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Animals' Role in Predicting Earthquakes
In 2010, Italian Seismologists were put on trial and convicted on the charge of manslaughter. Their crime was not predicting the earthquake of magnitude 6.3 (which killed more than 300 people) in the Italian town of L'Aquilla. Many earthquake researchers and scientists were enraged by the court's decision, and around 5,000 of them signed an open letter of protest addressed to Italian President Napolitano. In the letter, the scientists clearly stated that there is no reliable method for earthquake prediction or to warn people of impending disaster. Later, the Italian Seismologists were acquitted in their successful appeal. However, Earth's animal kingdom seems to afford some kind of earthquake warning system.
Researchers began to study the toads of L'Aquilla, which abandoned its pond, few days before the quake. The research team led by NASA's Friedemann Freund found out that animals living in or near groundwater (like toads) tend to sense the charged particles that are released by stressed rocks in the Earth's crust. These sensitive animals would be conscious of the changes in chemistry of groundwater, and take it as a precursor to the rock in earth's crust eventually slipping, causing a quake. Nevertheless, the toads of L'Aquilla are not the first instance of strange animal behavior on the face of earthquake.
The 1975 'Haicheng Earthquake' is widely advertised as the quake perfectly predicted by animals. The quake stuck Haicheng, China on February 4, 1975, and measured 7.5 on the Richter scale. People of that Chinese province spotted many snakes emerging from their burrows. It was seen odd that many snakes are roaming around since it was winter – the snake's time for annual hibernation. German scientist Helmut Tributsch is considered as one of the world's leading scientist to note unusual animal behavior before quakes. His book, compiled 78 reports of bizarre behavior from animals, including the toad migration.
Like the L'Aquilla toads, thousands of toads before the Siachun Earthquake of China is said to have migrated from the epicenter. But, the experts studied that anomalous behavior suggested that the migration of toads happened due to depleting oxygen source in the nearby river. One of the constantly debated topics within the scientific field is establishing the definition for the term 'unusual'. Many researchers feel that these animals tend to behave in abnormal ways, with or without a looming earthquake. They debate that weird behaviors are common with such animals, and that people often relate to it only after major natural disaster.
An earthquake is said to cause S and P waves. The seismic P (primary) waves travel faster than S (secondary) waves, which cause the ground to shake. Seismologists consent that animals have the perfect ability to detect the initial P waves before humans and their machines detect the S waves. It is also believed that the changes in earth's magnetic field have a larger impact on animals, which use magnetic fields to orientate themselves. Before the earthquake in California, Homing Pigeons seem to have strangely migrated, which is seen as a immediate reaction to the geomagnetic anomalies. However, it is not proved that animal or bird could distinguish between a change in the magnetic field caused by impending earthquake and a regular magnetic field variation.
The recent studies of Friedemann Freund & his team add some valid points to animal behavior before the seismic tremor. The animal warning system is also naturally seen as affordable and feasible to implement than the huge monitoring satellites. But, at the same time the role of animals in earthquake prediction is being opposed and ridiculed.


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Amidar is a 1981 Arcade Game by Konami, licensed in the United States by Stern Electronics. It's a cross between Pac-Man, Qix, and a Japanese lot-drawing game called Amidakuji. (Other video games featuring Amidakuji boards include Psycho Fox, Decap Attack and Super Monkey Ball 2.)You play either an ape or a paint roller, depending on the level. You run around an Amidakuji board, a grid with regular vertical lines and irregular horizontal lines. You fill in areas of the screen, as in Qix, but the areas are predefined rectangles. Headhunters or pigs wander around, taking every turn as per Amidakuji rules, except for one called the Tracer which patrols the perimeter for a while and then chases you around. Fill in the corner rectangles, and the enemies become killable for a few moments, as in Pac-Man. In between levels is a Bonus Round where you make your way from the top of the screen to a bonus at the bottom, following Amidakuji rules.It was released for the Atari 2600 by Parker Bros.
Amidar provides examples of:
- Escape Sequence: When the Tracer starts chasing you.
- Game Level: Alternating between an ape being chased by headhunters, and a paint roller being chased by pigs.
- Invincibility Power-Up: Filling in the corner rectangles.
- Palette Swap: Normal enemies and the Tracer.

subset: commoncrawl


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Creatine, a naturally occurring substance produced in the liver, pancreas and kidneys, improved muscle strength and increased weight and lean muscle mass in those with muscular dystrophies, according to results from a new analysis. Muscular dystrophies include over 30 genetically inherited diseases that progressively weaken skeletal muscle and for which there are no known cures.
Researchers reviewed published and unpublished studies conducted from 1966 through 2005 and identified 12 clinically controlled trials involving 266 people that measured the effects of oral creatine supplements on those with hereditary muscle diseases. The minimum dosage in all the studies was 30 mg of creatine per kilogram of body weight or about 1,500 mg of creatine per day for a person weighing 110 pounds. Researchers found in trials involving 138 participants with muscular dystrophies, those who had taken a creatine supplement had a maximum voluntary muscle contraction 8.5% greater than those who had taken a placebo. Doctors also found that during the treatment period, those in the creatine groups gained an average of 1.4 pounds more lean body mass than did those who had taken a placebo. None of the trials reported any clinically relevant side effects.
The scientists noted in creatine trials including 33 participants with a certain class of muscular dystrophies (metabolic myopathies), there was no significant difference in strength between treatment and placebo groups. In one trial using a high dose of creatine (150 mg of creatine per kilogram of body weight), participants who—because of metabolic myopathies—were unable to convert stored energy (glycogen) into usable energy (glucose) reported a significant increase in muscle pain during the treatment period. The researchers concluded that short- and medium-term treatment with creatine improves muscle strength in people with muscular dystrophies without side effects.
Reference: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan. 24;(1):CD004760.
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Office Desk Furniture for the Lakewood Commercial or Home Office
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If you are looking for office desk furniture in Lakewood, get in touch with us. Our exciting range of office desk furniture will enhance the overall look and feel of your space. Here are some more reasons why business owners should choose us for their office desk furniture needs in Lakewood:
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Jiah arranged wedding of maid who stole from her
Actress met the woman, a rescued commercial sex worker, at an NGO she used to work with; when the maid fled with her valuables, Jiah did not file a complaint and instead helped her out financially
While most will remember Jiah Khan as the nimble, sultry actress who romanced Amitabh Bachchan in the 2007 movie Nishabd, there are some who will remember her for her warmth and generosity. Two days after the actress committed suicide, her maid Shabana recalled how Jiah provided her shelter, and even though the maid stole from her, the actress arranged her marriage to the one she loved.
Photos: Bollywood stars visit Jiah Khan's residence
Jiah used to attend to victims who were rescued by an NGO called Rescue Foundation in Kandivli. She even visited the victims every month. Around three years ago, when Jiah had visited the NGO, she came across Shabana, a girl rescued from prostitution. A bond was formed between the two. Jiah brought Shabana home, who within no time became close to her family while helping the family with daily household chores.
Photos: Jiah Khan laid to rest
After working for almost one-and-a-half years at Jiah's place, Shabana stole some of her valuables and fled with her boyfriend whom she wished to marry. When Jiah came to know of what she had done, instead of lodging a complaint, she found her, brought her home and asked her to explain her actions. When Shabana told her of her wish to marry, the actress immediately forgave her and set about the task of arranging Shabana's wedding.
Photos: Jiah Khan - Snapshots from the past
"Jiah would come every month to the NGO and help out. She would personally sit with each of the victims and try to solve their problems," said Triveni Acharya, president of Rescue Foundation, adding, "She helped Shabana get married even though she had stolen from her." "When we came to know that Jiah had passed away, we organised a mourning session at the NGO," Acharya said.


