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Franklin homers to keep hitting against familiar Padres
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Something about playing the Padres just brings out the best in Mariners infielder Nick Franklin.
Franklin had two hits Friday, including a long home run to right field in the third, as the Mariners knocked off the Padres, 12-1, at the Peoria Sports Complex.View Full Game Coverage
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Something about playing the Padres just brings out the best in Mariners infielder Nick Franklin.
Franklin had two hits Friday, including a long home run to right field in the third, as the Mariners knocked off the Padres, 12-1, at the Peoria Sports Complex.View Full Game Coverage
Franklin made his Major League debut last season against the Padres. And in his fourth big league game, also against the Padres, he hit two home runs.
Franklin is competing with incumbent Brad Miller for the Mariners' starting shortstop job, pushed out of the second-base consideration with the signing of free agent Robinson Cano.
San Diego pitcher Andrew Cashner, who is a leading candidate to start Opening Day for the Padres, got off to a rough start, allowing the first two hitters of the game to reach before uncorking a wild pitch. But he certainly recovered well, retiring the next six hitters he faced before ending his day.
"I just think it's I haven't faced hitters in a while and your stuff isn't where it usually is," Cashner said. "But I felt like overall I had a really good outing."
The Padres got a run in the third inning when Ryan Jackson doubled, advanced to second base on a Ramon Ramires wild pitch, then scored on Ramirez's throwing error. Jackson is competing for a backup infield job.
Seattle starter James Paxton tossed two scoreless innings, which rates as significant for a Mariners staff that learned Friday that prospect Taijuan Walker will be shut down for a week with shoulder inflammation. In addition, pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma still hasn't thrown this spring because of a sprained tendon in his finger.
"I'm trying to pick up where I left off last year," said Paxton. "I'm really just focused on executing pitches right now and trying to get everything refined so it's ready for game time when the season rolls around."
Paxton is one of a handful of young Mariners competing for rotation jobs and was outstanding last September when he was promoted.
The Mariners played mostly backups, except for designated hitter Corey Hart, who made his debut after signing as free agent. Hart, who missed all last year after two microfracture knee surgeries, went 1-for-2 with a walk, a single and a run scored.
Xavier Avery came off the bench to give the Mariners a 3-1 lead with an RBI single in the sixth inning. The Mariners scored five runs in the inning, two on a Nate Tenbrink home run, and James Jones added a three-run homer in the eighth.
New Padres reliever Joaquin Benoit made his San Diego debut, tossing a scoreless fifth inning. Benoit, who will earn $15.5 million over the next two seasons, is expected to handle the eighth-inning role.
Up next: Veteran right-hander Scott Baker gets the start as the Mariners face the Angels on Saturday in a 12:05 p.m. PT game at Peoria Stadium. Baker, 32, was 63-48 with a 4.14 ERA for the Twins from 2005-11, but is coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2012 and pitched just three games for the Cubs at the end of last season. He has an excellent chance to make the rotation as a non-roster invitee if he pitches well this spring. Baker is scheduled for two innings, with Bobby LaFromboise, Roenis Elias, Stephen Kohlscheen and James Gillheeney among those to follow.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter.


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|2011-11-10, 21:46
|Link #41
Know who you are
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Resides within the depths of Ned infested Glasgow
Haha that was awesome!
There is now hope!
Even if part of me still thinks it's faint hope it's hope none the less!
Still have doubts but then I simply don't care now, he kissed his aunt!(oh so wrong, yet (in this case) oh so right!)
God I really hope my doubts will be put to rest at some point.
And isn't it in truth that the little red riding hood is supposed to be reversed?(despite how the chapter ended)
|2011-11-17, 18:19
|Link #48
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: London, England
Chapter 10 is out now.
What kind of idiot would make such a proclamation in the middle of the school hallway. I'm guessing that girl's request will probably be something about getting used to eachothers bodies as part of the opposite sex, considering how much of a point was made about how focused he was about surpriseing his aunt.
|2011-11-17, 20:09
|Link #49
Know who you are
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Resides within the depths of Ned infested Glasgow
Haha indeed what idiot proclaims such a thing out loud but then I can actually relate as I've suddenly just said my thoughts out aloud, altho thankfully nothing as crazy as this
I liked how he was all stuck on his aunt, he wants to make her blush! lol
New girl is cute, I look forward to seeing what she wants but still can't say she's cuter than Asahi, I mean would you get a look at them delicious thighs!
|2011-11-22, 04:33
|Link #57
I am a Boxer
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Where hot girls are fighting!
The new girl..mmmmmm...i have to say that the author is very good at drawing girls..i like this style...
I was thinking about what the cousin said..that about the story of Genji Monogatari.., that in the end, the man was piling up the girls that resembled the mother...interesting..
The new girl..i wonder what she wants he to do...
And the Aunt..she is pretty good a playing the flute
|harem, seinen, smut
|Thread Tools

subset: commoncrawl


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The "Game of Inches" cliche contains more than an ounce of truth. Turn half of those drops into catches, and the Hawks maintain drives and score more points. Between the Turbin and Moore drops, we probably lost at least 7.
One of the Tate drops probably cost us at least a FG.
This leads to the Niners feeling pressure to pass more to keep up - and we probably don't see them leaning on that powerful run game in the second half.
I still feel great about this team. The offense is probably a year behind where it needs to be, but it can continue to grow and we should be very competitive in our next few games before the BYE. Get healthy, and make a little run here and we're looking at 7-3 at the break. Sign me up.


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Economics has been called the dismal science, and economist Mechel "Mickey" Paggi acknowledged that his economic outlook for California agriculture sounded like he was rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Paggi, director of the Center for Agriculture Business at California State University, Fresno, painted what he admitted was a "dreary" outlook of the state No. 1, $30 billion per year industry at the 2nd annual Agribusiness Management Conference in Fresno, Calif.
However, Paggi said he was simply trying to be "honest" in helping agriculture face upcoming challenges "straight up."
"California agriculture has been here for a long time, and it will be here long after I am gone," said Paggi, but it will never conduct its business as it has in the past.
Globalization, the aging of America, trade policies in the U.S. and elsewhere, continued consolidation at retail and the ever present cost-price squeeze farmers face are a few of the factors behind changing business practices.
Input costs are rising at the same time prices farmers receive for what they produce are at best flat and generally declining, Paggi said.
Farmers are battling this price/cost squeeze by innovating through practices like precision agriculture and Dried-On-The-Vine raisin production. New technology reduces per unit costs, however, it can also eventually increase overall production when everyone follows the innovators out of necessity.
It is the early adapters who benefit the most from new technology before the rank and file follow.
Excess production
To reduce supplies and bolster prices, growers can take excess acreage out of production, as the grape industry has done of late, especially in California's central valley.
However, unless condominiums or houses replace vines, growers plant crops holding more promise than the ones taken out. For wine and raisin vineyards, that could be citrus or almonds. However, eventually the same oversupply situation befalls the new crop, according to Paggi.
Growers continue to fund promotional efforts to increase consumption. Government purchase of surplus fruits and vegetables for school lunch programs also reduce supplies.
Government support programs bolster commodities like cotton, wheat and rice. However, with a $500 million federal deficit, Paggi says federal price supports are in doubt for the future.
Most California crops do not have government support.
Paggi said the future challenges for California agriculture lie outside the supply/demand realm.
Issues like labor costs, environmental regulations, water cost and availability, and a changing market structure where only a few retailers control the majority of the markets for ag products are out of the direct control of farmers and ranchers, but not out of agriculture's influence.
By 2005, the top 10 grocery retailers in America will control 65 percent of the food market. This will impact the total field to retail shelf chain.
Plus for California
Demographics are changing. America is aging. That is a "bright light" for California, which produces the majority of the nation's fruits and vegetables, healthy foods for that aging population.
Aging Americans will no longer stop at McDonald's for Big Mac and fries, but for salads and chicken filets, he said.
California agricultural exports total $7 billion annually and increasing those exports will be one way to survive in the future.
However, unfair tariff barriers continue to penalize American exports.
California stands to gain in opening up free trade through World Trade Organization agreements, but the collapse of the DOHA round of talks recently in Cancun was a sign that it may be 2005 or 2007 before meaningful WTO trade agreements are reached.
Paggi noted that it took eight years to complete the Uruguay Round of talks, and even then some countries, like China, have failed to live up to agreements.
It is not an easy-sledding future for California agriculture, but Paggi is confident the most innovative and imaginative agriculture industry he has seen will meet and overcome a host of difficult challenges.
e-mail: email@example.com


