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THE rebellious and unconventional Han Han never follows — he leads. The high school dropout is China's most outspoken blogger, a bestselling writer and editor-in-chief of an alternative literary magazine that published only one issue but sold 1.5 million copies. He shocked many people when he decided to start a professional racing career in 2003, and he did really well.
Now he enjoys his new title — film director. Han released his feature film directorial debut, "The Continent," yesterday, an effort he says is more challenging than writing.
The 32-year-old Shanghai native, named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people worldwide in 2010, has more than 38 million devoted fans on Weibo, which seems likely to be a strong boost to the film's box office.
The versatile Han, who is called an "opinion leader" for his generation, has included his new feelings about life and growth in this road movie.
"Compared with publishing a book, as a filmmaker I must take more responsibilities in marketing and distribution," Han says. "Shanghai is my hometown. I have a strong connection with the city. I hope that the film can be well-received here in the city."
The film revolves around three young men living on an eastern Chinese island who take a driving journey to find new meanings and goals in life. It took Han and his team more than three months to shoot the movie. Helicopter, yacht and race car were among the transportation modes used in parts of the journey.
Contrasting his sharp and rebellious image, a smiling Han looks gentle and well-mannered. He is praised by almost all the actors in the film for his Virgo traits.
"Han doesn't look like a first-time film director at all," says Feng Shaofeng, an actor in the movie. "He is very considerate, responsible and elegant. He is patient and calm when he responds to unexpected circumstances."
Lu Jinbo, Han's publisher and his friend for more than 10 years, says he was deeply impressed by Han's diligence and talent as a filmmaker.
"During the shooting of the movie, Han worked for more than 12 hours a day," Lu says. "It occurs to me that writing is just like Han's first love, car racing is a romantic encounter in his life, and filmmaking is probably his final destination."
"The Continent" is set in the same time period as "Tiny Times 3," whose director, Guo Jingming, is also a popular writer and has always been compared with Han. Some might consider them rivals of their generation.
No matter whether they acknowledge it, Guo and Han are thought to have a sort of connection, with many things in common: popular post-1980s top-earning authors, heartthrobs and bloggers with vast fan bases, top-prize winners at the New Concept national writing competition in their teens, and strong ambition in diversified fields of publication, music production and filmmaking.
However, they also have remarkably different backgrounds, personalities and styles of writing. Fans of each used to be engaged in a long-time "fight" and debate on the Internet.
Guo comes from a small city in Sichuan Province. After gaining popularity among young people, he loved to post photos of himself on his blog clad in varied luxury brands, and those of his grand dream house. He even shared how he cleaned his face with expensive cosmetics in a total of 10 steps.
This brought immediate and widespread derision from Han's fans, who thought Guo's actions glorified materialism and were full of narcissism.
In contrast, Han's blog is usually about his critical opinions on heated social and political issues as well as new phenomena of culture and education. His sharp and cynical criticism, in the eyes of Guo's followers, was just claptrap and hype.
Han used to tell media that "Guo and I have different genders" to shrug off the comparison. He said the values conveyed in Guo's books are very superficial, "low" and cater to the tastes of post-1990s people living in the rural-urban fringe.
"I think I am better than him in every aspect, except for one thing: I am not as rich as he is," Han said in an early interview.
In response, Guo said he didn't even know who Han was and that his comments meant nothing to him.
The inevitable comparison of the two films is also expected to trigger a big "battle" between their fans.
Born into an intellectual family in Shanghai, Han impressed China's literary scene with his first novel, "Triple Gate." Written when he was just 17, the book tells a story of youth and growth, and it criticizes the country's rigid education system.
The book sold more than 2 million copies when published in 2000. Later, Han published a few more best-selling books and anthologies, which accumulated hundreds of millions of readers and fans.
Ever since he came onto the scene as a teenager, Han has been seen as a rebellious figure. He dropped out of high school because he hated subjects other than writing. At the peak of his writing career, he took up car racing. The thrilling sport, in his words, gave him a sense of achievement and proved to himself that he was a well-rounded learner.
In 2010, "Party" or "Solo Band," a literary magazine he created and edited, was shut down because of edgy essays and photographs. Its only published issue sold more than 1.5 million copies.
The same year, Han was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. He was also interviewed by CNN as a young and influential Chinese writer.
However, in the eyes of many Chinese people, Han is also a person of endless controversy. He had a series of online debates with many Chinese cultural celebrities, including famous writer Lu Tianming, film director Lu Chuan, musician Gao Xiaosong and poet Bai Hua.
In 2012, anti-fraud crusader Fang Zhouzi questioned the authenticity of his works and claimed that some of them were actually written by Han's father. Han responded with a showcase and publishing of his manuscripts and a lawsuit against Fang.
The writer has also been suspected of having extramarital affairs. To the surprise of many, Han responded with the following words: "The woman I love most in the world is my daughter. I have built up a strong bond with my wife. Perhaps some other women can also be like a family to me. I hope that they and my wife can help each other and keep a harmonious relationship. I may fall in love with someone else. Even so, no one can change my feelings for my wife."
Today, Han's new nickname is "national father-in-law" after he posted pictures of his 4-year-old daughter. A lot of his fans joked that they would wait for a day to marry her when she grows up. Han only requests his daughter to be "a person with rich imagination and a kind heart."
Soon a new book by Han will be published. It contains Han's essays about dreams, life and film. He will also share his conception of the movie and the novel experience of being a director.
From ¥280
From ¥35
沪公网安备 31010602000209号


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Manatee County Political Blunder: Jeers to Steve Vernon a Republican Candidate for Florida House District 73 Who Described Opponents Kids as a Distraction "This is disgusting."
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Manatee County Political Blunder of the season: Steve Vernon, who is in his 70's, one of the Republican Candidates for Florida House District 73 described his Opponent Joe Gruters kids as a Distraction in flyer, "This is disgusting" wrote Sydney Gruters in a letter to Republican women voters in Manatee County stating no child should ever be described as a distraction, what the hell is wrong with this Vernon guy. In simple fact checking public records of this Steve Vernon guy, I find it very odd that his father had a different last name than "Vernon" in his online Obituary, so did his mother, did Steve Vernon change his last name, and if he did why? Florida House District 73 voters need to have transparency in their political candidates, who are they and what do they represent.
BRADENTON HERALD: Political blunder to bring in children: Jeers to Steve Vernon, one of the two Republican candidates for Florida House District 73, which encompasses a vast area of East Manatee. Vernon dragged his opponent's three children into the fray by insinuating Joe Gruters was stretching himself too thin with his many commitments and would not have time to adequately serve the district's constituents. Vernon defended the campaign flier, claiming Gruters was taking the "bullet point" out of context.
There's only one way to take anything remotely like that: badly. This smacks of a bygone era when society frowned upon women entering the workforce, insisting they stay home, raise the kids and bake cookies. Joe Gruters' wife, Sydney, put the matter in the correct context in a letter to Republican women voters in stating no child should ever to described as a distraction: "This is disgusting." Indeed. READ IT AT http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/editorials/article95282922.html
Bill Warner Private Investigator Sarasota SEX, CRIME CHEATERS & TERRORISM at http://www.wbipi.com

