reveal island life during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Admission to the museum is free. (Islesford Photos) via Acadiamagic.com
While walking around the island I found this beautiful piece of bark
What do you think? Will this take off in the jewelry world?
Men can wear Bark Bracelets too…
A few artists shops and Restaurant at the end
Pottery displayed in the window..Lichen covered shingles
Purdy Dingys..


text:
Video Debuts One Week Prior to "The Power of Madonna" Episode of GLEE Airing Tuesday, April 20
The world premiere of SUE SYLVESTER's (Jane Lynch) "Vogue" video will air during the highly anticipated spring premiere of GLEE tonight, Tuesday, April 13 (9:28-10:30 PM ET/PT) following AMERICAN IDOL on FOX. The three-minute video premiere, which is sponsored by Chevy, will debut one week before it airs as part of "The Power of Madonna" episode on Tuesday, April 20 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). Sure to be a fan favorite, GLEE's "Vogue" features Sue, KURT (Chris Colfer) and MERCEDES (Amber Riley) in an homage to Madonna with a brilliant shot-by-shot re-creation of the groundbreaking music video.
In the "Hell-o" spring premiere episode, GLEE picks up as New Directions is fresh off their monumental win at Sectionals and feeling on top of the world. With an extra spring in their step, they get to work on new numbers for Regionals - including a memorable rendition of The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye." But when RACHEL (Lea Michele) and FINN's (Cory Monteith) budding romance hits a bump in the road after she becomes involved with a competitor, JESSE ST. JAMES (guest star Jonathan Groff), it threatens to derail the entire club. MR. SCHUESTER (Matthew Morrison) pays a visit to SHELBY CORCORAN (guest star Idina Menzel), coach of Vocal Adrenaline, to confirm Jesse's motives. Meanwhile, Will is newly single, but is he ready to take his relationship with EMMA (Jayma Mays) to the next level? And to top it all off, Sue returns from her condo in Boca with a renewed focus on destroying Will and disbanding the glee club.
In the "Power of Madonna" episode, airing Tuesday, April 20 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), Mr. Schuester is concerned that the girls in the glee club are being disrespected and bullied by the male members. Looking to Madonna and her musical message of equality as inspiration, he challenges the entire team to choose Madonna songs as their next assignment in the hopes that the girls embrace Madonna's strength, independence and confidence so that the guys will see the errors of their misogynistic ways. The glee club takes the assignment to heart and performs some of the Material Girl's greatest hits, including "Express Yourself" and "Like a Prayer." Meanwhile, Kurt and Mercedes give Sue a vote of confidence with a Madonna makeover that is definitely in "Vogue."
Television's most award-winning new series, GLEE was recently honored with a Peabody Award; a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical; a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series; and a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy. The music from GLEE is an international sensation with "Glee: The Music, Volume 1" and "Glee: The Music, Volume 2" topping charts in Australia, the U.K., New Zealand, Ireland and Canada. In the U.S., over 4.5 million songs have been downloaded, and both albums have been certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 units.
GLEE follows an optimistic teacher who - against all odds and a malicious cheerleading coach - inspires McKinley High's Glee Club to conquer the world one singing competition at a time. GLEE stars Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Jenna Ushkowitz.
GLEE is produced by Ryan Murphy Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan are co-creators of the series. Murphy, Falchuk and Dante Di Loreto serve as executive producers, while Ian Brennan serves as co-executive producer.


text:
Contemporary Service Sermons
Festival Service Sermons
Welcome to Video Site
Register Today
About Us
Ourchurchvideos.com is a fee based business that was created to meet a specific need to help churches better communicate their messages to their church family as well as the world.
With the advent of video sharing technologies and services like YouTube, the cultural phenomena of sharing videos has become mainstream for many good natured videographers as well as a breeding ground for sharing of inappropriate messages around the world.
OCV was built with most of the same features but with a level of protection unmatched by other sites. Your church can monitor and reject any uploaded material before it is released and made available from your website.
By allowing the congregation to participate in the sharing of âpproved videos church can help share their videos ranging from fellowship activities, to community service projects, to video of your church services. Other uses of informal video sharing:
Meet the staff videos
Videos of mission activities
Fellowship activities
Your Sunday Services
Campus tours
Member Video Directories
Special programs
Youth Activities
Family Activities
And many more
Our goal is to develop a core technology that allows your church family to create, upload and share video content specific to your church for distribution to other church members as well as prospects to your church.
Ourchurchvideos.com - enablers of video evangelism
Site Information
About us
Legal Information
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Help Information
Contact Administrator
Site Features
Watch Videos
Listen to Audio


text:
We've received your request
You will be notified by email when the transcript and captions are available. The process may take up to 5 business days. Please contact email@example.com if you have any questions about this request.
A film by Brenna McPeek for Marilyn Rivchin's FILM 3770: Intro to 16mm and Digital Filmmaking. Fall 2011.


text:
Why this post has been flagged with "Caution"
This listing was flagged with Caution because it did not conform to our swapmeet safety rules.
We mark all non-conforming posts in this manner, regardless of any previous history or reputation that the indicated seller may have. Every listing is evaluated separately and we always urge extra caution in dealing with sellers whose listings don't conform. This caution notice may be removed if the seller subsequently corrects the problem, the details of which may be noted below.
Note that even if and when the listing does conform to our safety rules that QRZ does not endorse or recommend any any swapmeet sale or offer.
Notes: Please look for moderator comments below for the specific reason this listing was flagged.
Our moderators may remove the caution flag once the listing has been corrected.
Caution Kenwood TS-2000 station
Discussion in 'Ham Radio Gear For Sale' started by KJ6CFI, Mar 9, 2019.


text:
Product Categories Choose a category below to view available products
AISIN focuses on safety, comfort, and strives to create lightweight, yet aesthetically pleasing body parts.
AISIN delivers safe vehicle operation and smooth handling using state-of-the-art brake & chassis technology.
AISIN leads in intelligent drivetrain products ensuring the efficient transfer of engine output to the powertrain.
AISIN develops high-quality engine components that improve combustion efficiency and yield lower emissions.
AISIN produces information systems supporting customer safety, convenience and an improved driving experience.
AISIN enhances everyday comfort and convenience while helping us focus on a creative and healthy lifestyle.
AISIN is a leader in saving energy through efficient and creative designs in Energy, Cooling and Vacuum technologies.
AISIN provides customers with innovative products of unparalleled quality for aftermarket and service requirements.


