text:
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Roberts and Civil Rights
On Friday last, the federal appeals court in DC, headed by none other than John Roberts gave the administration a blank check as regards the detainees at Guantanamo. At issue was whether the detainees could be tried by military tribunal; two lower federal courts said they could not. As rulings go, this one was a slam dunk—no qualifications, no concessions of any sort to the plaintiff.
Here's the gist of the court's decision (which Roberts did not write; his was a silent assent):
1) The Geneva Conventions do not "create judicially enforceable rights," so detainees cannot go to the courts to complain that the US government is ignoring those conventions. It does not matter that the Convention was ratified by the Senate.
2) In three resolutions dealing with terrorism after the 9/11 attacks, Congress authorized the president "to use all necessary and appropriate force." Therefore, whatever the President decides is the proper course of action toward detainees—in this case, military tribunals—is OK.
3) And, I guess as a corollary of No. 2, it doesn't matter that the tribunals at Guantanamo aren't even following the procedures of military tribunals. (Notably, the defendant is not allowed to be present throughout the whole proceedings—on the grounds that classified information is presented that the defendant cannot hear.) The President can set the procedures of these tribunals in any way he desires.
This ruling grants the Administration what it has wanted all along: confirmation that the President stands above the law. What he says goes. That is what Alberto Gonzales told the Senate in his confirmation hearings for Attorney General. Their basic claim is that, as Commander in Chief, the President has the authority to do anything needful in this undeclared war. And their secondary point is always: we are the forces of righteousness and we are horribly hurt that you don't trust us. Our good intentions are so obvious, as is our fundamental goodness. It's the other side that is evil, remember?
The Administration, from Bush on down, either does not understand what the rule of law means, or does not think that the rule of law applies to bad guys (as identified by them outside of any legal procedure), or they simply hold the law in contempt as contentious and overly intellectual crap that stands in the way of getting done what needs to be done. I suspect it's a combination of all three.
In any case, Donald Rumsfeld announced on Monday that the tribunals that the court ratified on Friday will now go forward. And Rumsfeld made it clear that the administration fully understands that it is acting outside the Geneva Conventions.
"The court's ruling marks an advance in the global struggle against extremists and aids the effort to protect innocent life," he said. "It vindicates the president's determination to treat suspected terrorists humanely but not to grant them the protections of the Geneva Conventions as a matter of right."
Not content to suspend all rights for non-citizen detainees, the Administration argued before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday of this week that it can hold Jose Padilla indefinitely without charging him. As Padilla's lawyer put it to the judges: "I must be the first defense lawyer ever to stand in front of you and plead for my client to be indicted." Padilla, you will recall, is the American citizen arrested in Chicago shortly after 9/11 who has been held without charges as an enemy combatant for over three years now. Two federal judges have already ruled that he cannot be so held, but the Administration has appealed the case.
The Administration has already lost the case of Yaser Esam Hamdi, the other American citizen it attempted to hold without charging. Hamdi was captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan, but the Supreme Court ruled he could not be held as an "enemy combatant." Instead of charging him, the US government handed Hamdi over to the Saudi government. (So even winning his case before the US Supreme Court didn't win Hamdi his freedom. This Administration will ignore or circumvent the Supreme Court along with every other "check" to its desires.) The government clearly didn't have a case against Hamdi that they felt could stand up in court. It's fair to infer that the government also can't have much of a case against Padilla, who they have accused—but not in court—of wanting to explode a "dirty bomb." If they could get a conviction, they wouldn't be resisting charging him with a crime.
In oral arguments for the Padilla case, Judge Michael Luttig (whose name was also on the short list of potential Supreme Court nominees) pressed the idea that, in the war on terror, every place is part of the battlefield. Under that logic, Luttig suggested, it doesn't matter where you are arrested. Anyone can be an "enemy combatant" anywhere. Obviously, this line of reasoning collapses any distinction between capture and arrest, between military and civil law, or between the President as Commander-in-Chief and the President as the chief executive officer in a constitutional government. War is everywhere and everywhen now; we are all soldiers--or traitors--and the President is a full-time Commander-in-Chief. That's the conservative doctrine, as Karl Rove's speech about the difference between conservatives and liberals a few weeks ago made clear.
Expect the Administration to win the Padilla case in the 4th circuit (the most conservative in the country), just as it won the tribunals case in DC. Presumably, both cases are headed to the Supreme Court. So far, and just barely (with obvious reluctance, bobbing and weaving, sending cases back to lower courts for re-examination etc. etc.), the Supreme Court has not given the Administration a blank check. But, given Roberts' acquiescence in last week's decision, he does not figure to be a judicial bulwark against the Bushies' attempt to ignore some of our most basic civil rights. If the Administration wins the Padilla case in the Supreme Court, we will have the first abandonment of the rule of law in relation to an American citizen. (First abandonment in the sense of a court-sanctioned suspension of the law in favor of the President's powers as Commander-in-Chief. Of course, citizens' rights have been violated all the time in the past, but not with a court's approval.)
The one hopeful note in all this legal jostling also reminds us how crucial the Supreme Court is: a June 2004 Supreme Court ruling (6-3, with the terrible trio—you know who they are—in dissent) gave the Guantanamo detainees the right to "use the civilian court system to challenge their imprisonment." Nearly 200 of the 520 detainees have started such proceedings. Of course, none of those cases has made much progress so far. The wheels of justice grind slowly.
Two tangential final comments:
Where did SCOTUS come from? It speaks to me of the on-going militarization of our society, making the Supreme Court sound like the site of some military operation.
And do you think Laura Bush is pissed that she got used by her hubby and his White House operatives as part of their feint toward Clement? They were determined to have their surprise, weren't they?
(15) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink


text:
The MP4 to WMV Converter from Convert Audio Free Helps Users
The Tool Demolishes the Misconception of People that Free Tools Can Not Do Quality Job

A number of people want to create file types they want but without a good tool, they may be finding it difficult to carry out this task. There is good news for these people because Convert Audio Free has come out with a software called the MP4 to WMV Converter . Thanks to this tool, users will not face any issues while converting their MP4 files into WMV format. The efficiency of this tool is so good that those users who want to get their MP4 videos converted into WMV format will ignore the app to their peril.

Not only that, users can create files of very high quality with the help of this app. In general, users have a notion that output of files that are converted using such tools may not be good. The MP4 to WMV Converter offered by Convert Audio Free demolishes this misconception because the files converted with the app retain the same quality as the original ones. In fact, even paid tools that are available in the market are not able to perform as efficiently as this app.

Since the tool is simple to use, even people with a minimum technical prowess can also use it and derive its benefits. Just a few clicks with the mouse are enough to carry out the task users desire to complete.

That the tool is offered free of cost may be music to the ears of those users who are cost-conscious. At the same time, they need not compromise on the quality of the converted files also.

The converter is lightweight and hence, it does not occupy much disk space of the device on which it is downloaded and installed. Therefore, it does not slow down the performance or efficient functioning of the device also.

About the Free MP4 to WMV Converter

The Free MP4 to WMV Converter offered by Convert Audio Free works very efficiently to convert MP4 videos into WMV format. The tool is lightweight and hence, does not occupy much of the disk space of the device on which it is installed. It is simple to use also and hence, users need not be technically qualified for utilizing the app.

For Media Contact: http://download.cnet.com/Free-MP4-to-WMV-Converter/3000-2140_4-75898999.html

subset: commoncrawl


text:
For some reason it just felt right to have that title for this.
No, it does not relate to anything at all muahaha.
Now first;
I desperately need a vacay.
..or at least just a picnic day- I miss the beach!
I need the best friend to be with me all the time!
..somewhere out of town, some place with swimming pool & awesome beaches.
I wanna go for a honeymoon with the husband soon,
pretty please?
I pretty much just need a getaway.
Just some private bonding time.
Maybe I should start creating a vision board or something.
Just to be clear of what and where do I really wanna be or be doing right now.
This is what I wore today!
Combined pastels & blacks for the day!
Those pair of heels are actually different from the ones that I would usually wear,
this pair is shiny :]
It's actually a gift from the husband few years back (while we were dating hehe) which I totally had forgotten about!
So happy that I found them teeeheee C:
That particular bag is by far my most favorite bag!
I just love drawings like those on bags..shirts..you name it.
Earlier today I almost bought myself a shirt that has Monroe's face printed on it hehehe.
I am a sucker over black & white printed "artsy cartoony faces" on anything!
There's also this pair of chunky heels from Vincii that I love so muchhhhh;
it was LOVE at first sight,, that I really so badly wanna get T.T
Let's just hope I can & I will, mmmkays?:D
Other than that..I am also looking for some sponsors to work with!
Do email me if you are interested to sort of "work" with me!
I am thinking of beauty related products, or clothing so I could be more playful with more outfit choices!
..and in return, I shall promote your brand or product in my blog.
I'll blog again soon?