subset: commoncrawl


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So, any idea where you are going to invest your wealth? Maybe the list and info below will give you some insight – inspiration and inclination - Recaps Team
Ten Surprising Products Still Made In America
Try taking your everyday shopping trip to your nearest department or grocery store and buy only American. A little difficult? Employment in America's manufacturing sector has experienced a precipitous decline in recent years.
The U.S. lost 33.1 percent of its manufacturing jobs between 2000-2010, according to the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Many of those jobs ended up going to countries such as China, India and Brazil that provide cheaper labor and have looser employment regulations
Read More Link On Right
But because costs of labor and energy are now on the rise overseas, manufacturing may be in the early stages of a rebound in the U.S. An April study by the Boston Consulting Group found that a third of manufacturers with revenue over $1 billion were considering moving jobs back to the United States.
"At 58 cents an hour, bringing manufacturing back was impossible, but at $3 to $6 an hour, where wages are today in coastal China, all of a sudden the equation changes," Harold L. Sirkin, a managing director at BCG told The New York Times.
While some companies are considering returning jobs to the U.S., some brands never went away. 24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of 10 highly visible American brands that are still made in the States.
All of the products are well known to consumers. While most are market leaders, what makes them unique is that the competition manufactures their products abroad — or they're the only game in town.
Just because a company's product made the list doesn't mean that it hasn't taken advantage of overseas labor. Companies such as 3M and Whirlpool both employ thousands of people outside of the U.S. But these companies still manufacture some products at home. Several companies on the list, like Oreck Corp. and Weber-Stephen, have products that are manufactured in the U.S., but not every piece used to make the product was made here.
These are 10 surprising products still made in America.
1. Intel chips -- Headquarters: Santa Clara, Calif.
Parent company: Intel Corp.
Chipmaker Intel currently produces more than 75 percent of its microprocessors in the U.S., despite international purchases accounting for 75 percent of sales. The company is currently working on a state-of-the-art semiconductor production plant in Arizona, which is slated to open in 2013. The new plant is expected to cost approximately $5 billion and will employ thousands of American workers.
Maybe the competition is taking a hint from Intel. Rival Samsung, which is based in Seoul, began manufacturing A5 processors, critical components of the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, in Austin, Texas, late last year. Although that new iPad you received for your birthday was still made overseas, it had a few American parts in it.
2. Pyrex -- Headquarters: Rosemont, Ill.
Parent company: World Kitchen, LLC
Pyrex is one of the most widely-known makers of kitchen containers and bakeware found in 80 percent of American households. Corning Inc. started producing Pyrex in the U.S. in 1915. Though the brand changed owners in 1998, when it was sold to World Kitchen, production has never left the country. The tempered soda-lime glass products have been made in Charleroi, Pa. since the 1940s. About 2,500 people are employed in the United States for manufacturing and distributing.
3. Oreck XL -- Headquarters: Duluth, Minn.
Parent company: Oreck Corporation
Oreck, one of the nation's top vacuum makers and a staple among late-night infomercials, was founded by David Oreck in 1963. Though the company began by supplying products to the hospitality industry, the popularity of its products with hotel workers inspired later expansion to the consumer market. The company's marquee vacuum, the Oreck XL, is manufactured in Cookeville, Tenn. Some of the world's largest retailers such as Target and Costco sell store-specific versions of the XL. The company's other vacuum, the Oreck Magnesium, is manufactured in China, but all XL vacuums are still manufactured at the Cooksville plant.
4. Post-it Notes -- Headquarters: St. Paul, Minn.
Parent company: 3M
If you bought your Post-it note in the U.S., you can be sure it was made in the U.S. too. The product, invented by 3M employee Art Fry and hitting the market in 1977, has been manufactured in Cynthiana, Ky., since 1985. The company also manufacturers Scotch tape at the plant. Post-it is important to the town, employing roughly 500 residents who work at the plant. The company is green, too. Post-its are manufactured using recycled home and office paper.
5. Weber Grills -- Headquarters: Palatine, Ill.
Parent company: Weber-Stephen Products LLC
Weber grills have been made in the United States since 1952, when George Stephen built his kettle grill from a buoy at Weber Brothers Metal Works in Mount Prospect, Ill. All but one of latest models are still manufactured in Palatine, Ill. Because the company uses globally-sourced components it has been exposed to a class-action lawsuit over its claims that it was "Made in America." Still, as of 2011, 98 percent of Weber's workforce was located in the U.S. According to many grill reviews and grilling enthusiasts, it is the most popular grill of all time.
6. KitchenAid Mixer -- Headquarters: Benton Charter Township, Mich.
Parent company: Whirlpool Corp.
Appliance maker KitchenAid still makes many of its products in the U.S. — notably, its highly popular mixer is made at a plant in Greenville, Ohio. This is despite large appliance makers having moved manufacturing mostly outside of the U.S. and into emerging markets such as China, India and Latin America. It is important to
note that Whirlpool, the makers of KitchenAid, hasn't exactly shunned the globalization trend. In October, the company announced plans to cut 5,000 jobs, many of those in North America. The cuts include a plant closing in Fort Smith, Ark. Still, the company hasn't shown any signs of abandoning the manufacturing of the mixer in Ohio anytime soon.
7. Harley-Davidson Motorcycles -- Headquarters: Milwaukee, Wis.
Parent company: Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Founded in 1903, Harley-Davidson is an iconic, cult-like American motorcycle company facing stiff foreign competition — think Yamaha and Honda. But the American company actually builds its motorcycles here in the United States.
The company has four major factories in the U.S. — two in Wisconsin , one in Missouri and one in Pennsylvania. Many manufacturing executives point to the need to stay competitive when they move work overseas. But Harley-Davidson doesn't seem to be suffering too much by making its products at home. Shares of the company are up 17 percent over the last year and the company holds about half the market share in the U.S.
8. Sub-Zero Refrigerator -- Headquarters: Madison, Wis.
Parent company: Sub-Zero, Inc. and Wolf, Inc.
Westye Bakke's invented the world's first free-standing freezer in the basement of his home in Madison, Wis., in 1943. Two years later, Bakke founded the Sub-Zero Freezer Company, which has maintained its prominence in the manufacturing of "premium built-in home" refrigerators for over 60 years.
The company acquired Wolf, Inc., the world leader in professional cooking equipment, in 2000. Wolf now creates stoves and ovens for the "serious in-home cooks" in addition to appliances for restaurants and hotels. The company employs more than 1,000 Americans in plants in Madison, Wis., Phoenix, Ariz., and Richmond, Ky.
9. Spanx Products -- Headquarters: Atlanta
Parent Company: Spanx by Sarah Blakely
Sarah Blakely's revolutionary line of slimming footless pantyhose and undergarments were invented in 2000 in Atlanta. Most of the products are made in the U.S., according to the Spanx website, but some may be manufactured abroad. The company has a line of about 200 products, employs 125 people and manufactures about 36,000 items everyday. A Spanx representative told 24/7 Wall St. that Spanx's best-selling "In-Power" hosiery line is still manufactured in the U.S.
10. Duraflame Fire Logs -- Headquarters: Stockton, Calif.
Parent company: Duraflame Inc.
In 1968, when California Cedar Products Company was producing pencils, it found it could recycle the sawdust created in the wood manufacturing process by mixing it with petroleum wax to make fire logs. By 1986, Duraflame, Inc. became independently owned and operated, employing 250 Americans in its Stockton corporate office as well as California and Kentucky manufacturing facilities.
Duraflame's revenue exceeded $100 million annually as of 2007, and the company has expanded its production to charcoal, lighters, and more environmentally conscious logs.
Samuel Weigley, Lisa A. Nelson and Alexander E. M. Hess
Read more: Ten Surprising Products Still Made In America - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/07/03/ten-surprising-products-still-made-in-america/#ixzz20Dy6Rr1f
Comments are closed.


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The Buried Life: A Study of the Relation Between Thackeray's Fiction and His Personal History
by RAY, Gordon N.
MA: Harvard, 1952. Very Good. Very good hardcover. Pages clean. Stamp on bottom edges of pages. Sticker shadow on top corner on front endpaper. Corners lightly rubbed on cover. Spine ends lighlty rubbed. Solid book. Please Note: This book has been transferred to Between the Covers from another database and might not be described to our usual standards. Please inquire for more detailed condition information. (Inventory #: 166795)


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bullet points & indent
hi folks
i am new at using word press ( wp ) so plz bear with me. i have created my 1st wp web page at http://www.cheaptraveltickets.org. i am on a mac os leopard, using safari or firefox as my browsers, using goddady as my hosting service, installed wp 3.0 & running it from there. have installed flexibility 2. all updates are current or so i believe.
the problem i am having is that the bullet points wont act properly. they always stay on the left side of the page, right in the margin, with no indent. the indent feature doesnt work either, with or with out using the bullet points. my web page doesnt look very attractive the way its set up. i also do not get a space at the end of the bullet points & where the new paragraph starts. in edit mode it shows up with a space but on the published site, the space doesnt show. i did fix a problem previously by adding the code to make sure there were spaces between paragraphs but it seems that it doesnt work when i apply the bullet points.
have read other topics here concerning bullet points but nothing fit my problem.
i would appreciate any help.
thxs in advance
- The topic 'bullet points & indent' is closed to new replies.


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Thank you for providing hope in the form of food, heat and rent to those Jewish families in need in central Oklahoma, for helping us never forget through the Yom HaShoah commemoration and for sending our teens to Israel.
Your gift brings joy to more than 200 Jewish and non-Jewish children through Camp Chaverim, delivers Mitzvah ball soup to anyone that needs some Jewish penicillin and brings the Israel Scout Friendship Caravan to OKC. We educate through Torah Study and Jewish University. Your gifts sent teens to Israel, sent humanitarian aid to Israel and fostered a love for Israel in the greater commUNITY. We've enlightened and remembered the lessons of the Holocaust with the Yom HaShoah program. And, we've nurtured the young with PJ Library and engaged the next generation of Jewish leaders through YJP.
There is no other single gift you can give anywhere that will have the same impact as giving through the Jewish Federation of Greater OKC. Each gift makes a difference, each gift is a mitzvah and each gift is appreciated no matter, small or large. Arevim zeh b'zeh, all Jews are responsible for one another, it's up to us. Thank you for supporting Campaign 2015.
A substantial portion of your gift remains here in OKC, helping to vitalize the entire Jewish commUNITY. Part goes to meet overseas needs through the Jewish Agency For Israel and Joint Distribution Committee. These dollars also help strengthen Israel, fund basic needs for indigent Jews, and assist struggling Jewish communities in more than 60 countries around the world.
$10 plants a tree in Israel.
$18 makes learning opportunities available through our annual Jewish University.
$25 supports our commUNITY mitzvah projects -- feed the hungry, plant for the future, and rebuild together.
$36 provides matzo ball soup and challah for home-bound seniors or individuals recovering from illness or injury.
$54 provides hope to Israel's most vulnerable – at-risk youth by helping to lift them out of the cycle of poverty.
$72 underwrites social programming for Jew Crew, our next generation of young Jewish leaders.
$118 gives our active seniors opportunities for daytime cultural and social programs through Chai on Life.
$200 assists in paying the utility bills for a family in a crisis.
$365 (just $1 a day) allows a Jewish child to enjoy a summer of fun for one session at Camp Chaverim.
$500 brings an Israeli teenager to OKC next summer as part of the Israel Scout Friendship Caravan.
$1,000 ensures that we never forget by helping underwrite our annualYom HaShoah Remembrance, as well as Holocaust educational programs in schools.
$2,000 enables a Jewish teen to experience the summer of a lifetime in Israel through NFTY or USY Pilgrimage.
$5,000 establishes a named fund at the Foundation that helps ensure the future of our OKC Jewish commUNITY.
Honor Your Loved Ones with a Gift that Keeps Giving! When you want to honor a friend or loved one, the Jewish Federation provides a way to do just that -- and do a mitzvah, too! Your gift of only $10 (per tree) in honor or memory of a loved one helps Hadassah plant trees in Israel through its "Trees for Israel" fund and creates a living monument to your loved one.
When you want to mark a special occasion or person, send your gift to the Jewish Federation of OKC or call us at (405) 848-3132. Tell us what or who your gift commemorates and the name and address of the person you want to be notified of your gift. We'll do the rest!


