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Days after the Meerut municipal corporation proposed to throw out councilors who do not sing Vande Mataram, Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath waded into the controversy on Saturday, insisting that it reflected the "narrow mindedness" of the people opposing the national song.
- Will find way out to overcome this: Adityanath on Vande Mataram dispute
- Meerut Mayor proposed to expel members who do not sing national song
- Last year, RSS chief had called Vande Mataram "the real national anthem"
"Some people are saying that we will not sing Vande Mataram ... we want this country to move ahead in the 21st century and the matter of dispute is that we will sing Vande Mataram or not," the Chief Minister said at a book release function at the state capital Lucknow's Raj Bhavan.
"This is a matter of concern," he said.
At a meeting after the BJP government led by the saffron-robed Adityanath took over, the Meerut Mayor Harikant Ahluwalia had proposed to expel members who do not sing the national song. The move was opposed by seven Muslim members who walked out the next time Vande Mataram was played; Mr Ahluwalia did not allow them to return after the song was over.
A few days later, Allahabad's civic body also decided to introduce a similar rule. It was opposed by Samajwadi Party councillors again. It has been argued that the song contains verses that are in conflict with the beliefs of Islam.
"We will have to find a way out to overcome this narrow mindedness," the Chief Minister said, recalling the 150th anniversary function of the Allahabad High Court earlier this month which started with the rendition of Vande Mataram.
"It was such a good sight," he said in the presence of Governor Ram Naik. As a parliamentarian, Naik had played a key role in introducing the practice of singing of national anthem and "Vande Mataram" on the opening and closing days of every Session of parliament. The practice was started only in 1992.
When a BJP member moved the Supreme Court in February to seek directions to the government to frame a policy on the national flag, national anthem and national song, the top court had made it clear that there was really no concept of a national song in the Constitution.
Last year, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had called Vande Mataram "the real national anthem" as opposed to the constitutionally-mandated national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
(With inputs from PTI)
Get Breaking news, live coverage, and Latest News from India and around the world on NDTV.com. Catch all the Live TV action on NDTV 24x7 and NDTV India. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram for latest news and live news updates.


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Our church has pledged to build 15 fresh-water wells in India this year. Each well costs $1,500 and forever impacts the communities that depend on them. The first Sunday of every month, we'll be taking a special offering for this project. Of course, you can donate whenever you'd like by marking your donation, "Wells for India".
Seniors, we will be having a Valentines potluck on Saturday, Feb 11 at 12:00pm. Bring a dish and a friend!
On Saturday, February 18 at 8:00am we will be working on many maintenance and repair projects for the church. If you can, please plan on joining us — the more help, the quicker we can get things done!
Dinner starts at 5:30pm. Suggested donation: $4, kids: $2

subset: commoncrawl


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Join us on Sunday, January 8th at all service times at both church sites for Vision 2017. We will be taking a look at what God has done in 2016 and looking forward to what He has in store for Living Stones Church in 2017. Make sure you don't miss it! We are excited to all be on the same page pressing on together in God's kingdom expansion.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: January 8Winter Course Registration Begins!
Later Event: January 18Starting Point


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Why should you use Learndash plugin for your eLearning platform?
Educational websites need a sound environment, where students can find the right infrastructure to learn their courses. When you integrate Learndash for wordpress websites on your platform, you can create the courses according to your requirements. These include tailored topics for your students, quizzes, puzzles and so on. It also provides the users with a feature, which can enable them schedule the entire course. LearnDash is multipurpose in nature, being an LMS as well as a WordPress plugin.
When you use the LMS WordPress plugin, you can benefit from the following features:
- The plugin allows learners to upload assignments on to the website. You can go through these assignments and approve them, after which the students can continue with them.
- It is possible to sell off the courses when you use this plugin. This can be done in two ways. You can charge a one-time price for the course, or sell it off on the basis of a subscription.
- When you use LearnDash, you can develop quizzes for your students. Quizzes are necessary to keep a track on the progress of the students. The in-built feature of LearnDash supports seven types of quizzes, including essays, one-word answers, multiple-choice answers and so on.
- You can also use Wordpres Learning Managing System to award certificates to the learners who perform well in the quizzes. As an incentive, the leading scorers are displayed on the dashboard for others to see.
- It is necessary to build a forum dedicated for your students. LearnDash plugin can help you develop these courses. It helps the learners help each other and socialize, enhancing the efficiency of education.
Learndash is flexible and easy to use. It comes with a variety of features that can help the users manage any kind of online course. Besides, it also offers more integration with third-party plugins.


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Year-End Appeal 2018
"We're not about death and dying. We're about life and living."
~Charlotte N. Shedd, RN
As we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Hospice Buffalo, let me take a moment to say thank you to the WNY community. Your support of the Hospice mission and incredible generosity has made this possible. Since its founding in 1978 by
Dr. Donald and Charlotte Shedd, RN, Hospice has provided care to more than 85,000 patients and their families. Today, The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC) currently cares for nearly 1,000 patients a day throughout Western New York.
Patients and families describe Hospice Buffalo as a "community treasure", but what makes Hospice Buffalo different? It is the care patients suffering with long-term or life-limiting illnesses and their families receive through the utilization of an interdisciplinary team of physicians, registered nurses, social workers, therapists, chaplains, grief counselors, and trained volunteers.
Every experience is personal, every person is unique, and every family is different. That's the amazing part of what Hospice can provide people with. It's not a uniform response. It's a highly personalized response. In honor of Hospice Buffalo's 40th Anniversary, join me in making a gift before December 31, and let's achieve many more milestones together.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Patrick T. Flynn
President, Hospice Foundation of Western New York, Inc.


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We have been BRAINSTORMING and have come up with all kinds of ways to Boost your Business with Birthdays. As usual, we have developed ideas for most ALL of the Key Areas of your business. We've done it ALL for you… we have the stickers, postcards, etc. all ready to go … just DO IT!
Key 1- Boost Bookings with Birthdays
The idea is to use "Birthday's" (as everyone has one) as a REASON to have a party! We all know people spend more when they have purpose or reason to buy. It is more fun when people have guilt-free reason to put together a "Wish List" too! So, here are a few suggestions:
A: Encourage guests to book a party during THEIR birthday month. Offer incentives. For example:
1) offer 10% off their entire personal order if they have a qualified party during their birthday month.
2) Guests who attend get 10% off ONE item purchased AT the party.
3) Guests may contribute toward a birthday gift for the host (similar to a Bridal Shower.)
4) For your "birthday" parties, you offer to make the reminder phone calls.
B: Encourage guests to book an UN-BIRTHDAY party. Just like A, only you are celebrating EVERYONE that attends birthday. Offer similar incentives.
We have several products that will help you with this concept:
Stickers to put on your catalogs or folders.
BAG to put up in your display. Draw attention to it and create curiosity.
Postcards to send to ANY previous hosts (The Un-birthday) or if you know when their birthday is, send it prior to their birthday and invite them to "Party" during their birthday month.
NOTE: You could also mention that you are happy to do "Birthday Parties" for their friends. If they have a friend they would like to throw a party for, you can make it easy! Plant the seeds during your demo and ASK when you are checking people out. They could even be a "Surprise!"
Key 2- Prepare for Birthday Parties
Prepare your host packets in advance and put them in the "Party" Bag. After the party, take the bag to your check-out spot and be sure to encourage "Birthday" parties. When they book, pull out the folder and give it to them.
What should you include in the packet? All of your normal information, catalogs, etc., but also include the "Birthday Wish List" sheet and encourage them to fill it out. Also, put the invitations in the bag (or if you are going to send them, which we highly recommend, then put 5 or 6, tell them to get the guest list back to you and you'll send the majority of them, but these are if they forget someone. Suggest they keep them in their purse in case they run into someone while out shopping, etc. (Remind them to add those names to their guest list so they will get a reminder call.)
Key 3- Attract Greater Attendance to your Birthday Parties
We've developed several invitations you can use for your "Birthday" or "Un-birthday" Parties. We offer them with just the GRAPHIC so you can use our FREE TEMPLATES and print whatever message you want on them. Or, we offer them with the TEXT already printed and you just fill in the blanks. We can also print them FOR YOU, just order the TEXT ITEM followed by the letters PR.
If you want to use the invitations you already have, or print a flyer, we have eye-catching colorful stickers to put on the outside AND inside of your invitation to draw attention to the fact that it is a birthday party. (Thank you for respecting our copyrights and using the ACTUAL Sticker, not making a copy- they lose their impact anyway.)
Key 4- Boost SALES with Birthdays
Everyone has a birthday and we all know that that in a way when it's our birthday, it gives us permission to get something … whether it is to purchase it for ourselves, earn it or let others purchase it for us. So, how can you use Birthdays to boost sales?
1) First you need to learn WHEN their Birthday is. We have TWO options:
A) V4124 Customer Care Cards that every customer fills out at the party. It includes a place for them to fill in their birth date.
B) PP40732SET Birthday Club Cards. They are a set of 12 cards. (You can put on a key ring) and pass them around during your party, invite people to include their birth date, name, phone and mark whether or not you have their contact info. The package of cards includes TWO sets. One is for you to use at your parties and the other is for you to keep at home with your cards. After the party, transfer the names from the ones you take to the party to your list at home. Then you'll have them handy when it is time to fill out your cards and then follow up.
C) Use the "Join my Birthday Club" stickers as a reminder on and in your catalogs. (See PR???? Stickers.) and tell them about the two options above.
2) Find out what products they would like to have as a gift and then follow up. Two options
A) Offer the "Birthday Parties" as mentioned in Key 1. Have them fill out a "Wish List" of what products they would like.
B) Suggest they fill out the back of the V4124 Customer Care Cards which has a place for them to fill in what they want and WHO they would like you to contact to get it for them. We also have seasonal Wish List Cards you can use. See PP4?????? or PP4?????.
2) Once you know their birth date, you need to follow up:
A) Send them a birthday card offering a discount on a product or order placed during their birthday month. (Prepare them ahead of time and keep them in your V1008 Postcard organizers. Be sure to mail them the last week of the month of their birthday so they have them for the whole month. See the Key 4 postcards. Follow up with a phone call to see what they want. Call as close to their birthday as you can.
B) Send them a card offering to do a "Birthday Party" for them in their birthday month as mentioned in Key 1.
C) Send "A Birthday is coming" card to their "significant other" that they put on their "Wish List" Card letting them know that you have something you know they would like. Then follow up with a phone call. By sending the card it warms them up so they are more ready to make a decision when you call instead of putting you off. Be sure to look at your birthdays early enough so you have time to contact them, get the order and get it delivered. Make this a regular process and it becomes easy.
Key 5- Just give them a "Birthday" card.
Just remembering Birthday's is nice. Keep a selection of "Birthday" cards on hand so you can just send a card. If you don't want to do the offers mentioned in Key 4, you can just send a card.
How about members of your team, or members OF your team. I'm sure they'll appreciate your remembering them. Your upline would appreciate a card.
If you are doing a "Birthday Party" for them, give them a "Birthday Card" at their party with a personal note.
We have a fun selection of cards to get your started. We also have Greeting Cards with envelopes.
Key 6- Recruit them in their "Birthday Month."
If you know of someone who has been considering joining your team, use their "Birthday Month" as an excuse to get in touch with them. Offer an extra incentive if they join in that month.
Go to our website and see all the products we've created to make this EASY!