text:
Posted in Articles by Garrett McCord
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Oh, cinnamon. Beloved in cuisines worldwide it makes our curries warm, ensures our ham glazes are addictive, and keeps pilafs perky. (And let's not even get into its importance in pumpkin spice everything.)
Even better? Cinnamon has so many health benefits!
Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Too much chronic inflammation can cause the body to feel pain, move slowly, or swell uncontrollably. Cinnamon has been shown to help with inflammation when applied as an oil or cream.
Cinnamon May Help Fight HIV
In a study looking at 69 plant species, 16 were effective in inhibiting viral replication, but cinnamon proved to be the most effective! Further studies need to be done, but this early research shows that certain chemicals present in cinnamon could be used to slow down viral infection of white blood cells when used with other forms of drug treatment.
Cinnamon Has Tons of Antioxidants
Your body utilizes antioxidants to combat the threat of substances that steal electrons from cells, DNA, and proteins. When these electrons are lost (a process called oxidation) the cell, DNA, or protein can no longer function properly. Cinnamon provides plenty of antioxidants giving your body extra electrons that keep the body happy and functioning.
Cinnamon Helps with Insulin Sensitivity
Those suffering from Type 2 diabetes often have problems with insulin resistance. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study scientists saw that glucose, insulin, cholesterol and HbA1c sensitivity improved in patients with Type 2 diabetes when cinnamon-based compounds were introduced in the diet via supplements.
Of course, cinnamon isn't a total panacea. No spice is. However, what these research studies show is that having a bit of cinnamon in your diet will help keep you in better health as well as make your food all the more flavorful.


text:
2017-07-27 | News
EfD Colombia presented Symposium on Green Growth and Economic Policy
A Symposium on Green Growth and Economic Policy was held at Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, July 18-19, 2017. The four main sessions of the symposium were: economic modeling; behavioral economics for green growth; circular economy and economic and financial instruments.
Each session had a key speaker from a national or international university or a international organization. In the first section of the Symposium "Economic modeling", the key note speaker was Gaël Giraud, chief economist for AFD, (Agence Française de Développement ) who gave the conference "Macroeconomics and climate". In his talk, Giraud explained that there are different macro models that include climate models. For example, welfare optimization models, general equilibrium models, partial equilibrium models, simulation, and cost minimization models. These models have different challenges, for instance, in the welfare optimization models and cost minimization models it is necessary to define a discount rate, which is an issue of continuous discussion. Giraud presented the research program of AFD, which includes the GEMMES model (General Monetary Macro-dynamics for the Ecological Shift). This model includes private and public debt. It is also possible that the model includes data from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) that illustrate the consequences of climate change over a territory.
In the second section of the Symposium "Behavioral economics for green growth", the key note speaker was EfD- Central America Senior Researcher Francisco Alpízar. His talk was titled "Inputs from behavioral economics for the design of green growth policies for developing countries". In his speach, Alpízar remarked the relevance of the inputs that come from behavioral science for the design of policies for sustainable consumption. To achieve changes in development, it is necessary to reach changes in behavior because consumers and firms make everyday decisions and take actions that taken together have a great impact on the resources of the planet. Since individuals react differently to policies and rules depending on economic variables like income level and social context, it is necessary to study the reaction of individuals to policies. In this section of the symposium, EfD researcher Juan Camilo Cárdenas guided the discussion on behavioral economics oriented to green growth. EfD researchers Jorge Bonilla and Jorge García also presented their recent work on socio-economic experiments for the design of sustainable economic policies. Jorge García talked about his research paper "Willingness to accept local wind energy development: does the compensation mechanism matter?", and Jorge Bonilla talked about some advances of his research "Assessing social experiments using apps: the case of car-free days in Bogota".
The third section of the symposium was on circular economy, Arnold Tucker, Professor of industrial ecology of Leiden University was the key note speaker. In his talk "Towards a circular economy: some (in) convenient truths and policy lessons", Professor Tucker commented that there is a relationship between circularity and green growth because eternal economic growth is difficult to achieve and at the same time, growing economy inevitably needs virgin materials. He emphasized that there are scientific needs for circularity, for example: environmental and economic system analysis, new circular technologies and designs that reduce the use of primary resources, new circular businesses models and value chains, new policy, and governance.
In the last session of the symposium on economic and financial instruments, EfD researcher Michael Toman gave a talk titled "Economic policy instruments for moving towards a greener economy". Michael Toman explained that over use of natural resources or environmental degradation is a problem of low prices for these resources. Policy instruments that correct this situation are: property rights, reduction of economically wasteful and environmentally harmful subsidies and generation of economic incentives for more efficient use of non-market mechanisms. Policy makers could also formulate policy instruments with an indirect approach; for example, taxing things correlated with environmental harms could be a relevant tool for sectors like agriculture and transport and defining subsidies for environmentally positive activities, such as grants to farmers for less-polluting practices.Over 300 participants attended the event, from universities (from Bogotá and other regions), public entities (national and regional entities), private sector, multilateral agencies and NGO's. This made the event a successful policy interaction space with different and relevant actors.
The entire event was live streamed and you can see the presentations in the following link
The Symposium was sponsored by the Economics Department at Universidad de Los Andes, Colombian national entities (National Planning Department and the Ministry of Finance), the Colombian Mission for Green Growth, and international agencies, AFD (Agence Française de Développement), the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).


text:
Darcy & Flo design and make quirky, bright, affectionate and collectable cloth dolls with a pretty hand embroidered face that makes you smile as you walk by.
Welcome to our new website fro Darcy & Flo
The Twitter feed was blank while processing your request. Please try again.
Follow Darcy & Flo on your favorite social website...
© 2013 Darcy & Flo. All designs are copyright of Angela Moore at Darcy & Flo.
Website By Carta Design
Your shopping cart is empty
Visit the shop


text:
Isn't it enough having your very own terminal disease, without your mother dying? Or your father dating your Art teacher?
No wonder Sacha Thomas ends up in the lake that Saturday evening…
But the real question is: how does he end up in love with Jewel Valentine?
With the help of quirky teenage prodigies Little Al and True Grisham, Sacha and Jewel have a crazy adventure, with a little lobster emancipation along the way.
But Sacha's running out of time, and Jewel has secrets of her own.
Girl Saves Boy is a hugely talented debut novel, funny and sad, silly and wise. It's a story of life, death, love… and garden gnomes.
Girl Saves Boy is 16 year old Aussie author Steph Bowe's debut
The story is told from Sacha's POV and Jewel's POV.
The narrative isn't always linear in a sense of plot moving forward with scenes. It's got anecdotes and a running internal narrative of thoughts on life and death and the world in general. You know how sometimes you're thinking one thing which leads to thinking about another and another and so on and then you come back to original thought? Sometimes the narrative swirls along in that style, with quirky asides and observations.
The prose is gorgeous and charming. And it felt straight from a teen perspective - in the concerns of the characters and their outlook on life: sometimes jumbled, other times hopeful and also occasionally defeated. It reflected the braveness and conviction of teens but lacked hindsight that comes with adulthood - which gave it a true teen vibe.
I do think there was a lot going on in the novel in terms of tragedies and scarred pasts and tormented characters and dead people. It seemed overwhelming that they all had such complicated and devastating back-stories. Although the novel didn't just dwell on this aspect - there were plenty of moments of fun and general silliness.
Some sections were reminiscent of Brigid Lowry's Guitar Highway Rose - so much so that I would imagine that book may have had an influence on Bowe's writing style? And GHR is a dynamically brilliant book (as a teen, my friends and I were inspired to write our school writing assignments in a format similar to Guitar Highway Rose - I love that book hard. Diverting in my review here to urge anyone who hasn't read it yet to track it down - you can thank me after :).
Random Thoughts:
- Throughout the novel I was unsure where it was headed. I like the feeling of things lurking unpredictably up ahead but occasionally I felt like I was floundering a little in terms of following the main story arc.
- I didnt always understand the characters motivations, but I kept flipping the pages regardless.
- Like in many alternating POV books, I connected stronger with one POV over another (in this case, it was Sacha's). Does anyone else find this in duel/multi-POV reads?
- It felt teenagery with it's many comments on clothing and what everyone looks like and how tall they are, etc. Kinda cute, that.


text:
departmentCanonical URL: http://schema.org/department
A relationship between an organization and a department of that organization, also described as an organization (allowing different urls, logos, opening hours). For example: a store with a pharmacy, or a bakery with a cafe.
Usage: Between 10,000 and 50,000 domains
- Leave public feedback on this term 💬
- Check for open issues.
- 'department' is mentioned in layer: core
|Values expected to be one of these types
|Used on these types
Schema Version 3.4.