text:
Skip to comments.Cats' Family Tree Rooted In Fertile Crescent, Study Confirms
Posted on 02/01/2008 2:55:53 PM PST by blam
Cats' Family Tree Rooted In Fertile Crescent, Study Confirms
Cats, with their penchant for hunting mice, rats and other rodents, became useful companions as people domesticated, grew and stored wild grains and grasses. Eventually, cats also became pets but were never fully domesticated. Even today, most domestic cats remain self-sufficient, if necessary, and continue to be efficient hunters, even when provided with food. (Credit: Michele Hogan)
ScienceDaily (Jan. 29, 2008) The Fertile Crescent of the Middle East has long been identified as a "cradle of civilization" for humans. In a new genetic study, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have concluded that all ancestral roads for the modern day domestic cat also lead back to the same locale.
Findings of the study, involving more than 11,000 cats, are reported in the January issue of the journal Genomics.
"This study confirms earlier research suggesting that the domestication of the cat started in the Fertile Crescent region," said Monika Lipinski, lead researcher on the study and a doctoral candidate in the School of Veterinary Medicine. "It also provides a warning for modern cat fanciers to make sure they maintain a broad genetic base as they further develop their breeds."
Leslie Lyons, an authority on cat genetics and principal investigator on this study, said: "More than 200 genetic disorders have been identified in modern cats, and many are found in pure breeds. We hope that cat breeders will use the genetic information uncovered by this study to develop efficient breed-management plans and avoid introducing genetically linked health problems into their breeds."
History of the modern cat
Earlier archaeological evidence and research on the evolutionary history of cats has suggested that domestication of the cat originated about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, a region located today in the Middle East. This is the area around the eastern end of the Mediterranean, stretching from Turkey to northern Africa and eastward to modern day Iraq and Iran. This domestication of the cat occurred as humans transitioned from nomadic herding to raising crops and livestock.
Cats, with their penchant for hunting mice, rats and other rodents, became useful companions as people domesticated, grew and stored wild grains and grasses. Eventually, cats also became pets but were never fully domesticated. Even today, most domestic cats remain self-sufficient, if necessary, and continue to be efficient hunters, even when provided with food.
Cats and their gene pools spread rapidly around the world as ancient civilizations developed trade routes. Unlike other domesticated species, there has been little effort to improve on the cat for functional purposes. Instead, development of cat breeds has been driven more by preferences for certain aesthetic qualities like coat color and color patterns.
Today, there are 50 recognized cat breeds. Of that total, 16 breeds are thought to be "natural breeds" that occurred in specific regions, while the remaining breeds were developed during the past 50 years.
DNA of 11,000 cats
In this study, the UC Davis research team focused on:
tracing the movement of the modern cat through the ancient world and to the Americas; measuring changes in genetic diversity as cats dispersed throughout the world; and measuring any loss of genetic diversity that might have occurred in the development of the older or more contemporary breeds. The researchers collected samples of cheek cells from more than 11,000 cats. These cats represented 17 populations of randomly bred cats from Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as 22 recognized breeds.
DNA samples of most breeds were obtained at cat shows or were sent in upon the lab's request by cat owners in the United States. The study was assisted by a host of collaborators from throughout the world. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans, other animals and plants. It carries the instructions or blueprint for making all the structures and materials that the organism needs to function.
Genetic markers called "microsatellite markers," commonly used for DNA profiling, were used to determine the genetic relationships of cat breeds, their geographic origins and the levels of genetic loss that have resulted from inbreeding.
From the DNA analysis, the researchers found that the cats were genetically clustered in four groups that corresponded with the regions of Europe, the Mediterranean basin, east Africa and Asia.
They discovered that randomly bred cats in the Americas were genetically similar to randomly bred cats from Western Europe. They also found that the Maine coone and American shorthair -- two breeds that originated in the United States -- were genetically similar to the seven Western European breeds. This suggests that cats brought to the New World by European settlers have not had sufficient time to develop significant genetic differentiation from their Western European ancestors.
The study yielded many interesting breed-specific findings. For example, the researchers found that the Persian breed, perhaps the oldest recognized pure breed, was not genetically associated with randomly bred cat populations from the Near East, but rather was more closely associated with randomly bred cats of Western Europe.
In addition, the researchers found that, of the Asian cat breeds, only the Japanese bobtail was genetically clustered with Western cats, although it did retain some Asian influence.
Cats from the Mediterranean region were found to be genetically uniform, perhaps a result of the constant movement of ships and caravans during the early era of the cat's domestication, the researchers suggested.
Lesson for cat breeders
The study found that genetic diversity remained surprisingly broad among cats from various parts of the world. However the data indicated that there was some loss of diversity associated even with the long-term development of foundation cat breeds -- those breeds that provided the genetic basis from which modern pure breeds were developed.
The researchers note that, given the relatively short time span during which modern breeds are emerging, cat breeders should proceed cautiously as they develop their breeds, making sure to maintain a broad genetic base that will minimize introduction of genetically based health problems.
Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health, the Winn Feline Foundation and the George and Phyllis Miller Feline Health Fund. Also supporting the study were the Center for Companion Animal Health and the Koret Center of Veterinary Genetics, both within the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
Adapted from materials provided by University of California - Davis.
Thanks for this excellent article, PING this over to Slings and Arrows. :) =^..^=
Cats are from the Middle East....no wonder they can be irritating ;-)
My dogs are usually the ones to go after rodents. Such cats as have lived here would also bring a vole home once in a while but the dogs are very active on that job function. Got to wonder why the Mesopots preferred cats.
Thank you for posting this!
You always find the good stuff!!!
Turkish vans and Persians are among the longest-domesticated cats....both from the ME/fertile crescent area.
Don't forget the Abyssinian as well.
"maintain a broad genetic base that will minimize introduction of genetically based health problems.'
Very interesting study. Of course, geneticists often take the opportunity to start discussing something they don't know anything about; breeding. Despite what they say, the surest route to maintaining healthy breeding stock is to restrict the gene pool, not expand it.
Differences in breeds aside, it still comes down to a particular animals individual personality. Not all terriers hunt rodents, and some of the working class dogs love a good rat hunt. Go figure.
We've thankfully got enough outdoor cats around here that Dog doesn't have to earn his keep that way. I say thankfully, because if it was left up to Dog, he would probably just make friends with them (as long as they don't get too close to his food dish).
That's a good kitty! My boy kitty, Zack, is good tempered that way.
Some cats are REALLY lazy!
Awgee...if I were that kitty, I'd never have to leave home. A GI is all I would need for total security.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
Looks like you are using an old version of Internet Explorer - Please update your browser
When you're drifting off to dreamland, God unwraps one of his greatest presents.
Scientists once thought cave fish lost their sight by accident. Now we know they were designed that way!
Every parent wants his or her children to have the best in life—including the best in education. But what does that mean in our society?
No results found in .
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


text:
Monday - Friday 9AM - 8:30PM
Saturday 10 - 8:30pm
Sunday 11:00am - 3:00pm or leave message
Give the greatest gift this coming Christmas season! A travel package will be well appreciated and the recipient will love you forever.
Wander Wisely
Let MJ Travel Group Events plan your vacation trips accommodation and transportation every year.
MJ Travel Group Events has been awarded Jamaica's 'Top 50s Booking Specialists' award 11 years consecutively for excellent services in USA and Canada. We know how to make your holiday great!
Call Today: 1-888-959-9401
Monday - Friday 9AM - 8:30PM
Saturday 10AM - 8:30PM
Sunday 11:00am - 3:00pm or leave message
*Conditions Apply: Additional fees for baggage may apply. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding their checked baggage policies, or check the baggage policy page. Special promotions valid on new bookings only. Some prices are per person, based on double occupancy accommodations. Air-only prices are for round-trip travel departing from select cities. Tour and land packages only include round-trip midweek airfare from select cities and do not include meals unless otherwise indicated. Savings reflect land prices only and vary by resort and travel dates. Availability is limited. Seats may not be available on all flights or tours. Rates and/or package prices on air fares, cruises and tours are subject to holiday blackouts, peak period surcharges, and cancellation charges may be applicable of up to the full price paid depending on the fare and/or package and when it is cancelled. U.S. or international government imposed taxes and fees of up to $60 may apply on arrivals and departures depending on the itinerary chosen, and are payable to the appropriate airport authority. Some fares may be non-refundable, but may be exchanged for a fee of up to $200, plus any additional airfare costs due to difference in new airfares. Other restrictions may apply and vary by resort, cruise and airline carrier. Contact MJ Travel Group Events for further details. MJ Travel Group Events does not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of the offers displayed.