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Leo's full Oscar speech. https://t.co/s1nD9bUptb— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprioFans) February 29, 2016
Leonardo DiCaprio has finally won the Oscars and of course the world is absolutely stoked!
As Leo was called upon stage to receive the Best Actor Award for "The Revenant", people applauded profusely in honor of his win.
But Leo getting the Oscar was not the best part of his win, as his speech absolutely stole the show. "Making The Revenant was about man's relationship to the natural world, the world that we collectively felt in 2015 as the hottest year in recorded history, our production who did the Southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow. Climate change is real, it is happening right now," the Oscar winner said as he spoke about The Revenant.
Check out: Will The 2016 Oscars Break Leonardo DiCaprio's Losing Curse?
"We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters and the big corporations, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people who are most affected by this, for our children's children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed,"-he added.
Well, with a brilliant speech like that and an Oscar win after six nominations, Leo well-deserves to be celebrating like never before!
???????????? https://t.co/CsnYLQfFeN— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) February 29, 2016


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Texas High Court Strikes State Home Equity Loan Proposals
The high court said the interpretations ultimately allowed the legislature to alter the fee cap and could allow lenders to coerce homeowners into consenting to liens on their property and having attorneys attend the closing in their stead, which would strip Texans of...
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text: Human Rights Observatory Gunmen Storm Libyan Parliament, Stop Vote on New PM Gunmen stormed Libya's parliament, firing shots, and causing lawmakers to suspend a vote for the country's new prime minister. Libyan officials say the armed men broke into the building housing Libya's General National Congress in Tripoli Tuesday and fired shots in the air. Reuters news agency reports several people were injured in the shooting. It quotes a parliamentary spokesman (Omar Hmeidan) as saying the gunmen were linked to one of the defeated candidates for prime...Read complete article© Voice of America - Tuesday, April 29, 2014


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AgriRisk Administrative Capacity Building Initiative
AgriRisk is designed to help organizations develop or implement agriculture risk management tools through time limited support and technical assistance through Growing Forward 2.
AgriRisk is comprised of two distinct initiatives to support these activities:
The AgriRisk Research and Development is funded and administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to support projects related to the development of agriculture risk management tools or strategies. For more information please contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 1-877-246-4682.
The AgriRisk Administrative Capacity Building Initiative supports the implementation of agricultural risk management tools or strategies that have already been developed by providing financial assistance for start-up costs and activities.
AgriRisk Administrative Capacity Building Initiative cost-shared 60/40 with the federal and provincial governments and administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
AgriRisk Administrative Capacity Building Initiative Eligibility Requirements
At a minimum:
Eligible Costs and Activities
This initiative will fund eligible costs for activities to implement an agriculture risk management tool under the AgriRisk Administrative Capacity Building Initiative. Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
Application Deadlines
Project proposals submitted after September 30, 2017 may not be considered for funding under this initiative.
With the exception of payments to create a capital reserve for indemnity-based programming, the maximum payment per recipient shall not exceed $5,000,000 dollars per government fiscal year (the twelve month period starting April 1 and ending March 31 the following year).
Funding is limited to eligible costs that are incurred within the first (5) years a project proposal is approved or when this initiative terminates on March 31, 2018, which ever date is earlier.
The maximum payment to a recipient to create a capital reserve for indemnity-based programming is up to $1,250,000 per agriculture risk management tool under this initiative.
Submitting a proposal does not create any legal or other right to receive a payment under this initiative.
How to Apply
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


text: Suicidal Ideation Among Urban Nine and Ten Year OldsO'LEARY, CATHERINE C. Ph.D.1; FRANK, DEBORAH A. M.D.2; GRANT-KNIGHT, WANDA Ph.D.3; BEEGHLY, MARJORIE Ph.D.4; AUGUSTYN, MARILYN M.D.2; ROSE-JACOBS, RUTH Sc.D.2; CABRAL, HOWARD J. Ph.D.5; GANNON, KATHERINE M.P.H.6Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics: February 2006 - Volume 27 - Issue 1 - p 33-39 Original Articles Abstract Author Information ABSTRACT. Little is known about rates and correlates of suicidal ideation among nonclinical samples of preadolescents from low-income urban backgrounds. Using the Children's Depression Inventory, we measured suicidal ideation in 131 preadolescent urban children (49% female, 90% African American/Caribbean) participating in an ongoing prospective longitudinal study of prenatal cocaine exposure and children's outcome. Suicidal ideation was reported by 14.5% of the children in this sample at 9 to 10 years of age. Children's reports of depressive symptoms, exposure to violence, and distress symptoms in response to witnessing violence were associated with suicidal ideation, but prenatal cocaine exposure, parent-rated child behavior, and caregivers' psychological distress symptoms were not. Suicidal ideation may be more prevalent among preadolescents from urban, low-income backgrounds than clinicians suspect, particularly among children exposed to violence. 1Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine 2Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine 3Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine 4Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School 5Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health 6Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts Received February 2005; accepted July 2005. Catherine C. O'Leary is now in private practice in Los Gatos, CA. Wanda Grant-Knight is now with the Department of Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Address for reprints: Catherine O'Leary Eckel, Ph.D., 207 Chalet Place, Campbell, CA 95008; e-mail: email@example.com. © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.


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El Auckland City Hotel está situado en Auckland haciendo de él uno de los mejores hoteles para pasar un tiempo en la ciudad. El Auckland City Hotel presume de una ubicación práctica y dispone de comodidades modernas en cada habitación y un servicio extraordinario. Todas las habitaciones del hotel disponen de habitaciones para no fumadores, cine en las instalaciones, escritorio, secador de pelo, acceso a internet, tabla de planchar, caja fuerte, televisión. Este alojamiento de Auckland contiene todos los servicios y comodidades que esperaría de un hotel de su clase. Los servicios deportivos y de entretenimiento disponibles en la propiedad del hotel incluyen masajista, gimnasio. Este hotel se caracteriza por una combinación del confort moderno y el elemento tradicional de Auckland, que hace de él un alojamiento distinguido. Para continuar con esta reserva en el Auckland City Hotel, introduzca las fechas de su visita y siga los pasos de nuestro formulario seguro de reserva en línea.
Entrada2:00 PM
Salida11:00 AM
157 Hobson StreetCP:1010,Auckland,Nueva Zelanda
Teléfono:No especificadoFax:64 9 9250700
The executive 2 bedroom suite we booked was ok, but the livingroom/kitchen space was basic and the couch was not very clean.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
The neighbourhood is not the best.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
Overall the room was not that clean.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
It was clean, comfortable and the staff were really friendly and helpful.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
Sure it can be a little noisy with sirens etc but it is central Auckland so you have to expect that.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
The Chatham was great, close to great bus services, excellent food and coffee and also walking distance to lots of things so the location is excellent.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
The cleaning was bad, we stayed 2 nights and the room did not get cleaned in between, only the beds were done.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
Location is ok, but downtown and the waterfront is a fair 20-30 min walk.2012-11-13 - hotels.com
Good value2012-11-10 - hotels.com
It was ok, but overpriced2012-11-08 - hotels.com
This apartment hotel is excellent in both location and also the staff and quality of the accommodation it was excellent with every thing you would need and more would recommend this Hotel to any one.2012-11-08 - hotels.com
It was ok, the apartment was stuffy and we had to keep the window open even at night, so it was very noisy ...2012-11-08 - hotels.com
all fine except some unpleasant experience with the guy in charge of the restaurant on the morning(Asian descent) who made me sign a chit for breakfast even though I told him that my breakfast was included in the package - he was quite rude ...2012-10-22 - hotels.com
Staff was not very friendly, air condition in room was louder than a jet engine, bed was stained (yuck), showers are mouldy, broken and unclean.2012-10-11 - hotels.com


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What Is A Beneficiary?
When hearing about wrongful death lawsuits, it is likely that you will hear the term "beneficiary" when referring to those individuals who deserve compensation due to their loss. According to the resource written by our lawyers, The Ohio Wrongful Death Book, a beneficiary is someone who is entitled to compensation should the wrongful death case be proven.
In Ohio, the beneficiaries are relatives of the decedent (the individual who lost their life), such as the decedent's surviving spouse, children, parents, and siblings. If a parent abandoned their child, they would not be considered a beneficiary if the child was to die.
The distribution among the potential beneficiaries is determined by the probate court judge. The distribution is based on the relationship that the beneficiary has to the decedent and the degree of loss to the beneficiary. For example, if the decedent was the breadwinner of the family, the surviving spouse and children would be given more compensation than the siblings of a decedent.
If all beneficiaries associated in a wrongful death case are at the same level of loss in the eyes of the law, they can decide themselves how to divide up the money and then ask the court for approval.
Those beneficiaries under the age of twenty-five can be treated differently in order to protect their rights. A trust can be created for the beneficiary and that money can be held until they turn 25-years-old. It can then be distributed according the terms of the trust.
There are various damages that a beneficiary can seek after the loss of a loved one. These include the following:
- Loss of support – the loss of earning capacity of the decedent
- Loss of services – beneficiaries are able to college compensation for services that the decedent provided
- Loss of society – this includes the loss of companionship, care, assistance, protection, advice, guidance, and education that the decedent provided
- Loss of prospective inheritance – compensation can be sought for the inheritance that the beneficiary may not receive now that the decedent will not live a normal lifespan
- Mental anguish – compensation can be sought for the mental anguish that the beneficiary will experience due to the loss of the decedent
If you lost a loved one and are considered a beneficiary, you should contact a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. Our lawyers can be contacted at 800.637.8170. We give free case evaluations over the phone and help to guide individuals in the right direction. We will answer any questions that you may have regarding the accident or death of your loved one, and can begin the legal process on your behalf.
For more information regarding wrongful death cases and the legal aspects of the case, request a copy of The Ohio Wrongful Death Book when you are on the phone with our office, or order a copy directly from our website.