text:
Jakarta Pedestrians Stand Firm
Pedestrians in the Indonesian capital campaign fight to reclaim pavements overrun by cars, motorcycles and street vendors. Video: Reuters
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... Jeetil has pedestrians put it in the connected with ... we see ... himself a people ... root for traffic milks the other way round ... and stepping up their campaign to push her indebtedness its union to DC and capital ... with bridges cycles Street anticipates will keep my oldest increasing to meet Europe's crumbling ... away ... done that I can reach amount the government does not to prioritize reconstruction this man says ... because it will only accommodates tried to color in a still only accounts for fourteen percent approved uses ... every Friday to protest has taken many years to come to an eight-month Socceroo for bomb light vehicles and sentenced ... in December the government finally pulls the normal way to the land acquisition bill to speed up through the Colts and Apple products ... but progress is slow ... and some pedestrians safe bowl roots and all the aunts ... by ... the government must build more parking spaces for vehicles the pedestrians will not be affected ... official figures showed J comes as twenty five million residents have more than a definite busy and vehicles between them ... mostly been cycles ... however much the pedestrians take a stand the number of vehicles is still rising ... Chapman worked Sts ...


text:
Crush Family Reunion.
On Saturday,February 5th 2011 the Treanor, McAnespie, McKenna etc families gathered
in St. Mellans for what was termed - the 'Crush Family Reunion'. It was a big gathering
and what a night it was. Plenty of preparation had been done as was evident from
the performances of some members of the family. Bernie had a fantastic poem detailing
the history of the family and the family tree. The 'Margo's Hare Salun' was the setting
for a very humorous sketch with lines that would make Brendan O'Carroll green with
envy. Once again we were treated to the family history only this time it went into
more detail and was somewhat more personal, but judging from the reaction of those
being depicted - the person was very accurately portrayed and the rest in attendance
showed their agreement with rapturous laughter, although one could sense a little
bit of tension as some trembled in anticipation of how they would be portrayed. All
great fun and made for an excellent occasion
Happy Birthdays to Jim Harvey and Bernie Sherry HOME


text:
Rice flour – 1 cup
Gram flour - 2 cups
Red Chilli powder – 2 tbsp (or to your spice level)
Kashmiri chilli powder – 1 tbsp
Hing – ¼ tsp
Oil for deep frying
Butter – 1 tbsp
Oil – 2 tbsp (Heat the oil and pour on the flour and then kneed the batter, this makes the ribbon pakoda, crunchy)
Salt to taste
Curry leaves – 8 sprigs (fried in oil and put into the dabba of the ribbon pakoda for fragrance and this is optional but I do it)
You can add red food colour if you want but I have added as I like it nice red colour
- Mix the rice flour, gram flour, red chilli powder, salt, butter and hing in a vessel and mix
- Pour in the hot oil tbsp
- Now mix well and then add water little by little and make the flour into a chapati like dough
- Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, and when the oil is hot add a little piece of dough to check for the right temperature to fry the ribbon pakoda. When the dough raises immediately means then the oil is ready for frying
- Put 1 hand full of dough in a press (Chakli maker), and close the press with ribbon pakoda mould. Squeeze the dough to a big circle.
- Deep fry the ribbon padoka in low flame till it is crisp and turns golden brown color.
- Take it out and place it in a oil strainer with a paper towel to remove excess oil and allow it to cool.
- Store it in a air tight container and enjoy this crunchy ribbon padoka


text:
Performance and comfort are the two things which are required by any sports person. And they reflect the ability of a player to play in the game. To accomplish these needs you want a sportswear or active wear which covers the clothing which can be worn in the sports, sports training, gyms and for workouts. To be a part of any sport you need shirts, T-shirts, polo shirts, tank tops, pants, fleece pants, shorts, caps, socks sports bag and many more things. These gears must comprise of fabric with sweat wick material for the maximum level of comfort and durability for the player.
Founded in 1972, A4 is recognized as the most professional and foremost athletic apparel manufacturing company that has been providing a variety of high quality clothing line for men, women and youth. For all your sporty needs A4 is a brand which is delivering the highest quality of fabric and designs at the best possible prices in the sportswear industry. This brand offers you athletic T-shirts, performance shirts, compression shirts, mesh tank tops, athletic jersey, jackets, athletic pant & shorts, sports bags and more. They manufactured shirts with 100% polyester or cotton fabric with Moisture wicking and Antimicrobial feature for ultimate comfort level. So if you want to purchase sports gear at discounted rates, then ApparelnBags.com is the best place for you.
ApparelnBags is an online store for all your apparel needs. It is a wholesale store that offers you clothing from more than 100 leading brands. So if you are an A4 brand lover, get all your favorite A4 Clothing at discount rates. We carry a full wide range of T-Shirts, Pants & Shorts, Tank & Tops, Polo & Sports Shirts, Socks, Jackets, Henley, Backpacks, Duffel Bags and more in a variety of colors, sizes and designs for people of all ages. Take the opportunity to browse our vast selection to find just what you need.


text:
What we do
Ā mātau mahi
- Recent stories
- New Zealand Red Cross responds to Nelson fires
- Red Cross welcomes government's announcement of new refugee settlement locations
- Health worker blog: Christmas at Kutupalong
- New Zealand Red Cross welcomes government's decision to sign Global Compact for Migration
- A scholarship to build the future
- See all stories
First Aid
Whaiora whāwhāi
About us
Mō mātau
Shop with us
Nau mai, hoko atu
- Get involved Donate
Donating goods
By donating goods you can help us turn houses into homes for former refugees.
What is needed?
Families from refugee backgrounds often arrive with little more than a suitcase or two. We rely on the generosity of the community to help them set up their homes. In resettlement areas, we are looking for the following items. You can also drop these off to your local Red Cross shop in these resettlement area:
- Quality blankets, duvet inners
- Lawn-mowers, vacuum cleaners
- Bikes
Contact: email@example.com or 07 849 0285
- Quality blankets & bed linen
- Dinner sets & cutlery
- Kitchen utensils
- Medium & large pots
- Good quality baby buggies or strollers
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com or 06 356 8152
Due to storage limitations, our office is currently only accepting donations on an as needed basis. If you have a donation of unused quality goods, please contact: email@example.com or 04 805 0304
- Bikes, gardening tools
- Quality blankets, duvet inners, bed linen and towels
- Pots and pans, crockery/cutlery sets
- Vacuum cleaners, kettles, toasters (in good working order)
- Coffee tables
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com or 03 548 4978
- Quality blankets, duvet inners, bed linen, and towels
- New pillows
- Lawn-mowers, vacuum cleaners
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com or 03 477 1527
- Good quality blankets, duvet inners and covers
- Towels and face cloths
- Crockery
- Gardening tools
- Kitchen utensils
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com or 03 218 1929
Unfortunately we are unable to accept donations of whiteware and only some areas are able to accept furniture. Please contact your local office directly to confirm.
If you live outside a resettlement area you can still donate goods to your local shop. The goods will be sold through our Red Cross retail shops to help fund our refugee programmes and our other work in New Zealand and overseas.
Become a refugee support volunteer
Volunteering is a fun and rewarding experience. Our refugee support volunteers help families start again, while learning about new cultures, meeting new people and changing lives (including their own!).


text:
- Roll over image to zoom in
Chicago PD Seasons 1-2 DVD
Product Code: Chicago PD Seasons 1-2 + Freeshipping
Availability: In Stock
Availability: In Stock
Price: $43.99 Ex Tax: $43.99
Product Information of Chicago PD Seasons 1-2 DVD
Actors: Jason Beghe, Sophia Bush, Jon Seda
Producers: Dick Wolf
Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: English
Dubbed: English
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
Region: Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: 2015
Summary of Chicago PD Seasons 1-2 DVD
Despite a troubled history with his boss, Dawson has ambitions of running the unit. If that means facing off against Voight every day, he'll persevere.Chicago PD Seasons 1-2 DVD From the street cops with dreams of moving up to the elite crew who are already in, "life on the job" is a daily challenge.Demanding and tough, only those who can take the heat survive under Voight's command. Chicago PD Take Det. Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda), for example.
Write a reviewYour Name:
Your Review: Note: HTML is not translated!
Rating: Bad Good
Enter the code in the box below:


text: The German-Turkish connection is mined in this intermittently powerful, sexually graphic drama about a professor who travels to Istanbul to locate the daughter of his father's girlfriend, a prostitute. The German director Fatih Akin was born in Hamburg of Turkish parentage, and this film displays his sensitivity to cross-cultural estrangements. Grade: B. (Not rated.)


