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The State of The Union
AMERICA, OUR HOME!! LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE BRAVE!! A country governed by a unique doctrine put into place over 200 years ago by our founding fathers. A document never before seen in any other government, and since not duplicated.
The Constitution was ahead of its time. There were provisions within this document to help our country steer clear from potential problems that the founding fathers perceived our great nation may encounter in the future.
This document had served our great nation well, until now. We Americans live in a nation today of perceived freedoms. Americans go to work every day in hopes of obtaining THE AMERICAN DREAM. Our American Dream has now turned into the GREAT AMERICAN NIGHTMARE!
My fellow Americans, our country is broken! Broken to its core! We Americans are in need of a true education and awakening to what has been happening in front of our very eyes. We can no longer turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to our plight! Gone are the days of standing aside in hopes of somebody else picking up the reins to guide our great nation! It is time for all of us Americans to help restore our nation back to the great status that America deserves!
Our political system is in shambles. This is no longer a government for the people by the people. We have a two party system that although may present different political ideologies, they work hand in hand to pass legislation that is not in the best interests of we the people. It is time for a true GRASSROOTS movement to finally form a new party that can put forth true American civil servants and not the status quo professional politician! Politicians that promise the American people the world and after election into office deliver nothing! Our politicians are controlled, bought and paid for! Legalized bribery of our politicians in the form of lobbyist controlled by big corporate and banking interest! America ceased to be for the people nearly 100 years ago. On that day, our beloved country was taken away from us!
In December 1913, just before the holiday break, the Federal Reserve Act was passed in Congress (with just enough votes). This act gave control of our country's monetary system to a centralized bank. Our very currency was hijacked from us by this banking cartel. The Federal Income Tax laws were also passed at the same time. The American citizen had now become these bankers' slaves. Someone had to pay the interest on the money that America would be "borrowing" from the Federal Reserve! It was explained to the American people that this centralized banking system would prevent future monetary problems, no more risk in banking. Yet, here we are nearly 100 years, several wars, and a Great Depression later. What do we Americans face, a banking crisis that threatens not only our country but our entire world economy! A crisis that could reach devastating proportions, throwing our America and its people into a deep depression and poverty never before seen!
We as a nation do not have the authority to audit the Federal Reserve! The Federal Reserve has no transparency, and does not have to answer to the very government that put it into power. I ask you, my fellow Americans, does this make any sense to you? Our great country is being governed by a bunch of ELITE BANKERS. When an entity controls a nation's money, does that entity now also control that very nation's economy? Is it a great leap of faith to take when we tell you then, that these same ELITIST control our political system!
By design, our great nation is slowly being dismantled. The passage of GATT and NAFTA nearly 30 years ago, ushered the beginning of the demise of this country's middle class. Globalization of our economy has further weakened our country with huge trade deficits. Our national debt is now 20 trillion dollars and growing. It has surpassed our country's Gross Domestic Product. The Greenbacks we use today are Federal Reserve notes that are backed up by nothing, no gold standard. NOTHING! FIAT CURRENCY! THIS IS CALLED FRACTIONAL BANKING; A LEGALIZED PONZI SCHEME! How long before we experience runaway inflation due to the greatly weakened status of our dollar? We can go on and on, is the picture starting to become clear? Our great nation and its people are in serious peril!
Please do your own research, you will find that what you have been told here are FACTS!
A nations monetary system should NEVER be given away to be controlled by an outside entity!
Read our constitution, and you will see that our country is not being governed as it was meant to be!
Remember, it is not unpatriotic to question your government, especially for the greater good of your nation and the future of our nation's children!
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As I alluded to in my previous post, I've been fighting some burnout lately. I attribute it to overspecialization, I think. I've spent so much time and effort minmaxing my DPS performance that my fluidity (heh) has suffered. We're currently working on LK25, and we're struggling mightily with the Valks/Defiles..we've yet to succesfully manage the Defile AND not get people killed. (If anyone has any strategy advice, I'd love to hear it. So far we're pretty good on transitioning into P2: we stack up behind LK in the center while killing the last raging, pop Holy Wrath/Cone of Cold to stun/slow Valks, let loose with AOE, melee starts to follow them…then Defile comes and everyone dies. :P Only successful defile attempts were when it was on the mages, who managed to Blink it away from the group. 2 secs just doesn't feel like enough reaction time to get it out of the stack.) Basically, it doesn't matter right now how much effort I spend on gearing appropriately or planning good DPS rotations, it matters whether I have hyper-quick reactions…and that pisses me off. I could see an eventual Defile nerf, if only because the stacking buff doesn't really make it any easier to avoid.
Thankfully, we took a break from LK for our Thursday raid, and dropped Algalon-25. After a few early wipes, I switched to heals, and helped take him down. It's a very strategically interesting fight for healers, I find, managing the burst raid damage from the black hole explosions vs. keeping the tanks alive. Somehow, landing a tank-saving Swiftmend feels much more "clutch" then topping DPS meters. :)
After that, I logged back in last night, noticed I was still in the raid group, and said "hey, let's do Kara again. :)" I had soloed most of Kara in ilvl 213/226 gear previously, but never managed to kill Aran or Prince. Much easier in ilvl 264. :P It's rewarding too…I easily made 700g or so, in the span of a couple hours, not counting three Darkmoon cards and a rare world-drop enchanting recipe. Budget a few more hours if you don't know your way around…it's not aggressively linear like WOTLK instances. Quick tips:
- Prep: Get some Kings drums (fort scrolls are helpful too), some buff food, and glyph Maul/SI/FR. Spec 0/60/11, make sure you pick up Nurturing Instincts. 4pT10 is very helpful for the extra damage reduction CD. I used my cat gear, but did pop in a tank trinket for a few fights. After Opera, make sure you open the back door for easier wipe recovery; after Shade, you can port in by talking to the butler.
- Attumen/Moroes/Maiden: Tank and spank; on Moroes use Berserked Mangle/Maul to take down add packs. (throw a couple HoTs while he's Vanished if you need.) Make sure you clear Attumen's whole wing and Moroes' room before pulling them.
- Opera Event: Moderately tough to very tough, depending on who you get. See Allison's guide for full details, but in brief:
- Oz: Not too bad. Lots of strategic choices here, depending on your gear level. I usually went kitty and laid down as much burst damage as I could on Dorothee before finishing her in bear. Frost resist gear may or may not help.
- Romulo/Julianne: Pretty tough. It's a pretty decent gear check. P1- Go kitty and burn Julianne down. P2- throw HoTs and go bear for Romulo. P3- use Berserked Mangle/Maul/Swipe to bring down their health evenly. You'll probably need to pop SI/FR at this point. Bash her heals when available. You won't get all of them, but you should be able to outdamage her healing. You can try to keep them moving…she'll stop to cast, so you'll have range for a Charge. Either way, make sure you go Kitty and burn down the remaining one quickly…you only get 10 seconds before they rez their partner.
- BBW: Good luck. Here's my strat. If I can do it in Ulduar gear, you can do it too. :P
- Nightbane: You can only summon him if you've done the questline…he's tank and spank. If you need to, you can LOS his fears/breaths using the inside edge of the platform.
- Curator/Illhoof: Tank and spank. Pop SI/FR early on Curator so you can lay down max damage during his Evocation. Make sure you clear his room.
- Netherspite: Tank and spank, but with a catch…you have to pull him out of his room. If you stand right at the door and wait, he will path to just in range of a Taunt/FF…aggro him and quickly run out the door before it closes. You'll want to pull him up the hallway to the first little room and off to the left, to get him out of the blue beam. Make sure you're standing with your back to a wall. (Yes, you can get knocked back off the platform…it's a long fall. :P)
- Shade of Aran: You have plenty of time to work with, so as Allison recommended, a few resto pieces to boost your healing can help. I one-shot it with pure feral gear, though, so it's not required. You'll want to DPS in bursts…shift out every 10-15 seconds to put up HoTs. Don't use non-instants while close to Aran, as he'll Counterspell. When the elementals spawn, go bear.
- Chess: It may not seem soloable, but it's really not too bad…I one-shot it last night. Here's my strat.
- Prince: Biggest gearcheck. P3 Prince was what I couldn't get through in Ulduar-level gear…had no problems last night. When he knocks you back, throw a HoT.
Finished happy and excited to try some more stuff…might see how far I get in ZA. :)

subset: commoncrawl


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Do the benefits of eating breakfast differ between boys and girls? Dr. Katharina Widenhorn-Mueller thinks so: the researcher reports that research into the effectiveness of a healthy breakfast for young people shows that boys report being in a fouler mood if they go without a morning meal but many girls do not. Well, we may not be kids anymore, but going without our morning meal and coffee can put us into a horrible mood. At the end of her report, Widenhorn-Mueller calls for more research into the gender differences in breakfast studies. We suggest she start here. [Reuters]
A Balanced Breakfast


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The Lady Bisons, the defending Atlantic Sun Champions, will face arch-rival Belmont Saturday night at 5 at the University Center on the Mercer University campus. Belmont, the No. 2 seed, advanced to the title game with a 3-2 win over No.3-seeded Jacksonville.
ETSU, the No. 5-seed, was the only team playing in the semifinals that had not won the A-Sun Tournament Championship. The Lady Bisons managed to prevail with a 25-21 set one win, a 25-15 advantage in set two and a 25-22 win in set three. it was the 21st match win of the season for the Lady Bisons, a new record for the program.
"It was good to get the first one out of the way," said Lady Bisons coach Brandon Rosenthal. "Being the No. 1 seed you have the luxury of not playing in the first round. But sitting around does kind of wear on you."
The third set was a struggle with the Lady Bisons watching a 17-15 lead disappear into a 19-17 deficit.
"At that point it became a matter of saying, `relax'," said Rosenthal. "We have been here before. It has to be one point at a time and all of the other things we talk about.
"I thought at that point that our serving did a nice job of just putting the pressure on them and allowing them to make mistakes, ETSU shanked one, then hit one out and another into the net."
The Lady Bisons, who earned a bye with the No. 1 seed, struggled to find a flow in the game. There were questions to be answered by officials about some of their calls, but much of match was also played with the sound of fireworks booming in the background as Mercer celebrates its homecoming this weekend.
"Good teams try to eliminate the compounding off errors," said Rosenthal. "We did a nice job of just relaxing and letting the game come to us there at the end of the third set.
"It is hard to do, especially when you don't have a flow of the game like we normally do. I was glad to see us push through that."
Middle blocker Alex Kelly, the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, made a match-high 14 kills. Opposite Erin Pierce made 10 digs and added seven kills, including one over-the-back play as she headed toward her own bench, that barely cleared the net. Libero Jessica Turner made a team-leading 12 digs.
"We made a couple of real good defensive plays," said Rosenthal. "One of the things we stress is playing all of the way through the whistle. I thought we did a very good job of that.
"In the end playing like that is going to win you some matches. I don't know if it directly affected us, but it definitely helps as far as the momentum goes."
Desiree Dyck led ETSU with 10 kills. Jan Neice made a match-high 17 digs.
The Lady Bisons raised their record to 21-10. ETSU finished the season 12-19.


