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Thank you so much for all the fun ideas for coffee drinks!
And now onto the really fun part...
The winner of the $30 gift certificate from
#35...Valerie who suggested a Spiced Mocha Latte
Congratulations, Valerie!
Toni! Thank you!!! YAY!!! I'm so excited-what a fun way to end the day today-knowing I get to fabric shop tomorrow!! And I do hope you get to try the latte someday soon:). Thanks again!ReplyDelete
Hooray for Valerie -- she deserves it!! Thanks for sharing such a great prize, Toni!ReplyDelete
awesome! Congrats Valerie!ReplyDelete


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The Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights officially kicks off the week of Thanksgiving and lasts through the Christmas holiday. Over 60 communities across the state join in the celebration hosting lighting events, parades, carriage rides, music and more. It's a great time to enjoy the holiday festivities in your community and travel around the state to enjoy others!
Get a Trail of Holiday Lights brochure here, or at any Bank of America, Best Western, Shell Superstop or Arkansas Welcome Center. For more information, visit Arkansas.com/TrailofHolidayLights and check out the official Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights Facebook fan page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Nizams of Hyderabad History
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizam of Hyderabad, was a former monarchy of theHyderabad State, now divided into the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra on a linguistic basis. Nizam, shortened from Nizam-ul-Mulk, meaningAdministrator of the Realm, was the title of the nativesovereigns of Hyderabad State, since 1724, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty. The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, a viceroy of the Deccan under theMughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and he intermittently ruled under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, and afterAurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal Empire crumbled and the viceroy in Hyderabad, the young Asaf Jah, declared himself independent. From 1798 Hyderabad was one of the princely states of India, but it retained control of its internal affairs.
Seven Nizams ruled Hyderabad for two centuries untilIndian independence in 1947. The Asaf Jahi rulers were great patrons of literature, art, architecture, culture,jewellery collection and rich food. The Nizams ruled until 17 September 1948 when Indian military attacked the Nizams forces, forcing the Nizam's surrender to Indian forces in what became known as a 'Police Action' after the Indian Army's 'Operation Polo'. The Nizam's delegation to the United Nations in New York and UK Government in London was too late to prevent the forceful annexation by India of this independent nation into Indian territory. Initially it was integrated into Indian Union, and in 1956 divided on linguistic lines and merged into neig
Origin of the title
Nizām-ul-mulk was a title first used in Urdu around 1600 to mean Governor of the realm or Deputy for the Whole Empire. The word is derived from the Arabic word, Nizām (نظام), meaning order, arrangement. The Nizam was referred to as Ala Hadrat / Ala Hazrat or Nizam Sarkar, meaning His Exalted Highness.
Rise of the Nizams
The first Nizam ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Nizams split from the Mughals to form an independent kingdom. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states as client kings. The Nizams retained internal power over Hyderabad State until 17 September 1948 when Hyderabad was forcefully integrated into the new Indian Union.
The Asaf Jah dynasty had only seven rulers; however there was a period of 13 years after the rule of the first Nizam when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognised as the rulers.
A legend about the first Nizam[vague] states that, on one of his hunting trips he was offered somekulcha oval bread (an Indian bread) by a holy man and was asked to eat as many as he could. The Nizam could eat seven kulchas and the holy man then prophesied that seven generations of his family would rule the state.
By tradition no Nizam has ever left India no matter how good a reason might exist for doing so, as it was said[by whom?], "the Sovereign is too precious to his people ever to leave India.".
During the period of Nizam rule, Hyderabad State became the richest,[1] and the senior-most salute state among the Indian princely states. It was spread over 223,000 km2 (86,000 sq mi) in the Deccan, ruled by the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The Nizam's were conferred with the title of His Exalted Highness, and "Faithful Ally of the British Government" by the imperial-colonial British government for their collaborating rôle in the wars against Tipoo Sultan of Mysore, the Great Revolt of 1857–1858.,[2]becoming the only Indian prince to be given both these statuses.[3] The rule of the Nizams brought cultural and economic growth for Hyderabad city. One example of the wealth of Nizam rule is theJewels of the Nizams, which is an international tourist attraction occasionally displayed in Salar Jung Museum. In 1948 Hyderabad state had an estimated population of 17 million (1.7 crore), and it generated an estimated annual revenue of £90,029,000.[2] The state had its own currency known as the Hyderabadi rupee, until 1951.[4] The pace at which the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan amassed wealth made him one of the world's richest men in 1937 and he was also known for his miserliness..[3]According to the Forbes All-Time Wealthiest List of 2008, Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan is the fifth richest man ever, with an estimated worth of US$210.8 billion (adjusted with the present value of the US dollar).[4] The Nizams set up numerous institutions in the name of the dynasty including hospitals and schools, colleges, universities that imparted education in Urdu.[4] Inspired by the Indian Civil Service, the Nizams established the Hyderabad Civil Service and built large reservoirs. Survey work on the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam was initiated during this time, though the actual work was completed by theGovernment of India in 1969.[5][6]hbouring Indian states. He and his family including Salar Jung I was taught by Nawab Sarwar Ul Mulk and Agha Mirza Baig Sarwar ul mulk Bahadur was his political advisor and his peshi secretary.The last Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, Asif Jah VII, had 28 sons and 44 daughters. The Asaf Jah dynasty followed the policy of male primogeniture regardless of the mother's marital status or rank.
First generation (sons)
- Moazzam Jah, (21 February 1907 – 9 October 1970), second son.
- Kazim Jah Bahadur (1912–1952), fourth son. Have 2 sons and 3 daughters.
- Mir Ahmad Ali Khan (1912–); fifth son.
- Saadath Jah Bahadur, sixth son.
- Abid Jah (1913–1983), seventh son.
- Hashmat Jah (1913–1988), eighth son.
- Hashim Jah (1913–1991), ninth son.
- Taqi Jah (1913–1985), tenth son.
- Sa'adat Jah (1917–1988), nineteenth son.
- Imdad Jah (1944–); twenty-third son.
- Nawazish Jah (1944–2010); twenty-fifth son.
- Fazal Jah (1946–); twenty-sixth son
- Bhojat Jah (1947–1982), twenty-seventh son.
Second and subsequent generations
- Mukarram Jah (Barkat Ali Khan), (6 October 1933–), son of Azam Jah, the eldest son of the last Nizam. He was given the title Asaf Jah VIII.
- Muffakham Jah (1939–), son of Azam Jah, the eldest son of the last Nizam, and younger brother of Mukarram Jah (Barkat Ali Khan), Asaf Jah VIII.
- Shahamat Jah (1957–), son of Moazzam Jah, the second son of the last Nizam.
- Azmet Jah, the eldest son of Mukarram Jah (Barkat Ali Khan), Asaf Jah VIII.
- Azam Jah (1979–), second son of Azmet Jah.
- Rafat Jah (1966–), elder son of Muffakham Jah.
- Farhad Jah, younger son of Muffakham Jah.
- Mir Meraj 'Ali Khan; third son of Saadath Jah Bahadur.
- Ahmad Jah, eldest son of Kazim Jah, the fourth son of the last Nizam.
- Baqir Jah; younger son of Kazim Jah, the fourth son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Arshad Ali Khan; son of Ahmad Jah
- Mir Muhammad Jafar Ali Khan (1964–); elder son of Baqir Jah.
- Mir Kauser Ali Khan (1966–); younger son of Baqir Jah.
- Mir Banda Ali Khan (1951–); son of Abid Jah (1913–1983), the seventh son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Mushraf Ali Khan (1969–); son of Mir Banda Ali Khan.
- Mir Ata'ullah Khan (1957–); eldest son of Hashmat Jah (1913–1988), the eighth son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Rahmat 'Ali Khan; second son of Hashmat Jah.
- Mir Hassan 'Ali Khan (1959–); third son of Hashmat Jah.
- Mir Husain 'Ali Khan (1961–); fourth son of Hashmat Jah.
- Mir Shamsher 'Ali Khan (1941–); eldest son of Hashim Jah (1913–1991), the ninth son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Miraj 'Ali Khan; second son of Hashim Jah.
- Mir Shahamat 'Ali Khan (1942–); third son of Hashim Jah.
- Mir Baktiyar 'Ali Khan (1964–); elder son of Mir Shahamat 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Sulaiman 'Ali Khan (1980–); younger son of Mir Shahamat 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Kawkab 'Ali Khan; fourth son of Hashim Jah.
- Mir Zamin 'Ali Khan (1948–); fifth son of Hashim Jah.
- Mir Muhammad Jaffar 'Ali Khan (1978–); son of Mir Zamin 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Haider 'Ali Khan (2000–); son of Mir Muhammad Jaffar 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Murtuza 'Ali Khan (2007–); son of Mir Muhammad Jaffar 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Askar 'Ali Khan; sixth son of Hashim Jah.