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I Left It In Myles Bay
The snow fell in heavy lumps that really couldn't be described as flakes. Nothing about them was flaky; they stuck to the ground and onto the windshield even though Diego had the windshield wipers working like the heart of a hummingbird. The inconvenient white powder continued to slam against the glass only to be wiped away, revealing a glimpse of the road ahead.
"You had to pick this day, of all the days in the world, to have a mental breakdown," Diego grumbled and fiddled with the radio, trying to catch a decent station. "If you weren't my favorite cousin I'd be at home, watching Netflix right now," he declared.
"At least there's no traffic," I said, offering what little positive input I could.
"Joanna," Diego said and turned to look at me with sincere wide brown eyes, "That's because no one in this whole wide universe is dumb enough to drive in this weather."
"I'm sorry," I said and put my gloves on. The car was warm enough but my fingers still felt like icicles from running into a gas station and buying the huge map that was folded out on my lap.
I had to give Diego some credit; he had only started to complain after a full two hours of driving in silence. He was the kind of person you called up in the middle of the night and asked to get in a car and drive to an undisclosed location with no questions asked. He was also the kind of person who insisted on red Twizzlers for road trips, which is why we had to stop by a 24/7 Seven Eleven before we could head for the highway.
"Hey, didn't you guys use to rent that summer cottage?" Diego asked.
"Yeah," I answered.
Diego sighed audibly and danced his fingers over the steering wheel. "Joanna, Joanna, don't tell me we've driven all this way for you to tell me we're going to be doing some breaking and entering."
"I know the code for the key," I said and shrugged my shoulders, "It's not a crime if you have a key."
"Yeah, remind me to never hire you as my lawyer," Diego remarked and went back to staring at the road, glaring at the snow as if he could melt it away with his stare.
"I need to go there," I said, my voice quiet, almost washed out by the sound of the radio. "You don't understand, but I need to."
"Trust me, I don't understand why you need to go to some shabby cottage in the middle of nowhere, but I do understand that you need to go there."
I guess I felt thankful. He didn't need to know why, and he didn't ask. I wanted to tell, but I was afraid that it would ruin the trip and it wasn't a very good trip to begin with. But I had managed to push It away, just for a while. And I needed It to stay away. I was so scared of It coming back. I'd kept It away by thinking of happy times and happy moments. Each one gave me only so much time. It ate away at my joyous memories and eventually burned through them like fuel. But I knew. There was one place, with memories too good, a place where every room rang with laughter and held the warmth of sun rays in the floor, a place where I had always been happy. It had always stayed away, never daring to enter this place, secluded by tall pine woods and water. I was out of fuel. I had no other choice but to go. So I packed a bag at five AM and called Diego. Then it was the concerned looks and awkward explanations.
"I need to go to Myles Bay," I'd said.
"Yeah and I need a week in Cuba," Diego had laughed, standing in my driveway on Markham St. his dark curly hair flailing in the wind. "What else is new."
"I need to go," I had insisted and looked back at the house, noticing my parent's bedroom light switch on. "I need to go now and you can't ask why."
He'd given me this look, this look I'd seen on his face many times before ever since we were little kids. When I'd had tantrums in Walmart, embarrassing his mom who swore it was the last time she'd babysit me niece or no niece. When I'd spent my entire sixteenth birthday locked in my room. When I yelled and cursed at my parents, which was unheard of in this family. And when I'd come back from our trips from cottage country, he saw It settle in, and the look was there to tell me so.
"We are at Owen Sound," Diego announced, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Are you sure we can't stick around here for a while, it's the first decent station I've found in ages," he laughed triumphantly. And indeed the radio didn't screech and rattle with bad connection, but played clearly, filling the car with a beat and melody.
I looked at my map, ignoring the music. "Thirty more minutes or so if we don't stop," I tried a smile, "Next pit stop is Wiarton, they have that huge statue of a mouse I've been telling you about."
"Ah, the infamous Wiarton mouse statue," Diego rejoiced, "Seeing that damn thing better make up for this trip, cuz."
"It's pretty glorious," I said and smiled.
"Full speed ahead," Diego declared and indeed did go above the speed limit. The drive to Wiarton passed in a blur. Diego was happy and excited about the music and seeing the mouse statue and I didn't let myself think. When we finally drove passed the Wiarton mouse named Willie, Diego slowed down and gawked in awe. The thing was completely covered in snow; it looked like Santa Clause with a heavy beard of white. "How can you even tell it's a mouse?" He exclaimed. "This, this is outrageous, Joanna."
I gave him an apologetic look, tracing the roads on the map. "You gotta remember we're on six not on ten anymore."
"Wha- What does that have to do with the mouse?"
I furrowed my brow. "N-nothing?"
"That's it. I see a Timmy's ahead. We're stopping for coffee. Who knows when the next opportunity will come along."
"I don't drink coffee," I protested as he steered the car into the abundantly empty parking lot. "No drive through…We'll wish me luck. I'm going out there."
I waved him a meek goodbye and shuttered as the car door slammed closed. Diego was my oldest cousin. We had two others; Janine and Amber. They were twins. The lived with Uncle Harry and Aunt Connie in Brampton. We saw them for Christmas and birthdays and all the big holidays. Diego and I, however, had grown up in the same neighborhood a couple blocks apart. We'd gone to the same school and we'd played in the same soccer team. Both of us quit after a year. I'd known him all my life and he was more of an older brother than a cousin to me, but that was because my parents were very busy people and Diego's mom, Christine, got stuck with me after school and on the weekends. I couldn't remember a week that had gone by without us not seeing each other, except for those that I'd spent at Myles Bay with mom and dad. Four weeks out of the summer in complete isolation from the city, from Diego and Christine and from work and school and everything that messed things up. So I felt a bit guilty, for letting him come along this time. And I was scared that maybe the place would lose some of its magic having him there. But he had a car. And a driver's licence. Two things I no longer possessed.
The door opened and let in freezing air. At least the sun had gone up while we made the drive. It made everything look so bright in a fresh coat of snow.
"I got you hot chocolate and a muffin," Diego said and handed me a greasy paper bag. "And don't tell me you're not hungry because you haven't eaten anything since we left."
"Blueberry," I noted. "My favorite." I accepted the food and the warm hot chocolate because I saw no point in arguing, which was unusual for me. I had a tendency of always finding something to argue about. But Diego was very disarming with his concerned looks and his blueberry muffins and radio stations. So I settled with nibbling on my muffin as he continued to navigate us up a road that took us through fields and shaky looking buildings.
"You gotta make a right turn here," I said.
"Into the woods," Diego remarked. "Meryl Streep was great in that movie. Meryl Streep is great in everything." He laughed to himself as we drove on a slippery sand road through a thick forest. I knew it wouldn't be long now. Five minutes tops. I sat at the edge of my seat. Leaning in to see through the snow covered windshield. We broke out of the mess of pine trees and I saw the water. "Oh," I gasped, "Look at that."
The lake thrashed with wild waves, the body of water too large to freeze even during the winter lows. The snow hurtled into the dark blue and sunk to join the waves. Behind it, in the horizon, a beach followed by the edge of yet another enormous patch of trees colored in various dark greens covered in snow dominated the view. Rows of summer cottages lined the other side of the road, I recognized every single one. I remembered walking up and down that road with dad, inviting people over for a barbeque. I'd never see him wear an apron anywhere else. Or flip-flops. Not even in the summer when the city sizzled and bubbled with heat.
"This place looks deserted," Diego said and slowed down on the icy road.
"No it's not. It's so alive it's almost scary," I said and pointed towards a house with a wide terrace and a sloping roof, "That's the one."
Diego pulled over and I stumbled out of the car. The cold stuck to my skin as I scrambled for the door, carefully navigating the stairs. "Hold these," I said and handed my gloves to Diego who was right behind me. I punched in the familiar code and opened the little vault, the key dropped onto my bare palm, the metal so cold it felt like hot needles. I tried the lock and it opened without any issues. Both of us hurried inside.
"The heat isn't on," Diego complained and quickly took in his surroundings. The whole place was very tacky, decorated with the most extravagantly horrendous furniture. For some reason the owner had decided on a rainforest theme for the living room. "I'll go see if I can do something about that."
I stood in the hallway. Looking at how the familiar tiles zigzagged on the floor. It was a little better. Not how it used to be. But that could have been because of Diego. Or maybe the snow. I hugged myself and pulled my jacket closer. "Something…" I mumbled and walked further into the house. "Why is this…" I opened the door to my bedroom. The bed was stripped and all the linens folded neatly in the closet. The wall was still as pink as it had ever been. But something, something was wrong, because I could still feel It. And It shouldn't be here. Shouldn't be able to come here. I became frantic, going through the rooms, the drawers, the kitchen cupboards. I could feel my pulse sky rocket and my face flush. I knew that wasn't good. Knew it from experience. "Stop it," I told myself, but my hands kept rummaging through the utensil drawer; I spilled forks and knives and spoons on the floor. They rattled like instruments on the tiling. "This is…this can't be. It's supposed to be good, so good…" I muttered and moved on into the living room. I stopped abruptly as I found myself staring at Diego, kneeling in front of the fireplace. He'd managed to get a fire going, effectively warming up the space.
"Check this out Joanna, I fixed it," he exclaimed as he turned to look at me, his smile faltering as he noticed my current state.
"You didn't fix anything," I said, my voice strung high with panic. "There's something wrong. There's something wrong with this place. There's something WRONG," I couldn't stop it. My plan had failed, the last scraps of power I'd clung onto were gone. It was over. It was here and I'd brought It here.
"Jesus, calm down," Diego said. I waved him off and stormed out. I shed my jacket on the porch and enjoyed the numbing wind. I could hear him following me. "Wait, Jo!"
I kept walking until I reached the water. Dead plants and frozen soil made a barrier between me and a rickety dock. I slouched over the remains of weeds and stopped to wedge off my winter boots. "Oh shit," I squealed as my feet hit the cold wet ground. But I didn't care. Because I was going to drown It. Just like those snowflakes drowned, dissipating under the layers of dark and freezing waters.
"What are you doing?" Diego called. "Are you insane? Are you out of your goddamn mind? You'll freeze to death, Joanna!"
I kept moving, keeping my steps quick. I glanced back and saw Diego hesitating on the road. He saw me look. "I'm not gonna come after you. I'm not gonna die of hypothermia because you're having one of your freak attacks!"
I cringed. He wouldn't?
He wouldn't. That was good. I didn't need to drag anyone else down with me. Let him go home and eat his Twizzlers and listen to the good station in Owen Sound as he drove down. I waded through the water, holding on to the slimy side of the dock so the waves wouldn't wash me away. The water was up to my stomach. It was paralyzing cold. It was hard to keep moving so I stopped when it was up to my shoulders. My hands dropped under the surface and I found my entire body had gone numb. I couldn't move if I wanted to. The dock was just a couple of steps back, but I couldn't will my legs to move. I felt It. Stronger than I ever had. Clenching its fist around me, squeezing out my breath, holding me still even though the waves around me splashed and raged. It's just a lake. It's never been this angry. I've never been this angry.
"Joanna!" Diego called, he stood at the very end of the dock, peering at me. He was holding out a hand, but I couldn't grab it, couldn't move. "Grab my hand!"
"I can't" I sobbed, not sure if the wetness on my face was due to the water or tears or the invasive snowfall. "I can't. I can't anymore. I can't stop It."
"Jo, Jo, please," He begged and reached further. "Just get out of the water."
"But it didn't work," I screamed.
"I know, I know. But we'll fix it."
"I can't fix it! I've tried, but I can't. It's all over me and It won't let go," I breathed, my teeth rattling and my body violently shaking.
"Try just this one time, just one more time. You've been doing so good," Diego coaxed, "You've been doing so much better…And mom's not mad about the car anymore. I swear, she's all giddy buying a new one. We can start having Sunday dinners again. Roast chicken and lime beans."
"She's not mad about the car?" I asked, sniffing.
"No, she's not mad about the car. Just like she was never mad about Walmart or baking you a birthday cake you never ate. More frosting for the rest of us," Diego argued, "Now, get out of the water."
I stared at his hand sure I could reach it if I tried hard enough. The look in his eyes was pleading, convincing, bargaining.
I wondered for a second if grabbing his hand would be like reducing a hurricane into a gust of wind, tucking it neatly into a drawer in my bedroom, waiting for it to gain strength so one day it would burst out, wrecking everything in its path. I wondered if it would feel like crashing a car into a brick wall, pointless, splintering, and anticlimactic. And I wondered if it would cause more trouble than do good.