text:
Okay, my sleep schedule's a little wonky at the moment, work stuff kept me up last night, but I'll share some of my favorite moments from Sunday at Polaris 25, after I signed off from yesterday.
The writing workshop with Julie Czerneda was really cool – it was oriented for beginners, but I learned some cool stuff – working in groups to come up with science-based ideas, develop them, and then start to add in protagonists, settings, emotional reactions for the reader, and figure out how to explain the science to the reader. I also thought it was interesting that she didn't see much value in writers critiquing other writers.
The meeting with the other writers from Ad Astra was nice – hi guys, if any of you are dropping by to catch up on my blog!
And then, there was the Jewel Staite stuff – she had a fun Q&A, didn't want anybody recording video or sound so that she could 'trash talk' without fear of it coming out to haunt her. I actually asked four questions:
- What were you thinking of when filming the strawberry scene? (She said that she had cheeseburgers on the brain when Joss told her to imagine it was the tastiest thing ever – and that he really loved the very first take she did.)
- What was your favorite outfit of Kaylee's? 'Not the birthday cake dress!'
- Favorite episode of firefly? 'I really loved filming The Message, even though we'd found out we were cancelled by then, because we decided to have a great time and make as much fun for ourselves as we could.'
- If Firefly came back, what would you like to have happen next in Kaylee's life? 'I'd love to see her and Simon have a baby together, I think Kaylee would be a really great mom.'
And I got a picture signed, and also had her sign the 'Those Left Behind' comic book, which is starting to accumulate nearly as many Big Damn Signatures as the Firefly Blueprints Book.
After going through the signature room again, in only 20 minutes or so, I hit a few panels, covering Starship captains and Smallville season ten, (which I haven't finished watching, and got spoiled on a few details, but what the heck?) Then it was time for the Geek-off Championships, where I scored a single point, which meant I was in a four-way tie for fourth place or something like that.
Then my brother had arrived to drive me home, and I drove half-way myself, along Lakeshore road from Oakville through Burlington, and then across the Burlington lift bridge.


text:
Format: PAL
Region: 2
Duration: 189 minutes
First Pasture Price: £10.99
Status: In Stock
One Man and His Dog first appeared on television in 1976 - it was so successful that it ran for a further 29 years.
Capturing the skills of the sheep dog and the amazing levels of communication between the dog and handler, the programme illustrates beautifully the time-honoured traditions of sheep dog handling. Presented by Ben Fogle, the dvd also includes the 2005 Christmas special.


text:
This web page is intended to serve as a guide to the microform collections at Lied Library. Links to other relevant information and resources are identified by underlined text.
|Great place to find primary sources. Subject specific materials (books, journals, government publications, etc.) grouped together in collections.
|Primarily US West with some national, colonial, and specialty newspapers
|Over 800 newspaper titles from almost every mining camp and city in the state
|Microforms grouped by category; includes Nevada Internet links


text:
The Northside School Museum Association is hosting the Annual Retiree Luncheon from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, at the Northside Activity Center, 7001 Culebra Road. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
News Archive
Two more Northside connections have been added to the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame for 2013. Kirby Jameson, Assistant Director of Athletics; and Dr. Sharon Chumley, Supervisor of Visual Arts were among 14 women who participated in induction ceremonies earlier this month at the Club of Sonterra.
Three first-year and three veteran teachers were named District Educators of the Year at special celebrations held annually to honor teachers who give 100 percent when it comes to improving the lives of children. In addition, Northside's Nominee for the 2013 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching was announced.
Congratulations to Northside School District's 197 campus first year and veteran educators of the year for the 2012-13 school year.
By Brian T. Woods, Ed.D., Superintendent In the last few weeks we have all heard reaction to the ruling in the school funding lawsuit. That reaction ranged from those clamoring for restoration of the cuts from the last legislative session to others who advocate delaying any work on school finance until after all appeals have been heard. The reaction that really bothers me is the one that says that while school funding in Texas has increased dramatically there are no substantial improvements in student outcomes.
Beginning with just a handful of athletes in 1968 to more than 1,100 athletes in 2013, Northside ISD has been involved in Special Olympics for 45 years.
All Northside elementary schools will have digital security surveillance cameras and access controls installed over the next 18 months. The $13.4 million project was approved by voters in the School Bond 2010 election. In the wake of the recent shootings at a Connecticut elementary school, this project takes on added urgency.
All Northside high schools and middle schools have had security cameras for a few years. Those were funded out of School Bonds 2004 and 2007.
Almost 4,100 community members gave their input by completing the online Strategic Plan survey. The survey results will help shape the 2013-2018 Strategic Plan currently being developed by approximately 600 NISD parents, staff and other community members.
Two NISD educators are finalists for the prestigious H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, naming them among the best educators in Texas.
February 6 was National Signing Day across the United States, and 45 Northside ISD student athletes signed Letters of Intent to play in their sport of choice at the post-secondary level.
The "LibraryPalooza, That Author Thing!" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Brandeis HS. The Teen Author Fest will include authors Adam Gidwitz, Marie Lu, Jonathan Maberry, Fred Perry, Cynthia Leitich-Smith, and Jennifer Zeigler.
The Northside Board of Trustees is appreciative of the continued support of the residents, taxpayers, and parents of this District and we work with you and our Legislators to improve the state of public education in Texas. It is expected that the state will appeal Judge Deitz's ruling on the inadequacy, inefficiency, and the unconstitutionality of school finance.
Northside students continue to excel and receive numerous honors and awards. Below is the list of students who were named national merit semifinalists or commended scholars, scholar finalists in the 2012-13 National Hispanic Recognition Program, and National Achievement Scholar semifinalists.
Northside ISD Trustees passed a Resolution that rejects all attempts by Texas Legislators to divert tax dollars away from public schools in the form of vouchers or any other mechanisms that reduce funding to public schools. See full Resolution here
San Antonio is one of six finalist cities bidding to host the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials for Swimming, and San Antonio Sports needs your help to convince USA Swimming officials that San Antonio is the right host. Just imagine cheering on the best swimmers in the nation as they vie for a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team in our Alamodome. Simply go to http://www.sanantoniosports.org/imin/ and enter your email address and click the I'M IN! button.
Since Rayburn Middle School, Glenn Elementary School, and Powell Elementary School opened 50 years ago, the schools have educated thousands of children and become cornerstones in the communities. The trio will be celebrating their golden anniversaries, and are inviting current and former students and staff to join them.
Students, staff, parents, and community members are invited to join an open discussion of the decisions facing the state Legislature regarding education funding and high-stakes testing scheduled for Friday, Feb. 8.
NISD Adult & Community Education recently unveiled a new website, making it even easier to search for and register for classes. And, Adult & Community Education also launched a Facebook page and is now on Twitter.
A news release issued by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is re-posted here as a community service. For more information, call (210) 207-8790, visit the Metro Health District website, or contact your family physician.
Earlier this week, a reporter from WOAI-TV interviewed Superintendent Brian T. Woods about the state of education, school finance, and accountability. WOAI posted a video of the interview in its entirety.
January is designated School Board Recognition Month in Texas, and Northside ISD is joining other districts across the state to gratefully acknowledge the invaluable contributions that elected Board of Trustees make to their communities.
Northside ISD alumni are scattered across the country, and even around the world. But no matter where their lives have led them, our alumni all share a common bond—and that's the place they started out. That's why the Northside Education Foundation is working on new publications for Jay, Marshall, Holmes and Clark high schools.
The 83rd Legislative Session convenes Tuesday, Jan. 8, and Texas lawmakers will have tough decisions to make about school funding, accountability, and testing.
Northside ISD has just launched an iPhone and iPad app that provides community members a quick, easy, and mobile phone-friendly way to access information about NISD schools and services, including campus phone numbers and addresses, cafeteria menus, and district news and events. The app can be downloaded for free through the App Store. NISD is currently working on an Android version but a release date is not available yet. Click here to learn more.
The Northside ISD Board of Trustees is seeking nominations for two new schools scheduled to open in 2014.


text:
Refine your search
Browsing Properties
You are searching for Properties
Holiday Park (CP) with 55 pitches
Award winning riverside holiday destination and marina with a superb pub & restaurant, swimming pool, shop and boat hire facilities.
Glamping with 27 units, £7 pppn sleeps 1 , £200 pupn sleeps 2
Relaxed unregimented eco camping and Glamping in the beautiful Waveney Valley.
Bury St. Edmunds
Holiday Park with 6 units, £65-£105 pupn sleeps 1-4
Come and visit our wonderful Suffolk Glamping site; home to 4 MegaPods, 2 Woodland Lodges and our very own take on a Hobbit Hole; perfect for that wonderful woodland experience.
Glamping with 5 units
This coming season we are extremely excited to have upgraded all of our 5 canvas bell tents to these beautiful nomadic style yurts.
Glamping with 3 units
Glamping with 16 units, £810-£1100 pupw sleeps 1-8
Luxury glamping. Grass pitches for campervans and tents also available. The campsite is set in the grounds of Holt Hall.
King's Lynn
Glamping with 12 units
A perfect escape from reality, get back to nature with friends, family or groups in our out of this world woodland glade glamping.


