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Intermatic T104M201 Mechanical Pool Pump Timer Review
This Intermatic mechanical pool pump timer offers coordinated control for the heater and the filter pump operations. It's designed such that it turns off gas fire pool heaters approximately 20 mins before the filter pumps shut down. This basically eliminates the issue of knocking and pounding because of overheated water hence reducing scale and the lime deposits and also extends the life of your heater. It has a 24 hour dial which allows 12 Off/On operations every day.
There is a set of Off and On trippers which is supplied with every switch. The Intermatic T104M201 24 Hour Mechanical Timer with Heat Protection DPST can be easily installed in nearly all Intermatic enclosures.
Product Description
Only the Intermatic 104M201 has the mechanism which is offers the best time switch giving you coordinated control over the filter pump operations. The T104M201 gets rid of problems which are caused by over heated water, thus reducing scale and lime deposits which in turn extending the lifespan of your heater.
The T104M201 also features a 24 hour analog dial which allows about 12 On and Off functions for your daily operations. A single set of On/Off trippers is supplied with every switch and it requires minimum of 1 hour. The unit is purely mechanism and it require a proper enclosure for application. It comes with with a one year manufacturer's warranty.
Click Here to Read Detailed Reviews, View Ratings & Specifications and Check Prices on Amazon
The Intermatic mechanical pool pump timer is one the highest quality of all pool pump timers and most users who have used this unit have rated it very highly. The unit comes in a most perfect condition which has no damages whatsoever thanks to the carefully done shipping. It may be utilized for longest period of time and most of the people who have bought this unit say they have been using it for many years.
This basically means it has great value for your money since it will serve the spas and pool for many years to come after you buy it. This mechanical pool pump timer provides well coordinated control for filter pump and heater operations. It's designed to effectively turn off gas fired pool heaters about 20 minutes before your filter pump(s) shuts down.
It has excellent performance as it eliminates the issue of knocking and pounding which is caused by overheated water. It also reduces the scale and the lime deposits which helps in extending the general service life of your heater. This mechanical pool pump timer has a 24 hour dial which gives up to 12 Off and On operations each day.
A single set of the Off and On trippers is usually supplied with each single switch. The unit is mechanism only and it does require a proper enclosure for the application. All this provides for excellent performance.
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The Intermatic T104M201 24 Hour Mechanical Timer with Heat Protection DPST is priced at an average of $102.43. The price is normally inclusive of shipping charges which means you only have to relax, kick back and wait for your unit to arrive at your very doorstep without having to pay an extra penny.
Generally, the Intermatic T104M201 24 Hour Mechanical Timer with Heat Protection DPST has been rated highly by all those who have used it and many of them have recommended it to their friends. If you want a well coordinated control for your heater and filter pump operations, this unit is your best bet.


text: Red Fox Report post Posted May 21, 2007 I started reading A Game of Thrones last week and am now just over half way through, which considering the size of this book is something for me. I have probably enjoyed this book more than any other fantasy that I have read in many a long year. It is a huge epic world, with excellent (pretty evil!) characters and some great plot lines and intrigue so far. This is the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series and my only concern in starting to read it is that GRR Martin hasn't actually finished writing them all yet, but from the starts of things here the journey will be well worth it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites

subset: commoncrawl


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by David Peterson
Part One:
We all know how boring it is to practise, but there isn't a martial artist alive who could deny the importance of acquiring good footwork. Regardless of how fast or powerful your punches and kicks might be, without a delivery system, no striking technique is of any use at all if it can't reach the target. Even more crucial is the need to be able to avoid an opponent's attack, while still remaining in an advantageous position, hence footwork, no matter how tedious, is a skill that needs to be drilled constantly, ...and properly!
Not only does footwork require constant drilling to perfect, it must be structurally sound and based on logical principles in order to be effective under real conditions. While much of the footwork patterns practised in many martial arts may work within the relative safety of the kwoon, or in competition or pre-arranged demonstrations, when it comes to the "real thing", sadly many methods of footwork fail to deliver the goods. The footwork of the wing chun gung fu system, stands up to the demands of real combat.
What makes this brand of footwork so effective? In simple terms, it is the fact that it adheres to the three most basic principles of the wing chun system, namely that it is SIMPLE, DIRECT and EFFICIENT. It is simple because wing chun footwork is based entirely on just one stance, yi ji kim yeung ma, generally referred to as the "goat stance", and variations to this stance are derived naturally as a result of the structure of this basic position. It is direct because it advocates always utilising the shortest distance between defender and attacker(s) without superfluous motion or posturing.
Finally, it is efficient because it prescribes small changes in position so as to maintain close proximity to the assailant (the preferred wing chun fighting range, and the range most often encountered on the street), thus maximising the control one has over their opponent and reducing the time available to the opponent for attempting a counter measure. It is also efficient because it provides a strong base from which maximum power can be generated with minimal effort, without compromising the balance or integrity of the stance, thus making sudden changes to the situation easier to respond to in a very natural way.
When categorising the various forms that footwork takes within the system, it can be said that all wing chun footwork, as stated earlier, is derived from the basic "goat stance", and that there are but five footwork options. The best way to come to an understanding of how the footwork is actually applied in combat is to take each of these five options in order and break them down, defining their practice and usage. To begin, we must firstly take a look at the "goat stance" so as to appreciate its structure and its underlying influence on wing chun footwork overall.
The Cantonese name of the basic stance is yi ji kim yeung ma, which describes very accurately how the stance should look and, to a lesser extent, feel like when it is being employed. It is the stance from which all three empty hand forms of the system are practised, most evident in the performance of the first form, siu nim tau ("young idea"), where the entire form is practised while in this one basic position. If the name is broken down into two parts, it is easier to understand what it is telling us in terms of how the stance should appear.
The expression yi ji means "the character for the number two" and this describes the correct position of the feet. With the toes turned inwards in the classic "pigeon-toed" position, a line drawn between the toes of both feet would represent the shorter, top stroke of the character, while a line drawn between the two heels would represent the longer, bottom stroke of the character. The other half of the name, kim yeung ma, translates as "goat-gripping stance" and is meant to conjure up the image of a person bending their knees inwards and forwards so as to squeeze a goat (or sheep, etc) to prevent it from getting free.
When formed correctly, you have a stance that is balanced, favouring neither leg over the other, and a stance that is actually training both back legs (and both front legs as well!) of the 'triangular advancing stance' (saam gok ma) at the same time. That is to say, the angle of both feet is the same as any one foot would be positioned if you were to move forwards or backwards in the left or right side stance. The "goat stance" is also deliberately unstable, such that as soon as a force is applied to it, there is a natural tendency to collapse into a better position, hence the practitioner learns to not try to stand like a brick wall, meeting the opponent's force head on, but to use that energy to form a more favourable position, but more on that shortly.
Creating a stance for advancing and/or retreating can then be created by turning to the right or left, using the heels as the pivot-point. Movement can now be achieved by stepping a few inches forward with the front foot (which should leave the ground, not slide), after which the body is propelled forwards by virtue of the angle of the hips (backside tucked in) which causes the back foot to drive the body in the same direction as the forward leg. This action very much resembles the action of a rear-wheel drive car, whereby the front wheels steer while the back wheels provide the energy to drive the car. The back foot should be (as much as is possible) in total contact with the ground throughout this action. To step backwards, the process is done in reverse, with the rear foot stepping and the front foot sliding, however, the posture remains the same and the balance remains over the rear leg.
The method described above helps to understand the connection between the "goat stance" (yi ji kim yeung ma) and the 'triangular advancing stance' (or saam gok ma), but it does not represent the most practical way of applying it, only the best way of learning, training and absorbing it into the neural system. As far as combat application is concerned, it is important to be able to advance or retreat as directly as possible from a completely neutral position and this is achieved, in training, by firstly forming the basic stance and visualising a line running between the feet, dividing the stance down the centre.
Moving in either the forward or backward direction is then done by moving (whichever is to be) the lead leg directly to that line (either to the front or rear), followed immediately by the other foot. There should be no unnecessary motion associated with this, such as bringing the feet together first or making circular patterns, simply moving as directly and as naturally as possible to the central line as described. This then represents the first two of the five options: (1) advancing forwards (seung ma), and (2) stepping backwards (hau ma), both possible from either a neutral or already committed stance. Seung ma is used for attack, close-range pursuit, and as the best means of intercepting a circular attack, whilst hau ma, whilst not the best choice in response to an in-coming attack, may be required as an initial response before a more effective option can be applied.
In accord with earlier remarks, it is important to now consider what, for the majority of situations, may well be the more likely requirement, which is the use of defensive footwork. This is the area in which the wing chun method excels, and for want of a better term in English, it will be referred to here as the technique of "side-stepping" (the Cantonese term
being tui ma, or "pushed step", but more on that later). At the basic level, "side-stepping" is mechanically exactly the same as the footwork previously described, that is, it is the "goat stance" modified to form the 'triangular advancing stance', but with the direction and angle of movement altered to meet the specific needs of the situation.
These are that:
(a) one must move in such a way as to avoid meeting the force of the attack head on, but;
(b) still be close enough to launch an effective counter-attack. Not only that, but to be able to achieve this as a set of simultaneous motions, catching the attacker off-balance and totally committed to their own attack, hence at the mercy of the defender who is then able to reverse the situation with relative ease.
To understand and develop this skill, one must first imagine themselves as standing in the centre of a giant clock face, facing the twelve o'clock position. The attacker is then visualised as moving from the twelve o'clock position towards the six o'clock position, taking you with them if you remain standing in the centre. It must be remembered here that it does not matter what form of attack that the enemy may be launching (hands or feet, straight or round), the fact is that he or she is bound by the laws of nature, such that the central mass of their body must move in a straight line (only Peking Opera performers attack by running in winding lines!) For this reason it is imperative that one always faces the line of the attack (ie. the body of the attacker) so as to maximise the effect of the counter strikes to be delivered.
Thus, turning side on to the attack, or turning away from the attack will only result in reducing the chances of seeing it coming, let alone dealing with it. Obviously, moving back in a straight line only delays the inevitable (you will still get run down!), likewise jumping straight out to the left or the right is risky because the likelihood of still getting hit, at least partially, is still there, not to mention the fact that the opponent can realign his/her attack before you can due to the extended angle created by such lateral movement.
The wing chun response then? Go with the attack, moving both backwards and slightly sideways, at either an angle of five o'clock or seven o'clock from the centre of the "clock", turning the hips and body back inwards towards the attacker. A simple way to define what is involved is as follows: the right foot always moves to the right side (five o'clock); the left foot always moves to the left side (seven o'clock). This enables the defender to face the attacker so as to be able to control and attack with both hands simultaneously, quite literally drawing them into to the trap that has been set by the footwork, while all the while maintaining balance and integrity of stance.
(Continued next issue...)
Editors note: This article was originally published in Wing Chun Illustrated magazine, Issues 8 (2013)