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February 19, 2016 (Toronto, Ont.)—2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Outcome Measure™, and the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is celebrating. IWH is hosting DASHBash – a series of events taking place throughout the year to mark the achievements of this "little tool that grew."
The DASHBash year is kicking off with a seminar on Tuesday, February 23 taking place at IWH's offices in Toronto, which is also being streamed live. It will include a look-back by occupational therapist Dorcas Beaton, a senior scientist at IWH and one of the researchers behind the development of the tool, and by IWH research associate Carol Kennedy, a co-author of the DASH user's manual. They will tell stories about the development of the DASH and its use and impact today.
The DASH Outcome Measure is a 30-item, self-report questionnaire designed to measure physical function and symptoms in patients with any or several musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. The measure helps describe the disability experienced by people with upper-limb disorders and also monitors changes in symptoms and function over time.
In 1996, when the DASH was developed by IWH and the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, no measure had previously existed to assess the disability and function of the arm, shoulder and hand as a whole. Today, this outcome measure is available in 50 languages and dialects, and has been the subject of almost 2,000 journal articles. It is used around the world, in clinical, research and commercial applications.
Besides the launch event next Tuesday, other events marking the DASHBash year include:
- recognizing the DASH Outcome Measures' new trademark;
- hosting a DASH display at PREMUS 2016, the 9th International Scientific Conference on the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, taking place June 20-23 in Toronto;
- releasing a video about the impact of the tool on clinical practice and research;
- introducing a new-and-improved DASH website (www.dash.iwh.on.ca);
- publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals and giving talks at professional conferences about the history, use and impact of the DASH; and
- launching a database of DASH articles.
The public and members of the media are welcome to attend the DASHBash launch, in person or via live stream. If you would like to attend, or to arrange an interview with Dorcas Beaton or Carol Kennedy, please contact:
Uyen Vu
Communications Associate
Institute for Work & Health
Cindy Moser
Communications Manager
Institute for Work & Health
416-927-2027, ext. 2183


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Respiration is a complex biochemical process of slow combustion of intracellular organic nutrients taking place in the presence of enzymes at body temperature in which the stored potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is used in the synthesis of ATP as well as other metabolic processes in the body. The general equations for aerobic and anaerobic respiration are as follows:
Definition & Equation for Aerobic Respiration :
The oxidation of organic compounds taking place utilizing oxygen is called Aerobic respiration.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O ———→ 6CO2 + 12H2O + 686k cal
Definition & Equation for Anaerobic Respiration :
The process of release of energy from glucose occurring without utilizing oxygen is known as anaerobic respiration OR
The oxidation of organic compounds taking place without utilizing oxygen is called anaerobic respiration.
in medium
C6H12O6 ———→ 2CH3 - HCOH - COOH + 54K. cal
of animal orgin
in medium of plant
C6H12O6 ———→ 2CH3 - CH3 - OH + 2CO2+ 54K. cal
by microbes
This process is however, not as simple as shown in the equation. In fact during this process different types of compounds and organic acids are formed and several types of enzymes participate in this process. During this process, oxidation of organic compounds takes place utilizing oxygen or even without utilizing oxygen. The oxidation taking place utilizing oxygen is termed as aerobic respiration, during which CO2 and H2O are released. Oxidation taking place without utilizing oxygen is called anaerobic respiration.
Transtutors is the best place to get answers to all your doubts regarding the definition and equation for aerobic and anaerobic respiration. You can submit your school, college or university level homework or assignment to us and we will make sure that you get the answers you need which are timely and also cost effective. Our tutors are available round the clock to help you out in any way with biology.
Transtutors has a vast panel of experienced biology tutors who specialize in aerobic and anaerobic respiration and can explain the different concepts to you effectively. You can also interact directly with our biology tutors for a one to one session and get answers to all your problems in your school, college or university level biology.
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text: usain bolt 27 Report post Posted September 12, 2010 joel tomkins kick on a player was deemed to be ok, not even put on report. will anything be done now the game has finished. remember keith mason got 3 matches for standing on fielden. is this offence as bad? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Can't find the topic you're looking for? In search of something more specific or catered to your current campus needs? Don't want a workshop or a performance but looking for a keynote address for your conference, seminar or development weekend? Contact us and let Tomas create a workshop or keynote address specific for your campus.
Topics include but are not limited to:
- Diversity
- Multiculturalism
- Inclusion and Tolerance
- Leadership Skills
- Team Building
- Identity Development
- Self-Esteem Building
- Overcoming Adversity
- Surviving Cancer
- Racial and Ethnic Identity
- Gender Identity and Expression
- Sexual Orientation
- Racism
- Sexism
- Heterosexism
Keynote presentations are priced the same as our other workshops and performances.


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The Star Wars Workbook collection is a new set of math, reading, and writing workbooks for preschool through second grade based on the characters and lore of the Star Wars universe.
Who made them
Workman Publishing, one of the top publishing houses in the nation. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Our thoughts
We got to check out Star Wars Workbook: Preschool Shapes, Colors, and Patterns, Star Wars Workbook: Kindergarten Phonics and ABCs, and Star Wars Workbook: Kindergarten Writing and ABCs and loved all three. The preschool book was a little easy for my son who is almost 5, but not so easy that it was boring for him. The kindergarten phonics book seemed just right for him, and the writing book was hard for him, but not so hard that he couldn't do it.
I really love that the Star Wars theme was so well incorporated into all the activities but not at the expense of educational content. The theme really enhanced the learning, and motivated my son to want to do more pages and do them well!
Good for both boys and girls
Only pre-k through 2nd grade available right now
The bottom line
If you are a parent, teacher, or otherwise involved in teaching a child from 3-7 who likes Star Wars, these books are a must-have!
Get it
The Star Wars workbooks are available from Amazon, most for $5.66 each at time of posting. They've also appeared on Zulily, so keep your eyes open for them there too!
I received sample copies of these books for free to review but received no other compensation for this post. Amazon links are affiliate links, so if you choose to use one, your price stays the same but I get a teensy bit of Amazon's profits.


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13 Comments
June 21, 2016 @ 9:57 pm
He placed them in a circle like a wall with 231 Gates.The circle oscillates back and forth. the circle is a phase or cycle its ocillation is AC alternating current DC direct current is singuarity if we are in ac we stay in the loop going this way and that way up and down round and round DC the power flows to the point at which it is consumed and its finished we are in AC
June 21, 2016 @ 12:03 pm
Twenty-Two Letters are the Foundation: three Mothers, seven Doubles, and twelve Simple. Three Mothers Alef a, Mem m, Shin s: their foundation is the scale of merit and the scale of guilt, and the tongue of the statute balances the scales between them.
Three Mothers Alef a, Mem m, Shin s: Mem m, stands still, Shin s, hisses, Alef a, is Air of Spirit balancing the scale between them.
Twenty-Two Letters are the Foundation:He engraved them, He hewed them out, He combined them, and He set them at opposites, and He formed through them everything that is formed and everything that is destined to be formed.
Twenty-Two Letters are the Foundation:He engraved them through Voice, He hewed them out through Air, and He set them through the mouth in five places:
Alef a, Chet x, Heh h, and Ayin i, in the throat;Gimel g, Yod y, Kaf k, and Qof q, on the palate;Dalet d, Tet u, Lamed l, Nun n, and Tav t with the tongue; Zayin z, Samek c, Shin s, Resh r, and Tzade o, with the teeth; Beit b, Vav v, Mem m, and Peh p, with the lips.
Twenty-Two Letters are the Foundation:He set them in a cycle like a kind of wall with two hundred and thirty-one gates. And the cycle rotates forward and back. ("The Wall") And the sign of the thing is: there is Nothing in goodness above pleasure, and – there is Nothing in evil below pain.
"The Wall – 231 Gates"
How did He combine them, weigh them, and set them at opposites? Alef a with all of them, and all of them with Alef a, Beit b, with all of them and all of them with Beit b. And it rotates in turn, and thus they are in two hundred and thirty-one gates, and thus everything that is formed and everything that is spoken goes out from One Name.
He formed substance from emptiness, and made what is from Nothing And He hewedout great columns from Air which is not tangible. He covers and sets at opposites, and He makes everything that is formed and everything that is spoken with One Name. And the sign of the thing is twenty-two countings like One body…
Twenty-two Foundation Letters: He placed them in a circle like a wall with 231 Gates.The circle oscillates back and forth.
A sign for this is: There is nothing in good higher than Delight There is nothing in evil lower than Plague
Sepher yetzirah – book of formation…
June 20, 2016 @ 7:37 pm
wtf, that white haired cop that stepped into tv broadcast at 6.55 in video, looks to be having a great time unbelievable stuff, something very strange about that guy,i wonder is he one of those fallen that got out,
Bella Lynn
June 20, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
If you add up all the colors of the Rainbow you get 409 In gematria. 49 people shot in Orlando they said. Apple is coming out with a time piece early release for $49. Are they saing they were or will be released early? The Fallen?
Bella Lynn
June 20, 2016 @ 7:17 pm
RI is another way to say RA. The M is a 3 They are always showing birthing RA through the Anal part of this tunnel or tube or GI tract. They are like in the gun being popped out. So they were shot. Shout out the ass end of the tube portal. 69 is the Vortex gate they come through..The El escaped their prison cell. They do Sodomite Magic as part of their rituals to birth Horus..Satan..The guy everyone is pointing out with the red shoes..those are like the ruby slippers that brought Dorothy back to this reality. Angel Colon was shot through the colon anal gateway. A GI tract uses muscles to pulsate to get food to move through it. This is the bowels of the Universe. Orange avenue is 33 in Gematria..33 is two butts..XX is the gateway and is 33 if Z is 1..Orange is the Sodomy color.
June 20, 2016 @ 7:00 pm
It's the TORUS DONUT https://www.google.ch/search?q=torus+donut&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiT-Nr9pLfNAhVkM5oKHYnZABMQ_AUICCgB&biw=922&bih=739
josef holley
June 20, 2016 @ 4:26 pm
concerning the tacomak. here in Ga we have a chain of sportsbar/restaurants called taco-mac. these places generate alot of currency and a ton of hueman energy is either gathered or expelled. just check the logo.
josef holley
June 20, 2016 @ 4:09 pm
thought it funny how in the explanation of free radicals, the term anti-OX-idents is in the definition. we're the anti-OX. ya do get it bill. don't get frustrated.
June 20, 2016 @ 3:26 pm
Homer Simpson is obsessed with donuts, aka nuclear power plant worker, which is also the shape of the frequency the heart creates, torus field.
June 20, 2016 @ 2:58 pm
That's why cancer is so rampant these days. More and more of them getting through and it is reflected in the number of cancer cases constantly growing.
June 20, 2016 @ 1:42 pm
the doughnut is the electromagnetic mri field the shows the MASS
June 20, 2016 @ 1:41 pm
mass shooting is where the cancer is targeted and blasted by radiation
June 20, 2016 @ 1:39 pm
I've read/heard that cancer is a fungus. Donuts are obviously made of yeast which is a fungus.