- Mir Muhammad Nusrath 'Ali Khan; seventh son of Hashim Jah.
- Mir Muhammad Hussain 'Ali Khan (1970–); son of Mir Muhammad Nusrath 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Karam 'Ali Khan (1956–); eighth son of Hashim Jah.
- Mir Osman 'Ali Khan (1985–); son of Mir Karam 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Najaf 'Ali Khan (1964–); ninth son of Hashim Jah.
- Muhammad Anas Ali Khan (2001–); son of Mir Najaf 'Ali Khan.
- Mir Naqi 'Ali Khan. Elder son of Taqi Jah (1913–1985), tenth son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Ja'afar 'Ali Khan. Younger son of Taqi Jah.
- Mir Firasath 'Ali Khan; eldest son of Sa'adat Jah (1917–1988), nineteenth son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Saqafath 'Ali Khan. (1968–); fourth son of Sa'adat Jah.
- Imdad Jah (1944–); twenty-third son of the last Nizam.
- Dilshad Jah (1963–); elder son of Imdad Jah
- Mir Irshad 'Ali Khan (1977–); younger son of Imdad Jah.
- Son of Nawazish Jah (1944–2010); twenty-fifth son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Salabat 'Ali Khan (1969–); son of Bhojat Jah (1947–1982), twenty-seventh son of the last Nizam.
- Mir Bhojat 'Ali Khan (1998–), son of Mir Salabat 'Ali Khan.
- Manzoor Ahmad Nizami (1926–2008), son of Nizam Uddin Asaf Jah VII.
- Farooq Nizami (1965–), son of Manzoor Ahmad Nizami Asaf Jah VII.
- Feroz Nizami (1994–), son of Farooq Nizami HEH Asaf Jah VII.
- Muhammad Bin Farooq (2003–), Nizam, son of Farooq Nizami HEH Asaf Jah VII.
- Mir Danish Ali Khan (1966) elder Son Of Nawazish Jah.
- Mir Darvesh Ali Khan (1986) Son Of Mir Danish Ali Khan.
Descendants of Asaf Jah III
- Sahibzada Mir Jamil ud-din 'Ali Khan (1940–). Descended from Asaf Jah III through his second son Samsam ul-Mulk, Sunisamad ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Bashir ud-din 'Ali Khan Bahdur, Samsan Jang (1797–1876), through his seventh son Nawab Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Muazziz Jang (1821–?), through his son Sahibzada Mir Yusuf 'Ali Khan (1856-19?), through his son Sahibzada Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur (1900–1937) and through his son Sahibzada Mir Bashir ud-din Ali Khan Bahadur (1921–1980).
- Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi (1966–). Son of Sahibzada Mir Jamil ud-din 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Bashir Siddiqi (1999–). Son of Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi.
- Sahibzada Abrar Siddiqi (2001–). Son of Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi.
- Shahizada Mir farooq Ali Khan . Son of Mir Moinuddin Ali Khan.son of mir bahauddin ali khan uzzam-ud-daula saham-jung son of samsam-ud-daula
- Sahibzada Mir Moiz ud-din 'Ali Khan (1954–). Son of Sahibzada Mir farooq Ali Khan(1924–1986)
- Shahizada Mir Mohiuddin Ali Khan & Shahizada Mir Farooq Ali Khan Son of Mir Moiz uddin Ali Khan.
- shahibzadi Mir Sadia Moiz D/o.Shahibzada Mir Moiz uddin Ali Khan(Wife of Shaikh ilyas Ahmed).
- Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan (1944–). Son of Nawab Mir Husain 'Ali Khan Bahadur (1923–1987), the second son of Sahibzada Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur.
- Sahibzada Mir Himayath 'Ali Khan (1984–). Eldest son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Azam 'Ali Khan (1989–). Second son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Mazhar 'Ali Khan (2001–). Third son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Osman 'Ali Khan (1952–). Second son of Nawab Mir Husain Ali Khan Bahadur.
- Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan (1955–). Third son of Nawab Mir Husain Ali Khan Bahadur.
- Sahibzada Mir Tawfeeq 'Ali Khan (1983–). Elder son of Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Mujahid 'Ali Khan (1995–). Second son of Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan.[7]
Family tree
I. Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I, 1st Nizam of Hyderabad (20 August 1671 – 1 June 1748). A senior governor and counsellor in the Imperial government. Defeated the Imperial forces on 19 June 1720 at Hasanpur and formed an independent state of his own. Confirmed in his possessions by Imperial firman and crowned on 31 July. Named Vice-Regent of the Mughal Empire by the Emperor Muhammad Shah on 8 February 1722, secured the province of Berar on 11 October 1724 and formally made Hyderabad City his new capital on 7 December 1724. Died at Burhampur on 1 June 1748, aged 76. He had six sons and seven daughters, including:
- II. Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad, 2nd Nizam of Hyderabad (26 February 1712 – 16 December 1750). Ruled from 1 June 1748 – 16 December 1750, when he was killed aged 38 by the Nawab of Kadapa.
- Sahibzadi Khair un-nisa Begum. Married Nawab Talib Muhi ud-din Mutasawwil Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang. She had issue, a son:
- III. Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat, 3rd Nizam of Hyderabad (died 13 February 1751). Succeeded upon his uncle's death; ruled from 16 December 1750 – 13 February 1751, when he was killed by the Nawab of Kurnool.
- IV. Asaf ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang, 4th Nizam of Hyderabad (November 1718 – 16 September 1763). Succeeded his brother, ruling from 13 February 1751 – 8 July 1762. Deposed by his brother on 8 July 1762 and killed in prison the following year, aged 44.
- V. Ali Khan Asaf Jah II, 5th Nizam of Hyderabad (7 March 1734 – 6 August 1803). Ruled 8 July 1762 – 6 August 1803, when he died aged 69. He had 11 sons and 12 daughters, including:
- VI. Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III, 6th Nizam of Hyderabad (11 November 1768 – 21 May 1829). The first of the dynasty to be officially granted the title of Nizam. Ruled 6 August 1803 – 21 May 1829, when he died aged 60. He had 10 sons and nine daughters, including:
- VII. Nasir-ud-dawlah, Asaf Jah IV, 7th Nizam of Hyderabad (25 April 1794 – 16 May 1857). Ruled 21 May 1829 – 16 May 1857, when he died aged 63. He had five sons, including:
- VIII. Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V, 8th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI (11 October 1827 – 26 February 1869). The first of the Nizams to fall under British rule. Ruled 16 May 1857 – 26 February 1869, when he died aged 41. He had four sons and six daughters, including:
- IX. Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, 9th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCB, GCSI, KIH(17 August 1866 – 31 August 1911). Succeeded his father on 26 February 1869, ruled under a regency until 5 February 1884, when he was invested with full ruling powers by the Viceroy of India. Died 31 August 1911, aged 45. He had seven sons and six daughters, including:
- X. Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, 10th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE,Royal Victorian Chain, MP (6 April 1886 – 24 January 1967). Granted the style of His Exalted Highness (1 January 1918), the title of Faithful Ally of the British Government (24 January 1918) and Nizam of Hyderabad and of Berar (13 November 1936). The last of the ruling Nizams; ruled absolutely from 31 August 1911 – 19 September 1948, when the state was formally annexed to the Union of India. Maintained semi-ruling and semi-autonomous status from then until 23 November 1949, when he accepted the paramountcy of the new Indian government and Constitution and acceded to the Union. Formally lost his sovereignty, ending 230 years of Asaf Jahi rule, upon the formal promulgation of the Constitution on 26 January 1950. Served as Rajpramukh of the new Hyderabad State from 26 January 1950 until 31 October 1956, when the post was abolished. Served as a titular monarch from 26 January 1950 until his death on 24 January 1967, aged 80. He had children, 28 sons and 44 daughters, including:
- HH Azam Jah, Prince of Berar, GCIE, GBE (21 February 1907 – 9 October 1970). Granted the title of His Highness the Prince of Berar (13 November 1936). Passed over in the line of succession in 1967 in favour of his elder son. He had two sons, including the elder:
- XI. Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII, 11th Nizam of Hyderabad (6 October 1933–). Succeeded his grandfather as titular monarch on 24 January 1967; titles abolished by the Indian Government on 28 December 1971. He has children that include two sons.
[7]After the British left India in 1947, the princely state of Hyderabad acceded to Pakistan but Indian forces did not adhere to the partition plan of the Sub continent,while the ruler of the state opted to join Pakistan and started taking support from Pakistan. After attempts by India to persudade the Nizam to accede to India failed, the Indian government launched Hyderabad police action on 13 September 1948, swiftly overrunning the Nizam's forces, illegally and within four and a half days took control of the princely state of Hyderabad. The Nizam capitulated and his forces surrendered on 17 September 1948 and he broadcast this over radio the same afternoon. His rule ended on 17 September 1948. It was the end of the ruling dynasty. The Nizam's delegation to the United Nations in New York and UK Government in London was turned a deaf ear to, and proved the connivance of UN and the Uk with India to this illegal forceful annexation by India of independent princely state of Hydrabad into Indian territory.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, died on Friday 24 February 1967. All Nizams are buried in the royal graves at the Makkah Masjid near Charminar in Hyderabad except for the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who wished to be buried beside his mother, in the grave yard of Judi Mosque facing King Kothi Palace.