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The "/finfo" page:
URL: /finfo?name=FILENAME Show the change history for a single file. Additional query parameters: a=DATETIME Only show changes after DATETIME b=DATETIME Only show changes before DATETIME n=NUM Show the first NUM changes only brbg Background color by branch name ubg Background color by user name ci=UUID Ancestors of a particular check-in showid Show RID values for debugging DATETIME may be "now" or "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.SSS". If in year-month-day form, it may be truncated, and it may also name a timezone offset from UTC as "-HH:MM" (westward) or "+HH:MM" (eastward). Either no timezone suffix or "Z" means UTC.


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It has been far too long since the last of the diabolical quizzes. And this quiz is truly diabolical. Horribly diabolical. Diabolical squared.
At least, I think it is. I tend to judge these things rather poorly.
As always, you are to use the comments to provide the common name of the bird in each image. The winner is the one who gets the most correct answers soonest and wins the adulation of everyone.
The only context you get for these pictures is that they were taken in the last two weeks in New York and New Jersey and are of wood-warblers. May the best birder win!
Quiz Bird 1
Quiz Bird 2
Quiz Bird 3
Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Diabolical!
Black-throated Green Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and Pine Warbler.
All Blackpolls.
Black-throated Blue, Common Yellowthroat, Pine.
Blackpoll, Kentucky, Bay-breasted
Black-throated Blue Warbler (you get a hint of a side-stripe), Kentucky Warbler (a unique silhouette), Pine Warbler (Blackpoll has yellow feet)
I'm not really sure about that first one. Black-throated Blue sounds like a good guess. Kentucky Warbler looks good for the second. I like Bay-breasted for the third bird because of the leg color and the tertial color.
I had to look twice to actualy see the bird in pic 1, let alone identify it…. ;-))
Warblers are one of my many weak areas. I admire anyone who gets this right!
I was sure Clay had gotten it! And I like Jacob's answer the best. 😉 So looking again, is it possible that the tail on the middle bird is longer than it seems in the photo? Hmm… I hate seeming like an idiot, but here goes: Black-throated Blue Warbler, Canada Warbler (looking up? the wide-based bill looking larger from that angle?), and Bay-poll (do I really have to choose?) OK Bay-breasted Warbler. Gawd I can't believe I'm actually posting this.
1) Can't tell, 2) maybe an 'opornis' species by silhouette, 3) might be a vireo by the heavy hooked bill.
Oh wow, I'd never have gotten the Canada Warbler. Good job, Catherine.
Nice job Catherine – maybe you should think about illustrating some warblers silhouettes 😉
Ha ha Luke. In full disclosure, I have spent the last two months drawing warbler silhouettes for an upcoming warbler book. I don't know if the drawings are going to be any good but I definitely learned a lot.
The middle bird shows a classic slicked-down, active Canada Warbler silhouette. My first reaction though was solidly Oporornis/Geothlypis! But the bird doesn't quite have that full-bellied look, the bill looked "wrong", and I started wondering if the tail projection beyond the coverts was a bit longer than it seems. Also the only color information showing is that the ut coverts are quite light, which given how dark everything else is made me think that they were likely white…
On the third bird, bill shape, no apparent yellow on the feet, degree of white on tertials and remiges, and the faintest wash of greenish neck to pinkish sides made me think Bay-breasted. Even with such rationalizations I still was not sure. Was the person who took the photo completely sure? 😉
© 2013 10,000 Birds. All words, images, and opinions are the property of their respective authors unless stated otherwise.


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X-Drive - Racing Genoa
X-Drive® is the ideal sail construction process for racing sailors who appreciate a well shaped sail, but who also need to keep control of cost.
Holds Its Shape
X-Drive is a two-part construction system. As the diagram shows, the sail is made from a light weight material cut into cross-cut panels that when put together with broad seaming to achieve the 3-D shape created by the sail designer. Next the sail is reinforced with a grid of narrow high-strength, low-stretch tapes that are bonded to the sail up to 11 at a time in an 8 inch (20 cm) wide path.
UK Sailmakers' X-Drive construction system uses continuous high-strength low-stretch yarns to support the sail's flying shape. Hundreds of closely-spaced yarns are bonded to the sail's surface for maximum strength and shape-holding. UK Sailmakers' innovative tape laying machine allows up to 11 narrow, single-yarn tapes to be applied in a single pass.
Cost Effective
The cost of the sail is also controlled because the sail surface can be made out of a less expensive, lightweight laminated material, whose only job is to give the sail its 3-D shape. All the sail's strength comes from the dense grid of continuous high-strength yarns that are bonded to the sail's surface. Since the yarns run across the shaping seams, the seams are locked in place and cannot distort. Due to the dense coverage of fibers, the sail is completely supported, which results in a smooth sail without distortion.


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What happens at a burial service
Funeral services don't have to take place in a religious venue or cemetery. This is what to expect at a burial service, whether it be at a local place of worship, cemetery or a woodland burial ground.
Before the funeral
The funeral director will meet the family at their home with the hearse and any limousines and they'll be driven to the funeral venue. Alternatively, the family can meet the funeral procession at the funeral venue.
At the service
Pallbearers will lift the coffin and walk into the funeral venue.
The family will commonly follow the coffin and then be seated at the front.
It's the family's decision on whether they want people stood outside or to be seated and waiting inside the venue before the coffin enters.
The funeral service will take place which usually includes readings, eulogies and music.
After the service
Family members might line up outside the door to greet people as they leave the funeral.
The hearse and cortege will travel to the cemetery or woodland burial ground.
Pallbearers will lift the coffin and walk to the graveside.
At the graveside
The coffin will be lowered into the grave by pallbearers.
The officiant may say a few words and invite the family to place flowers or earth into the grave.
The grave is not filled until people have left the burial site, unless the family want to take part.
What to do when someone dies
If someone has died and you need immediate assistance please contact your local Funeral Director or speak to one of our team who are here to help and support you.
Call our Funeral Home Support Team on: 023 9222 1299
or Find your local Funeral Director
Arranging a burial
For more information and help when arranging a burial.


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Washington International Student Center
Washington International Student Center is a small, friendly hostel located in Adams Morgan, a popular, vibrant area of Washington DC with plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants. The White House and the city's other attractions can be easily reached by public transport or on foot.
We have private rooms and dormitories plus amenities including a kitchen, internet access, lockers, air conditioning and a common room with cable television. Breakfast is included in the rates. Free parking is available for the first night, subject to a security deposit. We also offer a free pick-up service from Greyhound and Amtrak.
Reception/check-in: 08:00-23:00
We do not have a curfew.
Check in is from 8:00am - 11:00pm. If you arrive after 11:00pm you will have to wait until 8:00am. No smoking in the hostel. Sheets and blankets are provided for free. No sleeping bags are allowed. Wireless is avalible and free. Bread, juice, milk, tea, jam in the morning is free.
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hostel Facilities & Policies
- Age Restriction
- Air Conditioning
- Card Phones
- Common Room
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Late check-out
- Linen Included
- Security Lockers
- Luggage Storage
- No Curfew
- Reception (limited hours)
- Taxes not included
- Towels For Hire
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 2 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Hostel InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
Reception open Between 8 am to 11 pm
**Please note we operate a 48 hour cancellation policy
Note: Free Parking for first night
(Customer will receive parking pass, security deposit of $100 is required for this and will be returned on departure)
*Please note that the hostel does not allow children. No one under 18 allowed*
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
From Greyhound Bus Station:
Exit the station on 1st Street NE. Make left and walk up to Union Station. Enter Metro area. Take the Metro to Dupont Circle. Exit on the north exit at Dupont Circle. At the top of the stair make right, cross Connecticut Ave and catch Bus 42 going North. The bus will cost $1.70. Get off the Bus at Columbia Road and 18th Street NW. You will see McDonald's Walk over to the McDonalds. The hostel is 250 feet down from McDonald's on the same side of the street.
From Amtrak:
Amtrak is inside of Union Station. Follow directions written above from Union Station.
From Reagan National Airport:
Take Metro from Reagan National Airport on the Blue Line and transfer over at Metro Center to the Red Line. Get off at Dupont Circle and folllow directions written above.
From Dulles International Airport:
Take Bus 5A that leaves once per hour and brings you to Metro Stop called L'Enfant Plaza. Get on Metro Blue Line at L'Enfant Plaza and transfer to Red Line at Metro Center and take to Dupont Circle. Follow directions written above.