text:
Orolog is a newly established Swiss-made watch company, a collaborative effort between Jaime Hayon and Ian Lowe.
Crafted using exquisitely-colored Hermes leather, Ronda quartz movements, matte stainless steel and pvd case finishes, matching/contrasting matte black pvd buckles, crowns & pushers—these elegant time pieces strike the perfect balance between classic and contemporary.
This first collection comprises three simple function and three chronographs, in editions of 1000.
[ProductPage via KNSTRCT via NOTCOT]


text:
Book Review
Dark Days in Niceville
Carsten Stroud's grimly satisfying tale awakens devilish mystery in a sleepy Southern town
Carsten Stroud's Niceville is damn-good poolside reading. And, to be fair, it even makes a go at tackling that whole literary merit thing.
Falling categorically somewhere between a Stephen King offshoot and Southern Gothic pop fiction, Niceville is the tale of the titular town where things are eerily amiss behind the white-picket exterior. Stroud describes Niceville as "a calendar shot of prewar America" that has a "strange vibe going on, like there was some power running through it ... and this power wasn't a kindly one."
The mysterious events begin with a boy disappearing into thin air—as caught on security camera footage—on his way home from school. It's not exactly an out-of-place occurrence, as the abduction rate in Niceville is nine times higher than the national average.
The book hits a crescendo and starts its descent into chaotic evil when a trio of bank robbers butchers a squadron of cops and a news chopper over a bag of money. This is also where the characters get interesting. Despite everyone in Niceville having a shady past—even the protagonists—many of the book's dozen-or-so main players exude pure evil. The chief badass of these is Coker, described as "a silver-haired movie-star assassin." He's a more grizzled riff on George Clooney's character in The American, and a prime example of how Stroud's exploration into the recesses of human evil is harrowing, and unapologetically so.
Stroud's imaginative knack for character description pops up in such instances as a judge, about to hand down a guilty verdict, entering a courtroom with "his robes swirling behind him like portents of doom." Then there's an elderly couple who are "as alike in appearance as hermaphroditic toads," or a cop who is "colder than outer space and crazier than a wolverine on meth."
The book, however, is not without the requisite camp and pulpy hyperbole that you'd expect from crime fiction. Police officers have names like Mavis Crossfire, Boot Jackson and Jimmy Candles. Actually, hardly anyone in the book has a name that doesn't elicit some sort of caricature. It's where Stroud injects a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor into an otherwise bleak and gruesome narrative.
But sometimes Stroud's creative inclinations are head-scratching, if not downright racist. We are told that one character has "a fine-boned face with eyes as sea green as Lacy's and the same Chinese eyes." If you're wondering why a character's eyes are described twice in the same sentence, it might be because Stroud has the unfortunate amateur tendency of over-describing people's eyes. Come to think of it, there are several characters in Niceville that have "Chinese eyes." And at least three of them aren't Chinese.
There's also a seedy Asian mafia character who has "narrow wrinkled eyes as black as buttons" and teeth that are "babyish, stained with tobacco, fencing off a fat white tongue that bobbed around inside the man's bloodred mouth like a moray in a cave." It doesn't help that one of the main characters is constantly referring to his nemeses as "wily fucking Asiatics."
Anomalies aside, Niceville outdoes your average crime-horror novel by a long shot. Stroud's exploration of the mysterious evil that plagues the town results in a rarely seen blend of pulpy crime fiction and a mostly successful stab at legitimate creative writing. The net of characters is cast a bit wide, but Stroud gets away with it because of his ability to flesh each one out vividly. And in a genre where the payoff is just as important as any element in a book, it's refreshing to see some of the bad guys get away and some of the loose ends left, naturally, a little loose.
You'll probably be tanned beyond recognition before finishing this nearly 400-page monster, but for the most part, it'll be time on the lawn chair well spent.


text:
Destiny wrote:I tried to capture a water fall using a slow shutter speed..
Destiny wrote:Thats why I am suggesting I try Focus Stacking ...
mediavets wrote:rolly1 wrote: the people on this forum who know what they are doing are going to tell me where i am going wrong
I think many would recommend that you process your RAW image before stitching.
klausesser wrote:Destiny wrote:Thats why I am suggesting I try Focus Stacking ...
Focus-stacking makes it even worse: it multiplies the movement of the foliage.
But you should try "ghost subpression"!
best, Klaus
klausesser wrote:Destiny wrote:I tried to capture a water fall using a slow shutter speed..
To be honest: the water doesn´t look at all like water - rather looks like plastic
That´s always a problem with slow shutter speed on running water.
An idea is to use a flash to freeze a *part* of the movement . . this way you have a
mix of blurred AND sharp water - which "feels" much more like water.
The problem is: you need to be somewhat close to ithe water for using the flash . .
(or you take a very bright flash featuring a narrow angle)
Destiny wrote:Some better examples here..
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=slow+ ... 32&bih=807
Destiny wrote:Your internet host is terrible.. Go with Westnet.. We never run out.. Also we pay $20 per month for our mobiles.. If we call each other just once, we get $1000 credits on our called each.. The only downside, no international called but hey hey, thats a big cone anyway... Just buy a cheap mobile with prepay when you go to a country.. pay their rates. In Asia its really cheap.. Australia is a rip off with mobiles and internet..
We have a trolly cart for all our gear, we bought from Bunings, but we love Bunings so might pop in.... Do the wondering and get lost thing...
Destiny wrote:... and I would be one of the first to support the Canon lens, its a beautiful thing.. However, some test were carried out with that cannon lens and others, and the results were that there was not much difference between image quality with the those lenses and the Sigma 50-500mm but for a fraction of the price.. The Canon came out in front just a tab.. Not enough to warrant the price of it.. You can buy two new cars in Oz for the same money.. Or a Mac Pro with heaps of change.. Lets see now... For the same $$$ A D800, + Sigma 50-500mm + Mac pro/Monitor + a little Car and a weeks holiday too..
Destiny wrote:I read a lot about the lens before buying it.. Bill Bailey had the older version and he said he captured some of the best DOF photos he has ever taken..
This Nikon is about $1000 more..
http://nikonrumors.com/2013/09/05/dxoma ... d-vr.aspx/
At the end of the day, I cannot really compare my 50-500mm with Canon since I cannot even use the Canon lenses and most Canon lenses cost soooo much more.. So no point in comparing. Generic lenses like the Sigma is good and Sigma have a good repartition as far as I know... I would have gone Nikon but as the title suggest.. "Affordable".. I actually spent a bit more than I wanted but I got it at a good price I think with a 2 year Aus warranty.. The only thing to be careful with the 50-500mm.. there are many variations of the same lens.. I have the most current version.. The finish of one release was horrible.. and it has issues. The cameras shop said they have not had any of my version returned for any issue at all.. Anyway.. I am really happy with it..
Destiny wrote:Well, if you do a search you will find the same.. I did not keep all the results I found.. And and since I am happy with the results at a great price.., without getting a mortgage to buy it.. The Sigma 50-500 would never match up to the more expensive lenses but the results in comparison were excellent.. I said at the time that I did not feel it was fair to do a comparison as they did with a much more expensive lens so it could never match up.. I will try to find a few of the results I found...
Destiny wrote:These are two of the first photos I captured using my Sigma 50-500mm, handheld!... At the price I feel its a great lens... The only consequence I can find, is the weight. Which I was fully aware of when I bought it.. The only alternative would be be spend another $1000+ on the Nikon but without the zoom.. Any other zoom lens that comes close to the 50-500mm for the zoom factor cost $$$ more so for me.. Its perfect... Love the lens...
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Whoops - No Flash Detected.
Send a Link to Yourself to Try from a Computer!
This product is currently only customizable with Flash.
Enter your email address below to send yourself a link to design your own next time you're at your computer!
You can also Shop browsing great designs by other users:
About This 24x20 Custom Canvas Print
This product is stretched on a 2" wood frame.
A canvas print is the best way to get your photos on canvas! Any picture on canvas instantly gets more depth and natural texture than it previously had. Contrasts can be naturally heightened when the bright whites are left as the natural canvas color. Make Canvas Prints canvas prints are specifically printed with higher quality for use as gifts, art, or commercial decoration.
You're Designing a Custom Canvas Print 24x20
After completing all of the steps above, your custom Canvas Print 24x20 will be saved now (to your free profile) where you can share it with your friends on any social network, or by email! Your design will also be added to your shopping cart. Check our homepage for promotions and coupons for exclusive Cats On Things offers and discount codes!
Thanks for using Cats On Things
Contact us if you have any feedback on how we can improve or what products you'd like to see next on Cats On Things!