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by James Hutt
As Nova Scotia is forcing low income seniors to pay more for drugs and the province's largest hospital is literally swimming in rodents and disease, tax payers are being asked to cough up $100 million to pay off one of the largest oil companies on the planet.
The CBC has revealed that the Nova Scotia government owes an additional $98 million to multinational oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil and its partners. The money will be refunded from royalties earned by the province for Canada's first offshore natural gas project –the Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP).
Meanwhile, Atlantic Canada's only tertiary level hospital, the Victoria General Hospital, is falling apart and patients live in "nightmarish conditions." The 67 year old hospital's state became a crisis last September when one of the buildings flooded and cancelled 106 surgeries and forced the relocation of 50 patients.
But the hospital has been plagued with problems for decades. Tests found Legionnaire's disease found in the facility in the early 80's and it remained untreated until the death of a patient in 2005. It flooded previously in 2012 and again in 2013. In 2015, the Health Authority closed two floors due to bed bug infestations and cancelled operations when surgical instruments were contaminated with airborne debris.
Governments from all parties passed down the problem to their successors until it became impossible to ignore the mould and weird substances smeared all over nightstands. Yet, the government has only earmarked $1.5 million for planning the replacement of the VG hospital. In contrast, the Liberals have budgeted $56.4 million to help build the new Halifax Convention Centre.
Sable Offshore Energy Project
Even more striking, is the tab the province owes for the Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP) decommissioning. While the province refuses to make public just how much taxpayers are on the hook for, it has said that is responsible for the "vast majority" of the abandonment costs.
SOEP, located just off the National Park Reserve of Sable Island and 225km off of the coast of Nova Scotia, has been producing natural gas since 1999.
At the time, SOEP was projected to have a lifespan of 25 years, while SOEP partners promised new discoveries could extend that project life. For the first 5 years, SOEP produced between 400 and 500 million cubic feet a day. Soon after, production declined and the project struggled to operate at full capacity.
By the fall of 2012, production had fallen to 60 percent, to 200 million cubic feet per day. By 2013, Exxon Mobil had issued a tender to hire a company to plug and cap several of the project's 21 wells.
Now, Exxon Mobil and its partners expect to start decommissioning the Sable project in 2017.
Almost all of the gas produced over the 17 years has been exported to New England. In return, Nova Scotia has earned $1.9 billion in royalties.
According to the private 1997 agreement between the province and SOEP partners, a large portion of the cost of decommissioning the massive offshore project will be subtracted from the royalties the province has already collected.
In January, the National Energy Board forced Exxon Mobil to disclose that $42 million has been allotted for abandoning the onshore Goldsboro gas plant, the project's processing facility. Decommissioning and abandoning the marine facilities is expected to be much more expensive.
Now, due to an unexpected increase in estimating abandonment costs by Exxon Mobil, the province's share of that bill jumped by $98 million. So whatever the undisclosed portion taxpayers are on the hook for, the price tag just became much more expensive and it could continue to grow.
The Department of Finance says it has been allocating funds over the past couple years for the projects decommissioning and will continue to do so.
The Liberal government has admitted that there is no clear deadline for when a decision will be made about replacing the aging hospital. The only option the Liberal government seems to be considering is privatizing health services and facilities by rebuilding it as a private public partnership (P3).
Nova Scotia's experience with P3s includes a number of P3 schools, which have been plagued by cost overruns, delays and issues surrounding community control of the schools. In health care, P3's hospitals have been a disaster, consistently running over budget and time, and often providing less services than promised.
The 1997 agreement precludes the current Liberal government, but it speaks to a culture that pervades all political parties in the province. The message is clear: Nova Scotia has plenty of room in its budget to bail out corporations, but none to keep patients in hospitals — or even above water.


text: LIVE YOUR PASSION! Established motorcycle sales and service shop located in Southwestern Ontario, on one of the provinces most traveled highways. Specializing in sales of pre-owned Harley Davidson motorcycles, this premier shop also offers a full range of services including parts, service, and merchandise. This is an ideal opening for an owner operator or a couple looking for a lifestyle business opportunity. The owner, who is looking to retire, will provide training and remain involved for a pre-agreed period of time to ensure a smooth transition and continued client/supplier relationships.


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BBC payments to MP Diane Abbott 'breached guidelines'
The BBC Trust has ruled that Labour MP Diane Abbott should not have been paid appearance fees by political discussion show This Week for the past two years.
The fees paid to Ms Abbott, a regular guest with ex-Tory MP Michael Portillo and presenter Andrew Neil, should have stopped when she became a frontbencher.
The BBC claimed rules banning payments to MPs representing their parties did not apply as This Week was not a "normal" political show.
But this was rejected by the Trust.
The Trust also ruled the MP's appearances had been "too frequent" since she became a shadow minister.
In January Ulster Unionist peer Lord Laird complained that Ms Abbott had received five payments of £839 and one of £869 for appearances on This Week since she was promoted to the Labour front bench in 2010.
The BBC's editorial guidelines state that MPs should not be paid for appearances where they are "speaking as a member of their party or expressing political views".
The guidelines allow for the payment of a realistic "disturbance fee" to cover the time and inconvenience involved in appearing in a broadcast but Lord Laird argued that the payments to Ms Abbott went beyond this.
BBC director general Mark Thompson responded to the peer in February, passing on the views of This Week's producers.
They said that while the guidelines state that they should not normally pay MPs to appear, This Week was "not a traditional political programme".
They argued that, although Diane Abbott and Michael Portillo were asked to express political opinions, they also have a co-presenter role, interviewing other guests.
Lord Laird complained again that the producers were being allowed "to flout the BBC's own editorial policy" expressing surprise at their assertion that This Week was "not a normal political programme".
The Trust's Editorial Standards Committee ruled that payments to Ms Abbott totalling £6,712 - recorded in the MPs' Register of Financial Interests - constituted a breach of the guidelines.
Ms Abbott, who is MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, was a regular presenter of This Week until 2010, when she ran for the Labour leadership in the contest won by Ed Miliband.
During the leadership campaign she was replaced on the programme by other Labour politicians including Caroline Flint and Charles Clarke.
The new Labour leader appointed her to the front bench as shadow public health minister.
At the time she tweeted: "No more 'This Week'. BBC management say I cannot be a shadow minister and be on the program (sic). Sad."
Her role was filled by other well-known Labour MPs including former home secretary Alan Johnson, but the BBC Trust recorded a total of eight subsequent appearances by Ms Abbott since she joined Ed Miliband's front bench team.
A spokeswoman for BBC News said that they "note the findings" of the Trust.


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Zero to 100 or 100 to Zero…Which is More Enjoyable?
Effective braking is the most important safety feature of your car. Furthermore, it is especially important to have the correct type of brake pads and rotors on your car. These braking components should be matched with the performance capabilities of your car. The evolution of technology in the automotive industry has brought on many advancements in the braking systems for cars. The progression from the original hand pull brake used in the horse and wagon days to disc brakes, ABS (anit-lock Brake systems), traction control, and directional vented rotors are all used today.
Motorsport derived performance upgrades, increase the need for a higher performing brake system. One very important and often times overlooked piece to performance upgrades is brakes. As you upgrade the performance of your car and give it power, it is essential that you equal out the power with more powerful brakes. The faster that your car can accelerate, the faster you will need to stop. Stock brakes that come from the factory on your car, are not able to handle or keep up with the speed of an enhanced car.
brake kits are an upgrade to stock brakes and provide higher performance when stopping a car. The larger rotors in big brake kits have increased air flow which results in higher heat capacity. They also offer stiffer calipers and stainless steel lines which provide a consistent pedal feel. Overall the big brake kits offer shorter stopping distance with a firmer pedal feel.
If you plan on taking your car to the race track, another option to consider would be a brake flush with a higher temperature brake fluid. Traditional brake fluids have a low boiling point. Boiling brake fluid can cause the pedal to be spongy and have brake fade. Race brake fluid has a higher boiling point and will offer better performance on the track.
3zero3 Motorsports is able to do brake services on any type of car with any type brake systems. Our team can help you access what brakes fit your needs best. Call 303-456-8383 or consult with a team member to schedule a brake service or to.