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Shooting practise and prosthetics part of veterans' healing
The violence and troop casualties in Afghanistan are likely to mount as United States and other foreign troops fan out across insurgent strongholds in the south.
Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington is where many of the seriously injured combat troops are treated.
It is a little unexpected to find a firing range inside a hospital, let alone one treating US troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, a firearms simulator is part of the therapy being used by some troops.
Roger Lemacks is the health care administrator for the amputee program.
He says the firearms simulator gives wounded warriors the confidence to handle their weapon again, a requirement of the US military.
And for those who do not return to duty, they can hone their skills so perhaps they can go hunting once they are out of hospital.
Almost 40,000 US troops have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Of those, 14,000 have been treated at Walter Reed.
The hospital has just over 200 beds, but up to 600 troops are living on the post at any one time as they continue to get treatment.
Army specialist Matthew Katka has been getting treatment at Walter Reed since November.
Specialist Katka says he was on patrol in the Patika province in Afghanistan in July last year when his unit was ambushed.
"I got shot in the head, the bullet just came right underneath the helmet and took off the back part of my skull," he said.
"I just remember getting hit. 'Wow that didn't feel good at all. I think I got hit. We're getting shot at'," he said.
Apart from his gunshot wound, the 21-year-old lost some of his peripheral vision and could not talk.
He hopes to finish his treatment for his traumatic brain injury soon and plans to leave the army and go to university.
Walter Reed is now receiving more wounded troops from Afghanistan than Iraq.
Army Sergeant Andrew Peden says he was airlifted to the hospital in March.
"Routine dismounted patrol, IED, below knee amputation," he said.
Four months later the 28-year-old is walking with a new prosthetic.
"Balance and walking has been the hardest... [I get] sore or tired," he said.
Back to duty
Walter Reed has treated more than 1,000 amputees. Of that group 200 have returned to active duty - 48 in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Roger Lemacks says staff use sophisticated prosthetics and sports equipment to help with rehabilitation.
"The leg technology, it allows us to keep the knee bent slightly, [it's] sand resistant," he said.
Walter Reed is also treating troops with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A 2008 study by the Rand Corporation found almost one in five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from PTSD or depression.
Sergeant Orazio Castellana is one of them.
The eight-year military veteran has done two tours of Iraq as a driver and gunner.
He says it took him a long time to seek help.
"At first I was in denial, I didn't want to admit it. [I was] very irritable. They knew I wasn't in a good mood anymore," he said.
Sergeant Castello has been getting specialised care at Walter Reed and says he is not as grouchy and withdrawn as he used to be.
He says sometimes just talking to his battle buddies helps.
"We sometimes sit on the phone. To us the fight is never done until we finish it. If I could go today I would go today," he said.
Three years ago Walter Reed was at the centre of a scandal when it was revealed that severely wounded combat soldiers were living in squalor and had been ill-treated.
The hospital will close in just over 400 days and be replaced with a new facility on the outskirts of Washington.
Topics: world-politics, disabilities, healthcare-facilities, unrest-conflict-and-war, united-states, afghanistan, iraq
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7 Amazing Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipes
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7 Amazing Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipes
I will dedicate this blog post about 7 Amazing Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipes in honor of my ancient Irish roots and St. Patrick's Day.
Frankly, I didn't really know that much about my Irish heritage until a couple of years ago when my sister started to trace our family tree.
Then, we took a trip to Canada to visit St. John's, New Brunswick, where our father grew up.
Who knew that our claim-to-fame would be that my great, great, great grandfather was the first person of Irish descent to be recorded in the Canadian Maritime records!
And he built a town. And a road is named after him! And we saw an antique schoolhouse that's preserved for historical value bearing our family name.
Wow! Talk about tradition…
So today we'll talk about traditional Irish Soda Bread, so named for the ingredient of baking soda, (sodium bicarbonate) and we'll share with you some amazing traditional and authentic Irish Soda Bread recipes.
The traditional Irish Soda Bread recipe goes back a long way…but not way back to ancient recipes of Irish history like you make think.
In the mid-19th century bicarbonate of soda first became available for use as a leavening agent (instead of yeast) and soda breads began to appear in Europe.
The traditional ingredients of soda bread are flour, bread soda, salt, and buttermilk. Other variations include ingredients such as butter, egg, raisins, or nuts and caraway seeds.
Scones, griddle cakes and breads made with bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar (tartaric acid ) became popular in Britain and Ireland as well as in Austrian, Polish and Serbian cuisine.
Authentic Traditional Irish Soda Bread
Typically, the flour is made from soft wheat in Ireland. Cake or pastry flour is the best to use when making traditional Irish soda Bread. It has lower levels of gluten than regular bread flour. Some recipes call for yogurt or stout instead of the usual buttermilk.
It is recommended by bakers everywhere to limit the amount of mixing time of the ingredients before baking! Don't overwork it.
You should NOT knead the dough.
Here are some of our very favorite Irish Soda Bread Recipes:
1. My Favorite Irish Soda Bread Recipe
This recipe is my favorite (commercial) Irish Soda Bread recipe from the STOP & SHOP Food Stores. It always tastes just perfect to me.
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter
2 Tbsp cold vegetable shortening
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup currants
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix it well.
Cut in shortening and butter until the mixture is the size of peas.
Add buttermilk, egg and currants. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated well. Do not over mix!
On a floured surface, form a smooth ball with the dough.
Place ball of dough in a greased Dutch Oven, cast iron skillet or a 9 inch round baking or cake pan.
Score the top of the bread with a large knife to let the fairies out! Then, brush with a little buttermilk.
Bake for 40-45 minutes at 375 degrees F or until golden brown.
Let it cool on a wire rack. Do not cut the bread right away, as it might become gummy in the center. Let it rest for 10 minutes, then cut into slices, or tear into chunks.
Serve with rich Irish butter, of course! And your favorite jam or preserves!
Buy A Cast Iron Frying Pan For Cooking Irish Soda Bread
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Combo Cooker, 3-Quart
2. How To Make Irish Soda Bread
This is How to Make Irish Soda Bread in easy steps from the good people at The Kitchn.
3. Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread
This is a good ole fashioned kind of Irish Soda Bread with just basic ingredients! So tasty!
4. Authentic Irish Soda Bread Recipe
This is an authentic Irish soda Bread Recipe from Grandma!
5. Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Irish Rosie says this traditional Irish soda bread recipe was passed on to her by a dear friend of her mother's (from Ireland).
Non-traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipes
6. Whole Wheat Vegan Irish Soda Bread
Because, well, you know…someone is going to ask for a Whole Wheat Vegan Irish soda bread recipe…
7. Jim's Cheddar Onion Soda Bread Recipe
For the less traditional Irish Soda Bread lovers who also love cheese.
Traditional Irish Soda Bread Easy Recipe
We hope you'll also like these articles:
Awesome Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies with Lemon Creme Filling
A super easy red velvet cupcake recipe
Cute and Unique Star Wars Kitchen Gifts For Every Home
7 Amazing Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipes
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New data was released last month detailing the tremendous impact repeated sweeps have had on funding for children's programs since 1999. The KEY Fund, which would have a balance of approximately $200 million had all funding promises been honored, will instead reach a record low of only $140,000 by fiscal year 2017 because lawmakers chipped away at the fund year by year to use it as a temporary budget stopgap. We have nearly – and likely permanently – depleted this crucial source of funding for children's programs. These short-term decisions have devastating long-term consequences to both our kids and our economy.
This is an email posted by Kansas Action for Children, a non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to improving the lives of Kansas children and families by providing comprehensive data, advocating for sound public policy and collaborating with lawmakers. . I am forwarding it to you so that you can see how badly our Kansas legislature treats our children.
To read more, go to http://kac.org/ Go to media and scroll down to blog.