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These cakes were an early version of road food. Workers in the field or travelers would tuck several into their pockets for a simple meal. You can purchase rice flour at health food stores.
How to Make It
Step 1
Stir together rice and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl.
Step 2
Pour oil to a depth of 1/4 inch into a large, heavy skillet; heat to 350°.
Step 3
Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls into hot oil; fry in batches 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on wire racks over paper towels. Serve immediately.
Southern Living Favorites


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There are only a few smartphone models that can boast of being used by a lot of people despite being released in the market for over two years already. The #Samsung #Galaxy #S5 is one of these models as the phone is still quite popular today. What makes this device last this long is a combination of software support from Samsung as well as the great hardware components used by the device itself. While this has proven to be a dependable daily driver there are instances when certain issues can occur on this phone. In this latest installment of our troubleshooting series we will tackle the Galaxy S5 stopped charging issue & other related problems.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy S5 or any other Android device for that matter then feel free to contact us using this form. We will be more than happy to assist you with any concern that you may have with your device. This is a free service we are offering with no strings attached. We however ask that when you do contact us try to be as detailed as possible so that an accurate assessment can be made and the correct solution can be given.
If you would like to browse the previous parts in this series then check out this link.
You may also reach us at our Facebook and Google+ social media accounts.
S5 Stopped Charging
Problem: My Samsung Galaxy s5 active stopped charging. Today I went to go plug in my phone after getting the "critically low" warning. When I plugged it in it did not charge but gave me a notification saying something about power sharing. I looked up solutions to why my phone isn't charging and did some troubleshooting where i removed the battery and held the power button. It worked for a second. Then it would continuously switch from charging to not-charging. I have tried multiple chargers in different outlets and every time the "Power-Sharing" notification comes up. Is there any way you could help?
Solution: For this particular issue you should try cleaning the charging port of your phone first. Use a can of compressed air when cleaning this port and make sure that any dirt or debris stuck in this port gets removed. Next, try charging the phone using a different charging cord.
If the issue persists then the next step is to check if a glitch in the phone software is causing the problem. For this you will have to backup your phone data then do a factory reset. Once the reset has completed check if you are now able to charge the phone.
If the above steps fail to fix the problem then it's possible that this could be caused by a faulty charging port. I suggest that you have this checked at a service center if this is the case.
S5 Red X In Battery Status
Problem: For some reason yesterday, I went to charge my phone with the original charger it came with. I never had this problem before yesterday, but now everytime I try charging it, there is a red x in the battery status. I've tried everything, cleaning the charging port carefully, blowing it out for dust, resetting my phone, uninstalling apps while in safe mode, and trying different chargers.. I have even went into ultra saving mode and turned it off. I still get rule incompatible charger ..bla bla bla. What is going on? Everything I need is on this phone! Please help.
Solution: It appears that the problem could be caused by a faulty charging port or battery. Try getting a new battery first and check if this fixes the problem. When charging the phone using the new battery you should also try using a different charging cord. If the issue still occurs then this could already be caused by an issue with the charging port. I suggest that you have this checked at a service center.
S5 Crashed Does Not Turn On
Problem: my at&t galaxy s5 model sm-g900a crashed COMPLETELY in this order phone went to start up screen on its own phone was turned off after 10 attempts to restart phone factory reset was selected factory reset loaded 3x and never finished after 2 soft restarts phone reached at&t start screen then turned off and will not charge via wall or computer battery was changed and now phone is totally dead will not react to anything.
Solution: For this particular issue you should first clean the charging port of your phone. Use a can of compressed air when cleaning this port and make sure that any dirt or debris stuck in this port gets removed. Once the port has been cleaned try charging the phone for at least 20 minutes first using a different charging cord. Check if the phone turns on. If you still get no response from your device then this issue might be caused by a faulty power IC. I recommend that you have this checked at a service center.
S5 Battery Symbol With Exclamation Mark
Problem: Everytime I try to charge my phone, it'll come up a phone charging symbol as if it's dead (it has 20% battery) then a battery symbol with an exclamation point comes up inside of the symbol. I can't figure out how to fix it.
Solution: When you get an exclamation mark when trying to charge the phone this indicates that the battery is not communicating with the phone. Try turning off your phone first then remove the battery. Clean the battery contacts using a cotton bud dipped in alcohol. Reinsert this battery properly then turn on your phone. Check if the issue remains. If it does then follow the troubleshooting steps listed below.
- Try using a new battery in your phone.
- Clean the charging port using a can of compressed air. Make sure to remove any dirt or debris that is stuck in this port.
- Check for possible liquid damage by examining the liquid damage indicator sticker inside the SIM slot.
- Try using a different charging cord and charger.
If the above steps fail then I recommend that you have your phone checked at a service center.
S5 Not Going Past Startup Screen
Problem: I just got an unlocked, refurbished S5 that originally ran on Verizon. I am with straight talk and have an AT&T sim card that I put in the phone. I turned the phone on and everything worked fine. I got all my info set up on the phone and it still worked fine. It did get a little hot but nothing that I thought was bad. I turned the phone off and then back on. After doing this the phone won't go past the startup screen. It's like it is on a loop.
Solution: You will need to check first if this issue is caused by a glitch in the phone software. Start the troubleshooting by removing the battery and microSD card of the phone ( if one is installed). Press and hold the power button for at least a minute. This discharges the phone circuit and clears its RAM. Reinsert just the battery then check if the phone will successfully turn on.
If the issue remains then try starting the phone in recovery mode then wipe the cache partition of the device. This will delete the cached data of the phone which could be causing the problem. If this doesn't work then try doing a factory reset also from the recovery mode. Take note that this will erase your phone data so make sure to do this if you have a backup of your phone data.
If the above steps fail the next step is to check if this is caused by a faulty battery. Connect your phone to its charger. Make sure that you see the charging indicator. Try turning on your phone.
Should the above steps fail then you should bring your phone to a service center and have it checked.
S5 Charges Then Stops Charging
Problem: About a month ago I noticed that my galaxy s5 has charging issues. Sometimes when it is connected to the charger it charges for a few seconds then stops charging ( connect a charger message appears ) and immediately starts charging again. This keeps happening in a cycle forever. My old charger USB cable had a small cut so I thought that was the problem but even after replacing the USB cable the problem did not get solved. Sometimes it charges normally sometimes slow and sometimes like mentioned above. I would be really happy if you could help me out.
Solution: For this issue try cleaning the charging port of the phone first as dirt or debris stuck here can usually cause intermittent charging problems. Use a can of compressed air when cleaning this port. Once the port is clean try using a different charging cord and wall charger when charging your phone.
If the problem persists then this could be caused by a faulty charging port. Have this checked at a service center.
S5 Charges Slowly
Problem: Hello! I need your help about a problem that I'm facing with my samsung galaxy s5 . my phone is 1 year old and recently it charges very slowly because the usb cable so i changed it with another one (genuine samsung cable that came with my sister's phone) and it didn t charge while it does when i plug it to my sisters phone and with the same cable my phone charges from my laptop (ps i tried an application called ampere and the old cable that charges slowly provide 300ma on my phone while the new cable charges with 450 ma from laptop and it indicates 1000ma when i plug it in the wall to my sister's phone so i think it's software problem) one other thing my phone doesn't charges from my friends gs5 phone charges plz i need a solution and thank you
Solution: If your phone only charges on your phone laptop then it's possible that there's an issue with one of the pins in your phone's charging port. Try cleaning the charging port first since dirt covering the pins could cause charging problems. Use a can of compressed when cleaning the port.
If the issue still persist then try using a different battery in your phone to check if the problem is caused by a faulty battery.
Should the above steps fail then you should bring your phone to a service center and have it checked.
S5 Randomly Resets
Problem: So I will wake up in the morning and unplug my phone from the charger at 100%. Throughout the day I have no issues unless I am using the phone. By 70%, it will randomly reset and keep showing the initial screen from when you turn it on the first time. And it will continue to reset from that point literally for hours unless I remove the battery. The only way to stop it is to plug it back up and wait for a while, maybe an hour to use it. I can't just put the battery back in. It wasn't that bad before, but after the system update it became a daily occurrence. What are my options before I just buy a new phone?
Related Problem: My samsung galaxy s5 shuts down on its own but does not turn on, it will only vibrate whenever i press the power button. I have reset it, i've tried wiping the cache partition but the problem continues. What can i do to fix this if possible?
Solution: What you will need to do in this case is to eliminate any software glitches that could cause this problem. To do this backup your phone data then do a factory reset. Once the reset is done don't instal anything in your phone just yet. Try to check first if the issue still occurs. If it does then this could already be caused by an internal component that's failing to work. If this is the case then I recommend that you bring your phone to a service center and have it checked.
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Mrs. Linklater answers questions about the comic, sorry, cosmic universe, in between other stuff.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Chicago has a kick off parade at noon. This morning the river will be dyed green to match the hair, hats, and painted faces of the stoned blarneys named O'Blonsky, O'Smith, and O'Nelson lining the parade route. Everybody's Irish for the next few days. For most that doesn't mean learning to bagpipe, sing Danny Boy, or talk like Colin Farrell. It just means getting drunk.
I'm guessing, but this may be the single most alcoholic weekend of the year. While most holidays make a pretense of celebrating something, like the new year, or rabbits laying eggs, does St. Patrick's Day serve any other purpose besides imbibification?
Since nothing goes better with drinking than driving, there will also be roadkill.
The good news is that there are thousands of people sitting on death row -- transplant lists to be more accurate -- waiting for new livers, new hearts, new lungs, new kidneys, new corneas, new skin, new bones, and any number of other replacement parts.
So holidays take on new meaning when you don't know whether you'll be alive for the next one. You look forward to the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas with greater anticipation when you're waiting for an organ that could save your life.
Even faux holidays like Super Bowl weekend, prom night, homecoming, and of course, St. Patrick's Day provide hope for those who wait, because wherever there's drinking there's going to be death by driving. That's why families of people waiting for transplants call them Donor Holidays.
So, as a public service, I have come up with a slogan to encourage a successful holiday experience -- for some people at least. You can copy it, blow it up, print it out and tape it to your bumper with my permission.
10 comments:
That's why I love you so much. You're soooo subtle.
- March 15, 2008 at 11:12:00 AM CDT
God I miss those days ;(!! I quit drinking 20 years ago! rose
- March 15, 2008 at 11:29:00 AM CDT
"Keep transplant hopes alive -- drink and drive!!"
...preferably on a motorcycle!
- March 15, 2008 at 3:16:00 PM CDT
I'm just guessing...
you're not Irish (?)
- March 15, 2008 at 5:09:00 PM CDT
Geez, you guys are just starting today? Our Parade was yesterday (Friday) I think Savannah's over indulgence started on Thursday night.
- March 15, 2008 at 6:40:00 PM CDT
Actually, there was another parade last weekend, so the drinking got started days ago.
Mrs. L
- March 15, 2008 at 7:01:00 PM CDT
Mrs L, you have acquired a new fan; I like the sound of your voice in your writing. Interesting slogan for future organ donors, I've written it down on specific things to remember. After reading your entry about your Aunt's passing, I'm more fearful of growing older, without any relatives to care for me, and in the hands of the emergency med's that will handling me like they did your Aunt. I am 66, still a driver, and fear retirement.
- March 17, 2008 at 2:54:00 AM CDT
This may be sacrilege, but does anyone really know the lyrics to Danny Boy? Or is it another one of those songs that people start off strong, then fade to "hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hey, let's have another toast?" :p
Of course, if Colin forgot the words, I wouldn't notice. I bet his 'hmm, hmm, hmm' still sounds pretty good. lol
- March 17, 2008 at 3:42:00 AM CDT
And keep driving those donorcycles!
- March 18, 2008 at 4:09:00 PM CDT
Even better are the people who ride motorcycles without helmets. We can call them road kill, or if someone is just brain dead, call them an organ doner.
- March 24, 2008 at 6:31:00 PM CDT


