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The Secret Beyond Matter
Allah has promised those of you who have iman and do right actions that He will make them successors in the land as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their deen with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. 'They worship Me, not associating anything with Me.' Any who are kafir after that, such people are deviators. (Surat an-Nur, 55)
There is nothing heavier in the scales than good character. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
Allah is the Creator of all
Our Lord is the One Who has put billions of pieces of information in a place so small that our eyes cannot even see it.
Allah is the One Who has created us, our eyes, our hair, and our feet.
He is also the Creator of our families, parents, brothers and sisters, friends and teachers.
Allah is the One Who has created the food that we love for us, chocolates, cakes and candies, the fruits and vegetables that make us healthy and strong. If Allah had not created it, we would not have known what chocolate tasted like.
Allah has also given us the sense of taste and smell. If He had not given us these faculties, we would not have been able to taste the things that we eat. It would have been the same whether we ate a potato or a cake. Allah hasn't just created delicious and beautifully scented foods, He has also given us the faculties that will allow us to enjoy them.
You like some things, and you enjoy them and think of them as fun. It could be a dessert that you enjoy eating, a game that you enjoy playing, or an outing with people you love. You must never forget that Allah is the One Who makes it possible for you to enjoy such things.
Since Allah has great mercy for you, He always gives you pleasant and beautiful things.
To begin with, you did not exist. Just think, you were nowhere before you were conceived. You were nothing. Allah created you. He made you out of nothing.
Then we must be grateful to Allah for each moment of our lives. In everything that we enjoy and love, we must remember Allah, and say, "O Allah I am forever grateful to you for all your offerings." If we come across a situation that we do not like, we should again pray to Allah, because He is the only One Who can put things right.
Allah always hears our prayers and responds to them, because He always knows what is in our thoughts. While reading this section, for instance, you are thinking of some things, but if you do not say them aloud, no one at home will know what you are thinking. Allah, however, knows your every thought and sees you all the time. Even when you think you are alone, Allah sees you and knows everything that you do.
For this reason, good people, even when they are by themselves, do not think, "Well no one can see me now" and then do wrong things. They know that Allah still sees and hears them even when no one else is around.
Honey Bees and the Architectural Wonders of Honeycombs
Bees produce more honey than they actually need and store it in honeycombs. The hexagonal structure of the honeycomb is well-known to everyone. Have you ever wondered why bees construct hexagonal honeycombs rather than octagonal, or pentagonal?
Mathematicians looking for answer to this question reached an interesting conclusion: "A hexagon is the most appropriate geometric form for the maximum use of a given area."
A hexagonal cell requires the minimum amount of wax for construction while it stores the maximum amount of honey. So the bee uses the most appropriate form possible.
The method used in the construction of the honeycomb is also very amazing: bees start the construction of the hive from two-three different places and weave the honeycomb simultaneously in two-three strings. Though they start from different places, the bees, great in number, construct identical hexagons and then weave the honeycomb by combining these together and meeting in the middle. The junction points of the hexagons are assembled so deftly that there is no sign of their being subsequently combined.
In the face of this extraordinary performance, we, for sure, have to admit the existence of a superior will that ordains these creatures. Evolutionists want to explain away this achievement with the concept of "instinct" and try to present it as a simple attribute of the bee. However, if there is an instinct at work, if this rules over all bees and provides that all bees work in harmony though uninformed of one another, then it means that there is an exalted Wisdom that rules over all these tiny creatures.
To put it more explicitly, God, the creator of these tiny creatures, "inspires" them with what they have to do. This fact was declared in the Qur'an fourteen centuries ago:
And your Sustainer has inspired the honey bee: "Prepare for yourself dwellings in mountains and in trees, and in what (men) build; and then eat of all manner of fruit, and find with skill the spacious paths of your Sustainer". There issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought. (Surat an-Nahl: 68-69)
The Qur'an opens people's hearts, brings with it ease and heals hearts and bodies
The Trustworthy, He Who Gives Tranquillity
He is Allah—there is no deity but Him. He is the King, the Most Pure, the Perfect Peace, the Trustworthy , the Safeguarder, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supremely Great. Glory be to Allah above all that they associate with Him. ( Surat al-Hashr, 59:23)
Allah presents a pleasing life to believers both in this world and the next. This life, which is perfect in all respects, makes them spiritually strong. Indeed, Allah gives spiritual peace and security to sincere believers. When they face any difficulty, He supports them, confirms His signs on their hearts, and, through the trust they put in Him, allows them to lead a peaceful life. The Qur'an informs us about this spiritual support after the Companions suffered a defeat during the time of our Prophet (saas):
Allah has helped you on many occasions, including the Day of Hunayn, when your great numbers delighted you but did not help you in any way, and the land seemed narrow to you for all its great breadth, and you turned your backs. Then Allah sent down His serenity on His Messenger and on the believers, and sent down troops you could not see, and punished those who were unbelievers. That is how the unbelievers are repaid. Then after that, Allah will turn to anyone He wills. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat at-Tawba, 9:25-27)
There have always been people who, insisting upon denying Allah, work to turn sincere believers away from the straight path and to their own man-made religion. When believers reject this call, unbelievers threaten and oppress them. But during such times, Allah provides all forms of support and undermines the unbelievers' efforts, as the Qur'an reveals:
Those who are disbelievers filled their hearts with fanatical rage—the fanatical rage of the Time of Ignorance—and Allah sent down serenity to His Messenger and to the believers, and bound them to the expression of heedfulness, to which they had most right and were most entitled. Allah has knowledge of all things. (Surat al-Fath, 48:26)
Many other verses inform us about this spiritual support, especially that given to the Messengers. When unbelievers forced our Prophet (saas) to emigrate, Allah promised to support him, hindered the unbelievers' attacks, and sent down serenity upon his heart. This support is related in the following verses:
If you do not help him, Allah did help him when the unbelievers drove him out and there were two of them in the cave. He said to his companion: "Do not be despondent, Allah is with us." Then Allah sent down His serenity upon him and reinforced him with troops you could not see. He made the word of the unbelievers the lowest of the low. It is the word of Allah that is uppermost. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat at-Tawba, 9:40)
While Allah gives His sincere servants feelings of security and serenity, the peace and security of the Hereafter are far beyond our comprehension. For one thing, they will last for all eternity, if Allah so wills. Allah describes this unique state of material and spiritual contentment, as follows:
Those who guard against evil will be amid gardens and springs: "Enter them in peace, in complete security!" We will strip away any rancor in their hearts—brothers [and sisters], resting on couches face-to-face. They will not be affected by any tiredness there and will never be made to leave. (Surat al-Hijr, 15:45-48)
Mahdi is one of the sayyids (masters) of the dwellers of paradise
Khakim, Ibn Majah and Abu Naim reported from Anas ibn Malik that: "I have heard from the Messenger of Allah (saas), he said, "WE ARE -- THE SEVEN CHILDREN OF ABD AL MUTTALIB -- THE MASTERS OF THE DWELLERS OF PARADISE. Myself, Hamza, Ali, Jaffar, Al Hassan, Al Hussain and AL MAHDI.
(Jalaladdin as-Suyuti, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman,
Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, p. 19)
Genome Research Is Demolishing the ''First Cell That Formed by Chance'' Deception
The theory of evolution maintains, on the basis of no scientific foundation whatsoever, that at a time when there was still no life on Earth, inanimate substances came together to give rise to the first living organism. According to this evolutionist claim, the first living organism must have had a sufficiently simple structure to have been able to form by chance.
The fact is, however, that Darwinists ARE UNABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR HOW EVEN A SINGLE PROTEIN EMERGED.
The fact that a single protein cannot form spontaneously is one that in any case totally demolishes the theory of evolution. But even if we assume for a moment that this impossibility did actually come about, we still see that the "primitive cell" claimed by Darwinists eliminates with absolutely certain proofs the possibility of life coming into being spontaneously. Data provided by science in the 21st century shows that even the life form with the very simplest structure is in fact highly complex, and that it is practically impossible for it to emerge spontaneously and by chance.
Genome research supplies this information. Based on the idea that living things with the smallest genome (extremophiles and eubacteria) have the least complexity, scientists have calculated the probabilities of these organisms appearing by chance and spontaneously. Another point needing clarification here is this: scientists also regard these organisms as the oldest life forms on Earth.
Genome research revealed that the lowest number of proteins required for life was between 250 and 450.[1]In other words, the minimum number of different proteins that would have to combine together at the same time in order to give rise to the structural features of the cell and performs its basic functions is between 250 and 450.
It also needs to be made clear that this minimum number of 250-450 protein is the number of proteins obtained from microbes living parasitically. The minimum number of proteins needed in order for an organism to live independently of another is around 1500. In other words, Darwinists have to account for the separate existence of 1500 different proteins needed to give rise to a single functioning cell. But, to reiterate, Darwinists are unable to account for the emergence of even a single protein.
It is totally impossible for between 250 and 1500 different proteins required for an organism to be considered as living to form spontaneously and at the same time. Probability calculations on the subject are given in the following table:
|Minimum Protein Number[2]
|Probability of Emerging Simultaneously