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The Ultimate One-Two Crunch of Cane Self Defense Preparedness Training – The Robaina Raven All Metal Self Defense Cane and Five 2 Survive Tactical Training Course at 50% Off.
The Raven is an an distinctive, powder coated all black aircraft grade aluminum cane and is a devastatingly, formidable impact tool. The Raven comes in at 38 inches, light enough for speed, but does not sacrifice impact. The two sets of grips have been strategically placed on the sides for functionality and redesigned with non abrasive carvings for improved maneuverability and handling. The horn features a slightly sharper angled beak for a quicker release response while still maintaining its' innocuous look. The all Metal Robaina Raven Self Defense Cane is my favorite self defense cane and is a Bazooka! The Robaina Raven is also available without the 52S training.
About the Five 2 Survive Cane Self Defense Training Course
Without any reservation and with complete confidence I can tell you that if you want to quickly become effective using the cane to defend yourself against an attacker, then there is no better choice anywhere than Five 2 Survive. Period! Five 2 Survive normally sells for $99.00 but you can get it at 50% off with your cane order.
Five 2 Survive is not a single video. Rather Five 2 Survive is a tactical cane self defense tactical training course. Comprised of 26 separate videos a written exam, personal evaluation by me and a signed course completion certificate Five 2 Survive is the only cane self defense training course that utilizes reality based training simulations to condition your mind and body so in the first 5 seconds of an attack you can instinctively respond and preserve the advantage the cane gives you.
Click Below to Watch the Video on Five 2 Survive
Click here for a complete description of all the 26 videos and bonus material you get with the Five 2 Survive Tactical Training Course. .
About Your 3 Free COBRA Videos
With any purchase at American Cane Self Defense make immediately available three unique what we call COBRA self-defense videos.
COBRA stands for Combat, Objective, and Battle Ready Applications. These are self-defense applications that are highly effective, can be used by anyone and do not require a self-defense cane. In fact we encourage you to share these three videos with your husband, wife, children, grandchildren or anyone who you care for.
Here's an overview of these 3 COBRA Videos
- The Importance of Command Presence: A 2 minute 22 second video that demonstrates two very important self-defense elements: First, your stance, the way your position yourself and second your verbal skills to prevent or survive a violent encounter.
- Anchor Against an Edge Weapon: A 2 minute and 8 second video will demonstrate a technique we call anchoring. In this scenario we demonstrate anchoring as a way to protect yourself when someone with an edge weapon such as a knife has confronted you.
- Anti-Abduction Technique: A 3 minute and 9 second video that will demonstrate and teach you two anti-abduction techniques that really, everyone needs to know.
You will have access to these videos and though they are not cane related, we want to help you be as prepared regardless if you have your cane with our, or not. We do encourage you to share these.


text: The Thiang Residence was designed to accommodate a large family under one roof. This was a challenge as three generations needed their own space in order to feel at home. Bojan Simic Architecture office answered the call and designed a two-building structure divided by communal gardens. Inside, natural and artificial light remained paramount, and large windows allow natural light and warmth to fill the main living area. The residence is also adorned with a variety of materials including wood, glass and stone to add visual appeal. According to the architects, the residence "conforms to the clients functional requirements as well as their cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations of traditional oriental built forms."


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How You Benefit
Why call EmployerIncentives to see what employer tax credits and hiring incentives your new hires are eligible for? Here are ten great reasons!
- Save money.With EmployerIncentives, filing taxes becomes an opportunity for saving money! We find the employer tax credits you are entitled to, and you pocket the profit.
- Reduce costs.Hiring incentives and tax credits can help companies succeed in today's lean economy by significantly reducing the costs of hiring new employees.
- Save time.You don't have to waste valuable time, effort, and personnel on locating and securing employer tax credits and hiring incentives: we'll do all the work for you!
- Avoid headaches.We will calculate the amount of employer tax credits your company has earned on each individual and provide year-end reconciliations to verify savings.
- Avoid paperwork.We make filing taxes simple by generating the required tax forms to support the amount you've received in employer tax credits and tax incentives.
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- Increase value.By pouring profits back into your company, you will increase your stakeholder equity and market value.
- Experience service.You're not an "account" here: at EmployerIncentives, we treat all our clients as individuals and partners. We are here to help you take advantage of all the employer tax credits and tax incentive programs you can!
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- Pay nothing.There are no start-up fees or upfront costs. You don't pay a cent until you see the tax savings rolling in!


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Happy New Year!
This year is already off to a great start!
I've got a couple of projects already in the pipeline, working on my social media presence, and continue to brand out the business. New things on the horizon include adding a variety of topics to my blog which will include etiquette tips, fabulous finds, and celebration ideas. This year is going to be FABULOUS!
Thanks for tagging along for the journey. I can't wait to see what the New Year brings!