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Every night over dinner, we all take turns saying what the favorite parts of our day were, telling about something we learned, and reading our Chinese fortunes. On the nights when baby daddy is home for dinner, we end up going off on all these tangents about the stuff they're learning because their father is a walking encyclopedia. Can't fix a garbage disposal to save his butt, but can give you a blow-by-blow recap of the war. All of the war.
So we're at dinner tonight and we're talking about Shay's Rebellion which, of course, led to the creation of the Constitution which everyone knows led to the branches of government which naturally leads us to my dinner table.
My husband asks the kids, "So, who knows the name of the highest court in America?"
My 13 year old answered with no hesitation at all, "The Extreme Court."


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Facebook Experiments Had Few Limits
Data Science Lab Conducted Tests on Users With Little Oversight
Thousands of Facebook Inc. users received an unsettling message two years ago: They were being locked out of the social network because Facebook believed they were robots or using fake names. To get back in, the users had to prove they were real.
In fact, Facebook knew most of the users were legitimate. The message was a test designed to help improve Facebook's antifraud measures. In the end, no users lost access permanently.


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Taylor Lautner's Abs May Have Saved His Career
By Michelle Lanz
Most of the "Twilight" buzz and adoration is directed toward Robert Pattinson's signature coif and Kristen Stewart's lower lip bite. But what about sleeper hottie Taylor Lautner? His abs are just about to rocket him to sex-symbol stardom.
RELATED: Taylor Lautner: The "New Moon" Star's GQ Style
OK, so he's only 17 and we have to be careful what we say, but seriously, where did this kid come from?
In the November issue of GQ, Taylor talks about how bulking up basically saved his career, and more specifically, how it saved his role as Jake the shape-shifting werewolf in "Twilight."
Just a few years ago he was relatively unknown with credits like "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" (ouch). But that all changed when he landed a role in a little film based on a book he'd never heard of.
RELATED: The 50 Most Stylish Men of the Past 50 Years
During the filming of the first "Twilight" film, GQ reports that the studio didn't think he had the right build to pull off the boy-turned-werewolf-turned-romantic-lead in the sequel. And to be honest his horrible fake wig really didn't do it for us at all in the first film.
So Taylor hit the gym, ate every two hours and packed on 30 pounds of lean, mean, muscle.
"I tried to stay focused on the things I could control," he said.
Focus and control, indeed. Now the "Twilight" sequel's marketing team has latched onto his chiseled six-pack so much so that it's displayed in magazines everywhere (and this here Web site, of course).
RELATED: Robert Pattinson: Hot, Sexy, Undead
Who was that Robert guy again?
You'd think all this attention would go to his head, but Lautner plays coy when it comes to his new bod. He insists it's all about being a convincing werewolf: "When a man transforms into a wolf," Lautner clarifies, "all of his clothes get shredded. When he comes back to human form, he's wearing ripped jeans, and that's about it. It's the way it was written. The great thing about this series is we stay true to the books."
Right. Staying true to the books. We're glad you're doing that, too, Taylor. Keep up the good (ab) work.


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Corruption accusations threaten Erdogan's legacy as Turkey's modernizer
In his 11 years in office, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has changed the face of Turkey, turning its economy into one of Europe's strongest while securing a big role on the regional stage.
Now, however, he's become enmeshed in a corruption and bribery scandal that's shocked the country and embarrassed the government. His harsh reaction has raised profound questions about the future of justice in this land of 78 million people and is costing him support within his core constituency.
Some supporters think that after winning three elections, "Usta" – or "the boss" – is on the way out.
"He's already gone," Ibrahim Kurtulmusoglu, a 48-year-old antiques dealer who's been a member of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party since its inception, said in an interview not far from the prime minister's boyhood home, "because the smell is everywhere."
Purported wiretaps leaked to Turkish reporters suggest that Erdogan, his 19-year-old son, Bilal, and his top aides had facilitated the rezoning of valuable tracts to the benefit of contractors profiting from the country's construction and economic boom. Videos show "bagmen" delivering purported cash bribes to a private foundation connected with Erdogan's family. Police said they found shoeboxes full of money – millions of dollars – at the homes of a Cabinet minister's son and the manager of a state bank.
Erdogan sought to limit the damage by firing four Cabinet ministers, but one of them, Environment Minister Erdogan Bayraktar, said on the way out the door that his boss should exit with him. The prime minister declared that there would be no compromise in the struggle against corruption, yet his angry response – he reassigned some 2,500 police officers around the country – appeared aimed more at quashing the probe and blocking any prosecution.
The prime target of Erdogan's wrath is his onetime ally, Fethullah Gulen, a moderate Islamist writer and scholar who lives in self-exile in rural Pennsylvania and heads a worldwide movement, with schools in Turkey, the U.S. and 158 other countries. According to Erdogan, followers of Gulen had turned Turkey's judiciary and police into a "state within a state." That judiciary launched an "assassination attempt dressed up as a corruption investigation." On Monday, Erdogan compared the Gulenists to the medieval group known as Assassins, using the Turkish word, Hashashins, implying that they also used hashish. The Journalists and Writers Foundation, as the Gulenist movement has named its office here, denounced Erdogan's accusations as slander.
Many Turks in the neighborhood where the prime minister grew up are openly skeptical that he's the victim of a conspiracy.
There's some truth to the corruption charges, said Byram Karaoglu, 78, a retired schoolteacher who runs a small grocery just opposite the apartment building where Erdogan's family lives in Kasimpasa, a working-class neighborhood close to the center of Istanbul. "It's been this way for a long time in Turkey."
"A state within a state? Such a thing is impossible in Turkey," said Yahya, 55, a retiree who was walking down Piyale Mumhanesi Sokak street one Saturday. Like many of those who commented, Yahya didn't want to be fully identified, for fear of government retaliation.
Durdane, 53, who also asked to be identified only by her first name, concurred. "There was no crime on the part of the (Gulenist) movement."
Kenan, 31, was willing to concede that Turkey might house a "state within a state." But he was still bitter about the brutal police crackdown Erdogan ordered last summer against youthful protesters who took to the streets around the country to protest the prime minister's decision to demolish a park in Istanbul's Taksim Square to build a shopping center.
Kenan, like many others interviewed, said he was angry that Bilal Erdogan had ignored a subpoena to appear for questioning by a prosecutor over allegations that he'd received bribe money to build hostels and dormitories for students. "I don't think you have a choice when you get a prosecutor's summons," he said.
No one expects the prime minister to go quietly, and most expect him to stay at the top of Turkish politics. Already, his dramatic decision to overhaul the judiciary has turned the scandal into a test of Turkish democracy. In an interview, a senior Erdogan aide put the struggle in apocalyptic imagery.
"It is the last and biggest struggle," said the aide, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity, saying he wasn't authorized to talk under his own name. "This is the last chance to maintain a stable, calibrated democracy. It is a crisis for democracy, and the outcome will define the future of Turkey and the region."
Waxing hyperbolic, he quipped that this would be the "mother of all wars," paraphrasing Saddam Hussein, the late Iraqi leader, on the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
Coloring the controversy is Turkey's history of a judiciary that delivers phony charges that are upheld by courts completely lacking in due process.
Gareth Jenkins, a respected commentator who's lived in Turkey for 24 years, said Turkish prosecutors had launched major cases based on fabricated evidence before.
The timing of the revelations – coming in two waves, on Dec.17 and Dec. 25, just three months before nationwide local elections – "makes very clear that it was politically motivated," he told McClatchy. Prosecutors took "a lot of different allegations" for events that occurred at different times and "packaged them together."
"They were sitting on this stuff, waiting for the timing," he said. As for the content of the allegations, "the problem is that the Gulenists have fabricated evidence in the past. They have fed stuff to the media that has never appeared in the indictments." And in some major trials, particularly the recently completed trials of top military officers, "there are many innocent people in prison."
Until there was concrete proof brought before a court, the allegations should be viewed as allegations, Jenkins said.
Erdogan's senior aide said the power struggle between the prime minister and Gulen had been under way for more than two years but was hidden between the lines of Erdogan's public speeches about justice and accountability, vague words that his fellow party members decoded as criticizing the Gulenist-influenced judiciary. "He couldn't say it publicly," the aide said.
But as Erdogan began to criticize judicial practices, news media sympathetic to the Gulen movement – which owns Zaman, Turkey's biggest-circulation paper – began running columns that attacked the prime minister, the aide said. Erdogan struck back last autumn by threatening to take over Gulen's network of college exam preparatory schools throughout Turkey, enflaming the quarrel. Now it's no holds barred.
Gulen, who rarely takes a public stance on matters of state, issued a curse against "those who go after those catching the thief without seeing the thief." Erdogan dismissed it as rhetoric. "Curses between Muslims are such a terrible thing that they come around like a boomerang and hit those who pronounce them," he said.
Whatever the accuracy of Erdogan's claims of a state within a state conspiracy, many here fear that the prime minister is destroying the democratic principle of separation of powers by trying to bring the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors, an independent administrative body that assigns judges to cases, under the control of his Justice Ministry. Erdogan has proposed replacing the council's 27 members and eliminating most of the board's independent powers.
The council has blasted the proposal as unconstitutional, and outside observers have expressed worry that the battle will do lasting harm to Turkey's claims of democracy.
The country's judicial apparatus "is a very shaky system, open to the arbitrary use of terrorism laws, but intervening now, as the government is doing, is doubly damaging" said Emma Sinclair-Webb, a senior rights researcher in Turkey for the advocacy group Human Rights Watch. "It suggests that the powerful are untouchable. The damage to the justice system going on at the moment is huge."
Erdogan has shown himself before to be brittle about personal criticism. Ertugrul Gunay, who was Erdogan's minister of culture and tourism, quit the party last month rather than face disciplinary proceedings for having sent out a tweet critical of the prime minister.
"The prime minister does not want a just judiciary," he told McClatchy in a written statement. "He wants a system that is tied to him."
The first test of what damage Erdogan's popularity has suffered will come in March, when voters cast ballots in local elections, and the prime minister has launched a campaign to show he's in control. New posters that have just gone up all over Istanbul show a stern Erdogan over the caption "Strong and Determined."
Gunay predicts the effort won't work. "There is huge disappointment," he said, noting that recent polls have shown a 10 percentage-point drop in approval for Erdogan's party. "As a politician who lives among the people, I can see that this fall will continue."
Zeynep Ozbek, 29, a teacher, acknowledged enormous disappointment in Erdogan, fueled by a fear that she's no longer free to demonstrate against conditions she encounters every day – not just the corruption scandal but also the high prices of beans, chickpeas and electricity. She recalled a recent discussion among her friends of a protest march that would feature shoeboxes filled with money.
"I said, 'Don't do it,' " she recounted. "When you have shoeboxes full of money, who knows what will happen? In the last minute it could blow up."
She was thinking of last summer. "After the events in Taksim, you can't go out. You can't shout. You can't march," she told McClatchy.
She, her 9-year-old daughter and her 5-year-old son were strolling in central Istanbul just a week ago and ran into a Kurdish protest demonstration, when the police arrived. They were all tear-gassed.
It was too much for her. "Sometimes I want to take my children and leave here," she said.