As the above table shows, the probability of a living organism with the least protein forming by chance is 1 in 1018,750. (In order to grasp the vast size of this number, it will be useful to remember that the total number of atoms in the universe is 1078.) In other words, there is no chance at all. Despite all these calculations and scientific data, evolutionists still insist on believing in the impossible. The sole reason for that insistence is their determination to deny the existence of Almighty Allah, Who created all things out of nothing.
Morowitz's probability calculation
The probability calculations cited above are in agreement with a calculation by the biophysicist Harold Morowitz. He assumed he had broken all the chemical bonds in the E. coli bacterium and released all the atoms comprising it, and then calculated the probability of these atoms spontaneously recombining to give rise to the E. coli once again. In this theoretical experiment, all the atoms required are present in all the appropriate quantities, and it is assumed that no other atom can become involved from the outside. Nonetheless, he calculated that the chances of all the atoms coming together spontaneously in a specific order, despite their being in the appropriate numbers and in an appropriate environment, in such a way as to produce an E. coli bacterium was 1 in 10100,000,000,000.[3]This goes far beyond being merely impossible. Such a number reveals the impossibility of even the least complex organism in the universe forming by chance, even if all the conditions and materials are brought together.
A sufficient number of proteins combining together is not sufficient for life to emerge
Let us imagine we have all the proteins necessary for life ready to hand. The existence of these proteins, which cannot come about in this way, IS NOT ENOUGH FOR EVEN A SINGLE CELL TO FORM. Microbiologists and biochemists explicitly say that the organization of these proteins within the cell is also highly important, otherwise the proteins will serve no purpose. Moreover, as Darwinist scientists know full well, the cell possesses organelles that manufacture proteins and a glorious DNA data bank far more complex than proteins. A living cell is made possible by all these structures possessing the same function and organization at the same time, and acting with the same consciousness. This is a fact that demolishes Darwinism.
The fact that bacteria possess an extraordinary internal organization was unknown until the 1990s. The fact is, however, that the complex cells (eukaryotic) comprising single-cell protozoans are known to be made up of a nucleus, organelles, membrane systems, a cytoskeleton, several internal sections and other contents organizing the content of the cell on the molecular level.[4]All these systems are extraordinarily complex. One cannot function independently of the others.
As the information provided here shows, microbiology, biochemistry and genome research, all the main scientific advances in the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century in short, have eradicated all the claims of the theory of evolution. These scientific conclusions have revealed that Darwinism is totally unscientific and consists of claims that are far removed from science. Science has refuted evolutionist claims regarding "a very simple fist living organism." Aside from the minimum number of proteins and minimum complexity needed for it to be alive, an organism is too complex to be explained by evolutionist claims of chance and possesses a perfect organization. In addition to all this complexity, the existence of a single cell brings the theory of evolution to a complete halt.
It is an evident fact that life came into being from nothing with the infinite intelligence, knowledge and might of Allah. This fact, obvious to reason and good conscience, is also corroborated by countless scientific data today.
The following is revealed in the Qur'an about our Lord's matchless Creation:
[Allah is] the Originator of the heavens and earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surat al-Baqara, 117)
[1]Jack Maniloff, "The Minimal Cell Genome:'On Being the Right Size'," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 93 81996), pp. 10004-10006; Mitsuhiro Itaya, "An Estimation of Minimal Genome Size Required for Life," FEBS Letters 362 (1995), pp 257-260; Rana and Ross, Origins of Life, p. 163
[2]Rana and Ross, Origins of Life, p. 163
[3]Robert Shapiro, Origins: A Skeptic's Guide to Creation of Life on Earth (New York:Bantam Books, 1986), p. 128; Rana and Ross, Origins of Life, p. 164
[4]Lucy Shapiro and Richard Losick, "Protein Localization and Cell Fate in Bacteria," Science 276 (1997), pp.712-718; Rana and Ross, Origins of Life, p. 166
Until he reached the rising of the sun and found it rising on a people to whom We had not given any shelter from it. (Surat al-Kahf, 90)
The Arabic word "sitran" in verse 90 of Surat al-Kahf means "cover, shelter, curtain or screen." The term "lam najAAal lahum min dooniha sitran" describes an environment devoid of any shelter or protection against the Sun. In the light of present-day knowledge, this is suggestive of the ozone layer that protects living things against harmful solar rays.
The area where the ozone layer around the Earth is thinnest, where it protects least against solar radiation, is the poles.1 Scientific research has established a severe thinning of the ozone layer at the North Pole at the moment the Sun rises 2 and this scientific discovery has been described as Sunrise Ozone Destruction (SOD) 3.
As a matter of fact, during their research, American scientists determined a rapid decrease in ozone concentration at the moment of sunrise – when there was no sign of any before.4 This phenomenon is particularly encountered in the North Pole (Arctic) region, and there is a serious loss of ozone for a few hours immediately after sunrise.5
The Arabic word "matlia" in this verse, meaning the "rising place" of the Sun, may well be a reference to this scientific discovery about the ozone layer. (Allah knows the truth.) The fact that this information, obtained with 20th century high technology, also appears in such a compatible form in the Qur'an, is yet more proof that the Qur'an is the revelation of our Lord, the One and Only Owner of science and technology.
Sunrise at the North Pole.
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion
2 L. A. Barrie, J. W. Bottenheim, R. C. Schnell, P. J. Crutzen, R. A. Rasmussen, "Ozone destruction and photochemical reactions at polar sunrise in the lower Arctic atmosphere", Nature, 14 July 1988, Vol. 334, pp 138-141; http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v334/n6178/abs/334138a0.html
3 I. Nagao, K. Matsumoto, H. Tanaka "Sunrise Ozone Destruction Found in the Sub-Tropical Marine Boundary Layer", Geophysical Research Letters, 1999, Vol. 26, no. 22, pp. 3377-3380; http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1999/1999GL010836.shtml
4 Jagir S. Randhawa, "A Balloon Measurement of Ozone Near Sunrise"; http://www.stormingmedia.us/31/3147/0314707.html
5 I. Nagao, K. Matsumoto, H. Tanaka "Sunrise Ozone Destruction Found in the Sub-Tropical Marine Boundary Layer", Geophysical Research Letters, 1999, Vol. 26, No. 22, pp. 3377-3380; http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1999/1999GL010836.shtml
Age: 80 million years
Period: Cretaceous
Location: Gui Zhou Area, China
Evolutionist efforts to portray the supposed evolutionary ancestor of the tiger are pointless. Fossils have proven that tigers are not descended from any other life form, but have always existed as tigers. The fossil pictured shows that tigers living 80 million years ago were identical to those alive today, effectively silencing all evolutionist claims to the contrary.
Living things did not emerge as the result of mutation and chance. Almighty God, Lord of sublime creative power, has created all life forms.
The world shrinks but Turkey grows
What He Said
Azerbaycan Novoye Vremya, October 6, 2008
Interviewer: What would you say about the global crisis throughout the world?
Adnan Oktar: NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO TURKEY. Nothing will happen to Turkish Islamic countries. On the contrary, there will be prosperity and abundance in those places. Here comes the age of abundance and prosperity Insha'Allah. By the leave of Allah we enter the Golden Age. Turkish countries will be happy, joyful and live in comfort. These crises are temporary indeed. They do not actually affect us but we of course do not want America be affected because of the crisis. We do not want the Christians to be in dire straits. We do our utmost regarding that Insha'Allah.
Baskent TV, February 13, 2009
Adnan Oktar: Of course the crisis has hit Turkey in a delayed way. That is true and it will continue to hit. But our people have a good aspect. Morality of Islam and the spirit of mutual cooperation are so pleasant. That brings an economic mobility in goods and money and it definitely will continue to bring. Therefore THE REFLECTION OF THE CRISIS IS NOT AS SEVERE AS IN EUROPE. IT WILL DEFINITELY NOT.However our actual salvation is by Turkish – Islamic Union. In that case let alone the crisis, people will almost be uncomfortable due to prosperity.
What Happened
Bugun, July 01, 2010
Darwinism, which maintains that life and the entire universe are the work of blind chance, is the main foundation for all the damaging trends that have inflicted terrible disasters on mankind in our age.
The purpose of this site is to reveal the scientific evidence that demolishes Darwinism, which is being attempted to be kept alive out of ideological concerns despite having been scientifically utterly invalidated, and to warn people against this theory's sly indoctrination.
The Miracle In The Cell Membrane
The 100 trillion or so cells that make up the human body perform countless activities, without ever stopping, growing tired or needing a rest. In the same way that every living thing needs energy—and therefore, food—to survive, so the cell also needs various nutrients in order to perform its countless functions. In the same way that raw materials to be used in production are carried inside a factory and stored until needed, and waste products are later sent out of the factory later, so a very complex production, storage and waste-disposal system operates within the cell.
In the same way that the qualities of the raw materials brought to the factory are specified by contract, so the cell observes special conditions for the substances it takes into itself. Substances do not enter the cell at random. As if they were already familiarized beforehand, these molecules are subjected to "identity checks" at the cell membrane. There are entryways held open solely for substances regarded as admissible. Other substances, whose entry is regarded as possibly undesirable, are eliminated with a care reminiscent of fingerprint checks. The way the nature of these materials is checked and confirmed before entering the cell is of vital importance. These strict security precautions avoid the risk of entrance of any virus, bacterium or poisonous substance into the cell. This huge responsibility is assumed by the thinnest of membranes.
Each one of the trillions of cells that make up your body acts with this awareness. Each cell membrane implements this sensitive selection mechanism in that part of the division of labor that falls to it. No human being can even be aware that such extraordinary functions are taking place, let alone be able to perform any such selection consciously. The appearance of an intelligence beyond human in the cell membrane shows that the source of that intelligence is not the cell itself but rather the inspiration of Allah, Who created it. By the command of Allah each and every cell carries out its duties for us flawlessly.