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By Stacy Malkan
"I want grandkids one day, so sperm is important to me because I've got three young boys," said mom, author and social media genius Leah Segedie in a video introducing her "Save the Swimmers" campaign.
"This is where my youngest rolls his eyes at me and says, 'I know Mom. Avoiding plastics can help save my swimmers, oooh kay.' But to me this is no laughing matter. Over 25 years of studies have demonstrated that these little sperm are crying out for help."


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MBA program: One of the most popular degrees in international
An MBA is a degree of Anglo-Saxon origin Postgraduate level in the field of trade and communication. MBA stands for "Masters of Business Administration." This is one of the most popular courses to students worldwide, and many countries, including France, have adopted this degree in their schools. The MBA degree is also recognized as a springboard for the careers of students, who naturally tend to stations Managers or high Leaderships. It is more than 2,500 MBA programs are offered in the world today, but not all the same! In addition, there is no an MBA in particular, but many specializations and capabilities across programs and schools. You choose the one that suits you best!
Great recognition among companies:
The MBA is also one of the most sought after degrees by its value and recognition to companies. Whatever the industry or economic conditions of the country, the program will allow you to stand out and get the best positions. The majority being taught in English, it is also a great way for international students to improve their language skills.
Why join an MBA program?
The MBA aims to provide its students with all the necessary knowledge, whether theoretical or applied, which will subsequently be used in administrative and managerial positions. But these benefits do not stop only to trade, and many graduates work in government organizations or the public sector.
The contributions of the MBA program:
When you join an MBA program, you will develop new skills including: Control of the "Business" MBA's primary goal to give you all the necessary knowledge in business and administration. You will master all aspects generals out of your degree. A true "Leadership" The MBA will learn to lead, communicate effectively impose your decisions, negotiate, manage a team, submit a proposal, write reports, and cope with problems. This will allow you to assert yourself as the leader in the face of less competent employees. A network of opportunities: The alliance you form with your fellow training and the global network of the school is priceless. This will open doors that you never have opened otherwise, see you would not even knew existed.
The genesis of the program and its evolution in the world:
MBA programs were first developed in the United States, and have been offered by U.S. institutions from 1900. Even today, the MBA degrees awarded in the U.S. in the best institutions are more valuable on the world market than those offered any other country. Thus thousands of international students each year decide to go to the United States to attend one of these programs to continue in their career best. The MBA program has been created as the United States takes two years to learn everything you need to know about the business and administration. But in Europe, when it was introduced in the 1960s, most programs last year see 10 months to meet a different need of the students.
Changes in the MBA program:
The MBA is a degree focusing on the competitiveness of its students on the job market for high-level posts. He therefore had to adapt on an ongoing basis to better meet the needs of businesses and students.Programs were shortened with the advent of MBA in 1 year. Competitive market training and education is such that it is sometimes necessary to provide effective programs cost less important. Programs a year reduce the fees and allow faster return on the labor market.
The MBA also always been full-time programs, but the cost may be too large and the purpose of an open door policy, programs have adapted. There are now MBA part-time over a longer duration, modular MBA adapting to the needs of the student, MBA with international academic exchanges, the online MBA or distance MBA.


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Race 1: 2-1-10-4. Settled too close last start due to the slow tempo. Giving him another chance given they should run along and he'll likely be ridden a bit quieter.
Race 2: 3-1-7-2. Pretty competitive race but he was unlucky on a few occasions last time in over this track/trip and should get the suck run just off the speed.
Race 3: 10-2-7-5. Huge effort last start from well back where he deserved the win but can get it tonight as they'll run along. Look for him late.
Race 4: 4-5-3-8. Best Value see below.
Race 5: 10-4-5-1. Tough race but it did take a smart one to beat him last start and he'll make his own luck up front.
Race 6: 4-8-9-6. Fav is as a little too unreliable to be that short and this consistent galloper is each way odds at $7. Ready to peak.
Race 7: 11-2-1-8. Best Bet see below.
Race 8: 5-8-1-2. There's not much separating the top picks at their best but Mr Genuine has a bit more in his favor tonight and a run under the belt. Overs at $12.
BEST BET: Race 7, No. 11 BLITZING
Is up in class but on times he's been bit sharper than most of these and does come right down in the weights. Still only lightly raced, is in terrific touch and it was a very soft win last st...


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Online betting is very much in prevalence. Its benefits and facilities are surpassing betting from actual gambling places. Now, the bettor is not required to visit a particular place to get it done as everything is available on his phone or PC. So, for bookies, the scope of business is inevitably wide today and betting software is available to give a considerable boost to this business. Betting software for bookies in basketball and all other sports assists tremendously to earn maximum profits. Here are the reasons:
Powerful Marketing Tool
Getting traffic to the site is an extremely difficult task because there are a number of sites available for bettors. But, this step becomes extremely simple when you have resorted to excellent software. It successfully brings traffic and makes your business lucrative. The software can give you unending technical and customer support. Also, in case of need or if you ever face an issue, sports betting software assists you on the spot.
Transaction Reporting
Sports bookie software has a reporting feature and each bookie can view the transactions later on easily and administrate everything without hassles. After and before every session, the bookie can have easy access to all the transactions and data of clients using few clicks. This feature holds importance because monitoring the entire data is not easy for a person, but if you resort to reliable betting software, then that risk also whittles easily. Hence, the bookie gets complete control over every event and has proper access to all data.
Supports All Bets
Betting software supports limitless betting options. Irrespective of whether the client is betting via mobile or computer system, betting software is there to support you and ease out the operations of clients. It offers various sports on which wagers can be placed. Any betting viz. spread betting, pari-mutuel betting, exchange betting, e-sports betting and daily fantasy sports betting the customer is interested in, betting software facilitates all the services by itself and benefits such that you don't lost any client.
The betting software has a search engine, which helps the user by optimizing its operations and lets the users search any link. It makes it the most user-friendly and bettors get easily habituated with your website. The more the ease and comfort they feel on your site, the more is the traffic will you get, which ultimately benefits you.
Transparent Dealings
Everything is like an open book and the client will not feel cheated at all as all transactions are completely transparent. Also, no hidden charges such as market data branding, additional hosting charges or bandwidth fees will trouble them. A good software gives trial too, which helps you in knowing about all its features.


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HEART helps families grieving with childbirth loss
Lydia Myers knows what it's like to lose a child before its birth.
That's why she partnered with Jackie Naginey Hook and licensed mental health counselor Evelyn Ward of HEART of Central Pennsylvania in the beginning of 2010: to help mothers deal with pregnancy loss.
HEART, Helping Empty Arms Recover Together, provides support for those who have experienced pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant death and/or fertility issues. The group offers programs — one for grieving parents and the other for women experiencing infertility, miscarriage and more — and is sponsored by United Way and Mount Nittany Medical Center.
Another support program called Searching for Wholeness in a Broken Time, was also introduced this past spring, held 6:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Individual and Family Choices facility, 2214 N. Atherton St.
"The mission is exactly what HEART stands for," Myers said. "It's a safe outlet and safe haven for people to share what they're going through with others who understand."
Hook said she and Ward created the organization in 2009. Myers joined a year later, when she was setting up a similar group of her own in her living room with mothers who experienced childbirth loss, like herself.
"There wasn't a need for two groups really, so when I heard about HEART, it seemed like the perfect thing to be a part of and we merged," Myers said.
Myers said the program is targeted toward women experiencing pregnancy loss. There are 40 members, and it's growing, she said.
"When you're at the age of having children but may not be able to get pregnant, or you've had a loss, you're in mourning. You want to be happy for other couples, but it might be hard," Myers said. "It's such a taboo topic and may be hard for these women to talk freely about their issues. But here you can be as candid as possible, because the group understands."
And no matter what group individuals want to be a part of, Hook said there is one mission in mind.
"You're not alone," she said. "This is a safe place to share stories and be ears or a shoulder to cry on for others to mourn."


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The Boys father called me this morning at 7:30am. He has been calling a lot lately. Where is The Boy? Did he go to school, was he really at work? What is he doing with all his money? He lives with you, why don't you fuckin' ask him?
I know the boy has been trying to save up for an iPod Touch. But was foiled recently when he had to use that money to buy hockey gear. (Gear his father should have paid for, but was conveniently out of town and unable to purchase.)The Boy was defeated.
I had to giggle at the 'all his money' question. He works at Wendy's he might make $150 a week, if he is lucky. And since getting the job his father won't even give him 5 bucks for his ice time for hockey. 'All his money' is what he is living on.
So this morning, he finds a business card from the Cash Store (payday loans) on the bathroom floor. He calls me and goes ballistic, "If I catch him at that place I will rip his head off. "
"What the hell are you on about?" I didn't hear much of his ramblings, except for the last part.
"I don't want him to end up like you!" And then of course he hangs up. One of the many reasons we are no longer together, he doesn't fight. He is more of a hit and run kinda asshole.
I am not completely sure what he meant by that, or how he imagines I ended up.
Luckily we live in the 21st century so I get out my mobile phone. And text him.
End up like me? Just remember that YOU are the common denominator in this scenario, Asshole!
No reply.
As long as he doesn't meet some asshole and have to try and figure out how to raise a child ALL BY HIMSELF, he should be fine.
Still nothing
And what exactly are you doing about it? Except treating him the same way you treated me? We'll be lucky if he doesn't turn out like you.
The man is lucky he was not standing in front of me, I would have dropped him like a rock.
Turns out The Boy needed something to write a confirmation code on, he had ordered a meal at Swiss Chalet. TBF will be disappointed that there was no cloak or daggers involved. Sometimes I wonder what I ever saw in him. Wait, now I remember, it was the car.
They say it takes a village? Well my sister is the Queen of that village. She heard about the boy having to spend his money on hockey gear and promptly ordered an iPod touch for The Boy. It will be here in a few days. She wanted to have it engraved 'Because your father is a prick' but I went with 'Love Aunt Adah'. I think the prick thing is implied.
TBF wouldn't even think of lifting a finger for anyone, ever. Unless, of course, there was something in it for him.
That is the difference in the gene pool between our family and TBF's. I am sorry I ever swam in the shallow end of his.