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Wednesday, March 3, 2010
I Know You Love Me, But Do You Think I'm Funny?
Ryan: Yeah.
Me: Do you think it's funny?
Ryan: Yeah.
Me: With the talking butterflies?
Ryan: Yeah.
Me: And one butterfly wants a burger?
Ryan: Yeah.
Me: Were you, like, laughing out of your chair when you saw it?
Ryan: . . . . . . . . . .
Me: But still, it's pretty funny, right?
Ryan: Yeah.
Me: Like, quirky funny.
Ryan: . . . . . . . . . .
23 comments:
- jennie w. said...
SAdly, I read you in google reader a lot so I didn't even know about the new header.
But it's funny. As is most everything you do. I would like a tutorial on "how to do Tiffany's hair". Just for fun.
- March 3, 2010 at 5:38 PM
- Hil said...
your header made me laugh out of my chair. for what its worth.
talking butterflies??? and one wants a burger?? are you crazy? that's hilarious.
- March 3, 2010 at 5:40 PM
- Kristina P. said...
I think it's adorable and hilarious.
- March 3, 2010 at 5:49 PM
- Ginnie said...
You should have asked him if the shirt you were wearing made your "sisters" look big, just to make sure he was actually listening. I'll validate you. Talking butterflies?! That's comedy in its purest form.
- March 3, 2010 at 6:28 PM
- Christy said...
Oh this made me laugh! I get the same response from my husband when I ask him anything about my blog.
- March 3, 2010 at 6:39 PM
- Anneliese said...
i noticed it right away & thought it was extremely clever. i can't decide which joke is funnier? the burger or the you can talk. i usually lean towards the you can talk punch line.
- March 3, 2010 at 6:42 PM
- Hil said...
p.s. thanks for the hair product tip. seriously can't wait to give it a try... i need help.
- March 3, 2010 at 7:13 PM
- Annie said...
sounds like a conversation i might have with dan.
and yes, i think you are funny. very funny.
- March 3, 2010 at 7:13 PM
- Andria said...
Well, I giggled.
I think men and women just have different tastes in funny. Like, I like things that are actually funny, and my husband likes things like people farting and other gross stuff. Maybe it isn't the smame in your house, but...
- March 3, 2010 at 7:40 PM
- Becky said...
They are all the same! (Men I mean.) Again, I LOVE your new header. Verrry funnnnny!
- March 3, 2010 at 10:38 PM
- Kami said...
I would have really LOL'd if it said "Filet O Fish" instead. ;) Maybe you could work something out for the April Header.
ps. Loving the Mix.
- March 4, 2010 at 12:06 AM
- Suzie said...
I peed a little when I read this....
- March 4, 2010 at 1:24 AM
- Travelin'Oma said...
Were the butterflies hiding under your bushel with you? (You could do a tutorial on creating hysterical headers.)
- March 4, 2010 at 1:50 AM
- Em-Jae said...
Hi, found you through m.writes.
You're flipping hilarious.
- March 4, 2010 at 4:16 AM
- Jodi said...
It makes me want to be vegan.
- March 4, 2010 at 11:35 AM
- Soul-Fusion said...
It made me laugh before I even read the post. Then the post made me laugh too.
- March 4, 2010 at 12:45 PM
- Lacey Jane said...
LOVE this because I can TOTALLY relate. I'm always trying to impress my husband with my humor skills AND then ask him how funny I am. Most of the time, I fail miserably!
- March 4, 2010 at 5:47 PM
- Mindi said...
oh, MY! i laughed out of my chair. AND L.o.L. as well as semi-peed myself.
but only because i could just change the names from 'tiffany' and 'ryan' to 'mindi' and 'russ'.
except i'd have to insert a few *yawn* and *eye roll* after each of russ's answers.
you'd think after 4 years he'd have it down to a science, right? ;)
- March 5, 2010 at 9:34 AM
- MiaKatia said...
Ernesto has on ocassion told me "I get why you think it's funny..." ouch. For the record you always crack me up.
- March 5, 2010 at 10:21 AM
- Omgirl said...
Don't worry your curly little head. I did a full on L.O.L when I saw that butterfly header. As in, Hahahhaa! Not as in "...." (thinking it was slightly funny)
- March 6, 2010 at 7:53 PM
- You Are My Fave said...
I always try to dig for compliments from my husband. It's the only person I feel right doing it to. Mostly I want him to think I'm as funny as I find myself sometimes. I like the header.
- March 7, 2010 at 4:58 PM
- tiburon said...
I won't even begin to tell you how many times I have had this conversation with Adam.
Too many.
Sadly - he doesn't think I am funny.
Butterflies that want burgers?! FUNNY!
- March 8, 2010 at 8:42 AM
- alex dumas said...
Tiffany = random and
random = funny, therefore
Tiffany = funny.
- March 26, 2010 at 6:01 PM


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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Hazel The Witch
33 comments:
She is gorgeous - have just been over to the shop and bought her!!ReplyDelete
Denise xx
The Sweetest Witch I have seen :o)ReplyDelete
Hearts and Hugs
She is SO cute! Just love your images :-)ReplyDelete
I agree with Susana. Hazel is the most sweetest witch I have ever seen. I can't wait to colour her up. thank you for being so amazing Sylvia.ReplyDelete
Hugs xo
She is sooooooooo cute. I agree....she is a such sweet witch.....ReplyDelete
Just had to add this cutie to my Sylvia Zet file......love the little vamp also!ReplyDelete
oh she is a cutie!ReplyDelete
Wow - I love her Sylvia!ReplyDelete
very cute :)ReplyDelete
she is absolutely adorable!ReplyDelete
I'll add her soon to my collection, Sylvia, she's gorgeous!ReplyDelete
hugs, Alina
Aw shes lovely! Definately another digi to add to my Wee collection!!ReplyDelete
Rach :) x
Ooh i love her :) Can not wait till the rubber stamps!!ReplyDelete
Hugs Anneke
Woo Hoo, I have a stamp named after me!! Didn't know that everyone knew I was a witch?!?!ReplyDelete
H xx
she is fabulous Sylvia! I can't wait to play with her.ReplyDelete
hugs, annie x
aaaaaahhhhhhh Sylvia !ReplyDelete
Hazel is so so so cute! i love it!
OMW, she's so sweet, absolut beautiful.ReplyDelete
Hugs, Yvon
she is absolutely adorable... i love it......ReplyDelete
Hazel - I love your name! Everyone knew - but it wasn't me who told them! xxReplyDelete
I love her, she is so sweet as all your images. I'm trying to get her coloured... ThanksReplyDelete
Sylvia, how did you know I can never resist a cute witchy image? ;-)ReplyDelete
Oh my Sylvia she is so cute! The sweetest witch I know ;-) I just love your images!!!ReplyDelete
oh hon this is just the most adorable witch I have ever seen. I love her. You are so talented dear.ReplyDelete
Biggest hugs hon
What a classy looking witch have to have her, dont know how In missed this post although not on blogging as much now.ReplyDelete
Chris x
Oh God - she is the lovelyest witch !ReplyDelete
All your images are gorgeous !!!
with love
Wow! She is adorable. I love all your images. They are all so cute.ReplyDelete
Thank you for taking the time to draw these beautiful little darlings for us crafters and for your time taken to share them here on your blog.
Your colouring is awesome. Love it!
Hugs Julie
Awww what a darling, this witch is definitely not spooky.. just sweet and cute, love it xxxReplyDelete
I love Hazel and all of your other new releases. I am having so much fun coloring yur beautiful stamps. Thank you for your kind comments!ReplyDelete
Wow this is another fantastic stamp I am so in awe of your drawings youa re amazing. I may have to have her although Inever do anyhalloween cards!!!!!!! thanks for producing such beauties, and thank you somuch for the lovely comment you left on my blog I trully appreciate it huggies June xxxxReplyDelete
Sweet Witch...ReplyDelete
Greeting BAstelfeti
thank you so much for the lovely comments on my blog, I would be so honoured to be on the wall =)ReplyDelete
OMG I soooo love this image a lot! I bought her yesterday and made an adorable card with her last night. I left my camera at home or I would of emailed you a picture. Maybe later or tomarrow I can. I am at work. I saw someone use this image on their card on a blog and knew I had to have it!! That bat is sooo adorable too!ReplyDelete
Hugs, Heidi
Sylvia, this little witch is stunning, I have bought her in digital, and have really enjoyed colouring her, I am busy putting her on a card for my grandaughter You are so talented, and I just love your images!!!ReplyDelete
Big Hugs,