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A release candidate for version 2.3 of the popular Ruby on Rails Web application development framework is being targeted for release this Sunday, the founder of the project, David Heinemeier Hansson, said on Friday.
General release of the platform probably will follow a few weeks later, he said.
Rails 2.3 features Rack integration, enabling Rails to work together more easily with other Ruby frameworks; refreshed support for Rails Engines, which are Rails applications that can be embedded within other applications; and nested transactions for Active Record and unified rendering, for easier rendering. More efficient routing also is featured as is Rails Metal, for authoring parts of an application directly in Ruby to boost performance.
A release candidate for the ambitious Rails 3 release, which merges Rails with the Merb Web framework, has been expected this May.
[ Related: Ruby on Rails on track for major upgrades ]

subset: commoncrawl


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Supporters of Bradley Manning, the US soldier convicted of espionage for leaking secret files to WikiLeaks, presented a petition to the Nobel Institute on Monday backing his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The petition, launched by the online activist organisation RootsAction, was signed by over 103,000 people who claim that Manning helped shorten the Iraq war by leaking secret documents to WikiLeaks.
Awarding Manning the prize would, the organisation said, clear "the cloud (that) hovers over the Norwegian Nobel Committee" for awarding the prestigious honour to US President Barack Obama in 2009. Two months after the announcement and one week before Obama accepted the award, he decided to intensify the war effort in Afghanistan.
"No individual has done more to push back against what Martin Luther King Jr. called 'the madness of militarism' than Bradley Manning," the petition read.
"And right now, remaining in prison and facing relentless prosecution by the US government, no one is more in need of the Nobel Peace Prize," it said.
Some signatories added comments explaining why Manning deserved the award, including a Czech national who wrote: "I know you can't really do this because of (the) USA, but still. He deserves it more than (US President) Barack Obama did."
Memo from Oslo: If Peace Is Prized, a Nobel for Bradley Manning
The headquarters of the Nobel Committee is in downtown Oslo on a street named after Henrik Ibsen, whose play "An Enemy of the People" has remained as current as dawn light falling on the Nobel building and then, hours later, on a Fort Meade courtroom where Bradley Manning's trial enters a new stage — defense testimony in the sentencing phase.
Ibsen's play tells of mendacity and greed in high places: dangerous threats to public health. You might call the protagonist a whistleblower. He's a physician who can't pretend that he hasn't seen evidence; he rejects all the pleas and threats to stay quiet, to keep secret what the public has a right to know. He could be content to take an easy way, to let others suffer and die. But he refuses to just follow orders. He will save lives. There will be some dire consequences for him.The respectable authorities know when they've had enough. Thought crimes can be trivial but are apt to become intolerable if they lead to active transgressions. In the last act, our hero recounts: "They insulted me and called me an enemy of the people." Ostracized and condemned, he offers final defiant words before the curtain comes down: "I have made a great discovery. … It is this, let me tell you — that the strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone." Alone Bradley Manning will stand as a military judge proclaims a prison sentence. As I write these words early Monday, sky is starting to lighten over Oslo. This afternoon I'll carry several thousand pages of a petition — filled with the names of more than 100,000 signers, along with individual comments from tens of thousands of them — to an appointment with the Research Director of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The petition urges that Bradley Manning be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Like so many other people, the signers share the belief of Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire who wrote this summer: "I can think of no one more deserving."
Opening heart and mind to moral responsibility — seeing an opportunity to provide the crucial fuel of information for democracy and compassion — Bradley Manning lifted a shroud and illuminated terrible actions of the USA's warfare state. He chose courage on behalf of humanity. He refused to just follow orders."If there's one thing to learn from the last ten years, it's that government secrecy and lies come at a very high price in blood and money," Bradley Manning biographer Chase Madar wrote. "And though information is powerless on its own, it is still a necessary precondition for any democratic state to function."
Bradley Manning recognized that necessary precondition. He took profound action to nurture its possibilities on behalf of democracy and peace.
No doubt a Nobel Peace Prize for Bradley Manning is a very long longshot. After all, four years ago, the Nobel Committee gave that award to President Obama, while he was escalating the war in Afghanistan, and since then Obama's dedication to perpetual war has become ever more clear.
Now, the Nobel Committee and its Peace Prize are in dire need of rehabilitation. In truth, the Nobel Peace Prize needs Bradley Manning much more than the other way around.
No one can doubt the sincere dedication of Bradley Manning to human rights and peace. But on Henrik Ibsen Street in Oslo, the office of the Nobel Committee is under a war cloud of its own making.
- Norman Solomon is co-founder of RootsAction.org and founding director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. His books include "War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death."