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Department of Military Science
The ROTC program comprises coursework and labs in military science, physical training and field training.
Military science classes aim to develop your mind, to teach you about the contemporary operating environment, and to prepare you to lead troops in different missions and operations. The first two years of ROTC focus on principles of officership, and they are free of obligation and open to all students. The final two years include a commitment to military commission.
Cadets receive hands-on technical and tactical training from active duty and reserve military personnel in addition to academic coursework. Such training includes leadership, military principles, military doctrine, land navigation, squad and patrolling tactics, orienteering, fieldcraft, team-building, drill, and ceremony.
Physical training (PT) trains officers to be physically, mentally and emotionally fit. PT usually includes a workout, including pushups, sit-ups, running, team and individual competitions and other physical activity.
There's also a minor in military science, which is open to all students.
Sample Courses
MLSC 101. Leadership and Personal Development
Introduces students to issues and competencies that are central to a commissioned officer's responsibilities. Establish framework for understanding officership, leadership and Army values followed and "life skills" such as physical fitness and time management. This course is designed to support recruiting and retention of cadets by giving them accurate insight into the army profession and the officer's role within the Army.
MLSC 202. Foundations of Tactical Leadership
Examines the challenges of leading tactical teams in the complex contemporary operating environment (COE). This course highlights dimensions of terrain analysis, patrolling and operation orders. Continued study of the theoretical basis of the Army leadership framework explores the dynamics of adaptive leadership in the context of military operations. Cadets develop greater self awareness as they assess their own leadership styles and practice communication and team building skills. COE case studies give insight into the importance and practice of teamwork and tactics in real-world scenarios.
MLSC 401. Developing Adaptive Leaders
Develops student proficiency in planning, executing and assessing complex operations, functioning as a member of a staff, and providing performance feedback to subordinates. You are given situational opportunities to assess risk, make ethical decisions and lead fellow ROTC cadets. Lessons on military justice and personnel processes prepare you to make the transition to becoming Army officer. Both your classroom and battalion leadership experiences are designed to prepare you for your first unit of assignment. You will identify responsibilities of key staff, coordinate staff roles and use battalion operations situations to teach, train and develop subordinates.
MLSC 402. Leadership in a Complex World
Explores the dynamics of leading in the complex situations of current military operations in the contemporary operating environment. You will examine differences in customs and courtesies, military law, principles of war and rules of engagement in the face of international terrorism. You also explore aspects of interacting with non-government organizations, civilians on the battlefield and host-nation support. The course places significant emphasis on preparing you for your first unit of assignment. It uses case studies, scenarios, and "What Now, Lieutenant?" exercises to prepare you to face the complex ethical and practical demands of leading as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.


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Assets for Sale
Items For Sale
Fair to Good Condition-can be seen by calling 616.878.6496.
Bids due by January 4, 2018, at 1:00 pm.
Minimum Bid $2,000 for the lot -- As Is -- All Sales are Final. A Certified Check to Byron Center Public Schools.
S/C High Volt Fuses
Miller 295 Amp A.C. Arcwelders
Four (4) Square D Fusway Disconnects and Amps Similar to one below:


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Today is the Funlavin 10k! I'm up bright and early because a) I'm always up bright and early cos I'm one of those super-morning-people that irritates everyone and b) I wanted to jump-start my hydration for what looks like being a fairly hot day.
I woke up to this beautiful morning at 6.30am...
(Yep, my window is tiny. I have an attic room and this one is on the wall just below the slanted roof so there's not much space.)
This cutie spent last night on my bed.
So I thought I'd share my Race Morning Prep with you guys. This is generally what I do on race morning - not too complicated since I usually don't need to travel for races, I'm either at my house in the city or at my parents' house, which makes it much easier.
- Up early and start hydrating - I try to drink at least half a litre of water between waking up and an hour before the race.
- Eat a carby, very simple breakfast (today will be a wholemeal bagel with a little bit of cream cheese) about 90 minutes before. I'm pretty strict on time - I've got no qualms about wrapping my bagel/toast in some tinfoil and eating it on the bus / in the car / while walking down the street.
- Put on my race kit, which usually consists of Nike tempo shorts, Penneys sports bra (they fit me really nicely), some sort of loose cotton t-shirt, socks, Mizuno Wave Inspire 9s, iPod armband and my Garmin. Tie up my hair into something resembling a neat ponytail.
- Prep my race day bag - usually contains the water bottle I'll run with, a recovery drink for afterwards (today I'm bringing some flavoured coconut water), post-race snack, a hoodie in case I get chilly afterwards, blister plasters, regular plasters, hayfever meds just in case, purse, phone, and any registration stuff I need.
That's the plan for today too. Hopefully everything goes well and I have good things to report!


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25 Wharf Street
Port Douglas, QLD 4877
Get Directions →
Step Back in time and visit the Port Douglas Court House Museum.
Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm. Admission only $2 . This museum is staffed by volunteer attendants. Please pop in and feel free to chat to our knowledgeable staff.
This timber building was constructed on the police reserve adjacent to the waterfront at Port Douglas in 1879. It is identified as the second oldest surviving timber court house to be commissioned by the Queensland Government. The design typifies the simple architecture which was applied, not only to regional court houses, but to other public use buildings as well.


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I've been meaning to write more about my floral class at Red Rose and Lavender but time has escaped me.
If anyone recalls, I had mentioned I was taking two floral classes. The first was to be on French arrangements. I hadn't a clue what that meant but it sounded lovely. Well, I was a bit surprised when I showed up at my first class and on the table was a small vase that resembled concrete. Like sidewalk concrete! But it gets better. Peeking out of the concrete was one flower. One single flower people?! Now, I'm not one for confrontation so I just stood there and thought – WTF? I mean, did I just pay money to learn how to put one flower in a vase? As much as I wanted to say something I just smiled and made small talk. All the while I had to wonder if there was some way I could get my money back. Again, come on, a vase with one flower peeking out? But stay with me and keep reading.
Eventually the class starts and that's when the teacher explains that today's class has been changed and we would now be learning the art form of Ikebana. A lot of information was given to us and then the single flower on the table began to take shape into something else. It would be too hard for me to explain the art of Ikebana arranging so here is a small informational from Zen Images:
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, originated during the 6th century in Japan with the introduction of Buddhism from China. It was the custom to place floral offerings in front of altars to honor the Buddha and the souls of the dead. Over time, these floral offerings evolved into floral arrangements designed to express the harmony between man and nature and between spirit and matter. By the 13th century, the practice of Ikebana became a form of meditation for Zen Buddhist priests. In 1927, a radical new approach to Ikebana was launched by Sofu Teshigahara, the late founder of the Sogetsu School. Teshigahara broke with rigid classical rules and emphasized the artist's freedom of expression. He said, "Ikebana is not just about sticking a flower into a vase: it is about the love and need of the artist to create beautiful forms."
It ended up being a really wonderful class. I think it was the perfect first class for me and as someone who greatly appreciates art I found Ikebana to have a similar attraction. Hard to explain but in Ikebana a lot of focus is placed on the look of a stem or the movement of a branch. It's truly beautiful. And if you are into Asian Minimalist I think you'll love this style. It's simple and graceful. And it requires a lot of thought and patience.
I pulled these images from this blog dedicated to Ikebana arrangements so show you how the masters do it.
Now my Ikebana arrangment didn't look anything like those. 🙂 It ended up being a branch with a few ranunculus sticking out of a concrete vase but I loved it and I think it looked pretty nice. Here is the only image I have from that arrangment. You can see a bit of the concrete vase at the bottom that I used. I was smitten over the concept of this beautiful flower with this unique stem popping up of something so sleep and almost cold.
The second class was lovely as well. We focused on Low and Lush flower designs. I was so proud of my final arrangment. I loved everything about it.. the colors, my flower choices, the texture of the different items. I know I've already posted an image of my arrangement but here go some additional shots that I took. I used mostly ranunculus, which I've loved since seeing my first arrangement with this flower in Martha Stewart Weddings.
Aren't those colors amazing! I had so much fun taking these classes and meeting some great girls. It makes me realize I need to be doing more. As full as my life is, there is room for me to keep learning new things.
Tags: classes, flower arrangments, flower classes, flowers, ikebana


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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is set to visit Russia in his first trip abroad since taking power three years ago.
[caption id="attachment_3494" align="alignnone" width="400"] Jong-un[/caption]
Russia has invited many world leaders to celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, which will include a parade on Red Square. If Jong-un accepts, as seems increasingly likely, it will give the world an unprecedented look at a man who, while revered at the centre of an intense cult of personality at home, is one of the biggest mysteries in international politics.
Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Affairs Adviser to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, he said the Kremlin had received the "first signals from Pyongyang" that the North Korean leader is planning to attend the 9 May festivities, according to Dailymail.co.uk.
While North Korea has not officially commented on the invitation, South Korean media has quoted anonymous sources saying that Jong-un is likely to accept.


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DDR3 SDRAM, which upholds the next generation main memory standard, can transfer data twice as fast as the current generation DRAM. Hynix's DDR3 SDRAM boasts high performance and low power consumption. It supports data transfer rate up to 1.6Gb/s and operate at a voltage as low as 1.5V comparable to DDR2 which a previous version of DDR3. Hynix now offers high performance DDR3 in 1Gb and 2Gb densities and is also ready to launch 4Gb in near future. Hynix's DDR3 also featuring functions such as 2Q calibrations, fly-by topology, dynamic on-die-termination and write levelization to ensure signal integrity and thus higher performance.
Hynix has always been at the leading edge of memory innovation.
Hynix is currently supplying 54nm 1Gb/2Gb DDR3 and developing 46nm 1Gb/2Gb DDR3.
Hynix offers DDR3 Registered DIMMs which provide higher memory density, speed and memory bandwidth, and reliability for high performance servers.
Hynix is also able to provide 1.35V DDR3 RDIMMs for lower power consumption in server platforms.