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Select a design, then select the device that you would like to style.
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The Matte finish is a non-glossy, satin-type finish that give Skins an arty look and feel (art pieces, professional photos, canvases are usually matte). It is fingerprint and smudge resistant, and looks gorgeous with most designs.
The Gloss finish is a shiny finish that gives Skins an expensive, classy and sophisticated look (like a really shiny car). Designs look more vibrant with a gloss finish.
View your Shopping Cart or Style Another Device with "Aurora"
Excellent product. This is the second time I have bought an iStyles skin. The last one for my Galaxy Tab 10.1 was so good and came off easily when I sold it! Now I have a new one for my Surface Pro 2 because the original matte black surface was boring and easily scratched.Pamela Frood, United Kingdom


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Since 2002, we have had the privilege to do what we love and do best: provide our clients with some of the highest quality wild-caught and sustainable seafood on the planet.
Our premium products are a reflection of our commitment to seeking out and maintaining relationships with the world's best suppliers of sustainable seafood. This diverse supplier base, which relies on fishermen from the chilly waters of the Southern Oceans to the milder waters off the coast of Morocco and beyond, consistently delivers quality and variety, 95% of which is wild-caught.
Our Sources
We partner with fishermen and suppliers from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Belize, The Falklands, Chile, Spain, Alaska, and Iceland.
We work with fisheries that lead the industry in following the strict science-based standards of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
MSC is the world's most widely recognized certification and eco-labeling program for sustainable seafood, providing buyers and consumers with third-party assurance that the seafood comes from a well-managed and sustainable source. This short video explains the MSC standard for sustainability.
As the largest U.S. provider of MSC-certified Chilean Sea Bass, Mark Foods is committed to protecting the healthy abundance of this fish and its habitat. As such we are proud to be members of COLTO – the Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators – whose members have played an integral part in ensuring the sustainable harvest of toothfish in these fisheries.


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2nd Generation SanDisk pSSD Solid State Drive Running Windows 7 Contributes to Laptop's Light Weight and Low Power Consumption
Milpitas, Calif., November 3, 2009 - SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today announced that the 64-gigabyte (GB)1 SanDisk® pSSDTM Gen2 solid state drive was selected by Sony as the SSD of choice for its new VAIO X ultra-thin laptop.
Solid State Drives (SSD) use no moving parts, enabling improved durability that helps prevent data loss resulting from drive failure. Computers with SSD run quieter and cooler, and use less power than conventional hard disk drives (HDD). The SanDisk pSSD drive's small size complements ultra-thin laptops with small form factor requirements.
The SanDisk pSSD offers several features that contribute to the extreme thinness and long battery life of this lightweight Windows 7 notebook. The pSSD's compact size (weighing only 7.1grams and measuring 54mm x 32mm x 4.4mm) and LIF PATA interface are well-suited to Sony's particular form factor requirement. In addition, the drive's power consumption (average power of 0.15W2) is significantly lower than that of a traditional hard disk drive.
SanDisk's modular solid state drive, SanDisk pSSD, offers 9,000 vRPM3 of performance and has the added benefit of employing nCache™ technology, a large non-volatile write cache technology that boosts burst random write performance up to three times over steady state performance and up to 20 times faster than pSSD Gen1 to further enhance the user experience4. nCache technology improves user responsiveness and helps prevent incidence of drive "stalling."
"The release of Sony's VAIO X symbolizes a market shift towards pioneering flash-based laptop designs, eliminating the weight and size constraints of the legacy hard disk drive," said Doreet Oren, director product marketing, solid state drives, SanDisk. "The SanDisk pSSD drive enables laptops to be thinner and lighter, while eliminating the mechanical slow downs and malfunctions most commonly attributed to the hard disk drive."
"The selection of SanDisk pSSD drives by tier-1 OEMs for the newest small, thin and light-weight laptop designs is a vote of confidence for not only SanDisk solutions, but also for the potential of SSDs to move the computing market light years forward," said Jim McGregor, analyst at In-Stat, a Reed Business independent industry research firm. "PC OEMs understand the performance and power consumption benefits of SSDs and are working hard to bring these solutions quickly and affordably to the end user."
SanDisk pSSD Gen2 drives support Windows XP, Linux, and Windows 7, the OS of choice for the Sony VAIO X laptop. SanDisk pSSD Gen 2 comes in a variety of PATA and SATA interfaces and is available to OEMs in capacities that range from 8GB to 64GB. More information about SanDisk pSSD products is available at: www.sandisk.com\pssd
About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards, from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.
11 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes
2While running MobileMark and average (typical) power
3vRPM (virtual Revolutions Per Minute) - a metric to compare SSD performance in client PCs with the HDD and with other SSDs. vRPM = 50 / ((0.5 / 4kB random read IOPS) + 0.5 / 4kB random write IOPS))
4Performance based on internal testing and projections may vary depending on host device.
SanDisk's product and executive images can be downloaded from:
SanDisk's web site/home page address: www.sandisk.com
© 2009 SanDisk Corporation. SanDisk and the SanDisk logo are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. SanDisk pSDD is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder (s).
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for new product introductions, specifications, applications, markets, and customers that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: market demand for our products may grow more slowly than our expectations or there may be a slower adoption rate for these products in new markets that we are targeting, our products may not perform as expected or may not be available at the prices, in the regions, in the capacities or at the time expected and the other risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.
|Media Contact:
|SanDisk Corporation
|Name: Mike Wong
|Phone: 408-801-1240
|Email: email@example.com


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Marines "reluctant" to talk in video probe
Updated at 3:30 p.m. ET
Some of the Marines identified in a video that shows them apparently urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters in Afghanistan were described as "reluctant" to talk to investigators, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.
At least two of the four Marines interviewed by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which is conducting the criminal probe, have been uncooperative, Martin reports. The Marines also refused to let NCIS search their belongings.
An NCIS spokeswoman said Friday that the agency has spoken with all four Marines in the video, who are in the United States.
"NCIS investigators are still tracking down information on the individual(s) who created and posted the video as well as initiating computer forensic techniques on the video itself," spokeswoman Maryann Cummings said in a statement.
The Marines could face charges after the military completes its investigation into the incident. The four Marines have been identified as members of a 1,000-man battalion that recently completed a combat tour in Afghanistan and returned to Camp LeJuene, N.C., where they apparently started showing the video around as a war trophy.
4 Marines in video ID'd; Probe ongoing
Lara Logan: Video a "gift for the Taliban"
Karzai: Alleged urination video "inhumane"
The developments come as the Marine Corps appointed a three-star general to decide what, if any, disciplinary action to take against the snipers.
No one has been charged in the case.
Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser will name another officer to lead an internal Marine Corps investigation. He will determine how to proceed once both investigations are completed. Waldhauser is commander of Marine Corps Forces Central Command, whose area of responsibility includes Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, after roundly condemning the Marines' alleged behavior, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and top military leaders on Thursday sought to contain the damage at home and abroad.
Panetta also said the incident could endanger the prospects for peace talks, although the Obama administration and the Taliban each voiced readiness Thursday to try negotiations while pledging to carry on the military conflict until their rival objectives are met. The separate statements by senior American and Taliban officials illustrated the improved environment for Afghan reconciliation efforts as well as the daunting task ahead.


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Young players from Italy, Spain, Switzerland through to CEV Youth Continental Cup finals
Switzerland's Dunja Gerson/Nadine Mattmann claimed the girls' final match as they bested their Italian opponents Irene Enzo and Michela Lantignotti in two close sets (21-18, 22-20). The home heroines of Serbia, Sara Jovicic and Milana Stojanoski, had to settle for fourth place as they lost the classification match to Spain's Patricia Llabrés/Carla Alocén (21-16, 21-12). These countries – as well as fifth-placed Malta – did miss out on a chance to make it to the last and deciding phase of the Youth Continental Cup.
The boys' competition did see Italy and Spain top the charts and advance to the final stage. In the second round of play completed on Saturday Spain's Sergio Bruque/Luis Vives first edged the local favorites Igor Andric/Zoran Petrovic in straight sets (21-16, 21-16) and then also Switzerland's Florian Breer and Yves Haussener at the end of a very close game (21-19, 22-24, and 15-12). As for Italy's Manuel Alfieri and Paolo Di Silvestre, they settled for first place after besting the Swiss duo also in three sets (18-21, 21-17, and 15-9). In the end Switzerland was ranked third with Serbia rounding out the charts in fourth.
The awards ceremony that completed a memorable weekend for all of these youngsters and where special diplomas were presented to all participants was attended by CEV Board Member and Jury President Maris Pekalis of Latvia, CEV Assistant Technical Supervisor Meltem Emel Ozturk, Vip mobile Marketing and Corporate Communications Director Branka Letica as well as by Volleyball legend Vladimir Grbic, who is currently a Vice President of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia and also a member of the FIVB Development Commission.