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ISYSWSW or Warsaw as it will likely be called on the boards, is a fabulous 1 coater. Love.
I also put 1 coat of aengland Order of the Garter over Warsaw which was sexy and shimmery, but I think I hid it all in glitter.
2nd bedroom lighting
Bathroom lighting, formerly fabulous stove light.. perfect for doing makeup if you want to look like you set the gun on whore when you get to work.


text:
Product Description
The Irish Citizen Army present a show of strength in front of Liberty Hall before the Rising under the banner "We Serve Neither King nor Kaiser but Ireland, crowds, and supporters look on.
Most members of the Irish Citizen's Army, Irish Volunteers and members of Cumann na mBan assembled outside Liberty Hall at 11 am on Easter Monday before marching onto the GPO where P H Pearse read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic which was finalized by the provisional Government and printed in Liberty hall the previous day.
Limited Edition High Quality image from the Original glass plate courtesy of (with Reproduction permission) the National Library of Ireland
Size 30cm x 20cm (12" x 8")
Additional information
|.012 kg


text:
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As we have returned to Dar Al Masyaf several times I think it speaks for itself. It never ceases to amaze me how utterly spoilt and pampered I feel during my stay. The staff go above and beyond the
we are hoping to go again this year possibly September. Will speak to Sharma later.
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Top quality hotel everything we could ask for.
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The holiday was amazing BUT desert adventure arranged airport transport didnt arrive to collect us and we had to get a taxi we realy didnt need that hassel at 6 am .
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Emerites airline very very good.Hotel room in Dar Al Masinat very dark and dismal lacking chic and any sense of occasion.Staff wonderful.
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Talk to a specialist
Call 020 7644 1755 to speak with our award-winning travel consultants.
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|Youth improvers/racing course – RYA Stage 3 and introduction to racing
|This course will help you to become a good independent sailor. It includes rigging, launching and recovery and sailing efficiently in every direction, as well as sailing techniques, capsize recovery and sailing theory. By the end of the course you will be able to launch and sail a dinghy around a triangle course efficiently in moderate conditions.
We will also provide a basic introduction to racing, covering aspects like starting, the course, rules, mark rounding etc.
|Course code
16 – 20 Jul
30 Jul – 3 Aug
20-24 Aug
9:30 to 16:00
9:30 to 16:00
9:30 to 16:00
£235 (5 full days)
£235 (5 full days)
£235 (5 full days)
View all Junior Sail Training Courses
Further notes that apply to all courses
- Courses are only available to club members, but we have a special three-month membership package available only for new members who book a training course.
- We provide buoyancy aids for the RYA Stage 1, 2, & 3 and Level 1 & 2 courses.
- You need to provide a waterproof top and adequate soft footwear. We also require that you wear a wetsuit. They're available secondhand and from all good chandlers including our on-site chandler – Jonti. Some major supermarkets have products priced from £15 – £25 upwards.
- Courses will take place if there is sufficient demand.
- Gift vouchers are available for both course fees and membership subscriptions. Please enquire by emailing the office or by telephone (01480 810478).


text:
Photo courtesy of Order of Interbeing member Cilla Brady
The Order of Interbeing was formed by Thich Nhat Hanh and his associates in the mid-1960s at a time when the Vietnam War was escalating and the teachings of the Buddha were desperately needed to combat the hatred, violence, and divisiveness enveloping his country.
From its inception and into the present, the Order has been comprised of all four membership categories of the original Buddhist community: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen.
One meaning of the word tiep is "being in touch with." What are we to be in touch with? The answer is reality, the reality of the world and the reality of the mind.
To be in touch with the mind means to be aware of the processes of our inner life-feelings, perceptions, mental formations-and also to rediscover our true mind, which is the wellspring of understanding and compassion. . . To be in touch with the reality of the world means to be in touch with everything that is around us in the animal, vegetable, and mineral realms.
If we want to be in touch, we have to get out of our shell and look clearly and deeply at the wonders of life-the snowflakes, the moonlight, the songs of the birds, the beautiful flowers-and also the suffering-hunger, disease, torture, and oppression.
Overflowing with understanding and compassion, we can appreciate the wonders of life, and at the same time, act with the firm resolve to alleviate the suffering.
One meaning of the word hien is to realize or realization. Hien means not to dwell or be caught in the world of doctrines and ideas, but to bring and express our insights into real life. First of all, realization means transforming ourselves.
If we wish to share calmness and serenity, we should first realize these qualities within ourselves.
Working to help people who are hungry or sick means to be peaceful and loving during that work. Hien means making it real here and now.


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Subscribe To Review: Mirror's Edge Updates
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Platform(s):PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Developer:EA DICE
Publisher:Electronic Arts
I'm pleased to report that Mirror's Edge did not make me vomit. Queasiness was a big concern after watching trailers of this first-person platformer in action. There was plenty of excitement, frustration, disappointment, and surprise - but no indigestion. So that was a plus.
There's a fundamental difference between Mirror's Edge and every other platforming game ever. I hate the phrase "it makes you feel like you're really _____ " when describing games but the level of immersion in this game is incredible. It's not just the fact that it's in first-person perspective. Developer DICE has poured a lot of effort into making your movements feel physical. Doors usually just swing open with a press of a button in most games but in Mirror's Edge you slam into them, forearm first. The camera sways along with your character's head, whether you're running, climbing, or jumping. This is a perfect game for controller vibration and there's a steady hum when you're going down a zipline and sudden jolts if you land awkwardly after a big jump. Pulling off stunts in this game thrills you in a way third-person perspective games are simply unable to.
It's a good thing physical movement is done so well in this game because the vast majority is spent crawling, climbing, and jumping from one end of the map to the other. You play Faith, a runner in a futuristic dystopia whose job is to deliver packages across the city while evading the authorities. Instead of keeping to the shadows of dark alleyways, though, runners navigate the rooftops and cut through buildings when necessary. Unlike pretty much every other futuristic dystopia portrayed in video games, the city of Mirror's Edge doesn't look like the urban sprawl from Blade Runner. Instead of being gloomy and drab, it's brightly lit and beautiful. The city is filled with tall, white skyscrapers bathed in primary colors. It gives the world a slightly comic-y feeling which is mirrored by the animated cut scenes between each of the game's chapters.
The clean, polished look of the game's environments comes in handy when navigating your way through levels. The game highlights objects you need to head toward in red - this "runner's vision" can be turned off if you want but it's less obnoxious than you'd expect. I expected the correct path through levels to be completely slathered in red but it's generally just a few ladders, poles, ramps, etc. - some of which you don't have to use to advance. With a press of a button, the camera will turn to point you in the right direction (something that comes in handy during chases). Some will gripe about how linear the game is and how there's really only one pathway to proceed through levels. To be fair to DICE, I don't remember them promising an open world in the first place. Though everyone's ga-ga over sandbox environments and choice these days, there's nothing inherently wrong with a game being linear. Linearity has its advantages, principally that it allows the designer to deliver a tighter, more "cinematic" experience. The problem is never that the game only gives you one pathway; the problem is the pathway itself.
The sequences where you're frantically running and climbing to escape authorities are the high-point of the game - simply put, the game is at its best when it's moving fast. However, the chases would lose their charm if the entire game was like that so there are also puzzle and fight sequences mixed in to keep the gameplay diverse. The puzzle sequences are slower-paced segments where no enemies are present and the focus is on well-executed jumping. I'm not sure what it is, maybe the variety of textures in the game, but I was always kept guessing whether or not I'd be able to make a certain jump. Narrowly making a leap across a chasm and pulling myself up was always a thrill but that's the only really positive thing I can say about the puzzle portions of levels. It seems odd to say this, considering how many times I fell to my death while playing this game, but the puzzle platforming feels too easy. I mean it's just basically a matter of staring at the pipes and ladders and walls in front of you and figuring out which of your small number of moves you need to do in order to advance. There's certainly a learning curve to the game (you definitely want to do the tutorial in the beginning) but after you learn how to do wall run and jump in sequence, nothing the game throws at you will be all that baffling. Portal, the only other first-person puzzle game I can think of at the moment, introduced new elements (turrets, companion cubes, moving platforms) throughout the game to force you to adapt. Throughout the puzzle segments of Mirror's Edge, though, it's just you and the ledges. There's no additional objects to hinder/help you and the result is that the platforming never really evolves.
Periodically Faith will have to fight her way through some of the armed police officers chasing her and I have some mixed feelings about these sequences too. Faith apparently can't carry a weapon while jumping rooftops so she relies on her martial arts to take down opponents. Melee combat with first-person perspective games is usually clunky and results in button-mashing but the physicality of Mirror's Edge makes it decent. You'll be stagger or be thrown backward when hit. Our little runner has a few different moves to pummel her opponents with, such as a drop-kicking, sliding kick, or straight old punch to the face. The strength of her blows seems tied to her momentum and your opponents generally have firearms so you're forced to be mobile in order to survive - until you take your opponent's gun away, anyway.
When an opponent's weapon flashes red and you're in melee range, a simple press of a button will allow Faith to pull off an acrobatic disarming and knockout on them. These take-downs are a lot of fun to watch and aren't the issue. The issue is how the game changes when you have a gun. Granted, it's satisfying to finally gun down the enemies that have been taking potshots at your poor unarmed self for fun but the game loses its momentum in these moments. Faith is slower while carrying a weapon and her jumping ability is significantly curtailed. I understand why this is the case; it's a trade-off for carrying a gun and ensures that you don't end up carrying a gun through the entire map. Still, Faith's clumsiness with a weapon (she can't zoom in for aiming unless it's a sniper rifle) and the guns' limited ammunition (she discards them once their clip is empty) are adequate enough trade-offs. What I was hoping for was some sort of acrobatic, Matrix-y gunfighting sequences - the game even gives you the ability to periodically go into "slow motion". You'll never wall-jump and fire off a clip at an enemy in mid-air, though. When you have a gun, the game really turns into a very straightforward FPS for those brief moments. Your enemies aren't particularly smart; they'll just stand their ground and open fire at you. It would have been nice if the speediness or athleticism didn't completely vanish from Faith when he had a weapon and the platforming was better incorporated into the combat.
The combat sequences share the biggest fault of the puzzle sequences: a lack of evolution. The goons you pummel in the first chapter are the same as the ones you pummel in the last, give or take some additional armor or larger guns. You don't really need to learn new tactics. Toward the end of the game you encounter elite, cattle prod-wielding troops who are as agile as you. They could've been an interesting opponents in a melee but the game throws several at you at a time so you're always forced to run. The game has three "boss" encounters and you'd expect these encounters, like the fight with GLaDOS at the end of Portal, to be a culmination of the skills you used up to that point. One of the fights is a full-fledged fist fight and takes a decent amount of coordination but the other two are basically glorified Quick Time Events that just require a well-timed button push. One of these QTE's is the last encounter of the game and the words "missed opportunity" don't begin to describe it.
It feels like a mandatory requirement in a Mirror's Edge review to commend DICE for taking a risk and trying something innovative. So yes, I commend DICE for taking a risk and trying something innovative. My review does come off as very negative but it's not that I dislike the game so much as it let me down. It's a good game and has the raw elements to be an incredible game but doesn't make the most of its considerable promise. The game offers a very breezy, entertaining 6-7 hour single-player campaign (and however much time you spend racing and re-racing through the levels on Time Trial mode) and shows enough spark for me to await the upcoming DLC and eventual sequels with great interest.