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How our program helps
Our riders show improved coordination, balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and body tone. This is especially true for our wheelchair-dependent riders. Riding not only exercises the body, but also exercises the mind. While learning the skills of horsemanship, our riders gain self-esteem, improved attention spans, and the ability to follow directions. These qualities carry over to their daily lives.


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Canterbury Folk FestivalA Family Festival of Music
Festival Admission Prices:
We are pleased to offer the same value prices as last year.
Online Paypal bookings closed Sunday 9th April.
Registration for the weekend and day passes can be purchased at the gate at the festival, sorry no eftpos – cash only.
If you have a booking inquiry, or wish to book a powered campsite or bunks please email email@example.com
Weekend Passes
Adult: $140 Discounted to $125 if paid prior to 13 March 2017.
Child: $50 5 yrs-18yrs accompanied by adults. Children under 5 yrs free.
Youth: $80 Aged 18 – 25 unaccompanied by adult and must provide identification.
These include all workshops, concerts, children's programmes and barn dance.
Camping Costs
Tent sites – no charge
Unpowered caravan site: no charge
Powered caravan site: $20 extra / site additional to weekend pass
Powered tent site: $20 extra – limited sites available
Bunk: $40.
Each bunk room consists of multiple bunk beds.
All bunk rooms are conveniently located to toilet and shower facilities.
Day Passes
Full Day: $85 9am – midnight. This includes concerts and workshops.
Afternoon: $45 Midday – 6pm. This includes concerts and workshops.
Evening: $45 6pm – midnight. This includes evening concerts.
Youth 18 – 25 yrs
Full Day: $50 9am – midnight. This includes concerts and workshops.
Afternoon: $30 Midday – 6pm. This includes concerts and workshops.
Evening: $30 6pm – midnight. This includes evening concerts.
Child 5 yrs – 18 yrs. Under 5 yrs is free.
Full Day: $30 9am – midnight. This includes concerts and workshops.
Afternoon: $15 Midday – 6pm. This includes concerts and workshops.
Evening: $15 6pm – midnight. This includes evening concerts.
Friday Night Dance
Ceilidh Gaelic dance party – a family-friendly way to meet other festival attendees
followed by:
Dance party, where Secret Lives Of Ukelele bring on the groove so you can boogie your dancing shoes away with the late night Friday bash
You are warmly invited to participate in our family-friendly music festival. The Festival committee has procedures in place to ensure all patrons have a safe and enjoyable experience.
Anyone behaving in a manner deemed destructive, disorderly, abusive or unsafe may be immediately removed from the festival site and may not be allowed to return, may be served with a trespass notice, will not have their ticket price refunded, may be liable to pay any costs incurred, and further action may be taken as required.
A person must be aged 18 years to consume alcohol on the festival site.
The Paypal bookings close Sunday 9th April. If you have a booking inquiry after this date please email email@example.com
2017 Performer applications are now closed
Contact Us
Thank you for your interest in the Canterbury Folk Music Festival. If you require any additional information about the event or how to apply, please contact us:Canterbury Folk Music Festival
P O Box 964, Christchurch 8140
e: firstname.lastname@example.com
ph: 027-454-3885


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Just Be You!
Just a little #wellnesswednesday thought for you…
We are all unique.
We all have a chance to create IMPACT in this world.
We all have our own special talents and gifts.
We all have our own lessons to learn and will learn them at different times.
Our individual journey is meant to be.
Let's all have more fun, celebrate each other and stop the comparison.
Can you imagine what we would each accomplish?
Own your individuality and celebrate the authenticity of others.
Happy Hump Day!


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first edition Hardcover
by Reiter, H. W. and Shepard Chartoc
Bass Publishers, 1935. First Edition. Hardcover. Good. New York: The Bass Publishers, 1935. First edition. Hardcover. 120 pp. Good, no jacket, if issued. Front board pictorial missing. Edge wear with fraying and soil to the cloth. Old merchant sticker on the front pastedown with a number in pen on the front free endpaper. (Inventory #: 040317)


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|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
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|Lin Yang <lin.yang.ja...@gmail.com>
|Setup Hadoop cluster on SUSE
|Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:30:49 GMT
Hi, dear friends, Recently, I'm trying to setup a hadoop cluster with 2 nodes, each of which is running a SUSE 11 OS. However, when I tried to run "start-all.sh" from namenode, a error happened: ---- mh1:~# start-all.sh starting namenode, logging to /srv/hadoop-0.20.2/bin/../logs/hadoop-root-namenode-mh1.out *: Name or service not knwnstname mh2* mh1: starting secondarynamenode, logging to /srv/hadoop-0.10.2/bin/../logs/hadoop-root-secondarynamenode-mh1.out *: Name or service not knownstname mh2* ---- But I have already modified the /etc/hosts of each node like this: ---- 127.0.0.1 localhost 10.1.1.61 mh1 10.1.1.62 mh2 ---- and I could successfully connect to mh2 with SSH: ---- mh1:~ # ssh mh2 last login: Thu Jun 20 10:20:32 2013 from mh1 mh2:~ # ---- If i use the IP address of mh2 instead of its hostname in $HADOOP_HOME/conf/slaves, the whole cluster works fine. However, I'm still wondering why I could not use hostname as usual? Any suggestion would be appreciated. -- Lin Yang
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Common Core: Uncommon Dilemma.
This is a blog inviting citizens to be informed about the Science Standards that are trying to implemented in Wyoming through the Common Core Curriculum formula. It is lacking in real scientific practices and standards. We need to inform the leadership that we do not stand behind these kinds of changes for our children's education.
Here there is a whole group of articles expalining the different misconceptions around Common Core and its issues being implemented. It is important to be informed, what seems to sound like a good idea is often a soft sell, with no real academic reality and for sure no reality in how all this educational buy in will cost the taxpayers.
Costs increase, standards were derived by a limited, progressive group, government and state controls leave questions. These blogs are in depth analysis as to why the standards are, in fact lower and how the common core standards are woven into teaching techniques that are unproven and do not allow children to perform well on tests. Again, the cost is more than the implementation of another soon to fail government intervention--your children will be compromised.
Heartland has several articles on some positive solutions for empowering parents and their children with choice in education...not Common Core mandates. These solutions free education from government control and suggests savings, voucher and grant systems that leave education unencumbered by government programs and the invasive quality of their programs.
This is a wonderfully refreshin video of a student, educated the old fashion way with no standards, speaking truthfully about the back end efforts of elitest to form the Common Core agenda and sell it to the Association of Governors.
Cato has a series of blog describing how the opposition to the Common Core is not unreasonable, the standards that are being asserted in the Common Core Curriculum are lacking, insufficient and lays the foundation for escalating costs of education.
Adopting the CCSS takes control of educational content and standards away from parents, taxpayers and local school districts. In fact it signals state and federal policy to micro manage education while escalating the cost of education with no proof or trial that the standards amount to anything more than progressive indoctrination of our children.
Once again, the agenda of controlling placement of teachers under the disguise for an equitable distribution of quality teachers demeans parents and administrators in choosing their own teachers. Why do they want to control the teachers and by what standards? We need to start looking at the consequences of the language and agenda within the Common Core ideology.
Obama's Cash for Universal Preschool Clunkers.
COMPARISON OF TWO TYPES OF EDUCATION: Type #1 (Traditional) vs. Type #2 (CSCOPE & Common Core). This is useful comparison chart that gives you a breakdown on the actual issues within the Common Core as it relates to Traditional standards. A quick read gives you the instant assesment that we are losing ground supplanting tried and true methods with abstractions based on the rubrics of Common Core Curriculum.
How Common Core Math Fails to Prepare High School Students for STEM. This is a Pioneer Institute White Paper written by R. James Milgram and Sandra Stotsky.
Commentary by Amy Edmonds:
There is a real cost being paid every day by children caught up in the high stakes education testing world being advocated for by the "one-size fits-all" Common Core Standards, top-down "accountability" educrats out there. This piece by Michelle Malkin examines that cost, both in real dollars, in wasted education opportunities, in a loss of freedom and creativity in the classroom and in the ever-expanding erosion of parental control.
Education policymakers would do well to listen to Wyoming parents calling for an end to high stakes testing, a removal from the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium and a repeal of the Common Core. Instead of overpaid education consultants with their fingers in the cookie jar running the education agenda and conversation, collectively we need to stand up and speak up about the fundamentals of good educational policy. Wyoming children deserve an opportunity to learn and grow in a world without high stakes tests and the dictates of educational elitist's who think they know better.
Dick Morris tells it like it really is and we need to pay attention because we do not want this to happen in Wyoming.


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It is fantastic to hear that the new chair of Resolution has confirmed in his first speech that he thinks a reform should be pushed for no fault divorce. This has been talked about in family law for a very long time and in my experience would help separating couples go through a divorce without the need for animosity as one party is being blamed for the separation. It will be interesting to see what happens next, lets hope a reform is not too far away!
New Resolution national chair Nigel Shepherd used his first speech in the role to issue a rallying cry for family lawyers to continue to call for no fault divorce.Speaking in front of 400 family lawyers at Resolution's annual conference in Gateshead, Mr Shepherd said: 'It's wrong - and actually bordering on cruel - to say to couples: if you want to move on with your lives ... one of you has to blame the other'.