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yes yes. the third instalment of the bangkok trip is coming.
it's been a super crazy week with non-stop jobs at work. i can't bloody wait til friday!! not because i'm really that patriotic (sadly) but simply because i'm tired and i want a proper weekend!
merdeka. i remember when i would get excited about merdeka. my grandparents would take me to merdeka square to join the masses and watch the fireworks, performances and be part of the parade. my grandfather would carry me around on his shoulders, so i could always see what was going on, even if he got tired.
i have a wave of nostalgia washing over me now as i recall those days. when my mum had left the country and my dad couldn't afford to take care of me. my grandparents were my guardians. my protectors. my surrogate parents.
and so, this merdeka, i will celebrate. not the country's independence, but my grandmother's birthday. and commemorate my grandfather who passed away three years ago.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
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Anti Tangle
This Korda Anti tangle features an excellent smooth tapered design to help eliminate tangles, rigid material that is easy to push over swivels, yet is stiff and pushes the hooklink away from the lead area.
These Korda Tail Rubbers (10pk) ensure a neat connection between lead and anti-tangle tubing or lead core leader.
This Korda Camo Rig Tube (2M) has a low profile to ensure maximum range and accuracy. It has fine, easy thread camouflage anti-tangle tubing and sinks so that it remains concealed on the lake bed.


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CCM-241WXPrice: $299.65
Air Freshener DVR, Non Functioning, Plug in the Wall, Black and White .001 LUX 1/3 Inch Sony Super HAD CCD, 480 Lines Resolution, 8Gb Full Size SD Card, USB Card Reader and User Manual Included. Measurements Are 6 in. Tall X 5 in. Wide X 3 in. Deep


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Welcome to our 3rd Annual Adoption Week! You can read all about how this week came to be with Jenna's very personal connection to adoption right here, and we're so excited and touched to be able to share more stories. To kick it off a sweet story from the Lynch Family!
"I will always remember where I was the moment I got the call—in the Panera Bread parking lot. I heard our adoption counselor on the other end saying she was going to call my husband, Josh, and we would be on a three-way conversation. I knew what was about to happen, but that did not stop the tears from flowing when she told us a birth mother had chosen us. As car after car passed to get in the drive-through line, my husband and I laughed and cried and laughed again. I could practically hear his smile through the phone line. The most joyous words I had heard up until that point in my life: "You have been matched."
Rewind to two years earlier when my husband and I became engaged. We knew then that having our own biological children was not going to happen, but we were still undecided about adoption. I had so many questions: Will I love this child as if I had given birth to him or her? What if a birth mother never chooses us? What if we are chosen and then she changes her mind? What if our child grows up and wants to find his/her biological family? The fears seemed endless, but not nearly as frightening as never having anyone call me, "Mama."I cannot believe I ever questioned the love I would have for this angel sent to us from Heaven above. There is no way I could love my Ryan Michelle any more if I had given birth to her. She melts my heart when she wakes in the morning and wants me to bend down so we can give kisses through the slats in her crib. She runs to the safety gate at the top of the stairs when her dad comes home and shouts, "Dada!" at the top of her lungs. She dances to every single song she hears, even in her highchair, if a particularly awesome tune comes on. She loves bubbles and swinging and reading books. She is our beautiful, perfect, funny, curious girl. OUR girl.
I will not say the journey was easy. It was filled with tears, worries, sleepless nights, time spent on our knees in prayer, and many questions and doubts. But the second we got that phone call, it made every single tear and anxiety-filled moment worth it. We were there the moment she came into this world and I find that experience difficult to put into words. The first time I held her, I realized what unconditional love was. I was a mother—she was mine and I was hers. It was that simple and pure. And perfect.
I still have worries: How will we explain things to her? Will she understand or will she be hurt? Will we ever be able to truly get her to understand how loved and wanted she is? Will she ever want to meet her biological mother? I know there are things and events in our future that many families will never have to face. There will be obstacles in the way and maybe difficult bridges to cross. But when we get to those bridges, we will cross them together as a family. Because that is exactly what we are: A FAMILY.


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I can't believe we have reached the end of our year long crochet along!! And what a great pattern to end on … this Christmas Tree Dishcloth. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. I want to give a big THANK YOU to Megan for all her wonderful designs and for her generosity in sharing them with us. I am so glad you to have had you here throughout the year!!
And of course if you missed any of the previous Tunisian crochet dishcloth patterns, you can always find them by clicking here. Take it away, Megan!
Hello all,
I can't believe we are already at the end of another year. December is the time of year where my family gathers and catches up on all of the exciting milestones of the year and to celebrate the holidays. This year has gone by so fast and been very eventful for my family. This last pattern is a simple one that can evoke thoughts of the holidays or the crisp outdoors.
I want to thank Kara for the inspiration and hosting the CAL! I sincerely hope you have all enjoyed the CAL.
December …. Christmas Tree Dishcloth
Here is what you will need:
- worsted weight cotton yarn (approx. 82 yds)
- J10/6mm Tunisian hook
- scissors and yarn needle
Finished dishcloth measures approximately 8½ in. × 8½ in.
Tunisian Crochet Abbreviations (you can click on links to review the "how to" for each stitch):
Ch 30.
Set up row: Pull up through the back ridge of each ch across — 30 sts (Noted as the first row of circles).
Work pattern as charted above taking note of the following:
- when working your forward pass, the loop on your hook counts as the first stitch (indicated as a circle in the chart)
- the last stitch is made through the two end loops of row below (also indicated as a circle in the chart).
- a basic return pass should be used throughout (i.e., yo, draw through 1 loop, *yo, draw through 2 loops, rep from * across).
- Row 35 should be worked as a bind off row; work Trs bind off (Noted as the last row of circles).
KEY: Circle = first/last stitch; Color = Trs; White = Tks.
Block finished dishcloth if desired (-> How to Block Knit and Crochet Items).
You can find all the patterns in our Tunisian Dishcloth Crochet Along by clicking here.
Click here for more free Tunisian Crochet Dishcloth Patterns.
And don't forget to share your finished dishcloths in the P2P Ravelry group, Facebook group, or on social media with the hashtag #P2PdishclothCAL so we can all see each other's projects.


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Get access to this episode and to all our other shows and movies. Join us today and begin your journey towards being active and living well!Subscribe Now
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Oceanographic Explorer, Conservationist, Documentary Filmmaker & Explorer-at-Large for National Geographic, Fabien current projects include his nonprofit Plant A Fish and Mission 31.
22:04 | 2014


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By Todd Beamon |
Thursday, 11 December 2014 07:31 PM
Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman, who had not yet voted, supported the motion. He tied the vote at 213 each.
Michigan Rep. Kerry Bentivolio then switched his position to cast the deciding vote. Bentivolio lost his re-election bid last month and will not be returning to the House in January. He is ending his first term.
"I didn't want to put Nancy Pelosi in charge," Bentivolio later told the Detroit Free Press. He said that House leaders approached him twice but offered nothing in exchange for his vote switch.
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Give Your Heart to God
By Huste
Click here to send comments
Click here if you'd like to exchange critiques
"Give your heart to God, because your ass is mine" Huste
said as he looked down the sights of his rifle. His quarry
had fear and defeat in his eyes because he knew Huste meant to
kill him. And for just reason. Not only had he stolen Huste's
money and horses; he had murdered Huste's wife and daughter.
His life was useless.
"Crandall, if you believe in any kind of an afterlife, or have
any beliefs in a God, you better make your peace with it now
because you're about to meet it." Huste's steel blue eyes flashed
as he spoke. His voice low and hands steady showed the resolve
that had kept him alive for 25 rough, weathered years. "My wife
and daughter did nothing to you. They just happened to be home
alone. You were looking for me, not them. You should have left
them alone and kept looking for me. You would have had a chance
to live that way. This way, you have none." The sound of the
rifle cracked the silence as the life left Crandall's eyes.
Huste's stepped back and looked out over the horizon. His thoughts
drifted back to the cabin where he had found his family. His
mind replayed the scene he saw as he entered the cabin. A cold
shiver went down his spine as he looked back at Crandall. He spat.
He walked to the stream to quench his parched throat and try to
clean his face with the cool clear water. It tasted good and helped
his throat a lot but didn't do his face much good. The sweat, trail
dust, and years of sun dried skin was what he needed on him now. He
saw his reflection in the clear water and realized he was on the
warpath again. The reflection was the same one that he saw during the
Civil War. A reflection of what he had become, not what he had been
taught to be. A man that had relied on instinct more than teaching.
An animal created in the name of humanity. His fingers raked the
red clay from the back and drew the infamous, terror-inducing slash
marks across his face from above the right eye to below the left cheek
bone. He stood up and walked toward Koda. He mounted and pointed Koda north.
Koda began the familiar trail trot that had carried him and his companion
many miles in the past. It was a comfortable gate for both. Koda knew it
was going to be a long and empty future by the way Huste sat. The feeling
was for distance and comfort. Koda prepared for a trail that could lead
anywhere and might end in death for him and his companion. But the gate
was familiar, the trail was not unfamiliar, and Koda had faith in his
companion. They had been together for many seasons and Huste had never abused
or let him go to long without food and water. Yes, the journey was familiar.
Koda felt secure: Huste felt confident, and the rest of Crandall's gang had
better feel afraid because Huste had lost his wife, daughter, money, and horses
and had nothing else to lose. Huste and Koda were on the warpath again, and
Crandall's gang were going to die.
Tha, Tha, Tha, That's all folks.........