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In 2004 the UK's urban scene took a new direction pioneered by then 22 year old rapper Sway. With a plan to make himself heard and respected as a producer, writer and namely an artist he independently promoted and released his mixtapes "This Is My Promo" Vol. 1 & 2. These releases proceeded to change the rules of the game as they earned him awards and accolades even before the release of his debut album. Off the back of these early endeavours Sway went up against US heavyweights 50 Cent and The Game in the 2005 Mobo's as Best Hip-Hop Newcomer still without a having released an album.
By 2006 his debut "This Is My Demo" was one of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year and lived up to expectations which The Independent described as; "not just the best British rap albums in years, but simply the best rap album in years, full stop". Self producing more than fifty percent of the album Sway also worked alongside emerging talents such as Al Shux who later went on to produce 'Empire State Of Mind' for Jay Z. Together they forged a sound to match Sway's lyrical ingenuity. Sway's debut album is considered a landmark for British "urban" and hip-hop music receiving widespread acclaim. The record received further mainstream endorsement when it was selected as one of the Mercury Music Prize 'Albums Of The Year' – one of the most respected accolades in UK music which honours only 12 albums each year.
From the release of this album came sell out tours in the USA, Europe and Africa, award show performances and collaborations with top artists across the globe including Akon, Kaiser Chiefs, Lemar, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Craig David, Lupe Fiasco, Chamillionaire, Ian Brown, Madness, Ali Campbell (UB40) and Jamelia. Having an ability to identify raw talent Sway still took time to work with unknown artists such as Mr Hudson and Chipmunk helping to facilitate label deals and provide them with early direction. In 2007 Sway's accolades started to reach beyond the UK winning the BET (Black Entertainment Television) award for Best International Artist, the first time a UK artist had been entered, let alone won. The award was driven by a public vote, and was testament to the fact his lyrical prowess and achievements had by no means gone unnoticed outside of the UK.
In the run up to his second album Sway had become one of the UK's most sought after rappers. When "The Signature LP" dropped late 2008 the strong ties he had forged with Akon were made official with their collaborative single "Silver & Gold". The video's viewings topping 5 million on YouTube soon after it's release. This album was even more ambitious than his debut demonstrating his abilities as a producer, even drafting in a 22 piece orchestra, live musicians and guest appearances including Sting's daughter Coco, fellow MOBO award winner 2face Idibia and Lemar. Though much of the album was born out of tougher times – due to loss of loved ones who passed away during its creation – it still kept true his signature style of witty wordplay and razor-sharp punch lines whilst demonstrating an air of maturity like no other urban artist had yet achieved.
Sway's prolific abilities have earned him worldwide respect and this has enabled him to form a strong alliance with Giorgio Tuinfort, the producer who masterminded Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape" as well as becoming Akon's main in house producer. This recognition by major US rap talent has also stretched to artists Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. Sway has also worked with other US production talent such as Emile Haynie who has produced for Eminem and Kanye West.
To date Sway has received twelve major awards including three Urban Music Awards, sold over 100,000 albums, and released seven mixtapes, of which "The Delivery 1 & 2" are his most recent, paving the way for his long awaited third studio album "The Deliverance" which will follow in early 2011. The first Delivery Mixtape was hailed by The Times as "a mixtape of album standards" and had more than 10,000 downloads in the first week. Sway has just released the second in the series in the lead up to his new album, set to be an awe inspiring record demonstrating the showmanship and versatility that his fans have come to expect and that Sway truly deserves the title of the UK's No.1 Lyricist as well as a producer and writer of the highest international standards.
Featured in: Live Urban
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News & Events
NEMBA puts on many rides, trail care events, skills training, charity rides and lots more. Come ride with us! Come volunteer with us!
Use the search function to find the perfect event for you. You only need to use the seach field you wish. For example, you can filter for all rides by just selecting "Rides" in the event field. Or you can select rides in your chapter by selecting both "Rides" and your "Chapter". You can also select events by state and region.
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Please become a member if you come to our rides. We will provide each of these waivers at our events.


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Shuri Castle-1
Outer precincts of Shuri castle
Luminance HDR 2.3.1 tonemapping parameters:
Operator: Mantiuk06
Contrast Mapping factor: 0.1
Saturation Factor: 1.22
Detail Factor: 10.9
PreGamma: 1
Old Shuri Castle Dusk
Watch fires are lit as dusk settles over Shuri Castle
Katsuran Castle map
Annotated and edited version of the outdoor relief map at the castle visitor center.
Katsuran Gusuku Model
Katsuren Gusuku (Castle) Model in visitor center
Katsuran Gusuku Detail
Katsuran Castle model. Detail of 3rd enclosure showing probable layout of interior structures based on archaeological evidence. Structures in red appear to have had tile roofs.
Katsuren 1
Katsuren castle, Okinawa. In the 15th century it was the seat of Lord Amawari, one of the most powerful of the Ryukyuan lords. Archaeological digs here have turned up Chinese and Japanese ceramics and other evidence of significant trade and contact.
Katsuran Castle first enclsoure walls
View from 2nd enclosure looking up toward 1st enclosure of Katsuran Castle.
Looking down the outer walls on the cliff side.
Katsuran castle view
View from 1st enclosure along defensive walls
Katsuran excavations
Current archaeologicdal excavations in third enclosure at katsuran Castle
Katsuran Castle southern wall
view from below of the south wall of the 2nd enclosure.
Katsuran Castle
Katsuran Castle cat
Katsuran Castle upper courtyard
Nakagusuku (castle) map
Nakagusuku 3rd enclosure
Nakagusuku Castle
2nd enclosure at Nakagusuku
Nakagusuku wall detail
Nakagusuku main ramparts
Nakamura old house Dates from the 19th century
Nakamura old house
Nakajin-jo (Jo also means castle) model
Nakajin-jo model
Nakajin-jo sacred enclosure
Us at Nakajin-jo
Zakimi-jo main gate
Zakimi-jo path leading up to gate
Zakimi-jo first ward