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DISCLAIMER 1: in this post I express my own opinions and my own interpretation of how to use the bullet journal system. It is not necessarily aligned with what the "creator" of the system (Ryder Carroll) describes. If you are interested in the basic original approach go to http://bulletjournal.com/ to find more information.
DISCLAIMER 2: if you are one of those people that get upset because I don't follow the "official rules", I add fancy decorations, drawings, etc and those are not "bullet point lists", please just stop reading here! :) While I get inspiration from the original system, I want it to work for ME. And yes, maybe I change it so much that I shouldn't call it Bullet Journal... but calling it "a notebook where I list things to do, plan my activities, projects, draw, write, doodle and learn new things" is a little bit too long :) So I stick with the name.
As Kara (from BoHo Berry) says beautifully (paraphrasing) "I spend some time to make my bullet journal pretty, and that is actually the thing that keeps me coming back to using it, but the reason I use it is because it helps organize my life". So no, the prettiness is not necessary, but how useful is an efficient organizational system that is always stored in a drawer because it is too boring to look at? :)
Ok... now let me show you some of my pages and shares some of the lessons I learned!!
Click each picture to see all the details.
About the October Tracker...
It is a little more sparse then the previous month... some things were not done not even a single time!! Oh well... I think that a lot had to do with the "shape" of the cells :) being skinny rectangles, it made me feel that even if I was going to do that activity, the "horizontal progress" was not that much, so why bother! :) is my mind strange? yes it is! I will test this hyphotesis next month, when I will use a different layou :)
The mailing tracker is really great because it is good to track if people receive what you send and if you receive what you are supposed to.
The "special events" pages show an example of a very easy to manage day (top) and a crazier event day (bottom). I think they both are great way to remember what worked and what didn't, and the lessons will be forever there for me to refer back to! :)
I love how I designed this page.
It's simple, it's cute (at least the latest ones are becoming cuter), it's functional.
At the beginning of each week, I list few things in the "Quilting and Crafting" section or "Home and Personal" section. I put them in approximate days, but I don't stress about it, because I have the view of the full week, so if I feel that I want to do something on Mon that is listed on Fri (or viceversa) it's all good!!
The coloring works great, and I can change up the overall design each week. It is just fun and functional! :)
Both have daily prompts to guide you on what to draw/write on.
While I enjoyed both, I didn't really feel enthusiastic enough for the writing one, so I dropped it.
For the ZenArtChallenge, I like zentangles but I don't particularly like designs that require a lot of shading or designs of object (flowers, ...). so in Nov I will turn this challenge into a "DoodleAQuiltingDesign" kind of thing instead... we'll see!
The second one is very free form: just pick 5 words (completely random, long, short, in my own language or any other language) and just "draw" the word in a special font. Not having the constrains of writing long sentences it allowed me to get more creative and wild! The only rule I told myself is to write them all horizontal so they will end up forming a "label cloud" kind of design.
I didn't really stick with this activity this month either... so I think I won't do it next month. I will add a different writing challenge, so I can practice fun handwriting (like mirrored and writing with my non dominant hand).
The "doodle an artist" pages are the ones that I most proud of!! I love the idea and I was looking forward every day to either draw something or find something to draw for the next day. The idea is to pick an artist and then copy some elements from some of her/his pieces (Steal like an Artist). The act of researching their life, reading the story of a painting, trying to extract simple elements that I can sketch just with a pen is very very valuable for me. Considering that I have NO art background, NO art education, I think I copied the different pieces quite well! And it's unbelievable how much the daily practice improved in just a month! It also improved my confidence (in drawing and life) and opened my mind to a world of possibilities. YOU SHOULD TRY THIS TOO, especially if you think you don't know how to draw!! just pick a simple clipart and copy that... you will see great improvement if you do it consistently for weeks. Don't try to make it perfect... just keep drawing new things every day and you cannot not improve!! :)
While I was planning to work on two artists a month, I was so busy that I managed to make only one collection. Well, I will keep doing this in my new journal next month as I have a list of artists I want to explore!
I am planning to use my Quilter's Planner (that should arrive at the end of the week) as my journal. It should be much bigger than what I have now, so let's see how I will be using the space!!


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September 8, 2011
Comments on File No. S7-34-11
The SEC issued a concept release questioning REITs exclusion from the Investment Act of 1940 on August 31.
REITS that acquire mortgage interests in the form of securities are meaningful participants in the mortgage market. The participation of REITs in the mortgage market, particularly in the Agency MBS market, provides liquidity to the market, provides an important conduit for the transmission of short term policy driven rates to the longer-term mortgage rate, and allows for an important linkage between established, well-regulated, and transparent equity market to the mortgage rate.
The Section 3c5c exemption allows REITs to utilize leverage which exceeds that allowed for a closed-end bond fund subject to the 40 act. This additional leverage strengthens the virtuous effects described in the previous paragraph. This leverage is also more economically appropriate given the nature of how a REIT portfolio is managed vis a vis a traditional closed end bond fund. REITs do not employ active trading strategies. AFS accounting treatment, investor expectations of a stable-income-oriented investment strategy, and IRS limitations of trading gains all act to discourage active trading by REITs. Closed end bond funds, on the other hand, are typically actively managed which results in more meaningful trading volumes. The lack of active trading by REITs deduces the impact of their higher leverage on the markets in which they participate.
REITs own about $200Bn of agency MBS and their presence in the market in their current form benefits a wide segment of society including homeowners, MBS market participants, and equity investors. A dramatic reduction in REIT leverage and the subsequent delivering would have an adverse impact on these groups and would be very disruptive to the market for MBS and create a headwind to housing policy in the US.
I urge cautious and circumspect handling of this matter in order to preserve the beneficial role of mortgage REITs in the economy.


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All coaches in Manitoba need to take Respect in Sport (RIS). To complete the training or, look up your RIS number, click HERE.
To check what you need for NCCP baseball training in order to coach, click HERE.
All 11U Teams are required to have 1 coach per team with My First Pitch training. For more information on that Program click HERE.