text:
Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, arrives in the basement of the Capitol for a meeting with President Barack Obama and House Republicans Wednesday. Boehner described the 80-minute session as a "very frank and candid exchange of ideas" that he found "productive." Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
Here's a political pop quiz to start your Thursday.
What will matter more in the long run as the nation's lawmakers tackle big questions about government spending, tax rates and cutting the deficit?
a) A freewheeling Republican question-and-answer session with President Barack Obama, or b) the anti-Obama red meat expected from conservatives taking the stage during a major 3-day confab in Washington.
In the answer lies the struggle for policymakers as they attempt to bust through gridlock that has crippled the nation's Capitol for years.
Politicians in both parties say they are looking to compromise for the good of the country. Mr. Obama is signaling with his outreach that he at least wants to appear to be working together with his political rivals.
But each side wants to win, and with the 2014 midterm elections a crucial test, perhaps it is impossible for deal-making to be done in a vacuum.
The Daily Beast acquired quotes from the president telling the House GOP conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday that he is facing scrutiny from liberals. Two lawmakers quoted the president as saying: "You should read The Huffington Post and see how I'm getting slapped around by the left. They think I'm giving everything away to you guys every day."
Roll Call's Jonathan Strong breaks down each questioner's query to the president, including discussion of the Keystone pipeline, taxes and the sequester.
Politico's behind-the-scenes piece focused on Republicans saying they had heard what Mr. Obama said before.
And some members told reporters they bristled when the president described his revamped campaign organization as not focused on the next election, especially given he planned to speak with the group later that night.
Officially, both sides called it a "good" meeting.
"The president handled a variety of questions on a range of topics from the members and reinforced his strong desire, especially now that the election is over, to find bipartisan common ground on a range of legislative priorities," a White House official told reporters. "He noted that they did not need to resolve all policy differences to make progress on challenges facing the country where there is agreement."
Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, penned a Washington Post op-ed suggesting he'd heard it all before. From the piece:
If we're going to find bipartisan solutions, the president will have to move beyond the same proposals and Democratic dogma. For all of Washington's focus on the president's outreach to Republicans, it's his engagement with members of his own party that will determine whether we succeed in dealing with the challenges facing our economy.
In a statement, Boehner described the 80-minute session as a "very frank and candid exchange of ideas" that he found "productive." He noted there are "some very real differences between our two parties like issues jobs, balancing the budget and what do we do to get our economy moving again."
"But, having said that, today was a good start, and I hope that these kinds of discussions can continue," Boehner said. "Even though we have very real differences, our job is to find common ground to do the work the American people sent us here to do."
The olive branches extended over the course of the president's meetings this week on Capitol Hill — he'll meet with Senate Republicans over lunch Thursday and House Democrats in the afternoon — aren't expected to get much mention as 8,000 activists gather to hear some of the Republican party's top stars at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
The opening speaker is Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who does not hold the president's policies in high regard. The stage will be peppered with conservative bomb-throwers never timid about criticizing Mr. Obama, from ex-Rep. Allen West, Fla., to Sen. Rand Paul, Ky., and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Breakout sessions will focus on national security, fears about becoming a nanny state and one panel focuses on "Lessons They Have Learned and We Haven't: The Europeanization of America."
And that's just on Thursday. Later at CPAC, activists will be treated to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and reality television's Donald Trump. Mitt Romney will appear for his first public speech since losing his presidential bid last fall.
We'll be livestreaming the majority of the CPAC speeches on Thursday and Friday. Follow along here starting at 9 a.m.
On PBS NewsHour Wednesday, Judy Woodruff explored the question of whether bipartisanship has ever been effective in Washington with presidential historian Michael Beschloss and Marc Hetherington, an author and political science professor at Vanderbilt University. Their discussion addressed how today's climate of political polarization may be different from past partisan divides as early as the Civil War.
Watch the segment here or below:
The president spoke at a fundraising dinner Wednesday for Organizing for Action, the political action group born out of Obama for America's grassroots campaign network. Bloomberg News reports some unenthused OFA backers are reluctant to open their wallets so soon after Mr. Obama's re-election, and that this dinner asked attendees for a $50,000 suggested donation.
White House spokesman Jay Carney faced more questions Wednesday on the sequestration-related cancellation of White House tours. Amie Parnes of The Hill examined how the cancellations may have backfired on the president. And Roll Call's Emma Dumain writes that tourists should get used to sequester-induced long lines at the Capitol.
Republican members of Congress want access to the supposed Walter Reed Hospital patients who were injured in the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi last September.
Politico reports Mr. Obama said he was better than former Vice President Dick Cheney when Democratic senators confronted him at a closed-door meeting Tuesday on drone policies.
Glenn Thrush profiles Denis McDonough, the president's new chief of staff who's likely behind the so-called "charm offensive."
The Associated Press reports on the sweeping multistate investigation of a Florida charity that "led to nearly 60 people indicted and the resignation of the state's lieutenant governor," Republican Jennifer Carroll. Attorney General Pam Bondi says charges "will include racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and possession of slot machines."
The Washington Post's Peter Finn tracks the NRA's involvement in gun laws.
Meredith Shiner of Roll Call lists 10 things to know about the Senate Democrats' budget.
Republicans were gloating Wednesday about this tweet from former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder questioning Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe's experience. The Virginian Pilot ran a story on the same topic Wednesday.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $6.3 million in February but still is carrying $10.9 million of debt. The National Republican Congressional Committee raised $5 million last month.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a new website promoting immigration reform.
The House passed legislation by a vote of 246-181 to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services from allowing states to waive the welfare-work requirement. Both parties have at times supported the waiver, but Republicans — resurrecting a Mitt Romney campaign attack — have pounced on the administration's authority to issue a waiver that they see dismantling welfare reform.
Former Congressman Allen West is starting an issues advocacy group to support a new generation of minority conservatives.
Pope Francis wasn't the only one chosen for a new job Wednesday. Mr. Obama appointed Melissa Rogers as the new director of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. In 2009, she headed a committee recommending ways to overhaul the office.
Sen. Lindsey Graham is getting some Palmetto State love for his efforts to craft immigration reform, with the Evangelical Immigration Table, Republicans for Immigration Reform and a Partnership for a New American Economy joining forces to air ads praising the Republican senator on his home turf.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution scoops that Rep. Phil Gingrey is preparing to run for retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss' seat in Georgia. That would bring the race among Republicans to two.*
Michelle Obama will be on the cover of Vogue again, with bangs, of course, the Washington Post's Robin Givhan writes.
If Hannah Horvath is the voice not only of a generation, but of U.S. geopolitical strategy, is America headed for humiliation on the world stage? We'll wait for the Lena Dunham Doctrine on that one.
- Today's tidbit from NewsHour partner Face the Facts USA: one-third of American families couldn't pay their medical bills in 2011.
The NewsHour devoted 17 minutes to the selection of the new pope. See the celebration at Vatican City, watch a debrief with Michael Sean Winters of the National Catholic Reporter and check out Ray Suarez's discussion with Chester Gillis of Georgetown University and Sister Simone Campbell of NETWORK, a social justice organization, about how Pope Francis will help shape the Catholic Church.
NewsHour will host a live chat 1 p.m. ET Thursday on the digital afterlife, in other words, what happens to social media and web presence after someone dies. Go here to watch a discussion of the issue from earlier this week, and to leave a comment or question for the panelists.
- Production assistant Cindy Huang writes on our Art Beat blog about how some Chinese communities have copied Western architectural design for new buildings.
Chris Christie won't be speaking at CPAC — but he will be on the Straw Poll ballot – dailycaller.com/2013/03/14/who…
— Matt Lewis (@mattklewis) March 14, 2013
House hearing today about TSA's new knife policy today for air travel.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 14, 2013
Francis I will not be good news for the Chavismos in Latin America.He has the proper understanding of how we are to care for the poor.
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) March 13, 2013
If the Church thinks it'll be this easy to win over Hispanic voters…
— Molly Ball (@mollyesque) March 13, 2013
There are 166 Catholics in Congress, per @cqprofiles #newpope
— Lauren Whittington (@l_whittington) March 13, 2013
Jesuit pope = Georgetown gets #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, right?
— Mike Madden (@mikemadden) March 13, 2013
Paul Ryan pointed to 2 solar projects as examples of how DOE loans failed, but the problem is they're up and running: wapo.st/Xvgd2r
— Juliet Eilperin (@eilperin) March 13, 2013
Rep Crowley on criticism of Obama Capitol visits: John Lennon had a song "Give Peace a Chance." He hasn't even come & you're criticizing him
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 13, 2013
Also, the Obama Tumblr is dead: bit.ly/rLtgzq
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 13, 2013
Politics desk assistant Simone Pathe contributed to this report.
For more political coverage, visit our politics page.
Sign up here to receive the Morning Line in your inbox every morning.
Questions or comments? Email Christina Bellantoni at cbellantoni-at-newshour-dot-org.
Follow the politics team on Twitter:
Follow @cbellantoni
Follow @burliji
Follow @kpolantz
Follow @elizsummers
Follow @indiefilmfan
Follow @tiffanymullon
Follow @dePeystah
Follow @meenaganesan
*Correction appended.


