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BillT sounded the call to action this morning at the Castle - Grey Eagle of A Female Soldier's Story 2 has a hacking problem, and needs support and assist. Please go help her out in any way you can ... it is just plain wrong for a$$hats to get away with hacking an active soldier's blog.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Grey Eagle needs an assist
Posted by Barb at 7:21 AM |
Labels: Military Support
What's wrong with *this* picture?
Seems that the sad little vignette thought up by the MoveOn forces for Thanksgiving has just a tiny bit of falsehood to it. Not that they should let truth get in the way of smearing the President and this administration.
From James Taranto's Best of the Web at OpinionJournal.Com ...Yesterday we got an e-mail from an old friend who is a captain in the U.S. Army. He writes:
I just got back from my third deployment from Iraq on Friday, and I happened to be at the dentist and saw a completely offensive ad from the idiots at MoveOn.org this morning. Anyway, it is a Bush-bashing ad that pretends to be arguing for American soldiers families as they will miss the holidays and it shows turkey and crying wives and blames Bush for it all. Here is the crucial part of the ad that I would like to bring to your attention. As they pretend to argue on my behalf, they show a group of soldiers standing around a table in the Middle East.
Here's the scene to which our friend refers:
"A hundred and fifty thousand American men and women are stuck in Iraq," according to the narration that accompanies this scene. Our friend (we've cleaned up a bit of his language for civilian consumption) continues:
These are not your normal everyday U.S. soldiers though. If you look at the frame they are actually British soldiers. One is in shorts (we don't have shorts as a normal combat uniform) and the others are all clearly wearing British pattern fatigues. So, my point is that these [turkeys] pretend to argue on my behalf and bash the president in the name of my crying wife, and they don't even know what an American soldier looks like! Anyway, it really [ticked] me off.
The only thing that would have made this more galling is if the ad had mentioned that the liberation of Iraq was "unilateral."
Posted by Barb at 12:02 AM |
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Just in time snow!
I don't intend to produce a complete AAR on the dining experience at the Westin Hotel in Whistler last Thursday. Let me just say that having a fine restaurant produce a generous feast, complete with both goose and turkey, and all of the fixings, would have been a great treat by itself. Making it a buffet guaranteed I would eat way too much!! An excellent place, indeed ... Yum!
Posted by Barb at 7:59 AM |
Monday, November 28, 2005
Giving Thanks ... Good News from Iraq
Check your own local newspapers to see if this nice little item made it to print where you live. I couldn't find it here in Seattle's papers at all ...
Iraqi Red Crescent thanks U.S. with $1 million for Katrina relief
H/T to LindaSoG, who posted this at It's a Matter of Opinion, as well as at Something ... and Half of Something.
Posted by Barb at 9:22 PM |
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
I'm Thankful
... for a great many things.
Posted by Barb at 7:56 AM |
Future press conference
Best picture of Rummy anywhere ... heh!
Posted by Barb at 7:36 AM |
Monday, November 21, 2005
To Lose ... Just Quit
It's a simple method, and can't fail. All we need to do is quit the fight ... in Iraq, in Afghanistan, anywhere our troops are engaged ... in order to Lose the GWOT.
You see, it simply isn't true that we will be safe here in the US if we pull out of Iraq before the country is secure. If we leave now, with the job half done, and other Americans will lose their lives. We may not see another attack like 9/11 immediately - but it WILL happen, if we give up now.
And why would we quit when we're ahead???
Here's a few facts to ponder :
Here's an idea -- let's finish the fight, and leave Iraq as a Democratic and stable state in the Middle East.
Don't be a Useful Idiot
When I grow up, I want to write like my friend Kat of The Middle Ground. She takes laser aim today at the tools used by successful terrorist groups.
Terrorism Inc: How To Be A Successful Terrorist
Read the whole thing here. Then decide whether you want to fight the terrorists, or give in to them ... and act accordingly.
Posted by Barb at 12:01 PM |
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Wrap up and follow up - New Links!
Added 11/19
During the fight, a round from a rocket-propelled grenade struck his humvee and changed the Marine's life forever.
As I finished the article, I realized two things : Sgt. Wright is from Seattle, Washington -and- he has just been presented with the gift of a fine custom speed boat by a San Diego based company called Ultra Boats.
Jason Ewing of Ultra Boats shows Marine Sgt. James 'Eddie' Wright, who lost both hands in a combat-related explosion while serving in Iraq last year, the interior of Wright's new 28-foot, custom-made powerboat. The vessel is specially outfitted so that Wright can drive the boat using his prosthetic arms, before the boat was put in the water at Camp Pendleton on Thursday. The boat was given to Wright as part of a reality television show called 'Rock the Boat.'
HAYNE PALMOUR IV Staff Photographer
Check out some of the details of Sgt. Wright's new boat :
The 425-horsepower boat was custom-airbrushed with scuba-fitted skeletons ---- a stylized Marine reconnaissance team ---- swimming through blue flames with Wright at the lead ---- his new prosthetic arms with hooks in full stroke.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
If there are any Southern California based folks reading this - please tell your friends and neighbors to consider a visit to Ultra Custom Boats for their next boat purchase. This is the kind of military supporting business we need to encourage!!
Well done, John and Leah West -- Good on You!
The Ultra Boats site notes that the Outdoor Life Network (OLN TV) runs a series called Rock the Boat. An episode showing the custom design of this special boat will air again on Sunday night, Nov. 20th, at 7pm Pacific time. Sounds like a LOT more fun than 60 minutes to me !! Check your local listings, just be case.
Posted by Barb at 9:05 AM |
Labels: Marines, Military Support
Friday, November 18, 2005
Looking around the Milblogs
If you read nothing else today ... go check out the Punishers' Ball report at Michael Yon's! It's a good read, and the pictures of the men of the Deuce Four are wonderful!
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Blog life meets real life
I added another notch to my sidebar. Down in that little section reserved for the bloggers I've actually met in person, there is a new entry. This past Monday night, I met up with Bad Cat Robot of Snark Patrol and Chief(ret) Bill of Castle Argghhh!!
Posted by Barb at 9:44 PM |
Friday, November 11, 2005
Thank You, Veterans!
Today is Veterans' Day ... Many thanks to the military veterans, and to those currently serving. You are all heroes, and it's because of your that America is the greatest nation on the planet!
If you do NOTHING else today, thank a veteran for his/her service. Find as many as you can to thank, and let them know how much you appreciate their contribution. Without them we wouldn't be free to Vote, to speak openly, and to live in prosperity.
It's still true, and I plan to continue to do what I can to show my appreciation. Not just today, because there are good things to be done every day. But Especially today, let them know you care, please.
Last year I had the absolute best, and absolute worst, response possible from a co-worker when I thanked him for his Navy service. He looked up at me and said "Thank you. No one ever thanked me before!". The best part was how happy he was to be thanked, and how good it made me feel. But it was sad, too - that he had been out of uniform for 13+ years, and no one had thanked him on Veterans Day.
Originally celebrated as armistice Day, there are celebrations in many countries on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour. JMH reminded me that in Canada, it is called Remembrance Day -- and you can visit this site to find links to a slew of great places.
Visit your favorite Milblogs and pay your respects today! Here's a small sampling :
John, Bill & Dusty
Sgt B
MSG Keith
Sgt Hook
Mudville Gazette / Milblogs
Capt B
Major K (and his new son!)
One Big Dog
... adding some ladies for balance ...
Army Girl
... or check the sidebar at any of the above!
Posted by Barb at 8:10 AM |
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Happy 230th Birthday, Marines!
As a proud member of the Marine blog challenge team, under the inspired leadership of Holly Aho, I want to wish all active and former Marines Happy Birthday!
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.
This is a fine idea, and the timing is wonderful with Veteran's Day on Friday. Keep in mind that not all heroes get their faces printed on a stamp, though. Capt B reminds us about the nature of the Real American Hero ...
The title of veteran is a term of great respect due to the patriotism, willingness to serve, and dedication to a larger cause. As the holiday approaches if nothing else Americans should remember the vets who made this country what it is today. I stand in front of a unit's memorial board here in Iraq. A wall of warriors killed in action. I stare at the many fallen Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen, many so young and full of life, determined and brave. I stare at the memorial walls and a silent crowded wall stares back at me holding me accountable to complete the job we were sent here to do. They gave their all. It's a shame we cant display all of the pictures from all of the battles that show these brave men so people could see who was number 7 and who was number 2001. So people can feel the eyes of men and women looking at them and telling them so much without saying a word.
There's more - go read it, and leave the Captain encouraging words while you're at it. He knows why he's in Iraq, let him know you understand.
Posted by Barb at 12:01 AM |
Labels: Marines, Military Support
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Fusileers Alert!
Attention on the net ...
Publicity Stunt
Check your local listings - set your recorder if you will be at work ... Spread the word ... send emails to your friends and family ... Cross-post and trackback to as many sites as you can think of.
Why are you still here?? GO!
OpOrders for Civilians
I meant to link from the post below to the orders for the 1stCivDiv at The Word Unheard. Go there and try to follow his orders, it's instructive!
Monday, November 07, 2005
Project Valour-IT Update
When I checked the totals in the blog competition this evening, I was ecstatic to see that the Navy ship was floundering!! Of course, it would have made me even Happier to say that the Marine team was the leader ... but the Army team has that honor (right now), while the Air Force team is struggling to gain altitude.
That's over $44K - which is more than a third of the total amount to complete Phase 2, and more than twice the original goal for this competition!
But ... The Army has the lead.
So Listen Up out there ... The Marine team has done fine work, in spite of the technical difficulties experienced by our fearless leader (Holly's blog is down right now, partly due to traffic!). But let's make a push to the top!
There are other things you can do ... Print off the flyers and hang them, so others can see their chance to help. Tell your friends and family, even small donations are powerful!
If you know people who need a visual, try this one :
Thanks to Cox and Forkum for creating the perfect image to keep us focused.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Just say NO to Bell Bottoms!
The lead gained by Navy last night was maintained today, darn it! Sgt Hook said it right, though ... We're still not wearing the damned bell bottoms!
Come ON, Marine supporters ... you're not going to let Navy beat us, are you??!
Seriously - if you don't already know why this project is a worthy cause, take a moment to read some of these examples from Capt Z (who is currently undergoing more treatment), or Sgt B, or Sgt Hook, or Holly Aho.
* * * Special Offer * * *
I'll even give you an extra reason to give. I'll give the first person who donates $100 to the Marine Team (using the donate button at the right) a special gift.
A Fighting Aces T-Shirt. These shirts were sold by Chuck's unit to help fund a Welcome Home party, and are not available any longer. However - I bought two of them, and I will send you one if you donate $100 or more on Saturday, the 5th. Leave me a comment so I know who you are, and I'll email you!
Gun Pr0n!
For a quick change from the Blog Challenge, head over to Random Nuclear Strikes, where I posted a little Gun pron. That's what Analog Kid gets for letting me have the keys to the blog for a few days!!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Flex that blogging muscle!
The Fearless Leader of our rapidly-growing (check out my sidebar!!) Marine Team is quite the artist. Check out the Comic of the Day at Holly Aho's place! (note : you may need to scroll down a bit)
I can't believe that Army and Navy are separated by $.01, and the total is a great stride towards the Blog Challenge goal!
Keep spreading the word -- we want to blow past that goal. Remember that the completion of the first phase totals about $110,000 - Don't Stop!
Where's your Marine Spirit?
I found this picture at One Marine's View. This young Marine fought alongside his brothers, and saw things I am sure I can't imagine. He lost his hand, and may have lost fellow Marines as well.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Blogger Challenge - Join the Team
The blogger competition for Project Valour-IT is launching today - and I'm joining the Marine team of Soldiers' Angel Holly Aho.