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Kristina Baskett
Kristina Baskett was born and raised in Normandy Park, WA where gymnastics became an important part of her life at a very early age. After becoming a Junior Olympic Champion, she earned a full ride gymnastics scholarship to the University of Utah, where Kristina finished her college career as an NCAA Champion on the uneven bars, 12-time All-American, and earned 7 NCAA medals all together. Graduating with a degree in Mass Communications, Electronic Journalism, she also earned academic success as a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
After graduating, Kristina started to explore the world of entertainment as an acrobat/dancer in Sea World San Diego's stage show 'RipTide'. She then accepted an acrobat position in the Franco Dragone aquatic show Le Reve at Wynn, Las Vegas. Baskett got her first taste of Hollywood in the ABC Family Channel show 'Make It Or Break' it where she performed gymnastic stunts for the lead actors. Deciding to pursue stunts for television and movies, she moved to Los Angeles while continuing an on-call position at Cirque Du Soleil's 'Viva Elvis'.
Kristina now lives her passion in Los Angeles as a stunt performer for major motion pictures, commercials, and television shows.
Known For:
NCAA Champion gymnast who transitioned to stunt work for major motion pictures, television and commercials
Gymnastic Influence/Heroes:
I've had so many gymnastics influences growing up, from the older girls that I looked up to at my club gym to the 1996 Olympic gymnastics team that won the gold medal. But I think the most influential and important heroes have been my coaches and teammates from club gymnastics and at the University of Utah. I've spent so many hours of important developmental times in my life with my coaches, who have been with me through the ups and downs in my career, and my teammates who supported and pushed me through my journey. Looking back I wouldn't change a thing about my gymnastics career because of these people.
(Kristina stunt doubling Rachel Bilson 'Heart of Dixie' and Cassie Scerbo 'Sharknado')
Martial Arts style/Training:
I guess the only "style" I would say I have is a mixture of everything. I didn't grow up as a martial artist so I've had to do the best I can without the hours of training behind me in this business. I've meet so many amazingly talented people in the stunt business who are trained in martial arts and I am fortunate for any opportunity I can get to train with them. I love new things and it has been fun to take on the challenge of so many different styles and skills that are different than gymnastics. Although I will admit that it's extremely frustrating as well, when you have the mindset of an athlete you want to be good at everything, and I've had to work on my patience in learning a whole new art form!
Fave Stunts to do:
My favorite job so far has been the Nationwide Insurance commercials. I was able to use my gymnastics experience in a whole new environment…as in there are no more uneven bars and vault horse, but kitchen counters and furniture. I also really like doing wire work which I got my first experience in performing at Le Reve in Las Vegas. It was also a water show, and one of my favorite parts was the scuba and swimming elements, so I love anything I get to do involving water.
(Kristina did all the stunts for actress Jana Kramer)
Fave Action Movie: To be honest, I'm more of a book worm than a movie watcher. I'm a sucker for science fiction and fantasy, so those are the types of movies I love watching and always want to be a part of! I could never get enough of 'Lord of the Rings', and would really want to be a part of an all girls fantasy action like 'Sucker Punch', 'X-Men', 'Avatar'; movies that aren't necessarily heavy martial arts but demand an imagination!
Embarrassing event on set: I was rehearsing for the first Nationwide Insurance commercial and I had on the leather pants that they wanted me to wear – to try them out. We were walking through all the stunts with the directors and coordinators and production and the first thing I tried, I completely ripped the crotch of the pants open. By the time we finished our walk through I pretty much had no pants left…so we definitely had to go with a stretchier option.
Any tricks or moves you have not yet mastered: Oh the list is endless! One of my favorite things about stunts is that there are no limits on skills you can learn. I feel like I am overloaded at times because I want to learn so many things! There are experts in every aspect of stunts so I can always be better at something. Right now I am focused on improving my martial art skills all around, fighting for camera, learning how to be comfortable flipping off axis and connecting tricks like those mind blowing trickers out there. I always just want to be a better dancer, at parkour…I have a whole list that just goes on 🙂
To learn more about Kristina, visit: www.kristinabaskett.com


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DriveClub PS4 Developer Trailer drops
By News Division On June 7, 2013 · In Betas, News, Playstation 4, Systems, Video
Sony Corp. this week released the Developer Trailer for DriveClub for the Playstation 4.
The trailer features a conversation with the development team which highlights key game options including the ability to form a race club for cooperative and competitive events, in addition to a combination of casual and simulation gameplay.
Developed by Evolution Studios, DriveClub is a racing simulation title that features social networking functionality to allow users to form racing groups and race with friends.
A release date is to be determined.
Follow us on Twitter @PunchJump, @WeLoveHotDeals, @PreOrderBonus, @SQUARE Gentleman, and visit us at Facebook and Google+.
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text: What do you think about a union co worker that rats out his fellow union guys to his supv ? Always reporting evrything he sees to his supv during working hours via cellphone. Spying on other workers in exchange for sweet deal. No names. But he starts at 5PM AND leaves sometimes as early as the others who start at 230pm. I spoke with steward already.this guy is getting paid 40 grs yet does only 30 or 35: maybe someone should rat on him. Karma is a bitch


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Last week…it happened…I turned 30 years of age. Here's my crack at thirties life advice. Ha!
Nothing special happened, and the next day my country recognized same-sex marriage as a right, so my birthday became even more of a non-event. I don't mind.
If my Facebook feed could be this full of people celebrating something this wonderful all the time, I would be happy forever.
I've never really celebrated my birthday, and I generally don't like being the center of attention. I even felt somewhat of a twinge of selfishness when planning a small outing for my 30th birthday with a handful of friends and my sister.
Continue Reading
Women wear what they want to in Singapore, or How awesome it is that there is no catcalling in Singapore
Sure, you have heard that Singapore is a safe and clean city. Or that it's the most expensive city in the world to live in. (This is mostly skewed by the price of cars, which are not essential, but that is another story.) But what you may not know is that women wear what they want to in Singapore. It's remarkable, and simultaneously a sign of old stereotypes/gender roles and a sign of hope in the face of gender issues in Singapore. There are a few things that I really like and admire about Singapore, and this is one of them.
The recent video of a woman walking in New York City has gone viral because it shows just how much harassment a woman can receive just by walking around in NYC. I'm glad that they are drawing attention to this issue, because this is at the root of what I don't like about NYC. Catcalling is nonexistent in Singapore, which one reason why I think women can have the freedom to dress as they wish.
Continue Reading
How traveling has changed my view of the world
I'm participating in the Indie Travel Art Project for the month of April 2014!
Day 1 prompt: How has your view of the world changed because of travel?
For me, there are maybe 2 things that have changed about my view, one positive and one negative.
Continue Reading
On not freaking out when all your friends are getting engaged or having babies
I'm a few short years away from turning 30, and it seems I've entered the time span where all my Facebook feed seems to be dominated by is posts about engagements, weddings and babies. It has been like this for probably a year or more, but wasn't so apparent until a few months ago when at least 5 or 6 people got engaged within about a 2 week period.
With this, I've come to realize that I'm not that close to contributing to Facebook feeds of my friends in this fashion, and I'm ok with that. I'm better than ok; I'm pretty good! My life is not devoid of happy events and especially not jewelry which I don't care to wear. I'm in no way less "complete" and don't feel like I'm "behind" in any way. Life events aren't necessarily following a particular sequence (except for getting older and other time related phenomena). Continue Reading
Are Asian girls too easily embarrassed?
Maybe that is unfair to generalize and say just Asian girls are too easily embarrassed. It might be context dependent, and situational embarrassment. There are also cultural forces at work here that are complicated and difficult to understand, but I think it is interesting to think about.
Last week, I attended a safety orientation session that was required for new staff and students at the university. The first session was on basic safety, first aid, and CPR. The second session was on fire safety. A few instances stuck out in my mind as interesting examples to consider. One girl wouldn't give an answer when called on by the instructor. Granted, she was put on the spot to try to answer his question, but she couldn't come up with anything and just shook her head, looked uncomfortable, and nervously touched her hair. Another girl looked completely mortified during the head bandage demonstration where the instructor showed the audience how to wrap a cloth bandage on her head. It also didn't help that her "friend" in the audience was taking photos with her mobile phone (with the flash on!). Continue Reading
Rethinking worldliness
What would you do if a gang of monkeys threw coins at you? How would you escape out of a bus if it fell on its side during a rainstorm? I thought about these on my trip to India. In mid-2012, I was lucky enough to be sent off to India for work purposes, and was able to take vacation days to stay around after the meetings and see more than just the inside of a hotel.
At the airport, the hotel had sent 2 people to pick me up. We arrived in the perfectly luxurious hotel, tucked away from the center of Delhi. Meetings are what they are, but it was interesting to experience the biggest blackout in Indian history that took out most of Northern India but also be minimally affected by it. It is easy to complain. The elevators were not working. The lights flickered. The A/C turned off in the middle of the night. But in the bigger picture of things, many more people suffered much more devastating results. Continue Reading


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Video: Watch Overly Attached Girlfriend Go From Normal To Creepy In These Bloopers
Internet meme Laina Walker is a smart kid: The same day that we report on her Overly Attached Girlfriend meme becoming the equally funny Misunderstood Girlfriend, she releases a blooper reel from when she recorded her first viral video. In some ways this is calculated, and in some ways not: She had no way of knowing that her "Girlfriend" video for Justin Bieber would have such success as a Reddit meme, so the outtakes of her messing up the lyrics were probably included for her own amusement. But judging from the different outfits, she's also edited together goofs from her other videos that she made after she became internet famous.
Still, it's kind of fascinating to watch Laina sit around seemingly bored before suddenly switching into her OAG persona with those wide, empty eyes and creepy smile. I also laughed at all of the other songs she lip-syncs to, probably either trying out other bits or just goofing around to get herself jazzed for the actual video she's recording. Side note: I didn't realize that "As Long As You Love Me" could be just as creepy as "Every Breath You Take"! And her take on Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" is hilarious.
Suffice to say, if you find yourself constantly looking up Overly Attached Girlfriend image macros, you'll crack up at Laina's bloopers. And yes, we too would like to hang out with Kristen Wiig and eat sandwiches.