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Archive for 'eBay Tips and Hints'
Wondering how the new tax bill will affect eBay and Amazon Sellers?
Happy New Year! I hope 2018 is off to a great start for you. On my end, I'm excited to be starting the 19th year of this newsletter. In this issue: How Will The New Tax Bill Affect eBay & Amazon Sellers? eBay & Amazon Keyword Matching eBay & Amazon New Year Business Strategies FBA Fee Changes […]
Posted: January 9th, 2018 under Amazon, Current Events, eBay Business, eBay Tips and Hints, Economic News, Make Money on eBay, online business, Online/Internet Home Business, Sell on eBay, Wholesale Resources.
Tags: Tax Bill
Comments: none
New Wholesale Sources from 2017 Trade Shows
Check out the March 28, 2017 issue of my newsletter: Musings from and about eBay, Amazon and The World Wide Web New Wholesale Sources from 2017 Trade Shows – The wholesale sources featured in this issue are from two of the largest and most important wholesale Trade shows in the US: ASD Las Vegas and the Chicago […]
Posted: March 28th, 2017 under Affiliate Marketing, Amazon, Blogging Income, eBay Business, eBay Tips and Hints, eBay Wholesale Products & Product Sourcing, Make Money on eBay, Making Money Online, Sell on eBay, Wholesale Resources.
Comments: none
Determining Your Target Audience and Delivering What They Want
Today's post is a guest post from Karon Thackson Karon Thackson writes some great info on creating eBay and Amazon listings that sell. Click here to read her latest post. Skip McGrath ______________________________________ My Best Selling training course – The Complete Amazon Marketing System will have a significant price increase on March 1st. […]
Posted: February 24th, 2017 under Amazon, Amazon FBA, Amazon Tools, eBay Tips and Hints, Make Money on eBay.
Comments: none
What NOT to Say in an eBay Listing
Here are three things you should never say in an eBay Listing: • Thank you for looking at my listing – This is obvious – people are busy – get to the point. • Please accept my apology for any typos – People are more forgiving than you think. Also – they tend to scan listings pretty […]
Posted: January 25th, 2017 under eBay Tips and Hints.
Tags: ebay listing
Comments: none
New Newsletter – Amazon Handmade and More
The first November issue of eBay and Amazon Sellers News is now online. It will be there until the next newsletter comes out. After that you can find an archived version in our archives. Here's what's in the newsletter: Amazon Launches Amazon Handmade – Handmade arts and crafts has long been the domain of eBay and Etsy […]
Posted: November 11th, 2015 under Amazon, eBay Tips and Hints, eBay Wholesale Products & Product Sourcing, Making Money Online.
Tags: Amazon Handmade, Holiday selling, Inventory
Comments: none
Tools to Help You Stay On Top Spot on Amazon & eBay
Today's post is a guest post by Jodie Pride from Veeqo.com Tools to Help You Stay On Top Spot on Amazon & eBay It takes more than just low prices to get you to the top spot on Amazon and eBay; although price is an important factor, there are many other aspects you'll need to […]
Posted: March 21st, 2015 under Amazon, Amazon FBA, eBay Business, eBay Feedback, eBay Seller, eBay Tips and Hints.
Tags: Amazon, Amazon sellers, eBay Seller
Comments: none
Five Un-missable Tips for Effective eBay Store Design
Today's post is a guest post by Sam Butterworth who designs eBay store templates. The 90 million strong eBay community buys more than $1,400 worth of goods every single second, which is more than enough to transform a profitable pastime into a full time business. In such a crowded marketplace though, it's essential that your […]
Posted: March 18th, 2015 under eBay Business, eBay Tips and Hints, eBay Tools.
Tags: ebay store, ebay store design, ebay templates
Comments: none
The 2015 Version of The Complete eBay Marketing System is Ready!
I just wanted to let you know that the 2015 version of The Complete eBay Marketing System is ready to ship! This version has updated eBay fees and policies. Also, the book is no longer in a ring binder. We switched over to a two-volume set in spiral binding. After 7 years of keeping the price […]
Posted: March 2nd, 2015 under About Us, eBay Business, eBay Tips and Hints.
Tags: ebay
Comments: none
How to Effectively Manage Your Advertising Budget
Today's Post is a guest post by Doron Gez from Bannerplay. Bannerplay is an advertising app for your eBay listings. How to Effectively Manage Your Advertising Budget By Doron Gez of Banner Play The online advertising world is exploding. There are many competing offers out there, trying to win the heart and budget of the […]
Posted: July 27th, 2014 under eBay Business, eBay Consignment Business, eBay News, eBay Seller, eBay Tips and Hints.
Tags: ebay auction, eBay Business, ebay marketing system
Comments: none
eBay Taxes: A Guide for 1st Timers
Today's post is a guest post by Jennifer Dunn from Outright. The end of the year will be here soon and you will have to start thinking about taxes. If this is your first year selling or if you have been selling and never did taxes for your eBay business, this is a great article […]
Posted: November 27th, 2013 under eBay Business, eBay Tips and Hints.
Comments: none
Tips to Make Your eBay Listings More Appealing to Buyers
As an eBay seller, your eBay listing is your "salesperson." It will either attract customers or drive them away. Even if other sellers are offering the same products as yours, if your listing looks more professional, then people will buy from you more often. If you want to make more sales, improve your eBay listing […]
Posted: March 16th, 2013 under eBay Business, eBay Seller, eBay Tips and Hints.
Comments: none
eBay Tools to Help You Reach Top Rated Seller Status
eBay tools to help you reach Top Rated Seller Status To be a successful seller on eBay, you need the right tools. Below are some great tools that will help you reach top rated seller status within a few months. Terapeak Looking for products on eBay, but don't know what to sell? Terapeak will help […]
Posted: January 29th, 2013 under Amazon, eBay Business, eBay Tips and Hints, eBay Tools, Uncategorized.
Comments: none
Used and Vintage Items Selling on eBay
eBay has certainly changed over the years. Today fixed price sales make up over 70% of all sales on eBay and used, vintage, collectibles and antiques now make up only 40% of the items selling on the site. The rest of the products are now new merchandise. But eBay is still the largest venue for […]
Posted: November 8th, 2012 under eBay Business, eBay Niche Business, eBay Seller, eBay Tips and Hints.
Comments: 5
eBay Title Tips ~ eBay Rolls Out 80 Character Title Listings
eBay sellers have long complained about eBay's 55-character limit on listing titles. As a seller I always struggle to get all the important keywords in my titles. eBay has now addressed this issue. The new 80 characters in your listing title is now live on eBay. You now have 25 EXTRA characters in your title […]
Posted: September 15th, 2011 under eBay Business, eBay News, eBay Seller, eBay Tips and Hints.
Comments: 1
Photographing beads, jewelry and other small objects for eBay
The MyStudio Complete Tabletop Photo Studio Jewelry Kit and 12-Piece Jewelry Photography Toolkit, can give anyone GREAT RESULTS with just a little effort and practice. However, there are some things you have to know before you start. First of all you need the right camera. Not every camera will work for photographing jewelry and other […]
Posted: April 2nd, 2011 under eBay Business, eBay Tips and Hints.
Comments: 3


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Sunnyside is one of many communities in Calgary that experiences localized flooding during storm season, due in large part to an outdated drainage system. In 2010, we launched the Community Drainage Improvement (CDI) program to study why certain communities experienced flooding issues.
The study showed that older communities built with only a single drainage system were more prone to flooding. Before the late 1980's, communities were built with only the underground pipe system which was sufficient for the time they were built.
After the late 1980's, standards changed and communities are now built with a dual-drainage system which consists of an underground pipe system capable of handing a 2-5 year rainfall event and an overland drainage system (like a storm drain) typically able to handle up to a 1-in-100 year rainfall event.
The study recognized that stronger storms and a larger population reduces our storm system's ability to handle heavy rain. Our engineers looked at each community and have come up with unique solutions to improve drainage in each area.
Below, are the projects planned and going ahead for the Sunnyside community drainage project. Together, these projects will greatly improve drainage in Sunnyside and alleviate flooding and property damage caused by severe rainfall events.
For more details on the engagement process for these projects, visit our engagement page.
Upper Plateau Separation ProjectThe Upper Plateau Separation project is to help reduce river flood risk complications caused by storm water flow in the communities of Hillhurst/Sunnyside. It will prevent storm water run-off from the upper plateau pumping to the surface in the lower plateau.
14 Street N.W. Alleyway Drainage Improvement ProjectThis project will have the installation of a back flow preventer, new manholes, and replacement of 255 metres of existing storm sewer pipe with a new larger pipe. Altogether these retrofits will alleviate flooding issues and property damage caused by severe rain events. This project will be completed in the summer of 2017.
Sunnyside Sanitary Lift Station Replacement (725 3 Street N.W.)The City is replacing the original lift station that was built in 1958 with a more resilient structure that will continue to pump during events severe enough to flood nearby 3 Street N.W. by over 1.35 metres in depth. The station can continue to pump during events greater than a 1-in-25 year flood event, and can resume service quickly after up to a 1-in-100 year flood event. The new lift station should be in operation by May 2018.
Sunnyside Storm Lift Station Improvement (605 1 Avenue N.W.)This project will upgrade the existing storm lift station in three stages. First, we will modify existing mechanical pipe, and install a new storm water drainage pipe. This phase of the project started in May 2017 and will be completed by the end of July. In fall 2017, the next step will be to install a liner in the existing pipe to ensure that it is watertight. During the third stage, the existing lift station will be renovated to add more pumps and place critical infrastructure above the 1-in-100 year flood level. Construction is expected to start in spring 2018 with completion in fall 2019.
New Sunnyside Storm Lift Station (200 Memorial Drive N.W.)The new Sunnyside lift station will alleviate overland flooding on Memorial Drive, and localized flooding in the south east area of Sunnyside by Memorial Drive and 3 Street N.W. The location of the lift station is 200 Memorial Drive N.W. between the Calgary Curling Club and the CPA parking lot (Lot 59). We are currently gathering information to help with the preliminary design development of the project. The anticipated construction schedule for the proposed lift station is Q4 2018 to Q4 2019.