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Monday, June 3, 2013
Change of Plans
Labels: Legomanian
2 comments:
Wait - they actually make a Lego figure of that sad opera clown?ReplyDelete
I'm not sure how I feel about that. Unless he's some kind of Star Wars ninja in disguise. In which case that's AWESOME.
- AnonymousJune 3, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Legoland? How fun! MollyReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Previous Lesson
Complete and Continue
Gentle Yoga, Meditation & Relaxation
Welcome and Course Contents (3:23)
Intention Setting Meditation & Writing Worksheets (6:09)
The Five Points of Yoga (13:03)
Intro to Yoga & Yogic Philosophy (lecture)- Video Lecture (16:45)
Contraindications and Cautions, 15 min video (15:00)
Centering, 2 min video (2:05)
For ongoing support & questions
Intro to Yoga + Tips for New Students (article/PDF)
Benefits of Yoga, Anatomy, Contraindications and Modification: lecture video and PDF
Benefits of Yoga and Research Studies: 16 min video lecture (16:32)
Dog & Cat Cow Poses: Anatomy & Benefits 5 min and 1 pg PDF (5:00)
Hip Openers: Anatomy and Benefits, 4 min video lecture and 2 Pg PDF (4:11)
Lateral Bends, Anatomy & Benefits: video lecture and 2 Pg PDF (3:51)
Backbends: Benefits, Anatomy and Contraindications- lecture video and PDF (5:49)
Spinal Twists: Anatomy and Benefits video lecture and PDF (2:37)
Forward Bends: Anatomy, Benefits and Modifications video lecture and PDF (6:24)
Shoulder Openers: Anatomy and Benefits, video lecture (2:00)
Relaxation Pose Benefits, video lecture & PDF (2:19)
Research on Yoga and Chair Yoga, 6 pg PDF
Sun Salutations
Gentle Yoga Sun Salutes and Sun Salutations, 10 min video (10:00)
Demo Video: Seated Sun Salutations with Chair Yoga Seated Adaptions, Sivananda Yoga (2:04)
Demo Video: Chair Yoga Standing Adaptions for Sun Salutations, Sivananda Yoga (1:52)
Sun Salute Mantras
Chair Yoga Sun Salutes (standing & seated) PDF
Wall Support Sun Salute (3:35)
Gentle & Beginner's Yoga, (no standing poses)
20 min Gentle Yoga Practice (no standing poses) (21:52)
Gentle Yoga Video 45 min (with 20 and 30 min practice options) (46:04)
Gentle Yoga 45 min practice (all floor poses, no standing) (45:00)
Gentle Yoga Home Practice PDF
Spinal Twists-Yoga + Chair Yoga 8 pg PDF from Yoga for Everyone! book
Sun Salute Using a Wall for Support
Chair Yoga: yoga for everyone!
Seated Chair Yoga video. 11 min (11:56)
Chair Yoga 20 min seated practice (20:00)
30 Min Chair Yoga class from Marin TV "Chair Yoga with Stacie" Show (30:26)
Sivananda Yoga with Chair Yoga Adaptions, 50 min (52:50)
Chair Yoga Home Practice PDF
Hand, Wrist & Ankle Warm-ups PDF
Yoga Pose Tutorials
Spinal Twist Tutorial (1:21)
Side Stretch Pose Tutorial (1:17)
Cobra and Locust Pose (3:08)
Office Yoga
Lecture: Introduction to Chair Yoga at Work, 6 min (6:04)
Seated Spinal Twist: Chair Yoga at Work (1:15)
3 + 5 min Chair Yoga Breaks at Work, short videos (9:11)
Yogic Eye Exercises and Self-massage, 3.5 min (3:44)
10 min Seated Chair Yoga at Work (or home) (9:32)
Yogic Breathing Exercises, Pranayama
Pranayama practice video, 6 min. (6:24)
Three Part Breath Instructions, 1 pg
Yogic Relaxation
Relaxation Pose Modifications and Benefits, 2 m video lecture and PDF (2:19)
4 min Guided Relaxation (3:54)
10 min Guided Relaxation (chair or floor practice) (11:22)
20 min Guided Relaxation (20:28)
Yogic Relaxation with floor and Chair Yoga options, 8 pg PDF from Yoga for Everyone! book
30 min Guided Relaxation Video for Deep Healing and Restoration (available 4/13/19) (30:00)
Candle Gazing Meditation, Trataka (7:11)
15 Min Guided Meditation (15:03)
Guided 30 minute Meditation (31:08)
5 Steps to Meditation + 5 Min Meditation; Video lecture and practice (11:21)
Everyone Can Meditate, in 10 Simple Steps PDF
1 Minute Meditation, 1 Pg PDF from Yoga for Everyone! book
2 Minute Meditation (video) (2:19)
Walking Meditation (4:31)
Gratitude Meditation, 6 min video/audio (6:09)
10 Minute Meditation
Short Yoga Breaks
Chair Yoga on a Bench Break (2:32)
4 min Yogic Relaxation Break (3:54)
Legs Up the Wall Pose, 3.5 min (3:25)
Restorative Fish Pose, 5 min (5:46)
Centering Qi Gong Break, 1 min video (1:01)
Chair Yoga Break 1 Page Article from Women's World Mag
Healing Tips, Positive Thinking and Affirmations
Healing Affirmations 5 min video and Simple Affirmations PDF (4:55)
Yogic Lifestyle & Healthy Living Tips, 10 pg PDF
Healing Affirmations by Yogananda
Healing Mantras 1pg PDF
Mantras, Chants and Sanskrit
The Meaning of AUM, 6 min lecture video (5:49)
Chant for Clarity and Memory, Kirtan Kriya 2 pg PDF
Sanskrit 4 pg PDF, of Main Yoga Pose Names and Related Terms
Yogic Diet and Ahimsa
Ahimsa (Nonviolence) and Yogic Diet- Philosophy Video Lecture (12:38)
Ahimsa Reflections- 20 min Gentle Yoga Practice (20:08)
Ahimsa and Yogic Diet 7 Page PDF from Yoga for Everyone! book
Vegan Recipes, 3 & 1 pg PDFs
Thanksgiving Vegan Recipe
Closing Mantra and Peace Chant
World Peace Chant
Yoga with Stacie: In the News
Chair Yoga with Stacie, on CBS Miami News Ch. 4 (1:44)
Accessible Yoga with Stacie, in San Francisco Yoga Magazine
Yoga with Stacie on Yogiviews Cable TV
Yoga with Stacie in NM news: video and newspaper
Need Support? Private Skype Sessions Available & a Private Facebook Group for this Course
Private Facebook Group fo this Course
Private Skype Video Sessions Available with Stacie
Sivananda Yoga with Chair Yoga Adaptions, 50 min
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Shaftesbury opposes the nonresisting test bill before the House of Lords as a step towards "absolute and arbitrary" government (1675)
Found in The Struggle for Sovereignty: Seventeenth-Century English Political Tracts, vol. 2
The Earl of Shaftesbury (1621-1683) opposed a measure before the House of Lords in 1675 to force the members to swear an oath of "nonresistance" to the crown (Charles II). He opposed this as a violation of Magna Carta and another step towards absolute and unaccountable government:
"I, A. B. do declare that it is not Lawful upon any pretence whatsoever, to take up Armes against the King, and that I do abhorr that Traiterous position of taking Armes by His authority, against His Person, or against those that are commissioned by Him in pursuance of such Commission; And I do swear that I will not at any time endeavor the Alteration of the Government, either in Church or State, so help me God."…
(T)he design is to declare us first into another Government more Absolute, and Arbitrary, than the Oath of Allegiance, or old Law knew, and then make us swear unto it,…
'tis the leaven that corrupts the whole lump; for if that be true, I am sure Monarchy is not to be bounded by human Laws, and the 8. chap. of I. Samuel, will prove (as many of our Divines would have it) the Great Charter of the Royal Prerogative, and our Magna Charta that says Our Kings may not take our Fields, our Vineyards, our Corn, and our Sheep is not in force, but void and null, because against divine Institution; and you have the Riddle out, why the Clergy are so ready to take themselves, & impose upon others such kind of Oaths as these, they have placed themselves, and their possessions upon a better, and a surer bottom (as they think) than Magna Charta, and so have no more need of, or concern for it.
The authorship of this influential pamphlet is disputed as it may have been written by the Earl of Shaftesbury, the leader of the Whigs, or his assistant John Locke. It was published anonymously as it was against the law to reveal to the public the discussions which went on in Parliament. The Whigs however, thought that the issues the "nonresisting test bill" raised were so important that this legal nicety had to be violated in the name of liberty. King Charles II (who reigned 1660-85) and his supporters wanted to force members of parliament to swear an oath promising not to resist the King or his government by force of arms (as had happened to his father Charles I during the English Civil War) or even more menacingly, not to seek any "alteration of the Government, either in Church or State." Shaftesbury strenuously opposed this measure because he thought that the King did not rule by divine right but must be bound by human laws as agreed to by Parliament and custom, such as Magna Carta (the Great Charter). If the king were not resisted then a new "Great Charter of the Royal Prerogative" would have been established, one which was based upon the dire warnings of excessive monarchical power which Samuel had given to the people of Israel in I Samuel 8: 11-18.