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Balancing It Out
Yes there was only 1 football on the field at a time, but from the way Dallas looked this week and the way Tony Romo spread the ball around it sure didn't look like it. Dallas had Seattle confused from the very beginning on what their game plan was and that was to dominate.
Tony Romo went 21/36 for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns with NO interceptions. Miles Austin had 5 receptions for 61 yards rushed for 11 yards and had a touchdown. Sam Hurd had just one reception but it went for 35 yards and a touchdown. Roy Williams finally had his first touchdown as a Dallas Cowboy with 2 receptions for 19 yards. Patrick Crayton had 39 yards receiving and returned a punt for a touchdown for the second week in a row. Jason Witten, Felix Jones, Kevin Ogletree and Martellus Bennett all had receptions for over 100 total yards.
Marion "The Beast" Barber had only 14 rushing attempts but went for 53 yards and a touchdown. Felix Jones had 8 attempts and pounded out 39 yards. Tashard Choice got in on the action with 4 rushes for 11 yards. The offense went for a total of 26 first downs in the game, with 17 of those coming in the first half alone. 15 of those first downs by passing and 7 of them by rushing. Our third down efficiency was at 53% with a total of 362 net yards. Time of possession was an astounding 34:45
Keith Brooking continued to make his statement towards defensive player of the year with 8 tackles and forcing 1 sack. Demarcus Ware once again had a strong game with 2 tackles and a sack and Bobby Carpenter refused to be overlooked and got in with 3 tackles and a sack. Terence Newman and Bradie James both had good games each forcing a fumble that was recovered by Dallas. With a total of 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and only allowing 79 rushing yards by previous Dallas Cowboys RB Julius Jones, holding the Seattle offensive possession time to 25:15 and only 17 points, the defense made a statement once again.
You hear all this talk about what division is the toughest in the league. If you look at the numbers it is an easy decision to make. the NFC east is the only division in the league to have 3 teams with at least 5 wins on the season. With 5 out of the next 4 games being on the road you could make the argument that Dallas has the toughest schedule to finish out the season but with the way they are coming together on both offense and defense, bring on the competition.
Sunday night is going to be a true test for Dallas when we play Philly for first place in our division. After we win that game and silence all the critics we make our way north to Lambeau field for a battle against the Green Bay Packers before we come back home against our long time rivals (I cringe every time I even say their name) the STRUGGLING Washington Redskins.
Although we are looking very strong at home, we need to prove to not only ourselves but all the critics out there that we can win on the road. Once we win Sunday night and take over first place, then come home after winning in Green Bay with a 3 game winning streak, maybe, JUST MAYBE, everyone will see that this year DALLAS IS ON A MISSION!!!!!


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The U.S. Navy will begin using a new innovative analytical tool, co-developed by Battelle, to help keep cleanup jobs as green as they can be.
SiteWiseTM is a stand-alone tool that assesses the environmental footprint of remedial actions using a consistent set of metrics to measure greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, air emissions of criteria pollutants, water consumption and worker safety.
In August, Navy Director of Environmental Restoration Division at the Facilities Engineering Command Headquarters Brian P. Harrison notified all remediation managers that the tool was to be used on all feasibility studies performed on environmental remediation sites. The Department of Defense faces large-scale environmental cleanup of many of its sites. The Navy and Marine Corps alone had more than 200 installations with 90 of them undergoing active cleanup work in 2009.
SiteWiseTM allows the selection of a remediation strategy that not only considers standard criteria such as cost, effectiveness, protection of human health and environment, but also can gauge the environmental footprint of the technology.
"We're gratified to see that this innovative technology we developed, partially with funding from the Army and Navy, is going to be put to widespread use," said Godage Wickramanayake, manager of Battelle's Environmental Restoration group. "It can have great impact in the effort to conduct sustainable, fiscally responsible, safe environmental remediation and restoration."
As the world's largest, independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world's most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $6.2 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 22,000 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and one international nuclear laboratory in the United Kingdom.


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A hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to create simple 3D designs and become familiar with various 3D design applications such as Fusion 360 and Sculptris.
Registration is required. You can order free tickets by clicking on the link below.
**Please note your spot will only be held until the start of the class.**


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Ronnie Dunn Not Afraid to Stir the Pot With Fans During Presidential Race
Ronnie Dunn has been an active Facebook and Twitter user in recent months, especially now more than ever with the presidential race taking place. While Dunn hasn't flat out said who he is pulling for to be the next president, he does say enough to get his fans buzzing.
"I'm [talking about] it on Facebook just to stir it up and get peoples reaction … try to see where the pulse is," Dunn tells Taste of Country. "I know at one point our discussion spiked and we were hitting 200,000 people. It's amazing just to see the kind of things people will react to just under experimentation."
Dunn will keep his Facebook feed close by while watching the debates this year, just to make sure his fans are keeping up with what's going on and to reach those who may not even be aware of the situation. "I was watching the republican debate, and I threw out a comment that [Rick] Santorum said about 40% of births in America last year were by unwed mothers. I just sat back to see what people would say. I want to see how engaged we can be."
"I think the most important reason that I'm doing it is to try and get people – normal, average, everyday, blue-collar Americans – to plug in and listen and pay attention," the 'Bleed Red' hitamker continues. "A lot of them will tell you, 'I'm living paycheck to paycheck today. I'm having to focus on keeping my head above water.' The best way you can do that is to pay attention to what these guys that are going into power are doing and saying, and move them in or out. I think Congress needs to be purged. It really does. There's a problem here. But I don't need to preach that. I want to hear other people engage."
As far as Ronnie Dunn is concerned, any one of the candidates can get his vote at this point, since he doesn't fall on either side of the line. "I'm not decided one way or the other," he notes. "I'm not a Republican and I'm not a Democrat. I know that [Facebook] page should be a music page, but there's more to life than just music."
Of course, Dunn does use his official fan page to talk about music from time to time — like his new single 'Let the Cowboy Rock.' The song, which Dunn co-wrote with Dallas Davidson, is currently climbing the country singles chart. Click here to read our interview with Davidson about how the two came to write the song.