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US determination to spread its wings found baffling
China has accused the US of "serious military provocation" after a B-52 bomber flew within two nautical miles of Chinese-claimed territory in the South China Sea.
The incident involving the bomber took place last week near the Cuarteron Reef in the Spratly archipelago, territory claimed by China.
Beijing insists the island chain is within China's territorial borders and has filed a complaint with the US through the US embassy, prompting the Pentagon to look into the matter.
The Chinese Defense Ministry then issued a statement accusing the US of deliberately raising tensions in the region.
"The actions by the US side constitute a serious military provocation and are rendering more complex and even militarizing conditions in the South China Sea," the statement said.
The ministry also repeated previous assertions that it would take whatever necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and security.
Navy Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman, said the US regularly conducted B-52 training missions throughout the region but, "For this mission, there was no intention of flying to within 12 nautical miles".
An editorial, "US actions prompt islands militarisation" in the US journal Global Times read that the US military has adopted a mild tone this time, but "its action is aggressive".
"China has stressed that these islands serve a peaceful purpose, but the premise of such assertion is that no external military force threatens their security. The US military is undermining this premise, and China should carry out corresponding security deployment"
Already embroiled in Syria and the Middle East, the US appears bent on spreading its wings in the Asia Pacific region expecting Japan to take up the slack.
Notwithstanding America's formal agreement with Japan's premier Shinzo Abe, the people of Japan have on several occasions indicated they are not in favor of their country's militarization.
In similar vein, while India has conducted the Malabar naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal with the US Seventh fleet out of Japan's Yokosuka harbor, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given no indication that his country will stand by America should it press beyond this point.
With Shinzo Abe's hands all but tied and, India firmly committed to its non-aligned status, it defies the imagination to understand what the US hopes to achieve by issuing challenge to China in the South China Sea over the man-made Spratly Islands – beyond making its presence known in the Pacific zone.