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MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins fans have been clamoring for years for their team to make a big move to help them make a postseason run.
They don't come any bigger than Jon Rauch.
The Twins acquired the 6-foot-11 Rauch, the tallest player in baseball history, from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday to help their beleaguered bullpen.
The 30-year-old Rauch went 2-2 with a 4.14 ERA in 54-plus innings for Arizona. He walked 17 and struck out 35 in 58 games this season.
"Whatever it takes to win ballgames, we'll figure out where he fits and go from there," manager Ron Gardenhire said before the Twins played Texas. "He's a good arm. A veteran, knows how to pitch, all those things."
The Twins started the day 4½ games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central. They agreed to send the Diamondbacks a player to be named.
Gardenhire has struggled to find a reliable combination in front of All-Star closer Joe Nathan all season, though Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier have been solid, especially this month.
The Twins agreed to terms with reliever Ron Mahay, who was cut by the Royals earlier this week, and put third baseman Joe Crede on the disabled list with a back injury. Mahay went 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA in 41 games for Kansas City and will be another veteran presence that Gardenhire has been craving.
General manager Bill Smith has been criticized for not making enough trades to supplement a talented core. But he has been more active this year, acquiring shortstop Orlando Cabrera, starter Carl Pavano and now Rauch to address weaknesses.
"They're trying," designated hitter Jason Kubel said of the front office. "They're doing their part. Now we have to do our part."
Rauch's 305 appearances since the start of 2006 are the most in the majors. His career ERA is 3.87, beginning in 2002 with the Chicago White Sox.
Right-handers Philip Humber and Armando Gabino were sent to Triple-A Rochester to make room on the roster. The Twins announced they will recall catcher Jose Morales before the game Saturday against Texas.
Crede has not played in six games because of the sore back. He received a pain-killing shot earlier this week and will get another one before coming back, Gardenhire said.
Gardenhire pleaded for relief help before the trade deadline, but Smith wasn't able to accommodate him. So the manager has had to use unproven youngsters like Jeff Manship, Bobby Keppel and Anthony Swarzak in a variety of roles.
"You don't want to continue to have to come in with young starters from Triple-A out of the bullpen," Gardenhire said.
Rauch was scheduled to be in uniform for Saturday's game. He makes the move from a team that was 20 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West to a team that hopes to make a run at its fifth AL Central title since 2002.
"It's definitely a good opportunity to get back with a team that's in a playoff race after things didn't go so well in Arizona this year," Rauch said. "I'm looking for a fresh beginning and a new start with a different organization."
He will likely be here next season as well because the Diamondbacks exercised a $2.9 million option for 2010 on his contract last October.
He was 4-2 with 17 saves and a 2.98 ERA in 48 appearances with Washington when the Nationals traded him to Arizona in 2008. After a solid start in the desert, Rauch had three losses in an eight-day stretch that helped kill the Diamondbacks' hopes in the NL West.
This year, Rauch got off to a poor start and had a 9.31 ERA after one month. The usually forgiving fans at Chase Field booed him every time he entered a game. He improved in midseason, surrendering four runs in 20 outings before giving up a three-run homer to San Francisco's Travis Ishikawa in his last appearance.
"Given how the first half of his career went here in Arizona, versus the last half, I'm very happy for him in how he turned it around," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said.
Rauch wore No. 57 with the Diamondbacks and was initially going to wear that number with the Twins. But that was the same number Johan Santana wore here, so Rauch switched to No. 60.
"It didn't treat me very well in Arizona," Rauch said. "And I didn't think it was fair for Johan and the things that he did for that organization when he was there. So I just wanted a different number."


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SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean soldier was at large late Saturday night after killing five comrades and wounding another five at the border with North Korea, South Korean media reported.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that a South Korean army private fled with a weapon after opening fire on his comrades earlier Saturday night at an outpost in Gangwon province, east of Seoul. South Korean military officials didn't immediately return calls seeking more details.
Read more


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1. One of These Days (4:25)
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2. Mysterious Ways (5:37) Composed by Wayne Kirkpatrick
3. Secret Ambition (6:27) Composed by Amy Grant
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text:
And Tory Burch's entry, wrapped in a beautiful Gracie paper.
La Dolce Vita
The scenes - which usually depict flowers and birds - work in both traditional and modern interiors.
Elle Decor
I just ordered a pretty pair of light blue Chinoiserie wallpaper panels and framed them for the shop. You can't tell by the photo, but each panel is HUGE - 8 feet tall by 36 inches wide. They would be so pretty hung in a dining room, an entry hall or on flanking the sides of a bed.
$2,950 for the pair
Shipping available throughout the United States
Lindley Arthur Antiques at Antique Row
5013 West Lovers Lane
Dallas, Texas 75209