text:
SpaceX poised to bring back blood and cucumber plants
ASTRONAUT blood and urine were among the precious cargo carried by a SpaceX Dragon capsule that splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on 28 October. Its return from the International Space Station marks the end of the company's first critical supply mission for NASA.
SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, has restored a capability lost since the NASA space shuttle retired in July 2011 – bringing science experiments and other cargo back from the space station. Currently, the only way for astronauts to get to and from the station is aboard Russia's Soyuz capsules, but these don't have enough room to bring back equipment too.
Launched on 7 October, Dragon took supplies to the space station and returned laden with about 750 kilograms of experiments, biological supplies and worn-out equipment. Scott Smith, a nutritionist at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, was relying on Dragon to bring back tubes of astronauts' blood and urine, which he will scan for biomarkers that could be used to monitor the health of the space station's crew from afar.


text:
Michele Re Fiorentin
Speaker affiliation:
University of Southampton
Thursday, November 27, 2014 - 13:00
Building 46, seminar room (5th floor)
Neutrino parameters and leptogenesis
Leptogenesis and neutrino parameters can have a common origin in the seesaw mechanism. However, this is not able to provide us with constraints and predictions on the values of the free parameters it necessarily introduces. To this aim, leptogenesis models, such as SO(10)-inspired and strong thermal leptogenesis, represent a very interesting way to explain and constrain the neutrino parameters. I will analyse how this can happen and show the obtained results which can be put to test by forthcoming experiments.


text:
A ratchet screwdriver has a mechanism that permits the tool to apply turning force only in one direction, while moving freely in the opposite. So it can be set to drive or remove screws, without having to move the bit in and out of the screw head at the end of each turn. This makes driving or removing screws and other threaded fasteners quicker and more comfortable.
A spiral ratchet screwdriver (Yankee Screwdriver, drill screwdriver) works in a similar way, but the turning force is provided by pushing the handle down over a spring-loaded spiral shaft. After each stroke, one lets the spring push the handle back off the shaft and then it is ready to be pushed back down the spiral, easily and quickly turning screws and other threaded fasteners in or out.
|5.5 mm = 7/32 inch
|7 mm = 9/32 inch
|8 mm = 5/16 inch


text:
What would you like to do now?
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4.5
Sq Feet: 4,265
City: Phoenix
Zip: 85018
Sub Division: S 202.76' M/L OF E 198.80' OF N 808.76' OF W 511.24' SE4 SW4 .85 AC
To start a new search please click: Start New Search
Property Description
This splendid custom home that sits on an acre lot at the end of the cul-de-sac in the heart of Arcadia.. Updated throughout: the Architect seamlessly created spaces you'll never want to leave! The drop-dead gorgeous kitchen is ready to cook with double ovens, warming drawer, 6-burner gas cook top & custom cabinetry add authentic charm. This home offers five bedrooms one of which is a separated perfect retreat, studio or office. You'll love entertaining here with generous spaces, and plenty of courtyard patios with a large fun yard to create many memories. Enjoy views of Camelback or relax in the shade of the deep patios or cabana. Warm your desert nights with the outdoor fireplace or cool off in the pool and spa. This home is simply exquisite.


text:
You will find this kit and all the add ons at the store HERE
==> forums HERE
The tags are beautiful - & it looks like you've dusted snow across the page with your bg work.....GORGEOUS....loooove the photos & embellies against that dark wood paper:):) Hope 2015 is a good year for you:):)ReplyDelete
Beautiful projects!ReplyDelete
Beautiful layout Nadia. Love the contrast between the dark background and your embellishments. Happy New Year xx
Oh my gosh, I love this layout! The photo is so sweet, too. And, of course, I am partial to tags so I was so happy to see the beautiful ones you made. Love them, too!ReplyDelete
All is WONDERFUL!!!!
Kisses from France!
Such gorgeous creating.. love the layout.. the dark back ground makes it all pop... and the tags are so pretty.. I hope your year is off to a wonderful start!ReplyDelete
Oh la la, such a gorgeous lay-out! Your tags are absolutely wonderful too. I love how you used those resin pieces!ReplyDelete
Thank you so very much for taking the time to drop by and leave me a comment. I appreciate it so much!


text:
This 5-unit apartment for sale in Oak Cliff, Dallas TX is 100% occupied. With WMU-8 (8 stories max height) zoning, it's in the path of future development. The lot is approximately 50′ x 183′.
Contact Troy Corman for more information at 214-690-9682.
- Date:Oct 2017
- Labeled:Residential Real Estate - t2 Real Estate


text:
All of us get all sorts of aches all the time: headaches, toothaches, backaches… you name it. They are never pleasant and almost always come at the wrong time: when you wake up to go to work, during a romantic date, before you want to go to sleep etc.
In case something starts to hurt we are used to take some pill. There's a pill for everything these days but it would be best if we could avoid them.
Pills are effective but if we take to many we might get to used to them and in order to get rid of the pain, an increase of dosage is needed. They can also lead to addiction, I guess every one knows that already but still there are many people who get addicted to all sorts of pills.
This is why I prefer natural remedies for pain. Well, first of all, they are natural. There's no harm done by natural remedies. Second, in most of the cases they work even better than medicine.
Let's see some of the natural remedies I found useful over the years:
If you get a headache, one of the solutions that "makes it better" is sex. Well, assuming you have a partner and a room.
Another remedy would be applying slices of raw potato on your forehead. The potato absorbs some of the pain, I don't know how but it does (tried this a few days ago and felt better).
A third way to get rid of headaches is massage the forehead and temples with mint oil or lavander oil. Mint essential oil is great that way, and lavander oil has calming effects.
One of the remedies for toothaches is chewing a clove. It works but only for a few hours, then you should see a dentist.
Garlic is also a good remedy for toothaches. Peel a clove of garlic, wrap it in a piece of wool and put it on tehe tooth. The juices from the garlic act more or less like anesthesia.
Of course, these are only remedies for pain to go away. You should see a dentist anyway.
Mint tea is known for it's properties to reduce stomach pain. Chamomile tea is also OK. All in all, tea is not only for the winter season.
Sore throat
If you have a sore throat, honey and lemns are a good natural remedy. Squeeze the lemon, mix with soem honey and drink. You can add boiled water if you want, if the juice is to sour.
Menstrual pain
This is for ladies only 😉
Menstrual pain can go away if you drink some cinnamon tea, basil or thyme tea, or yarrow tea.
If you can take the heat, you can boil some water and put it in glass bottles (if you use plastic they could melt). Apply the bottle on your tummy and relax.
These are all natural remedies that I sometimes use myself. I believe that medicine is OK as long as you are on the run and don't have time to sit and massage your head or prepare a tea. Or when you are at work or in school and can't really chew on a garlic. When I'm at home though, I try to use these natural means of making pain go away. In the end I also care about my health and if I can avoid pills I'm happy to do so.


text:
CST to re-air basketball game
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — CST will re-air the University of Arkansas women's basketball win over Alcorn State today at noon on channel 119 on COX Cable.
The Razorbacks defeated Alcorn State in the season opener Sunday, 87-78, in Hot Springs, Ark. Ashley Daniels led all scorers with a career-best 21 points and freshman Sarah Watkins added 20 all in the second half.
The game was televised live with Blair Cartwright serving as the play-by-play announcer. Nicki Collen provided the color.
The Razorbacks continue the season traveling to Dallas, Texas, and facing Southern Methodist Wednesday, at 7 p.m. For more information about Arkansas women's basketball log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.