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New Behavioral Technologies For More Responsible Spending
Smart-phone based software will improve our spending habits.
Posted Feb 12, 2016
About five years ago, Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman published a research paper pointing out t something most of us have suspected: being rich won't make us happier persons. Roughly, above a household annual income of $75,000 money stops affecting our mental wellbeing. But Kahneman also showed in the same study that lacking the income for those expenses we doom essential to our life can make us quite miserable. The important implication of Kahneman' s study is that for most of us, money can affect our happiness to the degree that we manage it correctly.
Managing our finances starts with managing our spending. This is a tough task, not because it requires complicated math, but because our desires, cravings and emotions are not always aligned with our financial interests and our long–term wellbeing.
In 2014, the Wall Street Journal reported on the alarming saving habits of the millennial generation: "Adults under age 35 currently have a savings rate of negative 2%"
A low rate of saving does not only mean that our retirement life will look grimmer than that of our parents. It also means that we would lack assets to buffer ourselves against unexpected shocks, such as unemployment, health problems or a sudden jump in real estate prices.
To be able to spend less and save more, millennials would need help. They would need behavioral tools that protect them against sophisticated marketing tricks that are waiting for them out there in the commerce world compelling them to spend money on stuff that they don't really need. They would need a behavioral technology that provides them with ideas and suggestions on how to manage their spending. Suggestion that arrive in real time right before the decisions are made. A technology that would make millennials—and all of us—behave more responsibly with our finances.
The matter is so important that a product is currently being developed to address it: https://gochange.co/ Change Labs is developing a behavioral smart phone– based software that aims at changing spending behaviors. (Full disclosure: I am serving as a behavioral advisor on Change.) The technology analyses the financial transactions of its users, studies their behavioral patterns, and identifies opportunities to reduce spending and increase saving. It then suggests simple ways to act upon them based on scientifically documented behavioral insights. This is just one of many ways technology can be used to help make us smarter and more responsible spenders in the future.
Image: Ceramic piggy bank by Joyous! is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.


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By: Tiffany Couch
Tel: 360-573-5158
Email Acuity Forensics, PLLC
John was the new ranch manager at Santos Farms. He always liked to get to know the guys who worked for him, and he found that the best way to meet new employees was to personally hand them their paycheck.
As pay day approached, Jarrett, the long-time supervisor, seemed hung up on John's insistence on passing out the paychecks. "The guys know me and some of them don't speak English, it will be better if I distribute the checks," Jarrett told John.
John smiled and said, "No problem! My Spanish is good enough to get by - and besides, I really like to put faces to names and this is the best way to do it."
Jarrett shook his head and walked off.
John didn't think much about the interaction until pay day arrived.
Jarrett didn't show up to work that day. Instead, a moving van was parked at Jarrett's company-issued house at the ranch, and it appeared that he and his family were moving out.
Funny, John thought, Jarrett hasn't given notice. Perhaps Jarrett was moving into his own place in town?
It didn't take John long to rethink that assumption. At the end of the day, after he had issued all the paychecks to the employees, John had 13 paychecks leftover.
When he called the corporate office, he learned that just days before, Jarrett had turned in a change of employment form for the same 13 employees, indicating that they had all terminated employment on the same day.
Between the strange interactions with Jarrett, the sudden moving out of the company ranch house, and the leftover paychecks, John realized that something much bigger was happening.
He took the issue to the owners and corporate payroll. Corporate pulled the last payroll checks for the same employees and noted that all of the endorsements on the checks appeared to have a very similar signature, and all had been cashed at the same local smoke shop.
We were called in to investigate the matter. We learned that as ranch supervisor, Jarrett was responsible for hiring employees, ensuring they had appropriate documentation, approving their timecards, sending approved time information to the corporate office, and distributing checks.
We understand that while this wasn't typical protocol for most of the Company's ranches, this particular one was different. You see, the previous ranch manager had been seriously ill for a long time and Jarrett had filled in for him, causing this lack of segregation of duties.
When we pulled the 13 employee names from the master employee list, we noted that each of them had the same home address. When we did a search on the same address, we found even more employees - all of them showing the same home address.
We pulled the payroll checks for these individuals as well, and uncovered a payroll scheme with losses in excess of $700,000.
The above scheme is what is defined as a ghost employee payroll scheme, which is typically characterized with a fictitious employee being issued a payroll check. In this case, all of the "ghosts" had at one time been legitimate employees of my client's ranch, but when they left employment, hours continued to be turned in and those payroll checks were diverted to the employee perpetrating the scheme: Jarrett, the ranch manager (turns out the address in question was his parents' house).
Payroll schemes are not difficult to perpetrate. In addition to the ghost employee scheme, one can falsify the hours they work, their pay rate, or their commission calculation. We have also investigated payroll schemes where the unscrupulous employee does not have the appropriate payroll taxes or benefit copayments deducted from their payroll checks. In addition, we have investigated issues related to the inappropriate reporting of Paid Time Off (PTO).
What do best practices for payroll look like?
There are also plenty of analytical considerations one can consider, including:
The good news in all of this? Our client received the majority of their lost funds from both an insurance claim and requests for refunds from the IRS and state taxing authorities. Jarrett was investigated by local authorities and referred for prosecution, but that's where the story ends. That prosecution never happened. We hope that Jarrett's brush with the law scared him enough to deter him from becoming a thief in another company.
Tiffany R. Couch, CPA/CFF, CFE has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Accounting, with the last 13 years focused completely on Forensic Accounting related engagements. Ms. Couch holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting degree cum laude from Central Washington University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
©Copyright - All Rights Reserved


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Protecting identities
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
If the punishment should fit the crime, why is it that victims of identity theft are more likely to feel penalized the most?
Though the victims aren't responsible for the monetary and credit damage accumulated with their stolen identity, they still receive the constant calls from creditors and have to rebuild their good name, which can take years.
Identity theft costs billions nationwide and leaves banks, credit card companies and businesses with extensive bills. Consumers lost $5 billion while businesses and financial institutions lost nearly $48 billion in 2002 as a result of identity theft, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission.
The Missouri Legislature wants to stiffen the punishment for identity theft crimes.
A bill passed by legislators a week ago would make it a crime to falsely use identification belonging to another person -- and that would include Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account information, computer passwords, birth certificates and fingerprints. The bill now awaits the governor's signature.
While the legislation would not prevent anyone from obtaining another's identity, which can be done far too easily on the Internet, it would tie the level of criminal charge to the value of money or property stolen with the information. Losses above $500 would be considered a felony. The felony charges would be made on an escalating scale so that a theft of $100,000 or more would be punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison.
Area prosecuting attorneys say existing laws allow them to present felony charges for identity theft, but the specific statute could be an additional tool to use.
A minor using another's identification to purchase alcohol or cigarettes or to enter a casino is excluded from this bill.
The legislature has taken the right steps in creating a bill that would make the penalties for identity theft tougher. Identity theft continues to be a serious crime not just in Missouri but nationwide.
This legislation is a step toward making sure identity thieves are punished as harshly as their victims.