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Atlassian Sourcetree is a free Git and Mercurial client for Windows.
Atlassian Sourcetree is a free Git and Mercurial client for Mac.
JIRA Func Test Basics
This plugin was created to make it easier to write integration tests that are compiled and run against different versions of JIRA. We use it internally with JIRA Importers Plugin, JIRA Issue Collector Plugin, JIRA Remote Copy Plugin and many more. Now you can use it too!
Using JIRA Func Test Basics
Func Test Basics combined with TestKit gives you a new way to run your tests. The biggest advantage is that they are proven to work across different JIRA versions. You can use the same Func Test Basics to run tests against 5.0.2, 5.1, 5.2, and 6.0.
How to start
Edit you pom.xml and add following (rest.version set to 2.7.1):
<dependency> <groupId>com.atlassian.jira.tests</groupId> <artifactId>jira-func-test-basics</artifactId> <version>1.9.5</version> <scope>test</scope> </dependency> <dependency> <groupId>com.atlassian.plugins.rest</groupId> <artifactId>atlassian-rest-common</artifactId> <version>${rest.version}</version> <scope>provided</scope> <exclusions> <exclusion> <groupId>javax.ws.rs</groupId> <artifactId>jsr311-api</artifactId> </exclusion> <exclusion> <groupId>com.sun.jersey</groupId> <artifactId>jersey-core</artifactId> </exclusion> </exclusions> </dependency>
How to write tests
Using Rules without extending TestBase
Here's an example of an integration test using three JIRA instances at once. It will execute tests in the browser using Atlassian Selenium.
TestedProductFactory comes from JIRA PageObjects, it offers API to drive the browser and access JIRA pages. Beware most of the pages change from version to version. So if your product heavily integrates with JIRA you may need to write your own versions. We use it mostly to log in the user during tests, then we use our own PageObjects to test the plugin.
Backdoor is TestKit backdoor that allows you to setup JIRA for tests (create users, issues, groups, workflows, etc.).
Here's couple of rules we use to setup test environment:
- EmptySystemDashboardRule - when you log in the user with PageObjects it will be redirected to Dashboard. We empty the Dashboard first so it loads instantly (no need to wait for rendering gadgets)
- SessionCleanupRule - this rule deletes session cookie after each test case, so you end up with a fresh session
- MaximizeWindow - makes Selenium browser full size so everything fits on screen and Selenium doesn't have to scroll the page which sometimes is flaky
- WebSudoRule - disable WebSudo to speed up tests (use it if you're testing Administration pages)
- WebDriverScreenshot - produces screenshot after each failed test
- DrityWarningTerminatorRule - JIRA doesn't allow you to leave a dirty form, which is fine for the user, but we don't want that during integration tests
public abstract class AbstractCopyIssueTest { static JiraTestedProduct jira1 = TestedProductFactory.create(JiraTestedProduct.class, new DefaultProductInstance("http://localhost:2990/jira", "jira1", 2990, "/jira"), null); static JiraTestedProduct jira2 = TestedProductFactory.create(JiraTestedProduct.class, new DefaultProductInstance("http://localhost:2991/jira", "jira2", 2991, "/jira"), null); static JiraTestedProduct jira3 = TestedProductFactory.create(JiraTestedProduct.class, new DefaultProductInstance("http://localhost:2992/jira", "jira3", 2992, "/jira"), null); static Backdoor testkit1 = getBackdoor(jira1); static Backdoor testkit2 = getBackdoor(jira2); static Backdoor testkit3 = getBackdoor(jira3); @ClassRule public static EmptySystemDashboardRule emptySystemDashboardRule = new EmptySystemDashboardRule(testkit1, testkit2, testkit3); @Rule public static SessionCleanupRule sessionCleanupRule = new SessionCleanupRule(); @Rule public static MaximizeWindow maximizeWindow = new MaximizeWindow(); @Rule public WebSudoRule webSudoRule = new WebSudoRule(testkit1, testkit2, testkit3); @Rule public static WebDriverScreenshot webDriverScreenshot = new WebDriverScreenshot(); @Rule public static DirtyWarningTerminatorRule dirtyWarningTerminatorRule = new DirtyWarningTerminatorRule(); public static Backdoor getBackdoor(JiraTestedProduct jira) { final TestKitLocalEnvironmentData testKitLocalEnvironmentData = getTestKitLocalEnvironmentData(jira); return new Backdoor(testKitLocalEnvironmentData); } private static TestKitLocalEnvironmentData getTestKitLocalEnvironmentData(JiraTestedProduct jira) { Properties props = new Properties(); props.put("jira.port", Integer.toString(jira.getProductInstance().getHttpPort())); props.put("jira.context", jira.getProductInstance().getContextPath()); props.put("jira.host", URI.create(jira.getProductInstance().getBaseUrl()).getHost()); props.put("jira.xml.data.location", "."); return new TestKitLocalEnvironmentData(props, null); }
Using TestBase
You can also use TestBase as a base for your tests and have all goodies turned on by default. This was our first attempt on replacing BaseJiraWebTest class which our tests used previously. When we decided to support multiple JIRA versions it was the simplest way to replace BaseJiraWebTest but now we believe you should use composition instead of inheritance to create your tests. So please check the sample above. TestBase looks following:
public abstract class TestBase { @Rule public MaximizeWindow maximizeWindow = new MaximizeWindow(jira()); @Rule public WebDriverScreenshot $screenshot = new WebDriverScreenshot(jira()); @Rule public DirtyWarningTerminatorRule dirtyWarning = new DirtyWarningTerminatorRule(jira()); @ClassRule public static FuncTestHelper funcTestHelper = new FuncTestHelper(); @ClassRule public static JiraTestedProductHelper productHelper = new JiraTestedProductHelper(); protected static JiraTestedProduct jira() { return productHelper.jira(); } protected static PageBinder pageBinder() { return jira().getPageBinder(); } protected static Backdoor backdoor() { return funcTestHelper.backdoor; } }
As you can see it gives you most of the rules. There's also an additional funcTestHelper object that gives you all objects known from FuncTestCase like administration, navigation, etc.
You should not use them. Instead use TestKit and PageObjects. It's mean to simplify moving legacy tests to the new infrastructure.
How to prepare your own PageObjects
There's a nice tutorial on writing PageObjects for your own pages. Please read it and if you have any questions please raise questions on Answers.
Contributing your changes to Func Test Basics
This is an Open Source library and your welcome to contribute. Please fork the repository, do your modifications and raise a pull request. Then your changes will be incorporated. If you're a customer that's all you need to do because Atlassian End User Agreement (section 7) covers contributions already.


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Southern Truck Pros Logo Design
Asked by client to develop from concept to final logo design.
STP Final Logo Design
First Logo Concept, Original idea from Client
Logo Graphic Workshop I
Logo Workshop II, on background suggested and additional logos provided by client
Logo Workshop III, with a bounding box around text for maximum readability (regardless of background)
Final Logo Design. Texas flag incorporated to logo graphic


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The Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday approved more than $11 million in additional funds to address problems caused by a new and faulty student records system.
The move is the latest financial toll related to the flawed online data system, which Supt. Ramon Cortines reiterated is at least a year from being completely fixed.
The system caused problems districtwide this fall, with thousands of students unable to enroll in classes required for graduation or college. Teachers were unable to record attendance, and grade information was lost or corrupted.
"We are starting to see evidence that the system is stabilizing," Cortines said at the board meeting Tuesday. "We are looking at the issues that plague our schools, counselors, teachers and administration. We aren't saying they don't exist, but we are trying to resolve them."
A staff report said the system continues to have performance issues and new bugs arise on a daily basis. "The system, as it stands today, does not meet the needs of our schools," the report said.
The district has spent more than $130 million trying to develop a fully functional student records system. The new system is called My Integrated Student Information System, or MISIS.
Tuesday's measure passed unanimously. The cost will be covered with voter-approved school construction bonds.
The funding can be used on contracts with any of 14 companies, including Microsoft, which is on call to help the district with the program.
The additional funds will cover district efforts to fix the system through February, said Matt Hill, the district's chief strategy officer. L.A. Unified officials will probably return to the independent school construction bonds oversight committee in January to request more funds if needed.
Twitter: @sjceasar