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July 09-11 | 2009
Universität Konstanz | University of Constance
The period from Diocletian to Theodosius I. (284-395 AD) is an era sui generis in the history of the Roman Empire. A wide range of political, social, and cultural processes of internal disintegration were intensified by severe structural weaknesses along the frontiers. The stability of the empire depended on the emperor's mobility, on collegial rule, and on the military resolution of internal political crises. At the same time, religious changes modified the premises of political interaction and symbolic communication between the emperor and his subjects. These circumstances generated social and political cleavages that undermined the stability of the Roman monarchy and necessitated intense endeavors on the part of the ruler to integrate and legitimise the monarchic regime.
The conference focuses on the measures taken by the Roman emperor to counterbalance the various structural deficits of his rule—to cushion, bridge, or camouflage the notorious areas of conflict—and seeks to analyse the characteristic interplay between the imperial adminstration, the emperor's religious policy and the performances of monarchic leadership. The multifaceted approach of the conference aims to provide the opportunity to reappraise the wide-ranging and lasting transformation of the Roman monarchy in the late 3rd and 4th centuries AD along these distinctive lines of development.
Papers of 30 minutes (plus 30 minutes discussion) may be given in German and English. All participants will be invited to submit their papers for publication in the peer-reviewed conference proceedings.
The conference is organised in three major thematic sections, specified by the corresponding keywords. Proposed papers should explore one or more areas of interest with regard to the research objectives outlined in the abstract.
Collegial Rule | Imperial Dynasties | Integrating the Elites | Imperial Residences | The Imperial Court | The Emperor and the Cities | Waging Wars
Religious Conflict | Social Disorder | Military Religion | The Emperor and the Bishops | The Christian Emperor | Religious Policy | The Imperial Cult
Imperial Representation | Rituals of Royalty | Court Ceremonial | Triumphal Rulership and Triumphal Performances | The Emperor's Adventus | Approaching the Emperor | Imperial Building Policy
The conference is meant to bring together European and American scholars, both established and junior, in the field of late antiquity. So far, the following scholars have agreed to give a talk at the conference:
Bruno Bleckmann | Steffen Diefenbach | Malcolm Errington | Mark Humphries | Michael Kulikowski | Noel Lenski | Hartmut Leppin | Christian Ronning | Sebastian Schmidt-Hofner | John Weisweiler | Hans-Ulrich Wiemer | Johannes Wienand | Christian Witschel.
Further European and American scholars have been invited.
Voir la présentation générale.
The city of Constance lies on the shores of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, on the border with Switzerland. It is easily accessible via Zurich Airport (Switzerland) and Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen, or by train. The conference will be held in the early modern council chamber ("Ratssaal") in the historic city centre. Invited Speakers will be accommodated in the nearby Hotel Barbarossa.
The conference is part of the DFG-funded SFB 485 (Collaborative Research Centre) "Norm and Symbol. The Cultural Dimension of Social and Political Integration" and will be held in cooperation with the SFB 485 research group "Precarious Rule. The Roman Monarchy and its Communicative Contexts" and in cooperation with the international network "Between Tyranny and Divine Right. Ancient Monarchies in Intercultural Perspective", which is part of the DFG-funded EXC 16 (Center of Excellence) "Cultural Foundations of Integration" at the University of Constance.
Johannes Wienand, M.A.
Universität Konstanz
Universitätsstraße 10
Postfach D3
D-78457 Konstanz
Universität Konstanz | University of Constance
SFB 485 | Collaborative Research Centre
DFG | German Research Foundation
EventList schlu.net


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Almost everything is up in Burbank's real estate market. More homes and condominiums were on sale last month compared to the year prior, more homes sold and median prices continued to climb.
There were 66 single-family homes on the market last month, up almost 18% from 56 in January 2013, according to statistics compiled by Realtor Eric Benz, branch manager of Dilbeck Real Estate Real Living in Burbank.
Condos also saw a roughly 18% jump, going from 28 for sale in January 2013 to 33 last month.
While this is the second consecutive month that there's been a rise in housing inventory in Burbank, that's not the case throughout Los Angeles County, which continues to see a squeeze on the number of homes for sale, said Paul Habibi, real estate professor with the UCLA Anderson School of Management.


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In addition to food, event design/party planning is also one of my passions. I was debating between keeping my blog posts strictly about food, but I guess it's my blog so I can write about whatever I want.
When throwing a party, I think food & beverage and good company are the two most important things. But not to be forgotten are the decor and ambience of the room. I love event design, especially when it's done for little $.
Here's an idea for table centerpieces I used for sister-in-law #4's bridal shower last year: simple arrangements of white hydrangea accented with fresh potted herbs. Hydrangea (purchased from Watanabe Floral) are great because you get so much volume from just one stem.
Potted herbs were around $1.30 each from a garden store, and I just pulled them out and stuck them in square glass vases from Flora-Dec. Total cost for centerpieces: around $70.00.
The best part is guests can take home the fresh herbs as favors. It's fun to offer various herbs so your guests can choose (for this event I went with dill, mint, and oregano). You can label them by simply handwriting the herb name onto wooden popsicle sticks.