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Although this continent, which is the second smallest in the world, is largely affected by the warm and moist air from the North Atlantic, Europe's typically moderate climate is not a stranger to extremes. From sub-arctic conditions in the tundra areas of Scandinavia to 100-degree plus temperatures during the summer months in the Mediterranean, Europe features a wide range of weather conditions from season to season.
SPRINGMid to late spring is one of the most pleasant seasons to travel and discover the continent of Europe. Throughout the North, increasing amounts of daylight and sunshine promote warming temperatures and the melting of any snow cover that may remain. Rapid snowmelt is expected in the Alps as a result of rapidly increasing temperatures due to a local wind called the Fohn. Across Western Europe, more sunshine and fewer days of precipitation is likely. Warmer and increasingly sunny days provide a preview of what is to come in the summer months along the Mediterranean coasts, however, pleasant conditions may be hampered early in the season by a few showers or thunderstorms. Eastern Europe and the Alps feature the best chance for precipitation during this time of year.
SUMMERTravelers to Europe, and even locals, in the summertime flock to the Mediterranean resorts where hot, sunny, and dry conditions are expected and are only very rarely spoiled by an afternoon shower or thunderstorm. Western Europe and the British Isles also feature a fair amount of sunshine and warmer temperatures, although there is a greater chance for encounters with brief, but sometimes heavy, showers and thunderstorms. Warm temperatures are also felt as far north as Scandinavia as extended hours of daylight and drier conditions increase the area's potential for temperatures to increase throughout the day. Eastern Europe and the Alps have the greatest chance for showers and thunderstorms during the summer months, with hot temperatures likely to develop in the lowlands of the South.
AUTUMNAutumn in Europe quickly replaces the generally pleasant summer months with increasing amounts of cloudiness and precipitation. Quite stormy conditions may develop across the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Western Europe producing gale-force winds and more frequent rain. Precipitation may also begin to impact northern parts of Portugal and Spain. As the number of daylight hours decrease, temperatures begin to drop across the continent. The Mediterranean coasts usually still feature mild temperatures during this time, although portions of Eastern Europe and the Alps likely experience some colder, winter-like temperatures.
WINTERThe least favorable season to travel to Europe is during the winter. Frequent precipitation and strong winds are likely in and across the north due to storm systems barreling in from the North Atlantic. Episodes of snowfall are possible in the British Isles, the interior, and the higher elevations of Western and Eastern Europe, while higher elevations of Scandinavia may feature severe arctic conditions with heavy snow and strong winds. The Alps also receive a good deal of snowfall during the winter, providing mountain resorts with super conditions for winter sports. Bitter cold temperatures are likely in Eastern and Central Europe as a result of winds draining the cold air from Russia. The Mediterranean usually is wet and mild, although it may be impacted by cold air at times.
Under the influence of the mild and moist westerly flow of the North Atlantic, the British Isles feature a climate that is moderate in nature and rarely affected by extremes.
Changeable conditions are likely throughout the year across the British Isles with periods of clouds and rain. Late spring and early summer typically features the best weather conditions for travelers with an increase in the length of daylight, which brings warm sunshine and milder temperatures. The total number of days featuring precipitation is generally less during this time of year, although showers may be brief yet heavy at times. There is a greater chance for thunderstorms even though severe activity is unusual for this region but not unlikely. Temperatures in the spring and summer are mild to warm even in the North where the higher latitude brings longer daylight hours. Temperatures in the 80s and even 90s (°F) are possible on occasion especially in the South.
During the winter, not only is this region subject to frequent low clouds and fog due to the moist winds off the North Atlantic, it is also the first to greet many North Atlantic storm systems. These storm systems often wrap in moisture off of the North Atlantic to produce windy and wet conditions for many areas of the West such as Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. England is also subject to the brunt of these storm systems, although eastern sections typically do not receive as much precipitation overall since many storm systems carry the bulk of the precipitation to the north. Episodes of snow are possible throughout the entire region during the winter and early spring. Snow is usually heavy, wet, and short lived and is more likely to occur in the hills and higher elevations. The mountains of Scotland receive the greatest snowfall each year, which, when accompanied by high winds, may create blizzard-like conditions. Daytime high temperatures generally average on the cool side in the 40s and 50s (°F) throughout the region, with below freezing temperatures possible at night especially in the interior and higher elevations.
Scandinavia features a wide variety of weather conditions ranging from mild, maritime air in coastal Norway and Denmark, to severe, arctic-like conditions in the higher elevations.
Directly in the path of North Atlantic storm systems, Iceland, coastal Norway and Denmark experience changeable, and often very stormy, conditions beginning in the late summer / early autumn and persisting throughout the winter months. Gale-force winds and frequent episodes of rain are not uncommon results of storms that impact this area. Snow is also likely in Iceland and along the central and northern coasts of Norway, while Denmark sometimes will only receive very little snow over the course of a winter season. As strong storm systems track across the higher elevations of Norway, severe arctic conditions are likely with heavy snow and strong winds. Daylight hours are also shorter in this area due to the high latitude putting a quick cap on any rising temperatures. Somewhat sheltered by the Norwegian mountains and from the maritime influence of the North Atlantic, neighboring countries Sweden and Finland experience very long and cold winters. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow throughout Finland and central and northern Sweden and is heaviest in the higher elevations. Snow cover is likely to last for extended periods of time to due very cold temperatures and few hours of daylight.
Increasing daylight in the spring and summer months brings a good deal of warmth to the region with many areas featuring somewhat drier conditions. Warmest temperatures are expected throughout Denmark and the southern sections of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Temperatures can become quite warm at times due to the extended day light hours. Iceland features changeable conditions during the summertime with cool temperatures. The chance for precipitation increases throughout the region as autumn approaches.
A changeable climate, much like other regions of Europe, is expected in the East although its close proximity with Russia makes this region one of the coldest during the winter.
Cold winds whistling from the east and northeast creates bitter cold conditions throughout Eastern Europe during the winter months. Prolonged cold spells are most likely in the persistently cloudy and foggy lowlands and valleys where the heavy cold air becomes trapped. Generally milder conditions can be found along most coastal areas. Precipitation is generally lower at this time of year, although frequent bouts of snowfall are anticipated especially in interior sections and the higher elevations.
Springtime thaw is slow throughout this area, especially in interior sections and the higher elevations where snowfall is still a possibility. Spring and summer features the greatest chance for precipitation in Eastern Europe with the chance for showers and sometimes even severe thunderstorms. Temperatures are generally mild to warm with the coolest temperatures found along coastal areas of the Baltic Sea. Extreme heat is rare in areas to the north such as Poland and the Czech Republic, however, with increasing amounts of sunshine to the south, temperatures can become quite hot throughout Yugoslavia, Romania, and Bulgaria and have been know to reach 100-degrees Fahrenheit on some occasions.
From high mountain tops and plateaus to lower valleys and basins, the complex terrain of the Alps creates an assortment of climate conditions that travelers need to be prepared for.
Wintertime in the Alps is typically cold, especially with an east to northeast wind component that carries very cold air from Russia. Deep valley areas may hold on to cold temperatures for longer periods as cold air sinks and becomes trapped. As the cold and heavy air collects in the valleys, cloudy and foggy conditions are likely and may persist, while the higher elevations experience greater amounts of sunshine creating excellent conditions for winter sports. Precipitation during the winter is typically in the form of snow, which may be frequent across the central Swiss Plateau. Snow cover is likely to remain throughout the season due to very cold temperatures in the area.
Springtime thaw is enhanced with the Fohn wind. This dry and warm wind runs through the valleys and can rapidly increase temperatures. As result, there is usually a great snowmelt that occurs in a short period of time. The chance for precipitation increases heading into the summer months as this period brings the wettest conditions with the chance for showers and embedded thunderstorms. Higher elevations that featured abundant sunshine in the winter experience an increase in clouds and precipitation during the summer months. Valley areas become sunnier as sinking air warms and dissipates any clouds. Lower elevations of the South, including the lower valleys of Switzerland, southeast Austria, and Slovenia, are somewhat influenced by the Mediterranean as quite warm to even hot temperatures may develop. Precipitation is also heavier during the summer when there is an increased chance for thunderstorms (which in some cases may be severe).
Similar to the British Isles, this portion of Europe is also largely affected by the warm and moist air streaming in from the North Atlantic.
Summertime in Western Europe features a blend of sun and clouds, warm temperatures and fewer days of precipitation. When precipitation does fall, it is usually in the form of brief but heavy showers or thunderstorms. Temperatures are generally in the 70s and 80s (°F) although warmer temperatures are possible as you travel south towards the Mediterranean.
The transition from summer to winter brings an increase in cloudiness across Western Europe and sometimes gale-force winds to coastal areas, especially along the English Channel and the North Sea. Wintertime precipitation is generally in the form of rain in northwest France due to the mild influence of the North Atlantic, while central and eastern France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have a good chance for frosty and snowy conditions. Germany and southern Belgium may experience bitter cold temperatures at times especially when an east wind develops. Snow cover may persist in some portions of Germany, Belgium, and in the higher elevations of France for an extended period of time. Low clouds, fog, and extended cold spells are anticipated each winter in the valleys.
Popular for its hot and dry summer conditions, the Mediterranean may also feature cold temperatures and even snow during the winter.
Abundant sunshine and hot temperatures can be expected throughout the Mediterranean region during the summertime. Temperatures are generally hot in the 90s (°F) especially in southern sections and may be enhanced by the Sirocco, which is a warm and humid wind that originates from Africa. Temperatures have been known to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit especially in southern Spain. Precipitation in this region only falls on a few days during this season and is generally in the form of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Northern and central portions of Spain may feature the greatest chance for precipitation especially early in the season as the area continues to be affected by disturbances from the Atlantic. Shower and thunderstorm activity may also affect the higher elevations of the Italian peninsula more frequently than other areas in the region.
As autumn approaches, the chance for precipitation increases across the region especially in Portugal as Atlantic storm systems begin to travel further to the south. Wet conditions are likely throughout the region during the winter months. This generally falls as rain in most coastal locations, although snow is likely in the higher elevations and the central plateau of Spain, inland areas of Portugal, the northern plains of Italy, and even in Greece (although not in the islands). Higher mountain areas may feature frequent bouts of frost and snow. Occasional cold spells are possible throughout, although temperatures generally remain mild along coastal locations and in the islands.


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Young Blacc (Ack Right Ent) - Successful Remix [Unsigned Hype]
"Young Blacc's remix of "Successful". Ack Right Ent., directed by AK, greatertv.net"
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This is my take on assignment #1 at Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life class at bigpicturecrapbooking.com.
These are shots I took for my brother's engagement session. Thanks for looking.
Katie Pertiet:
Bugs and Dirt Kit
Sea Salt No. 02 Paper Pack
My Family Genealogy Definitions Brushes and Stamps No. 03
Anna Aspnes:
Painted Edge Overlays No. 02 12 X 12
Background paper from ErinkInk's Creased Christmas Solids
Font: 1942 Report


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What's your favorite kid-friendly app?
Honestly, I'm not a fan of apps for children. Children shouldn't be playing with your phone or iPad in my opinion. I know it's hard, heck my 8 month old tries to steal my phone so I try to limit my use around her. Internet access and children just don't mix well.
I know when the Vine app came out people were upset because their children were using it and some of them briefly saw pornography. What do you expect with an app that mixes social media and videos? Your child shouldn't be exposed to that in general, keep your phone or tablet for your own use.
I guess if I had to choose, they let my daughter play with the bubble popping app at her latest Children's Hospital appointment, and it kept her mind off of some of the testing so I guess that's ok.


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Customer Reviews
All reviews are from people who have redeemed deals with this merchant.
What You'll Get
The Deal
- $69 for Liftetime access to a 7-course new Microsoft technologies IT certification bundle ($699.95 value)
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires 180 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per order. Online only. Must activate by expiration date on Groupon. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Virtual Training Company
Virtual Training Company operates on the principle that anybody should be able to learn valuable computer and technology skills anywhere, on their own time. Designed with this concept in mind, the online library of easy-to-follow courses instructs and certifies students in a wide variety of software, networking, and multimedia skills. Individual users train themselves from hundreds of videos, while business and universities monitor student progress with built-in tracking tools and multi-user accounts. Over a thousand different courses instruct pupils in everything from 3D animation and website design, to programming and database management, helping users add impressive sections to resumes and earn valuable promotions in the ever-evolving job market.