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Obama proposes fee on big banks. But who would really pay?
The bankers should pay, Obama says. But some think the money would come out of shareholders' pockets, and others say the big banks would pass it along to consumers and businesses.
| New York
On Thursday, President Obama proposed a new fee on banks to cover $117 billion in expected losses in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
But who would really pay the Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee?
Some bank analysts believe the money would come out of shareholders' pockets, which could make bank stocks look less appealing. Bank lobbyists, meanwhile, say any new fee would get passed right along to businesses and consumers. But Mr. Obama says the cost of the fee should be swallowed by the bankers themselves – many of whom are about to receive large bonuses.
"I'd urge you to cover the costs of the rescue, not by sticking it to your shareholders or your customers or fellow citizens with the bill, but by rolling back bonuses for top earners and executives," Obama said in announcing the plan.
Despite the president's plea, bank lobbyists still say the proposed fee is likely to be passed along to consumers and businesses. The lobbyists have quickly labeled the plan, which Congress must vote on, a new tax.
"Taxes, like all other operating expenses, are included in the pricing structure," says Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist at the Financial Services Roundtable in Washington, which lobbies for the 150 largest financial-services firms. "It could put upward pressure on goods and services, hitting consumers, business, and other banks."
But some financial analysts think that banks would be hard pressed to pass along the fee. That's because smaller banks would be excluded from the fee, which means they would be able to compete for consumers' accounts, says Douglas Roberts at Channel Capital Research in Shrewsbury, N.J.
For example, in the area of New Jersey where Mr. Roberts lives, three or four new banks have formed in the past year, he says. "They won't have the burden of that additional fee," he says.
The fee isn't the only thing that the White House is pressing big banks on. They're also under pressure to make more loans. In the past, Obama has invited the CEOs of the largest financial institutions to the White House, where he's scolded them about the tightened credit.
This fee would only make the lending situation worse, Mr. Talbott argues.
"There will be less money available to make loans," he says. "It would reduce the amount of cash a bank has to lend."
There are also ramifications if the proposed fee is absorbed by shareholders. They might receive lower dividends or see the value of their holdings fall.
"The latter [falling stock values] matters more now than usual, since we want the banks to be able to raise considerable further capital going forward as we work to safeguard the system against future problems," writes Douglas Elliott, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, in an analysis. "This is another argument for keeping the taxation moderate."
Under Obama's plan, the fee would be 15 basis points, or 0.15 percent, of "covered liabilities," defined by the White House as the banks' debt. The fee would apply to banks with a minimum of $50 billion in assets.
The fee would not be imposed on General Motors, Chrysler, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG. These firms received TARP loans but have not paid them back yet.
According to the White House, the new fee would be in place for 10 years or more, depending on how long it takes to recover the TARP losses.
But no one really knows how big the losses are, because the TARP program runs for another four years, as Talbott notes. The automobile companies may become significantly profitable by then. The real estate market may rebound.
"This tax is premature. The program is not closed yet," says Talbott.
Follow us on Twitter.


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Imaging Center
PET Contraindications
PET Scans
PET is considered to be a safe exam with no known side effects.
Patients may drive themselves home. PET scans are not recommended for women who may be pregnant, but can be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Extremely overweight patients might have difficulties accessing the scanner.
If you have any questions, please call one of our specialists at (310) 423-4682.
CT Scans
In rare cases, CT contrast can cause an allergic reaction. Patients with kidney disease are at higher risk when CT contrast is used.


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Wild, reckless, and fast.
That's how I raced until a fatal accident on the track ruined my riding career. I had no choice but to leave that life behind; at least, until now. My name is Logan Chandler, one of the best FBI agents in the country. When an old friend calls for help and winds up dead, I take matters into my own hands. In order to do that, I have to go back to my past, back to the racetrack and to the one girl I never thought I'd see again . . . Kassidy Bennett.
She's the key to solving it all, but bringing her in could put her in grave danger. Unfortunately, I didn't realize she was already there. To save her, I have to put everything on the line. It's a race against time, a race to the death, and only one will make it to the end.
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can't forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.
Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over fifteen novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.


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French portable media players maker Archos introduced last night the Archos 9, a Windows 7 powered touchscreen-only Internet tablet. Calling it a MiniPC, the Archos 9 is not exactly the Google Android-touting Archos MID everybody was expecting.
The skinny Archos 9 (0.63 inch thick) weighs just under 1.8 pounds and features a 8.9-inch resistive touchscreen display (1024 by 600 pixels resolution). The company also managed to pack inside a 80GB hard drive and to antennas for DVB-T broadcasts (for viewing a channel and recording another one at the same time).
Archos 9 is powered by an Intel Atom Z515 processors clocked at 1.2 GHz and runs with 1GB of DDR2 RAM. In terms of connectivity, the tablet can satisfy most modern needs with Wi-FI (802.11 b/g), Bluetooth 2.1, a 10/100 Ethernet port and two USB 2.0 ports.
Keeping consistent with its PMP siblings, the Archos 9 has an audio and video output (VGA), two stereo speakers and can easily place Skype calls with its integrated 1.3-megapixel camera and microphone. An optical trackpad and an on-screen keyboard can be used for navigation and data input.
The surprise with the new Archos 9 is the operating system. For a few months now, the French company was expected to launch a Google Android-based mobile Internet device (see "11 Cool Android Prototypes We'd Like to See"), but Windows 7 has now replaced it in this line-up.
Of course, having Windows 7 on board means that the Archos 9 will only be available in late October, when Microsoft will introduce the final version of the OS on the market. The target pricing for the Archos 9 is around $635, and exact availability dates are yet to be announced.


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ROANOKE, VA—Local claims adjuster David Seaborne, a devoted husband and father of three, died Tuesday at the age of 37 following a long and painful personal battle with a 512-pound eastern lowland gorilla.
According to his wife, Christine—one of the few people who was aware of his courageous struggle—Seaborne chose to fight the muscular, quarter-ton primate in private night after night in hopes of maintaining as normal a life as was possible for his family.
"In some ways, I'm relieved that it's finally over and David can be at peace," said a tearful Mrs. Seaborne, clutching at a recent photograph of her husband, most of his hair missing after being ripped from his scalp by the rampaging jungle beast. "To watch him seclude himself in that basement every night and know that he was about to be in an unimaginable amount of pain—it just became too much to bear."
"He fought that terrible gorilla with every last ounce of strength he had, but in the end, David's body just couldn't handle it anymore," Mrs. Seaborne added. "Every morning, he'd look at me with tired eyes and deep scratches across his face, and he'd say, 'Honey, I'm going to beat this thing.' God, he was brave."
Mrs. Seaborne said she's used most of her husband's life insurance payout to start the David Seaborne Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of those battling gorillas or other great apes. According to the foundation's website, the growing problem affects one in every 29 million Americans, and one in every 80 Congolese.
Although Seaborne never let on to friends or coworkers that he was desperately fighting for his life with a violent primate, many suspected that something was wrong.
"I noticed that David had lost a lot of weight over the past couple of months, especially when he came in with his arm torn off," fellow claims adjuster Kevin Delano said. "He also left work early a lot for doctor's appointments, or when he was just too weak to make it through the day. Still, with all he was going through, David never complained."
The few people who knew of his hardship said that, even toward the end of his ordeal, when Seaborne was often completely covered in feces, the gorilla never managed to rob him of his dignity.
Dr. Earl Patterson, the physician who treated Seaborne throughout his life-or-death battle, initially gave Seaborne just six months to live. Though the prognosis was grim, Patterson said that, with the help of powerful tranquilizers, Seaborne was able to beat back the gorilla several times, and his situation started to look more promising.
The gorilla, however, eventually stopped responding to the drugs and returned with a vengeance.
"If we had caught this thing earlier, before its growth got completely out of control, David would have had a much better chance of survival," Patterson said. "But after it reached the silverback stage, it was only a matter of time."
"I tried to make David as comfortable as possible, and even gave him a helmet, but at that point the most we could do was pray," Patterson added.
Patterson said that he has strongly urged Seaborne's wife to take preventative measures to protect the couple's three sons, aged 9, 12, and 15, from suffering the same fate as their father.
"Because these things tend to run in the family, Jonathan, Patrick, and David Jr. are in a very high risk group," Patterson said. "Realistically, though, there just isn't a whole lot that can be done. After all, that gorilla is still in their basement."