text:
All Eyes on Louisville's Chris Jones in Repeat QuestPosted by Mike Lemaire on November 6th, 2013
In a sport that loves its unpredictability, the last two NCAA Champions were relatively easy to predict before those seasons even started. In 2012, the argument that Kentucky's freshman inexperience would be a problem lasted for all of two weeks before the Wildcats trampled everything in their path en route to a wire-to-wire season as the nation's best team. Last year, Louisville was seen as the contender with the fewest holes and that held true as well. The Cardinals may have relinquished the No. 1 ranking a few times but throughout the season they remained most smart pundits' favorite to hoist the trophy in March. This season the unpredictability is back. Kentucky has possibly more young talent than any other team in the history of college basketball, but inexperience remains an issue. Michigan State has talent and experience, but inconsistency plagued them last year and remains a question mark. Florida and Arizona are both loaded with talent but have questions about ideal lineup personnel and outside shooting. For Louisville, assuming Chane Behanan is back in a uniform when the games start to matter, the primary question that needs answering is "Can Chris Jones really replace Peyton Siva?"
Replacing Gorgui Dieng will be difficult as well, and it may even become the more pressing concern as the season unfolds, but Montrezl Harrell will slide into the starting lineup and everyone has seen what he is capable of doing. Jones comes to Louisville with plenty of hype, but he has spent the past two seasons toiling away in obscurity at Northwest Florida State. His numbers were gaudy and he was named the Junior College Player of the Year, but junior college is still junior college, where the statistics and accolades can be easily discounted. This is the most competitive league of college basketball in the country and he is being asked to replace one of the team's most important players and lead the Cardinals to another National Championship.
The good news is that Jones himself doesn't seem to have any doubts about whether he can effectively replace Siva. "I can score more from outside. I can pass the same as [Siva]. He's quicker than me, but we're the same speed," Jones told The Louisville Courier-Journal at the team's media day. "I can score better. I shoot better. I can do more stuff on the offensive end and the defensive end than I think he did. […] Really, I don't have holes in my game."
Well then, at least we know self-confidence won't be an issue. The thing is that most people who have seen Jones play enough to get a good read on his abilities tend to agree with his assessment. He might not have the same lightning-quick first step that Siva had, but he is just as good a passer and playmaker and perhaps a better shooter and natural scorer. He also may not be quite as problematic for the opposition as Siva was defensively, but he is going to create a lot of turnovers and generally be a giant pain in the butt for opposing guards thanks to his quick feet and active hands. He is also, by all accounts, one of those insanely competitive types that wears his emotions on his sleeve but someone you always want in the game in crunch time.
If he can be the type of player everybody thinks, the Cardinals should be considered a front-runner to repeat. But just because he is as talented — if not more talented –than Siva doesn't mean he has what it takes to replace the heart and soul of last season's team. Siva had his offensive deficiencies, but part of what made him such a great point guard was that he understood his own team's dynamics better than anyone in country. Few players picked their spots better than Siva. He knew when to push the pace and when to rein in his more excitable teammates. He knew when to jumpstart the offense with penetration and when to let the play run its course. He wasn't perfect, but he was the perfect floor general for last season's Cardinals — a selfless veteran who didn't need the ball but always seemed to have it anyways.
There is nothing wrong with scoring ability and exuberance, both of which Jones has in abundance, but the Cardinals don't need another Russ Smith hoisting questionable shots and pushing the ball at breakneck speed every trip. They need a point guard in the most traditional sense, someone who can run the offense without making silly mistakes, and someone who isn't going to let their emotions get the best of them and wreck the flow of the offense. Jones will have help if he needs it. Freshman Terry Rozier has plenty of his own accolades of his own and Kevin Ware and Smith will probably handle the ball plenty as well. But if the Cardinals are going to compete with the Wildcats and Spartans and Gators and the rest to cut down the nets in Arlington, they will need Jones to take the ball and run with it… literally.


text:
As promised, this is the toy that made everyone raise an eyebrow. Go take a look at the Waterproof Glass Vibrator over at Vibrators.com and then come back. Go on, I'll wait.
In the first place, it's glass, so there's absolutely zero give, and then there are those pink beads on the shaft, which are definitely raised up enough to make an impression. On top of that, there's an upturned bit on the end that's designed to be a g-sport stimulator, and on top of that, it vibrates. All told, that's a lot of toy!
Both Miss Rat and Helpful Boyfriend shared my concerns about this particular toy, but then when I was at a kink event the other week, someone I met there absolutely raved about it. She thought it was the best thing ever.* Looking over at the site, it's got a lot of great reviews, too.
First, let's talk about structure. This dildo is essentially a glass sleeve that fits snugly over a standard silver vibrating dildo with the use of two rubber bands. Out of curiousity, I popped the sleeve off, breaking the vacuum seal, and the dildo fit only loosely over the vibe until Helpful Boyfriend figured out that you needed to roll the rubber bands over in a certain way to get the vibe to stick in the sleeve again.
This is not a gentle warm-up toy. Let's get that out upfront. I've found its girth challenging, and the bumps make it kind of harsh to me. I think to someone who was built wider than I am in the vagina would do better with this toy. You can really feel every single bump, especially when you are thrusting with it, and no amount of lube really makes that go away. The size of it made the g-spot stimulation part of actual painful when I tried to move it around at all, so I gave up on that pretty fast.
In terms of vibration power, I would say this toy is about a medium, but it is definitely worth noticing that thanks to the slight rattle of the vibe inside the glass, this toy can get loud!**
I think the vibe, for me at least, is definitely going to be more of a special occasions toy. It takes some warm-up, and the bumps are tough if you're not in the mood for that kind of sensation. I found myself wishing this toy was skinnier, just so it could slide a little more easily, and this was after lots of lube.
I liked it best when I was using it with some kind of clitoral stimulation. Over all, my thought is that this toy is trying to do a lot of different things, and only succeeding moderately with any of them. This is definitely the right choice for people who want more and then more than that, and apparently tonight, that's not me.
In other non-sex toy related new, I cannot stop writing. There is so much writing. There is so much writing due before December 1st that I'm actually a little freaked out. On one hand, money good. On the other hand, that weird fear of having my fingers fall off, less good.
Coming Soon:
My Fingers Do Not Fall Off
The Three Best Men's Panties Sites I Use for Soft Core Porn
Reading Erotica, Writing It, and Then Seeing It In the Wild
*One of the nice things about this toy being as distinctive as it is is that you can recognize its description after about four words. Glass, vibrator, and pink bumps are basically all you need.
**If my neighbors are going to fight at all hours of the night, I get to do this.


text:
PASSENGERS on-board a ship stuck in ice off Antarctica have revealed how they are coping while they wait for an Australian icebreaker to set them free.
Those on-board are putting their faith in the Australian icebreaker after a Chinese icebreaker failed to free them earlier today.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which is coordinating the rescue of the Russian passenger ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, said icebreaker came within six-and-a-half nautical miles of the ship but had to stop.
"The Chinese vessel unfortunately encountered some heavy ice that it's not capable of breaking through," AMSA spokeswoman Andrea Hayward-Maher told AFP.
"The rescue ... unfortunately has stalled." The Russian ship, with 74 scientists, tourists and crew on board, has been trapped in ice about 100 nautical miles east of the French base Dumont d'Urville since Tuesday.
The Chinese vessel came tantalisingly close to the stranded ship but it was forced to turn back to open sea once it realised it could not break through.
Passengers are now waiting for the arrival, expected late Sunday, of Australia's Antarctic resupply ship Aurora Australis which has the highest icebreaking rating of the three vessels originally asked to respond.
It is not yet clear whether the Aurora Australis will be able to go any further than the Chinese vessel, the Snow Dragon. A third ship, the French vessel L'Astrolabe, was released from the rescue mission on Saturday.
Professor Chris Turney, one of the scientists from the University of New South Wales who is on-board, has continued to post tweets, images and videos from the ship across the world.
Professor Turney has Skyped with international broadcasters including the BBC and CNN.
In the clip below, he told the BBC: "We've been locked in sea ice since Christmas Eve."
He said there is a "strong morale" on the vessel, and "spirits are high".
"We've got two weeks of fresh food, and if things get bad we've got weeks of dehydrated food," he said.
See it below:
He has also started to post the first of his daily one-minute videos to YouTube to let people know how everyone is doing.
In his first minute-long YouTube video, he emphasises that "everyone is okay".
Watch it below:
Andrew Peacock, another passenger on-board the Akademik Shokalskiy, told AFP via satellite phone: "We all know that there's a possibility of this becoming quite a protracted sit and wait."
"I think people are just looking at that next step when that second icebreaker arrives.
"We really are just hoping that the ... two powerful icebreaker ships will provide the breakage of ice that we need." Peacock said while there was an element of frustration at the turn of events, passengers had been delighted the Chinese ship had been able to get close to their remote location as quickly as it did.
"It certainly tried hard," Peacock said, adding it was still visible off the ship's starboard side when it was not snowing.
AMSA said Saturday it was "assessing options" regarding the rescue of the Russian ship which is approximately 1500 nautical miles south of the southern Australian city of Hobart.
"A helicopter equipped Chinese flagged vessel remains in the vicinity to assist if necessary," it said in a statement.
The Akademik Shokalskiy is carrying scientists and tourists who are following the Antarctic path of explorer Sir Douglas Mawson a century ago and Peacock, the expedition's doctor, said the work was continuing.
Some passengers were also walking near the boat, watching the Adelie penguins and the ice formations which had formed around the ship in the past few days, he said.
Those on-board have been carrying out the same scientific experiments Mawson's team conducted during the 1911-1914 Australian Antarctic Expedition - the first large-scale Australian-led scientific expedition to the frozen continent.
Several members of the team have already battled sea ice to reach the historic Mawson's Huts - built and occupied by the 1911-1914 expedition - which have been isolated for years by a giant iceberg.
The group, which includes Australians, New Zealanders and Britons, became stuck when unexpected weather forced their ship into heavy ice. An intense blizzard appears to have increased the build up of ice around them.
Peacock said it seemed that the ice floes had pushed up against each other to remodel the once flat landscape since they became stranded.
"Ridges have formed in the night ... the ice is quite featured," he said.
"So when we get the midnight sun and the shadows thrown across ... it's absolutely spectacular." They have been on-board for three weeks and had planned to return to New Zealand by early January.
Peacock also said the ship was well supplied and all passengers were comfortable.
"The beer is running low," he joked.