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50 This is what the Lord says:
"Where is your mother's certificate of divorce
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
did I sell you?
Because of your sins you were sold;
because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 When I came, why was there no one?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Was my arm too short to deliver you?
Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea,
I turn rivers into a desert;
their fish rot for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with darkness
and make sackcloth its covering."
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
I have not been rebellious,
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let the one who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
You will lie down in torment.
51 "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
2 look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many.
3 The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
4 "Listen to me, my people;
hear me, my nation:
Instruction will go out from me;
my justice will become a light to the nations.
5 My righteousness draws near speedily,
my salvation is on the way,
and my arm will bring justice to the nations.
The islands will look to me
and wait in hope for my arm.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment
and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation will last forever,
my righteousness will never fail.
7 "Hear me, you who know what is right,
you people who have taken my instruction to heart:
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
or be terrified by their insults.
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment;
the worm will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,
my salvation through all generations."
9 Awake, awake, arm of the Lord,
clothe yourself with strength!
Awake, as in days gone by,
as in generations of old.
Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces,
who pierced that monster through?
10 Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
who made a road in the depths of the sea
so that the redeemed might cross over?
11 Those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
12 "I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you that you fear mere mortals,
human beings who are but grass,
13 that you forget the Lord your Maker,
who stretches out the heavens
and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror every day
because of the wrath of the oppressor,
who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?
14 The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;
they will not die in their dungeon,
nor will they lack bread.
15 For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the Lord Almighty is his name.
16 I have put my words in your mouth
and covered you with the shadow of my hand—
I who set the heavens in place,
who laid the foundations of the earth,
and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.'"
17 Awake, awake!
Rise up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord
the cup of his wrath,
you who have drained to its dregs
the goblet that makes people stagger.
18 Among all the children she bore
there was none to guide her;
among all the children she reared
there was none to take her by the hand.
19 These double calamities have come upon you—
who can comfort you?—
ruin and destruction, famine and sword—
who can[a] console you?
20 Your children have fainted;
they lie at every street corner,
like antelope caught in a net.
They are filled with the wrath of the Lord,
with the rebuke of your God.
21 Therefore hear this, you afflicted one,
made drunk, but not with wine.
22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says,
your God, who defends his people:
"See, I have taken out of your hand
the cup that made you stagger;
from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,
you will never drink again.
23 I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,
who said to you,
'Fall prostrate that we may walk on you.'
And you made your back like the ground,
like a street to be walked on."
52 Awake, awake, Zion,
clothe yourself with strength!
Put on your garments of splendor,
Jerusalem, the holy city.
The uncircumcised and defiled
will not enter you again.
2 Shake off your dust;
rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,
Daughter Zion, now a captive.
3 For this is what the Lord says:
"You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed."
4 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"At first my people went down to Egypt to live;
lately, Assyria has oppressed them.
5 "And now what do I have here?" declares the Lord.
"For my people have been taken away for nothing,
and those who rule them mock,[b]"
declares the Lord.
"And all day long
my name is constantly blasphemed.
6 Therefore my people will know my name;
therefore in that day they will know
that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I."
7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing!
Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the articles of the Lord's house.
12 But you will not leave in haste
or go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you,
the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
13 See, my servant will act wisely[c];
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him[d]—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,[e]
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God's people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


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As the party that is 2013 draws to a close, we observe that the TV news business has been filled with outstanding coverage of the year's challenging and important stories, including the Syrian civil war, the death of Nelson Mandela, the U.S. government shutdown and the glitches afflicting the rollout of Obamacare.
But let's not talk about glories. Let's talk about embarrassments.
TV journalism has been chockablock this year with many moments of silly errors, unchecked egotism and all-purpose idiocy. And the best thing is that there's a video record of it.
It's tough to choose from all this plenitude, but we here at Show Tracker thought the following merited special...


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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I love her! I hope she goes all the way to the end and win.Oh gawd, please don't let her be a pre-jury boot!
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North Vancouver's own political BLOG dedicated to North Vancouver's political players and the decisions that shape our community.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Candidates Wanted: Unite North Van
14 comments:
What would a candidate gain by joining your group?
- Sunday, May 11, 2014 6:16:00 pm
Guaranteed failure, I suspect.
- Sunday, May 11, 2014 7:44:00 pm
Why would anyone vote for this? The political party you propose would be completely dysfunctional in every other way, but they agree to support an amalgamation motion... Why do you think this would work, and why do you think City residents are that dumb?
- Monday, May 12, 2014 12:18:00 am
I don't know if it's fair to say they would be "completely dysfunctional in every other way". They could very be well informed on all issues, but Candidates are going to asked their stance on amalgamation anyway. You could still support amalgamation and run with a full platform. Don't know if I see the full point of the "A' Party. Me thinks it's just to emphasize and perhaps expedite the issue.
- Monday, May 12, 2014 7:16:00 am
"...expedite the issue." Right!
- Monday, May 12, 2014 10:13:00 am
So, this is just a one issue party? I can't see anyone supporting this.
- Monday, May 12, 2014 10:31:00 am
The leader will have to have charisma an get along
with people, a social person.
- Wednesday, May 14, 2014 11:46:00 am
The get George Pringle elected campaign. Not too shabby George.
- Wednesday, May 14, 2014 8:06:00 pm
- Bill and Dot Bell said...
If it helps to increase voter turnout, then I am for it (not amalgamation) but candidates bringing issues to the electorate that stir debate.
- Thursday, May 15, 2014 8:35:00 am
Why would I support amalgamation?
Why would I wish my influence by voting and writing to councillors be diluted in any way? Why would I want FEWER councillors from where I live and MORE councillors from where I dont live making policy, schemes and pushing agendas. MORE LOCAL CONTROL not LESS.
- Thursday, May 15, 2014 7:10:00 pm
I can see one benefit to candidates in a organized slate, joint ad in the North Shore News. A full page and full colour ad would cost over $4000 but only $500 each for 4 City and 4 District candidates sharing the costs.
$500 would get a 1/4 page ad which could end up anywhere even buried in classifieds at the end.
- Sunday, May 18, 2014 12:33:00 pm
That can certainly be a benefit, but has GP gone and raised that money? He has been planning for this election for three years but has he done any fundraising for joint advertising?
Joint advertising can be good, if you are advertised with a few leading issues, and especially if you are with a few leading candidates. Which begs the question, Is anyone with previous elected experience joining this group? Our will it be a group of longshots?
- Sunday, May 18, 2014 1:04:00 pm
Now that is the question to be determined.. weren't candidates to be named this month?
- Monday, May 19, 2014 9:33:00 am
June 1st which is still late now. GP has pulled out if the North Shore News is to be believed...
- Thursday, June 12, 2014 10:53:00 pm


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This is the result of an AHRQ-funded study, published in the prestigious ACOG journal. The most important thing to note here is that treating pregnant women with acupuncture is probably preferable to the standard Rx (SSRI) treatment, as we don't really know if those drugs are good for the fetus. So here's where the Eastern therapy actually excels.
From the Wall Street Journal (since I don't have a subscription to the original medical journal).
- Bill
Acupuncture Benefit Seen in Pregnancy
By SHIRLEY S. WANG
Acupuncture designed to treat depression appears to improve symptoms in pregnant women, suggesting it as an alternative to antidepressant medication during pregnancy, a study found.
The study, published Monday in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, is the largest to date examining the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat depression in pregnant women. It was funded by a grant from the government's Agency for Health Research and Quality. "Acupuncture that we have tested works for pregnant, depressed women," said Rachel Manber, a study author and professor at Stanford University. However, "no single study is enough to make policy recommendations," she said.
Depression in pregnancy is a risk factor for postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is associated in some studies with poorer cognitive and emotional development in children. Some have linked depression in pregnancy and low birth weight.
As many as 14% of pregnant women are thought to develop a significant depression at some point during their pregnancy, according to the study authors, comparable to numbers who suffer from postpartum depression. Antidepressants are generally considered safe for use in pregnancy, but research has been limited and concerns continue to grow, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. One study showed that the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension, a potentially serious lung condition, is significantly greater in newborns whose mother took antidepressants later in pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that patients and physicians "carefully consider and discuss together" the benefits and risks taking antidepressants during pregnancy."Antidepressants are not an attractive option for many women," said Dr. Manber. "Many women are concerned about using antidepressant medication during pregnancy."
Acupuncture, based on ancient Chinese medicine, attempts to treat conditions by stimulating points on the body, most often with needles stuck in the skin and moved by hand or electrical stimulation, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
In the study, 150 clinically depressed pregnant women who weren't previously taking antidepressants were randomly assigned to get either acupuncture for depression, acupuncture not specifically designed for depression, or massage for eight weeks. Those who got acupuncture targeting depression had a significantly greater decrease in depressive symptoms, compared with the other women. Some 63% of women in the acupuncture-for-depression group responded to treatment, compared with 44% in the other groups.
There wasn't a difference between the groups in full recovery from the depression. Though this study didn't compare acupuncture for depression with another active treatment, the response rates are comparable to those rates from other depression treatments in studies of non-pregnant individuals, Dr. Manber said. And future work needs to examine how acupuncture for depression compares with standard treatment like antidepressants or psychotherapy, as well as who responds to treatment and what the optimal dose of the acupuncture treatment should be.
Write to Shirley S. Wang at firstname.lastname@example.com