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We were in the Winnellie camp for two weeks, just about long enough to recover from the "trots" which everyone had from drinking the bore water on the trip north. The situation with regard to the advancing Japanese was pretty tense, and an invasion was expected at any time, so in the first week of February the Battalion was dispersed into defensive positions around the Darwin area.
We were in the Winnellie camp for two weeks, just about long enough to recover from the "trots" which everyone had from drinking the bore water on the trip north. The situation with regard to the advancing Japanese was pretty tense, and an invasion was expected at any time, so in the first week of February the Battalion was dispersed into defensive positions around the Darwin area.
"C" Company was allocated to the Lee Point area, to occupy the concrete "Pill Boxes" which had been installed prior to our arrival. Fred Jones (Major) was our "C" Company Commander. The three platoon leaders were Lt. Harry Watson (11 Platoon), Lt. Bob Greer (10 Platoon), and Lt. Halliwell (12 Platoon). Lee Point is situated 5 miles almost due north of the Darwin aerodrome. Our "C" Company was a force of 120 men with about 5 minutes ammunition and little or no air support, strung out over more than a mile of coastline to defend Australia against an invasion force of 40,000 plus Japanese.
Our pill boxes were situated in strategic positions at the edge of the scrub and trees facing the beach and the open sea to the north, and were covered by camouflage nets to conceal them from the enemy. Somebody had decided that the enemy must come up the beach. They were not allowed to land somewhere else, and sneak around the back of the chosen positions, just to avoid being shot. The pill boxes looked like two circular concrete water tanks about 2 metres in diameter, placed side by side. They each had a horizontal slot cut into the side facing the beach, and two Vickers machine guns positioned so that they could fire out through the slots. Behind the gun positions was a small concrete room in which the ammunition boxes were stored. Above and between the two gun positions was an observation post with slots to the front and either side, from which an observer had a forward and sideways view of the landscape.
They were said to be bomb proof, but like most insurance policies the warranty was void in case of acts of war, and/or (and especially if) there were any aircraft in the area. The roof was a slab about 8″ (20cm) thick, made of rather poor concrete, which would be useless in the case of a direct hit. A dud 50kg bomb dropped near the RAAF Aerodrome from 20,000 feet altitude left a neat round hole fourteen feet deep, and anyone in one of those pill boxes when it was hit would certainly need a cuppa tea, an aspirin, and a good lie down.
Right along the beach front were barbed wire entanglements which in WW-1 when they were designed, may have seriously deterred foot soldiers for some considerable time. One of our problems in WW-2 was that our entire war effort was based mostly on WW-1 experience which was totally inadequate and outdated for the type of war we had to fight, and the barbed wire in this instance would have hindered us more than it would have hindered a Japanese landing party. The beach was sandy, and extended for about a mile when the 25' tide was out. When the tide came in, it brought with it tree branches, logs, and all matter of debris which caught in the barbed wire entanglements and pounded hell out of them. One of our daily tasks was to repair the wire.
The living conditions were somewhat less than one would have expected at the Hilton. Tent fly's which the Army had saved from WW-1 were strung between the trees, and we slept under mosquito nets, four to a tent fly. Rough stretchers were made up by cutting the bottom corners out of two chaff bags, and slipping them over two straight saplings cut about 7' (2 m) long; these were then supported on stakes driven into the ground to keep the stretcher a foot or so above the ground. There were millions of mosquitoes, spiders, and creepy-crawlies of all description, including scorpions as big as yabbies, and plenty of centipedes up to 6″ (15 cm) long.
If you stayed in the shade under the trees, the mossies ate you alive. If you went out on the beach, the sandflies took over. Precautions had to be taken; shake out your boots and helmet to make sure there were no centipedes or spiders etc. in them before you put them on. White ants too could do a lot of damage; they would eat the soles off a pair of boots left under your bunk for more than a few hours at a time. The centipedes were nasty. They are said to be not toxic to humans, but their bite is extremely painful. Allen Ruwoldt put on his steel helmet one night to go on guard duty, and was bitten on the back of the head. In the early hours one morning, Les Sudoltz, who slept under the same tent fly as I did, gave out a horrible gasping "Arrrrgh!" which sounded as though someone had run a knife through his ribs. I grabbed my rifle and bayonet, ready to join the fray, when Sudy struck a match and started swearing. "*!*x?##!**?centipede!". Les and the centipede both lived to fight and bite respectively, for another day. The centipede got away, and Les got experience – very painful experience.
Toilets were holes in the ground; bathing initially was a swim in the estuary of Leanyah Creek, until one day we found a fourteen foot crocodile sleeping on the bank waiting for his dinner. After that, we swam in the surf when the tide was in, until a shark shot out of a wave and gave us one hell of a fright, so we finished up staying in the shallow water. Guard duty fell to all the non-commissioned ranks – every night it was two hours on and four off for everyone, with bayonets fixed and a round up the spout. (Sub-title for those of elegant upbringing – the rifle was loaded!). The signal for a general alarm was three shots in succession. One shot fired in the night was the signal for the onset of nervous jitters, and a check to see what the hell was going on.
At two o'clock one morning, when the guard had just changed, a shot shattered the stillness of the tropical night, and everyone was awake in a flash. Investigation revealed that one of the 11 Platoon guards (whose name will be suppressed to protect the innocent [me] from the guilty), being half asleep at the time, had taken his rifle and gone on duty inside one of the pill boxes. It was a dark moonless night, and inside the pill box it was absolutely pitch black. He loaded his rifle, but he held the trigger back when he pushed the bolt home so that there would be a round up the spout, but the hammer was not cocked. When a Lee Enfield .303 is loaded in this fashion, the firing pin rests on the firing cap of the cartridge, but it reaches that position gently without sufficient force to fire. He then realised that he had forgotten to fix his bayonet, so he pulled it out of its scabbard with his right hand, and holding the end of the barrel with his left hand, as he normally would, he proceeded to fix the bayonet. Being half asleep in the pitch darkness, he waved the rifle around somewhat, and struck the hammer on a concrete step. The rifle fired, and the bullet entered the fleshy part of his right hand at the base of the thumb near the wrist. It came out at the base of his thumb, ploughed a groove in the side of his thumb from end to end, covered the open wound liberally with burning cordite, and went on its way at a speed of 2450 feet per second. As it hit the concrete roof of the pill box, chunks of concrete flew in all directions, and he flew out of the door. "Christ!" he said, "It's a good job I got out before the ricochet got me!" It was about 57 years later that a lady rang to tell me that her husband wanted to join Darwin Defenders. I asked her "Wasn't he the chap that accidentally fired his rifle inside the concrete pillbox?" "Yes" she said. "He did. Then he went to New guinea and blew up a cook house. So I wrote to the Army for a copy of his war record, because I wanted to find out which side he was on!" That one rifle shot weakened the concrete roof, and while it survived for over 60 years, a few months ago the Darwin Council demolished it in the interests of public safety.
Allen Ruwoldt was the Despatch Rider (known as the "Don R") for "C" Company, and Ernie McMullin was the "Don R" for "B" Company. Don R's were equipped with an English Norton motor cycle capable of at least 40 MPH, and in those days before portable radios had become available, they were the fastest means of communication in the field where there were no field telephones. Ernie was on guard duty at about three o'clock one morning, when he saw a strange light approaching from compass bearing three six zero degrees, which was straight out to sea to the north. Instructions were that any strange occurrence was to be reported to Head Quarters immediately, describing what it was, and the compass bearing from the guard post. Ernie grabbed the telephone, and quickly called HQ, and HQ answered: "Major Blackwell here!" "Sir! There's a strange light approaching from three six zero degrees!" "Did you go and investigate it?" "No Sir! It's at three six zero degrees!" "Well why the hell didn't you go and investigate it?" "Look Sir!" said Ernie in exasperation, "I'm a Don R, not a Donald Duck!" By the time the argument was finished, the emergency was over.
The lights were the landing lights of a Sunderland Flying Boat which wanted to land in Darwin, but did not know the appropriate password which was changed every day. As a security measure, Darwin was completely blacked out at night. Complete radio silence was maintained and no landing lights were turned on for any aircraft if the pilot could not satisfactorily identify himself. The pilot's options were rather sticky. He could go somewhere else and ditch out of fuel, or try to convince Darwin of his identity before they turned the guns and searchlights on him, so he switched on his landing lights as a sign of good faith, kept his radio on, and kept on talking. Fortunately someone must have believed him, and he was allowed to land. Passwords were necessary, but they sometimes the cause of some confusion, especially when people who had to know the password were not told what it was.
When we arrived and took up our positions at Lee Point, our vulnerability to attack from the rear was obvious, so it was decided to run barbed wire entanglements around the rear of our positions to offer some protection. In a few days the wire was finished, and guards posted at the entrance with instructions that anyone who could not give the password was to be refused entrance. Behind our positions were a battery of artillery guns. Mostly artillery were in a rear position where they could not see the target, so in a forward position they had an Artillery Observation Post (Arty O'Pip for short) which was connected to the gun positions by field telephone, and from which they could direct the fire. ("Right five degrees-up two hundred yards -" etc.) Unfortunately, on the day the wire was finished, nobody told the Artillery Officer the password. Eventually, he came along as usual on his way to his observation post, and was challenged by the guard. "What's the password?"
"I don't know any password."
"In that case, you can't come in!"
"But I'm Arty O'Pip!" said the Officer,
"I've got to come in!"
"Look mate!", said the guard, "I don't care what your name is. If you don't know the password you CAN'T come in!"
Eventually the guard was convinced he should call his superior officer, and our friend Arty was admitted to his own position.
Shortly after we arrived at Lee Point, on February 8th, the Japanese attacked Singapore, and a week later, on February 15th, Singapore surrendered. Ambon was also taken, and Darwin was within reach of the Japanese land based bombers. "C" Company were not left in their positions at Lee Point for long after the first air raid. As defence positions they were poorly situated and virtually useless, so we were moved to the RAAF aerodrome in a ground defences role, situated adjacent to the southern end of the north/south runway, where we could help to protect the Hudson bombers and the P-40 fighters which were being brought into the area.
There was very little activity from the Japanese immediately after the first raid. On the 4th March, two planes strafed some workers at the four mile position, then there was no further enemy activity until 16th March. The RAAF had based their Hudson bombers on the RAAF airfield, and the USAAF sent their 49th Fighter Group equipped with P-40s (Kittyhawks) to build up our defences against further raids. With the fighters, the Yanks sent a contingent of .5 Browning Anti Aircraft gunners, who dug in near us.
By this time, we had settled into our new positions, and because we were now occupying one of the prime target areas, we had to dig slit trenches, and pits for our equipment. The ground was hard, and the digging was tough. We received an allocation of Bren Gun Carriers which had to be dug in too. There was some indecision about exactly where we should be placed, and after our trenches were dug, we were told that we were to be spread out more, and some of us would have to move across the road a hundred yards or so. The late Jika Pilmore (may God rest his soul) was normally a cheerful mild tempered man, but this made him furious. "I have dug one trench", he said, "and I'm going on strike! I am not going to dig another trench as long as I well live!"
It was a cloudy day. We were all lined up for mess parade, when without any warning, fourteen bombers which had approached unseen started dropping their bombs on the RAAF close by. Needless to say, we dispersed rapidly. Speedy Gonzales would have been trodden underfoot. When we reassembled an hour or so later, Jika was missing. Someone asked: "Where's Jika?" "He'll be along presently. He has nearly finished his new slit trench!" The Japanese were back, with a vengeance. They raided the RAAF on the 16th March, Darwin on the 19th, Darwin and Katherine on the 22nd, the RAAF on the 28th and again on the 30th. On the 31st March, they made their first night raid, on the RAAF, at about 10.30 pm. I was sound asleep when the siren went, and I remember that in the panic I had great trouble putting my trousers on. When I had taken them off, I had pulled one trouser leg inside out, and I was hopping around with one leg on and the other foot stuck for some time before I realised what the problem was. On April 2nd, the oil tanks at the harbour were bombed. On 4th April (I think it was Easter Saturday), the bombers were back again, with their fighter cover. I remember this day particularly, because it was the first time a successful counter attack was launched against the Japanese in the Darwin area.
The skies were clear. There were seven bombers, in a single vee formation, their colour shining silver against the blue of the sky. As they came into range, the 3.7″ Ack-Ack battery near us opened fire. We were told afterwards that the man on the rangefinder called "22,000!" The man setting the time delay on the shells before they are loaded into the guns set them at 20,200'. If this was intervention on the part of the Good Lord, He was definitely on our side.
The first salvo of four shells burst right amongst the bombers. Four of them appeared to be seriously damaged, but they maintained formation. Black smoke began to pour from one of the bombers, which caught fire, lost speed, and then fell out of the formation. The plane, in flames and out of control, started to cartwheel. One of the crew jumped clear, but his parachute caught fire, and he fell to the ground without it. Meanwhile, the AA guns had their range, and continued the barrage, while the P-40s engaged the Zero fighter cover and the remainder of the bombers in a dogfight over the harbour area. Soon the last remaining bomber was heading out over the Timor Sea on fire, and there were only three of the Zeros left. Apparently the Zero pilots did not relish the prospect of returning home after having lost all of the bombers they were supposed to protect. They turned, and dived in a low level strafing run across the RAAF airfield, one after the other. Perhaps they did not know about the .5 Browning AA guns the Americans had placed around the airfield. As the Zeros approached, the gunners opened fire, and the Zeros went down into the trees, one, two, three.
The entire attacking force had been wiped out. There was one unfortunate incident which dampened our jubilation. There was a rule that our fighters must never fly over their own field during an air raid, and this rule was overlooked in the heat of the battle. It is almost impossible for a gunner to identify an aircraft which is diving at him at a speed of over 400 MPH, so the rule is that your own planes keep out of the way, and the gunners shoot down every plane that dives at the field. Probably the P-40 pilots were so intent on catching the Zeros that they forgot they were so close to their own field, and three of the P-40s followed the Zeros in their dive across the airfield.
The result was that, all in the space of about fifteen seconds, the American gunners shot down the three Zeros, and three of their own P-40s. Fortunately, the American pilots all survived, but the loss of the P-40s was tragic. One of the American gunners near us wept bitterly. He said he put seven tracers through a P-40 before it flashed overhead and he saw the star insignia on the wings. As only every fifth bullet is a tracer, he put thirty five bullets through that P-40. Even though he was exonerated from all blame, it would be a terrible thought to have to live with for the rest of his life.
The next day, the 5th April, the RAAF was bombed again, and then we were given a respite until the 25th April. The P-40s were parked in the trees near our positions, and the USAAF pilots sometimes walked through our lines after parking their planes. Some snatches of conversation from some of these men have remained indelibly imprinted on my mind. Complaining about their Commanding Officer, who wouldn't let them do things their own way: "Boy! That guy sure is a cork in the backside of progress!" Another time, complaining about one of their fellow pilots: "I tell you, he's mad, that guy! Last night, when we was a'walkin through here, he just pulled out his forty five, an' he shot the heel right offa my boot!"
On rations, where we got bully beef, ad nauseam, they had a different problem: "Goddam chicken again!" Apparently their tinned chicken was no better than our tinned beef. The 25th April, 1942 was a day to be remembered, especially for "C" Company. It was a clear day with blue skies, and just the occasional patch of white cloud. The 19th M.G. Battalion had been moved into defensive positions in and around Darwin and in particular, the Darwin aerodrome.
The Darwin aerodrome was of considerable importance to our defences at that time, because it was the home base of the American Kittyhawk fighter squadron, our own Lockheed Hudson bombers, and provided a point of service for any other aircraft which may be passing through to or from other bases in the Pacific zone. "C" Company occupied a position spreading across the Stuart Highway to the south of the main airstrip and east of where the main terminal buildings are now situated. Near us was a battery of 3.7″ Anti-Aircraft guns, and closer to the airstrip the Yanks had .5 Browning Anti-Aircraft emplacements. "C" Company had no anti-aircraft guns. Our Vickers Machine Guns were made for ground fighting, and could not be elevated more than about 15o above the horizontal. Our job was to deal with any ground troops, parachutists, or any other enemy personnel who might attempt to enter the area. The call "Action Stations!" for us meant guns loaded, bayonets fixed, steel helmets on, every man to his allotted position and all equipment ready for action.
Close by, the American Kittyhawk fighters were dispersed amongst the trees under camouflage nets. The Kittyhawks were the only fighters we had at the time, and they were having enough success against the Zeros and the bombers to cause the Japanese some concern. The Japanese had apparently decided they would wipe out any of those Kittyhawks they could catch on the ground, and they sent over 24 bombers loaded with "daisy cutters" to achieve this purpose. A "daisy cutter" was an anti-personnel bomb, consisting of an inner shell containing the explosive, and a somewhat larger outer shell, with the cavity in between filled with a motley collection of nuts, bolts and all manner of small metal pieces as shrapnel. Each bomb weighed 110 lbs (50kg), and had a steel rod attached to the nose which caused it to explode above ground level, with devastating effect on anything or anyone even remotely close to it above ground level.
The radar had been installed and was functional, so we knew that when the air raid siren began to wail, the bombers would be over within the next twenty minutes. Every man had his allocated action station, and the siren meant "Action Stations!" The Kittyhawks sprang to life and took off two abreast down the runway, clawing for altitude so that they could meet the Zero fighter cover on even terms. On this occasion, the siren interrupted a lecture by a pacifist from the Government Education Service, who used to come around about once a week in his four cylinder tourer car of about 1930 vintage, to tell us what a wonderful country Russia was, and how Australia would be the absolute Utopia if only we would adopt the Communism system. At the first sound of the siren's wail, he suddenly lost his audience, and he was left standing, looking somewhat bewildered. Obviously, he had no time to go anywhere else, so we took him into the slit trench with us.
Soon we could see and hear the bombers approaching. Japanese aircraft motors and propellors of WW2 vintage produced a distinctive high pitched droning sound, something similar to the sound of a hive of bees much magnified. Sometimes you could see the bombs fall away from the bomb bays. If they were going to hit a mile or more away, you could also hear the pitch of the motors increase by about two half-tones as their load suddenly lightened, and you might hear the tearing shredding sound a bomb makes as it falls through the air. However, you don't hear a bomb or shell if you are sitting near the point of impact, because a bomb or shell travels faster than the speed of sound, and it has already exploded before you hear it. The bombers made their run at about 20,000 feet. The ground was vibrating as the 3.7″ heavy Ack-Ack (Anti Aircraft) guns next to us were firing continuously. From where we waited in our slit trenches, the bombers seemed to be right on target, but either they overshot by two or three hundred yards, or the light breeze which sprang up caused the bombs to drift.
The end result was that they completely missed the Kittyhawks, and "C" Company copped the lot. To put yourself within a circle 250-300 yards in diameter and survive when a bomb is dropped in that circle from a height of 20,000 feet does require an element of luck. For over 100 men to survive when 84 bombs are dropped on that same area simultaneously needs a great deal more than luck – it is verging on the miraculous. The remarkable part of it was that not one Australian life was lost. The only serious injuries were three men (Tom Harris, Eric Liddell and Sgt Halliwell) who had a daisy cutter bomb explode 3 feet from the side of their slit trench. They suffered burst ear drums and were half buried, but all recovered. However, some Americans who were passing in a jeep were not so lucky. They suffered grievous wounds and died from injuries received.
My Bren Gun Carrier crew and I were in a slit trench 6 yards from where a 50 kg daisy cutter hit the carrier, there was another one 10 yards the other side of us. The grass over the whole area looked as if it had been mowed right down to ground level. A tree which had been cut off at the base fell right across our slit trench, but we were so dazed that we clambered out from under it and did not even notice that it was there until the next day. The pacifist from the Education Service walked slowly round and around his car. All the tyres were flat; the panels were riddled with jagged holes; the radiator was ruined; the canvas top was in shreds. As he walked around it, he kept up a steady monologue: "The bbs! Look what they've done to my car! The bbs! Look what they've done to my car!…….." We never saw him again, apparently he found safer places to spread his communist propaganda.
Our equipment was all dug in below ground level and our losses were limited to my Bren Carrier, which had a bomb dropped in the hole alongside of it, and an Anti Tank truck and ammunition pit which scored a direct hit. This started a fire, and the exploding ammunition whistling through the trees kept the interest up for another hour or so. This was the day my underwear was shredded. Fortunately I was not wearing them at the time – they had been washed and were hanging out to dry! One singlet had 6 shrapnel holes, others were so riddled with shrapnel holes that the Quartermaster replaced them without any of his usual arguments. The dust was still settling when Jack Gray came to me holding out two shillings between his thumb and forefinger. The day before the raid he was complaining that he had been sent south to a gas school before the first raid, and he had missed all the action. I had bet him we would have another raid within 3 days.
I had heard a whisper from the Air Force staff that they were to be prepared, because the Japanese were getting their planes ready in Timor, so I told Jack to keep his money because it wasn't a fair contest. Jack said: "You keep it. I got my money's worth!" That evening, as we stood in line on mess parade, a voice said: "I could see we were going to cop it, and I knew I ought to pray. The trouble was, I hadn't prayed for years, and all I could think of was what my father used to say as we sat down to meals: "For what we are about to receive O Lord, please make us truly thankful!"
Rex Ruwoldt