text:
Basic information about the Jackson County
The Jackson County is located in the state of Illinois. This county occupies 603 square miles, with 19 square miles being water areas. There are 60.218 inhabitants living in the county according to the 2010 Census. As for the racial makeup of Jackson County citizens, the 3 largest groups are White (77.84%), followed by Black or African American (14.26%) and Asian (3.17%). There are 25.538 households in the county, while 49,42% of them are family households and 50,58% represent non family households. There are 12 cities and towns in Jackson County. The most populated city is Carbondale city and the smallest town or village is Gorham village.
- 514Ora township
- 802Pomona township
- 961Remainder of Bradley township
- 3.642Remainder of Carbondale township
- 798Remainder of De Soto township
- 571Remainder of Elk township
- 102Remainder of Grand Tower township
- 3.792Remainder of Makanda township
- 3.897Remainder of Murphysboro township
- 580Remainder of Sand Ridge township
- 1.931Remainder of Somerset township
- 473Remainder of Vergennes township


text:
"a newly created christian based business, still under construction, that believes in the natural life that God intended, for everyone. Insights for living, artworks,books, poetry, a church survey, all geared towards natural life, the only life that God in"
Top site lists are a simple, but powerful system for exposing your site to millions. If accepted into our exclusive network this is a great opportunity to grow your site.
Pick a unique URL: top-site-list.com/your-name. Add a custom logo and background. Your choice of over 275 styles for your toplist, or provide your own custom HTML layout.
4,678 Top Site Lists
251,540 Members
1,056,744 Listed Websites
314,171,991 Total Votes
576,459,639 Total Hits


text:
A load calculation determines what the proper size system is for your specific home. Completed by your dealer, it factors in a number of criteria used to determine what size components you should include as part of your total comfort system, things like square footage, number of windows, and year-round weather concerns.
A load calculation is important so that your system operates at maximum efficiency, with optimum performance. Most homes have systems that are oversized, so you end up paying more than you should to heat and cool your home. Also, systems that are improperly sized tend to cycle too quickly or too slowly, and that can lead to maintenance problems, uneven temperatures, and an inability to control humidity. A properly sized system based on a correct load calculation can help ensure you enjoy long-lasting, reliable comfort whatever the season.
Not necessarily. Leaking or improperly designed duct work can greatly affect energy efficiency and comfort. Today's ultra-high efficiency systems can be more sensitive to duct issues. The department of energy estimates that the average home looses as much as 35% of its heating and cooling through leaking ducts. A significant number of consumers with high energy bills find that their problems are due to duct leakage and not with their equipment. Without question, your ducts should be inspected and perhaps even leak tested to make sure you are getting optimum performance from your system.
Filters should generally be replaced every month when the system is running. Replace filters with the same kind and size as the original filter. If your filter is not disposable, follow the manufacturer instructions for cleaning. If you're using a high-density filter such as an electrostatic filter, check with your local independent Trane dealer, who can raise the external static pressure of your system. If the external static pressure exceeds the design criteria of your system, it can negatively impact the performance and life of your equipment.
These days, you will see a lot of companies other than air conditioning and heating professionals advertising duct cleaning services. Before having your duct system cleaned, make sure that a qualified professional performs an inspection of the system to see if it needs it or could stand up to it. Less than two out of ten residential systems need it and can withstand the process due to age and condition. Don't become a victim of a "low price" duct cleaning scam. Always hire experienced, certified professionals who perform inspections before quoting the job.
We no longer recommend this practice except for in rare circumstances. Years ago, it was common for contractors to recommend this practice. However, operating your blower can re-evaporate moisture from evaporator coils and drain pans. This can cause humidity problems in the house. There are still some advantages to operating you blower continuously such as evening out temperature imbalances and improved filtration.
Variable speed fans operate on a simple principle: they are able to spin at different speeds depending on the heating and cooling needs of your home. Usually, they operate at lower speeds, delivering a steady, reliable stream of warm or cool air to your home. This helps control humidity levels, utility costs and system noise. When conditions become more extreme, the fan speed increases so that the system can meet increased demand, guaranteeing that on even the hottest days or coldest nights, your comfort needs will be met.
The federal government requires all air conditioning and heating equipment to be rated for efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the model.
Gas furnaces are rated for AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). This defines the amount of heat used to warm your home from the burned fuel. A 90% furnace will use 90% of the available heat to heat your home. 10% of the heat is vented outdoors. Many older gas furnaces are only 60% efficient. The other 40% is vented outdoors. You can see that a new high-efficiency furnace will require much less fuel to heat your home.
For air conditioning, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). This rating is based on general design criteria such as the compressor and outdoor coil. SEER ratings are for comparison purposes only, so that homeowners will know how they can compare different brands of products with similar efficiency ratings. The rating for the outdoor unit will reference a general efficiency range, such as 14 SEER. The actual efficiency rating for a specific system will depend on the combination of the outdoor unit and the indoor coil. These ratings are available from your dealer and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's Energy Guide. A variable-speed indoor blower unit will increase the efficiency rating of the system, as well.
Heat pumps are rated by SEER for cooling efficiency and by HSPF(Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heating efficiency. As with other ratings, the higher the HSPF, the less energy it will take to warm your home.
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is recognized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a fair and objective measure of various air cleaner technologies. CADR provides the number of cubic feet of clean air a unit delivers each minute. A higher CADR means a greater amount of clean air is being delivered to your home.
The heat pump is an air conditioner that reverses the process of removing heat from the inside of the house in summer to absorbing the heat from outside air and moving it inside in winter. It is effective by itself down to temperatures around 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point, either a gas furnace or an air handler with supplemental electric heat will kick in and help heat your home. The Auxiliary Heat light on your thermostat will light. The heat pump will continue to operate along with the electric auxiliary heat. It will shut off when a gas furnace is energized. Emergency heat is a manual override option in the event your heat pump needs service.
SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Like its "mpg" counterpart in the automotive industry, the SEER gives an indication of the performance efficiency of the system. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit. And, the more efficient the unit, the lower the operating costs.
Experts at the Trane Home Comfort Institute say that by purchasing a system with a high SEER, you'll use less energy to cool your house, resulting in lower electric bills. In many cases, these savings are enough to partially or fully offset the cost of the new equipment within a few years.
The major components enclosed in an air handler's cabinetry are the blower and motor, controls, heater compartment, and an evaporator coil. This is why it is also sometimes referred to as a fan coil. A standard air handler, like the single stage furnace, delivers the same amount of airflow no matter what the temperature inside. Trane's variable-speed air handler has Comfort-R Enhanced mode, like our variable-speed gas furnace, allowing the coil to cool down quickly and the blower to slowly ramp up and ramp down or to operate at 50 percent of the cooling air speed in the FAN ON position. This provides greater humidity control, quieter operation, maximum air circulation, temperature distribution, and air filtration for greater control of your home's indoor environment.
The average expected life of an air conditioner is approximately 15 years. The average expected life of a heat pump is approximately 10 to 12 years, since it operates year round. The average expected life of a gas furnace or air handler may be longer. Units in corrosive environments, such as, but not limited to coastal installations, will tend to have shorter lives.
There are hundreds of filtration and air cleaning products on the market. Generally speaking, for household dust, a 1" fiberglass filter will do just fine. If you have severe allergies, you might consider an extended pleated media filter (MERV 11 or higher), a bypass air cleaner with a HEPA or TFP cell, or an electronic air cleaner. If you are having problems with odors, a filter with carbon or zeolite might be what you need. There are products that use different ionization or oxidation process that can help too. The most important thing to remember is that air conditioning and heating systems do not make dust. Before investing big money on air cleaning products, take time to find and eliminate the source of the problem by having your home and ducts tested for leakage and infiltration. You might just find out you don't need expensive air cleaners and save energy as well.
Any filter you choose must not add undue restriction to the air flow. Highly restrictive filters are not recommended unless your system was specifically engineered to operate properly with them in use. Anything that overly restricts air flow (improper filter, dirty filter, too small duct work, closed dampers, furniture or other objects blocking the return) will degrade the performance of your system and cause increased operating expense. Call Boykin if you have questions.
A limited warranty covers specific parts (i.e. compressor, coil, electronics, etc.); therefore, the warranty language limits it. Extended warranties are generally purchased in addition to the limited warranty. Extended warranties cover all parts and may also include the labor for the service call. An extended warranty protects you from unexpected and unbudgeted service calls for the duration of the warranty.
Under normal operating conditions, the auxiliary heat is brought on automatically by the thermostat when the indoor temperature drops during heat pump operation. There are also times during cold, wet weather when the outdoor coil may ice up and your heat pump will go into a defrost cycle. This is nothing more than reversing the process back to cooling mode. Cooling mode makes the outdoor coil hot and melts any ice. The defrost cycle should only last a few minutes and then return to heating mode. During the defrost cycle, your comfort system is in cooling mode and the supply air is cool. To offset this cool air, the auxiliary heat will be energized during defrost. A mist or fog may be visible from the outdoor unit during defrost.
It is important that new or replacement equipment is not sized by "Rule of Thumb" or by duplicating the existing equipment capacity. The only accurate way to determine the correct capacity of heating and air conditioning equipment for your home is to have a load calculation performed on your home. There is a specific method available to all dealers to do this calculation. This will give your dealer the heat gain and heat loss design data for your home. These figures can then be used to select the appropriately sized air conditioning or heating system for your home, based on equipment-performance data.
Many factors determine the size (capacity) system your home requires. Some of these are:
- square feet to be cooled and heated
- climate
- humidity
- number of windows
- insulation factors
- which direction your home faces
- heat producing appliances, and
- the number of people who will be in the home
Oversized air conditioning systems will not remove adequate moisture from the indoor air due to short cycling. Also, oversized systems quickly cool the indoor air temperature, but they do not run long enough to remove the humidity.
A matched system is important for a variety of reasons. One is comfort. When all your components are properly sized to your home, you can control exactly how much heating or cooling you need so you can relax.
Also, a properly sized matched system enables every component to perform as designed, meaning proper cycle times are maintained, humidity is controlled, and system sound is minimized.
Another reason matched systems are important is efficiency. Most systems people buy are too large for their homes, meaning they pay to heat and cool space that isn't even there. A matched system based on the completed load calculation for your home provides just the right amount of heating and cooling you need so you get the most value for your utility dollar.
We spend 90% of our time every day indoors. Plus, today's efficient, airtight homes are excellent at conserving energy, but that also makes them better at trapping potentially irritating particles inside the home. With the rising number of people who suffer from allergies and asthma, indoor air quality has become more and more important to our general health and well-being.
A wide range of floating matter can be in your home's air, including:
|• Dust
• Animal hair and dander
• Mold spores
• Smoke
• Bacteria
|• Pollen
• Dust mites
• Lint
• Cooking grease
The average home generates 40 pounds of dust for every 1500 square feet of space. While regular home cleaning is an excellent measure to reduce exposure to irritants and pollutants, it's simply impossible to remove enough of the material by hand to make your home's air as comfortable as it can be.
The revolutionary new TRANE CleanEffects™ air filtration system works as part of your total home comfort system to remove up to an industry-leading 99.98% of the airborne allergens from your home's filtered air. There is no other system you can buy that matches the effectiveness of TRANE CleanEffects.
Humidity is a problem in many areas. The best way to control excessive humidity is to have a system that runs longer at lower speeds. Variable-speed air-handling equipment runs at very low speeds, which keeps the air circulating against the cooling coil and removes much more moisture than conventional systems. At these low speeds, the variable-speed motor also uses much less electricity than conventional motors.
The Trane XV18 and XV20i Variable Heat Pump units will out preform single stage Air Conditioning units. The XV20i variable speed heat pump system can both heat and cool your home efficiently, while simultaneously creating a clean and comfortable environment in your home.