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August 18, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, August 18, 2014 — Best Lawyers named Covington & Burling's Stuart Eizenstat and Gregg Levy each a 2015 "Lawyer of the Year" in international trade and sports law, respectively, citing their "abilities, professionalism and integrity." Overall, Covington lawyers received 217 individual mentions in 58 areas of law in the newly released annual survey ...
February 26, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, February 26, 2013 — The BTI Consulting Group has named Covington & Burling partners David Martin and Henriette Tielemans to its 2013 "Client Service All-Stars" list. The BTI "Client Service All-Stars" were singled out by general counsel and direct reports at large and Fortune 1000 organizations in one-on-one interviews. Mr. Martin, based in ...
Seven Covington Lawyers Named '2013 Lawyer of the Year'
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WASHINGTON, DC, September 13, 2012 — Best Lawyers in America named seven Covington & Burling lawyers today as "2013 Lawyer of the Year" in their respective practice areas and cities. The selected lawyers received strong ratings from their peers for their "abilities, professionalism and integrity," in the publication's annual survey. Best Lawyers recognizes only ...


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Please select your meditation time
Start Meditating
Conclude Meditation
An excerpt from "Dearest Friends: A Letter from Laurence Freeman OSB," Christian Meditation Newsletter, Vol. 33, No. 1, April 2009.
"The distinction between the office and person," said Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "is wholly alien to the teaching of Jesus." In the end, the truth is personal and it can only enter the world when it has conquered the human heart.
From John Main OSB, "The Christian Crisis," THE PRESENT CHRIST (New York: Crossroad, 1991), pp. 74-76.
. . . .[T]o become spiritual we have to learn to leave behind our official religious selves—that is, to leave behind the Pharisee that lurks inside all of us—because, as Jesus has told us, we have to leave behind our whole self.
From Laurence Freeman OSB, "The Power of Attention," THE SELFLESS SELF (London: DLT, 1989), pp. 31-35.
There has always been a great danger, but one that exists especially for us today in our self-conscious and narcissistic society, of mistaking introversion, self-fixation, self-analysis, for true interiority. The great prevalence of psychological woundedness and social alienation exacerbates this danger while calling for gentle tact and compassion in dealing with it. . . .
From "The Silence of the Soul," by Laurence Freeman OSB in THE TABLET 10 May 1997.
[One] reason why silence is so disturbing to us [is this]: As soon as we begin to become silent, we experience the relativity of our ordinary everyday mind. With this mind we measure our space and time coordinates, we calculate probabilities and count up our mistakes and successes.
An excerpt from Fr. Laurence Freeman's 2008 Holy Week Reflections, posted at www.wccm.org.
As Holy Week unfolds I am writing from our retreat for young meditators on Bere Island. At this moment there is not a cloud in the sky and the clear light is calling out every hidden colour, shade and texture of the sea, trees and mountains. Nature makes it easy to believe that we are on the human journey into the light of Christ, the Sun of the Resurrection that never sets.
Palm Sunday
An excerpt from Laurence Freeman, FIRST SIGHT: The Experience of Faith (London: Continuum, 2011), pp. 61-62. Meditation reunites the pure beam of light which is fragmented in our perception by the prism of the ego. It leads to a new way of seeing, a way of perception that merges the daily practice of meditation with daily life and work as an integrated way of faith. When we see something, as a child, for the first time we are amazed. The world is teeming with undiscovered wonders and we cannot understand why our elders seem so unimpressed by them.
An excerpt from John Main OSB, "The Inner Christ, MOMENT OF CHRIST (New York: Continuum, 1998), p. 106.
The way of meditation is not a way of escape. Above all, it is not a way of illusion. We neither try to escape the real world of untidy ends and chaotic beginnings and nor do we try to construct an alternative reality of our own. What Jesus promises us is that if we do hold him in reverence in our heart, . . .then all the chaos and all the confusion of the world can have no ultimate power over us.
As excerpt from Laurence Freeman OSB, "The Labyrinth," JESUS THE TEACHER WITHIN (New York: Continuum, 2000), pp. 230-31.
Are we prepared to practice detachment from what we instinctively know is our most precious possession: our separate identity? Relationship with [Jesus] the teacher at this point is of supreme importance. It allows us to risk our own death. By now the discipline of the mantra has led to the fortifying sense of discipleship which empowers us to let ourselves go. We can leave self behind precisely because we are in union and are never alone.
A selection from Laurence Freeman OSB, "Spirit," JESUS THE TEACHER WITHIN (New York: Continuum, 2000), pp. 186 87.
The joy of realizing the truth is the bliss of the Spirit. It erases the shame of all previous failures. Aware that this Spirit of truth is with us as a friend, we are better able to tolerate in others and in ourselves what has not yet reached fullness of being. . .Truth is tolerant because the Spirit is forgiving love.
An excerpt from John Main OSB, "The Way of Dispossession" in FULLY ALIVE Meditatio Talks Series, 2011, Oct-Dec (London: World Community for Christian Meditation, 2011) p. 11
One of the aspects of meditation we have to come to terms with is to learn to approach it not with seeking to gain something, to possess something. We have to try to approach it much more in terms of total devotion beyond ourselves.


text: Northwest Iowa Meeting to Address Current Feedlot Issues March 12, 2014 10:18 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By University News Release Email PRIMGHAR, Iowa – The Primghar Community Center is the location of a March 25 meeting for area beef producers and agri-business staff. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the O'Brien County Cattlemen's Association and the Iowa Cattlemen's Association. The Primghar Community Center is located on the corner of 1st St NE and Hayes Ave. "We will cover issues that impact area beef producers," said Beth Doran, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist. "These are issues that affect how our beef producers both manage and market cattle." The meeting features the following topics and speakers. Iowa DNR Work Plan for Beef Feedlots This topic will be covered by Iowa Department of Natural Resources Staff from Field Office 3. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is operating under a new work plan committed to environmental improvement. This involves a comprehensive survey of all large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and medium-size animal feeding operations (AFOs) within five years. The survey may be either an on-site inspection or desk-top evaluation and is estimated to involve 8,500 facilities in Iowa. Pro-Active Approach to Feedyard Assessments (Care and Handling) Doug Bear, director of industry relations with Iowa Beef Industry Council, will speak about this topic. Consumers want to know how the beef they consume is raised. To address this need, the National Beef Quality Assurance program is now offering materials to help a feedlot producer document how cattle are managed and cared for. These materials are available from the Iowa Beef Industry Council. Market Situation and Outlook The folks at Kooima and Kaemingk Commodities Inc. know that market prices will be a priority question for attendees. Prices for both feeder animals and market-ready animals have reached record levels. Will feedlots and cow-calf producers continue to see high prices or are the markets positioned for a downturn? Will consumers continue to buy beef at current prices or will they opt for other meats? Participants are invited to attend and ask questions about these important issues. There is no fee to attend but participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 21 with the O'Brien County Extension Office, by calling 712-957-5045 or e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.com in order to prepare materials and refreshments. For more information on the meeting, contact Dave Grooters, O'Brien County Cattlemen's board member at 712-348-1960 or Beth Doran, extension beef specialist at 712-737-4230. See this program and other local programming from ISU Extension and Outreach at www.extension.iastate.edu/obrien. Source: Iowa State University Extension Back to news