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Victoria Black is a Adult Model from Czech Republic. She was born on May 13, 1986. She is listed on FreeOnes since 2013 and is currently ranked 10108th place. She currently has 4 gallery links in her own FreeOnes section.
Our records show that Victoria Black is currently active which means she is still making movies, doing live shows and/or doing photo shoots.
Currently we have only a few links of Victoria Black. You can help us out by submitting more photos and videos links to Victoria Black galleries.
To submit new links please click here
No need to register!

subset: commoncrawl


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Anywho.. :) In my attempt to embrace the snow and icy conditions I have been layering and wrapping up warm to take 'trecherous' and unnecessary walks outside! Shocking I know.. I feel totally rebellious.......... :P
Here are a few of the things that have got me through this pretty nippy weather..
My hat has been my staple accessory this year. I wear it all the time and love how it keeps the rest of my body a little warmer too. My hate is not the one shown above but a cream chunky oversized cable knit beanie that I bought from h&m a couple of months ago. It goes with every ouitfit and is quite possibly my favourite hat of all that I own! :)
I bought a hoody from new look mens section last year with fur on the inside and love the feeling of it being oversized, snuggly and warm! It may need replacing soon and I have my eye on this Jacamo one.. but doubt I will get my hands on it due to the price tag
I live in these dorothy perkins jumpers! I pair them with leggings, skinny jeans, ug boots, cowboy boots or a pair of my many other boots.. :) They're pretty chunky and keep me nice and snug! :) love them!
Knee high socks &leg warmers under my boots! They're warm & they look great partially showing out of the top of my boots.
Ug boots have been keeping my toesies warm this winter! Mine arn't real ofcourse.. I have the river island rip off :)
A nice big chunky scarf! I'm ashamed to say that I ventured into primark this winter hunting for a chunky cheap scarf. I found a mink coloured one and where it most days as it seems to work with most of the things I wear.. plus it's reeeeally warm! :)
Not a huge fan of wearing gloves mainly because I find it impossible to text from my tocco or use my ipod. But with temparatures like -4 i'm so glad a bought these gloves from accessorize! Pretty and practical :):)
So that's it for my winter necessities.. What are your winter warmer essentials right now?


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You are hereHome › Commentary › Controlling health care costs ›
Controlling health care costs
By Richard P. Holm, MD
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called the ACA or Obamacare, could have been named the "Access and Cost Act." It was successful in "protecting patients" by guaranteeing access. . . making insurance available for more than 20 million people who were not able to get insurance prior to the ACA. The second part of the name, "affordable care," referring to cost, has not been as successful, however.
Politicians have said, and this is correct, "Since the ACA was implemented, increases in health spending have slowed." Personally, I do not find this statement reassuring, when looking at the enormous cost of health care in the United States. We spend $3.2 trillion per year for health care, which is twice the average cost per person of the next ten most expensive countries and more than five times the outrageous $600 billion we spend per year on the defense budget.
To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition https://www.etypeservices.com/Timber%20Lake%20TopicID443/
- Log in to post comments


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Happy early Record Store Day! On this episode, Alan and Matt discuss some of the RSD releases they've seen in their 2017 shipment, as well as some notable releases from the past (with a nod to Craig Manning's wonderful retrospective).
The featured beer is a New Glarus Raspberry Tart Framboise Ale.