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John Stott Ministries/Langham Partnership
Industry Setting -
John Stott Ministries/Langham Partnership International is a nonprofit that is focused on developing the global church through biblical maturity. The organization is made up of 7 international partners and has affiliate partners in more than 60 nations.
Project Desire -
Before he passed in late 2011, John Stott requested that his six international partnerships unite under a common name and brandmark.
Solution -
Abiah developed a consistent international identity system that could be slightly adapted to distinguish the individual partnerships. This was a very detailed project, so we made sure the individuals representing the international partnerships agreed on the brand's strategic, creative, and cultural positioning.
Result -
John Stott Ministries/Langham Partnership has been able to excite and reactivate it's current base, while expanding new supporters with help from the brand/marketing strategy and design.


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Give up on Work/Life "Balance" Now
with 2 comments
Ed. note: The real title of this post should be "Give up on Work/Life Balance Now Provided You Actually Care About Succeeding With Your Work and Having Fun In Your Life" but that felt too long and silly.
You hear it everyday. People want more balance in their lives. They're tired of having to work long, hard hours without recognition or reward. They end each and every day exhausted beyond belief and dream of spending their days diving the Great Barrier Reef. They want more 'balance' (which usually equates to more television – sorry, can't help the snark!) yet when you push them on what 'balance' means to them, they really mean "I want to work less". They probably don't talk about wanting to work more while sitting on a beach in Tahiti counting the waves.
In today's world, the work/life balance of the 1950s desk jockey is a pipedream. Sorry, it doesn't exist anymore no matter how hard you wish for it. Pulling in your driveway every night at 5pm after a day of slow work for a supper prepared for you isn't going to happen for most people. The business world is more competitive than ever, we're connected to the office via "direct neural interface", and change is happening on a daily or hourly basis. The pace has quickened to a dizzying point and we're expected to keep up or get off the train. And getting off the train means greater sacrifices than most people are willing to make.
How many emails do you receive away from the office? How many tweets, texts, news items, calls, or meetings are you dealing with outside of normal work hours? You know, during that time that you should be 'living' and not working. Probably lots – and it's just going to get worse, my friend. Of course we won't count the life stuff you do while at work, right? ;) People tend to conveniently forget that!
Regardless of what we do or who we work for, we should just stop talking about balance entirely. Ultimately contentment isn't about balance. It's about feeling important again. And it's ultimately about having control and perspective over everything in your life and work.
Here's the thing all those self-help experts don't tell you when they say "work smart not hard": True balance is contrived and results in mediocrity. Achieving a 50/50 balance between work and life is never going to happen if you want to actually achieve anything. It implies splitting your time, energy, and effort down the middle arbitrarily – neither should ever encroach on the other – and compartmentalizing your life into a block known as 'work' and another block known as 'life'.
This of course means that work will suffer at times… and your personal life will suffer at other times… because while you expect your work and life to fit into a puzzle with equal sized pieces, it's just never the case unless you have the most mindless work imaginable. And you're then filled with regret and resentment towards your work most of the time… and the cycle continues.
The truth is: Sometimes you simply need to work more. Sometimes you need to play more. Sometimes you need to work less and frankly, sometimes you need to play less. Sometimes work will impact your life (a long, hard week or month) and sometimes your life will impact your work (an extended trip for the holidays). It's a lot more fluid than people realize.
So instead of fixating on a clean separation and a pure equal balance of our time, we should be talking about "smart integration". Integrating work into your life in a way that doesn't raise your blood pressure, giving you ample time to produce, while keeping you in-tune with the things outside the office that recharge your batteries and also giving you purpose (side note: your work should fill you with purpose – if it doesn't, you should find a new job!)
By thinking about work and life as an integrated whole you'll feel less resentment about your work when it impacts your life, knowing that your life will inevitably impact your work too. Don't think about it being a balanced scale that you judge on a day-to-day basis, think about it as a marathon – sometimes you run fast, sometimes you run slowly, and sometimes you run slowly just to run fast later. It's not clean, but it's reality.
By the way, I've worked for small companies, large companies, and for myself at various stages of my career. And in all of those circumstances I've been expected to "keep pace" with everything around me whether it was a startup, a large corporation, or just me alone in my jammies in a home office. Pretend all you want that it's "different" if you find the right formula, but trust me, it isn't. There's always work to be done if you want to achieve anything! And that's a good thing otherwise you wouldn't be able to differentiate yourself.
So what are some things you can do?
- When work is slow, take time for your life. Catch up on things you needed to do but couldn't. When life is cruising along, dedicate yourself to your work and clear the path to make it easier to traverse later. Leverage your time best by identifying the ebbs and flows in your work and taking advantage of them.
- Stop overestimating the amount of time things take you to do. I do this constantly – procrastinating because I suspect things will take a long time to spin up and finish. When I do end up starting something, I almost always realize that it wasn't worth the worry – so now I'm training myself to just stop worrying about unfinished things when I'm not in work mode.
- Don't fret about staying connected on vacation; just make sure you exercise self-control. You may find it's more stressful being completely disconnected than if you check-in for 15 minutes each day (I do)… or you may find you operate just fine being disconnected. Your answer may be different from mine; determine which type of person you are and then don't beat yourself up for being that way. Note that one thing you should do if you completely disconnect for a period of time is book a whole day for yourself to get caught back up when you return, otherwise you will be underwater for weeks.
- Read Controlled Bursts of Focus to Leap Ahead and Find Balance. The recommendations in that post apply here as well, especially the notion of emergent focus and limiting the things you're focusing on to the most important.
- Mentally invest in a 'tracking system' to monitor all of your outstanding items at work. This is critical to finding peace while away from the office. You need to know that you have control over your work in a deep and meaningful way such that when you're away from it, you aren't continually spending cognitive cycles worrying about it. Close the laptop lid and walk away knowing you're on top of things, and you have the appropriate amount of time dedicated to it later. It can be blissful.
- Don't sweat the small stuff at work. Stop trying to be all things to all people; that's how you get into trouble! You don't have to answer every single email that crosses your inbox, and you don't need to be involved in every single decision. Figure out what's most important for you to focus on and then dedicate your time and energy to that. Reminding yourself of the 80/20 rule (aka Pareto principle) every so often is a good thing to do.
Hope this helps – please comment below if you have thoughts or questions!


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Its back!!
Wow, so much has happened since Dec 2011.
I'm 24 years old now. I just bought a condo Feb 12, 2013 in the Midvale area. Not the best area I suppose.....Nevermind the triple homicide that happened down the street the same day I closed on the house....
I bought brand new carpet for the whole place and a brand new washer/dryer (a good deal on Presidents Day sale) and a used fridge. Some big financial situations this year. Man oh man.Kinda stressful. I loved the floor plan, the actual home owner feel, keeper HOA I've found, and big kitchen.
My mortgage is technically $592, but since I have a condo/HOA fee its another $95 on top of that. But still, even at $680 I dont think you can rent for that much in SLC area, esp a two bedroom place. My rate is 3.75%. Beat that bitches! mwhaha. A rare occassion to see your interest payments aren't more than your actual loan.
I got a cat. Not much else I need besides a condo and a cat! Okay okay I'm looking for a roommate.
And with my new condo and so many changes there has been some changes with the situation between Evan and I. We'll see how that goes.
I'm so glad your back!
I tried to keep a journal outside this website, but I just had no desire without you.
"Let us dream big
and love even bigger
while we're young"