text:
Looks like you are using an old version of Internet Explorer - Please update your browser
Successful Christian lifetimes are lived one moment at a time.PDF Download
No results found in Father's Corner.
In this issue get the latest information on the current creation models and down-to-earth information about global warming. Also, you won't want to miss the Kids Answers section about dinosaurs.Browse Issue Subscribe
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


text:
Click below to filter your search results
Committee Opinion Number 691, March 2017
(Replaces Committee Opinion Number 318, October 2005;Committee Opinion Number 432, May 2009;Committee Opinion Number 442, October 2009;Committee Opinion Number 469, October 2010;Committee Opinion Number 486, April 2011)(Reaffirmed 2019)
ABSTRACT: Carrier screening is a term used to describe genetic testing that is performed on an individual who does not have any overt phenotype for a genetic disorder but may have one variant allele within a gene(s) associated with a diagnosis. Information about carrier screening should be provided to every pregnant woman. Carrier screening and counseling ideally should be performed before pregnancy because this enables couples to learn about their reproductive risk and consider the most complete range of reproductive options. A patient may decline any or all screening. When an individual is ...
Committee Opinion Number 389, December 2007
(Reaffirmed 2015)
ABSTRACT: Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection often is detected through prenatal and sexually transmitted disease testing, an obstetrician–gynecologist may be the first health professional to provide care for a woman infected with HIV. Universal testing with patient notification and right of refusal ("opt-out" testing) is recommended by most national organizations and federal agencies. Although opt-out and "opt-in" testing (but not mandatory testing) are both ethically acceptable, the former approach may identify more women who are eligible for therapy and may have public hea...
Committee Opinion Number 363, April 2007
ABSTRACT: Recommendations to patients about testing should be based on current medical knowledge, a concern for the patient's best interests, and mutual consultation. In addition to establishing a diagnosis, testing provides opportunities to educate, inform, and advise. The ethical principles of respect for autonomy (patient choice) and beneficence (concern for the patient's best interests) should guide the testing, counseling, and reporting process. Clear and ample communication fosters trust, facilitates access to services, and improves the quality of medical care.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
409 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024-2188
Mailing Address: PO Box 96920, Washington, DC 20024-9998


text:
Show catalogue record
IKEA catalogue and mini furniture
Do you recognise these IKEA products?
These furniture miniatures
were created as gifts for IKEA co-workers.
Mandy Bailey has worked in many roles
at IKEA from its opening in 1992.
She has helped to create the
inspirational rooms that sell IKEA products.
Mandy Bailey
0 mins 0 secs
Mandy Bailey
Mandy talks about working at IKEA Croydon:
"I did a lot of temping work
working in restaurants
that kind of thing.
I couldn't really decide what to do.
And then found out
that IKEA was building a store here.
Never heard of IKEA at all,
didn't know anything about it.
But thought,
'I am sure I should be able
to get a job there',
and just went for a job
in the restaurant,
and yeah,
got a job,
started here two months
before we opened the store."
"We were there before the store opened
so we were building furniture
for the restaurant,
or anything really.
Quite often had parties
in the staff restaurant
and that kind of thing.
It was quite a social thing,
I suppose,
because there were no customers.
And then we opened.
Probably one of the longest days,
I was in the store for about 18 hours
Was here at six in the morning
we did a VIP breakfast."
"We clapped the last person out
because the last person
through the tills
got all their goods paid for them.
And then had a drink and then a party,
So, yeah, quite a long day."
"It's quite detailed
what we do.
We use a lot of information
from outside companies
to build up a picture
of the sort of people
that visit our store."
Working and shopping at IKEA
If you live near Croydon
You may have visited IKEA.
IKEA attracts large numbers of shoppers
to the Croydon area.
It also employs many local people.
Many of IKEA's products
have special stories.
In 1980 IKEA declared
'The Year of the Children's Living Room.'
The Klippan sofa is hardwearing,
designed to be tough enough for children
but soft enough to fall asleep on.
The Poang recliner
was first created in the 1970s.
The wooden flexible frame
follows the contours of your body.
If you have shopped at IKEA,
what is your IKEA story?
Find Out More
To find out more about the stories
behind some of the IKEA products,
you can visit:


text:
Peter Arnoldi
Canadian, 18th century
Tea service, c. 1790
(a) teapot: 14 x 11.3 x 28.5 cm; (b) cream jug: 15.5 x 7.8 x 12.5 cm; (cd) sugar box; lid: 13.5 x 13 x 9.5 cm; (e) tea caddy: 14 x 13.2 x 9.6 cm; (f) key: 29 x 1.4 cm; (g) caddy spoon: 79 x 5 cm
Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; Gift of an anonymous donor
G-90-418 a-g
Metallic, Decorative Arts Silver
The Neoclassical style of this tea service by Arnoldi is typical of Quebec domestic silver of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The engraving, although of the same design, differs slightly on each piece, suggesting that the service was purchased one piece at a time. Since a silver tea service was a costly luxury, it would not have been unusual in late eighteenth century Canada to buy pieces individually. This tea service is thought to have belonged to the Burling family who were English Quakers. The family immigrated to New York state in the late seventeenth century to escape political unrest and persecution. A descendant, Lydia Burling, moved with her husband, the Reverend John Doty, to Montreal in 1777 where she remained until the 1790s. It is likely the service belonged to her.
Gallery Hours
- Tuesday 11am-5pm
- Wednesday 11am-5pm
- Thursday 11am-5pm
- Friday 11am-9pm
- Saturday 11am-5pm
- Sunday 11am-5pm
- Closed Monday