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As described at the bottom of the NGA-East home page, PEER has created seven technical Working Groups (WGs) to address critical technical issues. Each of the WG which is focused on a specific technical area. Some research tasks are performed directly by the WG members while other tasks are performed by other researchers outside the WG.
Working Groups Website – for NGA-East Researchers
To facilitate an interactive research process, a password protected website has been created to allow the researchers to share their data and findings amongst the members of the working group.
NGA East researchers only: Visit the NGA-East Working Groups site.
Working Groups Description
Database WG: develop an exhaustive database of recorded motions in CENA and other Stable Continental Regions (SCRs), with the associated metadata. The database will be used by most WGs and by the TI team.
Path/Source WG: develop regionalized models for correlated sets of source (stress-drop) and path parameters (attenuation and quality factor, Q).
Simulations WG: coordinate the validation and forward modeling of ground motion simulation, considering different methods for finite fault and point source simulations. Because simulations are important to achieving the project goals, the TI team assumes a very active role in the tasks related to the Simulations WG. The Simulations WG relies on input from the Database, Path/Source, and Geotechnical WGs.
Geotechnical WG: develop a simplified model to remove site effects at the recording stations, define the reference rock shear wave velocity and kappa values, and the range of conditions to which they apply. The Geotechnical WG is also tasked to develop a site effects model for NGA-East which will have many applications (this task is outside of the SSHAC Level 3 framework).
Sigma WG: develop a suite of candidate standard deviation models for the project. This WG uses both recorded data and numerical simulations from CENA and Western U.S. (WUS) to develop the models. The Sigma WG tasks are integrated through both the NGA-East and the NGA-West2 projects.
Vertical Motions WG: develop models for V/H ratios to be applied to the horizontal ground motion models. This task is not part of the SSHAC Level 3 process, and is coordinated by PEER in conjunction with the NGA-West2 project.
GMPE Developers WG: develop candidate GMPEs for CENA. The members for this WG will be selected by an open request for proposals (RFP). This WG will work in close collaboration with the TI team who will evaluate the candidate GMPEs developed by the group and incorporate the selected models into the ground motion logic tree.


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Add to the list of President George W. Bush's failures his inability to straighten out what he regarded as one of the top national security needs, a more effective U.S. intelligence community.
Despite upping the U.S. intelligence budget to $45 billion from about $30 billion – and signing legislation in 2005 meant to end "turf" battles – Bush left behind an intelligence community suffering from poor communications among agencies and a flawed management structure, according to an inspector general's report finished in November and released last week.
Instead of creating a streamlined and efficient intelligence community, the changes that Bush oversaw appear simply to have added a new layer of bureaucracy – the Director of National Intelligence – on top of the earlier system whose shortcomings contributed to intelligence failures around the 9/11 attacks and the bogus assessments on Iraq's WMD stockpiles.
The findings of the DNI's inspector general also undercut former Vice President Dick Cheney's assertions that the Bush administration made great strides in keeping the country safe from terrorist attacks and that President Barack Obama's reversal of some key policies has put the nation at risk.
In a March 15 interview with CNN's John King, Cheney said Obama had made the country less safe by moving to close the Guantanamo prison, shuttering CIA "black sites" where detainees were interrogated, limiting CIA interrogators to tactics from the Army Field Manual, defining waterboarding as torture, suspending the military commissions, and junking the "war on terror" concept.
"I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoyed of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since 9/11," Cheney said. "President Obama campaigned against it all across the country. And now he is making some choices that, in my mind, will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack."
Cheney also criticized Obama for shifting back to the law-enforcement paradigm from the framework of waging a global "war," which President Bush embraced after 9/11.
"I think part of the difficulty here as I look at what the Obama administration is doing, we made a decision after 9/11 that I think was crucial. We said this is a war. It's not a law-enforcement problem. Up until 9/11, it was treated as a law-enforcement problem. ...
"Once you go into a wartime situation and it's a strategic threat, then you use all of your assets to go after the enemy. You go after the state sponsors of terror, places where they've got sanctuary. You use your intelligence resources, your military resources, your financial resources, everything you can in order to shut down that terrorist threat against you.
"When you go back to the law-enforcement mode, which I sense is what they're doing, closing Guantanamo and so forth, that they are very much giving up that center of attention and focus that's required, and that concept of military threat that is essential if you're going to successfully defend the nation against further attacks."
Cheney also insisted that there exists a classified report listing all the planned terrorist attacks that were supposedly thwarted by extracting information from al-Qaeda and other "war on terror" suspects through "enhanced interrogation techniques" and from other intelligence gathering.
"John, I've seen a report that was written based upon the intelligence that we collected then that itemizes the specific attacks that were stopped by virtue of what we learned through those programs." Cheney said. "It's still classified. I can't give you the details of it without violating classification, but I can say there were a great many of them."
However, the November 2008 inspector general's report to the Director of National Intelligence indicates that while the Bush-Cheney administration pursued its aggressive tactics – torturing suspects, putting warrantless wiretaps on Americans, invading Iraq and creating an imperial presidency – it was ignoring the nuts and bolts of improving U.S. intelligence.
For instance, the IG report found that computer systems supposedly connecting the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies remain "largely disconnected and incompatible." The "turf" battles also continue, with "few, if any, consequences for failure to collaborate," the report said.
The IG also concluded that the DNI spends too much time briefing the President rather than managing the intelligence bureaucracy – and that officials inside the DNI still grapple with what their role is supposed to be.
Also implicit in the report is vindication for critics of the 9/11 Commission who questioned whether the creation of the new DNI post – as the commission recommended – would do much to address the politicization of the U.S. intelligence community, which lost its old commitment to objective analysis under the ideological and political pressures of the 1980s and 1990s.
In earlier days, the U.S. intelligence ethos was to provide objective information to the policymakers with "the bark on." However, during Ronald Reagan's presidency – and especially under the reign of CIA Director Bill Casey and his deputy Robert Gates – that traditional ethos was broken down, replaced by a more compliant, finger-to-the-wind style of analysis.
For instance, when the Reagan administration wanted to justify major increases in military spending in the 1980s, Casey and Gates purged the CIA's Moscow specialists who were detecting dramatic signs of Soviet decline and promoted more malleable analysts who were willing to issue alarmist projections about Soviet capabilities and intent.
The politicization worked so well that the CIA's Soviet division largely "missed" the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. [For details, see Robert Parry's Secrecy & Privilege.]
In 1993, when President Bill Clinton ignored this cultural change at the CIA – indeed he deepened it by treating the CIA directorship as something of a patronage plum to be awarded to Democratic neoconservatives who wanted the job for their favorite James Woolsey – the Casey-Gates politicization became institutionalized.
So, it was not surprising that when Clinton left office in 2001, George W. Bush inherited as CIA director George Tenet, a back-slapping former congressional aide who had risen through the ranks on Capitol Hill by serving the needs of his political mentors.
Though Tenet did press on President Bush the growing threat from al-Qaeda – especially in the President's Daily Brief entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US" – the CIA director also was careful not to wear out his welcome by confronting Bush too directly.
After failing to thwart the 9/11 attacks, Tenet was so thankful to Bush for not firing him that Tenet helpfully promoted false and dubious intelligence to justify Bush's desire to invade Iraq, famously telling Bush that the Iraq-WMD case was a "slam dunk."
Despite these two intelligence disasters, the bipartisan 9/11 Commission operated within its own narrow concept of what was politically acceptable, meaning that it couldn't very easily decry the politicization that Ronald Reagan molded and Bill Clinton hardened.
Instead, the commission recommended putting a new bureaucratic box on top of the old flow chart. After all, addressing an institutional culture – in this case, politicization – is much tougher. It would have required rehabilitating many old CIA hands who refused to go with the flow and removing the younger generation which had learned how to play ball.
So, the post of DNI was born, essentially replacing the CIA director as the head of the U.S. intelligence community. But the quality of U.S. intelligence will improve only if analysts are committed to telling the truth rather than saying what politicians want to hear.
And the first major attempt by President Obama's DNI, Dennis Blair, to select a top analyst who didn't fear speaking truth to power ended up with that choice, former U.S. Ambassador Charles "Chas" Freeman, effectively being blackballed by the Israel Lobby and its many supporters in the Washington press corps and on Capitol Hill.
However, as the inspector general's report makes clear, the U.S. intelligence community needs more than just a bureaucratic reshuffling – or reliance on dubious Bush-Cheney methods – to protect the nation. There must be a serious commitment to doing the job right.
Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush, was written with two of his sons, Sam and Nat, and can be ordered at neckdeepbook.com. His two previous books, Secrecy & Privilege: The Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq and Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth' are also available there. Or go to Amazon.com.
This article is republished in the Baltimore Chronicle with permission of the author.
Republication or redistribution of Baltimore Chronicle content is expressly prohibited without their prior written consent.
Baltimore News Network, Inc., sponsor of this web site, is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed in stories posted on this web site are the authors' own.
This story was published on April 7, 2009.