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The Mayan civilization flourished throughout much of Guatemala and the surrounding region long before the Spanish arrived, but it was already in decline when the Mayans were defeated by Pedro de Alvarado in 1523-24. During Spanish colonial rule, most of Central America came under the control of the Captaincy General of Guatemala.
The first colonial capital, Ciudad Vieja, was ruined by floods and an earthquake in 1542. Survivors founded Antigua, the second capital, in 1543. In the 17th century, Antigua became one of the richest capitals in the New World. Always vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, floods, and earthquakes, Antigua was destroyed by two earthquakes in 1773. The remnants of its Spanish colonial architecture have been preserved as a national monument. The third capital, Guatemala City, was founded in 1776, after Antigua was abandoned.
Guatemala gained independence from Spain on September 15, 1821; it briefly became part of the Mexican Empire, and then for a period belonged to a federation called the United Provinces of Central America. From the mid-19th century until the mid-1980s, the country passed through a series of dictatorships, insurgencies (particularly beginning in the 1960s), coups, and stretches of military rule with only occasional periods of representative government.
1944 to 1986
In 1944, Gen. Jorge Ubico's dictatorship was overthrown by the "October Revolutionaries," a group of dissident military officers, students, and liberal professionals. A civilian President, Juan Jose Arevalo, was elected in 1945 and held the presidency until 1951. Social reforms initiated by Arevalo were continued by his successor, Col. Jacobo Arbenz. Arbenz permitted the communist Guatemalan Labor Party to gain legal status in 1952. By the mid-point of Arbenz's term, communists controlled key peasant organizations, labor unions, and the governing political party, holding some key government positions. Despite most Guatemalans' attachment to the original ideals of the 1944 uprising, some private sector leaders and the military viewed Arbenz's policies as a menace. The army refused to defend the Arbenz government when a U.S.-backed group led by Col. Carlos Castillo Armas invaded the country from Honduras in 1954 and quickly took over the government. Gen. Miguel Ydigoras FuentesĘtook power in 1958 following the murder of Colonel Castillo Armas.
In response to the increasingly autocratic rule of Ydigoras Fuentes, a group of junior military officers revolted in 1960. When they failed, several went into hiding and established close ties with Cuba. This group became the nucleus of the forces that were in armed insurrection against the government for the next 36 years. Four principal left-wing guerrilla groups--the Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), the Revolutionary Organization of Armed People (ORPA), the Rebel Armed Forces (FAR), and the Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT)--conducted economic sabotage and targeted government installations and members of government security forces in armed attacks. These organizations combined to form the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) in1982. At the same time, extreme right-wing groups of self-appointed vigilantes, including the Secret Anti-Communist Army (ESA) and the White Hand, tortured and murdered students, professionals, and peasants suspected of involvement in leftist activities.
Shortly after President Julio Cesar Mendez Montenegro took office in 1966, the army launched a major counterinsurgency campaign that largely broke up the guerrilla movement in the countryside. The guerrillas then concentrated their attacks in Guatemala City, where they assassinated many leading figures, including U.S. Ambassador John Gordon Mein in 1968. Between 1966 and 1982, there was a series of military or military-dominated governments.
On March 23, 1982, army troops commanded by junior officers staged a coup to prevent the assumption of power by Gen. Angel Anibal Guevara, the hand-picked candidate of outgoing President and Gen. Romeo Lucas Garcia. They denounced Guevara's electoral victory as fraudulent. The coup leaders asked retired Gen. Efrain Rios Montt to negotiate the departure of Lucas and Guevara. Rios Montt had been the candidate of the Christian Democracy Party in the 1974 presidential elections and was widely regarded as having been denied his own victory through fraud.
Rios Montt was at this time a lay pastor in the evangelical protestant "Church of the Word." In his 1982 inaugural address, he stated that his presidency resulted from the will of God. He formed a three-member military junta that annulled the 1965 constitution, dissolved Congress, suspended political parties, and canceled the electoral law. After a few months, Rios Montt dismissed his junta colleagues and assumed the de facto title of "President of the Republic."
Guerrilla forces and their leftist allies denounced Rios Montt. Rios Montt sought to defeat the guerrillas with military actions and economic reforms; in his words, "rifles and beans." In May 1982, the Conference of Catholic Bishops accused Rios Montt of being responsible for increased militarization of the country and for continuing military massacres of civilians. General Rios Montt was quoted in the New York Times of July 18, 1982 as telling an audience of indigenous Guatemalans, "If you are with us, we'll feed you; if not, we'll kill you."
The government began to form local civilian defense patrols (PACs). Participation was in theory voluntary, but in reality, many Guatemalans, especially in the heavily indigenous northwest, had no choice but to join either the PACs or the guerrillas. Rios Montt's conscript army and PACs recaptured essentially all guerrilla territory--guerrilla activity lessened and was largely limited to hit-and-run operations. However, Rios Montt won this partial victory at an enormous cost in civilian deaths.
Rios Montt's brief presidency was probably the most violent period of the 36-year internal conflict, which resulted in about 200,000 deaths of mostly unarmed indigenous civilians. Although leftist guerrillas and right-wing death squads also engaged in summary executions, forced disappearances, and torture of noncombatants, the vast majority of human rights violations were carried out by the Guatemalan military and the PACs they controlled. The internal conflict is described in great detail in the reports of the Historical Clarification Commission (CEH) and the Archbishop's Office for Human Rights (ODHAG). The CEH estimates that government forces were responsible for 93% of the violations; ODHAG earlier estimated that government forces were responsible for 80%.
On August 8, 1983, Rios Montt was deposed by his own Minister of Defense, Gen. Oscar Humberto Mejia Victores, who succeeded him as de facto President of Guatemala. Mejia justified his coup, saying that "religious fanatics" were abusing their positions in the government and also because of "official corruption." Seven people were killed in the coup, although Rios Montt survived to found a political party (the Guatemalan Republic Front) and to be elected President of Congress in 1995 and 2000. Awareness in the United States of the conflict in Guatemala, and its ethnic dimension, increased with the 1983 publication of the book I, Rigoberta Menchu, An Indian Woman in Guatemala. The book recounts the life of the title character, a young woman whose often tragic life experiences reflect the experiences common to many indigenous people suffering under that nationŐs injustices.
General Mejia allowed a managed return to democracy in Guatemala, starting with a July 1, 1984 election for a Constituent Assembly to draft a democratic constitution. On May 30, 1985, after 9 months of debate, the Constituent Assembly finished drafting a new constitution, which took effect immediately. Vinicio Cerezo, a civilian politician and the presidential candidate of the Christian Democracy Party, won the first election held under the new constitution with almost 70% of the vote, and took office on January 14, 1986.
1986 to 2003
Upon its inauguration in January 1986, President Cerezo's civilian government announced that its top priorities would be to end the political violence and establish the rule of law. Reforms included new laws of habeas corpus and amparo (court-ordered protection), the creation of a legislative human rights committee, and the establishment in 1987 of the Office of Human Rights Ombudsman. The Supreme Court also embarked on a series of reforms to fight corruption and improve legal system efficiency. With Cerezo's election, the military moved away from governing and returned to the more traditional role of providing internal security, specifically by fighting armed insurgents. The first 2 years of Cerezo's administration were characterized by a stable economy and a marked decrease in political violence.
Dissatisfied military personnel made two coup attempts in May 1988 and May 1989, but military leadership supported the constitutional order. The government was heavily criticized for its unwillingness to investigate or prosecute cases of human rights violations. The final 2 years of Cerezo's government were also marked by a failing economy, strikes, protest marches, and allegations of widespread corruption. The government's inability to deal with many of the nation's problems--such as infant mortality, illiteracy, deficient health and social services, and rising levels of violence--contributed to popular discontent.
Presidential and congressional elections were held on November 11, 1990. After a runoff ballot, Jorge Serrano was inaugurated on January 14, 1991, thus completing the first transition from one democratically elected civilian government to another. Because his Movement of Solidarity Action (MAS) Party gained only 18 of 116 seats in Congress, Serrano entered into a tenuous alliance with the Christian Democrats and the National Union of the Center (UCN).
The Serrano administration's record was mixed. It had some success in consolidating civilian control over the army, replacing a number of senior officers and persuading the military to participate in peace talks with the URNG. Serrano took the politically unpopular step of recognizing the sovereignty of Belize. The Serrano government reversed the economic slide it inherited, reducing inflation and boosting real growth.
On May 25, 1993, Serrano illegally dissolved Congress and the Supreme Court and tried to restrict civil freedoms, allegedly to fight corruption. The "autogolpe" (or self-initiated coup) failed due to unified, strong protests by most elements of Guatemalan society, international pressure, and the army's enforcement of the decisions of the Court of Constitutionality, which ruled against the attempted takeover. In the face of this resistance, Serrano fled the country.
On June 5, 1993, the Congress, pursuant to the 1985 constitution, elected the Human Rights Ombudsman, Ramiro De Leon Carpio, to complete Serrano's presidential term. De Leon, not a member of any political party and lacking a political base but with strong popular support, launched an ambitious anticorruption campaign to "purify" Congress and the Supreme Court, demanding the resignations of all members of the two bodies.
Despite considerable congressional resistance, presidential and popular pressure led to a November 1993 agreement brokered by the Catholic Church between the administration and Congress. This package of constitutional reforms was approved by popular referendum on January 30, 1994. In August 1994, a new Congress was elected to complete the unexpired term. Controlled by the anti-corruption parties--the populist Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) headed by ex-Gen. Efrain Rios Montt, and the center-right National Advancement Party (PAN)--the new Congress began to move away from the corruption that characterized its predecessors.
Under De Leon, the peace process, now brokered by the United Nations, took on new life. The government and the URNG signed agreements on human rights (March 1994), resettlement of displaced persons (June 1994), historical clarification (June 1994), and indigenous rights (March 1995). They also made significant progress on a socioeconomic and agrarian agreement. National elections for president, the Congress, and municipal offices were held in November 1995. With almost 20 parties competing in the first round, the presidential election came down to a January 7, 1996 runoff in which PAN candidate Alvaro Arzu defeated Alfonso Portillo of the FRG by just over 2% of the vote. Arzu won because of his strength in Guatemala City, where he had previously served as mayor, and in the surrounding urban area. Portillo won all of the rural departments except Peten. Under the Arzu administration, peace negotiations were concluded, and the government signed peace accords ending the 36-year internal conflict in December 1996. The human rights situation also improved during Arzu's tenure, and steps were taken to reduce the influence of the military in national affairs.
Guatemala held presidential, legislative, and municipal elections on November 7, 1999, and a runoff presidential election on December 26. In the first round the Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) won 63 of 113 legislative seats, while the National Advancement Party (PAN) won 37. The New Nation Alliance (ANN) won 9 legislative seats, and three minority parties won the remaining four. In the runoff on December 26, Alfonso Portillo (FRG) won 68% of the vote to 32% for Oscar Berger (PAN). Portillo carried all 22 departments and Guatemala City, which was considered the PAN's stronghold. Portillo was criticized during the campaign for his relationship with the FRG's chairman, former Gen. Efrain Rios Montt, the de facto President of Guatemala in 1982-83. Many charged that some of the worst human rights violations of the internal conflict were committed under Rios Montt's rule. Nevertheless, Portillo's impressive electoral triumph, with two-thirds of the vote in the second round, gave him a claim to a mandate from the people to carry out his reform program.
President Portillo pledged to maintain strong ties to the United States, further enhance Guatemala's growing cooperation with Mexico, and participate actively in the integration process in Central America and the Western Hemisphere. Domestically, he vowed to support continued liberalization of the economy, increase investment in human capital and infrastructure, establish an independent central bank, and increase revenue by stricter enforcement of tax collections rather than increasing taxation. Portillo also promised to continue the peace process, appoint a civilian defense minister, reform the armed forces, replace the military presidential security service with a civilian one, and strengthen protection of human rights. He appointed a pluralist cabinet, including indigenous members and others not affiliated with the FRG ruling party.
Progress in carrying out Portillo's reform agenda was slow at best, with the notable exception of a series of reforms sponsored by the World Bank to modernize bank regulation and criminalize money laundering. The administration made some progress on such issues as taking state responsibility for past human rights cases, supporting human rights in international forums, and pressing labor rights reforms, but it failed to show significant advances on combating impunity in past human rights cases, military reforms, and legislation to increase political participation. It renounced a so-called Fiscal Pact that had been established together with business and civil society groups to finance the reforms called for under the peace accords. The government later wasĘinvolved in a series of high-level corruption scandals, none of whichĘresulted in successful prosecution of those responsible. The United States determined in April 2003 that Guatemala had failed to demonstrably adhere to its international counternarcotics commitments during the previous year. The popularity of the government, as measured by opinion polls,Ęsteadily declined as evidence of corruption and mismanagement accumulated.
A high crime rate and a serious and worsening public corruption problem were cause for concern for the Government of Guatemala. These problems, in addition to issues related to the often violent harassment and intimidation by unknown assailants of human rights activists, judicial workers, journalists, and witnesses in human rights trials, led the government to begin serious attempts in 2001 to open a national dialogue to discuss the considerable challenges facing the country. This dialogue has not taken place, despite the creation of the Guatemalan Forum, a coalition of civil society and private sector interests calling for political reforms.
National elections were held on November 9, 2003. Oscar Berger Perdomo of the Grand National Alliance (GANA) party won the election, receiving 54.1% of the vote. His opponent, Alvarado Colom Caballeros of the Nation Unity for Hope (UNE) party received 49.1% of the vote. The new government assumed office on January 14, 2004.


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Seashore Animals of the Southeast: A Guide to Common Shallow-water Invertebrates of the Southeastern Atlantic Coast
University of South Carolina Press, 1988 - Nature - 429 pages
The first comprehensive field guide to more than 300 marine animals that inhabit southeastern beaches.
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