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For a light-as-a-cloud dessert, pile whipped cream and fruit filling into a baked pie crust.
prep time 45 min
total time 1 hr 45 min
4 servings
Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 1/8 of Recipe: Calories 440 Calories from Fat 290 Total Fat 33g Saturated Fat 15g Cholesterol 65mg Sodium 300mg Total Carbohydrate 34g Dietary Fiber 2g Sugars 10g Protein 5g%
Daily Value*: Vitamin A 15% Vitamin C 60% Calcium 6% Iron 8%
Exchanges:1 Starch; 1 Fruit; 6 1/2 Fat
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Recipe and photo credit: Pillsbury.


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The Little Rocket Who Could
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! My first attempt to make tiny rockets out of tin ended with a mangled rocket and a whole lot of bandaids. After purchasing a disc cutter, the second draft fared better. However, someone promptly complimented me on my adorable fish earrings. Third time's the charm? I took the opportunity to expand the color palette for the most recent fleet. Please let me know which you like best!


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This site has been conceived primarily to serve the general ex-servicemen, however, its avowed objective is multifold. One of the objectives is to disseminate news concerning ex-servicemen and the facilities & benefits extended by Central Govt. / State Govt. & Armed Forces authorities, and to project the grievances / causes / varieties of problems of ex-servicemen and their widows confront, to the appropriate authorities in the Armed Forces, and other competent authorities for intervention so as to resolve the issues.
Inter alia, this website and Vekare Ex-Servicemen Trust would also aim at exposing the retrograde & anomalous policies concerning welfare of ex-servicemen / widows of ex-servicemen, formulated without any foresight, contrary to the principles of natural justice by the policy makers, in order to debate on such policies on public platform to get such policies rectified in the greater interest of the Ex-Servicemen fraternity.
In this website, a Contact Form is also provided to facilitate ex-servicemen & widows of ex-servicemen to give their valuable suggestions, to project their problems / air their grievances. Military Veterans could also send their articles / memories of their life in the Armed Forces which are of interest to ex-servicemen. A comment section is also provided to comment on the articles / news items which appear in the website.
This website is managed and edited by Air Veteran M.N.Subramani, M.Com, LLB, President – VeKare Ex-servicemen Trust (VKET), Mysore, for the benefit and information of ex-servicemen fraternity.
This webiste is dedicated in memory of
Late 123635 L/Nk Mandetira Achayya Nanayya, World War II Veteran of IEME
Nice to know about VKET and it's efforts to help Defence Veterans.
Having served EME for over two decades, am glad to realise that the portal is managed by someone who is son of a WW II veteran Late Nanayya of IEME.
Best wishes to Veteran Subramani.
Warm Regards
tvp rao
Copyright © 2019 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes


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Today's One Point Wiki Wiki e-Xpression is an idiom, "something else".
It means an exceptional person or thing.
Our friend M is something else. She enjoyed our rhubarb ginger jam so much she wrote a poem about it!
Mahalo Nui Loa
If you find this useful - share with a friend.
Sharing is Caring.


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What a lovely Lady she is.I should be so lucky to move that well . I've seen this before and I loved seeing it again.Thank you Linda.
Wow! I am amazed. This lady is so wonderful. Dancing must have kept her moving and looking so young. I had never seen this. Thank you Linda for sharing.


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There are many benefits of creating a culture of wellbeing and health in a working environment. When integrated properly, wellness activities can help improve the health and productivity of employees, as well as helping to cut healthcare costs, sick leave, absenteeism and presenteeism.
According to a WHO review of effective interventions on diet and physical activity (WHO,2009), multi-component programmes, such as healthy eating, exercise facilities and self learning are recommended for the workplace.
As stated in "A Healthy Weight for Ireland – Obesity Policy & Action Plan 2016 – 2025" developed by the Dept. of Health, a "whole of society" approach to health and wellbeing is vital in the effort to help prevent ill health and chronic disease. The Dept. of Health specifically identifies the workplace as one of eight sectors outlined to play an active leadership role in the prevention and management of obesity.
Find your company's schedule details here >Bookings
Brian Collins - VHI
"The flexibility of Wellness at Work helped to make these programmes a success, and I found Ciara and Domal to be very honest and practical in their approach to facilitating the various on site wellness services that were implemented"
D McKenna - EHS, Dell EMC
"Their dynamic team are flexible and of high quality standard. The service they provide allows for easy accessibility, increased engagement and a variety of exercise plans to choose from"
Wellness programmes provide a systematic approach to managing health by incorporating education, guidance and training. Our programmes are flexible and adaptable to the needs of your organisation.Download


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Juniper Moon Farm Findley
Special Offer
Juniper Moon Farm Findley
10 Patterns Using Juniper Moon Farm Findley Lustrous Lace Yarn which Knits Up Into A soft Fine Fabric with The Lightest Halo. We Hope You Love It As Much As We Do.Read more >
Newsflash: knitting is cool, and Laughing Hens are keen to gauge the temperature of the nation on this important matter. We want to hear all about why you knit, what you knit and when you knit.
To say thanks, we'll knock 10% off your next Laughing Hens purchase. You'll also be entered into a £100 prize draw so you can splash out on more of our knitting and crochet goodies.


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#SundaySlices Week 16: The Simps Who Stole Christmas/
Jingle Bells, This Team Smells & They Laid An EggRead More
Jingle Bells, This Team Smells & They Laid An EggRead More
Nothing cures what ails ya like Cody Kessler & the JagsRead More
ABSOLUTE BLOWTORCHRead More
2 years, 44 players on injured reserve (not counting Colt). Unfathomable.Read More
Cowboys feasted on the Redskins & gobbled up the lead in the NFC East. Who is to blame?Read More
Thanksgiving Slices for your consumption following the loss to the Texans and the loss of Alex Smith for the season.Read More
The Redskins bend, bend, bend, bend but don't break defense was good enough to let the Bucs beat themselves on Sunday. So who gets credit for the win?Read More
Falcons A-Town Stomped a mudhole in the Redskins. Who is to blame for the loss?Read More
Want to hear a joke? What goes great with pie? The Giants being 1-7 (not much of a joke, but who cares. They're trash).Read More
*extreme Oprah voice* You get a slice! And you gets a slice! And you get a slice!Read More
Lots of pie to go around following Sunday's 23-17 win over visiting Carolina.Read More
Geaux home, Redskins, you're drunk.Read More
Cutting up slices of the pie after Alex Smith, Adrian Peterson & Co. cut up the cheese(heads)Read More
Plenty of blame pie to go around after a embarrassing performance against the ColtsRead More
Fresh slices of pie after the decisive week 1 win over the Cardinals.Read More
Another Washington Redskins Blog


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I'm trying to get back into the habit of a weekly #yarnalong and so I hope you will join me! I kept it up for a little bit after Ginny at Small Things stopped sometime last year, but then let it go when things got busy and it started to feel lonely. I also noticed that my reading, outside of reading to the kids for school!, started to lack and linger. I missed that part of my week, and having a weekly "progress marker" for my knitting (and an excuse to make sure I had just a bit of for fun knitting that I could share!), so here is my attempt to kick off a "yarn along" again.
This week, I did backtrack just a bit. I had finished this piece up over the weekend, but was not pleased with the color work portion. I knew when I started it that I wasn't going to like it, but kept thinking, oh blocking will save it!, it will end up like what I want, but I couldn't shake the, not quite, feeling, and never even made it to blocking. I ripped back last night and started back knitting, this time in a different direction and with a new vision. Much happier this time, and blocking will only make it more beautiful.
I started reading Skating with the Statue of Liberty, but Susan Lynn Meyer the other week. It's a Children's book that I picked up at the library while browsing with my little ones (can you tell I don't make it out of the Children's section very often, lol? It has been a wonderful read so far, there is something very comforting about reading a Children's book, and it also helps me make decisions about read alouds and helps me when I am preparing lessons for them. I'm not sure if we will touch on this one this year (it is set during WWII and is about a Jewish family that came to America during that time), but it is one I will definitely add to our list.
I'd love it you joined in with me and share what you are reading and knitting this week! You can leave a comment, or write your own post and be sure to leave the link in the comments!