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EVITA, Ronacher , 15 November 2016 - 18:30
Event DetailsCategory: Musicals Event: EVITA Date/Time: 15 November 2016 - 18:30 Venue: Ronacher Address: Seilerstätte 9, A-1010 Wien / Vienna (Map)
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DescriptionThe musical EVITA by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber has enjoyed cult status for years, winning over twenty international awards, including an Oscar for the film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. The show, which includes some of the best musical songs of all time, such as Dont Cry For Me, Argentina, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, Id be Surprisingly Good For You and Another Suitcase in Another Hall, tells the story of Eva Perón, wife of the former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, from her humble beginnings to her reign as national heroine.
The VEREINIGTEN BÜHNEN WIEN are very proud to have secured Vincent Paterson, the star director and choreographer, as director of this exciting new production. Vincent Paterson created the choreography for the Hollywood film starring Madonna.
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Name: Eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei)
Status – Endangered (EN)
Height – Up to 1.7 metres
Weight – Up to 160 kilograms
Interesting Fact:
You wouldn't want to annoy this guy! The largest of the living apes, this mighty strong primate is famous for its intimidating chest-beating displays. It also likes to eat its own poo to help absorb more vitamins from its diet of plants and seeds. Best to avoid smelling its breath!
Where am I found?
Living in tropical forest, mountain gorillas, the most famous of the eastern gorillas, are found in just two remote areas, one in the Virunga Volcanoes, on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the other in southwestern Uganda. The lesser known eastern lowland gorillas are only found in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What do I eat?
Eastern gorillas are herbivorous, and their vegetarian diet is mostly made up of leaves. Because of their large size and the fact that the leaves they feed on aren't very nutritious, gorillas have to spend a lot of their time eating!
How do I live?
Eastern gorillas live in peaceful family groups, led by a large and powerful silverback male. Because there are plenty of leaves to eat and not much competition for food, eastern gorillas can live together in large numbers, and occasionally as many as 50 have been seen together!
Female gorillas only give birth only every three or four years, as they spend a long time raising each infant. Young gorillas are not fully weaned until they are around 3.5 years old. Males defend their families using their large size and intimidating chest-beating displays.
Why am I threatened?
Sadly, there are lots of threats to the Eastern gorilla. Snares set to catch other animals may accidentally injure and even kill gorillas, and some poachers deliberately trap infant gorillas.
Eastern lowland gorillas are at risk from the human conflict in the area they live, many have been shot dead in crossfire, or killed for food by people hiding in the forest.
A relatively new threat to the gorillas comes from tourism, as they are vulnerable to human diseases passed on by people keen to get up close to these majestic primates.
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Survival is available for free now on the App store and Android Market.
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When you help a child, you are providing vital financial assistance that couldn't come from anywhere else. As a sponsor, you will also have the opportunity to write letters and develop a close relationship with your child. You can even visit your child if you want! Also, helping a child will help you fulfill Christ's mandate to help the poor.
Help a child by considering child sponsorship through Compassion. Your support provides the child with:
When you help a child through child sponsorship, you are connected to one particular child who will know your name, write to you, and cherish the thought that you care enough to lend your financial and emotional support.
The cost of child sponsorship is only $38 a month — a small price to pay to help a child. You can sponsor a child through Compassion right now. Simply click on one of the children's pictures to the left. You will see additional details about that child and will have the option to sponsor him or her.
The whole process is quick and easy. When you choose to sponsor a child, you'll receive your child's photo, personal story and a Child Sponsorship Packet by mail in approximately 15 days. Help a child today who is anxiously waiting for a sponsor.
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Fed up of the lack of sun? In need of a holiday? Let ARKive transport you off to the wonderful islands of the Indian Ocean with our new topic page. From the coral reefs of the Maldives to the unique wildlife of Madagascar, the islands of the Indian Ocean boast a wide range of beautiful habitats and fascinating species. To get you started, here is a taster of a few of the unusual endemic species which call the islands of the Indian Ocean home.
A hedgehog? A shrew?
Madagascar, made popular by the hit DreamWorks film of the same name, is the fourth biggest island in the world and boasts a wide range of endemic species. The ring-tailed lemur, the fossa and the aye-aye are among the more well-known species which inhabit this island, but there are also many other less well known but interesting critters. An example of such a species is the lowland streaked tenrec, an insectivore which looks like a cross between a shrew and a hedgehog. It is not just the appearance of tenrecs which is unusual – they are also the only mammal to communicate using a technique called stridulation. Stridulation is when animals communicate by rubbing two body parts together. In the case of the tenrec, it produces a high-pitched ultrasound by rubbing together specialised quills on its back.
A tree that bleeds?
The most distinctive plant on Socotra, an island located in the north-western Indian Ocean, is probably the dragon's blood tree. This species gets its name from the dark red resin it naturally exudes, known as 'dragon's blood', a substance which has been highly prized since ancient times. This resin has been used to colour wool, decorate houses and pottery, and for many medicinal purposes.
From the brink of extinction
A bird from Mauritius which seemed to be following the same fate as the dodo was the Mauritius kestrel. However, a world-renowned conservation programme rescued it from the brink of extinction. Once widespread across Mauritius, by 1974 the population of this species only numbered six individuals, two of which were in captivity. An extremely successful reintroduction programme, supported by the Government of Mauritius, the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust International (now known as the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust), the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and the Peregrine Fund, led to a spectacular recovery, with the bird being downgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Pollinating bat
Endemic to the islands of Anjouan and Moheli in the Comoros archipelago, Livingstone's flying fox is one of the largest bats in existence, with an average wingspan of 1.4 m! This species does not use echolocation, but instead locates fruit with its well-developed vision and sense of smell. Due to the Livingstone's flying fox's diet of fruit and flowers, it plays an important role as a pollinator and seed dispersal agent.
Minute marvel
From one of the largest to one of the smallest, the Gardiner's tree frog is one of the tiniest frogs in the world, growing to a maximum length of only 11 mm. Endemic to the Seychelles, the nocturnal Gardiner's tree frog forages for small invertebrates at night. Unlike most frogs, which lay their eggs in water, this frog lays its eggs in small clumps on moist ground. The young then hatch from these eggs as fully formed froglets, not tadpoles.
If you want to find out more about the different islands these species inhabit, or if you just fancy a quick trip to paradise, don't forget to check out our Indian Ocean islands page.
Jemma Pealing, ARKive Researcher


text: IMG_9668 March 12, 2018 by Karen DeBeus Karen DeBeus Join me on my journey to clear the clutter as I am simply living...for Him! I am a homeschooling mom sharing about my faith, family, hobby-farm life, and Jesus. I am also an author and speaker and love sharing my journey with others- and I am all about keeping it real and authentic! Join me as I seek less of this world, and more of Jesus!


text: In the same time sculptor, painter, photographer, Radu Stefan Poleac is spreading his creation wings in varied expression on his artistic journey. He is an artist a little mysterious… Inventive and surprising, dreamy and idealistic. He begins his artistic journey in 2004 with drawings of objects and furniture design. He continues with a photography course and completes a good part of the cycle studies of painting under the direction of the professor Korneel Deville, at Belldenstorm, in Brussels – Belgium. The 3D structures, the light boxes, the installations, the videos and the theater sets have an important place in his visual art productions. In a constant process of inquiry and introspection, Radu Stefan approaches several creative techniques from acrylic to video, finding a balance between the artistic concept, estheticism and his own feelings. In his paintings he presents all kinds of celestial, oneiric or atmospheric compositions. The subjects gravitate between heaven and earth, among them being also found rounded shapes, sometimes similar to maritime landscapes. Along with them, the surrealism elements and the symbolic motifs evoke to the spectator the story of an inspired world from the future and invites him to reverie.His research recurrently concentrates on man, on man among his fellow men, and at a holistic level, on man in universe. Sometimes, in his works he uses even recycled materials where the transformation and the changing of the medium expression give rise to projects as "Life, one more" (with books) or as "The spirit of the mummies" (with old-fashioned electronic devices). He is engaged in different projects, becoming permanently an activ artist; he participates to numerous exhibitions, collaborates with different cultural actors from art galleries, banks and theatres. Another important collaboration in his formation was the one with the architects from CREARTE, which helped him to refine and outline his works. In 2008 he is already present at "Biennale d'art du C.U. Francité à Uccle" in Brussels; in 2010 his project "Life, one more" is retained and exhibited in a large contemporary art event in Brussels: "Nuit Blanche". In 2012, Radu Stefan takes part to an exhibition at MAMAC ("Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain"), in Liege. In 2008 and 2012, his works are selected for Summer of Photography, at BOZAR ("le Palais des Beaux Arts"), Brussels. One of his works is selected for the second stage of a prestigious art competition realized by the Belgian television Canvas Collection- RTBF. Moreover, his photo report ''Symfony of lights'' leads to an individual exhibition in collaboration with the Brussels Archives and the Toy Museum of Belgium, exhibition that will have important echoes in press. The appearance of some artists as Radu Stefan makes us think of their role and contribution to the enrichment of the contemporary art scene. His sensibility, his open creativity to all the kinds of poetic effects and spiritual fervor, take birth in the childhood garden… where it is reigning! Through "the blue night soul" of his approach, it can be seen almost always a glimer of light detaching... the inward stars.It can be said that his work reflects a form of autobiography. He works primarily in the artist's studio in Brussels, Belgium- Europe where he organized exhibitions and invites customers. Till the end of 2015 his works have been presented in more than fifty exhibitions and they can be found in private collections in Switzerland, Italy, France, Romania, Belgium. More info about his art work- www.radustefanpoleac.com, e-mail - firstname.lastname@example.com or youtube channel - Radu Stefan Poleac