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A: Mom, what is your problem?
Me: What's the matter, A?
A: Take me to the library. I want Max and Ruby book.
Me: Hold on, Pudding. We will go in a bit, ok?
A: (2 seconds later) Mom, come away from the computer. Its your last warning.
Me: Puttu, you can't talk to mommy like that.
A: Yes Mommy. I will put you in the the Dirty Water(Storm Drain) and you will stay there until you are 60-yrs old.
Me:(At loss for words..wondering where this is all coming from) We will go after you are done with your snack. Okay, pudding?
***An hour later..he has forgotten the trip to Library. He lifts his T-shirt and touches his belly-button while I am chilling with a cookbook) ***
A: Mommy, what is this?
Me: Its a belly-button, Pudding
A: I want to hold that belly-button.
Me: You may touch it, feel it but you can't hold it A.
A: (After some thought) I want 2 belly-button, 3 belly-button, 4 belly-button
Me: You can't have that many, Pudding. Everyone has "just one". Be happy with the one you have, okay?
A: (After some thought) I want to go buy belly-buttons in the shop. Mommy, lets go to Stop & Shop.
Me: LoL, LoL, LoL. They don't sell belly-buttons in stores. Okay? But they sure sell veggies. Go get your coat, A. We will go get some peppers for your num-num.
*** Off we go! The End ***
A few other Hilarious quotes of my little boy:
- Daddy is a Mad Dog, I am a happy puppy (My favorite)
- Mommy, clean this poo-poo-ness (After a potty session, My least favorite, LoL)
- Timeout for you Mommy. That's your patience (He can't say "punishment" yet)
- Mommy, can you be Princess Fiona?? (He says this after he picks out a nice outfit for me. The kid knows only one Princess and that's from Shrek movie. The kid doesn't grasp the concept that she is also an Ogre Fiona)
And hey folks, Happy Earth Day 2011. To the Christians around the world, Have a reflective Good Friday! To my sweet loving Mom, Happy Birthday!
- 18 Mini Idlis
- 1 Small Yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Red, Yellow and Orange Peppers
- 1/8 Cup Green Peas
- 1 Stalk Curry Leaves
- 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
- 1/8 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1-1/2 Tbsp Oil
- Salt as needed
- Make Idlis from the Idli batter.
- In a skillet, heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. Once they start sputtering, add the chopped onion and the chopped peppers. Saute until the onions are browned and the peppers are shrunk.
- Add the green peas, curry leaves, turmeric powder, chili powder and salt and give a good stir.
- Add the steamed "mini idlis" to the pan.
- Toss about until they are all mixed.
- Move it to the plate and get ready to dig in.
Makes 2 Servings.
Check out the Blogging Marathoners doing (Group 3) BM#4 along with me-
Diabetes Diet/Management: Kamalika, Smitha, Suma
Kid Friendly Recipes: Anusha, Cool Lassi(e)
Seven Days of Soup: Priya Suresh
Seven Days of Indian Bread: Jayasree, Pavani
Seven Days of Cakes: Priya Vasu
Seven Days of Preserves: Gayathri Kumar, Vaishali
30 Minutes Meals: Priya Mahadevan, Sriv


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Pot Sizes
Below is a guide to the pot sizes in which we supply our plants. The exact size of the plants will vary throughout the growing season, so sometimes we supply plants in larger pots at no extra charge where the stated size is not available. Where we have plants in smaller pots than advertised we will usually put an extra plant or two in your parcel.
To avoid excessive carriage charges we sometimes have to cut plants back so we can fit them in the box and secure them well. This will have no ill effect on the plants which will start to grow away again once planted.
Unless otherwise indicated our plants are supplied in the following sizes according to category (Dimensions refer to either the pot diameter (cm) or volume (litre);


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Tagged: Self-Confidence
Born This Way
Since creating CharitableConnections, I realized that there are far more charities and causes out there to fight for then imagined.
Yes, I must admit that I watch Glee, but as a young professional in my mid-twenties, it brings attention to current issues that might not be in the forefront of my mind at this point in my life. Most recently, I watched the episode On My Way which deals with issues like bullying and teen suicide. This is definitely a cause worth fighting for.
Just like social media can create awareness to fight injustice and reach more people than ever, as seen with the video about Invisible Children, the same awareness, gossip and hurtful words can spread faster than ever. The bullying becomes easier than saying something to someone's face. It's as easy as clicking on someone's name, typing words and clicking send. The anonymity of it increases with each website. There's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Because you don't have to directly connect yourself with a name or profile you can be completely anonymous and write whatever you want about whoever you want. There is almost no responsibility for what one says to or about someone else.
Lady Gaga created the Born This Way Foundation with her mother to empower youth and inspire bravery. Just like they say at the BTWF, we should be celebrating individuality. Our nation is a melting pot, built on the idea of being free from oppression for wanting to be different. And you know what?! It's not going away. You can't run from difference. It's time EVERYONE starts to learn tolerance and acceptance.
I challenge you to increase your awareness of current issues that you might not be facing yourself, but our young people face every day of their life. They were born this way, baby and so were you!
If you want to help support the Born This Way Foundation, check out their website, or follow them on Twitter @BTWFoundation. Donations will go towards empowering young people and addressing issues like mentoring, anti-bullying, and self-confidence.
If you want to donate your time to help local youth, check out Big Brothers Big Sisters.