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Shortly after the Nazis started burning ''un-German'' books in 1933, the Commonwealth Customs Department banned Intimate Romances featuring short stories about child brides, sharing a husband and being ''a traitor to my marriage vows''.
Customs also did not think much of Road Floozie, a 1941 pulp fiction by Darcy Glinto, and proscribed it until the 1960s.
They are among a collection of banned books that have emerged from the vault at the National Archives of Australia showing 20th century Australia boasted one of the western world's strictest censors.
A cafe display of the books, titled Banned, at the National Archives in Canberra, illustrates how much Australian society has changed in the past 60 years, with modern readers possibly at a loss to understand why certain books were ever locked away.
Popular and pulp fiction with lurid covers and titles such as Road Floozie, Mad for Murder, , Stoned, and Crimes of Passion were often seized by customs officers without a second glance. But books deemed literary classics by Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, D.H. Lawrence, Norman Mailer and Honoré´ de Balzac were also deemed unsuitable for Australian minds because they were considered blasphemous, indecent or obscene.
The National Archives curator Tracey Clarke said why some bans were imposed remained a mystery. ''For example Down and Out in Paris and London, by George Orwell, was banned before the Literature Censorship Board came into existence,'' she said. ''When it came to the notice of the board in 1953 they were puzzled as to the reason and lifted the ban immediately.''
J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye was banned in 1957, without reference to the Literature Censorship Board.
''It caused national embarrassment when a copy was found in the Parliamentary Library and it was discovered that the United States ambassador had presented copies of the book to foreign countries as an example of his country's fine literature,'' Ms Clarke said.
It was only after this embarrassment that the censorship system was overhauled, with the banned list being made public. Before this, even booksellers were not privy to the list and often ordered books that were popular overseas only to have them seized on arrival.
Curiously, customs would frequently ban what was considered suitable reading in England, Europe and America.
While bans on literary work by Boccaccio, Orwell, Lawrence, Vladimir Nabokov, Gore Vidal, and William Burroughs outraged many middle-class readers, the National Archives display shows customs' censorship came down heaviest on working-class reading habits.


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Ideas for making simple changes in everyday choices
Ideas for making simple changes in everyday choices
Whether you're looking to borrow a tool, mend your favorite coat, salvage materials, or purchase a green gift, Resourceful PDX has ideas and tips to get you started!
Create memories instead of stuff by planning ahead to get what you need
Create memories instead of stuff by planning ahead to get what you need
With simple planning and creative thinking, there are many ways to buy smart and still get what you need. Planning ahead also helps you be more efficient, freeing up time to spend with family and friends, or enjoying new experiences.
Start with a little planning before you head out to the store – for groceries, clothes or gifts. Make a list, then "shop" your cupboards and closets first, crossing off the items you already have on hand. At the store, stick to your list.
Choose quality, durable products rather than disposable items. There are many alternatives available these days, from old-school ways (like Mason jar drinking glasses) to modern technology (such as stainless steel canteens), that allow you as a consumer to make the right choice for yourself and your family.
Think outside the gift box. Who doesn't love show tickets or getting a special spa service? Gifts of experiences (rather than stuff) offers loved ones a chance for a memorable outing, and removes the potential for pressure to find room for something they may not need.
Find more ideas and tips on how to buy smart.
Choose second hand, salvage and vintage or repurpose something old into a new creation
Choose second hand, salvage and vintage or repurpose something old into a new creation
Upcycled or repurposed, second hand, salvage and vintage – all of these words essentially mean reuse, and doing so can save you money and space and avoid waste.
Need clothes, storage solutions, back-to-school supplies or craft materials? Many of these items can easily be found at second-hand stores in Portland, or you may even have what you need on-hand.
With a little creativity or help from a tailor, cobbler or handyperson, you may be able to turn your give-away pile into useable goods (and then donate what's left). If you're a do-it-yourselfer, ideas and tips from our blog, local shops and classes, or online can help you unleash your inner creativity.
Explore Portland's many second-hand stores to find new-to-you clothing, furniture, electronics, household or craft items, salvage building materials and more.
Cut down on clutter by borrowing, sharing and renting items
Cut down on clutter by borrowing, sharing and renting items
When we share more, we also consume less. And by doing so, we reduce our clutter and free up space.
Sharing can be as simple as loaning a specialty baking pan to your neighbor, organizing a clothing swap with your friends, or even checking out books from the library rather than buying any of these items new. Portland is also full of organizations that facilitate sharing between neighbors – offering tools and equipment, space, clothes, toys and more.
Borrowing and sharing also helps build community by fostering connections with neighbors and friends, which makes Portland a better place for all of us. What does sharing mean to you?
Extend the life of what you have with basic maintenance and repair
Extend the life of what you have with basic maintenance and repair
There is a growing "repair movement" in Portland and across the U.S. that is empowering and educating people to look more closely at the goods they own or buy. Choosing items for durability and repairability (such as shoes that can have the soles replaced when they become worn) extends the life of your stuff, saving you money while reducing waste.
Maintenance and repair can be easy, too. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, how-to classes and online tutorials can help you improve your sewing, bike or home repair skills quickly. There are also community resources, such as Repair PDX, and local repair shops that can fix anything from clothing and shoes, to furniture, tools, electronics, appliances and more!
Find more ideas and tips on how to fix and maintain.
Your home can reflect your values without breaking the bank
Your home can reflect your values without breaking the bank
Are you updating your bathroom, making room for a bigger kitchen or getting your home ready for a new family member?
Whether you're working with a contractor or doing it yourself, you can save materials and resources and incorporate your style into your project.
Give materials a second life by deconstructing rather than demolishing, and reusing or donating what's left. If you're doing it yourself, borrow what you need by utilizing community resources like tool libraries or rental businesses for occasional home projects. Find and incorporate items you love and want to repurpose - vintage and salvage materials provide a unique vibe to any space.
Find ideas to improve and maintain your home.
Welcome new members into your family without the extra "stuff"
Welcome new members into your family without the extra "stuff"
Are you preparing for a new baby? A returning college student? Or an elderly parent?
This time of transition naturally comes with a desire to make your home welcoming to your new family member. Portland offers many creative ways to get what you need without buying new.
A new addition to the family may also mean a desire for more space. Swap and plays, as well as some community centers and cafes, have spaces for parents and caregivers to relax and connect, as well as play areas for kids, and can meet the need for that place to "get away" without doing costly home projects.
In addition, swap and plays provide opportunities to trade goods with other families, which can be really helpful as babies and kids grow out of items quickly. The many thrift and consignment stores in Portland are another easy way to get everything you need for a new baby or kids of all ages.
Find ideas for growing your family without the extra "stuff" in our blog.
Moving can be a time to reflect on what we do (and don't) need
Moving can be a time to reflect on what we do (and don't) need
Moving may be stressful, but it is also a good time to stop and ask yourself if you need or want to keep everything you had in your old home. For items you don't want to take with you, having a garage or yard sale if a great way to reuse your stuff. Combine efforts with neighbors to make planning easier. After the sale, donate your leftover household, craft or clothing items so others may benefit from items you no longer need.
After moving, allow yourself a little time to get settled into your new place, and you may find new uses for some of the things you already have rather than buying new right away.
Find ideas for moving resourcefully.
Rethink how you outfit kids for school
Rethink how you outfit kids for school
Whether it's the start of a new school year, season, or project, it seems like kids always need something for school.
Each of these times creates an opportunity to rethink how you and your family prepare for school – from the day-to-day schedule and how you get to and from school, to the clothes, food and supplies they need every day.
Consider quality over quantity for school supplies and "waste-free lunches" (such as reusable snack bags and food containers), look for recycled content products with less packaging and think about repurposing what you already have over buying new items for class.
Find ideas to outfit your kids for school while saving money, time and resources.


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Your representative
is AGAINST net neutrality
Rep. Vicky Hartzler took $37,150 in "campaign donations" from big ISPs. No wonder this representative opposes strong net neutrality protections that would prevent companies like Comcast, Verizon, Spectrum, and AT&T from throttling traffic, blocking access to apps, and imposing unfair fees. Contact your lawmaker now and let them know that your online freedom is more important than handouts to corporate monopolies. Then share this page with everyone in your social network to turn up the pressure.
Join a protest in your city … or organize one!Attend
422 businesses in your area have signed our open letter to Congress in support of net neutrality. Will you?Sign on
Every dollar counts. We'll use your contributions to fund events, billboards and workers to help fight for net neutrality.Donate
Find out where every member of Congress stands on net neutrality.View Scoreboard