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Uranium – Shift in Kazakh mindset may signal the long awaited market bottom
Kazatomprom starting to hint at increased sophistication and long-term approach
Kazatomprom, the Kazakh-state uranium producer, has grown from a globally insignificant player to the largest producer in the world and constituted 39% of global mine production in 2015. In a series of interviews and public statements, Kazatomprom has shown an increasing level of sophistication and ambition with regards to marketing and increasing its position in the nuclear value chain. We believe that this foreshadows a shift in global uranium markets as the Kazakhs begin to move away from policies that enabled Kazatomprom to seize a significant level of market share yet exacerbated the global oversupply of U3O8.
Kazatomprom's establishment of Swiss marketing arm suggests that inventory management may become a policy tool.
Beginning in October 2015, Kazatomprom announced, and has subsequently reiterated, the intention to establish a marketing company, based in Switzerland, to centrally coordinate the sale of uranium. The establishment of this structure has several implications for Kazatomprom's uranium marketing that may have significant impact on the uranium spot price and supply/demand dynamics:
· Inventory Management: The majority of Kazatomprom's supply contracts have come in the form of asset level JVs or direct supply agreements which see mine production allocated for a specific utility customer from extraction through packaging and sale. An alternative strategy would see production from all mines pooled into a group inventory pool with sales drawn from the group pool for delivery. The benefit to the latter strategy over the former is that it would enable the group to incorporate an inventory policy and act as more of a swing producer or swing seller, using inventory and production levels to influence the uranium price.
· Transfer Pricing: Kazakhstan has very detailed and comprehensive transfer pricing laws which restrict the sale of commodities to publicly verifiable prices where available (though these laws apply to non-commodity businesses also). The purpose of the laws is to restrict tax avoidance (generally by overseas companies) enabled by the shifting of profits out of country through subsidiary transfer pricing. However this has had the effect of restricting Kazatomprom to spot market sales. As the current spot price of ~US$18/lb is well below the long-term uranium contract price of ~US$38 negotiated between utilities and uranium suppliers, this has had a depressing effect on the market. Furthermore, it has enabled utilities to put off signing new supply contracts and rely on a more 'just-in-time' sourcing model.
The establishment of the new Swiss marketing company enables Kazatomprom to sell U3O8 at spot to its Swiss marketing subsidiary and subsequently market uranium at higher prices abroad. In other words, it gives Kazatomprom the flexibility to contract at higher than spot price should it choose to. We expect that Kazatomprom will likely keep the bulk of its sales on the spot market to avoid locking in long term sales at low prices. Regardless, the option to contract gives Kazatomprom a tool to influence spot prices higher should Kazatomprom tire of selling at a persistently low spot price.
· JV signed with Chinese partners to produce fuel assemblies: Kazatomprom signed cooperation agreements with China General Nuclear (CGN) regarding the development of uranium projects and JV construction of a fuel assembly plant located at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. One of the stated goals of Kazatomprom's transformation project is to increase the state company's economic value add. The company has previously signed a fuel cooperation agreement with AREVA in 2008 and purchased a 10% stake in US-based nuclear supplier Westinghouse in 2007.
· Kazatomprom now publically suggesting that it will halt production growth, is happy with current production and market share levels: Kazatomprom Chairman Askar Zhumagaliyev, in a recent interview with Kazpravda, stated that "the current market situation tells us there is no need to increase production significantly in the coming years." Whilst Zhumagaliyev has not made any indications with regards to production cuts, the statement is a sign of Kazatomprom's increased awareness of its position in the uranium market.
· Kazatomprom is unlikely to passively sell at spot for much longer, will increase margin by upvaluing and managing sales to avoid flooding market: Kazatomprom's initial strategy of rapid production increases and spot sales enabled the company to make tremendous market share gains. In our view, the next phase of Kazatomprom's growth will see it focus more on margin, whilst maintaining its market share. In practice, this will see the development of a market based sales (and eventually production) strategy to improve margins on yellowcake with simultaneous efforts to move up in the supply value chain to more value added products. With increasing value add, these products include UF6 (hex), fuel pellets and eventually full fuel rod assemblies. This would follow the growth model, first demonstrated by Japanese and Korean industries, of establishing a large, low-cost market share of low value added products (eg. steel, copper, aluminium refining) which enable the growth of more value added industries (auto manufacturing, ship building, semiconductor production) later as the economy matures.
· Utilities increasingly vulnerable to supply shocks as they have transitioned to 'Just in Time' supply model; majority of contracts roll off by 2020-2022: In our view, the current spot price reflects short term oversupply with the largest factor being the growth in Kazakh spot production. For the reasons we have outlined, we believe that this phase of the market is coming to an end. This may create a short squeeze situation as nuclear power generating utilities have increasingly relied on spot purchases to supplant contracts signed in the rush of the 2006-2009 uranium bull market. US utilities have less than 50% of their uranium supply under contract from 2020 onward while EU utilities will have less than 50% coverage from 2022. This resembles the supply dynamics of the early 2000s, when the spot market was oversupplied by de-enriched former weapons grade uranium made available by the 'Megatons to Megawatts' program. This situation was put into reverse by the unexpected flooding of Cigar Lake in 2006, which triggered a significant price reversal as utilities rushed to get their hands on supply, contracting volumes of material at higher prices that still form a large portion of their current supply agreements. Whilst we are not predicting another mine flood, we do believe that utilities have put themselves in a position with very little bargaining leverage. This may be decisive as Kazatomprom rethinks its marketing strategy and all major producers are unwilling to long term contract at price levels below the low US$40s/lb.
Mehran Bagherzadeh | Investor Relations
Direct: (604) 682-9775 ext. 313
Fax: (604) 682-3591


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Recently I had an opportunity to sit with the head man of a village in Tangke a steppe community on the first bend of the Huang He (Yellow river) comprising about 130,000 hectares, seven semi nomadic villages and a small town of 7000 individuals. That's as near as I could gather anyway – my Chinese being poor, my Tibetan non existent, and numbers in particular being difficult in translation.
Initially, I did not know what the meeting was about but this man, Mr. Gabsang, had come down to Chengdu with the express purpose of meeting with me. At no warning I might add, as things are done around here. So after the eating and pleasantries he asked to come back to our office. To my considerable surprise, he proceeded to count out 25,200 RMB as repayment for the loans made to his village as part of the "Yak Bank" project Alpha Communities Sichuan undertook there - this one now completed. The project involved providing a yak and a small sum of money for its care to a family. Every second calf of each yak would then be donated to another family and the initial money loaned for the care of the animals repaid.
In addition to the money, Mr. Gabsang produced a stack of paper records maybe an inch and a half thick (that wafer thin Chinese paper too) with the loan and guarantor records for each family and those whom he had insisted stood guarantee for them. Complete with lines of thumb prints showing peoples assent to the documents and the validity of transactions. Little ones for the children. Every member of every family. I checked with Nima later, those loans were made 6 years ago. I was gob smacked.
Mr. Gabsang also told me that in the last 20 years his community had moved from poverty to "something better". He said their food supply was now secure, they could eat meat and they could get education for their kids – Alpha sponsors a number of children in this area too. He acknowledged that Alpha Communities has had a significant hand in that and was grateful.
In addition to the Yak Bank and student sponsorship and associated support for children of the poorest households we also did a grassland planting and reclamation project in Tangke (pictured right). Logically enough this supported a sustainable food supply for the increased number of yaks.
An assessment of the economic benefits of the yak project alone is below. In the last 6 years on average, amongst the families in this community who participated in the project, there has been an average annual increase, year on year, of:
· 8 to 10 yaks
· 45 – 50 kilograms of Yak hair (used for tents, blankets and handcrafts)
· 180 kilograms of yak butter (a staple food and a saleable commodity)
· 30 kilogramsof yak milk cheese
Also note:
· All loaned money has been repaid
· The yaks will continue breeding!
Mr. Gabsang said that they still had needs though and then went on to describe some. First and foremost amongst them, he said, was "knowledge". This man is wise as well as reliable. Almost as a matter of principle, at this point, we shouldn't give this group of people exactly what they ask for (or what he asks for "his" people) because it establishes the wrong relationship. But we should dialogue with them and those in a similar position to find an optimum and inherently just route, in local context, to the specialisation, market/cash economy and infrastructure needed for wealth creation.
You helped lift the people of Tangke from poverty to sustainable subsistence; we can now help them lift themselves from subsistence to viable wealth creation. Until we do that, we have not yet completed our task.
Thank you for hanging in there with us! (written by Peter Dobbs, Company Director)


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We're not even finished with the first week of school, and I can already tell that it's going to be a great year. My third grader came home and said that he had such a good time in his class that he "forgot where he was." My fifth grader also loves his teachers this year, and he is quite proud that he has to travel from classroom to classroom to take different subjects.
Speaking of fabulous teachers, I would like to brag about DSES's own Patrice Dawkins-Jackson, a first grade teacher (known as Ms. DJ to her students). The US Department of Education selected Ms. DJ as one of 12 teachers selected to serve as a Teaching Ambassador Fellow. This year, 625 educators nationwide applied for this honor.
According to the August 2, 2012 post in the Sandy Springs Patch, Ms. Dawkins-Jackson "will collaborate with other Fellows to provide specific outreach to teachers and to increase their understanding of federal education policies and programs, specifically how those interplay with state and local policies. Over the year, she also will be asked to share relevant school and classroom experiences with internal and external audiences."
Congratulations Ms. DJ on your honor!
This Weekend. And how should we finish this amazing first week of school? Butterflies and a free movie!
On Saturday, August 18, the Dunwoody Nature Center will revive its annual Butterfly Festival. Walk among tents filled with hundreds of butterflies. Take a scavenger hunt, enjoy live music and animal encounters, and drink the signature drink of the day -"larval lemonade." The festival runs from 10:00 am to 3:00pm, and the cost is $8 per adult, $5 for children ages 4-12, and free for children 3 and under. Shuttle service will be available for off-site parking.
Tired from the festival? Why not spend the evening watching a free movie at Brook Run Park? Radio Station B98.5 FM is hosting Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (PG) this Saturday after dark. Come early for fun and freebies; stay late for a movie under the stars.
Have a great weekend!


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We don't like to think about what would happen if we passed away, but we want to know that those we love would be taken care of. Life insurance will ensure that when the time comes and you are no longer able to provide for your family, they'll have access to funds to help them along.
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We've talked in a previous list about games that have saved their respective franchises, but what about when the opposite happens? What if a video game is such an awful pile of fucked shite that to even associate them with their predecessors would be like pissing in the face of Santa Claus while clumsily attempting to flirt with Mrs Claus. Well for starters, you'll end up in a blog post written by...[Read More]
Ah Valentines Day, a day where we celebrate the violent death of the patron saint of beekeepers, plagues and epilepsy…oh and love too, I guess. Yes, love is in the air, birds are singing, the sun is shining and it's only a day away from discount chocolate, the real reason we all love Valentines Day, but while we wait for that delicious day to arrive I suppose we better acknowledge romance. But eve...[Read More]
Video games are great, you get to make believe that you're a charming roguish adventurer like Nathan Drake from Uncharted, a badass archer/warrior Like Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn, or a powerful wizard from any number of RPGs. Playing as anyone of these badass characters makes us feel just as badass, but sometimes, video games decide that we've had enough of being awesome and that we need to be ta...[Read More]
Rejoice fans of both horror and Nintendo, for Layers of Fear will be coming to the Nintendo Switch. Following on from last year's announcement where Bloober Team revealed that Layers of Fear would be coming to Switch in 2018, we can now reveal that Layers of Fear: Legacy will debut internationally in quarter one of 2018. The Switch version will include the critically acclaimed "Inheritance" DLC, w...[Read More]
With all the terrible things that seem to be happening around the world today, war, mass shootings and Donald Trump, it would be easy to become jaded and cynical. But every now and then good things do happen, like the Make-A-Wish foundation, they have been granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions for years, not for personal or financial gain, but to bring sick child...[Read More]
E3 has become the showcase of the gaming community, the arena where Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo along with a whole other host of developers flex their gaming might and muscles to woo us. Having followed the live streams, watched the press conferences and game videos have I been left impressed or underwhelmed? Microsoft Up first was the Microsoft Xbox E3 press conference, I was particularly keen ...[Read More]
For the most part sequels are nothing more than hastily knocked together shite, made so that developers can make enough money to fill their golden yachts with so much cocaine that it would bring down Amy Winehouse's Ghost. But every now and then the planets will align and we get a sequel that is not only good, but actually surpasses its predecessor, so with that in mind here are 5 Video Game seque...[Read More]
For the most part, video games have you play as Johnny Testosterone Mc Big-Bollocks, gun in hand and foot in ass. But every now and again we get to play as, or partner with a kick ass lady. Granted those instances are few and far between, but never the less I have managed to cobble together a list of the 5 most badass women in video games! 5. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) Well of course we can't have a...[Read More]
Cosplay I have been meaning to write an article on cosplay for some time now and after our adventures at GamerCon in March I have decided now is the time. While GamerCon wasn't the first convention I attended as a member of the press, it did give me a better insight into the world of cosplay and the people who enjoy it. Whether you're a comic book fan dressing up as their favourite superhero, an ...[Read More]