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Tag: unique recipes
Boozy Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce
Remember to enter to win a Keurig Special Edition coffee make here!! Welp, it's officially Thanksgiving week! Who is ready for it on Thursday? Who still has to go shopping? Who wants to crawl into a fetal position and weep because they haven't even thought of a menu? Or, who […]


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Hair Stylist - Military Veterans
at ULTA
Experience a perfect blend of deliberate purpose and clear-eyed vision. At Ulta Beauty, some of the industry's most highly-esteemed beauty leaders share themselves, as well as their expertise. Building authentic community. Creating a real sense of belonging-even as they're plotting a bold, strategic course of exciting innovations destined to revolutionize the industry.
Think robust organizational support. Ever-increasing levels of investment. And a healthy dose of personal empowerment and growth opportunity. All with a company of unwavering strength and stability.
We are the future of beauty services. Be part of the transformation.
We invite you to submit your application as we may have positions open now or in the near future, depending on current business needs.
On a daily basis, you'll have the opportunity to display your artistry in ways that draw out the potential in all guests-delighting them with the newest trends and ideas, enhancing their esteem, and setting them loose to conquer their worlds.
Seriously. Could anything be more rewarding?
You'll accomplish all of this by:
- Performing hair services including hair design, haircuts, color, texture, hair treatments, makeup applications, and ear piercing (where applicable)
- Building personal and professional rapport with all guests
- Providing professional product recommendations as part of all services
- Meeting/exceeding all individual sales and productivity goals
- Attending mandatory educations events and workshops
- Assisting in store duties (e.g., filling Salon retail displays and shelves.)
- Adhering to all Salon standards for guest service and cleanliness
- Attending manager led monthly business development meetings to support personal business growth
- Demonstrating your personal style (while adhering to the Ulta Beauty dress code)
Qualified candidates will be 18+ years-old with a Cosmetology and/or Barber license, no relevant work experience is necessary. Additional requirements include:
- Proficiency with latest salon techniques
- Proficiency with equipment needed to perform technical work
- An engaging personality to build and maintain strong customer relationships
- Strong listening and verbal communication skills
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team
States Permitted to Hire Licensed Barbers
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Delaware
- Missouri
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
Essential Functions:
- On a regular basis, requires the ability to walk
- On a regular basis, requires the ability to reach with hands and arms
- On a regular basis, requires the ability to stand for a minimum of 4 hours
- On a regular basis, requires the ability to lift and/or move 50 lbs.
- On an occasional basis, requires the ability to climb a ladder and balance
- On a frequent basis, requires the ability to stoop, kneel and crouch
The pay range for this position is $13.25 - $16.30 / Hour with the opportunity to earn additional compensation pursuant with the Company's bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including but not limited to relevant education qualifications certifications experience level shift geographic location and business and organizational needs. Visit our Benefits and Career Development page:https://careers.ulta.com/careers/about-us/benefits-and-career-development
At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty's own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring-hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.
Hagerstown, MD
ULTA Beauty is the largest beauty retailer that provides one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products and salon services in the United States. Ulta Beauty provides affordable indulgence to its customers by combining unmatched product breadth, value and convenience with the distinctive environment and experience of a specialty retailer. ULTA Beauty, through its stores and ulta.com, offers a unique combination of over 20,000 prestige and mass beauty products across the categories of cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, bath and body products and salon styling tools, as well as salon haircare products. ULTA Beauty also offers a full-service salon in all of its stores. Founded in 1990 and headquartered near Chicago, ULTA Beauty employees more than 19,000 associates.


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Nexus of Abandoned Places
Connected to: SCP-1730
Special Containment Procedures
No items or personnel are to enter or exit SCP-470 or the external containment area without approval by Site Command. Anything entering SCP-470 must be examined both before and after contact. Anything exiting SCP-470 is to be contained and examined, resistance by any items or staff to this process may be overcome by whatever means deemed necessary by Site Command.
Any staff entering SCP-470 must be equipped with a long-range GPS tracking bug. Staff entering SCP-470 are to remain in groups of no less then twenty (20) at all times. Should staff become separated, [DATA EXPUNGED], or any combination thereof, they are to immediately exit SCP-470.
Staff or equipment lost within SCP-470 are to be declared "missing" 48 hours after loss of GPS contact. Staff or equipment located after disappearance of GPS contact are to be recovered whenever possible. Should the GPS beacon [DATA EXPUNGED]
SCP-470 appears to be a large abandoned office building in ████████, ███████. SCP-470 has had no registered owner since ████, when it was abandoned with the collapse of the ███████ Corporation. The building is seven floors, including basement levels, and in a general state of disrepair consistent with its term of abandonment.
SCP-470 appears to be (or to house) a dimensional anomaly, causing its internal rooms to "shift" and become other locations that have been "abandoned" for extended periods of time. The ability for an outside location to appear within SCP-470 appears to manifest after twenty and thirty years of little to no human observation, interaction, or habitation. This anomaly appears to be limited to the rooms of SCP-470, with the halls remaining primarily stable.
The rooms of SCP-470 appear to exist both in their original physical location and within SCP-470 simultaneously. All rooms appear to be internal locations, such as store rooms, abandoned offices and factory areas, with no external locations such as abandoned lots or storage yards ever recorded manifesting inside SCP-470. Manifested rooms appear to be "cut off" from their original surrounding locations, with all doors besides the "entry" door opening up to blank brick walls of the same construction as SCP-470.
These locations appear to be unstable, and will "flicker", ceasing to exist within SCP-470 at random points, and remaining unmanifested for random periods of time before manifesting within SCP-470 again. Anything inside a room when it unmanifests will be transported with the room to its original physical location. This process also works in reverse, as any objects inside the room will be present when it manifests inside SCP-470. The "flicker" rate appears to vary, ranging from six seconds to several years.
Addendum: It appears possible to remove a room from "rotation" by increasing the level of observation and activity inside the original physical location of the room. The longer an area is left outside of observation or activity, the stronger the "connection" with SCP-470. Initially, rooms are able to shift only when no humans are present, or actively observing the area. After longer periods of abandonment, rooms are capable of shifting with as many as fourteen people inside.
The danger of SCP-470 comes from the fact that some of the rooms do not appear to originate in our reality, dimension, or time-space. Some are constructed of non-terrestrial elements, or have items that parallel with no known technology or construction. For example, [DATA EXPUNGED] at least 80% organic, with the non-organic portions showing signs of infestation. Also, there have been four recorded escapes by "beings" transported by shifting rooms within SCP-470. Notably, "Subject R" remains at large within SCP-470 itself, and is thought to be responsible for some of the deaths recorded inside SCP-470. The death toll currently stands at eight staff and forty-five civilians at last estimation, with several hundred more listed as "missing".
Many of the civilian deaths and disappearances are attributable to youths "exploring" abandoned areas when they shift into SCP-470, becoming trapped inside, shifting inside a different room, [DATA EXPUNGED], or other dangers that may be inside manifesting rooms.
Addendum 2 As of 25/11/2016, a total of 38 instances of rooms located within decommissioned SCP Foundation facilities have been observed within SCP-470's rotation. Most notable of these are several rooms from the top basement levels of SCP-1730 following the initial cessation of exploration attempts by Foundation personnel. Attempts to remove these rooms from rotation via observation of the facilities is currently ongoing.