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Senior Hurling Final
Tipp get title in battle
Tipperary 2-18 Galway 1-17
In an excellent senior hurling final, Tipperary did just enough to take the title with a storming second half performance. Galway will feel that they left it behind as they had at least four goal chances that came for naught in the second half while Tipperary were far more economical at the other end. It was neck and neck in the first half with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions. Galway had the slightest of leads at the break, 1-09 to 1-08. Cormac Murphy had the Galway goal while Brian O'Meara had rattled the net at the other end. It continued in a close fought vain for much of the second half with the Galway defense doing Trojan work. Liam Butler was outstanding in the second half alongside Ger O'Halloran. However a lot of times their clearances came back down the field after Padraig Maher and David Tracey had intervened at the other end.
ritical to Tipp's cause was the high percentage of accuracy that their attack had in particular Shane Burke and Brian O'Meara. Burke hit the net with five minutes left to finally put breathing space between the sides. Galway did have two final attacks but they were both snuffed out be stops by Craig Harford in the winner's goal.
Galway 1 Gavin Lally 2 Andrew Keane 4 Ger O'Halloran 5 Richie Gaule 6 Andrew Shore 7 Mike Cunningham 8 Martin Fennelly 9 Liam Butler 10 Ger Kelly 11 Eoin Larkin 12 Robbie Jackson 13 Paul Gordon 15 Cormac Murphy Subs Martin Dolphin Robert Mitchell
Tipperary 1 Craig Harford 2 Donagh Maher 4 Paul Shutte 5 Colm Forde 6 Padraig Maher 7 Francis Kennedy 8 David Tracey 9 Cian Maher 10 John Sheedy 11 Brian O'Meara 12 Shane Burke 13 Paul Loughnane 15 Davie Loughnane Subs Pat Egan, Fintan Maher
Referee Finbarr Flood
Intermediate Semi Final
Monaghan too strong
Monaghan 3-16 Sligo 1-06
Monaghan were far too strong for Sligo as they advanced to the Intermediate final where they will meet Long Island Gaels. The Gaels defeated Mayo in the second semifinal on Saturday night. Sligo had the first score in the contest when Adrian Marron pointed a free, He was one of the few bright sparks, but Monaghan were quickly on level terms. The defensive play of Paul Lamb and Sean Kelly made creating chances near to impossible for Sligo while Bonnie Duffy and Lonan Maguire were excellent in the half back line. The winners purred into a 0-08 to 0-04 half time lead and had their first goal minutes into the second half when Paul McArdle rattled the net off the fingers of out stretched fingers of Danny Lafferey. On the ten minute mark they had their second goal; again McArdle was the scorer to effectively kill off the contest. James Connolly, Dave Harvey and Kevin Connolly followed with points as the victory became a stroll to the end line.
Sligo 1 Danny Cafferey 2 Denis Kilkenny 3 Paul Kelly 4 Thomas Brett 5 Naill Gallagher 6 Barry Phelan 7 Kevin Roe 8 Denis Coffey 9 Sean Kinahane 10 Chris Cunniffe 11 Adrian Marron 12 Brian Henry 13 Hughie Marron 14 Mike Mangan 15 Cathel Brennan
Monaghan 1 Donal Hearty 2 Mike O'Regan 3 Sean Kelly 4 Paul Lamb 5 Lonan Maguire 6 Bonnie Kenney 7 Mark McCaughey 8 Kevin Connolly 9 Kevin Smith 10 Caoimhin O'Callaghan 11 Darren Freeman 12 Shane McKenna 13 John Connolly 14 Paul McArdle 15 Dave Harvey
Referee Martin O'Connor
Junior B Football Final
Second Half surge wins it
Longford 1-17 Manhattan Gaels 2-05
Longford used a dominating second half performance to take home the Junior B football title at Gaelic Park on Sunday. The sides were level three times in the first half before Longford started to get ahead. They had the final two points of the first half but also had most of the play but errant shooting stopped them from getting further ahead. That included a penalty being driven wide by Brian Kavanagh when Tommy Dolan was pulled to the ground. Amazingly Ger Shivanan was not booked for his discression. The winners added four points to their total to increase the advantage to 0-09 to 0-03 with twenty minutes left. Manhattan then had their best period of the contest when they had 1-02 in five minutes with the goal coming from Barry McErlean when a mistake from a kickout at the Longford end allowed the Gaels to punish. They were now within two but the winners reacted in the best way possible. A string of points, five in total before Sean McCoy had a clever goal when he took a PJ Mahoney pass and side stepped three men before dispatching to the net put the contest out of reach. Three further points before a consolation Conor Hickey goal put a gloss on the scoreboard amounted to a comprehensive victory for the reformed Longford club.
Manhattan Gaels 1Ger Shivnan 2 Leo Quigley 3 Paul Staunton 4 Paddy McGuinness 5 Ryan Canavan 6 Naill Brennan 7 Joe O'Connor 8 Conor Hickey (1-01)9 David Varley 10 John Crowe (0-01)11 Barry McErlean (1-00)12 Brian Whelan (0-02) 13 Neven Higgins 14 Cormac Finn 15 Mick Moroney (0-01)
Longford 1 Dave Lynch 2 John McCorry 3 Micheal Ledwith 4 Eugene O'Hagan 5 Val Delaney 6 Mike Creegan 7 Brendan Donaghue 8 Kevin Smith (0-01)9 Paul O'Hara (0-02)10 Brian Kavanagh (0-04)11 PJ O'Mahoney (0-02)12 Sean McCoy (1-02)13 Nathan Finnigan (0-03)14 Tommy Nolan (0-01)15 Ronan Rodgers Sub Brian Curley (0-02)
Referee Peter McCormack


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Barrel 30
A conventional Snaffle joint has a nut cracker action, which means it will bear pressure on the horse's bars and the tongue. The Barrel joint limits the nut cracker action and spreads the usual pressure over a larger area. When the rein is used this mouthpiece wraps across the tongue creating tongue pressure and taking pressure off the bars due to the lock up action. Please note appearances may be deceiving, this bit joint is stronger than the Elliptical as pressure is more concentrated on the tongue as this joint is smaller.


text: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) at the Nashville airport earlier today, talking about his delay at security. Erik Schelzig/AP hide caption toggle caption Erik Schelzig/AP The Two-Way Sen. Rand Paul Suspects He Was Randomly Picked For Pat-Down January 23, 2012 The senator was delayed at the Nashville airport. An alarm went off as he passed through security. He asked to be rescreened but was told he'd have to undergo a pat-down. Paul declined. He's the son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).


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chunky & bulky weight
eBooks and ePatterns are sold in PDF format. Please read the Terms & Conditions page before completing your purchase. If you are new to PDFs or are experiencing problems with downloading, please visit the FAQ page. Click on each image below for larger view, pattern details and skills required.


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"Hotshot up-and-comer" stand-up Aaron Nevins got some sage advice from Gilbert Gottfried at Helium last night. Check it out!
If you are a Philadelphia comedy performer that produces a podcast, web series, sketch video, humor column, or any other online content let us know by emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com so we can share it!


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chocolate, general term for the products of the seeds of the cacao or chocolate tree, used for making beverages or confectionery. The flavor of chocolate depends not only on the quality of the cocoa nibs (the remainder after the seeds are fermented, dried, and roasted) and the flavorings but also on a complex process of grinding, heating, and blending. The chocolate liquid formed in an intermediate stage is used in the confectionery trade as a covering for fruits, candies, or cookies, or the process may be continued and the resulting smooth mass of chocolate molded, cooled, and packaged as candy. It should be hard enough to snap when broken, have a mellow flow when melting, be free of gritty particles, and have a rich, dark color and an aromatic smell and flavor.
A chocolate beverage was known to the Aztecs and through Spanish explorers found (c.1500) its way into Europe; the Maya also made such a drink, perhaps as early as 900 BC, and may also have used chocolate in prepared food. In 1657 a shop was opened in London where chocolate was sold at luxury prices. It became a fashionable drink; many shops sprang up to become centers of political discussion and grow into famous clubs, such as the Cocoa Tree. Chocolate was first manufactured in the United States at Milton Lower Mills, near Dorchester, Mass., in 1765. About 1876, M. D. Peter of Vevey, Switzerland, perfected a process of making milk chocolate by combining the cocoa nib, sugar, fat, and condensed milk. The United States has the world's largest chocolate-manufacturing industry.
See B. W. Minifie, Chocolate, Cocoa and Confectionery (1970); S. Beckett, Industrial Chocolate Manufacture and Use (1982); J. G. Brenner, The Emperors of Chocolate (1999); M. Norton, Sacred Gifts, Profane Pleasures: A History of Tobacco and Chocolate in the Atlantic World (2008).


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What is XRCD?
Groove Note Records is an audiophile label specializing in High Quality Jazz Instrumentalists and Vocalists! Groove Note was started by Ying Tan, one of the original founding members of Classic Records. Groove Note features original productions from some of the finest current artists including Jacintha, Anthony Wilson, Eden Atwood, Bennie Wallace and classic jazz recordings from Ray Brown, Gene Harris, Illinois Jacquet and more!
Elusive Disc, Inc is the exclusive U.S. Distributor for the Groove Note Label. Dealer inquiries invited.