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David Lo Pan Moon Bun from Big Trouble in Little China
Available at Moon's Creations.
Available at Moon's Creations.
I'm not sure about you, but Big Trouble in Little China is one of my favorite movies to watch late at night. When you have the giggles, nothing is more silly than this movie.


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I am the luckiest woman on Earth. Not only do I have wonderful friends and family, they know me so well, and over the last year I have received some gifts that are just so beautiful and so "me", I want to share them.
The least recent is my first to post about. Ms Joie de Vivre noted one day that the gorgeous cupcake stand I was given for Christmas 2009, had lots of bits to keep track of. So, she got to thinking and creating and eventually, presented me with this:
It is such a thoughtful, pretty present! And it is VERY useful, as the cupcake stand rarely gets used at home, but is forever being lugged from event to party to work do!
Thank you sweet Joie xo


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Rocket French — Selfoss
The rocket languages has very good language courses. I have learned a lot both in the German and France languages and I always come back to the side to learn more. Thank you for an excellent site. Baldur
Read more Rocket French reviews
Read all Rocket Languages reviews
Free Trials
Language Resources
Need Help?


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- Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 8 minutes.
- Put the olive oil in one bowl and the breadcrumbs, panko and parmesan cheese in another.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper, then put in the bowl with the olive oil and mix well so the olive oil evenly coats all of the chicken.
- Put a few chunks of chicken at a time into the breadcrumb mixture to coat, then on the basket.
- Lightly spray the top with olive oil spray then air fry 8 minutes, turning halfway. Until golden.
Yield: 4 Servings, Serving Size: 4 oz chicken
- Amount Per Serving:
- Smart Points: 3
- Points +: 4
- Calories: 188
- Total Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 57mg
- Sodium: 427mg
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Protein: 25g
Pages: 1 2


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morphles wrote:Yes it does, though there are just two numbers to put there
Hm? Why would you need more? Those two numbers give you almost full control over the feature. You don't understand the formula or what?
I'll send some emails. Also, why not mention it on the LT forum or chat?


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For Immediate Release
CAIR Oklahoma Operations and Events Coordinator Anna Facci, 918-269-7924, firstname.lastname@example.com; CAIR Oklahoma Civil Rights Director Veronica Laizure, 405-430-9877,firstname.lastname@example.com; CAIR Oklahoma Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, email@example.com
CAIR-OK Responds to Rep. Bennett's Islamophobic Hearing
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma chapter of the Council onAmerican-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today responded to comments made during an Islamophobic hearing for Interim Study H16-029, "Radical Islam, Sharia Law, the Muslim Brotherhood and the radicalization process."
CAIR-OK: State House Opens Hearing on "Islamic Extremists"
"Representative John Bennett is shamefully wasting taxpayer money to promote his own biased agenda," said CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani. "This hearing was a new low for Representative Bennett, as his guests presented a biased narrative that achieves nothing more than demonizing and marginalizing the Oklahoma Muslim Community."
H16-029 was proposed by Representative John Bennett (R-Sallisaw), who has been widely criticized for his open hostility toward Islam and Muslims. Most notably, Rep. Bennett has called Islam "a cancer that needs to be cut out of the nation" and has repeatedly stated that he does not consider Islam to be a religion. Rep. Bennett is currently running for re-election against Tom Stites, a local businessman, engineer, and community leader.
SEE: OK Lawmaker accused of making anti-Muslim remarks
Rep. John Bennett stands behind "threat of Islam" statements at Sallisaw Republican meeting
"Perhaps most troubling to me was Frank Gaffney's assertion that Islamic charitable giving, or zakat, is somehow funding terrorism in the United States," said CAIR-OK Government Affairs Coordinator Anna Facci. "Here in Oklahoma City, zakat money from the community funds a food bank and a free clinic in a neighborhood that is otherwise a food and resource desert. Zakat is no different than the Christian tradition of tithing, and charity and is at the very core of the Oklahoma Standard."
Among the speakers present after the hearing were Frank Gaffney, president and founder of the Center for Security Policy; John Guandolo, founder of UnderstandingtheThreat.com, an extreme anti-Muslim conspiracy theory website; and retired Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and current executive Vice President of the rabidly anti-LGBTQ Family Research Council.
"Notably absent from the testimony given at this hearing was any information on the needs of Oklahoma citizens," said CAIR-OK Civil Rights Director Veronica Laizure. "Our state needs leaders who are focused on the budget crisis, poverty, food insecurity, racial injustice, record cuts to education funding, and the countless other real problems that our communities are struggling with - not leaders that use their platform to demonize the Muslim community."
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that tracks hate groups in America, classifies the Center for Security Policy as an extremist group and describes Gaffney as "a dire threat to American democracy."
Guandolo is noted by the SPLC as "a disreputable character, who regularly attacks the U.S. government, claims that the director of the Central Intelligence Agency is a secret Muslim agent for the Saudi government and says that American Muslims 'do not have a First Amendment right to do anything.'"
Islamophobia.org, a website dedicated to tracking anti-Muslim groups and individuals across the country, notes that Lt. Gen. Boykin has been rebuked by former President Bush for his anti-Muslim stance, has claimed that "Islam should not be protected under the First Amendment," and has stated that "there should be no mosques in America."
SEE: SPLC, Center for Security Policy
SPLC, Virginia County Sheriff hosting anti-Muslim training by disgraced conspiracy theorist John Guandolo
SPLC, Frank Gaffney, Jr.
Islamophobia.org, William Boykin
This is the world we live in. This is the world we cover.
Because of people like you, another world is possible. There are many battles to be won, but we will battle them together—all of us. Common Dreams is not your normal news site. We don't survive on clicks. We don't want advertising dollars. We want the world to be a better place. But we can't do it alone. It doesn't work that way. We need you. If you can help today—because every gift of every size matters—please do.
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.


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Ten years ago today
On December 28th, 2003, I traveled to and from Vancouver Island to bring into my home and heart an 8-week old, 3-1/2 pound Westie puppy. And every day during these past ten years, he has given me so much joy, love and terrier-attitude.
How It Begins
by MARY OLIVER
A puppy is a puppy is a puppy.
He's probably in a basket with a bunch of other puppies.
Then he's a little older and he's nothing but a bundle of longing.
He doesn't even understand it.
Then someone picks him up and says,
"I want this one."


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Adult theatre for those who haven't gone to one yet, I say experience it 99% safe as you desire SAFE SEX IS HOT SEX
About three years ago, I discovered the joys of visiting an adult porn/sex club in The Midwest-USA. This place showed vintage gay porn, you know stuff from way back around the time I was born 1975. I like ALL kinds of (legal of course) porn. The first time walking into this place was during the day a crowd of maybe 15 at most. (The best time to go is at night as age selection is a lot better) I paid my first admission and was instructed on what happens in places like this. I was excited as I entered into the dark theater sat down started watching the porn flick while my eyes started to adjust to the darkness. My body acted as if I entered puberty all over again BAM! instant hard on in my shorts as soon I started watching the film. I looked over my shoulder to see what I could see of another person sitting directly behind me.
Within 10 minutes of me showing up...We both are not very good looking ME: 38yrs old at the time 300 LBS 6'00 " 6 inch uncut penis. HIM 55yrs old 220 lbs 5 inch hard on uncut about 6' tall. I resumed the movie watching struggling in my shorts when I hear the familiar wet slapping sounds of a jerk off taking place, I looked over my shoulder again to see this hot penis out of his shorts being stroked. This guy is looking right at me as I started to stroke my precum soaked penis through my shorts the wetness soaked through as I was watching this guy we made eye contact and he came and sat by me. We admired each other I complimented on his penis and balls. As he was placing a hand on my upper thigh crawling up my inside my shorts via the leg, it felt incredibly awesome with anticipation of being touched, then his fingers found my balls started casually caressing.
I started to move my hand towards his penis placing my hand on his ball-sac massaging slight tugging then on his precummed slippery shaft. Meanwhile my eyes adjusted quite WELL I saw we had a large group of audience watching our playtime (at this point I can't go any further with this story as it'll violate the rules of this wonderful site but let your mind wonder as to what happened next) this wonderful man and I moved to the second floor of this theatre/sex club continued our playfulness with the audiences that joined in... This is a true place in the upper Midwest in a big city-USA all the events described above really happened and condoms were used in making of this documentary. Keep'em cumming