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Melt Away At MacDonald Hotel And Spa
There's nothing quite like indulging ones self in some spa pampering, last Thursday I decided to switch off my phone and dissolve away at the Macdonald Hotel And Spa courtesy of the lovely Spa Company PR.
The Vital- Health and wellbeing club delivers an assortment of first-rate treatments and luxury sanctuary to unwind and escape the stressful deeds of city life. The hotel and spa is situated next to Piccadilly train station and a stone throw away from the main city center shopping areas, making it the ideal location for a spot of Christmas shopping before or after a day of indulging.
The Spa
The moment I had ambled into the spa the noise from the hectic city had evaporated and had all been replaced with a much peaceful tranquil atmosphere and soothing décor, the aroma of the scented candles strokes my senses as I walked into the main reception area which is positioned on the second floor.
There's a great selection of wet and dry facilities from thermal suites with rock saunas, salt infusion therapies with salt mist, cold rooms, aroma steam rooms and infra-red saunas, so I practically spoilt for choice.
The Treatments
I had decided to try out a duo treatment and picked the face and body sensation. After brief consultation from one of the specialist therapist. I had informed her I have been experiencing a lot of dryness to my face due to the harsh Manchester weather conditions this winter, my therapist Abbey recommended an re-hydrating and anti-ageing combined treatment.
She started off with a deep cleanse using a balancing lime blossom based cleaner, followed by a balancing (heavenly scented) lavender toner and papaya enzyme peel. She had used pro collagen advanced eye treatment on my eye area to reduce the appearance of the dark lines around my eye area. This was followed with the elemis hydra balance day cream.
She finished my experience off with a thermal –soothing massage; to relieve stress tension and ease an aching muscle which is said induced a deep level of relaxation and to calm the mind, concentrating on the shoulder area and lower back with hot rocks.
I'm not sure if the facial removed a few years away with the anti ageing treatment but my skin unquestionably felt more hydrated and amazingly soft to the touch. The vital-heath and wellbeing spa definitely left me feeling peaceful and relax and priced at only £65 for 55mins I will certainly be paying the venue another visit.
– All spa experiences include bathrobe and towel, unlimited use of the Spa area, including relaxation suite, and all the other facilities that the spa has to offer.
For a list of Macdonald Hotel Spa Packages click HERE.
Book your Spa treatment online HERE
Other treatments on offer and special deals click HERE
London Road,
Tel. 0161 272 3200
International Tel. +441612 723200@MacdonaldHotels


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Jane Campion is known for many things: being the only woman to ever take home the Palme d'Or at Cannes; winning an Oscar for screenwriting for The Piano; and creating the kinds of complex female roles that actresses don't come across very often.
She did just that for Elisabeth Moss, who stars in Top of the Lake as Detective Robin Griffin. The second season, subtitled China Girl, ended with back-to-back episodes that solved the second season's big mystery while still leaving several tantalizing loose threads.
In the meantime, Campion has also gained a reputation for something else: creating some seriously screwed-up male characters. With few exceptions, the men who populate the Sydney-set second season of Top of the Lake are disgusting brutes. This trend would be less conspicuous if most television and movies weren't written by men about male heroes (and, occasionally, the women who love them). But China Girl is really about female relationships, especially mothers and daughters. And the men? Well, let's review.
The show's most obvious villain is Puss (David Dencik) whose nickname isn't the grossest thing about him. He's also a 40-something faux-intellectual who lives in a brothel, dates a 17-year-old and claims -- to his girlfriend's horrified mother, no less -- that the "destiny of man is to enslave women."
One of the only reliably kind men from last season, Robin's love interest Johnno (Thomas M. Wright), reappears in China Girl (played now by Mark Leonard Winter), only to prove that he's not the person we thought he was.
Then there's Robin's superior Stally (Christiaan Van Vuuren) who relentlessly hits on her with all the appeal of a used-car salesman, and his partner (Adam Zwar), who helpfully explains that Stally simply "doesn't know a real no from a yes-no." Then, in what amounts to chivalry on the show, he offers Robin his card and tells her to call him should Stally come over to her apartment uninvited again.
Robin's boss Adrian (Clayton Jacobson) seems like a nice enough guy until he questions Robin's account of her sexual assault and decides to have a baby with his girlfriend -- even though he's married to another woman. And there's the whole crew of young dweebs who hang out at a cafe, taking advantage of the free WiFi while ordering water so they can work on a website that rates prostitutes at nearby brothels.
In an interview with the Ringer, Campion assured the reporter that the vile crew of techie nerds wasn't nearly as far-fetched as they may have seemed to American viewers.
"Those disgusting dudes, they were researched," she said. "Brothels are legal in Australia, and so these guys have created sites where they review them, in graphic detail. It's beyond the imagination, how dehumanizing. It's disgusting and hilarious to me. They want to make sure they and their buddies get their 80 bucks worth, or whatever."
In other words, the misogyny on Top of the Lake is never about microaggressions. It's overt and unmistakable.
To be fair, the female characters are hardly pristine, which is why they're so appealing to the women who play them. Robin is brittle and standoffish, while her new partner Miranda (Gwendoline Christie) is an emotional powder keg. The daughter who Robin gave up for adoption (played by Campion's real-life daughter Alice Englert) is an entitled brat and her adoptive mother (Nicole Kidman) is domineering and possessive, even of the husband she left for another woman.
Speaking of that husband -- Pyke (Ewen Leslie) -- he's one of the good ones (unless, perhaps, there's another season). True, he's a complete pushover who isn't great under pressure, but at least he's sweet and thoughtful. He brings Mary breakfast in bed for her birthday and he's been looking forward to her school's father-daughter dance for two years.
If he weren't such a well-drawn character, he might appear to be the token nice guy sent to ward off any complaints of misandry. Though, if there are complaints, does it matter? After all, women have been confronted with broad, lame characterizations, brought to the screen by men, for ages. Isn't turnabout fair play?
That's how the stars of the show feel. Neither Moss nor Christie noticed the way men were portrayed until others pointed it out to them, and both laughed it off, according to Vanity Fair. To men, Moss said China Girl was a "taste of your own medicine. How's that?" And Christie said, "That's unlikely, isn't it? We don't normally see that in our TV dramas, do we?"
We certainly don't.


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Friday 11th March 2016
Dear Parents & Guardians,
Yesterday's Theme Day was extremely successful with a wide variety of activities taking place. Theme days are an integral part of our Personal Development Curriculum so this term we focused on Community Awareness, Personal Safety and 'Being the best you can be'. We had many visitors including the Guide Dogs for the blind, 2 Paralympians, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Fire Service and the Police. This takes a lot of organisation from Mrs Stuart-Jones and the Heads of Year so I am delighted the students responded so well to the day.
Next week we are taking part in Sport Relief, as you will see from the attached letter. As outlined, students may come to school dressed as their favourite sporting hero or in their PE kit. Please support this good cause by ensuring that your child's outfit is appropriate for a school day and it is UCC sports kit only, not any PE outfit. The 24 hour Sportathon for 12-00 noon Friday to 12-00 to 12-00noon Saturday should be fun!
Jan Turner
- 09/03/16 Year 9 Profile
- 09/03/16 Year 7 Profile
Highlights for next week
- Year 10 MFL Speaking exams all week
- 16/3/16 Year 11 photos
- 17/3/16 Music Showcase (Year 7,8 & 9) 7pm Drama Studio
- 18/3/16 Sport Relief [24 hour Sportathon]


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Mirrors for Homes
Glass mirrors are an integral aspect of the interior applications' space. Over and above the utility factor, mirrors are a reflection of tastefully done interiors as well. The Saint-Gobain range of mirrors are clearer, brighter, distortion-free and more durable than other mirrors in its class. They are manufactured with lead-free paint, very low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and formaldehyde , making them environmentally friendly.
Glass mirrors capture and reflect light to add perspective & depth. They greatly enhance the interior space with their various designs and create the impression of additional space in a room.
Saint-Gobain Glass offers a variety of interior design mirrors, in different sizes and thicknesses to choose from. Assuring the highest degree of quality, these mirrors have wide-ranging applications.
Extra clear mirror SGG Diamant Mirror has a multitude of uses. It can be used as an interior decorative glass in common areas of public and private buildings like entrance halls, landings, etc. It can be featured in homes across the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, bedroom and living room. SGG Diamant can also add to the ambience in bars, restaurants, hotels, jewellery shops, beauty clinics, nightclubs and theatres and double up as a wall mirror in sports and leisure centers, swimming pools, etc.
Glass Mirror SGG Miralite Evolution is made from one of the clearest mirror glasses in the world. A novel product in the mirrors segment, it is made from toxic-free components that are not just safe for the environment but for the health as well.Constituting a negligible quantity of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), it does not contain copper or phthalate. Well-applicable for both the living and working areas, it can be used as a mirror, wall mirror, bathroom mirror, decorative mirror, designer mirror, and dressing table mirror, vanity mirror, in mirror wardrobes, mirror cabinets, mirror furniture and several other exterior applications.
Related products