text:
Good all-around value for the money
Cheap, compact, capable Windows Phone device
Super cheap, Large, expansive screen
Least expensive handset in the Lumia line-up
Likeable design, Great screen quality
Slick OS, Good camera, Attractive design
Offers good performance and specifications
Great design and build quality, feels great in the hand
Sturdy build, DLNA streaming and NFC
Cheap, solid, works as you'd hope and expect
Large IPS display, Good camera performance
Unpleasant, bloated Huawei software
Good display, Adequate performance
Handy Quick Key, MicroSD support
Camera shutter can be voice activated
Cheap, plastic build, Weak camera
Awesome interface, Great dual-SIM implementation
Responsive, precise touchscreen
Cheap, Great battery life, MicroSD slot
Good looking, Colourful design, High quality screen
All things bright and colourful
Good build quality, quite fast
Dual SIM support for two carrier networks at once
Good qHD display
Disappointing camera
Low res screen, Small built in storage
Voice-activated camera shutter
Poor app optimisation
Its decent camera includes plenty of features
Fast, fluid performance
Solid performance, Comfortable keyboard
Can record high-definition 1080p video
Stunning screen, Great for video
Attractive design, Stunning screen
Looks good, barebones Android
Responsiveness, Photo and video rendering
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
We are currently aggregating 376,500 reviews
covering over 29,474 products.
© 2019 ReviewGist.com. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Hamilton picher Becca Rogers is back at it
In mid-February, pitchers and catchers began reporting to Major League Baseball spring training camp to begin the 2013 season. Kurt and Becca Rogers had them beat by months.
The father-daughter duo stayed busy all winter by working out in the gymnasiums at Hamilton Central Schools. Becca, a sophomore righty, is the latest in a long line of pitching greats at Hamilton High School and is not resting on her laurels, and they are considerable. She split pitching duties as a seventh grader and her team wound up as Section III's Class D runner-up. Becca pitched the Emerald Knights to Section III championships the past two years plus trips to the state finals as an eighth grader and semifinals as a freshman.
"The losses, they motivated me," Becca said. "I want it more now. It's disappointing to get that far and lose."
Nikki Swan was Hamilton's first All-State pitcher and she led her team to the program's first Section III title in 1994. Swan went on to pitch then coach in college. Becky Griff followed with a solid career then came Tricia King and Sara Hall, the first girl to lead Hamilton to a state final four. Sam Martin was the senior the 5-foot-5, 147 pound Becca shared pitching duties with in 2010 and it's been her job since.
Kelby Watkins, a hard-hitting All-State catcher as a sophomore, was unavailable to help during the winter since she started for Hamilton's powerful girls volleyball team, and before that she was busy being the soccer team's goalie.
Kurt has been catching for his eldest daughter for years and was there for her all winter. During the school season he helps keep stats for coach Bill Dowsland's team.
"Her speed and accuracy have improved," Kurt said during Wednesday's session in the high school gym. "You get pretty sore if you don't catch right."
Becca's fastball has reached 63 miles per hour, plenty fast to strike out the majority of batters she faces during the school year. The sophomore doesn't feel it's her best pitch, though. She calls her curveball tops then her change-up. Next is her riseball then the fastball with her drop-curve her least favorite.
"In summer ball, fastball is the least used pitch," Kurt said. In high school she uses it about 60 percent of the time."
Becca plays for Dale Cook's Binghamton-area Conklin Raiders travel team in the summer and fall. It's an 18U Gold level team, the highest level in the nation and the Raiders travel to the national tourney each year and fare very well for a team from the northeast. The Raiders also play in three fall tournaments in New Jersey and one in Florida.
"I just don't have time for anything but softball," Becca said. "The other sports are time consuming (also).
"I just really enjoy it. I want to play in college. I hope I get recruited."
Becca had a 0.40 ERA with 271 strikeouts and just 140 innings pitched in 2012. She also batted .390 as a freshman, .427 as an eighth grader and .365 as a seventh grader. She is 48-8 for her career and on course to break most if not all of Hamilton's records, not to mention many of Section III's.
"She played in the majors in fifth and sixth grade and threw harder than everybody there," Kurt said. "Bill encouraged her to come out for the school team."
The rest is history and there are plenty more chapters Becca can write, beginning with Hamilton's March 27 tournament in Herkimer.
Kurt and Cathy Rogers have three children. Nathan is 18 followed by Becca, 15, and Jenna, the nine-year-old. Time will tell if her younger sister Jenna will some day follow in her footsteps.
"I told her she needs to get going," Kurt said with a chuckle about Jenna.
"She can try," Becca followed with a good-natured, big sister grin.


text:
Tue, Oct 17
31 HORROR STORIES -- "The Pear-Shaped Man" (1987)@ 1:00 PM
Everyone knows a Pear-Shaped Man. I read George R.R. Martin's story in OMNI, during my senior year in high school. A friend's parents were going through a nasty divorce, and the mom had moved to a new apartment building nearby. So I'd go and visit him there. And in the apartment complex was a Pear-Shaped Man. I'd spot him, little glimpses of his bulk, darting out of the slats of sun that shone in the mailbox alcove, scuttling back into the afternoon gloom of his apartment. Luckily, I'd read Martin's story, so I didn't get close. Because everyone knows a Pear-Shaped Man. Even though there's only one.


text:
Find a DMC
Industry Best Practices
Code of Ethical Conduct
In order to provide the highest level of professionalism to our valued clients, ADMEI members have made the commitment to honor and uphold the Code of Ethical Conduct. By doing business with an ADMEI member, clients and suppliers are assured they are dealing with a DMC professional.
Proposal Statement
This proposal statement outlines all aspects of the relationship between the DMC and its client prior to the completion of the DMC Services Agreement. Four areas are outlined in this one page agreement: Confidentiality, Proposal Commitment, Venue Research & Reservation and Site Inspection. Your DMC may ask you to sign this Proposal Statement before committing to do the necessary work to provide your customized proposal.
Standard Agreement
The DMC Agreement for Services is the final contract between the DMC and the client. It covers all the obligations and costs, and makes provisions for how changes are handled. There will be slight variations depending on each jurisdiction, but the essence remains the same from one DMC to another. This document incorporates standard clauses to cover all aspects of DMC work.


text:
Media piles on moderator Lehrer
The loser of Wednesday night's debate, according to many pundits and political commentators?
Moderator Jim Lehrer.
Story Continued Below
Lehrer, the executive editor of "PBS Newshour," sat behind the desk for the 12th time in the history of televised presidential debates on Wednesday night — and drew some of the most blistering reviews of his career. The consensus: Lehrer did not control the debate, failed to enforce the time limits, did not press the candidates enough and generally was steamrolled by the presidential candidates, Mitt Romney in particular.
( Also on POLITICO: Lehrer: The master of moderation)
Chris Wallace of "Fox News Sunday" criticized Lehrer for seeming to "lose some control" of the candidates, and questioned whether his questions sometimes helped President Barack Obama.
"Jim Lehrer, a man for whom I have tremendous esteem, seemed to lose control of the debate, occasionally," Wallace said. "He seemed to just simply throw something out there to keep the conversation going, sometimes it seemed to be helping Obama, like saying, 'Well, gee, so you are for a balanced approach of tax cuts and spending — tax increases and spending cuts,' and that really seemed to lose some control."
On MSNBC, Chris Matthews knocked Lehrer for not being aggressive, saying, "I thought the moderator did not moderate."
( PHOTOS: Presidential debate moderators)
"He didn't follow up," Matthews said. "Today, moderators are expected to be aggressive, they're going to ask a question, they throw it out there, they don't just say a topic. They ask a question."
Also on MSNBC, The Huffington Post's Howard Fineman blasted Lehrer as "practically useless."
"Jim Lehrer was practically useless as the moderator," Fineman said. "It was criminal negligence not to follow up on the question — 'Mr. Romney, specifically what tax loopholes or deductions do you want to get rid of?' He didn't ask it."
( PHOTOS: Scenes from Denver debate)
CNN contributor James Carville said Lehrer "let those guys freelance and go back and forth," and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow noted that "Lehrer — to the extent that he tried to assert himself — got rolled over by Romney again and again and again."
Before the debate, NBC's Ted Koppel defended Lehrer's role as debate moderator, telling POLITICO that "the pressing in a debate needs to come from the adversary: It's up to the candidates to say to one another, 'I heard Jim's question and you're not answering it.' This is not about whether we want Jim Lehrer to be president."