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On day two of Microsoft's TechEd conference in Orlando, the company gave a quick peek at Windows RT, the ARM variant of Windows 8, and an even quicker look at Office on ARM. Brief as it was—we just saw a static Excel window—it did reveal one thing: the version of Office will be named "Office 2013 RT."
Office 2013 RT includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, and will ship as an integral part of Windows RT.
So far little is known about Office 2013. A few screenshots of its user interface have leaked, and it's expected to include features to improve touch accessibility. However, while Windows 8 is now at the public Release Preview stage, Office is still only in the private Technical Preview stage, with a public beta promised for summer.


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At Birchwood, you're in the driver's seat
It's important to us that you take the lead on your shopping experience—from start to finish. That's why we've made core changes to our online shopping tools including buy from home features, flexible financing, and pre-approvals on all of our new and pre-owned vehicles.
While we're here to help you navigate, you take control.


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Hockey Manitoba mourns the loss of Wayne Fleming – 1950-2013
It is with great sadness that Hockey Manitoba acknowledges the passing of Wayne Fleming, who lost his battle with cancer on March 25 in Calgary at the age of 62.
Fleming spent considerable time with Hockey Canada during his 30-plus years in the game as a coach and administrator, and played a major role in developing content for Hockey Canada's development programs at the grassroots level, much of which is still in use today.
The Winnipeg, Man., native touched countless lives, taking his technical knowledge and teaching skills to six countries and sharing his love of the game with thousands of players and coaches.
"Hockey has lost a outstanding person, great coach and advocate for the game," said Peter Woods Executive Director of Hockey Manitoba. "Hockey Manitoba extends our sincere and deepest condolences to Wayne's wife Carolyn, their four children and the rest of the Fleming family."
After spending nine years as head coach of the University of Manitoba men's hockey team, winning Great Plains Athletic Conference championships in 1982-83 and 1983-84 and the CIAU Coach of the Year award in 1983-84, Fleming joined the Canadian Hockey Association in 1990 as general manager and assistant coach with Canada's Men's Olympic Team.
Working under legendary Team Canada head coach Dave King, Fleming helped the Canadians to a silver medal at the 1992 Games in Albertville, France, Canada's first Olympic hockey medal since winning bronze in 1968.
After stints as head coach of Leksands IF (Sweden – 1992-96), EHC Kloten (Switzerland – 1996-97), EV Landshut (Germany – 1996-97), Fleming began his NHL career as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders from 1997-99 and Phoenix Coyotes during the 1999-2000 season.
He returned to the CHA in August 2000 as vice-president of hockey operations and head coach of Canada's National Men's Team, leading Team Canada behind the bench at the 2001 and 2002 IIHF World Championships, and served as associate coach under Pat Quinn at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, winning a gold medal, and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
"He was really the glue of the coaching staff for the 2002 Olympics," Bob Nicholson, Presindent & CEO of Hockey Canada told the Toronto Sun in May 2011. "He was the guy that brought Pat Quinn and Ken Hitchcock and Jacques Martin together. That's what Wayne is, he just does it in the background. If you talk to any of those guys, they'll give all the credit in the world to him for us winning gold for the first time in 50 years."
Fleming continued his NHL coaching career as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002-06 and Calgary Flames from 2006-08 before serving as head coach of Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League during the 2008-09 campaign.
He was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10 and had spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning.


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Police identified the skydiver as Diana Paris of Berlin, Germany
She was part of a group of 222 skydivers trying to do a jump that changed formation in air
She had 1,500 jumps before Thursday
Group says it will try again but will honor her by leaving her spot in formation open
A German skydiver who was participating in a 222-person jump in Arizona was killed Thursday when her main parachute malfunctioned, officials said.
Police in Eloy said Diana Paris, 46, of Berlin, was killed Thursday morning.
Paris was taking part in a world-record attempt for most skydivers changing from one formation to another in a one jump, according to a blog post by the jump's organizing group, World Team.
Her main parachute was released too low to the ground for the reserve chute to work, said the group, which calls itself "a highly skilled international team of skydivers and support personnel" on its Facebook page.
The group said the fatal accident was not related to the size of the group and no other skydiver was involved.
Paris had more than 1,500 jumps, her husband told police.
The World Team will do a 221-person attempt instead.
"Our dear friend cannot and will not be replaced. The group will continue to hold the slot open in the skydiver's honor," a statement on the group's blog said, adding that it was a difficult decision to continue with the record attempt.


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If you have ever heard of Twitter, whether you have joined or not, you'll probably recognise the truth and comedy in this (click on the image to go to original site and make it larger):
In summary;
Twitter is really a waste of time because it is full of people with nothing better or more interesting to do than tell you what they had for breakfast.
TRUE! and FALSE!
Yes, there are a lot of people who are talking about what they are doing, what they like, dislike and want information on. Some of it is trivial, some of it is not. But, and this is a BIG BUT, you would be wrong to assume it isn't valuable.
First, consider that we are all preening social animals, so what we project on twitter says something about us and how we want to be seen. It is important to someone.
Second, it is a shared activity that builds networks of friends and contacts who might then go on and do what you might consider "interesting", so there is always a benefit in it
Third, let's put an entrepreneurial hat on for a moment. If there are around 3-4m twitter users (recent estimate) telling you what they are buying, eating and drinking for breakfast, is this not UNBELIEVABLY useful for breakfast providers: coffee brands, cereal brands, diet snake-oil-salesmen, media companies and more?
In fact, I'd go so far as saying that breakfast tweets (and their like) are the most monetisable elements of twitter. No joke.
If you are a wine producer you should already be searching and monitoring the Twitterverse for mentions of your wines or even your direct competitors'. If they are doing it with breakfast, they are probably also doing it with lunch (#lunchtweet) and dinner … including what they drank (the audience is definitely skewed towards a wine drinking profile, see some stats here)
If they mention your wine, the users are doing your word of mouth marketing, FREE. They are also potentially spreading bad reviews (maybe because of corked bottles or poor retail experiences) or misunderstandings about your product or brand. You can easily address these by responding in a timely way. You don't even need to spend much time on twitter for this benefit, just set up an alert and you're done. The information comes to you. This is a fantastic opportunity.
If they are not talking about your wine, why not?
The full benefit of Twitter comes from getting involved and becoming part of the many informal networks. There are wine bloggers, wine merchants, journalists, collectors, wine makers and wine consumers already there. They exchange information, link, reviews, suggestions and advice. There are plenty of opportunities to contribute, for example participating in online chats, online wine tastings, or maybe offering a unique view of your wine region. Could you not afford a little time to contribute and therefore also share the benefits? If you do, please link to me (@thirstfowine) and send me a tweet
Twitter is only a tool, still with a limited reach, but a potentially very useful one.
Things to do NOW:
- Search for your brands and key terms on Twitter
- Check out some wine twitterers (or visit my page and link off to others that you find interesting)
- Sign up for an account – OWN YOUR NAME!
- Respond to customers in a positive way – but don't preach or 'sell' (not until you have twitter street cred)
- Join the fun. Follow some people and get to see how it works first hand
- Spread the word and get other interesting people involved
Image above borrowed from Where's My Jetpack – check it out!


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Music game maestros Harmonix have already promised to "innovate and revolutionize the music genre" with Rock Band 3, but even in the face of that hyperbole, the designers believe "you'll be surprised at just how big this game really is."
Not only is Rock Band 3 "the next big leap in music gaming," it's "the ultimate music game," according to Dan Teasdale, lead designer on the third iteration of MTV Games' four-player-plus band title. I know what you're thinking, "Man making game thinks new game is really great." But Harmonix has expectations of its three previous Rock Band games (and, I suppose, Green Day Rock Band) to outshine and two years worth of development already invested in which to do it.
Will it be able to teach us how to play music? What of this "player investment" that will consist of "cool things that will make you keep you coming back to Rock Band 3"? What do you need from Rock Band 3 to keep your interest level at 11?
We'll be seeing the game soon enough, but keep an eye peeled on the Rock Band web site for a slow leak of details.
Rock Band 3 News with Lead Designer Dan Teasdale [Rock Band]