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Men have a lot in common with wolves. We mark our territory, strut in front of females, and bristle in the presence of another alpha male. We learn this behavior from older wolves more than happy to train us: coaches, fathers, teachers, older brothers, and eventually our bosses. For a wolf pack to survive and prosper, they must be stronger, smarter, and braver than all other packs, requiring direction, plans, structure, hierarchy, discipline and a leader—the alpha wolf.
Alpha wolves gravitate toward positions in the work world providing the type of control they enjoy. They become the leaders in the military, or managers in business, not the employees.
Read more on the needs of a Christ-centered alpha male – Here.
Excerpt from "The Controlling Husband," by Dr. Ron Welch, PsyD, and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2014. Used by permission.


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Editing product images
Presupuesto £20-250 GBP
Hi, I need product images editing to remove unnecessary background, adjust colours and add to standard backgrounds for use on the website, data sheets and printed literature. I have samples that i can provide but they are too large to upload here. Our website for reference is [url removed, login to view] and i can provide sample product images once i recieve an expression of interest. Ultimately i need to agree a price per image for delivery.
Please make contact for me to send you the sample images for you to present a commercial proposal.
Please include a contact phone number within your email so that we can have a brief discussion on the project as i have found that this is much easier than via email and id like to get this started as quickly as possible.
28 freelancers están ofertando el promedio de £87 para este trabajo
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text: The purpose of this research is to investigate the participation of a brain network which encompasses the frontal pole, precuneus cortex, and angular gyrus in the decoding of symbols (brands) in the brain. In Semiotics, the process of decoding the meaning of a sign, framed by the individual's state of knowledge, is known as Pragmatics, or, better, Pragmaticism (Peirce, 1931). An application to brands and logos.


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Do you stitch "on the go?" (On the commute to and from work, during your lunch break, waiting for the kids, etc.) If so, do you have a specific "travel" project or do you just grab whatever you happen to be working on and take it with you?
I don't think I've ever stitched anywhere else other than in the comforts of my own home, mainly my room. Seldom do I take my stitching anywhere else unless I'm going for a trip or it's a RR or exchange piece that I need to post. Thus, I don't have a specific "travel" project. I just bring whatever I'm working on at the moment for my trip.
Never have I stitched in the public not because I'm embarrassed to be seen stitching but rather it's more of a hassle for me, considering the projects I tend to do are of the more complicated type. As I'm not working at the moment, there's no lunch breaks for me. Also, I don't drive and since I don't have kids, there's no "waiting time" for me. Stitching in the car while somebody drives is no go for me either for I'd end up being car sick.
I really have to salute those who stitch while commuting for cross stitching is not like knitting or crocheting where one just work mindlessly without having to consult a chart constantly. Now, if I tried to do that while taking public transport, seeing as how clumsy I am, my chart would keep slipping off my knee or I would poke someone with the needle or something. The disastrous possiblilities are endless.


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Cynthia Spencer and Cransley hospice patients 'will suffer' from cuts
NHS cuts proposed at two Northamptonshire hospices will lead to patients and families "suffering", the Labour party has warned.
The service plans to cut funding at Kettering's Cransley and Northampton's Cynthia Spencer hospices to save money.
John McGhee, leader of the Labour group at the county council, said cutbacks "will affect the quality of services".
The NHS said it had to make savings, but had withdrawn its initial figure of £2m which will be discussed further.
A Nene Clinical Commissioning Group (NCCG) spokeswoman said it planned to meet Labour councillors on Thursday to try and answer their concerns.
Mr McGhee said: "It would seem from the clinical commissioning group's latest statement that once again the hard working people of Northamptonshire are being left to pick up the tab after cutbacks.
"There is no doubt in my mind that these cuts will affect the quality of the services being provided. Ultimately, patients and their families will suffer."
'Enhanced service'
An NCCG statement said: "In the original delivery plan a potential reduction in £2m of funding was mentioned.
"Following the ongoing engagement and feedback with hospice trustees, the original figures stated have been withdrawn.
"We continue to discuss what the alternative position should be, but are considering an enhanced service not a reduced one."
The NCCG said it hoped to fill any cutback in funding with an increase in charitable fundraising and by making changes to its services that reduce demand on its core funds.
It currently contributes 70% (£3.1m) towards the running costs of the hospices, with charitable trusts putting in 30%, which it says is out of proportion with the rest of the country.
Both hospices provide care for people whose illnesses are no longer curable, including many cancer patients.


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Iris ~ Goddess of the rainbow, as well as a messenger in Greek mythology
These hooded dresses are reversible, and cinch at the back for a custom fit. The sides rouche up or down so that the piece can be worn as a longer dress or as a tunic over leggings.
All of our pieces are proudly made in the Southern California! We LOVE supporting the local community, creating jobs in America, and keeping our carbon footprint in check.
Size Information ~ See our Size Chart for more info.
The Iris is adjustable around the back and fit every woman differently. Size has to do with both waist width, and distance between hip and neck, and we've tried to capture that on a size chart. If you feel you are between two sizes, know that the smaller size will be tighter and shorter vs. larger dress will give you more length