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When it comes to offseason diet, we all face tough choices. Conventional wisdom says we can either cut consumption and calories or we can relax and accept the extra pounds as a luxury that winter affords us. Mark Bittman, noted author, speaker and columnist for the New York Times offers us a third option.
Bittman, author of Food Matters, A Guide to Conscious Eating, recently spoke about how to change diet to improve health, lose weight, reduce your carbon footprint, and even save money without cutting calories. Every triathlete should target these objectives during the offseason. His three rules are:
#1 Eat Fewer Animals
Reducing meat consumption will reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, the factory farming required to produce meat places incredible strains on our environment and water resources. The U.N. estimates that global livestock generate one-fifth of all greenhouse gases. Finally, the cost of meat is rising faster than the costs of fruits and vegetables.
More: Nutrition Basics for Life and Training
#2 Eat Far Less Junk Food
The more processed a food item is, the less nutritional value it has. A chicken breast or peanuts are great on their own, but the processing required to turn them into a McDonald's chicken nugget or a candy bar kills their nutritional value, rendering them calorie rich and nutritionally void.
#3 Eat More Plants
In contrast, fruits and vegetables carry, gram for gram, far more nutrients and contain less calories than foods in either of the other two categories. You can basically eat as much as you want without worrying about weight gain.
What's the biggest challenge you will face if you follow Bittman's directions? Maintaining "discipline, discipline, discipline," he told us. However, the author well understands the consumption needs of athletes in training. He completed the Mohawk-Hudson Marathon in November and the New York City Marathon in 2009. "I understand that you may wake up needing eggs and bacon for breakfast. [But there's] a difference between that and eating two cheeseburgers and fries," he said.
More: Why Do Athletes Gain Weight in Winter
For triathletes, avoiding weight gain over the winter through dietary change can create tremendous benefits for performance for the following year. Leading sports nutritionists believe that an athlete can safely lose a pound each week during active training. A typical participant may gain 6 to 10 pounds during the offseason period. Avoiding this weight increase could effectively give you a two-month head start on achieving the PR you want in 2011.
The long-term effects of a shift towards plants can have a tremendous impact on the environment. For a family that drives a car 12,000 miles a year, eliminating one meal a week with red meat and dairy is equivalent to driving 760 miles less a year. By totally eliminating red meat and dairy, the family would cut its emissions by 5,340 miles.
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Sochi Games have sold nearly 925K tickets
SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Organizers say that 924,802 tickets have been sold so far for the Sochi Games.
Officials for the Sochi Organizing Committee announced ticket figures on Tuesday. Dmitry Perlin, the head of Sochi's ticketing department, says 70-75 percent of the tickets sold have gone to Russians while Japan and Germany sold out their quotas.
Ticket prices start at just under $15 and go all the way up to nearly $1,500 for the best seats at the opening ceremony. Perlin says the average cost of a ticket for the Sochi Games is about $115.
Some were concerned that fears of terrorism, the expense of traveling to the resort town on the Black Sea and Russian bureaucracy would turn foreign fans away.
But Perlin says "sales are significantly above our expectations."


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Mayor's Office
For the eighth year, 21 SPORTS will carry all Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU) Prairie Wolves home football games this season on a tape-delayed basis. 21 SPORTS is part of the educational access channel on Time Warner Cable channel 21 in Lincoln. NWU games also will be available LIVE online at nwusports.com.
21 SPORTS will carry the following NWU football games:
Viewing times can be found at lincoln.ne.gov by clicking on the 5 CITY-TV logo. NWU games will air on 21 SPORTS the Saturdays of the game at 6:30 and 10 p.m., the Sundays following the games at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., as well as various other times throughout the week. Games also can be viewed through video-on-demand this year on the 21 SPORTS/NWU YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/21sportsnwu.
Jeff Motz will again call the play-by-play with Lucas Mohrman providing analysis.


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Baanboard.com will be unavailable on Saturday 26th of January from 12hrs until Sunday 27 of January at 18hrs (GMT+1) due to infrastructure upgrades.
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Required BAAN\Infor Tool Consultant..!!!
Experience -1 to 5.
Location - Pune ,Mumbai.
Interested Candidates can share your profile on email@example.com
Hi All,
Subject: About Business Process Modeller Flow Charts
Kindly let me know if the Process Modeller Flow Charts could be exported all together in the editable format to a folder or some where which could be later used.
Hi Sir,
Im Kathir, Need some assitant for Baan 5 Infor ERP LN BW Version 8.7 user manual.
Best Regards.
Flextronics (now Flex) is a Global Fortune 500 company with over $30 billion in sales, 220,000+ employees and tens of thousands of
Hello Gurus,
I am creating new company in BAAN V. This company is not copied and created from scratch
1. Create Table is executed.
2. Initialise Parameters - This session is taking longer than usual
3. COM Parameters - This session is not opening, its not even starting
4. I am unable to maintain the company master with my newly set up company, system gives error for 'Creditor identifier not defined'
5. Basically, I am not able to maintain company data and implementation components/COM Parameters - Without which it is impossible to create any data in this company.
Thanks to Help
I want to know Concept of EU in ERP LN in detail explaining how entities will be mapped & what will be its significance??
Appreciate your quick comments
Best Regards
I would like to ask you for your valuable opinion.
I want to create Costing for Cost item in system, Paralelly I would like to know what will happen if I am going to Inventorised or Not inventorised the cost item.
In which Scenario It will be good for me for putting cost for this Cost item.
If some body have doc Can you Please forward.
Best Regards
2014-03-04[12:32:43(UTC+00:00)]:E:ls: ******* S T A R T of Error message *
2014-03-04[12:32:43(UTC+00:00)]:E:ls: Log message called from /view/port.7
.3a.06/vobs/tt/servers/AUDIT/audit_dict.c: #667 keyword: CURR_SEQ_MISSING
2014-03-04[12:32:43(UTC+00:00)]:E:lso: Pid 13521 Uid 120 Euid 120 Gid 125 Egid 125 Pset mmmmmmg.COM:9204
2014-03-04[12:32:43(UTC+00:00)]:E:ls: ******* S T A R T of Error message *
2014-03-04[12:32:43(UTC+00:00)]:E:ls: Log message called from /view/port.7
.3a.06/vobs/tt/servers/AUDIT/audit_dict.c: #667 keyword: CURR_SEQ_MISSING
2014-03-04[12:32:43(UTC+00:00)]:E:lso: Pid 13521 Uid 120 Euid 120 Gid 125 Egid 125 Pset mmmmmmg.COM:9204
Hi Baan Folks,
Well I can declare that There is Bug in Baan V for Put away process.
Well I am facing one serious issue. After creating Receipt for a PO, Processing Put away, Quantity moves for Good Inspection, After clearing Inspection process.
System will insert a line as soon sa Quantity is approved, Here Item is LOt controlled, Up to Good Inspection I can see the same LOT which got generated during Receipt creation.
Even I can see same LOT after celaring Goods Inspection process too..But When doing Put Away from "Inspection to Bulk Location", There It misses this LOT & Inventroy gets corrupted.
It seems Put Away process doesn't considers any LOT, I have simulated this on Standard Baan V Environment.
I just want to know fron where It inserts record for table whinh215, After clearing Put Away process. Specially LOT inserting.
Appreciate your Quick reply.


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7 Design Ideas To Steal
[Photos: Thomas J. Story /Sunset]
Some of the design ideas to take into your own home are…
1) Adding a bold accent wall of color to create depth and tone in your space.
2) Consider using salvaged furniture to freshen up a space. One person's trash is another person's treasure.
3) Repurpose an object as home design, like a chemistry set, and add it to your home decor.
4) Place your design inspirations right there in front of you. Use a clothesline or an image board and place your future ideas, design inspirations and colorful imagery you find so you can spot it every day.
5) Show off your worldly treasures and remind yourself of the great adventures and trips you have taken.
6) Add color to your every day spaces in citrus tones to create whimsy and relaxation.
7) Add a clever installation to your space by, say, combining two things that wouldn't normally go together, like this "girly macho" accent.
Click here to check out the full article via Sunset, one of our favorite inspirational places to spot great design ideas.
Check out design ideas from Apartment Therapy:


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Thick and Creamy: How to Make Greek-Style Yogurt
We absolutely love that rich, thick Greek-style yogurt, especially for mid-afternoon snacks and quick desserts. Whether you use regular store-bought yogurt or make your own, it's ridiculously easy to turn it into Greek yogurt.
All you need is a strainer, a bowl, and some cheesecloth. Fold the cheesecloth a few times so it forms several layers and lay it inside the strainer. Set the strainer over the bowl. Pour the yogurt into the lined strainer.
Let this sit in your fridge for anywhere from a half an hour to overnight, depending on how thick you want the yogurt. After a few hours, our yogurt was thick enough to spread on toast like cream cheese.
The watery whey that collects in the bowl is useful too. It has a tangy flavor and is full of vitamins and minerals. We like to use whey in place of some of the water when we make bread. You can also add it to smoothies, sauces, and soups. If nothing else, pets love it!
A few last notes: From 1 1/2 cups of yogurt, we got about 1 cup of thick yogurt and 1 cup of whey. Instead of cheesecloth, you can use coffee filters or a clean men's handkerchief. You can also gather the sides of the cloth together and hang it from your faucet or a cupboard knob instead of setting it over the strainer.
How do you use Greek-style yogurt?
(Images: Emma Christensen)