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Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Laptop Cover
21 comments:
- Mary said...
That is totally awesome!
- March 22, 2011 at 9:52 AM
- Lindy@Itsy Bitsy Paper said...
This is brilliant! Love that fabric too. Just bookmarked for a future project idea. Thank you
- March 22, 2011 at 10:01 AM
- Heather said...
This is such a cute idea!! I love it!! Following from http://www.craftycagirl.blogspot.com
- March 22, 2011 at 10:42 AM
- making life a Bliss said...
Cool idea, I couldn't tell, did you put a thick padding in it for protection?
I just came over from not JUST a housewife! I'm your newest follower!
Making life a bliss
- March 22, 2011 at 11:52 AM
- Drew's Mom said...
Awesome! You make it sound so simple, but it looks great & like it was done by a pro. Great job.
- March 22, 2011 at 12:05 PM
- Natalia Lynn said...
I love this! When I get my new MAC, which I hope is this summer, I am so going to do this!
- March 22, 2011 at 6:02 PM
- Kristen said...
love it!
- March 22, 2011 at 10:03 PM
ah love this! I am featuring it on handmade tuesdays so please feel free to go grab a button! thanks so much for linking up to handmade tuesdays @ ladybug blessings www.ladybug-blessings.com
- March 22, 2011 at 11:20 PM
- Kimberlee said...
I so love this!!! I have been looking, and looking at tutorials. This fits my needs!!! Thank you for posting. Adding the link to my to-do list now so I don't forget where it is, LOL!
- March 23, 2011 at 12:47 PM
- Em and Lib said...
Incredible - never thought of making my own - Like that I could use old baby blankets for the Flannel...
- March 23, 2011 at 5:16 PM
- Jill said...
What a great project - you make it sound nice and easy, and the finished productis just gorgeous!
I would love if you came over and linked this project to my weekly Round Tuit party at:
Have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
- March 24, 2011 at 12:24 AM
- Lisa said...
Great idea! My laptop is so scratched from moving it around the house and traveling with it, but it's too large to buy a cover for it. Thanks for the idea!
- March 24, 2011 at 9:49 AM
- Maridith @ Strictly Homemade said...
Great tutorial. I love the idea of protecting the screen as well. Thanks for the inspiration.
- March 24, 2011 at 10:24 AM
- Jenn said...
This is great! I was just thinking I need something to cover my computer but I didn't want a bulking bag. Thank you Thank you!
- March 24, 2011 at 9:47 PM
- Melissa said...
That is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing over at Tuesday Tell All.
- March 25, 2011 at 4:51 PM
- Jill @ Just dream, Jelly Bean! said...
Now this is the kind of tutorial that makes me want to learn to sew! :( so absolutely cute!
- March 26, 2011 at 5:21 AM
- Marianne said...
This is really neat. Maybe I will make a new one for my netbook so that it matches my e reader cover.
Thank you for a very good tutorial.
- March 26, 2011 at 11:14 AM
- Suzette and Sarah said...
I will have to give this a try!
- April 14, 2011 at 6:05 PM
- Toucan Scraps said...
fantastic idea
- June 12, 2011 at 5:57 PM
- Nikell said...
This is awesome! I wanted to surprise my husband with a bag for his laptop. But this is much better.Thank you so much for sharing this. I can't wait ti get started.
- June 28, 2011 at 7:02 PM
- Nikell said...
It's me again...
I finished this laptop cover today. It turned out great and my husband liked it. It looks really nice on his laptop. Thanks again for sharing ^_^
- July 1, 2011 at 5:45 PM


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Humans of Ballou
Humans of Ballou
Proceeds from book sales go to a Ballou HS scholarship fund and to empower new authors.
The students of Ballou High School know a different Washington, DC than do the more than 18 million tourists who visit our nation's capital each year. They live in Southeast DC, across the Anacostia River, and the tour buses don't go through their neighborhoods. Some travel guides explicitly call the communities East of the River "areas to avoid." Even some residents of the District don't often visit Wards 7 and 8, as the river acts as not only a literal boundary, but a metaphorical one. The bridge that should connect these two Washingtons is all too rarely crossed.
The statistics about poverty or crime or violence in this community tell such a limited story, and it's not the only story to tell. Those statistics should not build a wall that hides the humanity on the other side. Young people grow up in these neighborhoods, often too quickly, facing adult challenges too young. But they also grow up as all young people do: with joy. With talent. With pride. With love for their families, both biological and chosen. With style and humor and ambition and charm. For them, Southeast DC, and their own Ballou High School, is more than the headlines that others write -- it is home. And for the educators who work with these young people every day, they know that the stories we tell--and hear--about ourselves make all the difference.
This is why we write. These are the stories not on the tour. As one student put it, "[Come] to my side of town and... see what's monuments to me." Meet these Humans of Ballou, both student and educator, who speak up not only for their school and their neighborhood, but for the many communities across the country who need to be seen and heard, on their own terms.
Humans of Ballou is the third volume of The Ballou Story Project, a program that provides a platform for these students to tell their own stories and act as leaders in their community. Learn more.


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Fowler, one of the most exciting talents to emerge in recent years, and journeyman Compton, a double heart-transplant recipient who has played mainly on the satellite tours, soared into contention with matching three-under-par 67s.
Though they trail tournament leader Martin Kaymer of Germany by five shots heading into Sunday's final round at Pinehurst Resort, the two Americans have so far relished their performances in the second major championship of the season.
"I'm very, very pleased with today's work," Fowler, 25, told reporters after he and Compton were the only two players in the 67-man field to shoot under par on a difficult day for scoring. "I kept it in play and stayed out of trouble when I could.
"I kind of minimised mistakes when I was in trouble, and made some good swings in bad spots. I made some really good iron swings, and got up and down when I needed to. It was all about moving forward today."
Fowler, who made the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team during his rookie PGA Tour season before clinching his first title on the circuit at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, has been especially delighted with his form in this year's majors.
He tied for fifth at the Masters in April and is in good position to record the fourth top-10 of his career in the majors at Pinehurst on Sunday.
"The main goal going into the year was to be ready for the majors and go contend in the majors," said the Californian. "I put myself in that position at Augusta and I've done that this week.
"I would definitely be very happy at the end of the year if I was in contention at all four majors. I really wouldn't care about what happened in the other tournaments just because my main goals were to be ready for the majors."
Compton, who was diagnosed with an enlarged heart as a child and had his first transplant aged 12, is competing in only his second major championship this week and has loved every minute.
"It's very special," said the 34-year-old, who missed the cut when he made his major debut in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. "I'm just happy to be able to play golf.
"But to play at this high level and in such a big tournament, it is something that I carry with me. And it gives me a lot of strength when I do have moments where I feel like I get emotional for a second.
"I'm just really, really happy to be here. I'm taking really tight lines off the tee and swinging hard. When you're doing that, it's pretty fun."
Compton, who had a second heart transplant in 2008 before playing his rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2012, has enjoyed a high comfort level this week at Pinehurst despite competing in only his second major.
"I've been playing good golf for a long time, since I was a junior golfer, college golfer, and playing at other pro levels, and this year I've had a great year," he said. "We're playing against the same guys.
"I just try to hit fairways and greens. It shouldn't feel any different than any other tournament. I have been through a lot in my life. And putting things in perspective may help me.
"Today I didn't feel much adrenaline or pressure. I just kind of enjoyed the round. It was just a good, solid day. Just really, really happy to be here."
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)


text:
MIAMI - A 5-month-old boy is recovering at a South Florida hospital after a medical scare brought traffic to a stop Thursday afternoon on the Dolphin Expressway.
Sebastian de la Cruz stopped breathing while riding with his aunt, Pamela Rauseo, who pulled over and started screaming for help.
"It really was the scariest moment of my life," Rauseo told ABC News.
Lucila Godoy was the first to stop and try to help, leaving her own toddler in her car to help the infant.
"We tried to start working as a team at that time," Godoy said.
Miami Herald photographer Al Diaz ran through lanes of traffic to get help.
"I don't know CPR well enough to try to aid with that, so I went to try to look for help in traffic, so I started waving traffic down," Diaz said.
He was able to attract the attention of Sweetwater police Officer Amauris Bastidas, who took over CPR, performing chest pumps while Rauseo breathed into Sebastian's mouth.
They kept Sebastian breathing until rescuers arrived and rushed him to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Diaz later went back for his camera and captured the tense moments.
Rauseo said Sebastian was born prematurely and has respiratory issues.
Copyright 2014 by Local10.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Woodson just seems like an idiot. How did he get the job. Never had success.
The week before training-camp owner Dolan fired G.M. Glen Grunwald.
And replace Grunwald with Steve Mills, the guy who recommended and defend Isiah Thomas GM tour as a Knicks.
Mills is a Puppet name for the position.
Training camp began and finished as a joke.
During training camp Amare & Kenyon Martin told ESPN and NBA.com reporters they were 100% healthy to start the Knicks 2013-14 season. Which refute the on going stories the Knicks head-coach, and Knicks medical-staff statement of Amare & Martin being injured and their playing-time will be put on a restriction status.
Both players Amare & Martin are NBA natural PF.
The same position the Knicks traded a future first and second round draft pick in the offseason to get 7.0 PF Bargani. Plus the previous season Carmelo Anthony played at the PF position to win the scoring title.
At the end of preseason games the Knicks' players were not hungry, and Carmelo Anthony made public he was going to opt out after the season. What?
Now did you know that LeBron James and Dwayne Wade can both opt out of their prospective contracts, too?
Both LeBron and Wade played basketball and never discussed their pending decision to opt out.
Carmelo Anthony could have easily said as of now I am a Knick and no discussions decision will be made till after the season.
Instead like Dwight Howard he wanted the attention and it became a big distraction. Yes, Melo had a great individual season, however regardless what many reporters state the Knicks had more talent than many teams currently in the playoffs. They were selfish, non-focused and it cost them the season and Woodson his job.
As the Knicks cleaned out their lockers, while 16 other NBA teams went on to the playoffs, Stoudemire had no problem discerning why his squad wasn't among them. It wasn't a lack of talent but a lack of leadership, an unwillingness to buy into what beleaguered Woodson had been teaching.
Head-coach Woodson put together a game plan on both ends of the basketball court and there were times that we didn't totally buy into it,'' Stoudemire said after Thursday's exit interview with team president Phil Jackson. "We didn't really focus on mastering the offensive strategies and defensive strategies," Stoudemire said. "The mind-set is for us whatever the game plan is, we have to stick to the game plan. We've got to try to master it, and that way we can be playing at an extremely high level when it's time for the postseason.''
The blue highlight above, and its so-call game-plan on offense/defense by the coach was never witness on the court from any Knicks line-up or players during the Summer League games, Preseason games, or the 82 regular season games.
The Knicks 2013-14 performance were "one on one" individual talent on offense/defense. In other words to describe "Street-Ball".
Look at the video by Crazy 8 ...............
Last edited by Kiyaman; Apr 26, 2014 at 11:20.
I'm confused by your post, Kiya. Did you change your mind that it wasn't nearly as much as Woodson's fault is at seems? Or are you saying it goes deeper, he was being a puppet that wasn't AS BAD as it seems?
Sig made by Sons of Thunder
Our twisted optimistic views with the Big-Apple media hype of Melo/JR scoring made Woodson out to be something he is not, a contender-headcoach.
All I'm saying, we started the 2013-14 season with 8 players from the previous 2012-13 season
.. Tyson, Amare, K-Mart, Melo, JR, Shump, Prig, Felton ..
GM Glen Grunwald added 4 players to the roster in offseason
.. Bargani, MWP, Beno, and rookie THJ ..
HC Woodson added 3 players to the roster from the preseason
.. Cole, Murry, and Chris Smith ..
James Dolan added HAVOC, and controversy to the Knicks organization the week before training-camp by firing/demoting GM Glen Grunwald to janitor duties. RED FLAG! the first sign of a JOKE season.
Mike Woodson showed his true value as a NBA head-coach in our postseason games:
1-4 vs Miami
4-2 vs Boston
2-4 vs Indiana
7-10 postseason record. Only James Dolan believe a 7-10 record makes a contender head-coach.
Last edited by Kiyaman; Apr 27, 2014 at 10:35.
Grunweld's an idiot too, had to go but replacde him with someone decent! Not a puppet. Bottom line is dolan needs to go, even messing with Jackson now, he's not racist like the clippers owner but just as bad in terms of ruining s team. This is why we need huge estate taxes in this country cuz daddy leaves his kid a fortune and the spoiled kid goes nuts with arrogance.