text:
FRIDAY, June 15, 2012 (HealthDay News) -- Seniors who take calcium supplements along with vitamin D may lengthen their lives, a new analysis suggests.
However, only the combination of the two appears to be effective; vitamin D by itself had no benefit, the researchers noted.
"Our study provides evidence of a cause-effect relationship -- that calcium and vitamin D causes beneficial effects to general health," said study author Dr. Lars Rejnmark, an assistant professor at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark. "Calcium with vitamin D has now been proven to reduce risk of osteoporotic fractures and death in the elderly."
The report will be published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
For the study, Rejnmark's team collected data on more than 70,000 people who were around 70 years old and had taken part in one of eight trials that pitted vitamin D or vitamin D plus calcium against an inactive placebo by randomly assigning participants to one of the treatments.
The investigators found that, over three years, vitamin D alone did not reduce the risk of death (mortality), but when taken with calcium mortality was reduced 9 percent.
It is known that the combination of vitamin D and calcium can reduce bone fractures in older people.
However, Rejnmark's group noted that the reduction in mortality seen in this analysis was not due to fewer fractures, but an effect of these supplements that went beyond bone health.
Recently there has been data tying calcium supplements to an increased risk of heart attack.
A study in the May edition of Heart found that calcium supplementation increased the risk of heart attack by 86 percent. But the risk was not increased with calcium from foods.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force proposed that postmenopausal women not take low-dose calcium and vitamin D supplements daily to ward off bone fractures, because the effect is negligible.
Dr. Michael Holick, a professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine, said that "other studies have shown that if you have adequate vitamin D, [it] can reduce the risk of mortality by about 7 percent."
Although the exact mechanism of why these supplements prolong life isn't known, Holick believes that both improve cell function and cardiovascular health, he said.
Holick also believes the task force misunderstood the data on the benefit of vitamin D and calcium. He said the amount of these supplements taken in the studies they looked at were too low to have any beneficial effect.
Knowing what to do about supplements can be confusing, Holick said. He recommends adults take 1,500 to 2,000 international units of vitamin D daily with 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium from both diet and supplements in combination.
"By doing so, you will preserve your bone health, you will improve muscle strength and you may have additional health benefits including [lowering the] risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and infectious diseases," Holick said. "There is no downside to increasing your vitamin D intake."
More information
For more information on calcium and vitamin D, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health.


text:
Obsidian statues are constructs used by the Scourge that can transform into obsidian destroyers. Immobile obsidian statues and active obsidian destroyers can also be found in Ahn'Qiraj.
Shaped like a humanoid torso atop the lower body of a winged, powerfully-built panther, this large construct seems an impressively realistic likeness. Carved out of the dark stone from which it takes its name, an obsidian statue has eerie, green eyes that shine brightly within deep sockets. Undead armies use obsidian statues as figureheads, placing them at the forefront of battle or near strategically important locales, such as armories or headquarters. They inspire awe in the hearts of their enemies, but more importantly they provide useful support to their undead masters. Obsidian statues fight without thought or tactic, using their mystic blasts to pummel those foes close to them. They hate living beings and strike at any living creature that comes within range. Obsidian statues never engage undead in battle unless they are directly threatened by them. Obsidian statues do not speak.[1]
Warcraft IIIEdit
This article or section contains lore taken from Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, the manuals, and official bonus maps.
- Main article: Obsidian Statue (Warcraft III)
From Obsidian Statue at Battle.net
- Fortified statue that can regenerate the health and mana of nearby friendly units. Can research Destroyer Form. Believed to be gifts granted by Ner'zhul, the Obsidian Statues are often used as figureheads at the forefront of many Undead armies, inspiring awe and fear in the enemy ranks. Nothing can prepare the enemy for what this unfathomable statue could become. Attacks land and air units.
This description is the same as the description on page 14 of the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne manual.
- ^ Monster Guide, pg. 109
External links Edit
See this subject on the Hearthstone wiki: Obsidian Statue


text:
|Home | Charity | Feedback
Previous Photo: Skydive, NZone, Rotorua, New Zealand
Next Photo: Room with a View, Rydges, Rotorua, New Zealand
Rotorua Image Gallery Photo viewer
Rotorua Travel Post
Soon after landing, science students would be reminded of their school�s laboratory. Thanks to the geothermal activities in the entire region, a typical smell (rotten eggs; scientifically it�s Hydrogen Sulphide) hangs around. Thankfully, one quickly gets used to it. What the sulphur dominated air does to the Rotorua residents� health is beyond my domain. Read more�
Rotorua Travel Post
Home |
Charity |
Privacy Policy | Terms of Usage
� 2017-2018 YoGoYo.com. All rights reserved.