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The Year's Best Shoutout on Twitter
Shoutout Leaderboard
If the number of votes for you fluctuates, find out why here: Vote auditing
special_kfrom dah CHI! but i ain't scurred
JaC ReVoluTioNaRy #shoutout to @specks0615 for nominating me for the Shorty Award in humor ; even tho I aint gon win its much appreciated lol
Rocio Payan♥D0NT H0LD ME UP, I CAN STAND 0N MY 0WN;; 19 yrs old, a science major, im funny, ♥taken, a Minnesota Vikings fan & i can bless you when you ain't even sneezin:]
JaC ReVoluTioNaRy @rociopayan whea my Shorty Award #shoutout lol
1 vote in shoutout
Beccawell i like snow, the colours: pink, purple, gold. ilove Biology, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, nice things/people. O and when im older i wanna be a neursosurgeon =]
Dominic Wilcox #shoutout to @92_BlackBarbie for being the first shorty award voter...thank you hun
La Tavonna SimmonsI'm light skinned and LOVELY... so follow me. =)
2 votes in shoutout
Tiffene AndersonTiffene . Typical Jersey Girl. 908 area. Toughcookiie. one of a kind.
Tiffene Anderson RT @NJScoop: #shoutout to @tootsiecookie for jus walkin n the library she getting the next "shorty award" of the day
1 vote in shoutout
1 vote in egocentric
1 vote in egocentric
Jalynn DavisLearning about my self daily,Growing through life not just Going through life. I love to meet new ppl & see new things...Hit my myspace [J A L Y N N] =)
1 vote in shoutout
1 vote in egocentric
1 vote in egocentric
Mo'FreaqI'm 20 years old. No time 4 BS! If u got sumthin 2 say, don't be scared. Dats wat da @ symbol is 4. And a shoutout 2 mah boyfriend, YorkwayDaKid!
fabian findley RT @JayyQueen @DrippSquared haha #Shoutout to Mr. Late Night! aka @Follow_Fabe <-I'll work wit it. Go give me a shorty award vote
1 vote in shoutout
@knightfdn supports the Shorty Awards
Shorty Award trophies provided by Baudville
Beer provided by Brooklyn Brewery
Wine provided by Winetwits & House Jam Wine
The Shorty Awards presents tonight's signature cocktails by Maker's Mark
Catering by The Cleaver Co.
Live Web Streaming by Livestream
Live Captioning by PLYMedia
Get updates about the Shorty Awards contest, the awards ceremony, and follow-worthy people.


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The Monday Mindset: Skill Development - Taking Initiative
Last week we discussed how time management continues to give even the best planners vision. This week, we're extending this topic by discussing skill sets that will allow us to continuously grow.
If the never-ending benefit of time management is the ability to prioritize, then taking initiative is the resilience of our time.
We are all on our own for taking responsibility of how our lives turn out; while there are contingencies that we cannot control, there are solutions, our reactions, that we can control. When life pushes us down, it is our choice to get back up. Everyday, it is our choice to get up in the morning, to move forward, to fight the good fight, and to never lose hope in ourselves.
The key is taking responsibility and initiative, deciding what our lives are about and prioritizing our own lives around the most important things, our priorities.
Something I have found to be true over and over again: The things we value in life don't just happen to us miraculously — we make them happen — and by taking action to fight the good fight, our inevitable contingencies are manageable at the very least.
In more familiar words - if we want something out of life, then we have to go get it. We can plan and prioritize our days to the minute, but without the initiative — the proaction upon our thoughts — the results will never come to fruition. It is about taking our thoughts, and plans, and manifesting them in reality. Our initiative is our action, not our reaction, to the world we are building around us. Without it, we will not succeed in taking control of our lives.
Going after what we want, persisting in the face of challenges, will create opportunities to make things happen for ourselves.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." William Jennings Bryan


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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- From the moment it clinched its spot in the NCAA Final Four, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team promised it would be different here.
But the heartbreaking end for the Huskies was the same, almost eerily so.
All-American Arike Ogunbowale's jump shot from just inside the 3-point line with one second left in overtime Friday night gave Notre Dame a 91-89 win over UConn in a national semifinal game before a crowd of 19,564 at Nationwide Arena.
"My team trusted me to have the ball at the end," Ogunbowale said. "I mean, it felt good. I didn't know it was going in, but it felt good."
It was a year ago Saturday that Mississippi State's Morgan Williams hit a pull-up jumper at the overtime buzzer to end the Huskies' 111-game winning streak and four-year reign as national champion in the Final Four.
The Bulldogs held up their end for the rematch many people wanted to see as they advanced to their second consecutive final in dramatic fashion Friday night. In a contest marred by a controversial technical foul call by referee Lisa Mattingly against Louisville's Sam Fuehring with 2:42 left of a one-point game, Roshunda Johnson nailed a 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left to force overtime and Mississippi State outscored Louisville 14-4 in the extra session for a 73-63 win. All-American Teaira McCowan had 21 points and a NCAA Final Four record 25 rebounds and played all 45 minutes for the Bulldogs (37-1).
But they'll face the Irish (34-3), who will be seeking their first title since 2001 but lost in the championship game four times in a five-year span (2011-12, 2014-15). It's the first time in the 37-year history of the NCAA Tournament that both national semifinal games were decided in overtime.
UConn finishes 36-1 for the second straight year. The Huskies have not lost a game in regulation since the 2013 Big East Tournament final and even then it took a layup by Natalie Achonwa with 1.8 seconds left to give Notre Dame a 61-59 win.
They are 0-7 in overtime games -- four of the losses to Notre Dame -- since beating South Florida at Gampel Pavilion on Dec. 1, 2004.
"It was one of those games where it was just a grind back and forth the entire game and it was just a battle," UConn guard Kia Nurse said. "There were so many times they could have put us away, and we clawed and clawed and clawed our way back into it and made big play after big play."
Notre Dame -- which led by 13 in the first quarter, trailed by 11 in the second quarter and eight in the fourth, then lost five-point leads in the final 20 seconds of regulation and 45 seconds of overtime -- made one more.
Sophomore Jackie Young had a career-high 32 points for the Irish while Ogunbowale had 27.
Napheesa Collier led the Huskies with 24 points. Azura Stevens added 19 points and Katie Lou Samuelson 16 but the two-time All-American had only three after halftime. All-American Gabby Williams had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She also grabbed the 1,000th rebound of her career.
UConn was making its 11th consecutive Final Four appearance and is 6-5 in national semifinals in that span, 11-8 overall in 19 berths. The Huskies are 11-0 in national championship games.
A 12th title game will have to wait till next year.
"When you do something that seems so effortless you do get kind of numb and forget it's very difficult to win a national championship," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "There are no bad teams left, no bad players. You can't back into it.
"They were better than us tonight."
It was the sixth time in eight years and seventh time overall the Huskies and Irish have met in the Final Four. Notre Dame holds a 4-3 edge having also won semifinal games in 2001, 2011, and 2012 (in overtime), while the Huskies were victorious in the 2013 semifinals and the 2014 and 2015 finals.
UConn took its only lead in overtime Friday night on a Nurse 3-pointer at 82-80. A 9-2 run by Irish put them ahead by five. But a basket by Collier and a trey by Crystal Dangerfield tied it again with 29 seconds remaining.
The Irish held for the final shot and Ogunbowale delivered. Samuelson's attempt to get something towards the basket did not fall and did not beat the buzzer anyway.
"What a shot by Arike, unbelievable," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "She does it all the time in practice."
UConn had won 38 consecutive games against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents dating back to a loss to North Carolina on Jan. 15, 2007.
The Huskies' seniors, Nurse and Williams, finish their careers with a 148-3 record.
"They're going to remember this one and last year's for a long, long time," Auriemma said. "The two championships they won freshman and sophomore year are probably distant memories right about now. But when they look back, they're going to look at what an amazing career they both had and what a great impact they had on Connecticut basketball and the people that they've come in contact with up at Connecticut.
"That's the unfortunate thing about being a senior in college. Very, very few kids have their senior season end with a national championship. It's happened to a lot of kids at Connecticut, but it wasn't meant to be for these two."
UConn's start Friday night was reminiscent of a year ago when it fell into a 16-point hole against Mississippi State.
With the Irish leading 7-6, Young scored 11 points in a 17-3 run to match the Huskies' point total and give her team a 13-point advantage. Samuelson's 3 at the buzzer made it 24-14 after one.
But then UConn's defense -- a zone -- tightened and its offense found life. Two baskets by Stevens, a hoop by Williams, a trey by Samuelson, and a Stevens free throw tied it. The teams then exchanged scores and Jessica Shepherd made it 30-27 for the Irish.
The Huskies, though, had a second surge in them.
Back-to-back baskets by Williams and Stevens gave UConn its first lead since 2-0. Williams then followed with two more hoops. Two baskets by Samuelson and a pass by Samuelson to Collier gave the Huskies 14 straight points and put them up by 11. Notre Dame closed the half with baskets by Kathryn Westbeld and Ogunbowale -- the second coming after UConn could have run most of the period out on its last possession -- to make it 41-34 at the break.
The Irish have been strong throughout the NCAA Tournament in the third quarter and were again, twice taking one-point leads. Two Stevens layups gave the Huskies a 60-57 edge going to the fourth.
The Huskies led by eight after a Dangerfield 3-pointer with 6:49 remaining but it slipped away. Young gave Notre Dame the lead with two free throws with 1:32 left. After a turnover by Williams, Ogunbowale hit a fallaway jumper off an inbounds pass with one second on the shot clock to make it 77-74. After another turnover, Ogunbowale hit two free throws for a five-point lead.
Collier nailed a 3-pointer to give UConn life. Then Nurse, the 2018 national Defensive Player of the Year, made a steal and layup to tie it with nine seconds left. The Huskies got the ball back with three seconds to go but Williams misfired sending it to overtime.
Overtime was Notre Dame's and Ogunbowale's time.
"We knew we were playing a great team, obviously, and we knew they had a lot of players that could decide the game," Auriemma said. "They thought they had us put away a couple of times, and we kept coming back and coming back. We just ran out of time."
Williams grabbed her third rebound of the game with 8:32 left in the second quarter to become the seventh UConn player, and first listed at under 6-feet, to reach 1,000 for her career and join the Huskies' 1,000/1,000 club. Tina Charles is UConn's all-time leader with 1,367 rebounds. She is followed by Maya Moore (1,276), Rebecca Lobo (1,268), Breanna Stewart (1,179), Stefanie Dolson (1,101), and Jamelle Elliott (1,054).
Only two players in UConn history -- Williams and Moore -- have more than 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400 assists, 300 steals, and 100 blocked shots.
Williams and Nurse could be first-round picks in the WNBA Draft on April 12. Three starters will return for the Huskies while top reserve Stevens has one more year of eligibility but could declare for the WNBA Draft as the Duke transfer's original class graduates in May.
And they'll start another journey on the road to the Final Four.
"Sometimes you have to be exposed to this and fail when it's all on you," Auriemma said. "It's a great learning tool. But I'm a pretty smart guy. I don't need to learn this crap two years in a row."