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Konichiwa, and a warm welcome to our community of expats in bright, vibrant Osaka. InterNations is a rich social network especially created to support expats. With your InterNations account you have access to an invaluable range of resources, from insider tips to comprehensive guides. Find answers to your questions such as "which type of work permit do I need?" and "what education options are available?". Get in touch with our knowledgeable and friendly expats through our platform and let them share their experiences and address any other concerns you may have, from overcoming paperwork issues to finding the best sports facilities.
Attend our monthly events and activities for Osaka expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow members in our Osaka expat forums.
Osaka's colorful city of over 8 million inhabitants is fast-paced, loud, and neon-lit; while some expats will be turned off by the activity others will find it exciting, vibrant and full of energy. The city is a major shopping hub with a number of different districts, including the luxurious goods found in Shinsaibashi and the more youthful and fashionable American Village. New arrivals will particularly want to head for the culture, restaurants, and famous sights of the Namba district. A thriving performing arts and theater scene is open to culture lovers, with traditional Bunraku puppet plays, classical music, ballet opera, musicals and plays. You'll also find sports teams, museums, and amusement parks to guarantee a busy life in Osaka that can never be boring. Services, industrial manufacturing, and retail are the three biggest industries of Osaka's income but the city has opportunities across a range of sectors. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, construction, biotechnology, and telecommunications are all well-represented. Expats who speak Japanese may find opportunities for career advancement, and of course those who secure employment with a multinational corporation before arrival will have a major advantage.
Socializing and networking can be difficult when starting life in a new city, but with your InterNations account you are invited to our regular events and get-togethers to socialize and network in person. Look at our interest-based groups to find like-minded expats to share your hobbies in anything from exploring the city and dining out to the outdoors. Our expats hail from all over the world, and with InterNations you are part of our community of global minds.


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State Rep. McMillin draws ire for saying gay lifestyle is a choice WITH VIDEO
State representative for the 45th District Tom McMillin is under attack by some Rochester Hills residents after making a public comment about homosexuality being a lifestyle choice.
At a September Rochester Hills town hall meeting, McMillin was asked if he thought being gay was a choice and his response, which was recorded on video, has since raised some eyebrows around Rochester Hills.
"Well, I think that the thousands of people that have been in that lifestyle and come out would say that it was their choice when they were in and came out of the lifestyle," McMillin, a Republican, said at the meeting.
Tim Maurer, a longtime resident of Rochester Hills and homeowner, was the person who decided to ask McMillin the questions at the meeting. He said the questions stemmed from a McMillin quote in a 2003 news story in The Detroit News that talked about his support for a resolution for banning same-sex couple marriages.
Watch a report on Rep. McMillin's comments during today's News at Noon.
In the story, McMillin said, "I think that the people who are caught up in the homosexual lifestyle need help. We encourage people to stop smoking. This resolution is the same sort of thing."
Wanting to know if McMillin's views had relaxed, Maurer asked if he still believed individuals could quit being gay like you can quit smoking, and that's when McMillin responded saying he thinks it is a lifestyle choice.
The Oakland Press reached out to McMillin regarding the recorded comment he made at the town hall meeting, and a representative from his office responded to the resident's concerns with an email statement saying he thinks some people are trying to drive attention away from all of the victories and success he has had while in office.
"A few liberals clearly want to take the focus off what we've been accomplishing," McMillin said in the statement. "I have had numerous office hours across my community and overwhelmingly the issues I hear from constituents at these events are things we've accomplished in the Legislature -- reforming education, improving the economy and making Michigan a better place to have a job. There is more work to be done and I'm committed to moving Michigan forward."
Rochester Hills resident and local political activist blogger Bruce Fealk believes McMillin's views are extreme, but said these type of comments are typical of him. He was the person to film McMillin's response.
"I just think it's outrageous, I can't believe in this day in age, we have a man this radical," Fealk said.
Also creating a stir among meeting attendees was McMillin's response on if he thinks gays can change and become heterosexual.
"I think folks are still saying, like I'm saying I think there's tens of thousands that have been in (the lifestyle)," McMillin said at the meeting.
He continues by referencing Anne Heche, an actress and Ellen DeGeneres' former partner who says she is now straight. McMillin said he does not know if people are born gay.
"I believe there are statistics to show that (gay people can change)," McMillin said at the meeting.
Ferndale-based nonprofit organization Affirmations works to serve people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Affirmations Executive Director David Garcia responded to McMillin's town hall meeting comments.
"Being gay is no more a choice than being straight. Mr. McMillin continues to show the same ignorance and bigotry that has lead to his being named to Michigan's LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Community Center's, 'Equality Rights Hall of Shame,' " Garcia said. "Even if a person's sexual orientation were a choice, which it is not, there is no doubt your religion is and it is a choice protected under the Constitution of the United States. Unfortunately, Rep. McMillin needs yet another reminder that all Michigan citizens are created equal and deserve equal protection under the law -- gay or straight -- choice or no choice."
Although Fealk said there is no hard scientific evidence about what makes a person gay, he doesn't believe being homosexual is a lifestyle choice.
"The overwhelming evidence shows it is not the case that people choose to be gay," Fealk said. "It's a ridiculous statement he made, but it's in line with the other things that he's said."
On Oct. 5, 2011, McMillin introduced House Bill 5039 to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of Michigan, which "prohibits discriminatory practices, policies and customs of the exercise of those rights based on religion, race, color, natural origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status."
In Michigan, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) isn't a class, which allows for discrimination. Many communities have made ordinances to combat the discrimination against LGBT individuals.
The amendment introduced by McMillin states, "the state agency or unit of local government shall not adopt any ordinance, rule, regulation or policy that includes, as a protected class, any classification not specifically included as a protected class under this act."
Bill 5039 would forbid local government to create laws that would protect LGBT individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment.
Fealk said McMillin dodges questions about his support for Bill 5039, and he won't specifically say if he supports it, though he was the one to introduce it. He and other members of the community don't doubt his support for the bill.
Linda Davis-Kirksey, a Rochester Hills resident of 25 years and a chairwoman for a group called Rochester Hills Together, an organization and Facebook group, which has about 200 members. The group formed in February to oppose McMillin's bill.
Maurer said the group is currently trying to get a community human rights ordinance together to protect the Rochester Hills LGBT community.
The bill is currently in the Judiciary Committee, but is not on the immediate agenda, according to a representative from Committee Chair state Rep. John Walsh's office. The agenda is tentative, and could change in the future. There are hundreds of other bills in the committee, some of which take priority over something like this.
"It was his (McMillin's) bill, but I think it is buried in committee," Davis-Kirksey said. "I don't think it has gotten any support."
The Rochester Hills City Council previously denied a human rights ordinance, Maurer said. Rochester Hills City Council President Greg Hooper, along with other council members have previously said it should be dealt with at the state level -- Fealk and McMillin also agree on that.
The other issues with McMillin have been brought to the attention of the council and mayor, Maurer said. Some board members see the issue, while Maurer said he thinks some members are in support of him, or just afraid.
Hooper declined to comment on the statements McMillin made at the town hall meeting.
Rochester Hills Together has also made it their mission to protect the Rochester Hills name.
"It makes us look like a city you hear about in the headlines, when you hear about the city, you relate it to discrimination," Maurer said. "I don't want to be associated with that kind of hate."
Davis-Kirksey, though not at the meeting where McMillin made the comments, said she has had a long history with him because she is highly active in local politics. She said McMillin does not paint a clear representation of the Rochester Hills community.
"He is absolutely clueless -- this man is so involved with practices and beliefs ... his statements are absolutely ridiculous," Davis-Kirksey said. "(These comments) reminds me of something going back 100 years."
She does not think McMillin is a good representation of Rochester Hills, and his views just create problems.
"He is not a true representative of the people and I don't respect his opinion ... this individual has no business being a representative in our community," Davis-Kirksey said.
Davis-Kirksey said she believes McMillin's views make him a "dangerous individual." With all of the bullying in recent years, his views could make things worse.
"He makes it his life mission to cause grief and problems to those people who don't have a voice of their own," Davis-Kirksey said. "... this is America, and we should not be creating barriers."
Contact Megan Semeraz at 248-745-4628 or e-mail email@example.com or follow her on Twitter @MeganSemeraz.