text:
PW Celebration of Christian Community
Fellowship of the Least Coin
Fellowship of the Least Coin links prayer and "least coins" in a very significant way, as the least coin becomes the symbol of prayer for peace and reconciliation. Fellowship of the Least Coin, an ecumenical prayer movement, was begun in 1956 by Shanti Solomon of India who believed that women anywhere could have a sense of being part of a worldwide family of faith as they prayed for peace and reconciliation and set aside the least coin of their country as a symbol of that prayer. As coins are gathered from around the world, they become a sign of our oneness in the common quest for peace, justice and reconciliation. May Friendship Day is the traditional day for collecting the Least Coin Offering.
Give to the Fellowship of the Least Coin
Congregations that receive donations for Fellowship of the Least Coin should mail contributions (as a check made payable to Treasurer of Presbyterian Women) to the treasurer of Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery, following deadlines and procedures outlined by the PW in the Presbytery. Email Presbyterian Women to find out the name and address of your PWP treasurer.
Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery treasurers should forward FLC gifts along with all other gifts to PW Churchwide each quarter, using a remittance form.
Grants are made by an international committee for special projects of evangelism, service, ecumenical solidarity, awareness-building among women and relief throughout the world. Presbyterian women are encouraged to participate in the Fellowship of the Least Coin. You may order copies of the Circle of Prayer, a booklet of meditations and prayers by women around the world, through Church Women United, by calling (800) 298-5551, option 3.
Get a Fellowship of the Least Coin prayer card
Fellowship of the Least Coin Brochure
2-sided brochure
This file may be printed as a two-sided brochure. Fold in the left and right 1/3 of the page when finished printing.
Shanti Means Peace: The Story of the Fellowship of the Least Coin
This whimsical tale of the founding of the Fellowship of the Least Coin is told through the eyes of a girl from India who finds a nearly worthless coin and, by spinning it in her hand, is able to visit places and people touched by the Least Coin prayer movement. She finds that the Fellowship of the Least Coin, begun by women from several countries more than 100 years before, has changed forever the lives of those who have received prayers and "least coins" from women all over the world. Written by Anna Hansen Bedford and illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger, this beautiful book is a wonderfully told story on its own, and a lovely way to introduce this international prayer movement to children of all ages.
A free downloadable resource packet is available to help you interpret the story. Get recipes, crafts, songs and other ideas for sharing the life-changing message of the Fellowship of the Least Coin.
Celebrating the Legacy, Visioning the Future, Living the Jubilee
The Asian Church Women's Conference and the Fellowship of the Least Coin at 50
By Susan Jackson Dowd and Ann Ferguson
In 2006, the Fellowship of the Least Coin Ecumenical Prayer Movement (FLC) and the Asian Church Women's Conference (ACWC) each celebrated their 50th anniversary. The ACWC held a special celebration during its 13th General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last October. Women from 30 countries attended, including voting representatives from 18 Asian countries. Presbyterian Women was well represented by members of the Churchwide Coordinating Team — Catrelia Hunter, moderator, and Mary Wong Leong, Asian American member-at-large — as well as members of PW's national staff — Susan Jackson Dowd, PW communications coordinator, Ann Ferguson, PW program coordinator, and Laura Lee, PW resource coordinator and art director.
FLC is the main program of the Asian Church Women's Conference. Other ministries within ACWC's scope are executive and general committee meetings, provision of emergency funds and scholarships, and prayer and financial support for projects and missionaries throughout Asia. Shu When Chiang, ACWC executive secretary, describes the conference as a gathering and fellowship point for Asian churchwomen with a mission emphasis that helps empower and encourage others through practical projects.
Celebrating the Legacy
PW has a historical relationship with ACWC and the Fellowship of the Least Coin. At the anniversary celebration in Malaysia, the outgoing president of ACWC, Annam Arumanayagam, and many others referred to Presbyterian Women as the midwife who helped birth not only Fellowship of the Least Coin but the Asian Church Women's Conference. Throughout 2006, Presbyterian women, along with Christian women around the world, repeated the story of the birth of the FLC. How many of us know the rest of the story — the birth of the Asian Church Women's Conference?
In 1956, Margaret Shannon, representing Women of the Church (Presbyterian Church in the United States), organized the Pacific Fellowship Mission Team. The team's post World War II purpose was to travel through Asia with a message of reconciliation and hope, learning what they could about the situation there. Seven women from different countries participated. Shanti Solomon, team member from India, was denied entrance to Korea because relations between India and Korea were not good after the war. Shanti went to the Philippines to wait. While there, she reflected on the experiences of the team's travel in the war-torn countries of Asia and became inspired to promote reconciliation, justice and peace. Once reunited with the team, Shanti suggested that prayer could transcend every national boundary. She challenged the Christian women of Asia and the women of the Presbyterian Church in the United States to combine efforts and resources to launch a project for justice, peace and reconciliation internationally. The project would include all women on an equal basis, no matter their economic circumstances. The team accepted the challenge to birth a movement that expressed solidarity with suffering humanity and with women from every nation. Shannon encouraged Presbyterian women in the United States to become part of the movement. Later, she extended that possibility to women of all denominations through Church Women United.
Two years later, the Asian Church Women's Conference was born out of this same spirit. In 1958, Shannon brought together a group of women from Asia at Stony Point Conference Center in New York, prior to their attending the national meeting of Presbyterian women. The group gathered to plan a conference that would bring women of the Reformed and United Asian Churches together. Shannon and Dorothy Wagner, then serving as eastern secretary for United Presbyterian Women and as secretary for Ecumenical and Global Relations for the United Presbyterian Church, met with the group. Together they conceived ACWC.
The first ACWC conference was held in November 1958. During this conference, the women decided to make Fellowship of the Least Coin the main program of ACWC. Both the FLC movement and ACWC quickly grew. By its second conference in 1962, ACWC had become ecumenical and the Fellowship of the Least Coin had become global. "By the time the fourth conference of ACWC was held in Indonesia in 1970, the work of interpreting the FLC, screening and recommending projects for grants, had grown to the point that it was agreed to employ an executive secretary. Shanti Solomon, the founder, was asked to carry this responsibility" (Celebrating the Legacy, p. 22).
Visioning the Future
Talking about the future of the relationship between ACWC and Presbyterian Women is not possible without talking about the Fellowship of the Least Coin (FLC). In a letter to the Asian Church Women's Conference on the occasion of the anniversaries, 2006–2009 PW national moderator Catrelia unter wrote, "Presbyterian Women is committed to continuing our support of the Fellowship of the Least Coin — we will walk together in faith and love as the Fellowship of the Least Coin moves into the future." From midwife to sisters together in Christian service, Presbyterian women are dedicated to partnership with the women of ACWC.
Our least coins, our prayer tokens, are a byproduct of our prayers. They have been and will be put to good use through the continued grant program of the International Committee of the Fellowship of the Least Coin. The committee is comprised of representatives from worldwide and regional ecumenical bodies, with a majority representation from Asia in order to maintain the historical relationships among ACWC, the Christian Conference of Asia and the FLC. All are partners with the PC(USA). Eight regions are represented on the committee — Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and the Pacific. The United States is represented on the committee by the president of Church Women United with strong support from Presbyterian Women because of the historical relationship. FLC funds are collected and sent through the World Council of Churches in Geneva where they are held for the International Committee to disperse. The amount coming from each region or country is never disclosed in order to honor the FLC understanding of equality. Requests for funds must come through the worldwide and regional ecumenical bodies and meet FLC criteria. Information on grants and criteria is found in the FLC constitution.
Grants are in three forms: annual block grants to each region, grants to projects and programs that meet the criteria and emergency grants for unexpected events; e.g., the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, earthquake relief.
FLC matters — prayer and least coins are making a difference all over the world. Prayers and least coins allow us to envision a brighter future for many. Where PW history is concerned, we can tell where we are going by where we have been. The same applies to FLC. We have had a solid 50 years of prayer and positive action that have made a difference for all involved. May the next 50 years be the same.
Susan Jackson Dowd is the executive director of Presbyterian Women. Ann Ferguson served as program coordinator for Presbyterian Women.


text:
Combining old world traditions with contemporary flair, the distinctive uniqueness of the Marco Bicego brand can be described through imperfect shapes, timelessness and artisanal craftsmanship. Taking inspiration from Venetian origins and natural surroundings, the talented designer has been championing the art of jewelry making since 1958. Bicego's hand-twisted coil technique is iconic, with signature engraving throughout collections bringing a twist to the timeless elegance of gold. Marco Bicego earrings offer a bold and dazzling finish to both formal and everyday looks. Studs, drop earrings and hoops are engraved by hand and adorned with sumptuous jewels for a truly elegant and lavish appeal.
Showing 0 of 0


text:
How would you like to win one of these wonderful pieces of cookware?
Just imagine these wonderful colors in your kitchen. In an ideal world, I'd have different sets of kitchenware in various colors and depending on my mood, I could just swivel an entire wall around and voilà, a set of kitchenware in the color I'd feel like for that day!
But I don't have the space and I'm a bit eclectic, so my kitchen stuff and bakeware come in orange, red, the usual black/silver, and now I have green, too! CSN was kind enough to send me this for a review… and while I have not used it yet, I have to say that I'm already in love with it! It's the Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown 4.25 Qt. Oval Covered Casserole. Don't you just love its unique shape and design?
I have to say that it took me a long time to choose which product to review. CSN is a virtual shopping network with over 200 stores. I had a hard time deciding between bedding, outdoor toys for the children, stationery, bags… One product would lead me to another. In the end, I'd decided on the green Rachel Ray covered casserole. I just couldn't resist the color and the design! I also love the fact that the casserole is stoneware (I love stoneware!).
One of you could win any one of the items that I'd featured above from CSN. Just click on the photo to read more information about each piece.
Now the rules of the giveaway…
Leave a comment below to let me know which piece it is you would want if you win (e.g. #1, #2… etc.). SO easy!
For additional entries, please do one or all (!) of the following and leave me separate comments:
1) Click on each photo (#s 1 to 4) and let me know the name of the items featured above (not including the green Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown 4.25 Qt. Oval Covered Casserole). You could just copy and paste the name on your comment – 2 entries EACH for every item you name. If you name all four, you already get a total of 8 entries! Please leave separate comments.
2) Grab my button and post it on your blog / website – 2 extra entries
3) Follow Buckeroomama on Twitter and leave me your Twitter name – 1 extra entry
4) Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link. You could simply copy and paste this: Win colorful, QUALITY cookware for your kitchen! @Buckeroomama #Giveaway http://bit.ly/dhcUQB – 2 more entries
5) Vote for me by simply clicking on the button below (or the same one on my sidebar). – 1 extra entry. You can vote once every 24 hours and you get an extra entry for every vote you cast. That's a quick and easy way of getting extra entries! Again, please leave separate comments.
6) Follow my blog publicly (Google Friend Connect) or remind me that you are already a follower. - 2 more entries
7) Blog about this giveaway and link back to me. Please leave me the link to that post. – 3 more entries
One winner with a valid entry will be selected on 17th August using random.org. The winner will be announced and must respond with a current email address within 48 hours to claim. Otherwise, another eligible entry will be chosen. (Giveaway open only to residents of the US and Canada).
Have fun and good luck!
Oh, I had written a teaser post about this giveaway a few weeks back (!) and I'd offered to give 10 extra entries to anyone who could guess the category of the product that I would choose to review. Blueviolet guessed Housewares and Wanda was being specific and guessed the All Clad stainless 12" chefs pan. Both answers are in the same category as the Rachel Ray covered casserole –under Housewares… so Blueviolet and Wanda automatically get 10 extra entries! Yay! (Girls, please leave separate comments for each. Thanks!)
Note: I have received a product for hosting this giveaway for CSN Stores. There was no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not in any way influenced by the sponsor.