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Why Executive needs to finally come of age and act like real government
The last voter has been canvassed, the final soundbite delivered. But as Northern Ireland goes to the polls today, Alex Kane asks if this election will actually change anything in the course of the next five years.
Well, it's all over bar the voting. It was a very dull campaign, opening with a very dull leaders' debate on UTV a few weeks ago and ending with an equally dull debate on the BBC on Tuesday evening.
There were no "water cooler moments", no moments that excited us, or made us prick up our ears and pay attention. Indeed, the only interesting part was the ritual humiliation and emasculation of the politicians who appeared on The Nolan Show to defend and explain their manifestos - and singularly failed to do so.
The first election I can remember - although I was too young to vote - was the Northern Ireland "crossroads" election of 1969. It was genuinely exciting. This one has been the most boring one of the last 47 years.
Since boring campaigns tend to favour the status quo, it seems likely that there won't be much change when the votes have been counted. The DUP and Sinn Fein will still be the largest parties - comfortably so - with the UUP, SDLP and Alliance joining them in talks about the new Programme for Government (PfG) and whether or not they will take seats in the next Executive.
But the most important question is this: is anything likely to change in the course of the next five years?
Starting next week Stormont Castle will be the venue for a series of meetings between the five main parties. The Fresh Start Agreement states that "representatives of the parties who are entitled to take up places in the Executive and who confirm their intention to do so will meet to resolve the draft Programme for Government".
That wording suggests that both the UUP and SDLP would have to sign up to the Executive immediately, even though both said during the election campaign that they were looking for a mandate to go into talks and would then make up their minds about the Executive.
Yet I'm pretty sure that both the DUP and Sinn Fein - who are keen to have them onboard - will take a fairly relaxed view if they sense that Nesbitt and Eastwood are prepared to join.
The root of what has been described as "serial Executive dysfunctionality" has been the tendency of the individual ministers and parties to adopt a silo mentality. In other words, they tend to do their own thing with their own agenda - even when that means conflict with other departments and a lack of coherence and forensic costing when it comes to implementation.
It has also meant ministers ganging up on each other, taking legal action against each other and voting against Executive policy (some of it in the PfG) on the floor of the house.
More important - and what tends to sap public confidence in the process - has been an inability to settle on a doctrine of collective responsibility and accountability when it comes to the PfG.
There is no point in PfG talks if the ministers, collectively and individually, do not agree with the policies and intention of the PfG and assume that they are entitled to vote against or veto the policies of other ministers.
It makes it impossible to run government properly and results in the absurdity of ministers sitting in the same studios and disagreeing with each other.
What they need to do this time is embrace that collective responsibility and produce a PfG that fully interconnects the policies and role of each department, and allows them to agree on a clear and clearly understood process for resolving the most important issues.
For example, health is the black hole of spending in any government and always will be. There is never going to be enough money. There are always going to be hugely difficult decisions.
There will always be new cures, treatments, medicines and equipment developed or required and, consequently, more money will be needed. There will always be more patients needing more help, particularly in an ageing society.
So, there's no point in having a Health Minister who is always under attack for not providing enough money, or reducing waiting lists. There's no point in other parties saying "our minister would have done better". There's no point pretending that tossing millions into the black hole will do anything more than form the basis of a Press statement.
The Executive needs to stand together on this and support the minister as he or she steers through an agreed strategy.
The same thing needs to be done with education and tackling the issue of falling rolls; too many unemployed qualified teachers; the duplication of provision in different sectors; massive educational underachievement; the absurdity of the post-primary transfer process; the nonsense of us-and-them schools, and, yet again, the tendency of the minister/party to pursue their own ideological agenda.
And the same thing needs to be done with employment and dealing with the problems of a low-skills, call centre, public sector economy; particularly one that hopes to justify and sustain a cut in corporation tax funded by a cut in the block grant.
Put bluntly, the next Executive needs to look and act like a government. It needs to face up to the fact - and this mandate will take us to the end of almost a quarter-of-a-century of the Assembly - that the mantra of "it's better than it used to be" cannot continue to be used as an excuse for lacklustre administration and divisive, contradictory policies. They've already had long enough to prove they can actually work together.
The biggest change, of course, would be the decision by the UUP and SDLP - unless they eclipse the DUP and Sinn Fein - to both accept and embrace the role of official Opposition. The structures exist now, so they don't have that excuse anymore.
Taking a ministry simply because the d'Hondt rules "entitle" them to a ministry is a lot less courageous than setting themselves apart and offering a different layer of accountability and responsibility.
Locking themselves in an Executive as the very junior partners (and they know how they were treated between 2007-16) means another five years of playing second fiddle to the DUP and Sinn Fein; and an election in 2021, when they still won't be able to present themselves as a credible, genuine alternative.
The biggest challenge for all the parties is that 2021 is also the centenary of the creation of the Northern Ireland parliament. Unionists will want to celebrate that; nationalists won't. How they prepare for that centenary will have an impact on everything else they do in the coming mandate.
But maybe - just maybe - if they start with a PfG that includes more coherence and co-operation and shores it up with collective responsibility, then they may find it easier to deal with the very real challenges (including more threats from dissidents) presented by the 2021 centenary.
Even though the Assembly has survived, there have been too many moments when it was on the brink of collapse. The challenges aren't going to go away anytime soon. Indeed, there will be newer, more troublesome ones down the line.
The Executive needs to be strong enough to meet those challenges. The next three weeks will be crucial.
Belfast Telegraph


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If you have a question to ask you are invited to contact us. We welcome your enquiry. We will answer your question as quickly as possible with the greatest respect for your privacy.
We are pleased to advise that our office has moved from Chatswood to Yarralumla ACT.
Favier House, 51 Cooyong Street, Braddon, ACT, 2612.
GPO Box 368, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1300 4FAITH (1300 432 484)
Fax: (02) 6247 6083
Please complete the form below.


text:
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PlanetGPA.com is an online global college counseling and career counseling company. We specialize in college and career counseling for students and working professionals in the US and from all over the world. We help students and professionals select the career path that is best suited with their personality and interests. We then asist them with finding the best colleges or universities in four countries: US, Canada, Australia, and UK.
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PlanetGPA, a service of USAsiaEDU
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text:
I have never been asked out nor even flirted with. I just seem transparent to guys who sometimes (although rarely) become purely platonic friends. Most of my friends are females.
The only guy I dated for over a year cut ties after I refused to have sex with him. He also confessed having been engaged to his girlfriend for over six months during our relationship. From what I heard through his friends talking to my friends, he just wanted sex from me because he was curious how it was to fool around with two girls at once. He thought I was beautiful, smart and funny which was somehow supposed to add to his glory, but once I refused (I want to wait until marriage) he just lost interest and decided I was not worth the chase. It seriously broke my heart because I was so happy being with him and genuinely loved him before I found out the truth. After that, he just stopped texting me abruptly.
Now I am just depressed and think why is it that I had only been asked out by a jerk like him? I am reasonably pretty, study at a top uni, am involved in societies, clubs, volunteering etc., get A+ at all of the exams, I am friendly and willing to help etc. Why can't I just have a normal Relationship with a cool guy like all my friends and sisters?
My only boyfriend broke my heart?
I have never been asked out nor even flirted with. I just seem transparent to guys who sometimes (although rarely) become purely platonic friends. Most of my friends are females.
Have an opinion?
What Guys Said 1
Because he's a jerk. Jerk's don't care about the girl, so they have nothing to lose by the girl saying no.
Jerks do the chasing I guess? I don't know why you were asked out by him.00|00|0
What Girls Said 0
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and earn 1 more Xper point!
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text:
The Stealers will hold their annual tournament this Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Winston Lake Golf Course.
Tag "tournament"
When the kids in the state of North Carolina watch college basketball on television, they are normally bombarded with schools from "Tobacco Road." The big Division I colleges of North
Photo by Timothy Ramsey BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE The Winston-Salem chapter of the North Carolina Central University Alumni Association has been giving scholarships to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools WS/FCS students
Chronicle Staff Report Who won the 2014 Lash-Chronicle Holiday Classic? Check out the video and see! The Lash-Chronicle Holiday Classic is viewed by many as the showcase venue for junior
Tournament to celebrate infant who battled heart defect (pictured above: Easton Sunday) Local middle and high school boys will participate in North
Students at The Centers for Exceptional Children (CFEC) will have new equipment and educational materials thanks to the most successful
WANNABEES 60+ LADY SOFTBALLERS FIND GOLD IN CLEVELAND,OH. Finally, the wait was over. After qualifying last June at the 2012
For the time being, 14-year-old Malcolm Gant has a thin golfing résumé. He's played in only one tournament, thus he's
The Winston-Salem Mavericks 16U and 11U AAU Basketball Teams have won the Tournament of Champions. Held June 1 at Northeast


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Here's a simple idea: brown some butter and spoon it over sliced tomatoes. Season with coarse salt and pepper. I wanted to try it as soon as I finished reading Amanda Hesser's post on Food52.
Brown butter adds a nutty, toasty flavor that makes baked goods like brownies and pancakes irresistibly good. Try it in a batch of blueberry muffins. Try really hard not to eat four muffins within the hour.
With thick slices of fresh tomato, the nutty butter makes for a seemingly new combination. It's interesting. Definitely worth trying. I liked it best on a slice of toast and topped off with cheese. Fresh herbs like rosemary, basil or thyme would really turn things up. Maybe try it in a BLT? I'm adding brown butter to my next dinner of pasta with cherry tomatoes and plenty of fresh vegetables.
To brown butter: Place the butter (about 6 or so tablespoons) in a small pan set over medium heat. It will melt and begin to foam up and make crackling sounds. After it quiets down, it won't be long until it's done. Stir it a bit and watch it turn a light brown color with little brown bits floating in the liquid. Pull it off the heat. Be careful not to burn it.