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But like a heart, we move and we move and we move the exact amount of times to stop. The next act is more scuffling across the stage, switching clothes and sets, until everything we do before the final scene demands that it happen. We beg for it to end our motion, hoping that we went through enough acts, that we had used up our rationed heartbeats. Why do we close up so soon? From the womb, we want something solid to bite down on. We anticipate the coming change, like a rainstorm for a dusty farmer, but never expect how much work plenty requires. We rush into union, as if it is shelter from ourselves, and stay cuddled there, forgetting that we came into this world by ourselves.
I have never had the opportunity to stare death in the face. Strangely, I feel like my entire life has been dedicated to thoughts about death. It's not that I am obsessed or frightened, or too platonic for my own good. I am convinced that my preoccupation with death is common. Who doesn't think about it?
It's not about who does or does not think of death, it's about who's willing to engage their thoughts. How often do we take our feelings down the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Our minds aren't enough. We can rationally think about it as a natural occurrence. "Death? Yeah, it's just a part of life. Now go to bed." But when we take our reason down the path, we find that we don't get very far. We can't take our reason beyond ourselves. The proposition of our own death is entirely unreasonable.
We think of death like we think of gifts our grandparents give us. Isn't that what death is? Before even knowing what it is, we put our hands out, receive it, and give them a kiss on the cheek. Once we start opening up the wrapping paper, we try to think of ways that we can appreciate it. Once they leave for the winter - travelling when it's cold out is bad for the joints - we put it in storage.
And we think about it every now and then. We never go and open up the package or do anything with it. We can't get rid of it, because they are who they are, but we don't want to use it. Whenever they ask, we say it's great. Each day grows more anxious, the fixation tighter, until that fateful day when you get the phone call, lament a few days, then joyfully throw away the George Foreman Grill.
Of course, all of this could be avoided if we simply enjoyed it for what it is; a gift. The only reason we don't appreciate it, is because we refuse to let it change us. We refuse to die. I refuse to die. If he had just known me a little bit better, then maybe he would have given an acceptable gift. The last time I saw him, though, was when he gave it to me. I haven't seen him since then and, as long as I mention it in my emails, I'm covered.
Nature and the Word demand that we let it change us. What is the entire book of Ecclesiastes for if not that? What is the entire point of Revelation? Death is coming and not only must we know that, we must feel it in our entire being.
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"— before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."
-The Preacher
We rationally accept that we have been given death, but we reserve a place in our minds where it can rest comfortably, untouched. We never get into it, we never allow our feelings to become entangled. We think of it like machines.
Fizzle. Error. Eject brain chip. Place into children.
We think of death every now and then to suspend the guilt. We remind ourselves that it will happen. But our reminders are about as effectual as our parents telling us that we shouldn't date before college.
What is the benefit of rationally reminding ourselves, when death will not rationally come upon us? If we are lucky, there will be very little thinking involved once it happens (unless you're the kind that likes to pray before a big decision). Death is pure experience, pure feeling. Before, it is pure understanding (not of what it is, but that it is). After, it is intense understanding and experience until no end.
Most of you are alive right now. I have to make some concessions to those no longer with us. I know, my credibility is soiled by my warmth (I needed to wash the pants, anyways), but I assure you, I'm doing the best I can. Yes, you're thinking that I am completely missing the mark. Some of you might say, "Idiot! Embrace life as much as you can! Use it up! Burn at both ends!" To them, I say, "I would rather not continue that lifestyle for an eternity." For those who say, "Well, yes, it ought to change you, but recognize that there is no conceivable way to really experience it before it happens." To them, I say, "I agree in part. Wait a moment and I'll explain." Finally, there are those who are either saying nothing, or are speaking in a language I can't quite decipher. That's all right, we all drink some blood in the end.
At the age of nine, I had an existential crisis. I had entirely forgotten about it, actually, until I mentioned it to a good friend.
For an entire year, I lived in fear. At any sign of mortality, I would shrivel up and become useless. The days went better, because of the sunshine and people. But the nights? Thank God I shared a room with my brother, or the feeling might have been unbearable. I would physically shake in bed and cry. I vividly remember going into my parent's room late at night to be with them. In that moment, they were the only thing that stood between me and eternity. They were the essence of life and they felt strong.
The thought of death never got out of my head. It stayed rattling around in there, until the intensity gradually faded and I either forgot or used up my feeling. I don't know what caused the entire thing, but I am grateful for it. In that year, I held the gift in my hands every day, setting a schedule around it. And every night, I would try to expel it, but it wouldn't let me go. It had me by the throat.
I haven't experienced death quite like that since. I felt a bit of death last week, when I went to the nursing home and sang with some friends. As we sang a hymn, an old woman rolled up to me in a wheelchair and kicked her feet, oblivious to the fact that we were performing. Her pants were up to her chest and her head was below them. She kept pushing her no-hair behind her ear and had this smile on her like she knew something I didn't.
I melted and I'm not quite sure why. It was almost frustrating. There were all these old faces looking up at me and saw me crying because of them.
She rolled down the hall.
Once we finished singing, we got to meet them and talk to them. There is Calvin, the old farmer who is a master at the accordion and nervous about dying (my brother shared the Gospel with him). There is Laura (I think), who speaks quietly, but coherently, and loves every song we sang.
Then, there was Claire, the woman in the wheelchair. To my delight, she wheeled back down the hallway. I put the stops on her crazy wheelchair (she didn't stop kicking her legs), pulled up a chair, and introduced myself.
She was entirely deaf. I resorted to hand gestures, then finally a pen and napkin. She spent about a minute trying to decipher the words, "What is your son's name?" After a wonderful concert by Calvin, we said our goodbyes.
And I found out her name was Ruth.
It was such a fruitful experience. I got to stare at my future. And my future is cold, blind, deaf, scared, weak, smelly, irritable, disfigured, quiet, painful, and slow. My future is falling apart and losing its hair. And it's coming quickly. Calvin had a full life, full of dancing and farming. No matter how much we fill our lives up, they still get completely poured out. Lord, protect Calvin and may we still be a blessing to him while we can.
And although I don't have the audacity to ask God for it, I expect that death will creep up on me around more street corners, peeking its head, and seeing if I'm ripe. There is plenty of death before death. It is upsetting, because it is not what we were made for. We were made to live, not to die. I refuse to die!
But it doesn't even have to object. It stays silent. It doesn't give us reasons. It just does. It feels us out, experiences us, grows around us, then strangles us...
and it wants us to scream and bellow. It wants us to explain it away, to think about it rationally, to never feel it. Calculated. Thoughts.
Every day, I am becoming an idol. I feel my skin turning into stone. When I cross my arms, I put my fingers into my elbow and they get stuck in the solidifying flesh. In Christ, we are built up, like stone walls, towers, cities. We are being made out of stone. Death has threatened to burn us up, but it cannot prevail against those who are made out of stone. We build, create. But the city of God isn't made out of straw. It's made out of precious stones. Fire cannot harm it, because it is already burning with light. It is burning with deification. The city of man is burning with destruction. The Lord is preparing us for the future, building us on top of a stumbling block.
We cannot think rightly about life, if we do not begin at the end. The end of times is destruction of flesh. If that's the case, why would anyone want to give into it? Give into something melty? If we do not know that this life is preparation, why would ethics matter at all? If we don't know the end, we cannot begin.
One of the most liberating things that Creation teaches us is that every end is a beginning. There is nothing in reality that exists which does not become something else. Leaves die, but they turn into ground. Animals die, but they turn into ground. Humans die, but they turn into more real flesh.
When God created everything, He created everything without end. What is there that will stop? Will God let the story end? Even if time ends, I would argue that we carry it into eternity. If we were not vessels of time for eternity, we would cease to be creatures and our perfect bodies would be no miracle. God is outside of time, but we are not and we never will be.
And we will never end. Death really is the beginning. The proof of this one end is in the parts.
In this life, when we say goodbye, we are always saying hello to something else. When I left for college, I said goodbye to a state of mind, to a place, to people.
But what did I get? I got a different state of mind, I got more place, I got more people. Everything that happened before has not stopped existing. It has just turned into something else. The people, the place, the state of mind...
And this is exactly why we cannot afford to be scared of change. And we cannot afford to look at ourselves in the mirror. And allow ourselves to be empty. And wish about things we wish we could have. And stare at our feet.
We are running through a thousand different passages. And we are running fast. This is a race and the person most likely to win is the one that doesn't see himself. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel, he sees his certain death. And he runs to it. He runs to it, knowing that it is just the beginning of a longer race. He runs to it, because he loves how the wind feels. He runs to it, not paying attention to his own image, but paying attention to the person he reflects. Life is glory, because death is humility.
There is nothing that prepares us more for this life than knowing that we will die. And who is going to stop us from having a fascination with death? We were born with it in our souls.
Children share a very important trait with old people. They can't stop thinking of death. It's curious to them. They don't entirely understand it. Most of all, it terrifies them. They think that it is antithesis to their being.
Children and old people are the closest to where we actually came from. They bookend each other. We are born into this world, with a head full of curious and indescribable knowledge, and leave it with a thirst for the same knowledge. Why do you think children are so curious about this world? It is new to them. They are used to something else. All they know is death, but we might call it birth.
And old people, they have the reflection of this exploration. When they leave this world, all they are used to is life. They must relearn what they forgot. They must remember that life is a dream.
The reason people in the middle part of life are so stressed and worried about earthly dealings, is because they have eaten up the lie; that this is all that's true. We catechize ourselves into believing that this is it. We forget where we came from and where we are going. And because of that, petty things become the most important. We fall deeper into sin. We are more prone to end our lives, because, well, if this is it and this failed, why should we keep going?
I am not saying that children and old people are holier and wiser. But, I am saying that they are the most likely to understand what this is all about. They are here to remind us of eternity. And when we ignore them and only spend time with our peers, we will certainly be led to more earthly pursuits.
I am also not saying that this life is only a dream. It is a dream, certainly, but it is not a false one. None of this is illusion. Life is real, just as much as death. But, compared to the eternity of perfection that we come from and where we go, this little game we are playing right now is a mess. It is confusion, foggy, difficult to remember, dangerous, beautiful, uncontrollable (unless you're one of those elect who can control dreams), and brief. A dream.
But dreams are real. Dreams actually happen and dreams actually happen for a purpose. They are provoked by what we do and where we come from. Dreams don't just come from nowhere and then go to nowhere. They affect what we do and how we think. They can disturb and delight.
But, the longer we spend in a dream, the more we become attached to it. If a dream is going especially well, we begin to thirst for it. We long for the thing that threatens us. Dreams are real, but they are not as real as the thing that makes them.
The great lie is that death is the dream, that once our life is over, we are sleeping and we'll never wake up. People want to paint the afterlife as a mystical journey into cosmic LSD-induced colors. It's not. The afterlife is actual reality. It is only mystical to us now, because we are brain damaged and sin bruised.
This life is wonderful, but like many ancient Christians suggested, dangerous. It can lead us astray. Creation is here to delight us and for us to use but, if we don't come at it knowing that it is a creation, we will die. And that will be a frightening beginning.
There are so many reasons to run. I am always wary of advising someone to take more risks, but sometimes I don't know what else to say.
When and where are we ever commanded to pitch a tent? To take a rest? Why should we ever stop running? To be "cautious"? Where in Christ's - or any of the Apostles', in fact - mission was caution ever a goal? Christ demands of His followers to stop settling here. He wants us to be eternally-minded, to forgo all concerns about food, clothing, housing, and money. He wants us to run, God bless it! The temptation is to build a city here, as if that's okay.
Stop sitting down. Get up, stretch, run. As far as you're concerned, you have no image. You are made in the image of God. Work on His image. Start thinking of your death. And run to it.
You may be a parent. You may be a pastor, or child, or elder, or engineer, or teacher, or student. Whoever you are, everything you do ought to be preparation. Prepare yourself and prepare others.
Sometimes, this means enjoying a cup of tea and building a house for your family. Creation was built for us to use up, because it has an end.
I have so much death ahead of me. I need to die to self, I get to stop being so conceited, I can care more about others, I can run faster and farther towards my end. And I get to move on from the past, allowing it to propel me through the present and into the finished future.
Funny thing too, I'm pretty sentimental. I was cleaning my room the night before I left home and I came across a picture of my mom. One of the many things I struggle with is laying down and looking at pictures of the past, or drawing them. I take a seat too often. I get to keep going.
And so do you.
No matter who you are, we will meet each other again. Our relationship will begin again, although I don't know when.
What I'm saying here is not perfect and I'm not saying it perfectly. Please, though, hear me out and rejoice.
Go to the grave of Christ and weep and contemplate it. Christ wept at death, the Son of God. Weep with Him. Leave the church with darkness and silence around you. Let death howl down the aisles. Then on Sunday, bring a pan and spoon. Open up the doors of the church. Sing and dance and laugh. And we shall march out of the longest night together and withstand the death of death and become perfect stone idols of God.