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Some of you may recall my recent post about Naoyuki Tomomatsu's latest foray into the zombie genre, the appropriately entitled Rape Zombie: Lust of the Dead. Well, the premiere has come and gone, and while I was sadly unable to attend, I did manage to purchase the DVD (actually released the day before the theatrical showing) and give the film a proper viewing. How good can a film about undead creatures bent on violating the womenfolk of the world possibly be? I probably shouldn't answer that, but I will give you my thoughts and impressions of the latest attempt to send George A. Romero to an early grave. Let's get started, shall we?
The Story
Jumping right into the action, we see Kanae (Asami) going about her daily housework when she is suddenly assaulted by her abusive husband. While being raped, the television begins to broadcast news of mass rape incidents taking place across the city by unidentified assailants who seem to be no more than living corpses. The incidents prompt Kanae to fight back and kill her husband, and we are treated to a crazily edited sequence of news broadcasts as various authorities attempt to make sense of the chaos. It seems that radiation from space has somehow turned non-virgin men into zombified rape demons, whose only weakness is a certain part of their anatomy between their legs. What's worse, the women who are taken by these sex-crazed ghouls are killed almost instantly by the poisonous seed of their attackers. We soon meet up with former office lady Momoko (Saya Kobayashi) and nurse Nozomi (Arisu Ozawa) as they seek shelter in a Shinto shrine not far from Tokyo. In the shrine they meet up with Kanae and schoolgirl Tomoe (Yui Aikawa), who have decided to make a stand with a cache of assault rifles and explosives pilfered from an abandoned military jeep. The two pairs are initially leery of each other, but it isn't long before they come to an agreement and decide that mutual aid is in order. A romance blooms between wrist-cutting Momoko and the older-sister-type Nozomi, both of whom had traumatic experiences at the hands of men. Their sapphic interlude is punctuate by a new surprise: the head of the shrine has been there the whole time, but it seems that his otaku lifestyle and unbroken virginity have somehow protected him from the zombie plague, and he soon proves (somewhat dubiously) useful by providing changes of clothing for Momoko and Kanae, who take on the costumes of a maid and a shrine maiden, respectively. All is not well, however, as North Korea blames Japan for the disaster and declares war, and it isn't long though before the hordes of decaying deviants are knocking at the door. Everything ends in an explosively confusing yet original conclusion that you'll have to see for yourself!
Something that keeps this film from being completely unwatchable is the enthusiasm of the four main actresses, and also the surprisingly well-thought-out televised commentaries that appear interspersed throughout as the four women watch the unfolding situation via PC. The speakers are delightfully ridiculous and over the top (including an outspoken pundit with an eyepatch as a nod to Dawn of the Dead), and the twisted yet strangely convincing explanation of the rape zombie phenomenon as a natural step in the evolution of mankind and the Earth itself is certainly proof that some effort was made to create a unique contribution to the zombie genre. The whole premise is also tied in (albeit shakily) with the Japanese mythology of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and together with the satire of Japan's modern culture make this a uniquely Japanese take on the undead. One of the funniest moments may be when a group of women are watching a North Korean missile soar through the skies toward Tokyo. Rather than screaming or running for cover, they all pull out their cell phones and begin taking photos. As a person living in Japan, I can honestly say that this also may have been one of the most realistic moments in the entire film.
The Bad
As low-budget zombie flicks go, this one certainly suffers a bit. A lot of handheld cameras and uninteresting angles are to be expected from a director who is known for his adult videos, but when it comes to those sequences Tomomatsu certainly does shine, and he even manages to get some decent action scenes with Asami fighting off the zombies as well. However, while the CG is used sparingly and to relatively good effect, the prosthetics and practical effects are sub-par at best, and sometimes just downright painful. That said, the effects aren't really distracting as the characters really drive the story forward, and the film is paced well enough to keep up the audience's interest in what is happening.
Trading in their traditional shambling gait in favor of the undignified waddle of a man with his pants around his ankles, Tomomatsu's ghouls have about as much realism as they do regard for mutual consent during intercourse. The general makeup effects look like something from a cheap Halloween store, while the poorly fitted latex masks appear to be leftovers from Helldriver's scrap bin. Again, one can also choose to look at these shortcomings as a part of the film's charm and, as mentioned above, the effects aren't significantly distracting, especially since the camera is less concerned with showcasing the zombies than it is in getting as many breast shots as possible. Is this something to complain about? I'll leave you to decide. But the answer is no.
And so, in conclusion I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Rape Zombie: Lust of the Dead. While I expected a one-trick zombie, I found a unique little film that actually has a fair amount going for it in terms of social satire and comedy. It's a fun little romp through a perverted post-apocalypse world that only Japan could bring us, and so if you have the chance, grab your libation of choice and sit back for what might just be the guilty pleasure of the year!


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Any excuse to get some early-80s Prince in there.
For some reason I just feel like picking a fight. Not really a fight, necessarily, but just… why not stir up some trouble?
I am itching to discuss some things that normally don't get enough airtime as far as I'm concerned.
Shall we talk?
1) Cheating on spouses. Does this happen more in Italy, or is it just that I hear about it more and people are more open about it? I know of a number of couples who more or less everyone knows that they have a lil' sumpin-sumpin on the side, and yet, no one ever speaks about it openly and at the same time it's accepted. It seems like it's a practice here in Italy for couples to "stay together for the kiddos" and then pursue their own extra curricular activities on the side. There's this phenomenon here called "separati dentro casa," basically "separated but still under the same roof," in which couples are either informally or even legally separated, and yet they continue to live in the same house but pursue their own separate lives on the side. I'm not judging. But I don't get it and I guess I'm kind of fascinated by it, because it all seems to be more accepted here in Italy than it would be back where I come from. And I know personally several couples (one or both of the people in the various couples Italian), who are divorced because their ex-spouses cheated on them—blatantly, savagely—leaving photos or other memorabilia lying around to be discovered. Not to say Italians cheat more. But maybe they accept it more? They admit it more? They own up to it more? I don't know. One of my American friends said to me, "It's a cultural thing. Italians are more open about cheating." But are they really?
2) Whatever happened to last summer's diet fad, that scary FEEDING TUBE DIET? Oh my goooodness people don't even get me started. Wanna stir up some controversy? Throw weight around as a topic (no pun intended), add in this strange way of losing it, and you've got the perfect start. So here in Rome there was this "diet" called the "sondino nasale" which was really big a while back and then suddenly seemed to disappear. Basically you'd see people walking around with feeding tubes coming out of their noses, attached to a little bag that they carry with them, that provides them their liquid diet. One dude I saw even had a Louis Vuitton bag for his "liquid" and no I'm not kidding. I don't know exactly how it works but I think you do the liquid thing/tube thing for a month. People who swear by it say it's above-board because you have to go to a DOCTOR to have the procedure done. Well no s(%$# Sherlock! Normally feeding tubes are used for hospital patients who can't swallow food! For the love! Help me out here.
You think I'm making this up? I am not! At 2:13 the video says "Now the patient can happily start his NEP treatment which will allow him to lose about 10 kilos (22 pounds) in 10 days" Not for the weak-stomached. Literally.
3) We could talk about the old standbys of half-nekkid women on TV or women's body image in Italian media or how you have to pay people off to get jobs or how every woman on TV and politics has supposedly slept her way to the top… but is that controversial, really? I'm thinking no. Not in the post-Berlusconi era.
4) Why is George Clooney in so many ads around here but none back in the States? Guess that year-round staff up at the villa in Lago di Como doesn't come cheap.
Imagine, you can.
And while we're on the topic, poor Elisabetta Canalis. I follow her on Twitter and I really do love her. She was the first I ever knew of veline, back when I moved here in 2001. The other day she posted a picture of herself, by herself, in a skimpy bikini on a pier in Santa Monica after lunch. (Do you think she ate at the Bubba Gump restaurant she's posing in front of?) Another time she tweeted about how a chocolate bunny she had managed to eat just a bit of was taunting her from the refrigerator but she couldn't eat it for fear of gaining weight. I remember watching her on Contro Campo and feeling uncomfortable as she burst into tears because she'd regularly get pummelled verbally and treated like an idiot, and the camera would pan up from her legs or down from her cleavage, and how she would try to defend herself while looking like a poor deer caught in the headlights. I just wanted to give that girl a big bear hug, cover her with a huge blanket, and tell her everything was going to be all right in the end–and that even if she was dating soccer player Christian Vieri, a guy known affectionately as "Bobo," (who in fact ended up fat and on Dancing with the Stars 8), that she'd eventually move on to bigger and better. And now she'll be forever known as Clooney's ex. God bless her. Maybe she'll start designing purses like Monica Lewinsky did.
Hey! Wanna see something really excruciating? Watch this video of Gianni Morandi interviewing Robert De Niro while Canalis translates into English.
Oh hell, let's just admit it: nothing in Italy is really controversial, after all. There are almost no taboo topics here. You can argue about politics, sex, religion, bribery, and infidelity, all before the appetizer, and once the pizza arrives everyone is toasting and it's all good times again.
Italy: have I told you, lately, that I love you? Have I told you, there's no one else, above you? Sing it, Rod!