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Mack Clifton is a Democrat Write-In candidate for Baltimore City Mayor
(Additional reporting by Christian Bielski)
Q: Background info
I grew up in the Central Ward of Newark, New Jersey. My family moved a great deal when I was younger. I've been in Baltimore for ten years and eight months, mostly in the northwest part of the city near Reisterstown Plaza Mall. I currently work for the City of Baltimore as a PC (personal computer) support technician, and I have been a City employee for almost eight years.
Q: Do you think there are 'Two Baltimore's'? Why or why not? If so, how would you try to reconcile them?
I believe that there is one Baltimore with various aspects, whether they are good, bad, or indifferent. I would not say that there are two Baltimores. Every citizen in this City is one small part of a greater whole, and we need each other in order to survive.
Reconciliation involves compromise and a willingness to meet somewhere in the middle. I am a middle-aged person, and I am willing to be a go-between and a bridge between anyone of any age, ethnic group, gender, or other identifying characteristics in order to achieve a common goal, primarily if that goal involves being successful, productive, and peaceful.
Q: Were you for or against the proposed Red Line? Why or why not?
I am/was for the Red Line. My first reason was/is the creation of much-needed jobs. My second reason was/is convenience and ease of access to different parts of the City from different parts of the region and beyond. The Red Line would have been perfect for part of my plan to end homelessness in Baltimore City, because it would have provided opportunities to the homeless population that are able-bodied and ready and willing to work, as well as provision of jobs for many unemployed and underemployed Baltimoreans, including ex-offenders, recent high school graduates and college students, and others returning to the workforce, for starters.
Q: How would you help improve Baltimore's transportation system?
I would help improve Baltimore's transportation system by adding more vehicles to the bus lines, expanding the bus routes to extend into places where citizens have to walk more than half a mile in order to reach the closest bus stops near their homes, and extend bus operation hours to twenty-four hour coverage, for starters. Adding more vehicles and extending bus operation hours have at least a two-fold benefit…it offers riders more service on one end, and it creates jobs on the other, giving MTA an opportunity to hire more drivers. Another thing it does is creates more ridership, which will increase revenues for the agency.
Q: How often would you like to see City agencies audited? Which department do you think is the worst offender in avoiding audits?
I'd like to see audits done at the very least twice a year, and at the most, every quarter. Having a foreseeable deadline creates a goal for employees to strive for and attain. I believe that it may also increase productivity, as well as enforce accountability and transparency. As a Baltimore City employee, I am convinced that the department that is the worst offender in avoiding audits is the Department of Public Works.
Q: How would you propose to make the Charm City Circulator cost effective? Do you agree with the DOT of Baltimore eliminating the Banner and Green lines?
To make the Charm City Circulator cost effective, I would propose the institution of a rider fare, either comparable to the one charged by MTA or reduced price, for example, twenty-five percent less than what MTA charges for a one-way trip or an all-day pass. Since January 2010, when the service began operations, the CCC has been losing more money than it has been generating. On one hand, eliminating the Banner and Green lines will reduce the expenditures necessary to keep buses on those lines. On the other hand, if those lines are kept in operation, and we begin charging rider fares, loss of income can be recouped, and if more buses are added, ridership could increase as well as revenues. Also, the Charm City Calculator could possibly cover new routes that may be proposed that the MTA may not be able to cover, for example, the areas that I mentioned in the question regarding my proposal to improving Baltimore's transportation system. I believe that if anything is to be eliminated, it should not be done halfway. Either eliminate the entire program, or find a better way for the program to work if it is to be kept in operation, but if no income is generated, or rather, if the income generated from keeping the CCC in operation does not cover its expenses, then it does not do the City of Baltimore any fiduciary favors.
Q: What was going through your mind during the unrest of April 2015?
I found it hard to believe that rioting would ever again rear its ugly head, but history seems to have a way of repeating itself, especially when a group of people has dealt with oppression for such a long time. In this instance, I believe that the youth of the City were the ones that were affected the most, due to several things that occurred that curtailed their growth and development, such as the closing of recreational centers, which helped to give them an outlet for their frustrations, as well as allowed them to interact with their peers and be involved in extracurricular activities.
What was going through my mind was, "You have got to be kidding me!" When I saw the videos of angry citizens throwing baseball-sized rocks at the police, and the police officers throwing them back, it was a wonder that the officers did not open fire, because for all intents and purposes, their lives and safety were being threatened. But their restraint was admirable. The destruction of property made no sense to me. Neither did the looting nor the fires. Lives were changed forever, and Baltimore became famous for no good reason that I could fathom. The other thought that went through my mind was voiced during an interview with Pat Warren of WJZ, two months after I filed my candidacy certificate: "I can't take this anymore. Someone has got to do something about this."
Q: Now that the trials of the Baltimore Six are over, and all have been acquitted, how can Baltimore heal?
The healing process has to take place by choice and mutual understanding. Also, I believe that part of that healing can take place by the individuals that believe that the system is broken and needs desperate repair to become part of the system, with the desire to see that system overhauled for the benefit of everyone involved. True change for the better is possible, but only by acting on it, with everyone who stand to benefit from it working together to achieve it. I believe that by becoming this City's next mayor, that I will be able to inspire all Baltimoreans to work together with me so that we can have a better place to live, work, grow, and play. Baltimore City may have a great deal of businesses operating within its boundaries, small, medium, and great, but I do not intend to treat Baltimore as a business, as one of my opponents said that it is many months ago…I intend to treat the citizens of Baltimore as my family, with love, concern, and compassion.
Q: Do you support the Port Covington TIF? Why or why not? What did you think of BUILD's concerns about the TIF? Do you agree with Councilman Stokes measure to delay the approval of the TIF?
The reason that I do not support the Port Covington TIF is that what it seems to promise to deliver may be at the expense of the City, if I have properly read the information concerning it. In addition to that, there are things that are being proposed for building that are not crucial to the City's financial infrastructure, for example, $139.8 million to go to parks (which may be constructed in the immediate area), $273 million for a new street grid (I fail to understand the need for this, when there are blighted areas in the City that could stand to benefit from such a staggering dollar amount), or $52 million to go towards an internal rail circulator and a pedestrian swing bridge connecting Port Covington to Westport (something else that I fail to understand a need for, other than for convenience and aesthetic purposes). Sagamore also proposed to spend $165 million in state funds for a light rail spur, $362.2 million, which includes $199 million, for modifications to Interstate 95. I am wondering if those modifications would involve an exit from the highway which goes directly into Port Covington and the area proposed. This deal seems to have a benefit on the tail end, when there are more pressing needs that must be addressed at the moment. And I do agree with Councilman Stokes in regard to delaying approving this TIF. The entire thing may sound good in theory, but the application may have long-term negative consequences and does not address immediate concerns that the City now faces.
Q: Light City was a huge success for Baltimore this past year. How would you help cultivate the Arts & Entertainment districts around the city?
I would like to institute community art gardens and/or public areas throughout the City, which will give Baltimoreans an opportunity to display their artistic talents. They would be built and maintained by the residents in the areas where the gardens will reside. Anything from sculptures to paintings made to withstand extreme weather conditions where the artwork will be displayed outside, to secured library cabinets where local authors can allow neighbors to borrow copies of their books and return them when they have finished reading them.
At the present, I am working on putting together an event called the BMore See More Local Artists Event, where Baltimoreans that have artistic talents can come together and network with each other to gain exposure. Any visual, performing, culinary, recording, and literary artist would be welcome not only to participate in the event, but would also have an opportunity to market their craft to the general public.
Q: There is a $15 minimum wage bill coming before the City Council. Do you support it, why or why not? If not, what wage would you support?
I definitely support a $15 minimum wage. What I don't agree with, and which makes no sense whatsoever, is to wait another six years in order to achieve that minimum wage, when it is needed immediately for many working class Baltimoreans that are struggling to make ends meet. Since August of last year, I had been advocating a raise of the minimum wage to $15 an hour, even more so after discovering that in 2007, an investigation conducted by then-Mayor Sheila A. Dixon and the City Council concluded that there was and is a correlation between poverty and crime, and that Article 11, Paragraph 1-2, subsection (b)(1) and (b)(2) clearly states that "Accordingly, it is the declared policy of the Mayor and City Council that such conditions be eliminated as rapidly as practicable without substantially curtailing opportunities for employment or earning power. To that end, legislation is necessary in the public interest in order to end these conditions so inimical to the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Baltimore, to establish minimum wage standards for all employees as herein defined at a level consistent with their health, welfare, and general well-being."
The unfortunate aspect of this is that there has not been a minimum wage standard established that would even come close to being near a level consistent with the health, welfare, and general well-being of the citizens of Baltimore City. This is something that I would like to remedy as soon as humanly possible. Waiting until 2022 will be too late, and I fear that there will be many more death, much more crime, increased homelessness, and overall desperation and despair of the likes that Baltimore has ever seen.
Q: What is the biggest challenge in Baltimore?
The biggest challenge is being able to survive in an economy that does not afford many of the citizens an opportunity to pull themselves out of the rut that they may happen to be in; with crime practically knocking on your door or trying to force itself onto you and convince you to adopt its way of life; dealing with a government that does not seem to have your best interests in mind or at heart and only seeks to deprive you of your dwelling, your belongings, and in some cases, your freedom; long story short, I feel that the biggest challenge is to be a Baltimorean that wants a better way of life, with current prospects of having that way of life looking very, very bleak for many individuals in this city.
Q: What is ONE core issue you will fight for if elected?
Gaining the transparency that many citizens are seeking in regard to their municipal government's operation. People need to know that they can trust the elected officials that they helped to put in their positions, and that their interests and needs are being addressed.
Q: Why should people vote for you?
I believe that people should vote for me because I know what it means to struggle. It's difficult to tell someone how to get through something if you haven't been through anything. I was asked earlier today why I was running for mayor, and the answer I gave was a simple one, because I don't believe in giving boilerplate responses: "Because I love people and I want to see them do better." I would think that that's what any elected official in any office would want, instead of seeing their constituents as a means to an end. No one person in a position of authority or power should rise to said position by stepping on the necks and backs of other people in order to get what they desire. I believe in working side by side with people so that we can all move forward together.
Visit Mack's Official Website
Follow Mack on Twitter