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Howdy dolls, before the maxi skirt trend came on i had never pictured myself wearing floor skimming lengthy skirts at any given time but i saw them on the runway and i could not wait to get myself one this piece. It has a drammatic feel and a graceful draping to it makes you feel swimming in it. It is so simple and it makes a statement on it own so i kept it the blouse basic with just a touch of lace.
I decided to go for a chic minimalism look, nothing edgy just simple.The lace top, i totally like 'cause of the peekaboo cleavage it shows little without looking overdone. The basket is one of my fave bags ,its a carry all and am guilty of repeating it oftenly especially when am running errands and going for a simple yet stylish look. It was a really a hot day so the sunglasses were a must add-on. The clogs,i was dying to wear them since the last time i blogged about them just after i got them, hence thought i would match them with the top, they are super comfortable....i can actually run in them.The braids....well i cannnot wait to get them off....have you ever stalled a lil longer with a hairstyle wondering what to do with your hair....am in one of those predicaments and oh.....i need me a good.....suggestions are exremely welcome.
Okay, i could not resist doing a swirl......... and the swift breeze was a good nudge and i was in a heavenly pool of awesomeness......felt like a lil girl......
rugged meets hot pink
Hello fashion rangers, one more day to go and its the weekend....woop woop i can hardly wait. I have been doing lots of girly looks lately so this day, i decided to get in touch with my eclectic side of style. Its a look i have done before sometime last year when the boyfriend
trousers were so in trend.... but well...fashion is timeless.
Lets get to the dish on my outfit. Am not really a denim jeans girl....i own like 3 pairs, this one was a gift from my cousin who got it from Italy its a united colors of benetton brand. She didn't know what to do with it and i was glad to show her how to wear it. As is the case with boyfriend jeans, i rolled them up to form a cuff upto my ankles and they should fit through the hips and thighs. Since my jeans were a lil' snug, i went for an oversize classic white boyfriend shirt....then i rolled them sleeves up to give a more relaxed yet feminine feeling away from the masculinity of the whole oufit.
I added a Moschino belt to give a touch of casualness to the jeans, then a pop of color with my Aldo hot pink pumps and finished it off with a vintage black chain bag i got from my mums 80's closet. Take a look i accessorised the bag with a pinch of scarf and tied to form a bow on it. I went for a Janelle monae hairstyle and rolled my braids to a turban like style
knife- pleated palazzo pants
Hey there fashionettes, a new week, a new day, i gotta spring to my step this monday.....well the weather is amaze.... its a 'moanday' but its bright, sunny and lovely. What other better way to get through than to get inspired. This is one of my most favourite looks todate. I grabbed these pants at my thrifting sessions, and with a squeal of joy i could not believe my luck. I had been looking for such a unique pair everywhere, they are absolutely stunning. They were a perfect fit- they have to be worn a size up so as not to be clingy but just flowy and easy breezy. The way they billow as you walk... I felt like Michelle Pfieffer in
Palazzo pants add dramatic style to your wardrobe. Flowing wide-leg design gives you a fashion-forward look that's easy to wear. I wore this outfit for a business meeting then later on a day with my lovely cousins. They are comfy and flow nicely while also looking professional, which makes them great for days in the office. The green tie neck blouse brought some seriousness to the outfit without making it too casual. I wanted to avoid being drammatic so i added nautical striped button earrings to the look and baby pink heels then a pop of color with the red and gold buckle.
The channel bag was a total steal and am so in love with it, you can dress it up or down to the office or just an everyday bag. I got the pants and blouse in machakos (yea u heard me).
The pleated accents add a sophisticated touch to the pants. Make sure the high rise sits on the natural waistline for a classic silhoutte
vintage plaid
Happy belated new month y'all, i have been quite lost and i really missed blogging, i think i am getting the hang of it nowadays and its getting to be part of my daily do's. Have you ever felt like the days are just rushing and you have no idea how its happening? i have been in one of those lately, i still can't believe its August but am really looking forward for the sweet summer, i have incredible outfits to try on. Its really a frustrating time as the weather is transitioning from cold to the summer especially if you get caught up in some impromptu rain showers you did not anticipate. Well this was one of those days i wasn't sure of the weather so i decided to go for this 60s inspired retro dress.
I liked it because of the vintagey feeling it exudes, the midi length and pleated bottom is so 1960s. I considered tailoring the length and making it shorter but was like nah.....i will go with it just as it is.
Thats why i paired it up with black tights and the high heeled brogues to add me some height otherwise flat shoes would make it look frumpy because of the heavy bottom of the dress. The fabric feels like a cotton blend and it has a cream colored attached collar and lapels on the sleeves and the bodice closes with a black colored button.
I kept the accessories simple and did white pearls, to add an elegant look for the whole outfit, my baby blue loops and an amber orange chain bag. I roped my braids sideways to keep it simple. Well i got to say i was warm the rest of the day and i did not need a sweater, cover up or scarf and when the sun was out i was still cool because of the cotton fabric.


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If it sounds too good to be true it possibly is.
If you search for a phrase 'Christchurch New Zealand' you are bound to get thousands of results.
On that basis how can everyone rank on the first page?
There are a lot of SCAMS out there promising you number one spot.
There are reliable companies who are involved with SEO – it pays to be careful especially when people contact you making promises they can't keep.
Even Google have received these emails
"Dear google.com,
I visited your website and noticed that you are not listed in most of the major search engines and directories…"
Advice from Google
December 14th, 2015


text:
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text:
by Jordan
(Chillicothe, OH, USA)
Gourmet Grilled Cheese 8x16 Concession Trailer
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