text:
As we are now in holiday party season, it seems a good time to look back at previous holiday parties at N-YHS. Pictures in the N-YHS Archives show parties from the 1950's and 1960's that include dancing, plenty of drinking, and even smoking in the museum. Most of these pictures depict the staff inside what was the Port of New York Gallery on the first floor of the museum. The permanent exhibit was designed to appear to be the inside of a ship.
For more images of past N-YHS holiday parties, check out images on our Flickr account here. See box 24 on the list for the past party images.


text:
I'm sure that everyone is by now aware of the sex abuse scandal plaguing the Catholic church. What was once talked about in hushed tones, if at all, is now openly and hotly debated in the media and the pews.
The image and reputation of the Vatican and the Catholic church lies in tatters as evidence has come to light that there was a systematic and methodical process in place to protect the Church and priests instead of protecting the innocent and helpless victims of the heinous crimes being perpetrated.
Many are even pointing out that Ratzinger's nomination was motivated by the legal trial in the US. Of course, now in his position as the Pope, he claimed immunity from appearing as a witness.
The effect of this has been nothing short of devastating for the Church, especially in the Pope's home country of Germany.
As Hitchens points out, the Vatican's claim of statehood hangs on the flimsiest thread, having been originally created out of thin air by the Italian fascist dictator Mussolini to cement his ties with the Catholic church and gain its support.
Hitchens, by the way, participated in a spirited debate as part of the Intelligence Squared forum on the question of whether the Catholic church is a force for good:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.
While Hitchens is up to his usual standard of eloquence, I found Fry's articulate arguments to be completely devastating. And they clearly had the intended effect as the vast majority of the undecided switched to his side as did a great many of those that had initially agreed that the Catholic Church is a force for good.
For those with a pitch black sense of humor, here is Louis CK learning about the Catholic church – WARNING! Video contains harsh language and suggestive imagery. But the solitary tear running down CK's cheek makes it worthwhile.
Baha'i Catholic blog is surprisingly quiet but then again, there hasn't been an update since late last year.
What we have here is an institution that has lost its way and rather than existing to serve a higher purpose, it merely exists to prolong its own existence and further its own pomp and grandeur.
This is a danger that can befall any organization. Those which purport to be divinely guide and free from error are especially susceptible because those within the institution believe that theirs is a heavenly task which must be protected at all costs and those outside often dare not question or criticize it.
It is all too easy to overlook the fact that the Church has been protected by the law. For many decades when victims went to the police and to the public prosecutor, no action was taken simply because the perpetrator was the Church and it was considered sacrosanct.
The Baha'i Faith has its own, albeit small, share of these sort of public scandals. In the 1990′s Dr. Hossain Danesh, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada (and a long time secretary of the body – from 1985 to 1989) lost the right to practice psychiatry as a result of charges of sexual abuse brought forward by a handful of his former patients.
Far from being sanctioned and sent away in shameful seclusion he was soon given a plum job at the new Baha'i Landegg university in Switzerland. He then proceeded to run that institution into the ground. The university closed its doors in 2005.
Recently Danesh's "old boy" network connections at the NSA got him a heavily promoted gig in Canada. With the full backing of the national Baha'i institution, he conducted a $50/person seminar on "Healthy Marriage and Family Life". Here is a promotional flyer for one of the many planned seminars:
They key element in this is to ask whether Danesh would be able to slink back to Canada and receive such a warm welcome had he not been a long-standing member of the NSA. Would the NSA have gone out of its way to promote the workshop of a regular Baha'i who had a checkered past?
The other question is why other Baha'is who are infinitely more qualified in this field and have a stainless reputation are not being given the same platform? The only distinction is the personal connections that Danesh made through his many years of membership on the NSA. This is what leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Rather than being loyal to virtues and principles, the NSA has betrayed itself as being loyal to personal connections.
There was another scandal a few years ago involving a young Baha'i in the developing world who alleged that she was being sexually abused by her father. It turned out that her father was a member of the country's NSA (and its chairperson). Instead of considering her physical and mental health as the highest priority, the institutions instead focused on how to mitigate any fallout this might have on the Baha'i administration and the image and reputation of the same.
Obviously we cannot expect such institutions to police themselves. There is no reason whatsoever why similar allegations which involve the Catholic church or the Baha'i administration must be submitted to them for internal deliberation. Refreshingly enough, from what I've read of guidance from Baha'i institutions, they are in agreement with this and encourage victims to approach the proper authorities and seek legal recourse through appropriate channels. The best panacea for such tragic crimes remains transparency and public scrutiny.