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UVI holds the President for a Day role reversal once a year and alternates between both campuses – the St. Thomas campus and the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. The 2016 role reversal will took place on Wednesday, November 16 on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. David Hall swapped roles with Dwane Hendrickson. Dwane served as UVI's President for a Day and followed President Hall's schedule; meanwhile, David Hall attended classes and other student activities.
Dwane was the fourth student selected to serve as President for a Day. This annual initiative was created to offer UVI undergraduate students a unique professional development experience, insight into the realities of running UVI, and give the institution's top administrator a better understanding of the student experience.
Dwane hails from the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis where he received an associate degree in General Studies at the Nevis Sixth Form College. Dwane is a senior and an honor student majoring in accounting at UVI. He recently completed The Washington Center Internship and Educational Seminar program where he had the opportunity to intern with Citigroup Inc. as an associate in the International Governance Affairs department. He aspires to work within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the authority figure on the country's external relations and its diplomatic missions abroad. Dwane also serves in leadership roles in the St. Kitts Nevis Student Association and Toastmasters International student clubs. He is also a Thurgood Marshall College Fund Student Ambassador. Dwane is a strong advocate for the performing arts as he enjoys singing, dancing, poetry, folklore, and preservation of Caribbean culture.
Dwane swapped classes and text books for campus meetings and a briefcase, while Dr. Hall gave up his office in the Great House and executive attire for business calculus, auditing and government accounting classes, and meetings with various student groups. Dr. Hall and Dwane will share their role-reversal experiences with the UVI community on Wednesday, November 30.
President for a Day
Role Reversal Schedule
November 16, 2016
Dwane Hendrickson
David Hall
President for a Day
Recap Presentation
|"When it comes to leadership, this experience definitely boosted my skills; I think I matured ten-fold in one day. . . As a leader you should know how to serve the people you are working for. It [the experience] taught me how to think rationally, how to think outside the box, how to take opinions and how not to take opinion too heavily, but also making sure you command the right ways. It was all a great experience to build my character." – President Jared Hanley on April 20, 2015
News Releases and Announcements:
|"I got a glimpse of what students encounter as they go through the experience . . . Anytime you can interject something that forces us to get out of our routine and see the world in a different way, it is just very exciting." - Dr. David Hall on February 21, 2015
"I got to work with the group during class time to develop a major presentation. . . It was so intriguing to see how engaged they were, how they delegated tasks, how they worked as a team. And always, I am impressed with how bright and thoughtful our students are." – Dr. David Hall on October 30, 2013
"My overall experience from this year's President for a Day event was very impressive; there's always more to learn about being in the students shoes and looking at the university from the student perspective . . . the challenge of understanding and appreciating what a commuter student goes through. That very revealing to me. We know these things already, but having to deal with them is always more enlightening." – Dr. David Hall on April 20, 2015
News Releases and Announcements:
|"I would like my fellow students to know that being the president is not easy, and should not be taken lightly. My overall experience was great. Different meetings with cabinet members, as well as meeting with Board of trustees chairman Alexander Moorehead gave me great insight on how tough the president's job can be . . . Be the change you want to see in the world, and push for what you want in life always. President Sheena Tonge on November 25, 2013
News Release:
|"This experience has added to my professional background even if it's just for one day on the job... I gained confidence in my leadership abilities and learned how to plan and execute goals with a management team - all while wearing heels."– President Marsha Laurencin on February 24,2013
News releases and announcements:
|Here's your chance to
Who's eligible?
All undergraduate students with a GPA of 2.5 are welcome to submit an application to serve as President for a Day.


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Annie official trailer2:26
Wealthy businessman Benjamin Stacks comes to the aid of little orphan Annie in this remake of the classic children's musical. Starring Jamie Foxx Rose Byrne, Cameron Diaz and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
CLASSIC musical Annie gets a big-screen remake later this year, with the trailer for the upcoming film released today.
This time around, little orphan Annie's trademark mop of red curls are gone, as the role is played by 10-year-old actor Quvenzhané Wallis, known for her incredible star turn in the 2012 art house hit Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Cameron Diaz plays Miss Hannigan, the role made famous by Carol Burnett in the original 1982 film adaptation of the Broadway musical. This latest adaptation is set in the present day, as the drunk and disorderly Miss Hannigan vents her frustration at her orphan charges, telling them she wishes George Clooney would come and take her away.
Jamie Foxx takes on the role of Will Stacks, a wealthy politician based on the character of Oliver Warbucks. Unlike Warbucks, Stacks appears to have an ulterior motive for bringing an orphan into his life, as the trailer suggests he's doing it for political purposes.
A selection of other high-profile actors round out the cast, including Bobby Cannavale as Stacks' political adviser and Australia's own Rose Byrne as Grace Farrell, Stacks' assistant.
Produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z, this modern-day retelling will weave selected Jay-Z tracks among the musical's classic songs such as Hard Knock Life and Tomorrow.
The film has a December 19 US release date, so expect to see it on Aussie screens around Christmas.


text: Vitamin C Skin Care Beauty Boosters We always want our skin to glow no matter how overworked and stressed-out we are. Read on to discover our beauty boosters that will bring back your healthy-looking glow from the inside out! CLEANSE IMPURITIES It removes dull skin cells and reveals radiance so your skin is exfoliated and revitalised. RENEW SKIN SURFACE Treat skin to a professional spa-inspired exfoliating facial once a week. BOOST MOISTURE & GLOW Say goodbye to grumpy, dull looking skin and make way for a healthy-looking glow. PREP YOUR SKIN A lightweight serum which delivers a concentrated boost of natural, anti-oxidant Vitamin C. ENHANCE COMPLEXION Revitalise skin and boost your skin's natural radiance with a fresh rosy tint. REFRESH Get an instant pick-me-up to refresh, smooth and energise dull-looking skin. Stressed at your desk? Don't let your skin suffer! Schedule your day and plan regular breaks. Eat right. Get moving - regular exercise is a powerful stress reliever. Hit back at that hangover with our health-boosting tips Drink at least two litres of water a day to stay hydrated, and we all know this one, remember to drink in moderation and eat before you drink! Feel tired and grumpy? Set a sleep schedule and stick to it. Cut down on caffeine after 2pm to get the stimulant out of your system for a deeper sleep.


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Global Marketing News – 10th March 2017
Google has expanded AMP into Eastern markets, mobile ad spend in the UK is expected to soar this year, and LinkedIn has written to Russian regulators to confirm that it will not host data within the country's borders.
Visit Webcertain.tv to watch the full bulletin or to watch a wide range of interviews with digital marketing professionals.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Gemma Houghton
Marketing Manager at Webcertain
Gemma has been working in international search for 6 years and leads Webcertain's marketing team. As well as managing Webcertain's global online and offline marketing activities, she also organises and programs WebCertain's International Search Summit, a search marketing conference focusing on international and multilingual online marketing and contributes regularly to the Webcertain blog. She has also spoken at conferences such as SES and SasCon and writes regularly for State of Digital. Gemma holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a BA Joint Honors Degree in French and German.
Latest posts by Gemma Houghton (see all)
- New version of Google Search Console being rolled out - January 12, 2018
- Baidu Launches China-Friendliness Test For Japanese Websites - December 12, 2017
- US Display Advertising To Grow 70% In Next 4 Years - December 1, 2017


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In the past two decades, Cambodia has gone through many major changes reflecting the heroic sacrifice of the Cambodian people to protect and to rebuild their homeland, the standard of their living, and the prosperity of their future.
With the October 23, 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, Cambodia achieves full right and sovereignty. For the result, the Cambodian people may fervently develop their country with generous assistance from international communities.
Before reaching their goal of prosperity, they facedmany critical proceedings. With His Majesty vision of Preah Bat Samdech NorodomSihanouk, the beloved king of the Cambodia people, peace and nationalreconciliation were finally achieved.
At the second session of the auspicious plenarymeeting of the National Assembly, I (Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister) have the honor to submit the Royal Government of Cambodia's Platform for approval from the august legislative body, the National Assembly.
It is a foundation of governance to ensure peace, stability, democracy and development for the Cambodian people and to rebuild their country.


text: >Don't forget a German driver killed two locals on one of these public >road return legs last year. Given the popularity of rallying in Europe, would it not be accepted practice to close down the roads in an effort of saftey? Mind you, from the RAC footage I've seen it probably wouldn't matter that much...why do people insist on standing at the OUTSIDE of a hairpin corner?! Boggles my mind really... -Dave P.S. anyone know when the RAC series is being brodcasted on Speedvision? I'm feeling very deprived now that I'm at university and missing it each week! ________________________________________________________________________________ Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4