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2 Cloves
2 Green Cardamom
4 Black Peppercorns
1 tbsp Caraway seeds/Shah Zeera
Salt to taste
Method for preparing:
Then remove the cling film and use your hands to shape into form of Egg.
Make sure the egg is completely wrapped and patch any holes.
Repeat same with the remaining eggs.
Meanwhile,In a non-stick pan add oil at medium heat.
Then add Plain Yoghurt,coriander leaves, mint leaves and and mix well If needed add little water leave it for low heat till the thin layer of oil appears on the bottom surface.
Cut Egg into Half and serve with gravy.


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The theme of the workshop was "Software Safety - Where's the Evidence?". This report from Will Glover from the AOS UK office.
The day was divided into 5 sessions, each containing a twenty minute presentation followed by 40 minutes of discussion. The 5 sessions were:
The Role of Uncertainty (Bev Littlewood, City University)
Bev discussed the principles of ASARP (As Safe as Reasonably Practicable) and ACARP (As Confident as Reasonably Practicable). Confidence in safety arguments was a concept discussed by Tim Kelly (University of York) at the recent Assurance Case Forum. Bev's opinion seemed to differ from Tim Kelly's in that he was in favour of explicitly expressing confidence in terms of Bayesian probabilities, whereas Tim was in favour of expressing confidence qualitatively. Tim Kelly did not attend this meeting, however, John McDermid (University of York) made the point that confidence can sometimes be expressed quantitatively, but not always, it depends a lot on the context. For example, expressing assumption doubt probabilistically would be difficult to do formally. In the end it seems to come down to expert judgement at which point the benefits of using probabilities become less clear.
Design and Analysis Evidence (John McDermid, University of York)
This discussion looked at the difference between process based standards such as DO178B, and goal-based standards such as 00-56. The overall conclusions seemed to be that goal-based standards are a good thing, but will usually lead to a process being followed anyway. John made the point that in the case of using Goal-based standards, the process will end up being appropriate to the goal, whereas using a standard such as DO178B, the process is always the same and will hence sometimes be inappropriate. This is especially true given the time it takes to generate new process standards. John commented that DO178C has taken significant time and money to produce but is only a minor revision of DO178B.
Testing Evidence (Lorenzo Strigini, City University)
Lorenzo discussed different types of testing including: Stress testing and in-use testing. There was a lot of discussion on what each type of testing is best for, but no firm conclusions.
Proven in Use Evidence (Mark Machin, Logica)
The most interesting (and terrifying!) thing about this session was Mark's experience with medical IT projects. In the medical domain, safety is not always taken as seriously as other domains. This is partly because when a patient is extremely ill, an unsafe medical system is better than nothing at all. It seems strange to talk about systems needing to be 10-6 or greater in this context. However, in the context of routine checkups, safety of IT systems is very important. Logica has had difficulties dealing with suppliers who weren't able to supply the necessary safety evidence to them, forcing Logica to create this evidence themselves. Also, some of their suppliers patch software on a weekly basis. Logica has had to queue up multiple patches from their suppliers and release at a slower pace, so that they have time to perform quality assurance. Some hospitals use these pieces of software directly, without going through Logica, in which case they are patched on a weekly basis.
Process-Based Evidence (Paul Edwards, Altran-Praxis)
Altran-Praxis is the company that produces Spark ADA. The main discussion point for this session was looking at the difference between process based evidence and product based evidence. The overall conclusion seemed to be that process-based evidence will increase (or reduce!) confidence in product based evidence i.e. product based support for software is meaningless without evidence of those tests being performed in the correct manner.


text: Home / Daily Download / April 2018 / Daily Download – Coastal Village Day 24 Daily Download – Coastal Village Day 24$100.00 Day 24 Quantity Add to cart Categories: April 2018, *Digital Couture Description Reviews (0) Description Welcome to the April 2018 daily download. This month's kit is called Coastal Village by Digital Couture. Each day from April 1 – 25 a new download will be available for 72 hours. Once you have collected all of the pieces, create a layout and post it in our Challenge Thread to earn Love Tokens. Reviews There are no reviews yet. Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. Related products When I Fly $4.99 Add to cart Thankful Heart – papers $3.99 Add to cart Unscripted – Mixed Media Papers $3.99 Add to cart Crushin' – Clean Solid Papers $3.99 Add to cart Customers also bought: View All When I Fly $4.99 Add to cart Girl Talk $4.99 Add to cart Happy Place $5.99 Add to cart Happy Place Messy Things $2.99 Add to cart Us $4.99 Add to cart Rainbow Alphas $4.99 Add to cart


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Well, I got back to sewing today. I ironed and cut the fabric for a project for an online swap. When Eliana asked me what I was making, her eyes started sparkling and asked if it was going to be for her. How could I tell her no?
I added incorrectly, and realized that it was going to be twice as big as it was supposed to. I found this out AFTER I had already started sewing. Luckily, it was easy to cut, and now I am making two at once.
The really sad part? I started off as a math major in college.


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Inshore Saltwater Fishing
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Atlantic Coast Saltwater Fishing
Pier fishing - the pier fishing can differ from a simple tackle to a couple of very intricate rigs. Starters will feel very much at peace and a lot of piers have a family atmosphere as well as lots of people who are eager to help each other for them to learn. Calling beforehand to commercial piers is one means to be ready. In addition, the anglers can check the regional websites for pier fishing tips and reports. Usual items that you should bring may include camera, tackle, rod and reels, pliers, rags, bait, knife, insect repellent, sunblock, snacks, drinks, ice as well as coolers. It is a great idea to generate a list of items required and pack them in advance. You will also want to take into account on how you will convey all of these gears into the pier. Take a look at this
for more information.
Surf fishing - the surf fishing is famous from Maine to Florida and in a couple of areas of the Gulf Coast. Contingent on the region, the anglers may face rocky coasts, huge waves as well as white sandy beaches or cold water with little or no wave actions. Contingent on the season, species targeted and locations,
the anglers
may fish with one or a couple kinds of cut baits, artificial lures or live baits. The surf anglers also make use of long rods as well as conventional or spinning reels and usually carry sand spikes in order to hold the rods and the cooler on wheels known as surg buggy.
Inshore fishing - the inshore fishing is a great option for a lot of anglers. The inshore fishing can be performed from small open boats and in a couple of instances even from kayaks or other small crafts. The inshore fishing differs depending on the location, with anglers utilizing bait, artificial or both methods.
Deep sea fishing - offshore or deep sea fishing is a thrilling sport. Anglers fish for sharks, wahoo, mahi mahi, swordfish, marlin, tuna and other kinds of pelagic species. Contingent on the location and species, the anglers may jig, chum, chunk, troll, fly fish, bottom fish or utilize other methods for these fishes. The
offshore fishing
is at times done from the small boats, but then again, a lot of anglers would prefer to hop on bigger boats that are usually equipped with twin engines. And either way, the dangerous nature of the offshore fishing would demand that the boats are equipped with arsenals for safety gears.