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Is racing your bike relevant to commuting by bike?
I just raced my first crit in a few years. I'm not particularly fit right now, nor am I in a particularly high grade, and nor will I ever be, but it is a bit of fun (as long as I stay upright). On the way home, I was thinking if any of this was relevant to The Sticky Bidon.
Yes. Yes it is.
There are the obvious things, like fitness. Of course, lots of commuting miles gets one into reasonable shape. Not necessarily race-fit, but it keeps things ticking over. Likewise, racing can and will have a positive impact on your commute. Bike handling skills will certainly come in handy when it comes to avoiding debris, errant pedestrians or other cyclists. Being comfortable in close proximity to other traffic is made easier by becoming comfortable in a fast-moving peloton. The relationship between all of these things can be reversed to a certain degree, of course, as being comfortable in traffic can all have a positive impact on your racing as well.
While riding home, though, the first thing that popped into my head was awareness. You need to have eyes in the back of your head. There are 20 or 30 or 50 other riders all fighting for the best line, the fastest wheel, or the spot most sheltered from the wind, and having different tactics and goals and skill levels, all while taking place at speed, into and out of corners. With experience, you learn to sense what is around you. You listen to gears change. Freewheels spinning. Brakes being applied. Seeing the line that will be taken by the rider in front of you based on his current position and his speed, which is too high. Recognizing a near touch of wheels three riders up and one over, and reacting to the coming commotion before you get caught up in it.
In traffic on your commute, these same skills can be the difference between getting to your destination on time and unflustered, and not getting there at all. The eyes in the back of your head will sense how close the car that is approaching behind you will pass, and knowing where the gap in the traffic is so you can adjust your speed and safely slip past the car parked in the bike lane. The eyes in front will spot the driver's head shuffling around in the parked car ahead and prepare you to avoid the potentially opening door, and be ready for the inevitable left hook from the car that just passed you but is now slowing down. With experience, you will sharpen the senses you need to keep you out of danger. With time, you will foster the boldness required to maneuver into the space you require with confidence and skill, and therefore, safety.
Of course, this can happen without racing, but at least while racing you can practice these skills in the presence of a multitude of 70 kilos of skin and bone rather than 2 tons of metal and glass.


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Neighbouring States Worried Over Violence in Assam
- By Evangelical Fellowship Of India
- Published 08/3/2009
Evangelical Fellowship Of India
The Evangelical Fellowship Of India exists to empower and mobilize the local Churches, Church related institutions and individual Christians for effective witness for Christ. The Evangelical Fellowship of India crosses cultural and geographical boundaries and links Indian Christians with a world wide Christian community. EFI has continued to grow in recent years. Some of our newer areas of work now include advocacy (Christian Legal Association-CLA) and the Evangelical Financial Accountability Council (EFAC). It was founded in 1951 as a national alliance of evangelical Christians and is a central network of evangelicals in India. The vision of EFI is to strengthen Churches to live out the Gospel in the complex context of India.
Guwahati: The continuing violence affecting innocent people from Dimasa and Zeme Naga tribes in North Cachar Hill district of Assam has raised concern in various quarters in neighbouring Nagaland and Manipur.
The Naga Hoho, the apex body of peoples' organisations in Nagaland, has dashed a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to immediately intervene and demonstrate wisdom to restore peace in the hill district of Assam.
The apex body asserted the violence in the hill district was orchestrated by perpetrators who want to drive a wedge and severe the rich traditional relationship between the Dimasas and Nagas living in the area.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has requested Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to provide adequate security to the minority Zeme Naga tribe living in North Cachar Hill district.
The Manipur government has already sanctioned over Rs 3.6 lakh to provide relief to 800 odd violence-displaced Zeme Naga tribes from Assam hills taking refuge at different arts of Tamenglong district in Manipur.
Source: Tribune India
Date: July 09, 2009
Evangelical Fellowship Of India


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So a few months ago this guy and I were chatting over the phone and we were suppose to meet up and it turns out that he stood me up. Anyway in December he sent me a message apologising and asking if we could meet up some time. I gave him the cold shoulder and said no I don't think it was a good idea. Anyways we started chatting over the phone again and he asked me to come over to his place for a movie. So I decided I would get it over with but it turns out I kinda like him and he says he likes me. I'm so worried that i get hurt again and what if my family and friends don't understand. Can I get some outsider perspective?
To trust or not to trust?
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Home > Shop by Manufacturer > Queen & Company > All 8 Gumdrop Buttons (5109558)
All 8 Gumdrop Buttons
We are sorry, but this item is not available.
Glittery Gumdrop Buttons! These playful and delicious-looking buttons by Queen & Co. come 15 to a pack. The large buttons are 1/2" and the small are 3/8". They're acrylic with glitter inside and would make a beautiful addition to and scrapbooking, card making, sewing or mixed media project. Try them in all eight colors: Green (link), Blue (link), Gold (link), Orange (link), Pink (link), Purple (link), Red (link) Black and Silver (link).
Item #: 5109558
Customer comments
I ordered all 8 sets of glittery gumdrop buttons--they make great card accents--love how they sparkle & shine! PW has good prices on products you can't find anywhere else. Can't forget Anne, Gail, Paulette & all their fine employees; what a great team!! Thanks!
Wednesday, October 9th @ 09:50 PM
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Several weeks ago, at DreamHack Montreal, David Kim sat down with Smix and Artosis to reveal a number of planned design changes coming to StarCraft II. While the changes revealed at that event are not necessarily final, they do paint an accurate picture of the changes we're willing to make for StarCraft II. We'd like to continue to make balance tweaks as necessary over the coming two months, and for that, we need your help! A first step towards getting more data and feedback was to make it as easy as possible for you to experiment with our balance changes, so we've gone ahead and added matchmaking for them.
Starting with Patch 3.6, you will see a new 'Testing' sub-menu appear in the Mutliplayer section of StarCraft II. This section will offer matchmaking where players of similar skill can play against one another in the newest version of the StarCraft II Balance Changes.
How it Works:
The version of StarCraft II that will be available in the Testing section is radically different than what is currently live on the Ladder, and to make it as easy as possible to know what you're getting into, you can now view the changes that are being tested directly within the client. This can be done by navigating to the 'Testing' section within Multiplayer, and selecting the 'Balance Info' dialogue box.
Alternatively, if you wish to dive into greater detail about why specific changes are being tested, or if you want to offer up your feedback to the community to see other players' thoughts on your observations, you can jump onto the StarCraft II forums by selecting the 'Battle.net Forums' option. Here you'll find the Community Feedback Updates which are posted weekly by the Lead Balance Designer, David Kim as he responds to numerous points brought up by the community and also provides insight into the design team's thought processes.
Integrating the community into our design process for StarCraft II has proven to be immensely helpful as Legacy of the Void has continued to develop. We look forward to making our Balance Testing even more accessible to you, and hearing the reactions and thoughts of even more players than before. Thanks for your feedback, and we're excited to be making even more improvements to StarCraft II!
We'll see you online!


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Tiffany Gee Lewis: Is cleanliness really next to godliness?
george of the jungle goshen, UTJan. 5, 2014 8:44 a.m.
May be it's carrying around a lot of excess baggage. A mind, body and spirit thing. If no one messed up there there would not be forgiveness.
Rhonda H. South Jordan, UTJan. 3, 2014 9:47 a.m.
It seems that most of us translate "cleanliness is next to godliness" as "cleanliness is a form of godliness".
Well, maybe. Maybe not. Cleanliness and order can be synonymous, and 'order' can be defined as 'prioritized'. Proper priorities are definitely a form of godliness, and sometimes proper priorities means leaving a mess behind so I can focus on my children, or my neighbors, or my husband (not necessarily in that order). And sometimes proper priorities means cleaning the SLOW way by teaching my children to do it. It's easier, and cleaner much sooner, if I do it myself, but one of my God-given jobs is to train them.
In other words, sometimes I have to choose between being godly and having cleanliness; and cleanliness is NEXT TO godliness.
fani wj, UTJan. 2, 2014 1:29 p.m.
"cleanliness next to godliness" while it's important to keep your closet,kitchen, living room, etc clean in order to maintain your sanity - God wants different type of clean: clean mind, clean heart, clean thoughts--this is what next to godliness, not your kitchen clean, afterall you ain't gonna take your clean kitchen with you when god call you back home...
cjb Bountiful, UTJan. 2, 2014 1:13 p.m.
The universe is orderly, but it isn't tidy.
Denverite Centennial, COJan. 2, 2014 12:03 p.m.
As the comedian Gallagher once said: "They say cleanliness is next to godliness. I looked it up in the dictionary. Goggles is next to godliness. Cleanliness is next to claustrophobia and cleavage."